Philippine Canadian Inquirer #215 by Philippine Canadian Inquirer

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER APRIL 29, 2016

VOL. 4 NO. 215

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Hackers forged Palace site

Trillanes: Duterte didn’t declare P211M in SALN

PHL among ‘New Gastronomic-8 countries’

Duffy case shines light state of Canadian governance

All you need is love and...

PM Trudeau condemns “cold blooded murder” of Canadian hostage BY JOAN BRYDEN The Canadian Press

EARLY WARNING Former Justice Secretary and LP senatorial candidate Leila de Lima warns voters of the grim prospects of a possible Duterte presidency during a roundtable interview with INQUIRER editors and reporters on Tuesday. EDWIN BACASMAS / PDI

Duterte behind NPA harassment — Mar BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer LIBERAL PARTY (LP) standard-bearer Mar Roxas yesterday accused rival Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of being behind the alleged harassment of his supporters on Panay island by New People’s Army (NPA) rebels. In a statement, Roxas said the LPled

Daang Matuwid Coalition received information that some mayors in Western Visayas who were openly supporting his candidacy were “being harassed and intimidated” by communist insurgents. He said the mayors were given letters warning them against campaigning for Roxas and the rest of the administration ticket.

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KANANASKIS, ALTA. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau condemned Monday the “cold-blooded murder” of a Canadian beheaded by terrorists in the Philippines after being held hostage for seven months. Trudeau confirmed the victim was 68-year-old John Ridsdel of Calgary. Ridsdel was one of four tourists — including fellow Canadian Robert Hall, a Norwegian man and a Filipino woman — who were kidnapped last Sept. 21 by Abu Sayyaf militants from a marina on southern Samal Island. The militants had threatened to kill one of the three male hostages if a large ransom was not paid by 3 p.m. Monday local time — 3 a.m. ET. Philippines police said a plastic bag containing Ridsdel’s decapitated head

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APRIL 29, 2016

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Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Palace condoles with Canadian government, family of beheaded hostage PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Malacañang expressed its condolences on Tuesday to the Canadian government and the family of mining executive John Ridsdel, who was killed by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG). Ridsdel was among the four hostages who were abducted by ASG bandits on Sept. 21 last year from the Holiday Ocean View Resort on Samal Island, Davao del Norte. Also seized were Canadian Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, and Filipina Marithes Flor. “We extend our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Canadian government and to the family of Mr. John Ridsdel,

who died in the hands of the ASG bandits,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a statement. The ASG had threatened to behead one of the hostages on April 25 at 3 p.m. if the government failed to pay the ransom demanded by the bandits. The initial demand was P1 billion each for the hostages but the amount was reduced to P300 million. Reports said the severed head of Ridsdel, which was inside a plastic bag dropped by two men on a motorcycle, was found by residents in the center of Jolo town, five hours after the expiry of the ransom deadline. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was outraged upon learning of the killing. Secretary Coloma assured

that military and law enforcement operations in Sulu will continue. “There will be no let-up in the resolute efforts of the joint PNP-AFP task group in pursuing intensive and wide-ranging military and law enforcement operations to neutralize these lawless elements and thwart further threats to peace and security,” he said, adding that President Benigno S. Aquino III “has directed the security forces to apply the full force of the law to bring these criminals to justice.” President Aquino on Monday ordered Acting Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief, Lt. Gen. Glorioso Miranda, and Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Ricardo Marquez, to conduct

Liberal Party standard-bearer Manuel "Mar" A. Roxas II expresses outrage over the beheading of a Canadian national by the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) in a media interview. JESS M. ESCAROS JR. / PNA

appropriate military and law enforcement operations to rescue the four hostages. The President also instructed

local authorities to cooperate with the AFP-PNP Task Force and ensure the safety of citizens in the affected communities. ■

‘Shabu’ sellers use kid to look like ‘family’ BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer WHEN THEY showed up to meet the buyer of their multimillion-peso merchandise, this six-member team brought along a seventh person—a 12-year-old girl—to make themselves appear like a typical family and not “shabu” distributors. A couple and their four relatives were arrested by the police early Saturday in Quezon City after they were caught carrying a total of 20 kilos of suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride with an estimated street value of P100 million. The child whom they brought

along when they met an under- the suspects around 2 a.m. at would form the “second layer” cover agent for the transaction the corner of Morato Street and just below the leader or drug was placed in the care of social Timog Avenue, Barangay South lord, and above the “third-level workers. Triangle. players” who cater to small-time Chief Insp. Robert Razon of “It is their family business. drug users, the official added. the National Capital Region They are high-value targets “We are sure they are part of Police Office (NCRPO) identi- when it comes to disposal,” said a bigger syndicate and not the fied the arrested suspects as Razon, who heads the task group. leader. Because leaders never Ruel Balacuit, face potential his wife Fe, his buyers,” he addbrother Rhoniel, ed. and their cousins In the buyJames Lumpong; We are sure they are part of a bigger bust operation, Samia Sultan; syndicate and not the leader. Because the undercover and Akmad Bato. leaders never face potential buyers. agent was first The NCRPO’s approached by Regional Anti-IlRuel Balacuit, legal Drugs-Spewho arrived in a cial Operation green Mitsubishi Task Group placed them under They helped distribute shabu Lancer (WPP 466), with wife Fe surveillance for two weeks be- among “big buyers” in the me- as his driver. fore arranging a transaction tropolis, he added. In an organiAfter the buyer showed Bausing a poseur buyer, who met zational chart, Balacuit’s group lacuit a stack of cash as pay-

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ment for five kilos of shabu, the suspect got off the Lancer and walked to a grey Toyota Vios (PII 948) that had been parked nearby. He told the buyer that “the rest of his family” were in that second car, Razon said. “They brought along a child so no one would suspect them of anything. (Balacuit) then got the stock from that car and returned to the Lancer. The transaction was completed (in Balacuit’s car) and that’s when we moved in for the the arrest.” Aside from the five kilos that were sold, 15 more kilos were recovered from the suspects. The 12-year-old girl—a niece of one of the suspects—was turned over to the Quezon City social welfare office. ■

Philippine News

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Court denies Revillame plea in abuse case BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE COURT of Appeals has affirmed with finality a Quezon City judge’s ruling of probable cause to indict television host Willie Revillame for child abuse. Revillame was charged by state social workers with making a seemingly reluctant sixyear-old boy dance lewdly in an episode of his defunct game show “Willing Willie.” In a three-page resolution dated April 11, the appellate court’s 13th Division denied the motion for reconsideration filed by Revillame’s lawyers for lack of merit. The court said Revillame did not present a new argument to cause a reversal of its Sept.

7, 2015, ruling that there was prima facie evidence to charge Revillame with violation of the Anti-Child Abuse Law, and that the Quezon City regional trial court had correctly issued the corresponding arrest warrant. “We have carefully reviewed our decision vis-a-vis the motion for reconsideration and we have found that the issues raised in the present motion and the arguments advanced in support thereof are a mere rehash of those already considered and passed upon, and no new issue or substantial argument has been presented to justify the reversal or modification of the assailed decision,” the resolution written by Justice Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla said. The court said the RTC “committed no grave abuse of discre-

tion” in finding probable cause to indict Revillame for violation of child abuse laws. QC Judge Roberto Buenaventura issued the arrest warrant for Revillame on Oct. 4, 2013. The TV host posted bail but questioned his indictment in the Court of Appeals. The appellate court ruled that “as there is probable cause for the petitioner’s commission of a crime, his arrest and arraignment should now ensue so that this case may properly proceed to trial, where the merits of both parties’ evidence and allegations may be weighed.” Revillame was charged with exploiting the boy contestant who appeared pressured into dancing like a male stripper in order to win a prize during the “Willing Willie” show that aired on March 12, 2011. ■

Senate officials and employees led by Senate Secretary Oscar G. Yabes (left) started on Tuesday (April 26, 2016) at the Senate Building in Pasay City the briefing and seminar on the reception of the Certificates of Canvass (COCs) and Election Returns (ERs) for the May 9 presidential and vice presidential elections. AVITO C. DALAN) / PNA

So sue us over hacking–Bautista BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer COMMISSION ON Elections Chair Andres Bautista yesterday said he was ready to face any case, even impeachment, in connection with the massive leak of 55 million voters’ personal information from the Comelec database earlier this month. “We are prepared for any case that may be brought against us. Personally, hindi naman ako kapit tuko sa posisyon (I am not clinging to my position). Our job here is difficult and we are doing our best to have credible elections on May 9,” Bautista said in an interview over dzBB. Bautista said the system that ran the public information website of the poll body had been established long before he assumed the position of Comelec chair in May last year. “We have an information technology department and consultants,” he said. For her part, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said she understood the sentiments of the people and she respected their right to file complaints based on law and the Constitution. “More security precautions should have been taken even in a website with a publicly available information,” said Guanzon in a separate interview over the same station. On Friday, election watchdog Kontra Daya said it was consulting with lawyers to see if it could bring a case against the Comelec for violation of the

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Data Privacy Act. The group said the leaked information could be used in poll fraud. Information technology experts said it exposed registered voters to identity theft, credit card fraud and faked ID cards, among other risks. How did it happen?

Bautista said the poll body would issue a report on the results of the internal investigation it conducted on how the leak happened and who should be held accountable for it. “We will come out with a report on the findings of the investigation and should someone be found liable, we will make sure they will be held responsible. If people would want to file a case against us, that is their right,” said the Comelec chief. He said the internal investigation should also be able to answer some of their questions, among them: Why was the website hosted by a private service provider and not by the Department of Science and Technology? What were the initial safeguards put in place and how did the hackers breach security? The Comelec officials also reassured the public the hacking of the website would not compromise the automated election system as the latter would use different servers and computers. “The computers and security programs that would be used in the automated election system are very sophisticated,” said Guanzon. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Binay brood in full force, Kai Honasan sings for her dad, a new KBL bats for Bongbong BY CATHY CAÑARES YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

atmosphere, it’s scary, so it’s really his safety that is the family’s concern,” Kai said.

VICE PRESIDENT Jejomar Binay’s two eldest children—suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar “Junjun” Binay Jr. and Sen. Nancy Binay—are actively assisting in their father’s quest for the presidency. Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado said the two siblings would join their father in provincial and Metro Manila sorties. “Or they would go to events that the Vice President cannot,” said Salgado. Binay’s third child, Makati Rep. Abigail Binay, is running for mayor of Makati and needs to focus on her own campaign, the spokesperson added. The Vice President’s youngest daughters Marita Angeline, or Anne, also joins some of her father’s sorties, while fourth child Joanna Marie, or JM, does not. The United Nationalist Alliance standard bearer’s wife, one-time Makati Mayor Elenita Binay, receives guests and supporters in their home on Caong Street in San Antonio Village.

Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr.

Gregorio Honasan

Binay’s running mate Sen. Gregorio Honasan’s family may not be visible in his sorties, but people would not miss the voice of his youngest child Kai, 27, who recorded the political jingle played in his rallies. “Ang magtatanggol sa atin, ang iy ong maaasahan,” Kai’s voice would remind voters meeting Honasan. “The lyrics were written by someone else and we just set it to music. It’s very him,” the daughter said of the ditty. Kai described the song as “very soldier-like. Then we set it to music that’s

Senator Bongbong Marcos.

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very family-friendly. I used my trusty ukulele to bring it home. He loved it. He was very happy.” In a solicited text message, Kai said she was not part of the deliberations before the senator filed his certificate of candidacy. “As the bunso, I wasn’t involved in the decision-making. I found out only the day before. It was difficult to accept. It still is, but we know he has dreams for the country and who are we to stop him?” Kai said. She added that the family was already expecting Honasan to retire after his second consecutive term, which ends in June 2019. “So the concerns are about him being able to keep up with the campaign. He’s not as young as he was in the previous campaigns. For me, given the political

There is a group of supporters of Sen. Bongbong Marcos that calls itself KBL— “Kay Bongbong Lamang.” Group member Robert Castañeda said among their informal duties is to bring the senator’s mother, Ilocos Representative and former First Lady Imelda Marcos, to social gatherings where she can mingle with the people and talk about her son, who is running for vice president. Castañeda said Mrs. Marcos can still draw the crowds who remain curious and interested in her and her family. The new KBL members are allowed to choose their own presidential candidate, as long as they remain supportive of the senator’s vice-presidential bid. “We have folk who will vote for (Davao Mayor Rodrigo) Duterte, others who want Sen. Grace Poe or Jojo Binay, basta your vice president is Bongbong Marcos,” Castañeda explained. He added that the new KBL has witnessed the senator’s younger sister Irene Marcos-Araneta shake hands with

Army has P 247M for Howitzer ammo BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINE Army has earmarked P247 million toward the purchase of 105mm artillery shells for combat and infantry operations. In a bid invitation with the Philippine International Trading Corp., the Army said it had allocated P247,835,166.28 for the contract to supply 8,588 rounds of 105mm Howitzer cannon shells. “That is a regular requirement of our troops in the field. We are advancing

our procurement based on projected requirements,” Army spokesperson Col. Benjamin Hao said. Each round should cost P28,858.31 based on the approved contract budget. Local and foreign manufacturers who would place their bids though foreign manufacturers must be represented by a Philippine-based company. Bidders may purchase bid documents at P50,000 at the PITC, NDC Building, 116 Tordesillas St., Salcedo Village, Makati. Deadline for submission of bids is May 12 at 10 a.m. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

visitors at a weekend market in Quezon City. Last week, INQUIRER Lifestyle chanced upon Araneta distributing ballers or rubber bracelets embossed with her brother’s name to security guards at the lobby of a building in Makati City. “We see more of Mrs. Marcos,” Castañeda said. Reporters covering Sen. Marcos’ sorties said his sister, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, and his wife, lawyer Liza Araneta-Marcos, were seen with Mrs. Marcos when his campaign headquarters in Mandaluyong City was inaugurated last Feb. 18. The three Marcos women were also seen in Ilocos Norte sorties. Liza joined her husband on a visit to Iloilo City on the first week of April. The senator’s three sons have also become more visible in his sorties. Simon Marcos, 20, and Vincent, 18, began joining sorties on the first week of April but refused to give interviews. Eldest son Xander, 22, who returned from the UK, joined more recent trips and once granted an interview to media on the day of the vice-presidential debate. ■

Philippine News

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Loren pushes quick OK of climate pact BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer CITING THE urgency of action, Sen. Loren Legarda has pledged to push the Philippines and other vulnerable nations to ratify immediately the recently signed Paris agreement on climate change, assuring that the country is on track toward fulfilling its commitment to cut carbon emissions and ease global warming. Addressing a high-level meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, Legarda, an environmental warrior in and out of the Senate, said she would “rally” the Philippine government to affirm the climate pact with dispatch, because the world could no longer afford a delay. “We will muster all the energy and resources within our means, sustain advocacy at the grassroots level, and rally the executive and legislative branches of the government, as well as local government units… so the Philippines would be true to its commitment in Paris,” Legarda said in her remarks on Friday. World leaders signed the climate pact at the United Nations on Earth Day on Friday, with Environment Secretary Ramon Paje signing on behalf of the Philippines.

Legarda, cohead of the Philippine delegation, said at least 15 countries had ratified, or affirmed their consent to, the pact in their parliaments. “On my return to the Philippines, I will rally my colleagues in the Senate to act on our ratification of the agreement,” Legarda said at the UN meeting. Fiji, Palau and the Marshall Islands in the Pacific, and Maldives in the Indian Ocean, were among the first nations to ratify the climate pact. “We cannot afford delays in carrying out our commitments because the more we stall, the faster we will reach the dangerous 2 degrees Celsius mark,” she said. The temperature rise would cause a 20-percent decline in water availability; a 15- to 20-percent decrease in crop yield; sealevel rise of 70 centimeters; increased acidification of the oceans, and reduced fish farm yield by 90 percent, among other disasters. After negotiations failed in previous years, the Paris agreement was finally signed in December. It binds 195 UN member nations to cut down on their carbon emissions and contain global warming to under 2 degrees Celsius, a critical point past which the rise in the earth’s temperature would become irreversible. ■

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OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE OF BONGBONG MARCOS

Imelda: My son will make PH great BY JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE AND JOEY A. GABIETA Philippine Daily Inquirer TACLOBAN CITY—IF you vote for Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., you will make this country great again. That’s the campaign pitch of Imelda Marcos for her son, who is leading popularity surveys in the vice presidential race barely two weeks before the May 9 elections. Speaking before a crowd of 1,500 at the Remedios Trinidad Romualdez gymnasium in downtown Tacloban, the former first lady said the Solid North of the Ilocano-speaking region and the Warays of Eastern Visayas “should unite so that our nation will be great again.” “I am campaigning for us to unite, which is the theme of my son Bongbong,” she said. On the stage with Imelda were Marcos Jr., her nephew Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, who is running for senator, Tacloban mayoral candidate Cristina Romualdez and Yedda Romualdez, who is seeking a congressional seat in Leyte’s first district. In her 15-minute speech, Imelda recounted the “persecution” her family suffered after the 1986 Edsa People Power Revolution ousted the Marcoses after a 20-year rule. She recalled how she and her family were “kidnapped,” exiled to Hawaii and slapped with string of charges filed by the government allegedly for amassing ill-gotten wealth. Bongbong has been singled out for vilification by the Aquino administration and his vice presidential rivals for refusing to apologize for the human rights abuses of the Ferdinand Marcos dictatorship and shrugging off demands that he return billions of dollars in ill-

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2016-03-21 10:17 AM

gotten wealth that the family had allegedly amassed in 14 years of martial law. In his speech, Bongbong said he was happy to set foot in Leyte which he considered his home. He said he was happy that his campaign platform had been well-received during his campaign throughout the country. “Our leaders, instead of uniting us, are causing division for the sake of politics. What is happening now is that we cannot be together because we belong to different parties. That is not right,” the senator said. Present times, he pointed out, call for the country’s oneness by reviving the “bayanihan” spirit. He said that if all Filipinos used their skills, talent, good traits and hard work to the country’s benefit, progress will be felt in all levels of society. “I am now 86 years old but my heart is still here and my love remains strong for my fellow Filipinos, especially for the country,” said the former first lady. “There is really no reason for the country to suffer. We really need to have a leader who cares for the Philippines and who has the intellect to know what is good for the Filipinos,” she pointed out, adding that her marriage to her late husband unified the Waray and the Ilocano peoples. She said, “We need to love each other not only for our nation’s future but also so our nation will be great again.” The Ilocos Norte representative urged the people of Eastern Visayas, with more than 2.6 million registered voters, to vote for her son, saying that he has “heart, compassion and wisdom.” “If you vote for Marcos and Romualdez, you will have Imelda as your mother whose love is boundless for all. You can be sure that if Marcos and Romualdez win, everybody wins because we are here not for us, but for you,” she said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

PhilHealth disputes Duterte’s claim that NHIP coverage is not being felt in Davao region BY LEILANI S. JUNIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) has disputed the claim of presidential aspirant and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte that PhilHealth coverage is not truly felt in Davao City. “Region XI, especially Davao City, is definitely experiencing the impact that the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP) is creating where addressing the health care needs of the Filipino people is concerned,” said PhilHealth president and CEO Atty. Alexander A. Padilla. He clarified that aside from the fact that the implementation of PhilHealth is well on track in Region XI, they continue to ensure that all residents in the region are provided with social health insurance coverage. “We shall continue to expand and enhance the NHIP until every Filipino has adequate financial risk protection against the increasing cost of medical care, anywhere they may be in the country or overseas,” Padilla said. He revealed that as of Dec. 31, 2015, total membership count was at 4,499,537, inclusive of qualified dependents of principal members from Compostela Valley, the City of Davao, and the provinces of Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, and Davao Oriental. Of this membership figure, 1,420,415 or 32 percent of members come from Davao City, while 957,373 or 21 percent come from Davao del Sur. At least 951,755 are from Davao del Norte, 666,259 are from Compostela Valley, and 503,735 are from Davao Oriental. In 2015, PhilHealth paid a total of P6.2 billion representing benefits availed of

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by members in Region XI. In Davao City alone, total benefit payments for the same year reached P2.8 billion. “These payments are for various health insurance benefits such as inpatient, outpatient, and catastrophic benefit packages provided to PhilHealth members and dependents by the 232 accredited health care institutions and 1,454 accredited health care professionals in the region,” Padilla said. “In fact, Southern Philippines Medical Center has received approximately P1 billion worth of benefit payments and is considered to be one of the best performing hospitals in the region,” the PhilHealth president and CEO added. In addition, he said that in terms of frontline servicing, PhilHealth offices in Region XI have been duly commended by the Civil Service Commission (CSC) for exemplary public service provided to clients in the region. In the recent ARTA Conference, PhilHealth Regional Office XI together with three Local Health Insurance Offices (LHIOs) under it (Tagum, Davao del

Norte; Mati, Davao Oriental; and Nabunturan, Compostela Valley) received the excellent frontline units award for demonstrating consistent, genuinely active public service to achieve stakeholder delight in the region. The clarification was made to counter allegations that the PhilHealth is not being felt in Davao as claimed by Duterte during the last presidential debate held in Dagupan City last Sunday.

Duterte behind... “I know the source of these threats because I am the only candidate who has stated that I will never tolerate the harassment… of the NPA,” Roxas said. “And I know as well that their supporter, who is no other than Mayor Duterte, is behind this,” he said. In previous interviews, the tough-talking mayor bragged about being a supporter of the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines and claimed that he has maintained close ties with ranking officials of the Maoist rebel group. But he said he was a “socialist” and “not a communist.” Roxas noted that Duterte also openly urged businessmen to pay revolution❰❰ 1

ary taxes and for politicians to settle the permit to campaign fees being imposed by the NPA to avoid trouble. “Let me declare to all that I will not tolerate these practices. We will use the full force of the law—not the lethal force—so that we can protect our democracy,” he said. He then reminded the Davao mayor that the NPA posed the “ultimate challenge to our democratic system and way of life.” “Communism is dictatorship,” Roxas said. “And we know who is demonstrating the style of a dictator in public today. I will not allow this. I will fight it because our democracy, our freedom, our economic system, is important.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

It can be recalled that Duterte said that there is no truth that PhilHealth is being felt by Davaoenos, adding that based on his own experience, everything was just sort of announcement and lacking in implementation. “This is a nationwide problem… Pati Davao, nilinlang na nila (They are fooling even Davao). The people of the Philippines are listening… Is this guy (Roxas) telling the truth?,” the mayor asked the audience of the debate which was conducted by Commission on Elections (Comelec), together with ABS-CBN and Manila Bulletin. Liberal Party (LP) standard-bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II then dared Duterte to withdraw his candidacy if he (Roxas) can come out with actual facts on the list of people and clients of PhilHealth as well as reimbursements to the hospitals and patients that benefited from the coverage. Roxas said that such style or Duterte’s way of saying what was in his mind and retracting it afterwards when presented with facts was something that should not be idolized by the young people in the country. ■

Philippine News

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

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Hackers forged Palace site Fake Malacañang server used in ‘Comeleak’ BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer

Three possibilities

Quezon said the MIS team looked into three possibilities in its investigation: if the server was used to download and seed the torrent (peer-to-peer filesharing systems); if the server was compromised, or if a remote client was using the mail server to access the Internet; if the culprit intentionally forged his host name to appear as “mail.malacañang. gov.ph” with malicious intention. The “mail.malacañang.gov. ph” subdomain has been delegated to a specific mail server under the OP-MIS department since May 2011, Quezon said. Quezon said around 9:55 p.m. on April 21, Executive Secretary Paquito

Downloading going on

“Now, as of yesterday morning, there continued to be screenshots that the torrent was still being downloaded or MALACAÑANG YESTERDAY said an seeded using the address. So what is initial investigation by the information being done? An investigation,” Quezon technology department of the Office of said. the President (OP) indicated that the He said the OP-MIS had yet to submit use of the server “mail.malacañang.gov. an investigation report. ph” appeared to be a “malicious forgQuezon said the Office of the Execuery.” tive Secretary would determine the acIn a radio interview, Communicacountability “if proven that someone tions Undersecretary Manuel Quezon indeed used the mail server to download III explained that the Palace mail servthe Comelec data.” er could not have been hacked or comA hacker group defaced the Comepromised, but may have been convelec’s website last month, and on April niently used as cover for the hacking of 6 a second hacker group posted the the Commission on entire database onElections (Comelec) line, with mirror voter database. links where the data Quezon said the would also be downOP’s Management loaded, according Information System Now, as of yesterday morning, there continued to Internet security (MIS) department, to be screenshots that the torrent was still being company Trend Miafter reviewing its downloaded or seeded using the address. So cro. firewall and server what is being done? An investigation. The Tokyo-based logs, determined that company said leaked there was no “unusuwere personal details al activity” detectof more than 55 miled from the “mail. lion registered votmalacañang.gov.ph” ers, including names, mail server. Ochoa was informed about social media birthdays, home addresses e-mail, parThis “suggests, at this point, the pos- screenshots that showed the OP’s mail ents’ full names and in some cases passsibility of a malicious forgery,” Quezon, server being used to torrent, or seed, the port details and text markers of fingerspeaking on state-run Radyo ng Bayan, Comelec database. prints. said. Experts said “Comeleak,” as the leak is Comelec spokesperson James The Malacañang mail server, which now called, was perhaps the biggest gov- Jimenez said the leaked data that were handles OP’s incoming and outgoing e- ernment- related data breaches in his- uploaded online were not fingerprints mail messages, was seen as one of the tory, after personal information of more but text markers that cannot recreate “seeders” of the voter information data than 55 million registered voters were the fingerprints. uploaded online after the hacking of the uploaded online. He said the integrity of national elecComelec website. On Friday, Communications Secretary tions on May 9 would not be affected, as Seeders refer to people or entities that Herminio Coloma Jr. emphasized that the automated balloting would be run are uploading to the Internet files they the “cyberattack” had not affected the in- on a different server, not on the one that have already downloaded. tegrity of the automated election system. was hacked. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Fisheries experts seeking balance between sharks, seafood trade BY RONNEL W. DOMINGO Philippine Daily Inquirer

they needed heightened levels of management responsibility for countries to ensure exports are sourced in away that does ASIA-PACIFIC COUNTRIES, not further threaten endanincluding the Philippines, are gered stocks. working to achieve a balance Such a fishery management between protecting sharks and situation is even more complirelated species, and ensuring cated in the case of sharks and healthy trade in seafood. rays, as catches often occur inIn a statement, the Food cidentally—they are unintendand Agriculture Organization ed catch, coming along other (FAO) said global trade in shark fish stocks that fishers are tarcommodities—including meat, geting, according to FAO. fins, skin, cartilage and liver— The conservation manual was nearing $1 billion yearly. published by the Marine WildShark meat is an important life Watch of the Philippines part of the diet in many devel- Inc. (MWW) includes 19 speoping countries, with the meat cies in the CITES’ list which of some speare found in the cies also highly Philippines. valued in some These include developed counthe shark spetries, FAO said. [...] about 200 cies commonly The United Naspecies of known as the tions agency last sharks and rays gray reef shark, week wrapped up could possibly oceanic whitetip a workshop held be found in shark, blacktip in Malaysia atPhilippine reef shark, tiger tended by fisherwaters. shark, whitetip ies’ experts from reef shark, tawthe Philippines, ny nurse shark, Australia, Camgreat white shark, bodia, Indonesia, Japan, Laos whale shark, scalloped hammerMalaysia, Burma (Myanmar), head shark, great hammerhead Thailand and Vietnam. shark, smooth hammerhead “FAO is working with mem- shark, and leopard shark. bercountries and partners by Also on the list are the bluesdeveloping tools to improve the potted ribbontail stingray, reef management of fisheries and manta ray, giant manta ray, protection of endangered spe- knifetooth sawfish, largetooth cies, and these have been well sawfish, green sawfish and received,” FAO senior fisheries white-spotted giant guitarfish. resources officer Kim FriedMWW Philippines said about man said. 200 species of sharks and rays The Philippines is among the could possibly be found in Philsignatories to the Convention ippine waters, adding that there on International Trade in En- were 110 such species confirmed dangered Species of Wild Fau- to be present in the country. na and Flora (CITES), which is “The appropriate response aimed at ensuring that inter- to shark and ray incidents may national trade in specimens of include the release or salvage of wild animals and plants does the animal, proper documennot threaten their survival. tation, and data collection,” In 2013, a number of shark MWW Philippines said, adding: and ray species received pro“All these activities need to tection under CITES. More be organized and coordinated species will be assessed for in- for the safety of both the aniclusion on the list of protected mal and the responders, and to species later this year. maximize collection of inforFAO said the CITES’ listing mation for future research and could affect seafood exports as conservation activities.” ■

Dutertes’ accuser faces suit BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE VOLUNTEERS Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) yesterday said it would take to court a consumer rights advocate who claimed to be a VACC member and held a press conference to expose the alleged involvement in smuggling of presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte and members of his family. “We’re going to file a case of estafa through deceit against that bogus member,” VACC founding chair Dante Jimenez told the INQUIRER in a phone interview, referring to Perfecto Jaime Tagalog of the Coalition of Filipino Consumers (CFC). “Tagalog’s claims are based on supposed intelligence reports and are being merely used for political purposes. The VACC did not authorize Tagalog’s action and our group will not allow itself to be exploited for political mudslinging,” Jimenez said. He said the VACC was “apolitical” and did not support any presidential candidate. Jimenez said he and other VACC members who expressed support for Duterte did so in their individual capacities and based on their common advo-

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cacy against crime and drugs. In a statement yesterday, Tagalog accused the VACC of abandoning him in his fight against the Dutertes. He recalled that the CFC and the VACC had joined forces and filed cases of plunder, graft and indirect bribery against former Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima. Tagalog said that when he exposed Purisima, it was VACC founding chair and president Jimenez who called him and offered to help. “In our fight against Purisima, Mr. Jimenez personally helped me and I referred to him

directly many crime victims who were seeking help. It’s sad that in this fight against smuggling, I am being condemned by the VACC,” he said. He urged the VACC to come out and support him in his bid to stop the alleged smuggling activities of the Duterte family in Davao. Jimenez, however, said the VACC and the CFC separately pursued the cases against Purisima and the two groups were independent. “I don’t care about his charge [against the Dutertes] but he should not use the name of the VACC,” Jimenez said. ■

Philippine News

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Trillanes: Duterte didn’t declare P211M in SALN P197 million given on mayor’s birthday in 2014 BY NANCY CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer

for hire,” Duterte denied the existence of the BPI bank account that contained P211 million.

CONTRARY TO his claim that Birthday gifts? he was a poor man, Davao City On his 69th birthday on Mayor Rodrigo Duterte had at March 28, 2014, eight cash deleast P211 million in an account posits totaling P197 million at a bank branch in Metro Ma- were credited to Duterte’s bank nila in 2014, according to Sen. account in the BPI Julia Vargas Antonio Trillanes IV. branch, records showed. As mayor, Duterte receives a Trillanes said the eight monthly pay of P78,946 (Salary deposits consisted of Grade 30) under the govern- P55,131,747.32, P41,721,035.62, ment salary standardization P16,852,832.94, P16,852,782.94 law prescribed by the Civil Ser- and four P20-million transacvice Commission. tions. Duterte, a presidential canThe funds were remitted to didate, did not declare the P211 the BPI account through intermillion in his statement of as- bank transfers. sets, liabilities and net worth Records also showed that on (SALN), said Trillanes, a vice April 1, 2014, Sara paid cash for presidential candidate. a P20-million life with investFailure to declare an asset is ment insurance policy from a ground for an employee’s dis- BPI-Life Assurance Corp. missal from government serTrillanes, who provided the vice. Inquirer data on Duterte’s Senator and vice presidential candidate Antonio Trillanes III and Davao City Mayor and 2016 presidential candidate In his 2014 SALN, Duterte bank accounts, said he obtained Rodrigo Duterte. reported a net worth of the information from various P21,971,732.62—assets worth sources. but said he believed in the in- quired these. the value of Duterte’s assets P22,971,732.62 and a liability of tegrity of the information beHe also declared in his SALN two years ago were higher by P1 million, a personal loan from Other accounts cause they were verifiable. that he acquired a piece of agri- just a few hundred pesos than a certain Samuel Uy. “I received the information The account in the BPI Ju- cultural land in Catigan Toril, the P21,618,289.73 he declared Duterte held the account at through my various networks. lia Vargas branch was separate Davao City, worth P500,000 in for 2013. the Bank of the Philippine Is- Mayor Duterte who brags that from the bank accounts of Sara 2014. The SALN is aimed at helping lands (BPI) branch on Julia he is not corrupt and is a simple and her husband, Mans CarFor his real estate properties, keep public servants honest, Vargas Avenue in pio, Duterte’s Duterte reported residential since the information it should Pasig City jointly sons Paolo and lots valued at P1.7 million and contain would aid the public with daughter Sebastian and agricultural lands valued at P1.7 in keeping track of any sudden Sara, who used his common- million. increases in a government emthe maiden name I received the information through law wife, Cielito Duterte declared as personal ployee or official’s wealth. of her mother, my various networks. Mayor Duterte Avanceña, that properties vehicles worth P1.1 Apart from his monthly salZimmerman. who brags that he is not corrupt and also contained million, household appliances ary of P78,946, Duterte said he Sara served is a simple and poor man should be deposits total- and furniture worth P450,000, also received allowances from as Davao City asked to explain about his secret ing hundreds of jewelry worth P300,000 and in- various agencies he headed, mayor in 2010 bank accounts that contained at least millions of pe- vestments worth P3.8 million. such as Watershed Manageto 2013, with her P200 million. sos, according to ment Council, Regional Peace father as vice Trillanes. Car dealer incorporator and Order Council, City Peace mayor. In Duterte’s Duterte also reported in his and Order Council, Investment Father and 2014 SALN, a SALN that he had been an in- Incentive Board and Public Pridaughter gave Ecoland Subdivi- and poor man should be asked copy of which was obtained corporator of Honda Cars in vate Partnership Board. ■ sion in Davao City and P. Gue- to explain about his secret bank by the Inquirer, the may- General Santos City since 1997 varra Street in San Juan City accounts that contained at least or reported cash assets (in and of Poeng Yue Foundation in in Metro Manila as their home P200 million,” the senator said. hand and in the bank) worth San Pedro, Davao City, in 2012, addresses. Trillanes declined to identify P13,846,732.62, but he did not but he did not state any income. Accusing Trillanes as “money the source of the documents disclose how and when he acThe SALN also showed that

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Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

P-Noy: All it’ll take is for one man to undo it all BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer ANTIPOLO CITY — President Aquino on Friday said he did not work hard to earn the respect of other nations only to have one man undo the diplomatic ties with a few thoughtless words. It was an obvious swipe at presidential candidate Rodrigo Duterte, the tough-talking Davao City mayor who recently said that should he be elected president, he would not hesitate to cut ties with the United States and Australia for calling him out for a remark he made about rape. “You know, there is a candidate who supposedly said ‘severing ties,’” Mr. Aquino told the crowd at Sumulong Park here in Filipino. “I worked hard to earn the respect of other countries, for us to have good friends, allies, such that when we are bullied by a giant, we can turn to an ally who is a giant as well—(an ally) who will allow us to live our lives,” he said, alluding to recent events involving China and the United States. “And all this would be lost

President Benigno S. Aquino III, accompanied by outgoing AFP Chief Gen. Hernando Iriberri, troops the line during the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Change of Command and Retirement Ceremony JOSEPH VIDAL/MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU/PNA

with just one or two words,” he added. The President said it was up to the voters to make their choice on May 9. “We will applaud if we make the right decision; or we will weep in the end if we make a mistake,” he said. On Thursday, the President told the media he did not agree

with most of Duterte’s statements. In speeches around the country, Aquino narrates to the audience how at the beginning of his administration in 2010, he and his Cabinet felt the low regard foreigners—government officials and businessmen alike—had for the Philippines and Filipinos.

Farmers holding protest rally get 2,000 bags of rice from DSWD, agree to go home PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY KORONADAL CITY — Farmers on Monday agreed to disperse and return home after four days of holding a peaceful rally where they demanded rice subsidy from the government. This, after the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-12) turned over to rally organizers 2,000 bags of rice. “We are terminating our protest rally today but farmers will stay overnight here and will go home tomorrow (Tuesday),” Joselito Roxas of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) told reporters in Fili-

pino as farmers unload bags of rice from hauler trucks at about 4:30 p.m. “We are happy with this even our demand for 15,000 bags was not granted, at least this initial aid will help us,” Roxas said, adding that each rally participant will bring home one sack of rice. “We consider this as victory,” Roxas said following a dialogue with representatives from DSWD and Department of Agriculture and the South Cotabato provincial crisis management. “DA also promised to extend us fertilizers and other farm inputs and will be distributed in the farmers’ communities in the coming days,” Roxas added.

“Pasalamat kami nga walay dispersal nga nahitabo (We are happy no dispersal took place),” he said. “Each person who attended the rally will bring home one sack of rice,” Roxas said, explaining that a family with four participants will receive four sacks. It was quiet at the rally site where protesters were resting at past 4 p.m. when three hauler trucks with DSWD markings arrived. The farmers came close and were told the cargoes were for them. Police stationed nearby moved backward as DSWD personnel alighted from the truck and let the farmers unload the goods. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

One time, the President said, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima was at a global finance ministers meeting and no one spoke to him. Finally, at the end of the meeting, someone approached Purisima, who thought the man would discuss Philippine affairs with him. Instead, the man merely asked if the empty seat beside Purisima

was taken. In another instance, Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento, when he was Calbayog City mayor, was invited to speak at an international gathering. At the immigration line, Sarmiento noticed the immigration officer stamp the passports of the delegates from Japan and Singapore without any question, even doing so with a warm welcome. When his turn came, Sarmiento said the officer asked the purpose of his visit and for a copy of his invitation to the event. Mr. Aquino also recalled that his fellow leaders in Southeast Asia did not immediately warm up to him in the first years of his presidency. Two of them, he said, even lectured him on what the Philippines should do to grow and develop. “I didn’t have anything to show at the time so I just swallowed my pride. But that was then. It’s different now,” he said. Last week, Duterte lambasted US Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Australian Ambassador Amanda Gorely for “meddling” in local politics after the diplomats said rape was not an issue to be joked about. ■

Poll watchdog wary of ballot replacement BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PARISH Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) yesterday asked the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to clarify its new rule on giving voters replacement ballots should the votecounting machine reject their first ballot on Election Day. PPCRV chair Henrietta de Villa said the group was wary about the ballot replacement rule as it was likely to cause chaos on May 9. “We wrote the Comelec a letter asking for clarification because we all know that each precinct will have the exact number of ballots according to the number of voters registered there,” De Villa told reporters.

She said there were matters that should be clarified before the rule is implemented, such as the basis of the board of election inspectors (BEIs) for deciding whether a voter should be given a replacement ballot or not, and the number of times a voter can ask for a replacement ballot. Earlier, Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said that under the new policy, BEIs would be authorized to hand out replacement ballots to voters whose original ballots had been rejected by the VCMs through no fault of their own. The BEIs are responsible for the assessment in each circumstance, Bautista said. “The Comelec should issue a resolution explaining how this rule will be implemented, or maybe completely junk it,” De Villa said. ■

Philippine News

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Transport connectivity initiatives tackled at 41st ASEAN transport meeting PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Delegates to the 41st ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) discussed on Tuesday various initiatives that enhance transport connectivity in the Southeast Asia. STOM, which runs until April 28, is meant to be a venue for some 120 ASEAN senior transport officials and delegates to discuss the status of transportation projects and policy measures that will enhance regional cohesion. It will also open the door to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) for possible collaboration between ASEAN and UNESCAP in the future The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) served as a host for this year’s staging of the

event in Makati City. Moreover, it will be a venue to embark on new projects and programs as the transport sector adopts the Kuala Lumpur Transport Strategic Plan (KLTSP) 2016-2025. This plan outlines 30 specific goals, 78 actions and 221 milestones in the five areas of transportation—air, land, maritime, transport facilitation and sustainable transport. This will serve as a guide to the ASEAN economic integration from 2016 to 2025. DOTC Assistant Secretary for Planning Sherielysse Bonifacio, in her opening statement, stressed the importance of the event in pursuing further “cooperative work” in the transportation sector. Bonifacio highlighted how the full ratification of the ASEAN open skies agreements last April 15, 2016 would provide greater regional and domestic air transport connectivity which has a multiplier effect to

the ASEAN economy. The open skies agreements consist of a set of multilateral agreements on liberalization of air freight and passengers services. “Increased connectivity has a multiplier effect. It will result to more impressive growth in the aviation industry, the tourism sector, as well as in other businesses,” Bonifacio said. “Thus, the full ratification of the ASEAN open skies is a victory not only for us in the ASEAN transportation sector but for the whole ASEAN. Its full impact will resonate and will eventually be felt across the region, benefiting the economies of the member states,” she added. ASEAN’s dialogue partners for this Meeting include the People’s Republic of China, the European Union (EU), Japan, Republic of Korea (ROK) and Russia The ASEAN is composed of

President Benigno S. Aquino III, assisted by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) president Ramon Ang and Transportation and Communications Secretary Joseph Emilio Aguinaldo Abaya, leads the groundbreaking ceremony of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) Line 7 Project. LAURO MONTELLANO JR./MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU/PNA

the Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the

Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. ■

Arrest order hounds Munti ex-mayor’s comeback bid BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY AND MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer FORMER MUNTINLUPA City Mayor Aldrin San Pedro, who hopes to make a comeback in the May 9 elections, sees the hand of politics in the “rehashed” P22-million graft case which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant against him last week. In an interview on Saturday, San Pedro said he would post bail once the warrant is served and face the charges in court “so that we can have a regular trial and prove we did nothing wrong.” The Sandiganbayan on Friday ordered the arrest of San Pedro and 11 others in connection with the allegedly fraudulent purchase of P22-million worth of school bags during his incumbency in 2008. The antigraft court’s Second Division threw out the petitions filed by San Pedro and the

other respondents who sought mayor of Muntinlupa. The Ombudsman ordered the dismissal of the charges Aside from San Pedro, also their indictment after discoverbrought against them by the Of- ordered arrested were Roberto ing that the purchase of 40,000 fice of the Ombudsman. Bunyi, Michael Racelis, Vicente units of trolley bags, which “After a careful evaluation of Navarro, Avelino Orellana, So- were distributed to students of the accused separate motions, nia Laureate, Peter Salonga, public elementary schools in we find the contentions therein Rodolfo Oliquindo, Roderick the city, did not undergo the renot sufficient to set aside the Espina, Edwin Suitado, Eduar- quired public bidding. The projfindings of probable cause,” do Bautista and Glenn Manuel ect was also not listed in the city the court said in g o v e r n m e n t ’s its April 21 deciannual procuresion written by ment plan, the Associate Jusgraft investigatice Napoleon tors noted. Inoturan. “[W] The allegation in the complaint is But San Pedro e rule that there that we did not conduct a bidding, on Saturday said exists probable but that is not true. If you look at the allegations cause to justify the complaint, Sumabat attached a were “merely rethe issuance of document that is a (photo)copy. It’s hashed,” noting warrants of arnot original documentation, so that that they first rest with respect can be fabricated. surfaced in a case to all accused.” filed in 2008 by San Pedro, a Rafael Arciaga, member of Vice a local politician President Jerunning for mayjomar Binay’s or at the time. United Nationalist Alliance, Santos. It was dismissed the following hopes to win back the top City They were all former mem- year, the ex-mayor recalled. Hall post from reelectionist bers of the bids and awards “It was only refiled in 2012, Mayor Jaime Fresnedi of the committee and the technical the same complaint with no adruling Liberal Party. Three oth- working group which handled ditional information, but with er candidates are running for the questionable project. a different complainant who is www.canadianinquirer.net

Abel Sumabat,” he added. Sumabat, he said, was part of the secretariat of the bids and awards committee under his administration before he stopped reporting for work due to problems he incurred with suppliers. “The allegation in the complaint is that we did not conduct a bidding, but that is not true. If you look at the complaint, Sumabat attached a document that is a (photo)copy. It’s not original documentation, so that can be fabricated,” he said. “They were the ones who (refiled) that, the group of Mayor Fresnedi and Ruffy (Biazon) and (incumbent) Congressman (Rodolfo) Biazon,” San Pedro said when asked if who could be behind the revived charges. “They (my political rivals) can do everything, but at the end of the day, the truth will come out.” “The people already know” that there is a political motive, he said, downplaying the effects that the case might have on his campaign. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Mindanao will be priority, says Duterte BY NIÑA P. CALLEJA Philippine Daily Inquirer

HK-based agency names PHL among ‘New Gastronomic-8 countries’ BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency MANILA — Hong Kong-based marketing and communications agency, Catch On on Tuesday announced that it has included the Philippines as one of the New G-8 (Gastronomic 8) emerging markets of influence in world cuisine. This comes after the country’s successful staging of the second edition of biggest gastronomic event in the world, Madrid Fusion Manila last April 7-9 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City. In their new report entitled ‘The Future of Food’, the agency noted that food is an important part of Philippine culture and that Filipinos take their culture of food seriously. It also mentioned the cross-pollination of culinary influences in Philippine cuisine that mirrors the country’s colorful historical influences and that these influences are amplified by a young breed of Filipino chefs. The report further noted that as more Filipinos travel overseas, they bring with them their culture of food. Philippine ingredients and the country’s signature dishes like adobo, kinilaw, and sisig are slowly making their way into international kitchens. “Overseas, the Philippines’ colorful influence can be found in restaurants like Jeepney and Pig &Khao in New York, or Filipino-born, Austin-based Paul Qui’s eponymous restaurant,” the report stated. “There’s a growing movement to pre-

serve and document culinary artisanal traditions that have survived generations simply because they came out of family kitchens. We’re seeing more selftrained chefs launching restaurants, more men cooking at home, the continued move away from any notion of fine dining, the growing influence of street food, and the popularity of culinary tourism. This is the new culture of food,” it further added. Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. welcomed the news as a result of the recently-concluded global culinary events here such as Madrid Fusion Manila and World Street Food Congress. “The Philippines is now gaining more recognition as an emerging country, whose indigenous ingredients and culinary excellence are increasingly finding their way into world cuisine,” Jimenez said. He explained that the fact that the organizers of the prestigious Madrid Fusion decided to hold the first and only Asian edition in the Philippines signaled to the rest of the world the growing influence and importance of Philippine cuisine and the Filipino talent. “As more travellers are starting to choose their travel destinations and plan their itineraries based on the food culture of a place, this is definitely an added boost to Philippine tourism,” he added. Aside from the Philippines, the other countries included in the New G8 are China, Iran, Israel, South Korea, Mexico, Peru, and Vietnam. ■

Moro people,” Duterte said. Hesaid it was his desire to unite all Christians, Muslims and lumad under his administration. DAVAO CITY Mayor Rodrigo Duterte The tough-talking mayor was in Nohas promised genuine and lasting peace valiches to resume the rigorous Luzon in Mindanao, saying that “one foot of the swing of his campaign, with the elecMoro people will be in Malacañang” if tions just two weeks away. he becomes president. Duterte was warmly received by lo“You are all welcome,” Duterte said in cal residents who lined both sides of the a rally at Nova Park in Novaliches, Que- streets chanting his name as his motorzon City, on Saturday cade rolled into town. night. Meanwhile, In his speech, Duterte blamed Mathe PDP-Laban nilabased journalists standardbearer exJust give me time for the negative pubpressed his sentito correct the licity he has been rements about the govhistorical injustices ceiving. ernment neglect of committed against “Hindi ako gano’n Mindanao. the Moro people. kabastos, pero sinasaHe deplored the dya ko ’yon (I am not lack of sincerity on that foul-mouthed, the part of the govbut I am doing it on ernment to find a purpose) because, solution to decades of armed conflict on you know, mabayaran sila (they can be the rich island. paid off ), especially the writers, and Duterte assured the audience he there are a lot of them. They would really would put the Mindanao conflict on top slant, and every statement I make they of his agenda. would slant,” Duterte said in a speech “Just give me time to correct the his- before graduating students of Lyceum of torical injustices committed against the the Philippines University in Manila. ■

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Migrante troops to Toronto Consulate over Kidapawan massacre BY LUI QUEANO IT WAS a show of force when group of 14 community activists led by Bayan-Migrante Canada trooped to the Philippine Consulate’s Toronto office to protest the Aquino government’s criminal neglect of the Kidapawan farmers. At around 1 p.m. on Apr. 22, the Philippine Consulate office in Toronto Canada was caught by surprise when Migrante community activists carrying placards that said, “Don’t Starve and Shoot the Farmers” and wearing black t-shirts printed with “Bigas Hindi Bala” (Rice/Food not Bullets) silently walked inside the consulate office for about five minutes. The silent protest surprised the staff and personnel of the Philippine Consulate. The consulate staff threatened the pro-

testers that they would be calling the police if they would not stop the protest. “Bawal po iyan dito!” (It’s not allowed here!) one of the consulate personnel was overheard shouting at the protesters. Jesson Reyes, Migrante regional coordinator, in his statement after the protest action said, “This is part of the ongoing actions being held almost weekly in Toronto to protest the criminal neglect of the Aquino administration of the Kidapawan farmers. We have been holding protest actions since the violent dispersal of the 6,000 farmers in Kidapawan North Cotabato on Apr. 1 killing two farmers and injuring more than 100 farmers. They were only asking for rice but the government gave them bullets instead.” Last Apr. 6, Migrante sent a letter of protest to the Philippine Consulate in Toronto person-

ally delivered by Bern Jagunos of ICHRP Canada, Rafunzel Korngut of Gabriela Ontario and Viel Perida of Anakbayan Toronto. That same day, Migrante Canada held a candlelight vigil at Bathurst-Wilson Parkette in honor of the victims of Kidapawan massacre including those injured in the protest and illegally arrested and detained farmers. “The issue here is very clear: these 6,000 farmers who occupied Kidapawan highway since Mar. 30 were asking for rice subsidy as part of the calamity funds from the government but they were instead fired at with bullets. The protest group included women and children, and also women advocates for peasants’ rights, and they were all begging for sacks of rice due to the prevailing drought there. Filipino women today bear the brunt of poverty — and in critical conditions like drought

Bayan-Migrante led protest action at the Philippine Consulate holding placards about Kidapawan farmers. LUI QUEANO

affecting 237,000 hectares of land, they are thrown into misery — and yet the government resolves this problem by ignoring it,” according to Petronila Cleto of Gabriela Ontario. “The women courageously joined the men in protesting this neglect, and we see the “final answer” of this callous and incompetent government in its extreme form of violence: the outright killing of its own peo-

ple,” Cleto added. Latest reports said many other protest rallies and mass actions are happening nationwide including the 3,000 farmers from South Cotabato 2,000 farmers from Cagayan de Oro and 5,000 from Bukidnon at the Department of Agriculture Region 12 Office. The island-wide protests against hunger escalated to farmers in Luzon including that of Hacienda Luisita. ■

recording of Duterte’s controversial that we’re dealing here not so much popular disenchantment. This public hourlong monologue at a political with a mindset as with a configura- disaffection can flow from various rally in which he recounted, with all tion of raw emotions lying just be- sources. In a highly unequal society the machismo he could summon, his neath the surface of our culture. I like ours, in which individuals find reaction to the gang-rape and mur- suspect it is this that gives resonance themselves permanently trapped in der of the Australian lay missionary to Mayor Duterte’s brand of political patron-client relationships, unexamJacqueline Hamill in 1989. Hamill rhetoric. ined resentments silently build up in and her companions were held hosPeople recognize themselves in the hearts of those constantly at the tage by 15 inmates inside a Davao de- him. They see him as someone who receiving end of power and opprestention center where they were con- makes no attempt to represent our sion. This is often accompanied by a ducting a prison ministry. Duterte’s better or higher nature, but is con- vague yearning for emancipation and remark about his feeling especially tent, rather, to speak to our unpol- justice. But, instead of taking action, angry upon seeing the corpse—think- ished, confused and insecure selves. people are typically content to have ing he should have had a first go with He refuses to be bound by norms of a forceful figure like Rodrigo Duterte the beautiful Hamill—struck me as political correctness, secure in the personify and articulate their rebeltotally perverse and disrespectful. thought that in the fraudulent world lion, and displace their aggression, Knowing that he is a lawyer and a of politics, talking bluntly is the only for them. former prosecutor, But, Duterte’s I didn’t expect it. rise has equally While the inability to admit a wrong may seem fatal to I wondered if the been made possible anyone with presidential ambitions, for Duterte fans, that tough-talking mayby the grievances same rebellious obstinacy seems to lie at the very core of his appeal. or was just carried of Mindanao’s nonaway by the energy Muslim majorof the moment and, in his rush to tell way to be authentic. “Take me for ity. Mostly Visayan settlers whomade a joke, had failed to censor a barbaric what I am,” he likes to tell his listen- the island prosperous, they have long thought. But, he insists he wasn’t jok- ers. While the inability to admit a nurtured an antipathy to Manila ing. wrong may seem fatal to anyone with politicians who speak of Mindanao’s The applause, laughter and jeer- presidential ambitions, for Duterte peoples and their needs as though ing from the complicit crowd left no fans, that same rebellious obstinacy these were reducible to those of doubt in my mind that the legendary seems to lie at the very core of his ap- Muslim Mindanao. Davao’s longtime mayor felt completely in his element. peal. mayor deftly articulates their sentiOne could hear some of his admirers There’s some basis to this, of ments by harping on the big disparity prompting him to share more of such course. I mean, Duterte would not between Mindanao’s contribution to stories—the more violent, it seemed, be connecting to millions of Filipi- the country’s gross national product the better. It’s difficult to say where nos the way he has in recent weeks if and the pittance it receives in interthis is all coming from. My hunch is he had not tapped into a rich vein of nal revenue allotments. In this re-

gard, Duterte’s rise mirrors the revolt of the periphery. We have not really had in our political history anyone quite like him, who has made his way into the national electoral stage by cursing at the nation’s officials and ruling elites, and mocking its institutions. We have had countless politicians who rose to national prominence by portraying themselves as men of the masses. But none of them ever challenged the prevailing system. In contrast, Duterte has made it a point to mock the system and its conventions, seeing in its openings nothing more than channels through which to undermine it. At his rallies, he kisses the flag and professes patriotism, pledging to repair the country’s broken system of government. Many can sympathize with that goal. But, without a clear vision of a reformed political order and a coherent set of principles to guide his presidency, Duterte’s victory could mean one of two things. It could spark a popular movement of the poor and jump-start a process of radical ferment, or it could pave the way for a fascist regime supported by a disgruntled middle class. In either case, it is difficult to see how, under a Duterte presidency, the country can avoid entering another period of political uncertainty. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

The political outsider By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer AT THIS late stage of the ongoing presidential contest, the man to beat appears to be Rodrigo Duterte—until very recently an outsider to national politics whom very few thoughtful Filipinos took seriously. How does one account for the phenomenal rise to national stature of a local politician from a remote corner of Mindanao? Equipped with an enormous capacity to tell stories and tackle issues in street language dripping with expletives, the man talks tough against criminals, drug pushers and abusive people, promising to summarily purge them from our society. He laughs at his own dirty thoughts and desires, and ridicules our foibles as a people. But he reserves his harshest criticism and deepest contempt for what he considers the nation’s inept and corrupt public officials, and the ruling families they serve. Despite, and perhaps because of, his crude language and coarse demeanor, he comes out—to his admirers—as an endearing rogue who articulates without fear their own resentments and fantasies. That is what is interesting—and, to the rest of us, disturbing. I listened repeatedly to a video

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Opinion

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

AT LARGE

‘Mauna ka na, Mayor’ By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer THIS AFTERNOON, during the last of the presidential debates sponsored by the Commission on Elections and media companies, there’s a very big chance, according to wiseacres, that when the time comes for the candidates to speak, all the others will give way to Rodrigo Duterte, saying: “Mauna ka na (You go first), Mayor.” This is a dig, of course, at the Davao City mayor who has come under fire for his confession that, upon seeing the remains of Australian missionary Jacqueline Hamill, he felt anger, not because she had been gang-raped, but because she was so beautiful and he, as the mayor, should have had a go at her first. Filipinos somehow have the knack for salvaging some humor from the most dismaying, disgusting and dehumanizing of situations. The terrible fate of Hamill is apparently no exception. In social media, “Do-dirty” supporters have pounced upon critics of the mayor, accusing them of being paid hacks of his opponents, lacking a sense of humor, looking down on people of humble origins, and sour in outlook and prissy in their defense of women. Oh, yeah? What is it that women are so angry about? As a statement of the

group that goes by the hashtag #Ra- man-who-wants-to-be-President.” Don’t say we weren’t warned. peIsNotAJoke declare: When public Indeed, as they warn: “Women have *** officials, like Duterte, crack jokes at the reason to be afraid, very afraid.” ADDING their voices to the continuexpense of rape victims, they “send the The awful truth is that the mayor’s ing outcry against Mayor Duterte’s signal that it is okay to rape women.” utterances did not come out in isola- misogynist attitudes, as reflected in “This is an issue that transcends tion, or just from the core of his be- his public “jokes,” declarations and politics,” the statement declares. ing. The laughter and catcalls, the behavior, are the members of The “This is an issue that strikes at the jeers and delight with which his fol- Outstanding Women in the Nation’s very core of our dignity. OnMay 9, let lowers—men and women—received Service (TOWNS), which includes us cast our votes for a president who his incendiary remarks tell us that former senator Leticia Ramos Sharespects us, our place in society, and Do-dirty merely reflects a culture hani (author of the Progressive Anour dignity. We deserve nothing less.” where women (and children) are rou- ti-Rape Law), Chief Justice Maria *** tinely demeaned and debased. Lourdes Sereno, Sen. Loren Legarda, A LONGER statement by the same “It’s as if the string of landmark actress Nora Aunor, and its presigroup points out that “words are gender laws women won (at great dent, civic leader Elsa Payumo. not harmless,” addIn its statement, ing that “they come the TOWNS women It’s as if the string of landmark gender laws women won from somewhere said they “strongly (at great effort) never happened. and lead somecondemn” the maywhere.” This should or’s remarks about dispel claims made that the mayor’s effort) never happened,” said the Hamill, which, they said, “served to “joke” was just a slip of the tongue, group. And these laws—ranging from trivialize the heinousness of the crime, a momentary lapse, and that women the Anti-Sexual Harassment law, to instead of arousing anger and repulshould just get over our anger and the progressive Anti-Rape Law, from sion.” By cracking a joke at the expense move on. the anti-VAWC to the Magna Carta of of Hamill—and her family and counBut words that come out of the women—sought “to redefine male- tryfolk in Australia—Duterte, said mouth of someone, especially a female relations away from male the organization of awarded women, public official, says the group, “are power and privilege to one of mutu- “manifests the mayor’s chauvinistic words embedded in his heart, mind ality and equality of women.” and unhealthy attitude towards womand conscience. Unbidden, they What will happen to these laws, en, which he has shown time and again signal the ingrained attitudes and with what kind of zeal will govern- with wanton disregard for civility in his world view of the person mouthing ment functionaries implement them, campaign sorties.” them. And once said, they form the under the presidency of a man who *** outlines of the overall philosophy makes jokes about rape, sexual ha- ASKING for your support is the OFW and approach to governance of the rassment and summary executions? Family Club (OFWFC) Party List,

#47 on the ballot. Running for reelection, the OFW Family Club was founded by the late ambassador Roy V. Señeres and has been giving assistance to overseas workers for over 15 years. The OFWFC won a seat in the House in 2013, the first time overseas workers were given a voice in the legislature, and thus a role and presence in the creation of laws and policies for the “new heroes” of the country. The first nominee of OFWFC party-list is Roy Señeres Jr., the president of the OFW Family Club. Through the years, though, the OFW Family Club has broadened its advocacy and efforts beyond the welfare of overseas workers and their families. The late ambassador also sought for security of tenure and benefits for local workers through the Rose (Respect our Security of Employment) Movement, with the call: “No to Contractualization.” It has long been a complaint of workers forced to keep to short-term, six-month terms of employment, and Señeres always said that if contractualization did not exist, fewer Filipinos would be forced to leave their families as OFWs since they would enjoy job security at home. Voting for OFWFC Party List, #47 on the ballot, will finally put substance in our declarations that OFWs are, indeed, our new heroes. ■

LOOKING BACK

A story prehistoric ceramics tell By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer AS AN avid collector of antiques since the 1970s, it was inevitable that Rosita Arcenas ended up with over 500 pieces of Chinese and Southeast Asian ceramics, mostly excavated in the Philippines. The pleasing shapes and varied hues lent color to her home. Now well-curated in the University of San Carlos Museum in Cebu, the ceramics have become tangible proof of a lively maritime trade between the Philippines and its neighbors from the 11th through the 19th centuries. Most of these ceramics predate the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan in 1521; these pots are prehistoric, though not so far back to the time of dinosaurs and cavemen; rather, these ceramics were made in the period before written records came to existence in the Philippines. History is a narrative, and the story of these ceramics is the same as those told in the ceramic galleries of the National Museum and by the Roberto Villanueva Collection in the Ayala Museum—stories from artifacts rather than in books and archival manuscripts. Part of our na-

tion’s story comes from old pots that illustrate trade and civilization in these islands long before the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Many of these pots are older than the name “Filipinas” such that the pioneering prehistorian H. Otley Beyer defined the 10th to early 16th centuries as a period different from the earlier Stone Age and Iron Age. Based on his ceramic finds, he aptly described this time as “the Philippines in the Porcelain Age.” Arab and Chinese traders encountered small seafaring communities by the coasts and waterways of the Philippine archipelago in the 9th century. These communities were headed by chiefs, and varied in size and political complexity. Trade was conducted through barter; silk, iron, parasols, glass and porcelain brought by the Chinese were exchanged for the Filipinos’ pearls, tortoise shell, yellow wax, betel nut, abaca fabric, cotton and provisions of fresh water, meat, vegetable and fruit for their onward journey. Traces of this trade are the ceramics that, in our museums, most people find boring because it seems that once you have seen one blue-

and-white Ming plate, you have seen them all. But if you take the time to give these ceramics a second look you will realize that the high-fired imported ceramics are different from low-fired Philippine earthenware; these are impermeable, glazed, ornamented with iron spots or with freely painted auspicious symbols in Chinese or Tibetan characters, as well as with images of pine, prunus, peach, twin, fish, twin Mandarin ducks, dragon chasing pearl, phoenix, and frolicking Fu dogs. These images meant something to the Chinese; what did they come to mean to the early Filipinos? Some high-fired plates and bowls, ringing like a bell when flicked with a finger, came to be used for rituals because they were believed to possess magic qualities. In time, and because of their design and utility, these imported ceramics became prestige objects that proclaimed their owner’s wealth and status. When Magellan arrived in Cebu, he and his men were served food on porcelain plates. Most of the ceramics were found in graves, obviously placed there as furniture the soul could bring to the afterlife. Small dishes, globular jarlets

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and other ceramics accompanied the dead, and of these some of the most prized, then and now, are the miniatures: square jarlets with dragons on the handles; globular jarlets with two ears, or another with lobes that resemble the balimbing fruit. These 14th-century Yuan “balimbing jarlets” that come in plain white qingbai glaze, or white with brown iron spots, or with floral designs in cobalt blue or underglaze red, are significant because these were not found in China. They were found only in archeological sites in the Philippines and parts of Indonesia, which suggests that they were made specially for export to the Southeast Asian market. Also prized by collectors are small ceramic pieces of boys with water buffalo. These were used as water droppers on scholars’ tables where water was added to an ink stone on which ink sticks were ground to produce the ink for Chinese calligraphy. What ancient Filipinos used these jarlets and water droppers for, aside from grave furniture, remains a mystery. Then there are elegant ewers in the shape of the auspicious double gourd with graceful handles in the

form of dragons. They come in three types: white qingbai glaze, white qingbai glaze with brown iron spots, or white qingbai glaze painted with floral sprays in cobalt blue. Used as wine vessels in China, what were they used for in the Philippines? A simpler and smaller version of these can be seen in Chinese restaurants today, as droppers for soy sauce or vinegar. In a Filipino home these can be used as vessels for patis. When the Filipinos were converted to Christianity, their burial practices changed. They were buried on consecrated ground near churches and towns. Porcelain and other pabaon were no longer placed in graves or coffins. But old habits die hard, and in the 21st century Filipinos still practice a form of pabaon by throwing flowers into the grave of loved ones at the time of burial; or by leaving a cut rosary, paper currency, or other keepsakes in the coffin to accompany the dead in the afterlife. Next time you get bored with a museum display of ancient pots, give them a second look and imagine how they must have figured in our prehistory and how they figure in our lives today. ■

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Canada News

Liberal infrastructure changes mean Canada confirms its money for ferries, small roads first case of sexually transmitted Zika virus, in Ontario BY JORDAN PRESS The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Cities and provinces with new, shovel-ready infrastructure projects will be eligible for funding under the first phase of the Liberal infrastructure program, but only if the work is completed within the next three years. That’s the message in letters which federal Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi sent to his provincial counterparts last week. Project costs for transit and waste-water and water-treatment projects will be eligible retroactive to April 1, “so work can begin immediately,” Sohi wrote. The first phase of the Liberals’ promised 10-year infrastructure plan wraps up in 2019 — just as the country heads to the polls in a federal election — and is mostly focused on repairing aging roads, pipes and transit systems across the country. It is also designed to lay the foundation for the second and more lucrative phase of the Liberal plan by covering planning costs for larger projects. “There is money for design, there is money for planning and there is money for doing small projects if they are ready to move ahead with them,” Sohi told reporters at the Liberal cabinet retreat in Kananaskis, Alta. “There are big challenges related to not doing the rehabilitation and the repairs that are necessary and for Phase 2 we have already started consultations with (cities) and that’s where we will have the opportunities to support transformative projects.” The Federation of Canadian Municipalities says there are many projects that could be eligible, from transit stations in Vancouver to waste-water treatment systems in Victoria and St. John’s that are among 106 systems that need upgrades in the next four years at an esti-

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press

RMNOA357 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

mated cost of $3.5 billion. Money can’t go to municipal projects without funding agreements between the federal and provincial governments. “What these letters today do is that they set the framework and gives clarity for provinces and territories from the federal government for those negotiations and discussions to occur,” said FCM president Raymond Louie. The Liberals pledged in the budget, flowing from a campaign promise, to double infrastructure spending over the next 10 years to bring the overall federal investment to $120 billion. The first two years of the new infrastructure program has $6.6 billion for provinces and cities, not including money promised to First Nations infrastructure or to universities. The Liberals also promised changes to the government’s existing marquee infrastructure program, known as the New Building Canada Fund, to quickly move about $8.7 billion remaining from the provincial and territorial stream of that fund to cities and provinces. The Liberals want the remaining money allocated to projects within the next two years. The government is expanding eligibility under the fund, including work on small-scale highways and roads in provinces like Prince Edward Island that previously didn’t qualify because they weren’t big enough in scope or impact. The federal government is

also going to fund eligible project costs for ferry systems that provinces like B.C. wanted included in the fund. NDP infrastructure critic Matthew Dube said problems with the design of the fund could still cause problems for cities and provinces, even though the government relaxed eligibility criteria. “Does that mean the stated goals would actually be accomplished? I don’t think so,” Dube said. “We really needed to build a new infrastructure program from the ground up that would actually take into account what the provinces and territories and municipalities and all the communities involved have said are the problems.” Sohi’s letters also show the government will cover up to half the cost of disaster-mitigation projects, including those that would fight floods in provinces like Alberta and Manitoba, and any projects delivered as a public-private partnership, known as a P3. The government has removed the requirement for communities to always look for a privatesector partner on projects, but hasn’t abandoned the idea: In a speech last week at a conference on public-private partnerships, Sohi said the government believes some projects are best suited to a P3, citing the new Champlain Bridge in Montreal and the Gordie Howe International Bridge in Windsor, Ont. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

TORONTO — Canada has recorded its first confirmed case of sexually transmitted Zika virus in an Ontario resident whose partner was infected after travelling to a country where the mosquito-borne disease has become endemic. The case was announced Monday by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the Ontario Ministry of Health, but no further details about the resident were made public. The diagnosis was confirmed after testing by PHAC’s National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg, which is still investigating another possible case of sexually transmitted Zika. On March 24, Saskatchewan’s deputy chief medical health officer said the province was scrutinizing the case of a woman who was believed to have contracted the virus after having sex with a man who had travelled to a country where Zika is prevalent. “The Saskatchewan case remains under investigation,” a spokesman for the province’s ministry of health said Monday by email. “It hasn’t yet been confirmed by the National Microbiology Laboratory.” To date, there have been 55 other confirmed cases of Zika among Canadians, all of whom were infected while travelling to regions where the disease is spreading, including South and Central America, parts of Mexico and the Caribbean. Among them are two B.C. women, who are pregnant. “While bites from infected mosquitoes remain the primary way to get Zika virus, sexual transmission of the virus is to be expected given that a small

number of cases have been reported elsewhere in the world,” PHAC said in a release. Most people who contract the infection have no symptoms; those who do get sick experience such ill effects as fever, joint pain, rash and red eyes. The disease usually resolves in about a week. However, the virus had been potentially linked in Brazil to thousands of cases of abnormally small heads in infants born to women who were infected while pregnant. After months of intensive research, scientists confirmed earlier this month that Zika does cause what’s known as microcephaly as well as other fetal brain defects. There’s also been a spike in cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological condition that can cause muscle weakness or even partial paralysis, among Zika-infected children and adults. Zika was first detected in a rhesus monkey in the Zika forest of Uganda in 1947. Since then, the disease has spread from Africa and Southeast Asia, across the Pacific to South America and beyond. PHAC said there have been no confirmed cases of locally acquired Zika from infected mosquitoes, as the species that transmit the virus are not established in Canada, making the risk to Canadians “very low.” However, the agency said pregnant women and those planning a pregnancy should avoid travel to countries with Zika outbreaks. If travel cannot be avoided or postponed, strict mosquito-bite prevention measures should be taken because of the risk of serious health effects ❱❱ PAGE 23 Canada confirms

Canada News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Duffy judgment shines light on Harper’s PMO, state of Canadian governance BY BRUCE CHEADLE The Canadian Press OTTAWA — There were no apologies from Conservatives on Friday following a scathing court judgment that exonerated Sen. Mike Duffy of 31 expenserelated criminal charges while indicting his former political masters in the Prime Minister’s Office of Stephen Harper. Only Conservative MP Candice Bergen was willing to speak with reporters, offering up a stout defence of Harper’s leadership while avoiding the specifics of the Duffy verdict. Judge Charles Vaillancourt, in acquitting Duffy of all charges a day earlier, painted an exacting portrait of Harper’s underlings manipulating the Senate using a covert command-and-control system that the veteran judge flatly deemed “unacceptable.” Tight, centralized control from the Prime Minister’s Office isn’t a new story in Canada’s parliamentary system, but the Duffy trial testimony and judgment gave rare insight into what Vaillancourt described as a “mind-boggling and shocking” case study. Donald Savoie, a political sci-

entist who literally wrote the book on “court government,” said in an interview that his 1999 academic treatise “Governing From the Centre” was considered a bit over the top at the time. “Clearly I didn’t overstate the case,” Savoie said Friday from his University of Moncton office. From his vantage point, Savoie said Vaillancourt absolved Duffy and found the PMO guilty. “They over-played their cards,” said the acclaimed student of governments and bureaucracies. “It demonstrated tremendous disrespect for the institutions of the land, for parliament, for the Senate, for the House of Commons.” “I think the lesson learned for the current PMO is, look, guys and gals, you can’t push your weight around like that anymore. It doesn’t work. The level of transparency now (means) we will know.” Harper, still the MP for Calgary-Heritage, did not respond to a request for comment through his office. Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose was not in the House of Commons and top former cabinet ministers who were on hand, such as Jason Kenney and Peter Van Loan, ex-

ited by back doors rather than face reporters seeking reaction to the ruling. Former cabinet member Michelle Rempel, usually a garrulous and open MP, offered a terse “no comment” as she sped past the microphones. Only Bergen, the Conservative MP for Portage-Lisgar and former minister of state for social development, was prepared to face the news cameras and defend her old government. “I would respectfully disagree with people, including the judge, who somehow thinks that we were all told what to do at the PMO,” said Bergen. She said the Conservatives worked as a team, while acknowledging Harper’s image problem as a control freak, contrasting him to current Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “It was the narrative because Mr. Harper wasn’t the selfie king at all. He wasn’t in GQ (magazine),” said Bergen. “He wasn’t talking with all of you (news media) folks as much as you probably would have wanted. The narrative then was he’s controlling, he’s a dictator. That was the narrative. It wasn’t true. He was a strong, strong leader.” With Duffy fully reinstated

Senator Mike Duffy.

in the Senate and former PMO staff scattered to the winds, NDP MP Peter Julian was left to wonder, “who’s taking responsibility for this fiasco?” John McKay, a veteran Liberal MP who’s now parliamentary secretary to the defence minister, gave a surprisingly frank response when asked how Canadians can know that the same old centralized power won’t continue in the Prime Minister’s Office. “In some respects you don’t,” said McKay. He then pointed to Trudeau’s decision to remove all Liberalappointed senators from the party caucus and create a more partisanship-free Senate appointment process. “That creates its own level of difficulties,” said McKay. “In fact, we’re in kind of a no-man’s land as to how we get our own legislation through.” Nonetheless, McKay called

SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE

Vaillancourt’s judgment good for democracy. “I wish it was not so, but I think the judge has done us all a service to call our democracy to an account. And thank goodness we operate under the rule of law, and not under the rule of gossip.” Savoie, the long-time critic of centralized government control, also sees a silver lining. The Senate will be forced to firm up its rules and regulations, Senate appointments will be less partisan and the PMO has been proven vulnerable to exposure of its inner workings. “I think change will come about and we’ve started to see it,” said the academic. “There’s accountability through rules and processes; that’s one kind of accountability. The other form of accountability is reputation. Some reputations were destroyed through this process.” ■

Canada Revenue Agency mailed SIN numbers to wrong people — twice: MP THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — A New Democrat MP says the Canada Revenue Agency twice mailed batches of private information — including names and social insurance numbers — to the wrong people in his riding. Charlie Angus has asked the

office of federal privacy commissioner Daniel Therrien to investigate the apparent privacy violations. In a letter to the commissioner’s office, Angus says the revenue agency mailed a package April 6 to several constituents in Kirkland Lake, Ont., containing the names, SINs, addresses and phone numbers of

five people. Five days later, the same constituents were mailed a second package with similar personal information about 11 people. Angus, who has often criticized the federal agency over privacy lapses, calls the latest incidents completely unacceptable. The revenue agency had no immediate comment.

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In his latest annual report, Therrien urged federal agencies to put more rigorous safeguards in place to protect sensitive personal information. The commissioner underscored a record-high number of federal government data breaches disclosed to his office. Federal institutions reported 256 breaches in 2014-2015, up

from 228 the year before. It marked the first time institutions were required to report significant data breaches to the commissioner. As in previous years, the leading cause of breaches was accidental disclosure, a risk Therrien said can often be managed by following proper procedures. ■

Canada News

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Alberta credit rating Ransom for hostages may be flexible matter downgraded to double A from triple A due to rising debt THE CANADIAN PRESS

THE CANADIAN PRESS EDMONTON — Alberta’s credit rating has taken another hit. Moody’s Investor Service announced Monday it has downgraded Alberta’s long-term debt rating to double-A1 from triple-A and has given it a negative outlook. It’s the second downgrade from a rating service since the province released its budget on April 14 that included removal of its debt ceiling and a forecast of $58 billion in debt by 2019. Moody’s says the downgrade “reflects the province’s growing and unconstrained debt burden, extended timeframe back to balance, weakened liquidity, and risks surrounding the success of the province’s mediumterm fiscal plan given the outlook for subdued growth.” It also says the province forecasts oil prices to be higher than what Moody’s is predicting. Finance Minister Joe Ceci, who is on a trip to Toronto and New York to meet with business leaders, says the downgrade is “disappointing.” “We have the strongest bal-

ance sheet in the country and net assets of nearly $50 billion,” Ceci said in a news release. “The budget released last week clearly demonstrated our commitment to getting costs under control, especially in health care, by cutting spending growth to an average of two per cent over the next three years.” Moody’s said Alberta’s success in reducing the deficit is predicated on the success of the province’s spending plan and whether the anticipated forecasts for revenue improvement and oil price recovery will materialize. “Given the lengthy period of deficits, potential for weaker economic activity and continued revenue dependence on volatile oil royalties, the negative outlook reflects Moody’s view that the province’s fiscal health could deteriorate further.” A day after Alberta’s budget came out on April 14, DBRS downgraded the province’s rating to double-A from triple-A due to debt levels. The budget includes a $10.4-billion deficit this year. ■

OTTAWA — The Canadian government publicly says it does not negotiate with terrorists, but the private reality may well be more flexible. Canadians abroad are not immune to being kidnapped for financial gain or for political or propaganda purposes, says Public Safety Canada’s 2014 report on terrorism. “Ransom money is often used to help fund terrorism-related activities, including recruitment, arms procurement, training camps, terrorist attacks and furthering political agendas.” The report insists the federal government’s approach to kidnapping respects firm principles: no policy changes, no prisoner exchanges, no immunity from prosecution and no ransom payments. Global Affairs Canada’s travel advisory website says that if a Canadian abroad is the victim of a hijacking, hostage-taking or kidnapping, Canadian consular officials can “work closely with local authorities to facilitate an early and safe release,” and maintain contact with a designated family member to keep them informed. It does not address the issue of ransom payments. The Abu Sayyaf militants who murdered Canadian John Ridsdel in the Philippines on Monday had demanded a huge

government and international partners to “pursue those responsible for this heinous act and bring them to justice.” On behalf of all Canadians, he also expressed his “deepest condolences” to Ridsdel’s family and friends. “They have endured a terrible ordeal and this is a devastating moment for all of them.” Saying that the safety of Canadian citizens is the first priority of the government, Trudeau said the government will not comment or release any information that might “compromise ongoing efforts or endanger the safety of the remaining hostages.” He did not answer any ques-

tions, including whether the government had paid a ransom for Ridsdel or Hall. However, an official said it is long-standing government policy to not pay ransom demands. Interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose called news of Ridsdel’s execution “shocking and saddening.” “Incidents like this should remind all of us that the threat of terrorism remains very real,” she said in a statement. “We must stand with our allies in solidarity against terrorism, which remains the greatest challenge that the world faces today.” NDP Leader Tom Mulcair called on the Trudeau government to do everything pos-

Ransom money is often used to help fund terrorism-related activities, including recruitment, arms procurement, training camps, terrorist attacks and furthering political agendas.

ransom for him and three others kidnapped with him. An al-Qaida letter obtained by The Associated Press three years ago suggests about $1 million was paid for the release of Canadian diplomat Robert Fowler in Niger in 2009. Fowler, the highest-ranking United Nations official in the African country, and his colleague Louis Guay, were kidnapped and held for four months before being released. The news agency did not indicate who provided the $1 million for Fowler and Guay. In a published memoir, Fowler said he did not know if a ransom was paid. However, the Globe and Mail newspaper reported the deal — brokered by several Western nations working through Afri-

can intermediaries — involved a prisoner swap and multimillion-dollar payment. A leaked U.S. diplomatic cable from February 2010 lent credence to the notion Canada makes payments, quoting Washington’s then-ambassador to Mali as saying “it is difficult to level criticism on countries like Mali and Burkina Faso for facilitating negotiations when the countries that pay ransom, like Austria and Canada are given a pass.” Journalist Amanda Lindhout, a native of Red Deer, Alta., and Australian photographer Nigel Brennan were seized by young gunmen near strife-torn Mogadishu, Somalia, in August 2008. Both were released on Nov. 25, 2009, after their families paid a ransom. ■

sible to rescue the other hostages and declared that “we stand united in condemning this outrageous and despicable act.” “Tragic events like this must not lessen our diplomatic resolve to work towards peace across the world,” Mulcair added in a statement. In militant videos posted online, Ridsdel and Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad and Filipino Marites Flor were shown sitting in a clearing with heavily armed militants standing behind them. In some of the videos, a militant positioned a long knife on Ridsdel’s neck. Two black flags hung in the backdrop of lush foliage. The abductions highlight-

ed the long-running security problems hounding the southern Philippines, a resource-rich region that suffers from poverty, lawlessness and decadeslong Muslim and communist insurgencies. Abu Sayyaf emerged in the early 1990s as an offshoot of a separatist rebellion by minority Muslims in the predominantly Roman Catholic nation’s south. The group — which Canada and other western countries consider a terrorist organization — has relied on extortion and huge ransoms earned from kidnappings of mostly Western tourists and missionaries to survive for more than two decades. ■

PM Trudeau... was dumped in a street Monday night by two men on a motorcycle in Jolo, a town in Sulu province. Trudeau said he was “outraged” by the news. “Canada condemns without reservation the brutality of the hostage takers and this unnecessary death,” Trudeau said in a hastily assembled appearance before the media in the midst of a cabinet retreat. “This was an act of coldblooded murder and responsibility rests squarely with the terrorist group who took him hostage.” Trudeau said the Canadian government is committed to working with the Philippine ❰❰ 1

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World News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

2 men including USAID employee killed in Bangladesh THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW DELHI — Unidentified assailants fatally stabbed two men in Bangladesh’s capital Monday night, including a gay rights activist who also worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development, police said, in the latest in a series of attacks targeting atheists, moderates and foreigners. Police said they suspected radical Islamists in the attack, which occurred two days after a university professor was hacked to death. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. The victims were identified as USAID employee Xulhaz Mannan, who previously worked as a U.S. Embassy protocol officer, and his friend, Tanay Majumder, according to Mohammed Iqbal, a police officer in Dhaka’s Kalabagan area. Mannan was also an editor of Bangladesh’s first gay rights magazine, Roopbaan, as well as a cousin of former Foreign Minister Dipu Moni of the governing Awami League party. The U.S. ambassador condemned the killing, just weeks after the U.S. government and numerous rights groups urged the government of the Muslim-majority country to better protect its citizens and secure free speech. “I am devastated by the brutal murder of Xulhaz Mannan and another young Bangladeshi this evening in Dhaka,” Ambassador Marcia Bernicat said in a statement. “Xulhaz was more than a colleague to those of us fortunate to work with him at the U.S. Embassy. He was a dear friend.” “We abhor this senseless act of violence and urge the government of Bangladesh in the strongest terms to apprehend the criminals behind these murders,” she said. Security guard Mohammed Parvez told reporters that five or six young men posing as employees of a courier service entered the six-story building where Mannan lived and went upstairs to his unit. He said they hit him with knives later when they left. He was treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital for his injuries. A man who told local broadcaster Somoy TV that he had witnessed the attack also said at least five young men took part in the killing. He said they chanted “Allahu Akbar,” or “Allah is Great” as they left the scene. Bangladesh has been riven by a wave of deadly attacks on foreigners, religious minorities and secular bloggers, raising fears that religious extremists are gaining a foothold in the country, despite its traditions of secularism and tolerance. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government has cracked down on domestic

radical Islamists. Although the Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the killing Saturday of university professor Rezaul Karim Siddique in a northwestern city, Hasina’s government dismisses the claims and insists the extremist group has no presence in the South Asian country. The U.S. government earlier this month said it is considering granting refuge to a select number of secular bloggers facing imminent danger in Bangladesh. In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby said Monday that remained an option, and the department was encouraging the Department of Homeland Security, which makes the determination in such cases, to keep that under consideration. Kirby called the attack “barbaric.” He described Mannan as a “beloved member of our embassy family and a courageous advocate” for LGBT rights, and pledged U.S. support to Bangladeshi authorities “to ensure that the cowards who did this are held accountable.” U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry also condemned Mannan’s killing. “We remain committed to the principles that were so important to Xulhaz and we promise to support all those who work on behalf of tolerance and human rights in Bangladesh and around the world,” Kerry said in a statement. The rights group Amnesty International pressed the Bangladeshi government to do more to stop such killings, with its South Asia director, Champa Patel, saying that Monday’s attack “underscores the appalling lack of protection being afforded to a range of peaceful activists in the country.” The group noted that homosexual relations are considered a crime under Bangladeshi law, making it harder for gay activists to report any threats against them. “There have been four deplorable killings so far this month alone. It is shocking that no one has been held to account for these horrific attacks, and that almost no protection has been given to threatened members of civil society,” Patel said. Sen. Ben Cardin, top-ranking Democrat on the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the uptick in attacks “tragic” and urged Bangladesh to address the root causes of terrorism in its society. Bangladeshi authorities, “must send a signal - loud and clear - that crimes against anyone for who they are, the work they do, who they love, or what God they worship can have no place in a modern society,” Cardin said in a statement. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

APRIL 29, 2016

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FRIDAY

World News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Facetime with queen, princes completes Obama’s royal visit BY DARLENE SUPERVILLE The Associated Press LONDON — President Barack Obama plunged into a whirlwind of royal socializing Friday that began over a birthday lunch with Queen Elizabeth II and ended at a dinner hosted by the trio of young royals who represent the future of the British monarchy. Obama, accompanied by his wife, Michelle, arrived by helicopter on the verdant grounds of Windsor Castle, the sprawling, centuries-old royal residence and tourist lure located just west of London where the queen celebrated her 90th birthday a day earlier. With a patterned scarf tied around her head in a light drizzle, the queen climbed from the dark blue Range Rover that her husband, Prince Philip, drove to the landing area for Britain’s oldest and longest-serving monarch to welcome her third U.S. president to the castle. The couples shook hands be-

fore climbing into the vehicle — ladies in the back seat — for the short ride to the castle. Inside, the queen led the group into a sitting room warmed by a fire and asked the president where he wanted to sit. “The queen has been a source of inspiration for me,” Obama said later at a news conference alongside British Prime Minister David Cameron. “She is truly one of my favourite people ... an astonishing person.” Obama capped the day with a trip to Kensington Palace, where he and the first lady were invited for dinner with Prince William, his wife, Kate, and his brother, Prince Harry. William is second in line to ascend to the throne after his father, Prince Charles. Obama, in an open-collar shirt with his suit, held an umbrella for his wife, dressed in a camel-colored ensemble. The royals greeted them and they all posed for photographs before entering the residence. William and Kate’s nearly 3-year-old son, Prince George, was spotted

just inside the door. Obama broke up the royal Obama said the eventual outThe palace later released a holiday by stopping at 10 Down- come a looming June 23 referseries of photos showing ev- ing St. for talks with Cameron endum would not change the eryone chatting in the draw- about the Islamic State group, “special relationship” between ing room of William and Kate’s Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, the the U.S. and the U.K. He cited home, and of Obama kneeling global economy, Russia’s stance the case of a top aide, deputy in front of George, who ap- toward Ukraine, politics and chief of staff Anita Decker peared ready for bed in pyjamas other issues. Breckenridge, who has worked and a robe. In some photos, a They also discussed Brit- for him since before he was first stuffed toy replica of Obama’s ain’s possible exit from the elected. dog Bo, an earlier gift to the tod- European Union, or Brexit, Obama said his aide’s one redler from the president, rested which Obama publicly argued quest was to accompany him on an ottoman. against. to Windsor, if he ever went, on At the Windsor Castle lunCameron is leading the cam- the slight chance that she could cheon, the queen donned a paign to keep Britain in the get to see the queen. Obama periwinkle blue suit while Mrs. 28-nation EU. At the news con- said the queen graciously inObama wore an Oscar de la ference, Obama said solving cluded Breckenridge in a group Renta print dress topped with a world challenges “requires col- of people she greeted as they dark purple Narciso Rodriguez lective action” as he argued for emerged from lunch. And, he coat. The Obamas brought as a why Britons should vote to stay said Breckenridge, “who is as gift a photo diary of the queen’s in the alliance. He said mem- tough as they come, almost many visits with U.S. presidents bership amplifies British influ- fainted.” and first ladies. ence around the world. “That’s the special relationThe album opens with her Cameron is facing opposition ship,” he said. “We are so bound 1951 visit when, as Princess from within his Conservative together that nothing’s going to Elizabeth, Duchess of Ed- government and widespread impact the emotional and culinburgh, she toured George skepticism among voters about tural affinities between our two Washington’s estate at Mount the benefit of EU membership. countries. So I don’t come here, Vernon in Virginia and met Backers of those who support suggesting in any way, that that President Harry Truman at the Britain’s exit have accused is impacted by a decision the White House. She has not vis- Obama of hypocrisy and med- people of the United Kingdom ited Obama at the White House. dling. may make.” BCBC-WhatIs-PhilipineCanInq_5x6_C_01.pdf 1 14/04/2016 11:42 am ■

The College of Chiropractors of BC and the BC Chiropractic Association are proud to launch BackCareBC™ New multilingual campaign will help inform British Columbians about the benefits of chiropractic care VANCOUVER, BC — Today the College of Chiropractors of BC and the BC Chiropractic Association are pleased to announce the launch of BackCareBC, a new multilingual campaign introducing the benefits of chiropractic care to British Columbians unfamiliar with chiropractors. The campaign highlights the education, training, regulation and care that chiropractors provide to their patients. With ads in English, Punjabi, Mandarin and Cantonese, the campaign’s goal is to inform British Columbians about what chiropractors do and why they are a valuable health resource. Ads will be supported by a website that provides detailed information on chiropractic care as well as a search tool to find a chiropractor by location. British Columbians will also be able to search by language spoken for those who are more comfortable seeing a chiropractor who shares their native tongue.

“We are excited about the launch of BackCareBC,” said Dr. Jay Robinson, President and CEO, BC Chiropractic Association. “Chiropractors can play an important part in the treatment of spine, joint and muscular injuries, and the BC Chiropractic Association wants to ensure that as many British Columbians as possible are aware of the benefits of visiting a chiropractor.” “It’s important that patients are able to understand their diagnosis and treatment options so they can make an informed decision about their health,” added Michelle Da Roza, Registrar of the College of Chiropractors of BC. “When patients are able to converse with their health care provider in a language they are most comfortable with, they experience better outcomes.” The campaign launches April 18, and will appear in newspapers and television across the Lower Mainland. More details can be found at www. BackCareBC.ca. www.canadianinquirer.net

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

A Personal Journey

Marica Morales uses her beauty and talent to pay it forward ON MARCH 31st, Psyboos Entertainment hosted the second annual Miss Asia Vancouver Pageant, which took place at the Vancouver Club, downtown Vancouver. Although I did not win the crown nor the title of Miss Asia Vancouver 2016, I am blessed to have been awarded first run-

ner up. Being a part of the event is one for the books! Getting toknow the nine other contestants was the most rewarding aspects of the pageant. I am lucky to have met and interacted with such an amazing and dynamic group of beautiful young ladies who all have great hearts. I am someone who loves to

inspire and to be inspired. I want to be recognized for being an inspirational and influential leader in my community, and I think there should be more leaders out there. I love being able to make a difference in people’s lives. As an aspiring life coach, my goal is to not only help others realize their life’s

purpose, but help them live it. I feel it is all about paying it forward. Be kind to one another, help one another and as Mahatma Ghandi said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” I want to help build more confident leaders by inspiring others to live to their highest potential and lead meaningful and ful-

filling lives. This pageant was a great vehicle for me to share my passion with others as well as to express myself and be respected for who I am. I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity. ■ Feel free to visit my website http://maricamorales.com for your daily dose of inspiration.

Senator Enverga reacts with horror to Canadian loss SENATOR TOBIAS C. Enverga Jr. reacted with horror upon learning of the execution of a Canadian hostage by the militant group Abu Sayyaf in the Philippines. “I am shocked and outraged by the senseless loss of a Canadian life at the hands of extremist militants,” said Senator Enverga in a statement. “I am hopeful that Canada will remain steadfast in providing humanitarian assistance and security programs to the Philippines, and that the

cowardly actions of a few individuals will not deter our commitment to one of our closest friends in South East Asia.” John Ridsdel was among the group of foreigners taken hostage by the Abu Sayyaf from the Holiday Oceanview resort on Samal Island in southern Philippines on Sept. 21, last year. A video released by the militants earlier this year indicated the group’s intention of beheading Ridsdel if the demand for ransom of PHP300 million (ap-

proximately $8.3 million) was not met by the imposed deadline of 3 p.m. on Apr. 25. Ridsdel’s death was confirmed mere hours after the deadline lapsed. “My deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. Ridsdel,” said Senator Enverga. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this terrible time.” The fate of the other three hostages—Canadian Robert Hall, Norwegian Kjartan Sekkingstad, and Filipino Marites Flor—remains unknown. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

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Community News

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Toronto marks Asian Heritage Week with Proudly Pinoy Day BY T. SAN JUAN

Top: Voters cast their ballots at the Embassy's Comelec-approved field voting in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Bottom: Voters in Ottawa experience Comelec's Automated Election Systems (AEC) for overseas voting in Canada.

Eager Filipinos cast their ballots in bigger number than 2013 elections PHILIPPINE EMBASSY IN OTTAWA MANNING OVERSEAS voting desks in Ottawa and a field voting outlet for the Maritime Provinces in Canada, the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa saw eager Filipinos casting their ballots in bigger numbers during the first 10 days of overseas voting for the 2016 national elections. A total of 223 ballots have been cast by mail or in person from April 9 to 18 or 78 percent more than ballots cast during the first 10 days of overseas voting for the 2013 national elections. In Halifax, Nova Scotia where the Embassy conducted field voting on Apr. 15 to 16, some Filipino voters even took a long

drive from the neighboring provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick to deliver or cast their votes in person. “Gusto kong iexercise ang right of suffrage ko. Baka may magbago,” said Regor Gamarcha, a permanent resident of Halifax. (I want to exercise my right of suffrage. Something might change.) With 20 more calendar days of continuous overseas voting to go, the Philippine Embassy expects a further surge in votes cast, especially during the week before May 9, when the voting period ends at 5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) or 5 p.m. Philippine Standard Time (PST). Aside from continuous voting from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in Ottawa until 5 a.m. of May 9, the Philippine Embassy has

also scheduled field voting days at the St. Kevin Parish Hall in Montreal. “There is a palpable sense of excitement accompanying Filipino overseas voters who have cast their ballots in our consular jurisdiction. Voter apathy does not appear to be at play this time around. I am hopeful that the majority of the 7,331 registered voters under our jurisdiction will heed the Embassy’s call to exercise their right to choose their new leaders,” Philippine Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia observed. The Philippine Embassy has consular jurisdiction over Ottawa and areas in Ontario east of Kingston as well as the provinces of Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Islands, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Nunavut. ■

trying to conceive to ensure any possible Zika infection has cleared from the body. _ Because the Zika virus can persist in semen for an extended period, infected men are advised to use condoms with a pregnant partner for the duration of the pregnancy.

_ Couples should also postpone conception for six months by using condoms if the male partner has been diagnosed with Zika, and infected men should consider using condoms with any partner for six months to prevent sexual transmission of the virus. ■

IN CELEBRATION of Asian Heritage Week in Ontario, the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) will hold its Annual Proudly Pinoy Day on May 28, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the St. Maria Goretti Catholic School, in Scarborough, Toronto. The free event with its theme, “Strengthening Our Families,” will showcase a day- long program of Filipino cultural and heritage presentations including talks, raffle prizes, and musical and dance entertainment numbers. It will provide opportunity for parents, youth, students and teachers to join and participate in group workshops on education issues roundtable, advice and insights from notable community role models, learning Filipino arts, and strategies for well-being development and healthy relationships. Organized by the TCDSB Community Relations Department, International Languages Department and St. Maria Goretti Catholic School, the family, fun and fellowship fete

is being conducted in partnership and collaboration with Centre for Immigrant and Community Services, Council of Filipino Canadian Professionals - Ontario, CultureLink, Filipino Canadian Community House, For Youth Initiative, Kababayan Multicultural Centre, Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture, North York Community House, Philippine Teachers Association of Canada, The 519 Church Street Community Centre, Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office and Toronto Police Services. Among the major participating Toronto Catholic elementary and secondary schools, together with their students, parents, presenters, teachers and volunteers are: James Cardinal McGuigan SS, Jean Vanier Catholic S.S., St. Barnabas Catholic School, St. Patrick CSS and Northview Heights Secondary School, FilCan Rachelle Cruz, a multi-media journalist, talk show host, ABS-CBN Balitang America correspondent, writer, and reporter for The Philippine Reporter, will host the 2016 occasion. ■

Book launch

Canada confirms... on the unborn baby. Travellers returning from Zika-affected countries and their sexual partners need to take precautions to protect against transmission: _ Women planning a pregnancy are strongly advised to wait at least two months before ❰❰ 16

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Photo shows Eleonor Guerrero Campbell with her first novel, Stumbling Through Paradise. After retiring in 2012, Eleonor began work on her novel using literary skills learned from her first degree English and Comparative Literature, courses with writing guru Natalie Goldberg, and her own experiences in the field to help shape her characters and their journey. Her book launch is set on May 21 at the Multipurpose Room 4, Creekside Community Centre, Olympic Village Vancouver, B.C.

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Entertainment

Jasmine’s big bro now her lover on-screen BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer NO, IT WAS not “strange” at all. TV5 actress Jasmine CurtisSmith asserted that she didn’t feel ill at ease being paired with Richard Gutierrez in Carlo J. Caparas’ fantasy series, “Panday.” To backtrack a bit: Richard was involved with Jasmine’s older sister Anne Curtis ages ago. People merely jumped to conclusions, she explained. “They kept saying it was weird, so I ended up imbibing it and thinking the same thing,” Jasmine responded to the INQUIRER’s question. “But there was really nothing to feel awkward about.” Tapings are going smoothly, she related. “It’s fun. Richard is ma-chika (chatty). Between takes, we talk about the TV shows that we enjoy. I recently introduced him to ‘Orphan Black.’ That is how we build rapport on the set.” They also joke about their common history. “I once teased

him that I was only 4 years old when I met him,” she recalled. “He countered that he was 15 then.” For the record, she clarified that she was 9 when Richard and Anne were a couple. Needless to say, Jasmine never imagined that her sister’s exbeau would one day be her onscreen lover. Quite adamantly, she insisted that she never found him attractive back then. Richard was definitely not her childhood crush. “I was a baby then,” she exclaimed. “For me, it’s automatic… I will never look at my sister’s boyfriend that way. At the time, I treated Richard as a kuya (big brother).” To have the “feels” for Richard, she gasped, would be “incestuous.” In any case, Jasmine volunteered that her current love life is “happy.” She’d rather not “compare” this present relationship with previous involvements, specifically with actor-singer Sam Concepcion, which can only be

described as stormy, to say the least. (There were reports that Anne didn’t approve of Sam.) “Every step I took has brought me to where I am now,” she turned introspective. “I am still growing up. Whatever I learned from the past, I use it in the present.” She told the INQUIRER that she is currently dating a nonshow biz guy who has show biz connections. The rumor mill has identified the “constant date” as Jeff Ortega and “he is related to Coleen Garcia,” Jasmine noted. Another persistent question is whether Jeff has gained Anne’s stamp of approval. A photo of Anne dining with Jasmine and Jeff has cropped up in cyberspace. “Just because we have a photo together doesn’t mean he’s already off the hook,” Jasmine quipped, quick on the draw. “He is still ‘under observation.’ My parents and sister will always look out for me.” It seems that Jasmine can very well take care of herself,

Jasmine Curtis-Smith.

though. In “Panday,” she was tasked to learn arnis, muay Thai, jujitsu, wing chun. “Onmy first day, I had to do a fight scene. It’s a new challenge for me. Good thing, I enjoy mixed martial arts,” recounted Jasmine, who now sports a chestnut tan that’s courtesy of “a Davao trip.” Apart from “Panday,” Jas-

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mine is also working on “Forever Sucks,” a web series from D5 Studio Originals (the online arm of TV5). In “Forever Sucks,” which combines such youthful genres as horror and romantic comedy, she plays a vampire who works in a call center’s graveyard shift. “It’s awesome to be part of a pioneering show,” she said. ■

No stopping MMFF reforms

The New Wave section for independently-produced movies was scrapped for this year’s festival. Indie films can vie for spots in the main competition instead BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer A PERSISTENT question begs to be answered: With the coming election, will the proposed reforms in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) be implemented or junked? The term of the chair of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which spearheads the MMFF, is coterminous with the president. “The MMDA is under the Office of the President,” explained Rep. Alfred Vargas, a member of the revamped execom. When the newly elected President assumes office in July, he or she will appoint an MMDA chair—a position currently held

by Emerson Carlos. The current execom members’ term supposedly ends Dec. 31, but Vargas noted that they are serving in an “interim capacity.” “Everything is floating. It all depends on who will become the next President,” remarked Vargas, who is campaigning for the administration’s bets. Scriptwriter-producer Moira Lang, another execom member, told the INQUIRER: “Things can change in the MMDA, that is why we want to make these changes now.” However, Vargas, a movieTV actor, pointed out that the execom predominantly represents industry stakeholders and agencies that would most likely be tapped by the next

president, too. Last January, Vargas attended the Congressional hearings that tackled the disqualification of “Honor Thy Father” from the best picture race of the 2015 MMFF. “Those meetings were very productive. We realized … the improvements that we needed to make,” he recalled. With regard to the first day-last day issue, Vargas asserted: “Producers already took a big risk. They should be given a chance [to recoup their investment]. We want a level playing field.” He related that the execom “is studying the matter to come up with a specific number of days that is fair to everyone concerned.” Suffice it to say, the execom www.canadianinquirer.net

is consulting theater owners, as well. Deadline for submission of finished films is Sept. 28, said Lang. “Entry fee is usually P50,000. But if a producer submits by Sept. 14, the fee is reduced to P30,000.” The New Wave section for independently-produced movies was scrapped for this year’s MMFF. Indie films can vie for spots in the main competition, instead. Lang clarified, “The execom decided it was time to do away with the dichotomy that is ‘mainstream vs indie’ … and become a festival that celebrates and promotes excellent Filipino films—whether produced by big studios or independent outfits.” Vargas wants to propose a

separate film festival for the indies, to be held months before the annual December event, “either in July or August.” “With the MMFF, 14 days are devoted exclusively to local films,” he noted. “With this new event to be called the Filipino Film Festival, there will be an additional 14 days for local movies.” Moreover, he wants to see a more equitable distribution of cinemas between local and foreign movies on regular, nonfestival days. “It should be 5050. Now, it’s usually 90 percent in favor of foreign films.” If a big Hollywood franchise like “Batman v Superman” is scheduled, all the theaters in a mall would show that same film. “That should not happen.” ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Beyoncé again proves to be centre of pop universe BY NEKESA MUMBI MOODY The Associated Press BEYONCÉ DOESN’T simply release albums anymore, she unleashes events. And so it was this weekend, amid deep mourning for a lost icon, music’s queen dropped “Lemonade,” an arresting display of what technically qualifies as videos and singles, but is better described as a work of art that appeared deeply personal, yet is a bold social and political statement as well. It contains revenge anthems for scorned wives, a requiem for side chicks, a display of Power couple Jay-Z and Beyonce Knowles. EASTFJORD PRODUCTIONS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM #BlackGirlMagic and support of #BlackLivesMatter, and an ode to forgiveness, all wrapped mistresses scalp — talk about Brown are seen, among others, into an hourlong HBO special snatching edges. looking sombre as they hold Saturday night that would of What could come across as photos of their slain sons. At course land on Tidal, the mu- desperate instead becomes another point, she tells the ausic streaming service owned by empowering, though, in part dience via the voice of Malcolm hubby Jay Z, moments after the due to the poetic narrative Be- X that “the most disrespected special ended. yoncé uses to tie each segment woman in America is the black “Are you cheating on me?” Be- together, as well as the imagery, woman.” yoncé’s husky voice intones early which is a defiant celebration Like much of her music over on. For the first half of “Lemon- of the beauty of black women: the last few years, the music on ade,” it seems that Jay Z’s 100th Dark to light, wooly hair to “Lemonade” is not made for problem was here, and unfix- wavy hair, all looking glorious, pop radio. Besides the explicit able. While Beyoncé has used with cameos from the likes of language, it doesn’t fit into neat rumours of infidelity to fuel her Oscar-nominated Quvenzhane categories and boxes, ranging music for years, from R&B to a bit from “Ring the of reggae to rock Alarm” to “Jealand even a counous,” it seemed as try twang. Paired if she was spillWhat could come across as desperate with its visuals, ing all the tea on instead becomes empowering, it’s also elevather much-scruthough, in part due to the poetic ed, becoming a tinized marriage narrative Beyoncé uses to tie work of art that with “Lemoneach segment together, as well has many layers ade.” as the imagery, which is a defiant to be dissected; On “Hold Up,” celebration of the beauty of black there may well an intoxicatwomen. be dissertations ing song with planned on it at an island beat, this moment. a smiling BeIt all speaks to yoncé takes “Crazy in Love” to Wallis, Zendaya and Amandla Beyoncé’s undisputed role the a new level: She smashes a bat Stenberg. queen of pop — not of music, but on everything around her while And just as we think it’s time of culture. It’s hard to imagine reminding her man that other to start to get seriously con- any other artist who could drop women “don’t love you like I cerned for Jay Z’s safety, he ap- a project in the middle of our nalove you.” Later, on “Sorry,” with pears, nestled with his queen, in tional mourning for Prince and a twerking Serena Williams by “Sandcastles,” which speaks to still not only get attention for it, her side, she shows her man the a troubled union but a love that but captivate us so. stupidity of his cheating ways transcends it. Toward the end of “Formaand all he’s lost. “Middle fingers While much of “Lemon- tion,” not included on the HBO up, put ‘em hands high, put it in ade” would appear to tie into special but part of the album, his face, tell him ‘Boy bye.”’ Beyoncé’s own life, or so she Beyoncé intones: “You know At another point, she ref- would have us believe, she also you that b---- when you cause erences her man’s desire for draws from the angst of the all this conversation.” “Becky with the good hair” black community: The mothers With “Lemonade,” she shows and talks about wearing his of Trayvon Martin and Michael us she is King B, once again. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Drake unveils North American summer tour plans with shows in Toronto, Vancouver THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — Drake’s summer is shaping up to be a busy one. The “Hotline Bling” rapper has announced plans for a 32date North American Tour timed to the release of his new album. “Summer Sixteen Tour” will be headlined by the Torontoborn performer and Atlantabased rapper Future. The duo are currently on the Billboard charts with their collaboration track “Jumpman.” The tour will make three

stops in Canada, including one in Toronto on July 31 and Vancouver Sept. 17. A third date is slated as part of Drake’s annual OVO Fest on Aug. 1, which this year will also feature Snoop Dogg and Wiz Khalifa. Drake is ramping up for the release of his fourth studio album, “Views from the 6,” on Friday. Late Sunday he unveiled the album’s cover art which shows him sitting atop Toronto’s CN Tower with his legs dangling over the edge. ■

Clooney joins Armenians to mark anniversary of massacre BY AVET DEMOURIAN The Associated Press YEREVAN, ARMENIA — Actor George Clooney presented a $1.1 million award on the 101st anniversary of a massacre of Armenians by Ottoman Turks to a Burundi woman who offered sanctuary to thousands of orphans in the middle of a civil war there. The killing of more than 200 Armenian intellectuals on April 24, 1915 is regarded as the start of the massacre that is widely viewed by historians as the first genocide of the 20th century in which they estimate 1.5 million Armenians were slaughtered. Turkey, the successor to the Ottoman Empire, vehemently rejects that the deaths constitute genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest. Clooney presented the first Aurora Prize, an award recognizing an individual’s work to

advance humanitarian causes, to Marguerite Barankitse, who saved thousands of lives and cared for orphans and refugees amid the Burundi civil war. Armenian philanthropists selected her for the award. Clooney has been a prominent voice in favour of countries recognizing the killings as genocide, which the U.S. hasn’t done. Before he presented the award, Clooney reminded the audience that Adolf Hitler once reportedly said: “Who remembers Armenia?” Clooney said: “The whole world.” “By recognizing Marguerite Barankitse’s courage, commitment and sacrifice, I am hopeful that she can also inspire each one of us to think about what we can do to stand up on behalf of those whose rights are abused and are in most need of our solidarity or support,” Clooney said. ❱❱ PAGE 27 Clooney joins

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Lifestyle

Freeway views are hot: Homeowners cozy up to urban eyesores BY ALEX VEIGA The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Robert Leviton’s loudest neighbour is a 12lane freeway. The busy stretch of highway that runs alongside his townhouse complex is visible from his north-facing windows. The drone of passing motorists is audible throughout. He can even hear a muffled version of it when his windows are shut. “I was a little bit worried about how close it is to the freeway, but it really doesn’t bother me,” said Leviton. He paid $666,000 for his townhouse, more than triple the U.S. median home sales price. But it allows him to live in a new home within biking distance of his work and it was cheaper than other homes he considered. Living near highways, train tracks and other urban eyesores has long been an unfortunate fact of life for residents of big, crowded cities around the world, including in tightlypacked cities in the U.S. Now the rising popularity of urban living across the country, along with a shortage of land in desirable locations, has made these dingy corners of cities hot properties for developers and home buyers, despite loud and ugly neighbours and the potential health hazard of living closer to pollution. “Land is so scarce that the properties that are available for residential development tend to be those fringe properties,” said Tim Barden, senior vice-president at Land Advisors Organization, a national land brokerage. “We generally see multiple offers on all of our listings.” The real estate pros call this “infill” residential development. Developers buy the land, demolish what was there and remove contaminants that may have leeched into the soil, something common with industrial properties. Trash-filled lots, older

buildings, churches, factories, homebuyers. velopment along a putrid canal bowling alleys and parking Andrew Skinner, 37, recently in Brooklyn that was designatlots are all making way for new bought a new townhouse built ed a Superfund site in 2010. housing. on the former site of a Sriracha But this kind of development These parcels of land are at- hot sauce factory 8 miles east is also happening in U.S. cittracting developers even if they of Los Angeles in an 88-unit ies that have long been more aren’t zoned for residential complex that is separated from affordable, like Cleveland and construction yet, especially if a phalanx of warehouses by a Philadelphia, according to they are within or bordering an storm water channel. Kahn. established residential neighSkinner and his wife bought “Philadelphia is undergoing bourhood and within walking a four-bedroom, three-and- this unbelievable change where distance of shops, restaurants a-half bath townhouse for everybody is moving from the and other urban suburbs into conveniences. the city, so then “You tend to you have this see this in big regeneration of metros that have an urban area a lot of desirThese trends, which have been that had kind ability because driving gentrification in many big of fallen into of jobs, because cities, can also make housing on tough times,” of lifestyle,” said infill sites an attractive and relatively Khan said. “You Jody Kahn, seless pricey option for would-be definitely have nior vice-presihomebuyers. warehouses and dent of research other (places) at John Burns that are getting Real Estate Conreused, genersulting, which ally for higheris advising more builders on $675,000 after failing to find density, mid-rise housing.” infill development these days anything bigger than his former Southern California builder than ever. “People want to live house for $725,000 and up. Olson Homes has bought land there.” He doesn’t have any road from at least five churches the In places like Los Angeles, noise to worry about. For him, past couple of years, in addiSan Francisco and New York, it’s the whistles of trains that tion to building on the former where available land has long rumble on tracks nearby. “My been scarce, developers are wife is the daughter of a railfinding they can develop al- roader,” Skinner said. most anywhere close to the city “She grew up with and find buyers. One reason is trains, so we don’t the rise in rents and home val- particularly care.” ues, and the low inventory of Across the previously occupied houses for country, there sale in many markets. These is a wave of trends, which have been driv- housing ing gentrification in many big decities, can also make housing on infill sites an attractive and relatively less pricey option for wouldb e

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sites of warehouses and other commercial properties, and right along highways. Leviton’s townhouse is one of 33 built by Olson along a stretch of Interstate 210 in Pasadena that sold out as of February. While many buyers may not want to live next to a highway, those who do balance the downside with being walking distance to public transportation, restaurants and shops, said Olson Homes CEO Scott Laurie. “Is it for everybody? Absolutely not,” Laurie said. “But it’s for the majority and it’s for the millennial buyer who understands the trade-offs.” One of those trade-offs includes the higher health risk of living near major highways. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, people who live near major roads appear to experience health problems associated with air pollution more often and more severely, including asthma, cardiovascular disease and impaired lung development in children. It’s just not something Leviton, 60, is worried about. “I ride my bike around town and there are cars all over the place and it doesn’t seem to bother me,” he said. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Nuptial costs: All you need is love, and an evening espresso bar at your wedding BY LINDA NGUYEN The Canadian Press TORONTO — Whoever said love doesn’t cost a thing wasn’t planning a wedding. Recently-engaged couple Camille Verschooris and Andrew Lounsbury knew tying the knot was expensive, but they didn’t realize how pricey it could be until they found out their $30,000 budget wasn’t enough to cut it for the wedding of their dreams. “The budget got thrown out of the window quickly,” said Verschooris, a 24-year-old producer’s assistant. “What we imagined was very different than what we could afford,” added 29-year-old Lounsbury. The couple was faced with a big decision: Do they scale back on the party they wanted? Or do they bite the bullet and up how much they were willing to spend? Ultimately — with help from their parents — they decided to splurge on a wedding they would want to attend, complete with a guest photo booth and a $1,200 espresso bar to be rolled

out at the end of the night. For Verschooris, the greatest sticker shock was not from the big-ticket items like the wedding gown ($5,000) or the photographer (another $5,000), but it was how quickly the small expenses pushed up the bill. Having lights and sound at a wedding and bringing in the linens, china and decorations are considered extra requests — and come with accompanying fees. Wedding planner Rebecca Chan says one of the biggest costs for a wedding is a venue, which can eat up to half of a couple’s total budget. For example, a wedding venue in downtown Toronto can charge between $150 to $300 per person, just for the meal. Chan recommends couples multiply that figure by the number of guests attending and getting a full cost estimate of everything they need for the venue — from chair rentals to speakers — for a more realistic idea of the final bill. Then add up all the miscellaneous costs like hiring an officiant, coat check and transportation to and from the ceremony site, she said.

The couple was faced with a big decision: Do they scale back on the party they wanted? Or do they bite the bullet and up how much they were willing to spend?

“These are not usually the first things you think of when you’re planning your wedding,” said Chan. “You think of your flowers, you think of your dress, you think of the fun pretty things and you often forget about the costs associated with getting from point A to B.” Couples should also make sure they budget in other costs

they may be on the hook for, such as the rehearsal dinner and a brunch for family and close friends the next day. One of the biggest things couples underestimate is how much flowers will cost, Chan said. “Couples go on Pinterest and think they want that,” she said. “What they don’t realize is that costs $200 to $300 a

memoration “to share the grief endured by the Ottoman Armenians, as well as to honour their memories.” Erdogan criticized efforts “to politicize history through a bitter rhetoric of hate and enmity and strive to alienate the two neighbouring nations.” In a commemorative speech, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on Sunday mentioned a recent flare-up of fighting in Nagorno-Karabakh, which is

officially a part of Azerbaijan but has been under the control of local ethnic Armenian forces and the Armenian military since a separatist war ended in 1994. He lashed out at Azerbaijan for what he described as plans to drive all Armenians away from the region and pledged to protect Armenians living there. Fighting earlier this month marked the worst violence since 1994 and both sides on

centrepiece and when you have 10 or 15 tables at your wedding, that quickly adds up.” To keep down costs, she suggests couples think about booking their wedding during the off-season, between November to April and on a Friday or Sunday night. Doing so can save couples as much as 20 per cent compared to having a summer wedding on a Saturday night. But the sky can be the limit when it comes to wedding costs. Chan once had a client who spent $30,000 alone on a custom-made wedding dress from designer Vera Wang. For Verschooris and Lounsbury, they now expect their June wedding to cost around $50,000, and realize they were originally unrealistic about their expectations. “We came up with this random number that we thought would be our budget,” said Lounsbury, a camera assistant. “If you were more aware of what things actually cost when you went in, you’d come up with a more realistic budget or a better plan of what’s important and what you can trim away. That would be my biggest piece of advice.” ■

Clooney joins... President Barack Obama declined on Friday to refer to the 1915 massacre as genocide, breaking a key campaign promise as his presidency nears an end. Obama called the massacre the first mass atrocity of the 20th century and a tragedy that mustn’t be repeated. Clooney, along with Armenian leaders and international dignitaries, earlier on Sunday attended a service at a hilltop memorial

❰❰ 25

in the capital, Yerevan, led by Armenian church leader Catholicos Karekin II to commemorate the massacre victims. In Turkey, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a message commemorating Armenians who died in 1915, without making any reference to the massacre. In a statement that was read during a ceremony at an Armenian church in Istanbul, Erdogan said he welcomed the com-

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Sunday reported the shelling of their positions by enemy fire. Both sides on Sunday reported attacks on their positions. Azerbaijan’s defence ministry said it destroyed an Armenian tank, a claim that Karabakh separatists denied. ■ Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, Aida Sultanova in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow, contributed to this report.

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Business

Banks seen to address East Coast organic marijuana vulnerabilities vs fraud producer ramps up to serve BAP president cites 3 critical areas vast legalized market BY DORIS DUMLAOABADILLA Philippine Daily Inquirer PHILIPPINE BANKS are seen to reexamine potential vulnerabilities to potential fraudsters in order to avoid a repeat of the $81million money-laundering scandal that has now become a global spectacle. Asked what the local banking industry would likely change on the heels of the money-laundering case involving the Jupiter branch of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Banco de Oro Unibank president Nestor Tan said there were typically three areas where things could go wrong: Poor processes, poor compliance and collusion. Tan, who is also the president of the Bankers Association of the Philippines, explained that an institution would have “poor” processes if it did not have the right checks and balances and internal control processes. On the other hand, he said “poor” compliance with defined processes and procedures would happen when “somebody is supposed to check it and that person doesn’t check it.” Another vulnerability could arise from “collusion” between bank personnel and money launderers, he added. “A typical bank will probably look at all three—strengthen their processes and make sure that they are in place and they are adequate, set the tone at the top for compliance with processes, and make sure you have zero tolerance for deviations on this,” Tan said. Once in a while, he said there could be lapses because “we’re all humans,” which was why there must be “checkers.” “Violations and gross negligence are the things that you must be tighter on,” he said. “Collusion is a difficult thing to prevent. I don’t know the answer but the more you can seg-

regate the (transaction) maker and the checker and the more you do the checking outside the branch, the better off you are,” Tan said. “Bottomline is, it will not be easy to have zero instances but you can prevent the number of instances or the impact of the instances.” On Feb. 5, some $81 million in dirty money stolen by computer hackers from the Bangladesh central bank entered the Jupiter branch of RCBC and found its way to local casinos, which are not covered by reporting obligations under the Philippine anti-money laundering law. This is now the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Senate blue ribbon committee. Tan’s brother, Lorenzo, is the president of RCBC, the bank involved in the moneylaundering controversy. Maia Santos-Deguito, the former manager of the Jupiter branch, had been accused of facilitating the creation of the fictitious bank accounts that received the dirty money, working on their speedy withdrawal. Deguito had argued that she was but a scapegoat in this case. Asked what reforms could be introduced to the country at this time, Tan said this issue was “more legislative” than a “regulatory” procedural issue. Conventional theory states that the international syndicate that planned the Bangladesh cyber heist chose the Philippines as destination of the dirty money because casinos are not covered by reporting obligations under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). Tan noted that the banking industry and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas were “both caught between the Bank Secrecy Act and the AMLA regulations.” “You have to appreciate that AMLA rules can only be implemented by procedures and (through the) exercise (of ) good judgment. Banks can’t assure legality of the nitty gritty of the transaction,” Tan said. ■

BY KEVIN BISSETT The Canadian Press MONCTON, N.B. — Denis Arsenault hosted an important visitor the other day at his Moncton offices, a moment that revealed much about his company’s grand ambitions. Arsenault is CEO of OrganiGram, producer of Canada’s only organic medical marijuana, and the only licensed grower east of Ontario. His visitor was Brian Gallant, the boyish, 33-year-old premier of New Brunswick, who came to offer wage subsidies to help the company expand. Arsenault, whose company aims to get a running start on a legalized recreational marijuana market, did not miss the irony of Gallant’s visit. The premier is supporting marijuana production just 30 years after one of his predecessors, Richard Hatfield, was arrested and put on trial for marijuana possession. “It’s clear society has evolved,” said Arsenault, a tall, clean-cut executive who looks like he would be comfortable in any corporate boardroom in the country. “Seventy to eighty per cent of the Canadian population is in favour of some form of legalization.” Last Wednesday, Health Minister Jane Philpott announced that the federal government will introduce legislation to legalize marijuana next spring. Arsenault said he expects Health Canada will have to license more producers across the country to be able to meet the demand for recreational marijuana. He expects to carve a portion of that market, and is preparing for the day. OrganiGram Holdings Inc. — publicly traded on the TSX Venture Exchange — already owns a neighbouring building www.canadianinquirer.net

and land where it can expand. “I’d say we can get to 25,000 kilograms production capacity, which would take us in the vicinity of $200 million per year in annual production,” Arsenault said. OrganiGram — which opened in 2014 and had its first sales last year — is one of only 30 producers licensed by Health Canada. Behind barbed wire at its offices in an industrial park, prescribed marijuana is packaged and direct mailed to patients across the country. “In terms of sales we’ve posted our last quarterly results at about $1.4 million for the last three months,” said Arsenault. “Things are going in a very nice direction.” Arsenault said the current expansion will give OrganiGram a sales capacity of about $25 million, a level he expects to reach sometime in 2017. The expansion — which is strictly for medical marijuana — is adding new areas where different strains of marijuana will be grown, processed and stored. “There are two main ingredients in marijuana. You’ve got THC which is psychoactive ingredient. You’ve got CBD which is really the medical compound in it, and when we talk about children with epilepsy, it’s really the product in there that helps with those seizures,” he said. “You grow different strains because not everybody wants a product that is very high in THC or high in CBD, so there’s a very wide variety of products that we grow.” Marijuana is also prescribed to deal with pain and the symptoms of MS, Parkinsons, PTSD, sleep disorders and anxieties. Security at the Moncton facility is tight. Staff and visitors must don white lab coats and hair nets while high-tech equip-

ment monitors environmental conditions, and an untold number of security cameras track every movement. Travelling from room to room, you see horticulturalists tending to plants at varying stages of growth, all bathed in a surreal pink glow from special lighting. “Our climate control is very important,” said Nico Nache, OrganiGram’s director of operations. “The temperature, humidity, the airflow, and light intensity is all controlled via computer according to the plant needs.” The company currently has about 47 employees, but that will grow quickly. Gallant’s announcement last month means the province will provide a payroll rebate of about $8,800 for each of 113 new jobs. OrganiGram’s potential is being watched closely by the province. Since it was legalized there, the state of Colorado has seen tax revenues from marijuana equal to what they had been collecting on alcohol. Stephen Horsman, New Brunswick’s minister of Justice and Public Safety, said he has met with the governor of Colorado and reached out to Oregon and Washington State to find what lessons have been learned since those states legalized marijuana. Horsman - a former police officer - said he’s keeping an open mind on the issue and adds that New Brunswick could use the extra revenue to help pay for services like education and healthcare. Arsenault said revenue for the province could be significant. “When you look at how much tax or remittances that NB Liquor provides the province on an annual basis, you may get a situation where you can double that,” he said. ■

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Sports

Donaire ‘bullets’ too much for foe BY ROY LUARCA Philippine Daily Inquirer CEBU CITY — Fortunately, Nonito Donaire Jr.’s bullet of a left hook did not zap Zsolt Bedak from the boxing ring on Saturday night. All it did was pierce the Hungarian’s shield, inflicting heavy damage that led to a thirdround technical knockout by Donaire, who kept his World Boxing Organization junior featherweight crown before a record crowd of about 20,000 at Cebu City Sports Complex. Unleashing two crackling counter left hooks, which he likened to “bullets,” Donaire downed and bloodied Bedak twice in the second round, the last just before the bell rang. Donaire, known as The Filipino Flash, pressed on in the third round, a right straight flooring Bedak anew and forcing referee

Russell Mora to cut short the lopsided bout at the 2:44 mark. As with most of his 37 victories, 24 by knockout, it was Donaire’s left hook, followed by an uppercut which floored Bedak halfway through the second round. When action resumed, the 33year-old Donaire decked the game challenger, now 25-2 with 8 KOs, anew with another left hook. Despite the swift win, the five-time world champion said there’s still room for improvement in his style, noting that he also got hit in the jaw in the first round. “I know my left hook is stronger than his and I could read his movements,” said Donaire, who spoke in Bisayan. He dedicated the fight to his father and trainer, Nonito Sr., who earlier predicted that the fight won’t go past six rounds. Inspired by the huge turn-

out that surpassed the 15,000 that watched Cebuano Z Gorres lose to Mexican Fernando Montiel in the same venue in 2007, Donaire said he will train even harder to prepare for bigger fights. Donaire mentioned International Boxing Federation super bantam champion Carl Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs) and 2013 tormentor Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0, 10 KOs) as probable foes. In an action-packed undercard, Mark “Magnifico” Magsayo recovered from a thirdround knockdown to stop Chris Avalos in the sixth and capture the WBO International featherweight crown. Magsayo was landing a flurry of punches when referee Danrex Tapdasan stepped in to stop the fight at the 1:55 mark. The 20-year-old Magsayo stretched his unbeaten run to 14, with 11 knockouts. Jason Pagara outworked

Nonito Donaire.

Mexican Miguel Zamudio to win by unanimous decision in their 10-round light welterweight bout. Two judges scored the bout, 98-92, while the third judge saw it 99-91. The 24-year-old Pagara improved to 38-2with 23 KOs. In a battle between two foreigners, Australian Paul Fleming beat Mexican Miguel Angel

ARVEE ECO / FLICKR

Gonzales via unimous decision to clinch the World Boxing Council Continental America super feather title. Among the spectators in the fight card jointly staged by ALA Promotions, ABSCBN Sports and Top Rank were Antonio Aldeguer and Donnie Nietes, the longest reigning Filipino world champion. ■

Decades after Chornobyl, another chance for a Paralympian BY PAT GRAHAM The Associated Press COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — There was no stuffed animal to hug. Constant hunger pains. Hope a mom would show up and rescue her. Those were some of the memories that flooded back when Paralympian Oksana Masters recently returned to Ukraine, where she spent her first 7 1/2 years shuttled among three orphanages. Masters visited with orphaned children that stared at her with an “Are you here to adopt me?” gaze. Two decades ago, that face was hers. She was adopted by an American woman who took in a malnourished Masters with birth defects believed to be from the aftermath of the Chornobyl nuclear reactor accident. On the 30th anniversary of Chornobyl this week, Masters is now in a much different place.

She’s become a three-time was teaching in Buffalo, New other treats. Paralympic medallist in rowing York, at the time. Oksana was The little girl never got them. and cross-country skiing, with born with webbed fingers, no She simply thought she was her sights now set on making thumbs, six toes on each foot, on her own again. That is, unthe cycling squad for the Rio de deformed legs, one kidney and til one night at 11:30 p.m., with Janeiro Paralympic Games lat- only parts of her stomach. all the paperwork finally aper this summer. She’s appeared She was perfect. The match proved, Gay arrived to take her in ESPN The Magazine Body Is- was perfect. new daughter home. sue. “The adoption Above all else: agency kept sayShe has a mothing, ‘You can go er. to Russia and get “My mom lita baby now,”’ Gay erally saved my Being older and educated more what said in a phone life,” the 26-yearit was, knowing now how it is still interview from old Masters said affecting that whole area, it’s just jaw her home in Lourecently before a dropping. isville, Kentucky, training session where they at the U.S. Olymmoved when Okpic Training sana was a teenCenter. “I wasn’t ager. supposed to “But that was make it out of the orphanage.” Adopting her, though, was my daughter. I couldn’t abanHer journey began because quite a saga. With the Ukraini- don her.” of a black-and-white photo an government placing a moraAt the time, the child weighed that Gay Masters saw through a torium on foreign adoptions, about 35 pounds — healthy for Ukrainian adoption notebook. Gay Masters had to wait 2 1/2 a 3-year-old, not so much for That picture of Oksana — cir- years to bring her home. She someone who was nearly 8. ca age 5 — captured the heart sent care packages all the time, “I know friends who didn’t of a speech pathologist who stuffed with teddy bears and make it out and died,” she said. www.canadianinquirer.net

“I watched that.” The new mom and daughter didn’t speak the same language but found a way to communicate through gestures and by pointing at phrases in a book. It didn’t take long for them to get on the same page and settle into their new life. It was around that time when a dentist discovered the root cause of Oksana’s birth defects. She was missing the enamel from her teeth due to radiation. Being from the region near Chornobyl, it wasn’t hard to make the connection with the world’s worst nuclear accident, which occurred on April 26, 1986. They believe her birth mom either lived in an area that was contaminated or ingested produce that was riddled with radiation, leading to in utero radiation poisoning. “As a child, I didn’t think about (Chornobyl) because I didn’t know what it was. Being ❱❱ PAGE 31 Decades after

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Technology

Solar powered plane completes journey across Pacific Ocean THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. — A solar-powered airplane landed in California on Saturday, completing a risky, three-day flight across the Pacific Ocean as part of its journey around the world. Pilot Bertrand Piccard landed the Solar Impulse 2 in Mountain View, in the Silicon Valley south of San Francisco, at 11:45 p.m. following a 62-hour, nonstop solo flight without fuel. The plane taxied into a huge tent erected on Moffett Airfield where Piccard was greeted by project’s team. “You know there was a moment in the night, I was watching the reflection of the moon on the ocean and I was thinking ‘I’m completely alone in this tiny cockpit and I feel completely confident.’ And I was really thankful to life for bringing me this experience,” Piccard said at a news conference after he landed. “It’s maybe this is one of the most fantastic experiences of life I’ve had.” The landing came several hours after the Piccard performed a fly-by over the Golden Gate Bridge as spectators watched the narrow aircraft with extra wide wings from below. “I crossed the bridge. I am officially in America,” he declared as he took in spectacular views of San Francisco Bay. Piccard and fellow Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg have been taking turns flying the plane on an around-the-world trip since taking off from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, in March 2015. It made stops in Oman, Myanmar, China, Japan and Hawaii. The trans-Pacific leg was the riskiest part of the plane’s global travels because of the lack of emergency landing sites. The aircraft faced a few bumps along the way. The Solar Impulse 2 landed in Hawaii in July and was

Joly launches public consultations ahead of cultural policy review BY MORGAN LOWRIE The Canadian Press

Solar Impulse, an experimental aircraft powered by solar energy flying for demonstration and the predecessor of Solar Impulse 2, was first tested in 2011. FREDERIC LEGRAND - COMEO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

forced to stay in the islands after the plane’s battery system sustained heat damage on its trip from Japan. The team was delayed in Asia, as well. When first attempting to fly from Nanjing, China, to Hawaii, the crew had to divert to Japan because of unfavourable weather and a damaged wing. A month later, when weather conditions were right, the plane departed from Nagoya in central Japan for Hawaii. The plane’s ideal flight speed is about 28 mph, though that can double during the day when the sun’s rays are strongest. The carbon-fiber aircraft weighs more than 5,000 pounds, or about as much as a midsize truck. The plane’s wings, which stretch wider than those of a Boeing 747, are equipped with 17,000 solar cells that power propellers and charge batteries. The plane runs on stored energy at night. Solar Impulse 2 will make three more stops in the United States before crossing the Atlantic Ocean to Europe or Northern Africa, according to

the website documenting the journey. “The adventure continues,” Piccard said. “The story is not finished.” The project, which began in 2002 and is estimated to cost more than $100 million, is meant to highlight the importance of renewable energy and the spirit of innovation. “I think innovation and pioneering must continue,” Piccard said. “It must continue for better quality of life, for clean technologies, for renewable energy; this is where the pioneers can really express themselves and be successful.” Solar-powered air travel is not yet commercially practical, however, given the slow travel time, weather and weight constraints of the aircraft. “Maybe it will be boring in 20 years when all the airplanes will be electric and people will say ‘Oh it’s routine.’ But now, today, an airplane that is electric, with electric engines, that produces its own energy with the sun, it can never be boring,” Piccard said. “It’s a miracle of technology.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

CANADA’S HERITAGE minister says that bringing a “digital approach” to the country’s decades-old cultural policies will be one of the cornerstones of her mandate. Melanie Joly announced Saturday she will lead a series of public consultations over the next several months that will examine the government’s role in supporting Canadian content creation. In an interview Sunday, she said the raft of government tools to support the cultural sector predate the Internet and need to be updated. “All the acts, all the different funds, from legislation to regulation to incentives and direct contributions, we want to make sure that these are all relevant,” she said. “If there are new ways of dealing with supporting Canadian content in a digital area, we’ll look at it and we will create it.” Federal support for the cultural sector is currently provided through a combination of funding mechanisms, legislation, national institutions and policies. These include institutions such as the CBC and National Film Board, legislative acts such as the CRTC, regulations governing Canadian content on the airwaves and rules on foreign investment, as well as funding and credits. Joly said she didn’t want to go into the consultations with preconceived notions of what they might yield, and would not speculate on what eventual changes could be made as a result. However, she said a “vacuum” has emerged as a result of government policies not keeping up with changes to technology

and the way people consume culture. “There was a lack of political willingness to study the impact of all the different levers, and at the same time there were many initiatives that were taken, but not at the political level,” she said. “Therefore, because of that, there was a lot of frustration and anxiety among the different players and within the industry. And that’s the case here and in many countries around the world.” Since the regulations were last overhauled in 1991, streaming has overtaken broadcasting as a source of revenue in the music industry, and Canada has risen to become the third most important music producer and third biggest video games exporter in the world, the heritage minister said. She said any new framework will include plans to export Canadian cultural products abroad. “I thought we have to look at the entire model because we can really seize the opportunity to develop a new policy that will have a great economic impact, that will foster innovation and that will be also including cultural exports.” As part of a pre-consultation phase lasting until May 20, members of the public are invited to weigh in by answering a questionnaire on the government’s website. The survey includes questions on the role of public broadcasting, challenges to the culture industry and how Canadian content should be promoted abroad. Joly said she will announce an advisory panel in June, with consultations expected to begin at the end of summer. A report with recommendations is expected by the end of the year. ■

Technology

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Decades after... older and educated more what it was, knowing now how it is still affecting that whole area, it’s just jaw dropping,” said Oksana, who’s from Khmelnytskiy in western Ukraine. She was born with tibial hemimelia, which resulted in different leg lengths. She got by as a child by fusing her ankles so she walked on tippy toes, but her body could no longer support her weight. She had her left leg amputated near the knee at 9 and the right one at the same spot five years later. About that time, she discovered rowing. The pull of the oars and the push against the water became a release, a “healing from my past,” she said. Oksana became good in no time. Before the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, Gay gave her a replica Olympic medal that once belonged to Gay’s parents. She taped it inside the boat for good luck during races. Oksana and her rowing partner, Rob Jones, who lost both legs in an IED explosion in Afghanistan while in the U.S. Marine Corps, wound up with bronze. “I kept saying: ‘Is it really ❰❰ 29

true? Is it really true?”’ Gay recalled. “It’s just indescribable, how amazing it was.” Two years later in Sochi at the Paralympic Winter Games, Oksana captured silver and bronze in cross-country skiing. And now onto a new challenge. She’s a strong candidate to make the Paralympic cycling squad, with a final opportunity to qualify for the U.S. team in Charlotte, North Carolina, in July. “I do think about Rio,” she said. “I want to be there. But I don’t want to get my hopes up.” A coping mechanism from her days in the orphanage. Whenever a visitor arrived, they would put her in a dress and place a bow on her head. “Every child looked at the next person that comes in as, ‘Are you going to be my new mom?”’ she said. “Every kid wants that.” Going back last October was overwhelming — and therapeutic. She talked with wounded soldiers from the conflict in eastern Ukraine and spent time with children in an orphanage. “I often look back and just think, ‘I can’t believe this is my life right now,”’ Oksana said. ■

Feds say they’ve accessed phone at centre of Apple data case BY LARRY NEUMEISTER The Associated Press NEW YORK — The U.S. Justice Department said it has withdrawn a request to force Apple to reveal data from a cellphone linked to a New York drug case after someone provided federal investigators with the phone’s passcode. Federal prosecutors said in a letter to U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie that investigators were able to access the iPhone late Thursday night after using the passcode. The government said it no longer needs Apple’s assistance to unlock the iPhone and is withdrawing its request for an order requiring Apple’s co-operation in the drug case. “As we have said previously, these cases have never been about setting a court precedent; they are about law enforcement’s ability and need to access evidence on devices pursuant to lawful court orders and search warrants,” Justice De-

partment spokeswoman Emily Pierce said in a statement Friday. The Justice Department had sought to compel the Cupertino, California-based Apple to co-operate in the drug case, even though it had recently dropped a fight to compel Apple to help break into an iPhone used by a gunman in a December attack in San Bernardino that killed 14 people. In that case, a still-unidentified thirdparty came forward with a technique that managed to open the phone. That entity has not been named, and the Justice Department has not revealed the method used. Representatives for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday night. The tech giant had been fighting the Justice Department’s attempts and said in court papers last week the government’s request was extraordinary because there is likely minimal evidentiary value of any data on the phone and that

Congress never authorized it to pursue such requests through the 1789 All Writs Act. It also said there is no proof Apple’s assistance was necessary and that the same technique the FBI was using to get information from the phone in California might work with the drug case phone. But prosecutors had argued that the government needed Apple’s assistance to access the data, which they contended was “authorized to search by warrant.” On Thursday, several law enforcement groups filed arguments in Brooklyn federal court saying they feared the public will stop aiding police if Apple is allowed to refuse to give up information from the phone in the drug case. The groups said they supported the government’s efforts to try to reverse a magistrate judge’s ruling earlier this year for Apple. ■ Associated Press writer Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.

Microsoft reports weak results despite turnaround effort BY LARRY NEUMEISTER The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — Microsoft reported a surprise drop in sales and profit for the first three months of the year, a sign the tech giant is still trying to find its way in the post-PC era. Wall Street was expecting the company to show positive results from a series of changes that CEO Satya Nadella has been making. Instead, revenue for the January-March quarter fell 6 per cent to $20.5 billion, while profit plunged 25 per cent to $3.76 billion. Thursday’s report came as other industry stalwarts reported their own struggles with seismic shifts in the way people use technology. On Monday, IBM reported its 16th consecutive quarter of revenue decline, as commercial customers abandon the oncestandard model of buying programs to install on their own

computers, and instead use more software online. A day later, Intel said it’s cutting 12,000 jobs as fewer people buy PCs that run on Intel processors, opting instead for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. But many analysts were expecting Microsoft to do better. While sales of personal computers have been sliding for the past four years, Nadella has been working to make Microsoft less dependent on revenue from its flagship Windows operating system, used mostly on PCs. Microsoft said revenue from Windows software licenses declined 2 per cent during the quarter, after adjusting for currency fluctuations. That’s better than the overall drop in PC shipments, which analysts at the Gartner research firm estimated at nearly 10 per cent. But revenue from business software and Internet-based services, known as cloud computing, didn’t grow as much as analysts expected. In particu-

lar, Microsoft saw only a 3 per cent increase in revenue from its “Intelligent Cloud” business, where the company has invested heavily to help business customers run their operations on Microsoft’s servers. The division’s operating profit fell by 14 per cent. In a few bright spots, the company said sales of its Surface tablet computers rose 56 per cent to $1.1 billion, while revenue from ads shown with results from its Bing search engine grew 55 per cent to $1.5 billion. After spending billions of dollars to develop Bing as a rival for Google’s highly lucrative search business, Microsoft said the service started showing a profit last fall. Some of that growth can be credited to Windows 10, which comes with a redesigned Web browser and Cortana, a Sirilike digital assistant. Both are designed to encourage more use of Bing. Microsoft says Windows 10 is now running on more than 270 www.canadianinquirer.net

million machines, a healthy figure for software that was released only nine months ago. But some of that is the result of free upgrades offered to users of older Windows versions, rather than as software sales to PC manufacturers. Under Nadella, the company has also released free versions of programs like Word and Excel for smartphones and tablets that run competing operating systems from Apple and Google. The company hopes to make money by charging users for extra features, and for related services like Skype messaging and online file storage. Microsoft is also nudging users to change how they buy software. Subscriptions to its Office 365 service are growing rapidly. And because Microsoft delivers regular updates over the Internet, analysts say that should help the company sell extra features, particularly to business users. But the turnaround is taking

time to materialize. Microsoft said it earned 47 cents a share for the fiscal third quarter, or 62 cents after adjusting for one-time charges. Analysts surveyed by FactSet were expecting adjusted earnings of 64 cents a share and revenue of $22.1 billion. Microsoft Corp. executives blamed higher-than-expected taxes for cutting into its profit for the quarter. “Overall, we had a solid quarter,” Nadella said during a conference call Thursday. Some analysts were inclined to accept that report. In an email, Mark Moerdler of Bernstein Research said Microsoft’s earnings per share would have met Wall Street expectations if not for a “tax technicality.” Microsoft’s stock price has been rising in recent months, as investors have generally supported Nadella’s turnaround effort. But the earnings report sent shares down more than 5 per cent in after-market trading, after closing at $55.78. ■

APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Travel

Despite back to back disasters, climbers return to Everest BY TASHI SHERPA The Associated Press MOUNT EVEREST BASE CAMP, NEPAL — When the earthquake struck last year and thousands of tons of snow and ice and earth came crashing down the mountain, some feared the climbers might never return to Mount Everest. But despite back-to-back Everest disasters — the 2015 earthquake and a massive avalanche the year before — hundreds of mountaineers have come back for a new season. With them, they bring millions of dollars to this povertywracked nation. Everest Base Camp has once again turned into a village of bright nylon tents and tea huts. It buzzes with commerce — trekkers on stopovers and mountaineers hoping to reach the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) summit. While the numbers of trekkers across Nepal is down about 40 per cent compared to last year, according to the Trekking Agencies Association of Nepal, the business community still sees that as good news. “This is much more than what we all had expected,” said Pemba Sherpa, who runs a

guesthouse in the village of Pheriche, about a day’s walk from Base Camp. “The climbers and trekkers who have reached here are very happy — satisfied at the condition of the mountain and not scared anymore.” He’s just hoping this year passes quietly: “If there are any problems this year, then we are all finished. It will all end.” Experience has shown, though, that there’s always the possibility of more trouble on Everest. More than 250 people have died on the mountain, which was first summited by Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary in 1953. “Everest is the same, and the risks that were there are still there,” Ang Tshering of the Nepal Mountaineering Association, an umbrella group. “It is not like a football field.” The government has issued 289 Everest permits this year to foreign climbers, each of whom paid $11,000 for the chance to reach the summit. They will spend around two months on the mountain, acclimatizing at lower altitudes before making their final attempts to reach the top. “We have nearly as many climbers as came in previous years,” said Gyanendra Shrestha, an official at the Mountain-

eering Department. It’s been years since the Everest region was truly isolated. Thousands of Sherpas and other Nepalis work as guides and porters, or do everything from renting out mules to serving hot coffee and home-cooked food in trailside cafes and lodges. “We have no other income except from the tourists,” said Bal Krishna Rai, a 15-year-old porter carrying a load in a bamboo basket to Base Camp. Many Sherpas hope to work as high-altitude guides, a dangerous but lucrative job that can earn someone up to $7,000 over a few months. Support workers can earn half that amount — still a lot in a country where the average per capita income is $700. Money alone is enough to persuade many Sherpa guides to risk their lives year after year. “I lost many of my friends in the last two years. I am scared, but I don’t have another option,” said Lakpa Nuru, 25, who was at Everest Base Camp during both recent disasters. Still, he is working again this year, attempting a sixth Everest ascent. “Most of us are here so that we can earn for us or our family. If the foreigners don’t come any more, we will all starve.” The April 2014 avalanche, www.canadianinquirer.net

which killed 13 Sherpa guides and three other Nepali workers, was an immense blow to the Sherpa community. Nearly all surviving Sherpas refused to continue working that year, demanding, among other things, better working conditions, more insurance and free education for the children of those killed. The government met most of their major demands, including requiring expeditions to insure Sherpas for up to $15,000. But the season was effectively cancelled. Last year, Sherpas had already set up two camps above Base Camp when the earthquake unleashed an avalanche that tore into the tent city, burying climbers and staff. Nineteen people were killed, 61 were injured and the pre-prepared route of ropes and ladders was destroyed. When the Sherpas refused to rebuild the route, the season was scrubbed. There were no successful climbs in 2015. During the past two years, the government has enacted a series of policy changes, from stationing officials at Base Camp to creating a welfare fund for the families of the Sherpa dead. The moves were made largely to convince climbers and trekkers to keep coming back to

Everest. But, it turns out, it’s hard to keep the climbers away — including those with very little experience. “I see an increased chance of large-scale accidents on the mountain based on the lower level of experience of everyone involved — not just the clients, but the Sherpas and the guides,” said Adrian Ballinger, a guide with California-based Alpenglow Expeditions. Ballinger, who has scaled Everest six times, spoke as he was preparing to make his seventh attempt on the summit. Competition has dramatically driven down the cost of a guided climb, he said, with clients who used to pay $65,000 now paying as little as $22,000. Ballinger believes Everest climbers should be required to have mountaineering experience, and guides — both local and foreign — should have climbing certification: “Adding more people with lower standards of experience, equipment, care and management is making the mountain more dangerous.” ■ Associated Press writer Binaj Gurubacharya in Kathmandu, Nepal, contributed to this report.

Travel

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

Things to do at Nagsasa Cove, Zambales BY KRIS M. CRISMUNDO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Nagsasa Cove, Zambales in Central Luzon has lot of activities to offer this dry season. A four-hour drive from Manila and an hour of boat ride, Nagsasa Cove is one of the perfect summer destinations to unwind with its crystal clear waters and serene mountain views as well as it’s one of the best places for sunset viewing and stargazing. Set a day or two to travel in San Antonio, Zambales and see for yourself the wonders of Nagsasa Cove. Swimming and island hopping

An hour of boat ride will give you some muscle and back pain, so why not stop over at Camara Island and Capones Island before heading to Nagsasa Cove? Let your summer wear take a dip in different parts of West Philippine Sea. Spend the rest of the day swimming at Nagsasa Cove. While swimming,

PNA PHOTOS

watch the sunset and enjoy the beautiful mountain view.

campfire, lie down and gaze a starry sky at the beach.

Camping and stargazing

Trek and refresh in falls

Set a bonfire and enjoy the night with the relaxing sounds of waves. After the

It is good to start the day exercising. Since it’s challenging to jog along the

beach sand, Nagsasa Cove can offer you some trekking activity. Experience a 90-minute trek up to Mt. Nagsasa and reward yourself by taking a dip in a refreshing waterfall. If you’re planning heading to Nagsasa Cove, here’s a sample itinerary for a twoday trip: Depart from Manila at 4:00 a.m. and arrive in the town of San Antonio at 7:00 a.m. Visit Camara Island and Capones Island until 11:00 a.m. so you will arrive at Nagsasa Cove by noontime and have your lunch. Then, enjoy the rest of your first day at the beach. Wake up early on your second day. Better to start your trek to Mt. Nagsasa as early as 5:00 a.m. and enjoy the ambience of the falls from 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. You can also have your breakfast upon reaching the falls. Be sure to get back to your camp before noon as the sand trail is scorching hot during the day. Pack up and leave for Manila after lunch. A two-day trip to Nagsasa Cove costs around PHP2,000 to PHP3,000 per person. ■

Drink good beer, eat lobster and smell croissants at Montreal spring festivals BY GIUSEPPE VALIANTE The Canadian Press MONTREAL’S spring festival circuit is in full bloom and includes “the best lobster in the world,” towering graffiti, cheap but delectable croissants and an unseemly amount of beer. Considering what is on offer, travellers to Montreal in May and early June shouldn’t be faulted for assuming everybody in the city has decided to start a festival. The city’s unforgiving winters incite Montrealers to cram every kind of hedonistic and food- and art-oriented event into the spring and summer months for tourists and locals to enjoy — and most of the fun is outdoors. Fabio Broccoli started the Lobster Clam Jam in 2013 and this year’s crustacean fest “is bigger than ever” with a kids section he says will include an electric train ride and two bouncy castles. On Sunday May 22, head down to the city’s historic Lachine Canal where Broccoli will be serving north Atlantic lobster from Quebec’s Iles-de-la-Madeleine. “It’s considered the best lobster in the world,” he said. “They are in cold, cold, water. It’s a hard-shell lobster, a very healthy lobster, good quality — the best.”

The goal of his festival is to make lobster — usually a high-end, intimidating and costly dish — accessible to anyone. “For the millennials it’s all about food festivals now,” he explained. “We have all these cool little restaurants in the city, very hipster.” But Montreal’s spring festival season isn’t just for trend-obsessed millennials. Aside from what are considered the city’s major events such as the Canadian Grand Prix, the Montreal International Jazz Festival and the Just For Laughs comedy festival, there are tons of smaller celebrations featuring everything from croissants to graffiti. The June 9-19 Mural festival allows artists to paint the sides of buildings in the downtown core. The city’s iconic Saint-Laurent Boulevard is closed to cars as the owners of restaurants, retail stores and bars set up outdoor kiosks to feed and entertain as artists on scaffolding transform brick facades into stunning works of art. If crowds aren’t your thing, stop by any of the bakeries in the city that are participating in this year’s croissant festival on April 30. What started out as a competition in a Montreal newspaper has turned into a delicious celebration of the French pastry. More than 70 bakeries, mostly in Montreal, but many across the province

and two in Paris will be selling croissants for $1. “In Paris they’ll do it for 75 centimes because of the Euro,” said the festival’s vice-president, Louis-Andre Joyal, who runs La Petite Boulangerie in Montreal. He said the goal of the festival is to encourage artisanal pastry chefs and to spread the love of the croissant. Joyal says the ideal croissant must include several key elements. “First, it has to look mouth-watering,” he said. “Then we smell it. It has to have the aroma of hazelnut and butter. You then press it and feel if the flakes crack

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properly, then you cut it open and it should be filled with large holes and that’s when you get the aroma of butter, fermented milk and sugar.” And, to wash down all that flaky goodness, tourists can stop by one of two of the city’s beer festivals. First on tap is Montreal Beer Week from April 29 to May 8, where six local bar and brew pubs will offer samples of their alcoholic delicacies with food pairings. From June 8 to 12, the city hosts the more formal and larger-scale Mondial de la biere, which features beers from around the world. ■

Events

New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre By WelcomePack Canada Inc. WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m., Mon, Tues, Thu & Fri at the Filipino Centre Bldg., 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, On. MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355 Tagalog Class By Filipino Center Toronto WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto Homework/Tutorial Class

APRIL 29, 2016

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, ON MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-9289355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m. Formal Wear Showcase Dinner Dance By Samahang Ala Eh! Ng Ottawa Valley WHEN/WHERE: 5:30 p.m., Apr. 30, Centurion Conference Centre, 170 Colonnade Rd., Ottawa, On.

YUKON Tunog ng Pagbabago Duterte By Tunog ng Pagbabago Alberta WHEN/WHERE: 5 to NORTHWEST 11 p.m., May 7, at Polish Canadian TERRITORIES Centre 3015-15th St. NE, Calgary, AB MORE INFO: $10 admission; 3 for $25; 4 for $35

CANADA EVENTS

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Following the Silk Routes and Beyond in Vancouver By ExplorAsian 2016 WHEN/WHERE: up to May 31 at the Chinese Cultural Centre, 555 Columbia St.. Vancouver MORE INFO: A photographic exhibition celebrating the past and present exchange and multiculturalism in ancient Asia, and their impact in modern Vancouver. Free Tax Clinic for Low-Income Newcomers By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: For full eligibility criteria, please visit www.mosaicbc.com/settlement-services. Call to make an appointment: Vancouver: 604-254-9626 (serves permanent residents, work permit holders and naturalized citizens) Burnaby: 604-438-8214 (serves permanent residents only) 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 778322-2839 or email: tfw.divorce@gmail.com Skills Now: Project-based Training for Immigrants in Retail and Administration By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: Call or email at 604-684-2581 (ext 2193 Nanki) skillsnow@issbc.org MORE INFO: Receive a certificate or skills training in retail or administration; job search workshops; and strong employment opportunities. Mentoring Programme for Immigrant High School Students: Breakfast & Baon 101 By Mentorship & Leadership for Youth Programme WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 nn at Corpus Christi

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Filipino Dance & Culture: Voices of Migrant Workers By Mayworks Fredericton WHEN/WHERE: 2 to 4 p.m., Apr. 30, at STU Black Box Theatre Fredericton, New Brunswick

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QUEBEC

College (near UBC) 5935 Iona Dr. Vancouver BC. Free pick up and drop off service. MORE INFO: Meet young professionals plus learn to cook. Call/text Anna de Quito 604-763-2210. Free Counselling Support Group By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., every last Monday of the month, at Mosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Darae (604)254-9626 Breaking Isolation: Engaging & Empowering Older Women Against Violence & Abuse By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m. to 12 nn, Tuesdays & Thursdays from Apr. 26 to May 19, at R, 200-504 Cottonwood Ave. Coquitlam, B.C. MORE INFO: Contact Liza dela Rosa 778-861-8499 or email at liza.delarosa@issbc.org Movement(s) Art Exhibit by J Peachy By Bowen Island Arts Council WHEN/WHERE: Apr. 29 to May 23. Exhibit opens 5:30 p.m., Apr. 30, at Gallery @ Artisan Square, 589 Artisan Lane, Bowen Is. Thy Will Be Done: A National Day of Prayer for Radical Change and Peaceful Election in the Philippines By Bob Ocio WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 7 p.m., May 1, at 8578 Fraser St., Vancouver, B.C. Asian Waters: Watercolour Exhibition by Etsu Inoue, Angela Leung and Esmie Gayo McLaren By Jeunesse Gallery of Fine Arts WHEN/WHERE: May 2 to 31, at Jeunesse Gallery of Fine Arts, 2668 W. 4th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. www.canadianinquirer.net

Free Legal Clinic NOVA for Low Income Temporary Foreign Workers With SCOTIA Access Pro Bono Lawyers By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 7 to 9 p.m., May 2 and 9, at Mosaic, 1720 Grant St., 2nd Floor, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Register for a free 30-minute legal consultation with Access Pro Bono lawyers on issues related to Temporary Foreign Workers and immigration, such as renewing/extending your work permit, applying for permanent residency, etc. Appointments required. Healthy Brain Workshop By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 12 to 2 p.m., May 9, at Mosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Maintain a healthy brain! Learn strategies and set goals to reduce stress and to reduce your risk of Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Language support available upon request. In partnership with the Alzheimer Society of BC. Call - Eliza (604)-438-8214 Renting It Right By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 3 p.m., May 9, at Mosaic Vancouver Computer Lab, 1720 Grant St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: A free online course created by the Justice Education Society and the Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre (TRAC) that helps tenants find the right rental options, understand the rental process and learn about tenant rights and responsibilities. Call Joy(604)-254-9626 ext 484 Stumbling Through Paradise Book Launch By Eleonor Guerrero-Campbell WHEN/WHERE: 1:30-4:30 p.m., May 21, at Multipurpose Rm. 4, Olympic Village Creekside Community Center, 1 Athletes Way, Vancouver, B.C.

APRIL 29, 2016

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APRIL 29, 2016

FRIDAY

Food

Prost! Germany celebrates Hint! Hint! This is 500 years of beer purity law the treat moms want BY JONA KALLGREN The Associated Press INGOLSTADT, GERMANY — To some it’s the real deal, to others it’s a bland brew, but thanks to a 500-year-old rule everybody can be sure what’s in German beer. Chancellor Angela Merkel was among those toasting the anniversary Friday of a law that allowed only water, hops and malt as ingredients — yeast was added to the list later. Praising the law at a ceremony in Ingolstadt, southern Germany, Merkel halfjokingly quoted religious reformer and bon vivant Martin Luther, who said that “he who has no beer, has nothing to drink.” Records have that in 1516 Duke William IV of Bavaria signed a beer purity law in the city that was eventually adopted throughout Germany. It’s still on the books, albeit with some exceptions, today. The law originally stipulated that only barley should be used for beer. Other grains, such as wheat, were considered too valuable as food to be turned into beverages, according to Nina Anika Klotz, editor of beer magazine Hopfenhelden. Another argument was consumer protection: brews that contained ingredients such as fungus and herbs sometimes had “quite undesirable results,” said Klotz. Critics say the so-called Reinheitsgebot — whose name means divine commandment in German — is little more than a marketing trick dreamed up in the early 20th century to promote German beer against foreign competitors. While brewers in neighbouring Belgium merrily make beers containing coriander and orange peel, for example,

such ingredients are theoretically “verboten” in Germany. This has proved particularly frustrating for a young guard of craft beer enthusiasts trying to break into the German market. But some old-fashioned brewers feel stifled by the law, too. Helmut Fritsche, owner of Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle brewery some two hours west of Berlin, started what became known as the Brandenburg Beer War after authorities ruled that his black beer was illegal because it contained sugar. “We fought for ten years,” he said. “Fought with the federation of brewers, with the state government, until the highest administrative court in 2005 decided that our black beer, that includes a pinch of sugar, could be called beer.” Fritsche now brews many beers with added natural ingredients, such as cherries, asparagus and even potatoes. “What do we want beer as a product to represent? We want it to represent flavour. And we shouldn’t inhibit the variety of flavours. Of course we should never add ingredients that are dangerous to humans,” he said. Fresh ideas may be needed if German brewers don’t want their income to dry up. While Germans are still ranked second — just after the Czechs — annual beer consumption per capita has fallen from 141 litres in 1991 to 98 litres last year. At least one novelty seems to have the blessing of mainstream breweries, though. Last year, the share of alcoholfree beer rose to 5.6 per cent from 5.4 per cent in Germany thanks to its growing popularity among consumers. ■ Frank Jordans contributed from Berlin.

on Mother's Day BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press

I’M ALWAYS at a bit of a loss about what to say about Mother’s Day, not to mention similar holidays that feel slightly (more than slightly?) manufactured. I’m not a curmudgeon about them, exactly, but I’m a bit skeptical of the external forces that say, “THIS is the day you need to celebrate your sweetheart/ father/mother/uncle’s neighbor’s dog/ cousin, and you’d better do it right!” Go out? Stay in Breakfast in bed? The pressure! Who needs it? But on the flip side, I definitely would be sad if the kids ignored the holiday completely. And because I am always firmly entrenched in the kitchen, I do get a bit excited when they elbow me out and take over the culinary detail for the day. Not seeing the mess — and knowing that my husband will be there to help put the kitchen back together when they are finished — is an even greater thrill. I really don’t care what they decide to make. In this case, it really is the thought that counts. But if they are at a loss for ideas, I might leave a copy of this recipe on the counter a few days ahead of time. I originally made this for my friend’s 50th birthday, and we were all a bit in love. It’s a simple kid-friendly dish to make. Egg cracking, measuring, whisking, banana mashing, bread cutting (easy with even a kid’s knife, and the cubes don’t have to be perfect at all), all very doable. Younger kids will need an adult on hand to help get the dish in and out of the oven, but other than that this is a dish that any enthusiastic kid would be thrilled to serve up to Mom. BANANA BREAD PUDDING

Start to finish: 1 hour 40 minutes (20 minutes active) Servings: 6 • Butter or cooking spray, for the pan • 1 loaf challah bread (about 1 pound), cut into cubes • 4 large eggs • 3 cups whole milk • 1 cup heavy cream • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract www.canadianinquirer.net

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 4 very ripe bananas, mashed Heat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 9-by-13inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Arrange the challah cubes on a rimmed baking sheet. Toast in the oven for 10 minutes, or until the outsides firm up just a bit. Remove the challah from the oven, but leave the oven on. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Add the mashed bananas and mix well. Stir in the bread cubes, then let sit for about 10 minutes so the bread absorbs some of the liquid. Transfer the bread pudding to the prepared baking dish. Bake for about 50 minutes, or until the pudding is set and puffy, and the top is golden brown. Let cool on a wire rack for 15 to 20 minutes, or until it firms up a bit, but is still warm. Nutrition information per serving: 670 calories; 230 calories from fat (34 percent of total calories); 25 g fat (13 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 215 mg cholesterol; 680 mg sodium; 93 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 48 g sugar; 18 g protein. Katie Workman has written two cookbooks focused on easy, family-friendly cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.”

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

VICTORIA CAREGIVERS' GET-TOGETHER Some scenes from the recent Victoria Filipino Canadian Caregivers Association board and volunteer get-together (Photos by Annette Beech).

CONSULAR OUTREACH Community volunteers led by Anita Ferrer assisted in the recent Philippine Consulate General (PCG) in Vancouver consular outreach in Cranbrook, B.C. Vice Consul Charmaine Guevara headed the PCG team. (Photos by Anita Ferrer)

ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH Asian Heritage Month and exploreASIAN 2016 opened on Apr. 16, at SFU in Vancouver. Among the guests were First Nations Elder Larry Grant, MP Hedy Fry, Lorene Oikawa of the Greater Vancouver Japanese Canadian Citizen's Association, Dr. Laurie Anderson, Dr. Paul Crowe, Ken McAteer, artists Ed Araquel, Dona Osea Menor and Esmie Gayo Maclaren, and Deputy Consul General Anton Mandap of the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver (Photos by Grace Cuenca). www.canadianinquirer.net

Seen and Scenes

APRIL 29, 2016

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PRESIDENT'S BALL The Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) held its Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ball on Apr. 23, at Royal York Hotel - Toronto. The special speaker was Patrick Brown (leader of the Conservative Party of Ontario). FCT President Rosalinda CerrudoJavier thanked supporters of FCT's ongoing projects for academic and athletic development (Prhotos by Ariel Ramos).

FASHION WEEK Ralph Paguirigan, executive producer, founder and CEO of Canada Asian Fashion Week launched the CAFW event at Joey Restaurant on Apr. 20. Runway shows, fashion marketplace and red carpet finale gala will be held from May 17 to 21, at the Carlu Concert Hall in Toronto (Photos by Amelia Insigne and Ariel Ramos).

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FRIDAY APRIL 29, 2016

DiamonD BanD

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Final ClearanCe

MON- SAT 9:30AM-9PM SUN 11AM-7PM

Located by the food court near The Bay.

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APRIL 29, 2016

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