Philippine Canadian Inquirer #218

m info@canadianinquirer.net

sales@canadianinquirer.net A (888) 668-6059 facebook.com/ Philippine

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER

CanadianInquirer twitter:

MAY 20, 2016

@PhilCanInquirer

VOL. 5 NO. 218

www.canadianinquirer.net

6

9

13

17

27

Philippine president-elect to offer Cabinet posts to rebels

‘Social media was tipping point’

Rivals seek heaven’s blessing

Liberals: outlaw transgender hate speech, discrimination

10 ideas for theme nights at a vacation with family

Work camps north of Fort McMurray evacuated due to growing wildfire

MAYOR TO PRESIDENT

BY JOHN COTTER AND DEAN BENNETT The Canadian Press Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte is greeted by supporters at Lipa City Hall in Batangas province during a campaign sortie.

RAFFY LERMA / PDI

Duterte seen shaping Congress leadership

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENT-ELECT Rodrigo Duterte will likely play a role in shaping the new Senate and House leadership, especially since he intends to push for the amendment of the Constitution for a shift to the federal form of

government.

“I will assume the personality of Digong (Duterte’s nickname) is one of forceful leadership. Inevitably, he will have to play a role [in the Senate leadership fight],” said former Sen. Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr., founder of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng

Lake, hikes and history draw visitors to Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park

FORT MCMURRAY, ALTA. — A harsh reminder of the perils still at play in the Alberta wildfires emerged Monday afternoon as employees at work camps north of Fort McMurray were moved out as part of a precautionary evacuation.

High winds spurred the quickly spreading wildfire as tinder-dry conditions persist in the region.

“Heavy smoke ... does make it unsafe to fly in some spots, but we are able to still work the flanks and hope to pinch it off,” said Alberta wildfire manager Chad Morrison.

“When you have this kind of extreme fire behaviour it doesn’t matter what tankers you put in front of it, it doesn’t matter how many helicopters, Mother

❱❱ PAGE 32 ❱❱ PAGE 7 Duterte seen

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS InFocus.canadianinquirer.net

❱❱ PAGE 18 Work camps

2

MAY 20, 2016

TAWAG NA SA PINAS!

PURE CHANNEL

5cl FFO OR R

AS A S

PEE P R R

www.purechannel.ca/5cPhils

LLO OW W

AS A S

M M IIN NU UTT EE

WHY PURE CHANNEL? NO HIDDEN CHARGES

NO CONNECTION FEES ONLINE STATEMENT VIEW CALL DETAILS ONLINE

SIGN UP NOW: 1-888-980-8380

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

3

Smartmatic faces probe Change in code done without Comelec approval

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) yesterday formed a committee to investigate its technology partner Smartmatic for the unauthorized change in the data packet for a transparency server that gave rise to accusations of fraud in the count of votes in Monday’s national elections.

The Comelec also restricted the access of Smartmatic personnel to the consolidation and canvassing system workstation at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) amid the uproar caused by the minor adjustment it made to the data packet for the transparency server of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) on Monday night.

Smartmatic, a Venezuelan information technology company, had no immediate comment on the Comelec moves yesterday.

The controversy began with Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. questioning on Tuesday his sudden loss of the lead in the count of the votes in the vice presidential race to Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo after midnight on Monday.

Marcos was leading Robredo, the administration candidate, by as much as a million votes until midnight on Monday, but Robredo eventually overtook him on Tuesday and never looked back. She was leading the son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos by more than 200,000 votes as of yesterday.

On Wednesday, Marcos’ camp said a new script was introduced into the PPCRV transparency server that altered the hash codes of the packet data.

The alteration, Marcos’ allies

said, affected the vote count.

But Comelec Chair Andres Bautista said on Thursday that the change done on the data packet was just “cosmetic” and did not affect the vote count.

“I can categorically say there is no cheating,” Bautista said at a press briefing.

But other members of the Comelec were not satisfied, prompting an investigation.

Breach of protocol

Speaking at a news conference yesterday, Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon accused Smartmatic of breaching protocol, saying its actions, which had no consent from the Comelec, warranted a formal investigation.

Guanzon said the investigative committee would be headed by the Comelec law department’s director, Norina Casingal, with Margareth Chin, head of the personnel department, as vice chair.

While relieved that the “unauthorized” action did not alter the counting of the votes, Guanzon stressed that Smartmatic should have not touched the program without approval from the full commission.

“What they should have done was [after seeing the] error, they should have informed the [full commission]—what is the problem, what are the consequences—and then give us recommendations on how to fix it,” Guanzon said.

Earlier, Guanzon staunchly opposed the Comelec’s collaboration with Smartmatic, writing a 10-page opinion against the awarding of the election automation project to the Venezuelan company, which had been the Comelec’s partner in the two previous computerized ballotings.

“This automated election system is not owned by Smartmatic. It is owned by the Comelec representing the people of the Philippines... They were not supposed to change anything without our knowledge and permission,” Guanzon told reporters yesterday.

The investigation was launched after Guanzon and other election commissioners, whom she did not identify, pushed for it to determine whether Smartmatic had liabilities under its contract and Philippine laws.

Penalties

Guanzon said the penalties Smartmatic could incur may include withholding of its performance bond or its disqualification from biddings for future Comelec projects.

“We can assure you that the commissioners are going to study this and we will investigate even our people, if they have omissions there or malfeasance, we will get to the bottom of it,” she said She said the Comelec would review its contract with Smartmatic and “see if the breach is enough to disqualify them from biddings [for] future contracts.”

“They have a performance bond that we can hold. I can also vote to refuse payment unless I am satisfied that the breach was benign,” she said.

Minor adjustment

In a separate press briefing, Smartmatic project manager Marlon Garcia, who was responsible for the minor adjustment, presented the data that contained the script changing the character “?” that appeared in the names of certain candidates to the special character “ñ.”

The data was personally retrieved on Thursday night by

www.canadianinquirer.net

SMARTMATIC'S WEBSITE

the Comelec from the PPCRV Transparency Center at Pope Pius XII Catholic Center on United Nations Avenue in Manila, witnessed by a representative from three news organizations, including the INQUIRER. Garcia pinpointed where the new script was put in and how it substituted the “?” in the data with “ñ,” explaining that a file system in English could not recognize or understand what the Spanish special character meant.

He also said the minor adjustment caused the hash code to change, but stressed that this was separate from the hash codes of the vote-counting machine, the automated election system and other applications.

‘Cosmetic’ change

Garcia also said that since his action involved a minor cosmetic change “from the engineering standpoint,” Smartmatic did not see the need to elevate the matter to Bautista or to the full Comelec.

Operational or technical matters were brought to the attention of the Comelec’s project management team or the information technology department, he said.

But if actions were to create a big impact on the platform and cause financial repercussions, they have to be authorized by the full Comelec, he added.

“That has been the standard practice throughout the deployment of this project since Day 1,” Garcia said, adding that Smartmatic could not access the system without the other half of the passcode only known to the Comelec.

The minor change in the script was introduced around at 7 p.m. on Monday when an IT technical staff member of an online news network at the PPCRV center called the attention of Comelec IT officer Rouie Peñalba to the presence of a “?” in the names of some of candidates where the letter “ñ” should have appeared.

Based on Smartmatic’s report to the Comelec, Peñalba notified the Smartmatic technical support team led by Garcia about the concern and the group solved it by correcting the script in the presence of everyone at the PPCRV center.

‘Cavalier’ explanation

But Guanzon was unhappy about Garcia’s “attempt to interpret the provisions in the contract” as well as the “cavalier fashion” of his explanation of the incident, as if no damage had been done.

“It is not for Smartmatic to tell us how to interpret our contracts. They are supposed to do ❱❱ PAGE 6 Smartmatic faces

4

Philippine News

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

‘We respect presumptive President Federalism, war on Duterte’s prerogative to choose members crime top Duterte of his Cabinet’ — Sec. Soliman legislative agenda PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon J. Soliman said on Tuesday she respects the decision of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte in appointing a member of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) to head the Department.

According to her, the appointment of Cabinet members is a prerogative of the incoming head of the country.

“It is the right of the pre-

sumptive President to choose the members of his Cabinet,” she stressed.

Meanwhile, Secretary Soliman said they are now preparing the DSWD’s transition report.

“We want to make sure that the aspirations of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and other programs and services of the Department, especially the positive changes in the lives of the partner-beneficiaries, their continued empowerment, and the significant strides along health and education will be protected,” the outgoing DSWD chief said.

Earlier, the eight-point economic agenda of the incoming administration was unveiled by the Duterte Transition Team, including the enhancement and improvement of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program.

“How is this consistent should DSWD be under a Communist party member? It is on record that the Communist Party of the Philippines has not been supportive of the Pantawid program,” Soliman noted.

Currently, some 4.4 million poor households are included in the program. ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer

change in the form of government to federalism.

Pimentel said they wanted to “start (the process) as soon as possible,” or “early in the SEN. AQUILINO “Koko” Pi- Duterte administration.” mentel III is flying to Davao Part of the legislative agenda is City next week to discuss with to ensure the budget law would represumptive President Ro- flect Duterte’s “all-out war against drigo Duterte the legislative crime, drugs and corruption.” agenda of the new administraDuterte said he would end tion, including setting up a fed- criminality in three to six months. eral form of government and But he also said he would passing a budget reflective of work to make food more afan “all-out war against crime, fordable through measures that drugs and corruption.” would lower food prices and give Pimentel, who heads PDP- people more cash with the overLaban, the party of Duterte, haul of income tax brackets. told the INQUIRER yesterday Pimentel said he intended to he intended to present the leg- present the finalized legislative islative agenda of the Duterte agenda to his felllow senators administration to his col- so they could study it. leagues in the Senate right after “So that the legislative priorthe Commission on Elections ity of the administration will be proclaims the clear to them and new senators at they could see the weekend. how their perAs for discussonal priorities sions on the con[...] they wanted fit in or other perfiguration of the to “start (the sonal advocacies new Senate leadprocess) conflict with the ership under the as soon as administration Duterte adminispossible,” priority,” he said. tration, Pimentel or “early in The meeting said this would the Duterte with the senators come “naturally.” administration.” would also gauge But he said their sentiments, there was a need and obtain their for a coalition in support for the the Senate that new president, would be “among and between Pimentel said. parties based on programs of He cited the need to strengthgovernment and principles and en and protect the relationship not based on personalities.” between Duterte and the Sen“For me, that is the ideal situ- ate. ation,” he said in a phone interReelected Sen. Vicente Sotto, view. of the Nationalist People’s CoPimentel said the next ad- alition, said he was looking forministration’s legislative agenda ward to an “independent Senwould be lifted mostly from the ate in a working relationship programs of government out- with the new president.” lined by PDP-Laban and proThe come-backing Panfilo Lacnouncements made by Duterte. son said he would align himself That is why, he said, the other with a group “willing to adopt/ senators should not be sur- embrace” his budget reform adprised if there would be a push vocacy that would give local govfor a Constitutional Commis- ernment units “their just and fair sion “to comprehensively re- share of next year’s more that P3.3 view the 1987 Constitution and trillion national budget.” adopt a federal form of govern“I have actually discussed my ment.” budget reform with a number of prospective members of both Pursuit of change houses of the next Congress Duterte, during the cam- who committed to push for its paign, had vowed to pursue a legislation,” he said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

5

Cayetano concedes, says his LP rival won

BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY AND MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer SEN. ALAN Peter Cayetano yesterday conceded electoral defeat to Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo, saying the administration candidate had won the vice presidential race.

“It is often said that the voice of the people is the voice of God. In this regard, I humbly concede my vice presidential bid to [Robredo], who, by all accounts and with 96 percent of the votes already tallied, is our country’s presumptive Vice President,” Cayetano, the vice presidential running mate of presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte, said in a statement.

According to Cayetano, Robredo, who had 13,988,939 votes based on data from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) GMA mirror server as of 3:44 p.m. yesterday, was “not only leading the race [but]

President-elect Rody Duterte and running-mate Alan Peter Cayetano.

ALAN PETER CAYETANO / OFFICIAL FACEBOOK

ha[d] clearly won it.”

Robredo’s closest rival, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., had 13,774,268 votes.

Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, is questioning the vote count, accusing

hurts, nothing is more painful than the sight of a divided country. Thus I call on all the other candidates to respect the people’s will and rally behind presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte and his presumptive

the ruling Liberal Party (LP) of manipulating the results of the automated elections.

The Comelec said, however, it had found no signs of fraud in the vote count.

“While losing an election

Vice President,” Cayetano said.

He said he was “confident” that Robredo would “likewise respect and value the people’s will” by giving her “full support” to Duterte and his “vision [of ending] the disorder in the people’s lives and [introducing] real change [in] our country.”

“Let us begin the journey toward healing and unification,” he said as he called on the public to rally behind the “newly elected leaders.”

“It is in this crucial hour that our voice is needed the most.

Let us work together and let the process of real change begin,” he said.

Robredo issued a statement, acknowledging Cayetano’s concession and thanking him for recognizing her electoral victory.

“I’m willing to cooperate with him in continuing to improve the lives of our countrymen,” she said.

“I hope this would end soon so that our country would start to heal,” she added. ■

Kin of Kentex fire victims air appeal to Digong

BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer A YEAR has passed since the Kentex footwear factory fire that killed 72 people in Valenzuela City, but justice remains elusive for the victims’ families, who now hope to obtain it under the incoming administration.

The group Justice for Kentex Workers Alliance called on presumptive President Rodrigo Duterte to apply his promised anticrime and antigraft campaigns to the company and government officials being called to answer for the May 13, 2015, inferno.

“What we received only was financial help. This is not the proper compensation for the crime that was done to us. And we don’t believe compensation equals justice,” the group said in a statement sent out by Ammied Rada. “To all those who supported us, thank you very much! But our fight goes on.”

“No one has been held accountable so far,” said Remigio

Saladero, a lawyer represent- solidated the cases instead,” ensuing trial in the Sandiganing a group of families who had Saladero told the Inquirer. bayan ended in November 2014 filed charges in the Valenzuela According to the lawyer, he with the conviction of seven City Prosecutor’s Office and the wrote Justice Secretary Em- former City Hall officials and Office of the Ombudsman. manuel Caparas last month re- two company executives, all In the prosecutor’s office, questing him to act fast on the sentenced to 10 years in prison. they sued the respondents for remaining cases, but he has yet In March, Ombudsman Conreckless imprudence resulting to get a reply from the DOJ. chita Carpio Morales found in multiple homicide in June “He is about to leave office probable cause to charge Valen2015. But it was only in Feb- (with the change of administra- zuela Mayor Rexlon Gatchalruary this year that Saladero tion). We hope that the govern- ian, two officials from the Busireceived notice ness Permits and that the DepartLicensing Office, ment of Justice four officials (DOJ) would be from the Bureau the one to conof Fire Protecduct the prelimiWhat we received only was tion, and Ong nary investigafinancial help. This is not the proper King Guan (a.k.a. tion of the case. compensation for the crime that was Terence King “It’s already done to us. And we don’t believe Ong), owner of May and the recompensation equals justice.

Kentex Manuspondents have facturing Corp., yet to submit in connection their counterafwith the Kentex fidavits,” Saladefire. ro said on Friday. He also noted ment expedites this because Gatchalian and Guan, togeththat while the complaints were it might take years before we er with City Fire Marshal Mel filed on behalf of the majority of attain justice, just like the case Jose Lagan, Senior Insp. Edgrothe aggrieved families, the DOJ of the Ozone victims,” Saladero ver Oculam, fire safety inspecnotice only covered the cases of said. tors Rolando Avendan and Ra15 victims.

He was referring to the Ozone mon Maderazo, were charged The rest of the cases, he said, disco fire in Quezon City that with violation of the antigraft had yet to be assigned to a pros- killed 162 people and injured law and reckless imprudence ecutor. “They should have con- 93 others in March 1996. The resulting in multiple homicides www.canadianinquirer.net

and physical injuries. Also included in the charge sheet filed in the Sandiganbayan are Renchi May Padayao and Eduardo Carreon of the BPLO. Gatchalian was also ordered dismissed by the Ombudsman but he managed to secure a temporary restraining order against the directive. The mayor won a fresh term in the May 9 elections.

Saladero said his clients had accepted P151,200 each in compensation from Kentex, but they still pressed charges against the company officials.

“A settlement does not affect the criminal case since the offended party here is the state, not the individual,” he added.

There are also more than 50 cases pending in the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in connection with the fire, stemming from Kentex’s violation of labor laws, the lawyer added.

The NLRC had resolved 11 cases so far, ordering Kentex to pay P50,000 to P125,000 per complainant, depending on the worker’s length of service, he added. ■

6

Philippine News

Smartmatic faces... what they are supposed to do and they are not supposed to do what they are not supposed to do and they can say if it is only financial matters they go to the [full commission],” she said.

“There may have been no damage in terms of the alteration of the results but there is certainly some effect because now the people are anxious and asking the question, ‘Could this have been done in the past elections?’” she added.

She said that even if the minor adjustment had “benign” effects on the vote count, it has “significant effect” on the people’s psyche, especially amid the tight race between Robredo and Marcos. ❰❰ 3

Reprimand

The National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) acknowledged that the change introduced by Smartmatic was “cosmetic” and did not affect the vote count, but said the people who made the change should be reprimanded.

Namfrel member Eric Alvia said the Smartmatic IT group’s action was a “serious breach of protocol” and it was now raising questions about the integrity of the elections.

Lito Averia, another Namfrel member, said the change did not in any way affect the Comelec’s central server or the data generated from the vote-counting machines.

But he lamented that “certain

protocols were not followed.”

“What should have happened, if there was something that needed to be changed, no matter how simple, it should have gone through a change management board for approval,” Averia said.

Leash on Smartmatic

With the controversy heating up, the Comelec restricted the access of Smartmatic personnel to the national canvassing workstation at PICC yesterday.

In a letter to Smartmatic general manager Elie Moreno, Election Commissioner Christian Robert Lim said the national board of canvassers had sole and absolute control over the workstation at the PICC. “Your personnel shall not be allowed to access the [workstation] without specific prior authority from the [national board of canvassers] or the project monitoring office. In any case, access to the [workstation] shall always be under the direct supervision of duly designated Comelec personnel,” Lim told Moreno.

Lim, head of the steering committee for the 2016 elections, said Smartmatic should also get his approval before examining any election equipment. “[I]n the spirit of utmost transparency, follow the protocol of announcing any action to all parties present before undertaking [the action],” he said.

A copy of the order was sent to Smartmatic IT team head Garcia. ■

DBM execs face graft raps

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer THE OFFICE of the Ombudsman has ordered the indictment for graft of six officials of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in connection with the allegedly fraudulent procurement of inflatable rubber boats for the military in 2010.

Charged in the Sandiganbayan were Budget Undersecretary Evelyn Guererro, Director Lourdes Santiago, procurement management officers Julieta Lozano and Mervin Ian Tanquintic, administrative assistant Alvin John Perater

and ad hoc member Lt. Malone Agudelo.

Included as a private respondent was Anthony Hernandez of Joavi Philippines Corp., the supplier of the substandard rubber boats.

In an e-mailed statement, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales said graft investigators discovered that the purchase of the rubber boats, used as rescue vessels, violated several provisions of the government’s procurement law.

For one, Morales said, the rubber boats did not have inflation valves, over-pressure valves and roll-up floors as specified in the procurement plan. ■

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Philippine president-elect to offer Cabinet posts to rebels

BY TERESA CEROJANO The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Presumptive Philippine President-elect Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he will reimpose the death penalty, offer Cabinet posts to communist rebels, and move to amend the constitution to give more power to the provinces, in some of his first policy pronouncements since winning last week’s election based on an unofficial count.

In his first nationally televised news conference since the May 9 vote, Duterte also said he will launch a major military offensive to destroy Abu Sayyaf extremists on southern Jolo Island.

The announcements, a sharp departure from current government policy, reflect his brash campaign pledge to end crime and corruption in the impoverished nation in three to six months. Police officials have said the plan is undoable, and that crime remains prevalent in Davao city, where Duterte has served as mayor for more than 22 years.

The military has been fighting a decades-long Marxist insurgency in the countryside.

Duterte said he would likely offer the Cabinet posts of environment and natural resources, agrarian reform, social welfare, and labour to the communist rebels.

“They are the most vigilant group in the Philippines about labour so they would get it,” Duterte said.

The move would likely be strongly opposed by big business and industry.

Duterte said he would ask Congress to reimpose the death penalty, which has been suspended since 2006 in the face of staunch opposition from the dominant Roman Catholic church. Capital punishment by hanging, he said, should be imposed for heinous crimes, and criminals convicted of killing along with robbery and rape should be meted “double the hanging.”

“After the first hanging, there will be another ceremony for the second time until the head is completely severed from the www.canadianinquirer.net

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua met with presumptive President Duterte in Davao City on May 16, 2016 and had friendly and sincere exchanges on the development of China-Philippines relations.

DAVAO BUREAU / PNA

body,” he said.

Commission on Human Rights Chairman Chito Gascon said his agency opposes the death penalty and would block any attempt to reimpose it, adding that the constitution forbids cruel and degrading punishments like hanging.

“In a country where the rule of law has so many loopholes and problems, what will happen is the possibility of a mistaken conviction,” Gascon said by telephone.

Duterte also plans to switch to a federal form of government, aiming to give more power and resources to regions, including the country’s south, where Davao city is located.

Such a change would require an amendment to the constitution.

In a populist move, Duterte said he would sell the presidential yacht and use the money to buy medical equipment for military and police personnel.

“When people are hungry and jobless ...it would be an obscene thing” to have the luxury vessel lying unused, he said.

TV network ABS-CBN also quoted him as telling reporters in Davao late Sunday that he plans to ban the use of luxury cars among his Cabinet members and will use his personal pickup truck as his official presidential vehicle.

Duterte reiterated on Mon-

day his vow to control illegal drugs and crime, even it means losing the presidency or his life. “Stop messing with me, because I have a sacred promise to save the next generation from the evil of drugs,” he told critics.

He also promised to cut government red tape and remove corrupt officials. Duterte said “contaminated” police generals facing corruption cases should “get out now” before he assumes office. If not, they should prepare to be sent to invade the Abu Sayyaf militants, who have been blamed for multiple kidnappings and beheadings.

“And if you are taken hostage there, say your ‘Our Fathers’ because I will never, never pay anything to retrieve you,” he added.

Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Visaya, whom Duterte is considering to head the military, said he met over the weekend with the mayor, who told him he wanted troops to finish off the Abu Sayyaf within the president’s six-year term and to back up the police in going after drug syndicates.

After the news conference, Duterte met with the ambassadors of China, Japan and Israel. Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua gave him a book about Chinese President Xi Jinping. ■ Associated Press writer Jim Gomez contributed to this report.

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

7

Marcos to ask Comelec for system audit of AES

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — The camp of vice presidential candidate Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. is set to ask the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to open the Automated Election System for a systems audit after uncovering irregularities while tabulating results of the May 9 elections based on the Certificates of Canvass.

Atty. Jose Amor Amorado, Head of the BBM for VP “Quick-Count” center said that according to their IT (Information Technology) experts, only a systems audit will show if the election results were not affected by the change in the script done to the server.

“By tomorrow May 18 in the early afternoon 1 p.m. we are filing a stronglyworded demand letter to the Comelec regarding the opening of the system for a systems audit because doing so will finally put to rest whether or not the changing of the ‘?’ to ‘ñ’ that they tampered with resulted to something else,” he said.

Among others, Amorado cited the report of the Provincial Board of Canvassers of Laguna seeking permission from the Comelec to convene anew to “correct the discrepancies” in the manuallyuploaded election results reflected in their provincial COC. In that report, Precinct No. 13423 which represents the town of Rizal in Laguna listed was 12 votes each for Senators Allan Peter Cayetano, Francis Escudero and Gringo Honasan and 9 votes each for Senator Marcos, Rep. Leni Robredo and Senator Antonio Trillanes.

Amorado also noted the “highly irreg-

A personnel of Senate Sergeant at Arms carries a box containing Certificate of Canvass(COC) for Presidential and Vice Presidential race turned over at the Senate Building in Pasay City.

AVITO C.DALAN / PNA

ular” number of undervotes in the Vice Presidential race.

“We have collated unusually high percentages of under votes for the Vice Presidential race in all parts of the country - from Region 1 to the National Capital Region and all the way to Region 13 and the ARMM (Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao)” Amorado added.

He explained that “under vote” means that the voter did not select any candidate. In contrast an “over vote” means the voter chose more than the number of candidates for the position. In both instances, the vote is not counted.

“Overall, there were more than 3.3 million undervotes in the 2016 Vice Presidential derby and in a highly contested race, we consider the same highly suspicious,” Amorado expressed.

Amorado said they are in possession of

evidence of other irregularities but they are still collating and validating them.

He said these would be made public as soon as they get the necessary clearance.

He added that Marcos would also send representatives to the hearing of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee on the Automated Election System

Duterte seen...

Bayan (PDPLaban), Duterte’s party.

Asked whether Duterte’s plans for a federal government had something to do with it, Pimentel agreed.

“Especially of that aspect for federalism, which is what he stood for. He most probably would stand by that,” Pimentel said in a news conference on Sunday. ❰❰ 1

‘Stumbling blocks’

He noted that the Senate and the House of Representatives could be “stumbling blocks” to Duterte’s plan, in which case the new Philippine leader would need to use “positive leadership or influence” to align the two houses of Congress with his program.

But Pimentel also said the new Senate composition would again see more senators from Luzon than from the Visayas and Mindanao.

“Therefore much of the alternate shape of the Senate and the House will depend on the leadership of Digong,” he said.

Pimentel also noted that “when a new President is elected, regardless of the … partisan composition of the House and the Senate, there’ll be a gravitational pull of the Office of the President that will impel most members to express their support for the new President.”

Pimentel’s son, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, who is the current PDPLaban president, is in Davao this week for talks with Duterte about the presumptive President-elect’s legislative agenda as well as the Senate leadership.

The Senate in the incoming 17th Congress will be made up of members of the Liberal Party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition and the Nacionalista Party, as well as independents. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

that will be investigating the unauthorized change in script of a transparency server for automated elections.

“We would like to thank everyone who has been helping us in this campaign especially those who are risking their lives just to reveal vital information on the conduct of the elections. Rest assured that we will not stop until the true will of the people prevails,” he said.

Meanwhile, Amorado also said that based on their own count of 100 COCs out of a total of 108, Marcos received 13,506,005 votes compared to Cong.

Leni Robredo who got 13,346,009, or a difference of 117,939 as of 3:15 p.m.

Tuesday.

“That’s why we are optimistic we will win this election,” he said.

Likewise, Amorado welcomed the announcement of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) that it would terminate its quick count soon.

Marcos had asked the COMELEC to have the PPCRV end its quick count, as done in the previous elections, to prevent confusion or doubt in the official results of the official canvass in case there is a noted variation between the two counts. ■

Philippine News

8

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Galleon trade coming to life in 3D

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Inc. Correspondents Jane Moraleda Socorro Newland Bolet Arevalo Katherine Padilla Gerna Lane Sotana Community Editor Mary Ann Mandap maryann.mandap@canadianinquirer.net Administration Head Victoria Yong Graphic Designer Shanice Garcia Photographers Angelo Siglos Vic Vargas For photo submissions, please send to editor@canadianinquirer.net Operations and Marketing Head Laarni Liwanag (604) 551-3360 laarni.liwanag@canadianinquirer.net Advertising Sales Alice Yong (778) 889-3518 alice.yong@canadianinquirer.net Nelson Wu (647) 521-5155 salestoronto@canadianinquirer.net nelson.wu@canadianinquirer.net Amelia Insigne (416) 574-5121 amelia.insigne@canadianinquirer.net Antonio Tampos (604) 460-9414 antonio.tampos@canadianinquirer.net PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP Editorial Assistant Christelle Tolisora Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer digital edition Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 11951 Hammersmith Way, Suite 108 Richmond, B.C. V7A 5H9 Canada Tel. No.: +1 (888) 668-6059, +1 (778) 889-3518 | Email: info@canadianinquirer.net, sales@canadianinquirer.net Philippine Canadian Inquirer is published weekly every Friday.

Copies are distributed free throughout Metro Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Greater Toronto.

The views and opinions expressed in the articles (including opinions expressed in ads herein) are those of the authors named, and are not necessarily those of Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editorial Team.

PCI reserves the right to reject any advertising which it considers to contain false or misleading information or involves unfair or unethical practices. The advertiser agrees the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of error in any advertisement.

Member

MEXICO CITY — For centuries, its storied voyages had gathered dust in the world’s archives and given a mere passing glance in the pages of history books.

But some 200 years after it ended, the Manila-Acapulco galleon trade, largely considered to have given birth to international maritime commerce, is finally getting the recognition it has long deserved as its memory is finally coming to life in 3D. An unprecedented international private sector project is under way to build “a tribute” to the first trans-Pacific SM INVESTMENTS trade: The Manila-Acapulco Galleon Museum, a first-of-its-kind internation- Cambodia, the former Siam (Thailand) “We (the two countries) were both al maritime and cultural museum in the and the Moluccas. under Spain, but it was the Filipinos and Philippines.

“The Silk Road was nothing, compared the Mexicans who built the galleons. It It’s centerpiece: A historically faith- to [the galleon trade]. How much can was the Filipino crewmen who guided ful replica of a galleon, based on detailed you carry on a camel or on horseback? the Spanish captains on how to cross the construction plans found in 18th centu- While this one, it was literal shiploads of Pacific through reading the stars and the ry manuscripts. goods. As it says in literature, if you get moon, because we’ve been doing that for Led by former Sen. Edgardo Angara, space (on the ship), you are an instant centuries,” said the former lawmaker, among the country’s leading arts, his- millionaire,” Angara said, referring to who has authored several books on the tory and cultural warriors, the project the ancient trade network established galleon trade and Mexican-Philippine brings together historians, scholars, ar- during China’s Han Dynasty (from 130 relations. chitects, naval and shipbuilding experts BC to 1453 BC). from the Philippines, Mexico and Spain Commercial galleons sailed the Pa- Building the future to build a shrine of colonial era com- cific twice a year, bringing the goods to More than looking back to history, the merce regarded as the genesis of global- Mexico’s Pacific port of Acapulco. The project aims to help build the future. ization as it is known today. products were traded for silver, me- Angara cited the Philippines’ somewhat More important, the museum hopes dicinal plants and agricultural produce confused identity as an example: Ignoto honor Filipino and Mexican artisans, from Mexico. rance of the past, he said, has diluted the carpenters and navigators who were the From there, the Asian goods were Filipinos’ affinity with their own roots. driving force behind the galleons, even transferred to other ships for a trip to the “But when the young ones learn that as the ships flew the flag of the Spanish port of Cadiz in Spain, from where they during the 16th century, we were the Crown. were taken by land to Seville. The prod- ones bringing the goods and started this “We will construct globalization, it will a tribute, a monugive them a sense of ment for that enterpride,” he told the prise ... It’s our blood, INQUIRER, who sweat and tears We will construct a tribute, a monument for was invited to cover there,” said Angara, that enterprise ... It’s our blood, sweat and tears his five-day visit to who traveled here to there.

Mexico. pursue further partStrategically lonerships to turn his cated by the Manila vision into reality.

Bay, the P600-mil“The idea is to highlight prominently ucts were then spread across Europe. lion galleon museum is currently under the role that the Philippines and Mexico The trade ended as Mexico’s upris- construction at SM Mall of Asia (MOA) played in maritime trade for 250 years,” ing against the Spaniards brewed, and complex in Pasay City, being built he said, noting how the galleon trade be- as European merchants complained through an endowment of the family of came the predecessor of modern trade about poor sales due to competing Asian shopping mall tycoon Henry Sy. pacts such as the American-led Trans- goods.

“It is 60 percent complete. It is like a Pacific Partnership.

But it created an indelible link be- sphere rising from Manila Bay,” Angara tween the Philippines and Mexico, with said.

Trade relics both cultures and peoples influencing The museum is envisioned to feature each other in food, fabrics, art, language, Tourist attraction relics from the trade, which facilitated even genes through intermarriages.

Angara and his team, which includes an exchange of goods across the AsiaAngara, former chair of the Metro- former Mexican Ambassador to the Pacific, Latin America and Europe from politan Museum of the Philippines and Philippines Tomas Calvillo, renowned 1565 to 1815, some six years before the founder of Museo de Baler in his Aurora Mexican architects Jorge Loyzaga and Mexicans won their fight to gain inde- hometown, said the role of Filipinos and Jose Vigil, top Mexican naval historian pendence from Spain.

Mexicans in the galleon trade had been Ivan Valdez-Bubnov and Spanish hisAt the time, Manila served as the re- underplayed quite unjustly in history torical shipbuilder Xabier Agote Aizceiving and processing port for silk, por- books, whether in the Philippines or in purúa, aim for a soft opening in July celain spices, teas and agricultural prod- Mexico, or their common former conucts from China, Japan, India, Borneo, queror, Spain. ❱❱ PAGE 11 Galleon trade www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

‘Social media was tipping point’

BY NIÑA P. CALLEJA Philippine Daily Inquirer CYBERSPACE SAW the rise of a new president with social media providing the “tipping point” for Rodrigo Duterte to win the election, said Nic Gabunada, the man behind Duterte’s social media campaign.

Gabunada, former vice president for marketing of ABS-CBN, who also helped the presidential campaign of then Sen. Benigno Aquino III in 2010, said Duterte’s social media team was formed only after the Davao mayor formally announced his presidential bid.

“We cannot claim social media made him the president. But it provided the tipping point.

We had a very good candidate and passionate campaigners in the field,” Gabunada told the INQUIRER. In October 2015, a five-minute music video titled “Takbo” which

urged Duterte to run for president was uploaded on YouTube and made the rounds online.

Written by singer-songwriter Jimmy Bondoc, the music video was a collaboration among a dozen OPM artists.

As far back as 2014, Gabunada, a Davao resident, pooled resources from his friends in the city and produced regional TV ads that were aired in Cebu and Davao to gauge people’s reaction to a possible Duterte presidency.

It was after Duterte finally announced his run in a private party in Cavite that Gabunada formed a team and put a strategy to work.

In marketing parlance, Gabunada said Duterte was the brand they wanted to popularize. They did analytics of their target audience—the voters.

He said what he and his team did was to differentiate Duterte from his rivals. “Our brand had a story to tell. Brand Duterte represented a different style of leadership,” Gabunada said. ■

LP: No one defecting to Duterte side

BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer MALACAÑANG AND the House leadership yesterday doused speculation the Liberal Party (LP), the largest political party in the country, would be decimated due to poaching of its members by the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban (PDP-Laban), the party of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said reports of massive defections from the LP to PDP-Laban were in the “realm of speculation.”

“This is part of normal speculation after every election. Let’s just wait and see what will happen next. No matter what I say, I don’t see anything of positive value for our country on that topic,” said Coloma in an interview over dzRB radio.

The next president will need to muster the majority in Congress to get his priority legislation and budget passed, and to thwart possible impeachment attempts. The LP with its 110 members could potentially become a strong opposition bloc in the 300member House of Representatives.

Bulk will remain intact

RODY DUTERTE / OFFICIAL FACEBOOK

9

“I’m sure the bulk of the LP would remain intact,” said Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. amid reports newly elected Davao Oriental Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez has started to

raid the ranks of the ruling party in order to gather at least half of the estimated 300 members of the 17th Congress behind his bid to be elected Speaker.

Alvarez is scheduled to meet next week with key political blocs in Congress, specifically the party-list coalition with at least 40 members, the Nationalist People’s Coalition with 42 members, the National Unity Party with 25 to 40 members and the Nacionalista Party with 23 members.

Alvarez, who was embroiled in a bribery scandal involving the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) in 2002, is hoping to build a coalition from an initial PDP-Laban membership of three. Alvarez’ s main target is presumably the LP. Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles, another ally of Duterte, spoke of Duterte’s desire to have a “super majority” or two-thirds support in the House to diminish any threat of impeachment.

Votes of only one-third of House members are needed to impeach a President and the LP alone could initiate ouster moves against Duterte at any time.

Forge alliance, not impeach

But this early, Belmonte assured Duterte he was not interested in impeaching him but would rather forge an alliance with the incoming president.

Belmonte had been Speaker in the 15th and 16th Congresses

and is apparently keen on extending his rule in his third and final term as Quezon City representative.

“We are ready to help the new administration jump-start its programs. Indeed, its success is the success of all of us,” said Belmonte.

Duterte needs a strong grip on Congress not only to keep at bay parties wanting to oust him but to ensure that his key legislative agenda, specifically Charter Change through a constitutional convention, will be carried out as part of his campaign promise to shift to a federal form of government.

Earlier, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, the lone PDP-Laban party member in the Senate, said he would meet with his colleagues to present Duterte’s legislative agenda.

Influx of new members

His father, PDP-Laban party leader Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel, earlier said their party was expecting an influx of new members with Duterte headed to Malacañang.

LP stalwart and Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said the statements of the PDPLaban leaders were “premature,” particularly if the LP vice presidential candidate, Leni Robredo, clinches the post.

Abad said the LP had yet to meet to assess what happened in the elections, in which its presidential bet, Mar Roxas, lost to Duterte, and “discuss how we will relate to the new administration.” ■

MMDA backs Duterte admin’s proposed speed limit in EDSA

BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD T. CALIWAN Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday supports the idea of presumptive president Rodrigo Duterte to implement a 60 kilometer-per-hour (kph) speed limit on vehicles plying along the 23.8 kilometer stretch of Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).

According to Duterte, the measure which is already in effect in Davao will help erad-

icate overspeeding, especially by drunk drivers, along Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare.

Duterte also warned that stiffer penalties will be imposed to speed limit violators and those who are going against the Anti-Drunk Driving Law. The said action is in line with efforts to promote road safety for drivers, passengers and bystanders MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos said that there is no enforcement of speed limit in EDSA, stressing that 60 kph can be an optimal speed limit along

the highway.

“Yung pagtala ng 60 kph along EDSA. Okay naman yun.

Sapat na siguro yun as optimum speed na pwede nating magamit (Setting a speed limit of 60 kph along Edsa. I think that is okay.

It should be enough to be set as optimum speed).” he said.

Carlos said that MMDA implemented the 60-kph speed limit for all public and private vehicles, including motorcycles, along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and Diosdado Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

However, in reality, motorwww.canadianinquirer.net

ists and public utility vehicle drivers said it is unlikely for them to reach 60 kph along EDSA, regularly crowded with buses and other vehicles on regular days.

For his part, Crisanto Saruca, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) head, said the proposed 60 kph can be enforced on Sundays, holidays, and wee hours of the night when traffic along EDSA is light.

Saruca noted that during regular days, no vehicles can speed at 60 kph along EDSA due to traffic congestion, especially during rush hours.

“We have to discuss this with incoming president (Duterte).

For now, hindi naman daw ganun ang takbo natin wala nang rush hour sa EDSA (For now, we don’t run that speed when it isn’t rush hour yet on EDSA), the whole day is rush hour. The average annual speed on EDSA is 26-27 kph,” he explained.

“We will seek guidance from incoming president how he wants to go about it. We have to follow the anti-drunk driving as we will still continue to enforce the Republic Act No. 10586 or Anti-Drunk and Drugged driving Act,” he added. ■

10

Philippine News

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

‘Perversion’ of party-list system hit; SC blamed

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer RATHER THAN giving voters real and more diverse choices, the inclusion of new and numerous sectoral groups in the party-list system is an indication that traditional politicians have found an easier way into public office through “dubious” and “fly by night” groups, according to political analysts.

The “sheer perversion” of the party-list system, originally meant to give marginalized sectors a better chance at winning elective positions, has led to newer and relatively unknown sectoral groups overtaking powerhouse left-wing and progressive blocs in terms of votes, said Richard Javad Heydarian, a political science assistant professor at the De La Salle University (DLSU).

“The sheer perversion of the political parties is the cause of the proliferation of these dubious groups... and the Commission on Elections (Comelec) should play a vigilant role in stamping out these groups because the party-list system is the last bastion of real, participatory and progressive democracy,” Heydarian said in a phone interview with the INQUIRER on Friday.

Lax party-list rules

DLSU political science professor Antonio Contreras blamed the Supreme Court’s lax party-list rules for opening the floodgates to more groups joining the elections, which he said naturally scattered the votes.

“The groups [were competing] for a limited number of votes,” he said, adding that the lack of information and interest among voters also resulted in lackluster support for partylist groups.

The partial, unofficial tally

‘Dynastic’ party-list groups

Comelec National Tabulation Groups process the results of the precinct voting for National Positions and Party-list System at the Philippine International Convention Center.

AVITO C.DALAN / PNA

of the May 9 party-list elections showed relatively new organizations surpassing the votes that old party-list groups, including the so-called Makabayan bloc, used to corner in previous elections.

Ako Bicol seemed to have sealed its standing at No.1 with 1,634,986 votes, followed by Gabriela party-list, apparently one of the two left-wing groups in the Top 10, with 1,339,112 votes or 4.26 percent of the total votes counted.

Newcomer 1Pacman or One Patriotic Coalition of Marginalized Nationals remained unmoved on third spot with 1,287,461 votes, or 4.09 percent of the more than 43 million votes counted as of 2:13 p.m. yesterday.

ACT Teachers, a progressive and militant organization representing the education sector, garnered 1,151,095 votes based on the INQUIRER’S partial and unofficial tally using data from the Comelec’s transparency server.

Bayan Muna, which ranked third in the 2013 midterm elections, moved down to the 15th

spot with 586,193 votes so far, while Anakpawis was on the 29th spot with 354,909 votes.

Kabataan was on the 38th spot with 293,784 votes.

Multimillionaires

Akbayan, which placed fourth in the previous elections with more than 820,000 votes, was currently at No. 13 with 589,161 votes.

Contreras said the lenient rules of the party-list system had a big impact on these left wing and progressive groups, which was competing against more varied sectoral groups.

In 2012, the Comelec had tried to cleanse the system according to the Constitution and the party-list law by reassessing so-called marginalized groups and screening their representatives in Congress which, the poll body noted, were either multimillionaires, former government officials or members of powerful political clans.

But the high court subsequently ruled that party-list groups need not represent marginalized sectors, revising the rules it laid down 15 years ago

www.canadianinquirer.net

and allowing political parties and groups not representing the marginalized and underrepresented sectors to participate in the 2013 elections.

Analyst Edmund Tayao, a political science professor at the University of Santo Tomas, said the age of information “had inadvertently worked against some progressive organizations, as information on the ground could easily be shared by everyone through social media.”

“While the so-called leftist bloc is pushing for real reform measures in Congress as party list representatives, they are also known to be associated with rebel armed groups,” he said, adding that the association was hard to counter especially in the advent of social media.

Tayao said another factor that resulted in poor poll numbers for old-timers in the party list groups was their assumption that they no longer needed to ally themselves with traditional political parties that earlier enabled them to enter government.

Election Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said as much.

“It’s very hard for those not affiliated [with political parties] to generate votes on their own,” she said, adding that this could explain why “the usual top three winners had slid down to [numbers] 12 or 15.”

But former Akbayan Rep. Walden Bello disagreed, saying that being identified with a political party did more harm than good for the organization.

“I don’t want to rub it in at this point but since I’ve been asked, I think the loss of over 200,000 votes from 2013 and then slipping from fifth to 13th [was probably due to the party’s] identification with the Liberal Party and pushing for daang matuwid,” Bello said.

Former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño meanwhile attributed the party’s poor showing to its inability to match the huge resources and the alleged vote-buying operations of the rich and “dynastic” party-list groups.

“In fact, the party-list system is now dominated by groups composed of, funded, and supported by political dynasties, big business and landlord interests,” he told the INQUIRER. But Casiño also admitted that there was a sense of complacency among members and supporters of the organization due to the party’s high profile and excellent performance in the 2013 elections.

“Many thought we had two or three seats in the bag even with minimal campaigning, which was of course wrong,” he said.

In total, he estimated that the Makabayan bloc would have at least eight seats in the 17th Congress. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

Galleon trade... and full operations by January.

Calvillo noted the museum’s prime location near the bayside mall, where an estimated 300,000 visitors come through daily.

Construction of the galleon replica, which by Bubnov’s estimate may take two and a half years to complete, is being planned to become an attraction in itself, as such an ambitious feat has never before been done.

The tedious process of building the ship is also expected to take place in a space within the MOA complex, close to the museum.

“This (the ship) was a Mexican-Filipino conception,” said Bubnov, who is at the lead of researching the galleon model, the documents on which had long been archived but never so closely examined.

Modeled after detailed specifications of an 18th century galleon, the replica will be a 60-meter long, 40-meter high “fully fitted and rigged galleon” with 70 guns to be made of authentic iron, as opposed to steel or plastic.

The ship will have a displacement of 1,000 tons.

The original ship is similar to those made by Filipino artisans and carpenters in Sangley Point, Cavite, at the height of the galleon trade. ❰❰ 8

True to original

“It will be reproduced in full detail, based on original manuscripts, in order to create a cultural attraction with very few parallels in the world. This will attract international attention to the economic and cultural importance of the Philippines,” said a detailed design plan prepared

by Bubnov, Loyzaga and Agote.

The team is now in the process of identifying possible sources of the materials to be used for the galleon particularly timbers from three species of trees: molave, teak and dancalan (or palo maria). The ship will require especially fabricated iron nails and other fittings.

Angara’s group is also reaching out to sponsors both in the Philippines and Mexico who could help fund the replica project, estimated to cost at least $6 million or P230 million.

Bubnov also reported to Angara a “very positive” meeting with the Mexican Navy on its possible involvement in the

fabrication and transport of the ship’s parts to the Philippines.

While in Mexico, Angara also touched base with Franz Mayer Museum and got its officials on board to loan pieces from its own galleon trade collection to the new Philippine museum.

Angara was set to visit on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) the baroque museum in Puebla, among Mexico’s key Spanish colonial cities two hours from Mexico City. The museum hosts a sizable galleon trade collection.

The galleon museum will also house a maritime and cultural research center, which would “make it alive,” Angara said.

In a meeting with heads of top Mexican research institutions on Friday, Angara cited the possibility of making the galleon museum a “Pacific study center” for international scholars.

“I think this kind of project is the one that helps you see the future when you understand where you come from and the history that you are part of,” said Mexican Sen. Armando Ríos Piter, who met with Angara here Wednesday to discuss the Mexican government’s possible role in pursuing the galleon museum project.

Counterpart museum

Piter expressed to Angara his intent to pitch to the Mexican government the idea of a counterpart museum in Acapulco, given long-standing ties between the two countries.

“These historic photographs from the past or from the future can make them (the government) part of something more transcendent. And that’s what we politicians do—we try to build a future regarding people’s sharing, knowledge and of course spirit,” he said.

The cooperation for the galleon museum is ultimately expected to benefit Philippine-Mexican relations, said newly installed Philippine Ambassador to Mexico José Eduardo de Vega.

“It will serve to raise the public’s awareness of the deep historic links that our two countries share. In visiting the museum, I believe that Filipinos will be surprised and delighted by just how much we have in common with Mexico, and how our two nations influenced each other in ways that persist to this day,” De Vega said. ■

11

Comelec targets to proclaim 12 winning senators on Thursday

BY FERDINAND G. PATINIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) targets to proclaim all the 12 winners in the senatorial race on Thursday.

“Our target is to proclaim on Thursday. No time yet. It depends on the arrival of the remaining results,” said Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon in an interview at the 2016 Elections Headquarters on Tuesday.

She also revealed that they would report to Congress on Wednesday before they could hold the proclamation.

Guanzon also said they were waiting for the Certificate of Canvass (COC) from Northern Samar and Lanao del Sur where special polls were held.

“Certificate of Canvass of Northern Samar and Lanao del Sur are not yet transmitted,” the poll body official said.

But, Comelec Chairman Andres Bautista did not set a specific day of the proclamation of the winning senators.

“We are still hoping to get the results of these two provinces by tomorrow (Wednesday)...

We want to reach 100 percent or as close to 100 percent counting,” he added.

Based on the latest National Canvass Report, Senate President Frank Drilon is in top spot with 18,307,801 votes followed

by Joel Villanueva, 18,212,639 votes; Sen. Tito Sotto with 16,985,226 votes.

Former senators Ping Lacson and Dick Gordon occupy the fourth and fifth spots with 16,687,586 and 16,444,672 votes, respectively.

At sixth and seventh spots are former Sen. Migz Zubiri and Rep. Manny Pacquiao with 15,788,531 and 15,735,079 votes, respectively.

Partymates Risa Hontiveros and former senator Kiko Pangilinan are at eighth and ninth spots with 15,673,393 and 15,665,050 votes, respectively.

Win Gatchalian and Sen. Ralph Recto are in 10th and 11th places, respectively, with 14,726,503 and 14,030,498 votes.

Former Justice secretary www.canadianinquirer.net

Commission on Elections (Comelec) at the Palacio del Gobernador Bldg., Gen. Luna St. cor. Andres Soriano Jr. Ave, Intramuros, Manila.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Leila de Lima is in the 12th spot with 13,894,048 votes.

Meanwhile, a party-list group has asked the NBoC to disregard the 2009 Supreme Court (SC) ruling on the Banat versus Comelec case.

“The basis for our filing of the petition is we believe that if the commission will apply the Banat formula, it would cause gross misappropriation of allocation of seats. That’s why we recommend that another formula be made by the commission,” said Raoul Creencia, the group’s 2nd nominee In its proposal, the party-list said the two percent threshold should be reduced to only 1.69 percent.

“The formula would be the total number of votes for party lists divided by the votes obtained by the group, in simple computation your honor,” he explained.

The petition was supported by five other party-list groups.

On the other hand, the move was objected by other organizations, headed by the Magdalo party-list, who said the motion was against existing jurisprudence.

“The commission has already adopted the rules on how to proclaim. Now, they have a pe-

tition to change these rules.

It’s like in basketball where one wants to change the rules in the middle of the game after talking to the referee in the last few seconds. That is essentially what they want to happen here,” said Magdalo legal counsel, Rey Robles.

In the Banat decision, groups garnering the two percent of the total votes cast in the partylist elections are guaranteed with one seat.

The guaranteed seats shall then be distributed in a first round of seat allocation to parties receiving at least two percent of the total party-list votes.

The additional seats, or the remainder of the 59 PL seats after allocation of the guaranteed seats, shall be distributed to the party-list organisations including those that received less than two percent of the total votes.

This is already the third formula used by the Comelec in determining the allocation of party-list seats following the “2-4-6 rule” as provided by the Party-List System Act (Republic Act 7941) and the “Panganiban formula” as shown in the Veterans Federation Party vs Comelec case in 2000. ■

12

Philippine News

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Seized guns in poll period ‘enough for six battalions’

BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE MORE than 3,000 firearms confiscated by the Philippine National Police in line with the election gun ban will undergo tests to check if they had been used in crimes, the PNP said on Saturday as it revealed the magnitude of the campaign that will remain in force till next month.

“The guns and ammunition we confiscated have enough firepower to arm five or six battalions of combat troops,” said the PNP spokesperson, Chief Supt. Wilben Mayor.

“I can’t imagine how much damage 37,000 bullets and 500 explosives can do to our lives,” Mayor added. “By taking away these instruments of violence

from criminal elements and lawless individuals, we were able to preempt imminent danger that may have marred the otherwise peaceful outcome of last Monday’s elections and save lives in the process.”

The firearms will be subject to mandatory ballistics examination “to establish the possible involvement of these firearms in previous shooting incidents,” the official added.

Based on the procedure followed by the PNP since 2013, all firearms, cartridges and slugs seized during police operations, especially those recovered from crime scenes, shall be submitted to the PNP Crime Laboratory, which will then process them for crossmatching through the Integrated Ballistics Identification System.

The system contains a database for bullets and cartridges recovered from crime scenes nationwide since 2011. As of January, the system’s database has records for 27,709 bullets and 163,430 cartridges.

As of Saturday morning, the PNP said, it has confiscated 3,495 firearms and arrested 4,237 people—4,045 of them civilians—in its enforcement of the election gun ban which took effect Jan. 10 and will end June 8.

Of the confiscated firearms, 1,142 are pistols, 1, 028 are revolvers, 154 are rifles, 153 are shotguns, while the rest have yet to be classified or are improvised firearms.

The PNP has also confiscated 37,441 rounds of ammunition, 283 grenades and 313 other explosive devices. ■

Satur, others urge Duterte to charge P-Noy with graft

BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer FORMER BAYAN Muna partylist Rep. Satur Ocampo and his allies in the Makabayan bloc in the House of representatives are urging presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte to charge outgoing President Aquino and his top officials with graft in connection with the Disbursement Acceleration Program and Priority Development Assistance Fund, among other alleged irregularities.

In a statement issued by Ocampo and Makabayan officials Liza Masa of Gabriela and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis, the group said Duterte must “hold responsible” Mr. Aquino and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad for all the anomalous transactions they entered into while in office, specifically the disbursements made through the DAP and PDAF, or pork barrel, both of which were declared illegal by the Supreme Court in 2013.

The Aquino administration

disbursed an estimated P220 billion in pork barrel and P157 billion in DAP funds that were lodged as lump sum allocations in the annual budget.

Aside from funding anomalies, Ocampo said Mr. Aquino should also be made to account for the death of the 44 police commandos in the Mamasapano massacre in January 2015 and the violent dispersal of farmer-protesters in Kidapawan last April.

Ocampo said Duterte’s overwhelming victory was “the people’s expression of outrage and rejection of Mr. Aquino’s ‘daang matuwid’ government.”

Ocampo said Makabayan was optimistic about Duterte’s “pro-poor and pro-people” policies, such as restarting the peace negotiations with the National Democratic Front, release of political detainees, termination of labor contractualization, boosting farmer subsidies, and higher spending for education and other services.

‘Upheld the Constitution’

“Instead of pursuing what I

call ‘neoliberal’ economic policies of the past administrations, Duterte should take the path of national industrialization and agricultural modernization to address the gross social inequality in the country,” Ocampo said.

In a radio interview, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said calls to jail President Aquino “have no basis.”

“The President has upheld the Constitution and the rule of law in doing his duty. If we recall, it was under his term that three active senators (Juan Ponce Enrile, Bong Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada), other legislators and executives were charged and jailed. This is proof of his fairness and impartiality,” Coloma said.

He said Mr. Aquino had laid a strong foundation for economic growth through good governance. “The President has always said: Good governance translates to good economics. It is important to have a positive mind-set rather than injecting negative ideas at this time,” Coloma said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Robredo heard Sunday Mass at Ateneo’s Church of the Gesu in Quezon City.

LENI ROBREDO / OFFICIAL FACEBOOK

Robredo cements lead over Marcos in VP race

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer CAMARINES SUR Rep. Leni Robredo yesterday cemented her lead over Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in the vice presidential election, with votes from the Visayas and Mindanao propelling her to the head of the race, according to data from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).

As of yesterday afternoon, Robredo, the administration’s candidate, was leading Marcos, son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, by more than 216,000 votes.

She had 13,992,311 votes as of 5:45 p.m. based on the PPCRV tally, with votes from 95.87 percent of precincts counted.

Marcos, running mate of Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago, had 13,775,388 votes.

Data collated by the PPCRV and appearing on an interactive map on the group’s website, showed where Robredo’s votes were coming from.

In the overall number of votes, Marcos took Luzon because of his support from the northern provinces perceived to be loyal to his family, as well as from Metro Manila.

Marcos polled 9,889,484 votes in Luzon, while Robredo garnered 7,258,208 votes with 98.81 percent of the votecounting machines transmitting results as of Wednesday.

Southern Luzon, VisMin

Robredo won in southern

Luzon, which includes the Bicol region where she hails from, but her votes there were not enough to overtake Marcos’ numbers in the whole of Luzon.

But when the votes from the Visayas came in, Robredo upset Marcos, eventually gaining a lead of more than 2 million votes over the senator.

Robredo polled 4,028,241 votes in the Visayas, while Marcos got 1,613,347 votes after a 98.49-percent of the votes had been transmitted.

She took Western and Central Visayas, which includes vote-rich Cebu, as well as the Negros Island Region. Eastern Visayas went for Marcos.

Mindanao also gave Robredo an advantage because not only did she top the voting there but also because Marcos ranked only third on the island in number of votes.

Robredo had polled 2,674,998 votes in Mindanao as of Wednesday, with 92.39 percent of voting machines transmitting. She topped the voting in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao and Caraga region.

Marcos was third in Mindanao with 2,210,787 votes. He topped the voting in the Soccsksargen region.

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano, running mate of presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, was second in Mindanao with 2,511,061 votes. He topped the vote in the Davao region. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

13

Rivals seek heaven’s blessing

BY JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE AND DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer BOTH SEN. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo heard Sunday Mass, hoping that divine intervention may tilt the tight vice presidential race in their favor.

Marcos went to the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help in Baclaran, Parañaque, and Robredo to the Church of the Gesu on the campus of Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

The 12:30 p.m. Mass at Baclaran Church was offered for “katotohanan at integridad ng halalan (truth and the integrity of the elections),” said the invitation of Marcos’ campaign organizers.

But Marcos, along with eldest son Sandro and wife Louise, gave no indication that it was more than an ordinary Sunday Mass.

Also present were former first lady and Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos and her nephew, Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who ran in the senatorial race.

It was learned that the Marcoses, particularly the matriarch Imelda, frequently heard Mass at Baclaran.

Pictures

As soon as Bongbong and his family got off their car, churchgoers started crowding and clicking away on their mobile phones, taking pictures of the Mar-

BONGBONG MARCOS / OFFICIAL FACEBOOK

coses.

Even inside the church, people started chanting “Marcos,” and “BBM,” and had to be asked to stay quiet for the service celebrated by Fr. Ben Sy. At the part of the Mass where churchgoers had to wish each other peace, Marcos rose from his seat and flashed peace signs in greeting other churchgoers before approaching his mother who was seated on a pew across from his.

Sandro and Louise embraced the former first lady before returning to their seats next to the senator.

Churchgoers, who apparently support Marcos’ vice presidential bid, waited for the communion and took the opportunity to take pictures of the family.

The service wasn’t even over when people started crowding near the Mar-

Villar denies criticisms that son’s appointment to DPWH was Duterte’s reward PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Senator Cynthia Villar on Tuesday denied the critics’ claim that the appointment of his son, Las Pinas congressman-elect Mark Villar, as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) was a reward for their support to presumptive President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“Hindi naman. Even without that, we will be supportive,” Villar said in a phone-patch interview with the Senate media.

Villar confirmed that the Nacionalista Party (NP) headed by his husband, former senator Manny Villar, has just coalesced with Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Laban ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) which endorsed the presidential bid of Duterte.

Villar said most of the NP members “went for Duterte in the end.”

“Of course, we gave them a chance to choose. Matagal yung election eh but in the end almost all of them choose Duterte,” she said.

Villar said her husband and Duterte have known each since 1998 when the Davao City mayor was still congressman and Manny Villar was House Speaker.

Villar, however, clarified that the NP did not give financial support to Duterte’s election campaign.

The lady senator said his son, Mark, has accepted Duterte’s offer to head the DPWH. “Kinausap niya (Duterte) si Mark kahapon and then he announced after talking to Mark,” she said.

Villar said the appointment of her son will have no conflict of interest even if their family is into real estate business. ■

coses’ pews. The crowd had to be held back by security personnel so the Marcoses could leave the church and board their vehicles.

With three daughters

A few hours after Marcos heard Mass in Baclaran, Robredo did the same at Ateneo’s Church of the Gesu at past 3 p.m.

The 51-year-old Robredo was accompanied by her daughters Aika, Tricia and Jillian, who each had a role in the Mass officiated by her spiritual adviser Fr. Manoling Francisco.

Non-political homily

The Jesuit priest gave a nonpoliti-

cal homily and did not mention Robredo, focusing his talk on the “language of love” that empowers Christians to spread God’s message.

But he made passing references to politics and elected leaders and their role in speaking and communicating through the language of love. He also thanked God for the peaceful conduct of the elections.

Robredo is leading Marcos in partial and unofficial tallies by more than 200,000 votes but Marcos’ camp has raised doubts about the integrity of the results, including the introduction of unauthorized script on the transparency server. ■

“Canada was built by citizen immigrants, people who come here permanently with their families to become Canadians.”

- Hon. John McCallum, MP Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Respond to Canada’s need for immigrants.

Become a Regulated Immigration Consultant

www.canadianinquirer.net

Full-time | Part-time | Online Contact a program adviser at 604.628.5784 or Toll Free 1.844.628.5784 or apply online.

Ashton College

www.ashtoncollege.ca

14

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

No cheating, PPCRV insists Audit tests show no anomalies in results, says poll watchdog

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE POLL watchdog Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) yesterday said its audit tests had detected no irregularities so far in the election results transmitted to it, although critics continued to question the results of the tight race for the vice presidency.

“We ran several tests, and I am happy to report that there is not a single anomaly found in the tests that we’ve had so far,” Ana de Villa Singson, PPCRV media and communications director, said at a press briefing.

The transparency server that receives the results transmitted from the vote-counting machines is housed at the PPCRV command center at Pope Pius XII Catholic Center on United Nations Avenue in Manila and the group has access to the data.

The PPCRV has been conducting irregularity tests on the server data since the Philippines began holding automated elections in 2010, but it usually releases the results a month or so after the polls, Singson said.

This time, however, the PPCRV decided to release the results of its initial irregularity tests early because of the controversy generated by an alteration made to the transparency server script, which resulted in changes in the hash code.

Officials said the alteration resulted only in a “cosmetic” change—the correction of the spelling of a candidate’s name— but critics continue to raise concerns about the integrity of the results, with the camp of Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, who is trailing Camarines Sur Rep. Leni Robredo in the vice presidential race, demanding a public audit of the computer systems of the Commission on

Elections (Comelec) and its technology partner Smartmatic.

“We hope truly that the hash code issue is not used or overblown to undermine the credibility of an election [that] otherwise seems to be credible as of the date of our study,” Singson said.

The PPCRV started the irregularity tests on data received as of Thursday, after 95.85 percent of clustered precincts had transmitted results.

The PPCRV tested for precincts with multiple transmissions of results, Singson said.

She said there were four clustered precincts—one in Parañaque and three in Basilan— where the election returns were placed under observation or investigation. This was likely due to the same machine sending two sets of mismatched data, she said.

Singson said, however, that there was no irregularity.

She explained that the election returns in the four precincts could have been placed under ob-

servation because the system did not know which of the two sets of data to read for the precincts.

Singson said this could happen if the election inspectors mistakenly sent the results of the vote testing conducted on the machines before the elections, as well as the election results.

She also said that there were no precincts that transmitted results before the close of the polls at 5 p.m. on Election Day. There were also no precincts that reflected exactly 10 votes for Vice President, which would have indicated that the results of the final testing and sealing of the machines were the ones transmitted instead of the results of the actual voting, she said.

The PPCRV also did not find return precincts where the undervote or overvote is greater than the number of voters using a particular position, she said.

There were also no return precincts where the undervote

or overvote is greater than 95 percent of voters using a particular position, she said.

Singson also said the 2016 elections had the fastest transmission of results since the country began holding automated elections in 2010.

In that year, the transmission reached 70 percent eight and a half hours after the polls closed, and in 2013 70 percent transmission was reached 22 hours after the elections ended, Singson said.

But this year, 70 percent transmission was achieved four hours after the polls closed, she said.

In 2010, she said, 90 percent transmission was reached after 30 hours. But this year, there was 90 percent transmission 14 hours after the balloting.

The voter turnout was also unprecedented, Singson said.

The Comelec recorded an 81 percent voter turnout in the country, and 37 percent for overseas absentee voting. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

A mayor for a nation of 100 million

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESUMPTIVE PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s winning formula can now be formulated more clearly. The idea is to first get elected. What to do after can wait. For this to work, all that is needed is to grasp the public’s disaffection with government, and whip it into a heightened sense of frustration and exasperation so that no solution is conceivable unless it is personified by no other figure than the tough-talking mayor of Davao City.

Many of us thought the country—one of the most modern in the region—was looking for a president for a nation of 100 million who could build an inclusive society by ensuring continued economic growth. It was a wrong assumption.

As it turned out, most Filipinos had little appreciation or patience for the complexities of modern governance. They had no need for a visionary; they were only looking for a hands-on problem-solver. Someone to fix the traffic and make sure the trains don’t break down. A punisher who will discipline corrupt and abusive government personnel, patrol the streets, kill drug dealers and drive away criminals. A protector who will personally attend to the oppressed,

the poor, the sick, and the abandoned. system. spite of the viciousness of the elecIn short, they were looking for Indeed, nothing in Mayor toral campaign and the shrill form it a local mayor who can solve social Duterte’s supposed 8-point econom- acquired in the social media, the Filiproblems by the sheer force of his ic agenda, which was announced the pino nation has every right to take personality, someone who will not other day by former agriculture sec- pride in the stability of its political be restrained by legal procedure or retary Sonny Dominguez, suggests institutions. constitutional limitations from do- even the faintest turn to any form But what makes for political staing what he thinks needs to be done. of socialism. I can only surmise that bility? This is not as simple as just And they have found him in Mayor the list was intended merely to dispel having a neutral Commission on Duterte. anxiety in the markets and reassure Elections, or being able to hold an Now that they have made him investors. For the business commu- orderly election, or report electoral president, the public eagerly awaits nity, it was probably enough. outcomes with dispatch. Rather, it his first actions to eliminate crime, In truth, there was no pressing has everything to do with being able drugs, and corruption and inefficien- need for it. In the modern global- to use the power and resources of cy in public service. Without belit- ized world, economies are so closely government to ensure that no one tling the mayor’s leadership capabili- linked to one another that no state gets left behind in the march to progties, to ask him about his economic can hope to autonomously steer any ress. It has to do with managing rising agenda or foreign expectations in a sopolicy seems almost ciety that is becomNo one who has seen the tragic collapse of old societies impertinent. These ing more complex like Syria, Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan in recent years can are not the average and volatile. Finally, underestimate the importance of having a politics that Filipino citizen’s it has to do with conscientiously avoids war. concerns at the moproviding ample ment. room for divergent The mayor calls himself a socialist, national economic program to full beliefs so that political and cultural but I doubt if he has any intention to fruition. All that a midsize nation- differences are settled in nonviolent alter the prevailing property system. state such as ours can do is to define ways, and longstanding armed conWhat he means, very likely, is that its priorities and policies, taking into flicts can be brought to a resolution he wants to reduce the gap between account the twists and turns in the at the negotiating table. the wealthy few and the vulnerable world economy, and hope for the In short, how we conduct our polimasses that struggle daily to keep best. tics spells all the difference. No one body and soul together. He has ofFar more important to foreign and who has seen the tragic collapse of fered no clear roadmap on how to ac- local investors alike is the peaceful, old societies like Syria, Iraq, Libya complish this. He has said he doesn’t legitimate, and orderly transfer of and Afghanistan in recent years can mind copying, which, to me, simply governmental power to an incom- underestimate the importance of means he will not touch the existing ing administration. In this regard, in having a politics that conscientiously

www.canadianinquirer.net

avoids war. Yet, through all this, we tend to ignore the laborious effort that is required to keep a democratic culture alive. We assume that if we have the right institutions in place, democracy follows automatically.

But, how many times have we been assailed by the thought that these liberal democratic institutions might just be too far advanced for the kind of political culture we have? So palpable is the disconnect between the Enlightenment values assumed by these institutions and the culture of patronage and dependence that has grown out of the soil of our highly unequal society, that one must wonder if we have made any progress in our political life since we gained independence.

This type of culture will always incline us toward authoritarian rule, regardless of the freedoms that a modern constitution such as ours proudly enshrines and guarantees. That is why political dynasties continue to flourish at the local level despite the 1987 Constitution’s explicit prohibition against such. In many places in the last elections, entrenched political clans ran unchallenged, offering the electorate no choice but to vote for them or abstain. And, indeed, this also very much accounts for the appeal, not just of Mayor Duterte, but of the young Marcos as well. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

15

AT LARGE

Some good news on motherhood

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY THE time you read this, I will be in Copenhagen, Denmark, to attend the Fourth WomenDeliver Conference, a global gathering that focuses on the role of women in advancing the health agenda.

As the conference title suggests, women “deliver” not just because they literally and physically deliver babies, but also because, when their energies, genius, and voices are recognized, respected and harnessed, they deliver as well health services and policies for the greater good.

In the Philippines, women indeed deliver health for all. The vast majority of health workers, the grassroots, frontline service providers, many of them volunteers, are women. As health workers, they are also community organizers, community builders, conduits to officials at the town center, trusted confidants, and sources of information and counsel.

In the health centers, the people in charge are mostly women—midwives and nurses—while many of the doctors who have eschewed high-salaried professional posts in the cities are women as well.

As a side story, one municipal of-

ficial once told me that about the first thing officials like him do when a woman doctor who is single is assigned to the town’s health center is to go hunting for a possible groom for her. “That way, we are sure that she will stay long in the town and build roots here,” he declared. And he claimed that such a matrimonial strategy has had a number of success stories. *** MATERNAL health and survival have become a focus of the Department of Health, and by extension the national government, said Dr. Jondi Flavier, executive director of the Philippine Center for Population and Development.

In a Facebook post shared by the hosts of the radio program “Magandang Gabi, Dok” (Good Evening, Doc), Flavier, who was a program guest, discussed the efforts of the DOH to more purposively address the problem.

And it is a major problem. Despite developments elsewhere in the world, where maternal mortality rates have fallen, in the Philippines the MMR increased from 162 in 2006 to 221 in 2011, reversing a downward trend. This is why the country failed to meet its Millennium Development Goal of bringing down the rate of ma-

ternal deaths to 52.

Part of the effort to bring down the number of maternal deaths, said Flavier, was the construction of health stations in barangays or villages countrywide, usually on the grounds of the local public school.

These health stations make it possible for schoolchildren and for pregnant mothers to come for regular and prenatal checkups.

Also part of the maternal health approach is the Maternity Package offered by PhilHealth, said Flavier, that provides to members four free prenatal checkups, blood work, immunization, delivery services and postnatal care, as well as neonatal screening.

Significantly, the radio interview was carried out during “Safe Motherhood Week,” which is observed in the second week of May, providing a bit of refreshing good news on the largely dismaying landscape of maternal health in these islands. *** ALSO good news, as mentioned by Flavier, is the policy of universal health coverage under the state-run PhilHealth (a keystone of the campaign platform of presumptive senator Risa Hontiveros, by the way).

Under the P-Noy administration, PhilHealth aggressively expanded its

coverage, such that it now provides health insurance for 80 percent of Filipinos. This, said observers, was made possible with resources derived from the so-called “sin taxes.” The expanded PhilHealth coverage translated to better services for mothers, because the influx of funds, said a study of the Ateneo Center for Health Evidence, Action and Leadership (A-HEALS), served to “motivate skilled birth attendants (midwives, mainly) to do antenatal checkups, bring their patients to the birthing facilities, and follow up with postpartum care.”

But first, mothers have to be convinced to visit the health centers or stations. This is where, I think, the 4Ps (for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), the government’s title for the conditional cash transfer program, has played an important role.

Part of the “conditionalities” of the 4Ps, which means “Bridging the Filipino Family,” is that schoolage children be brought for regular health checkups (including immunization) to health centers, while pregnant mothers pay at least four visits for their regular checkups. At the same time, beneficiary families (but mostly mothers) are expected to attend the monthly “family development” sessions, where, among other topics, family health and mater-

nal health (including family planning) are discussed.

Targeting poor families with young children, the 4Ps doubtless played a big role in convincing parents that it pays to look after the health of the whole family. The cash transfers may have eased the situation of the most desperate parents, but it also gave them a cushion of security to prioritize health in their hierarchy of needs. *** PART of the economic agenda of the incoming Duterte administration, we are told, is “expanding” the 4Ps (or whatever name they choose to call it). I have yet to read details of how this expansion is to be achieved, but I hope it is not to put it under the purview of local or national officials, who doubtless see it as a highly effective political tool and who had been chafing because they had no hand in its implementation or access to its funds.

But the 4Ps succeeded mainly because P-Noy chose to keep a “hands off” policy with regard to it, allowing the policies to be dictated by nothing but the common good. I hope someone in the Duterte camp, if not the presumptive President himself, protects the 4Ps from exploitation and corruption. ■

nent.

Laurel: I don’t mind losing to so enlightened, so noble, so great a man.

Recto: Believe me, you have not lost at all. You are greater in your defeat than I in my victory. My triumph has not given me happiness, because it is totally unmerited. I amnot fit to tie the laces of your shoes.

Laurel: You do yourself a great injustice. Certainly, no honor is too great for one of such transcendent merits.

Recto: No defeat can ever dishonor a man of such shining gifts. I amnot fit even to shine your shoes.

Laurel: When the gods decided to do the Philippines a good turn, they could think of nothing better than to send us a Recto.

Recto: And you, my friend, the flower of the Malay race, the wisest, the most virtuous, the handsomest of men, ah! I am not fit even to wipe the soles of your shoes.

Laurel: The best poet, the most brilliant parliamentarian, and farsighted statesman.

Recto: There have been first-rate poets, brilliant parliamentarians, and farsighted statesmen in the future, but there is only one Jose P. Laurel.

Ah, believe me, I amnot fit even to

lick the dirt of your shoes.

Laurel: ... The profoundest philosopher, the finest artist of words, the subtlest mathematician.

Recto: There have been profound philosophers, fine artists and subtle mathematicians, but there is only one Jose P. Laurel, for the world cannot hold more than one superman at a time. My friend, I assure you, I amnot even fit to pull off your shoes.

Laurel: ... The greatest legalist, physicist, chemist, astronomer, biologist, psychoanalyst, chiropractor, the world has yet produced—that is Claro M. Recto.

Recto: There have been great physicists, chemists, astronomers, biologists, psychoanalysts, and chiropractors but as I live, there is only one Jose P. Laurel. You summed up in you, my friend, all the greatness in the universe. Ah! The whole universe put together is nothing beside you. You are more than a superman, you are more than an angel, you are... (stooping low) a god. Laurel: What are you doing? Recto: Ah! Alllow me to prostrate myself... People are so different in 2016. They say what they want and feel, with language unfit for publication or airing on prime-time TV. ■

LOOKING BACK

When people play coy

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer PLAYING COY is best depicted in the third chapter of the great Philippine novel “Noli Me Tangere,” where the Spanish friars display their boorish behavior at Kapitan Tiago’s welcome party or bienvenida for Crisostomo Ibarra, who had just returned from Europe, dressed in trademark black from top to toe, and with a complexion and rosy cheeks suggesting that he had just come from a cold climate.

At the beginning of the chapter we see the line jele jele bago quiere that did not require a translation or explanation at the time. This corrupt Spanish phrase with a funny resonant rhyme simply means that one is pretending not to appear interested in something, though in reality one is desperate to have it. One plays coy as a way to fish for compliment or be persuaded to take the supposedly unwanted thing one wanted all along.

By force of habit, the two friars head toward the head of the table and are confronted with only one, presumably high-backed, chair. Rizal’s scene is evocative of competitors for

a university position, who loudly proclaim the superior traits and qualifications of their opponent when they actually mean the opposite. But after a decision is made, the person who is not chosen sulks and grumbles.

So the friars loudly exalt the honor of the other, with each keeping firm hold on the chair: “‘For you, Fray Damaso.’ “‘For you, Fray Sibyla.’ “‘An older friend of the family—confessor of the deceased lady—age, dignity, and authority—’ “‘Not so very old, either! On the other hand, you are the curate of the district,’ replied Fray Damaso sourly, without taking his hand from the back of the chair. “‘Since you command it, I obey,’ concluded Fray Sibyla, disposing himself to take the seat. “‘I don’t command it!’ protested the Franciscan. ‘I don’t command it!’”

Before Fray Sibyla takes the seat, to spite the protesting Fray Damaso, he calls the lieutenant of the Civil Guard and offers the place of honor with the words: “Lieutenant, we are in the world and not in the church.

The seat of honor belongs to you.”

His true intent is clear from the tone of his voice, so the lieutenant de-

clines the seat to avoid both a social situation and the misery of having to sit between the two quarrelling friars.

That Rizal’s influence extends beyond his time can be seen in a short “postelection comedy” published

by Rafael C. Londres in 1947, where he makes up a rivalry between two Batangas notables, Jose P. Laurel and Claro M. Recto, for the 1925 senatorial elections. A fact check shows that there was no contest because in 1925 Laurel was elected senator for the fifth senatorial district comprising Batangas, Cavite, Marinduque, Mindoro and Tayabas, while Recto was elected to the House of Representatives for the third district of Batangas. Nevertheless, the author mirrors the jele jele bago quiere dialogue in the “Noli” of the friars Damaso and Sibyla in a conversation between Laurel and Recto after the 1925 election: Laurel: Now that the election is over and political passions have, in a way, subsided, I wish to be among the first to congratulate you on your election as senator from the fifth district.

Recto: I deeply appreciate your wishes, all the more because they come sincerely from a worthy oppo-

www.canadianinquirer.net

16

MAY 20, 2016

www.canadianinquirer.net

PhilippineCanadianInquirer

 PhilCanInquirer

m info@canadianinquirer.net sales@canadianinquirer.net

A (888) 668-6059

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

17

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

Canada News

Liberals unveil plan to outlaw transgender hate speech, discrimination

BY JORDAN PRESS The Canadian Press

sion and provide the ability in our country for people to feel safe and secure in who they are.”

She said it is necessary to make it unequivocal in law that transgender persons have the right to live free from discrimination, hate propaganda and hate crimes.

The law was introduced on the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.

Ten-year-old Charlie Lowthian-Rickert, who was at WilsonRaybould’s side throughout the news conference, stepped to the podium before a phalanx of cameras and confidently expressed her gratitude to those who had helped bring the bill to the House.

“Thank goodness this bill is passing because it will protect us from...hateful propaganda,

them and then basically punishing them if they actually do it.

“I feel much safer.”

OTTAWA — Transgender CanaSimilar legislation has failed dians and human-rights chamto pass Parliament on multiple pions cheered Tuesday as the occasions, including the most Liberal government introduced recent attempt last year by NDP legislation that would make it MP Randall Garrison, whose against the law to discriminate bill was gutted in the Senate. on the basis of gender identity This bill is different, said Garor expression. rison — who also stood alongThe legislation would, if side Wilson-Raybould in a rare passed, make it illegal under display of cross-partisan solithe Canadian Human Rights darity — because it’s a governAct to prevent someone from ment bill rather than a private getting a job or to discriminate member’s bill, which rarely bein the workplace on the basis of come law. the gender they identify with or Wilson-Raybould wouldn’t outwardly express. say whether Liberal MPs would It would also update the be allowed to vote their conCriminal Code to extend hate science on the bill or be forced speech laws to include gender to support it. But she did say identity and expression. she hopes to have support from Criminal laws would also be all parties. updated to make it a hate crime “We look forward to have when someone is support from targeted because all sides of the of their gender House to put foridentity or genward this incredder expression, This is a message of hope to ensure ibly important meaning judges that we recognize gender identity piece of legislawould have to and gender expression and provide tion.” consider it as an the ability in our country for people Later in the aggravating facto feel safe and secure in who they House of Comtor in deciding are. mons, however, what sentence to Garrison sought impose. to introduce “We live in a a motion that time when discrimination in assaults, rape — stuff like that,” would have seen the bill passed any form is completely unac- said Lowthian-Rickert, who speedily with the consent of all ceptable,” Justice Minister was born a boy but identifies as parties, but was promptly reJody Wilson-Raybould told a a girl. jected. news conference Tuesday after “It could protect us and stop Wilson-Raybould also said introducing the bill. the people who would have just the law, when passed, would “This is a message of hope to gone off and done it in the past ensure data is collected around ensure that we recognize gen- and discriminated or assaulted violence against transgender der identity and gender expres- us. Now it could be stopping Canadians.

www.canadianinquirer.net

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrives at an event with cabinet ministers Carolyn Bennett, left, and Jody Wilson-Raybould, right.

ART BABYCH / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

A survey conducted by Trans Pulse Project in 2010 showed that out of the almost 500 transgender respondents in Ontario, 20 per cent reported having been physically or sexually assaulted, though not all of them reported the assaults to police.

The respondent-driven sampling survey found 13 per cent reported being fired and 18 per cent refused a job because they were transgender.

Groups including Trans Equality Canada, Amnesty International, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, and the Canadian Association of University Teachers all praised the move by the Liberals, calling it a long overdue move in the path towards equal rights for all Canadians.

Existing human rights laws extend some protections to transgender Canadians under the sex discrimination category, but there have been few cases before the federal human rights tribunal, so the scope of the protections themselves

aren’t all that clear.

The same situation exists for hate speech and hate crime laws: violence against transgender persons may have been captured before, but it wasn’t clearly spelled out.

The legislation the government introduced Tuesday would clarify all of that.

“It’s a good first step because that allows for the ability at the federal level to challenge things in court if needed,” said Talia Johnson, an Ottawa-based counsellor.

“Any human rights legislation only goes so far, so we need to also work on education so that cases don’t have to come forward in the first place. It’s often very hard to prove discrimination, especially in employment and other areas like that.”

Once passed, the Canadian Human Rights Commission would likely provide detailed guidance to employers and employment lawyers about what the new laws mean, and raise awareness about the news laws to the general public. ■

Canada News

18

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Work camps... ❰❰ 1

Nature is going to want to continue to move that fire for-

to burn six kilometres in two hours.

“This controlled, precautionary evacuation is an example why it is not safe to be in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo at this time,” the municipality said late Monday afternoon in a news release.

Syncrude Canada tweeted that buses were transporting workers to a safe location as part of its emergency plan.

“The facilities are not at risk,” said Sneh Seetal of Suncor Energy. “However, we felt it was important to take these steps in the interest of putting people first.”

“We are just responding to the northern edge of the fire.

The wind is changing towards the north,” said Kirk Duffee,

ward.”

The fire itself was about 20 kilometres away from the work camps as of Monday evening, but non-essential personnel left while others stayed to conduct work on the plant and engage in firefighting.

There are about 4,000 workers at 12 camps in the area, including many at Suncor and Syncrude.

About 2,400 structures were destroyed in Fort McMurray, but essential infrastructure, including the hospital, water Officials said another 500 to treatment plant and the airport, remain intact.

600 people in four small camps SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE along Aostra Road were under a mandatory evacuation. gency operations command to destroyed in Fort McMurray, index is normally one to 10, Scott Long of the Alberta evacuate facilities as required.” but essential infrastructure, with 10 being the worst, but the Management Agency said there The entire population of Fort including the hospital, water reading this morning was at 38. was no panic and the evacuaMcMurray, more than 80,000 treatment plant and the airNotley said the conditions tions were being done in an orresidents, are now entering port, remain intact. were hampering efforts to get derly manner. their third week Crews continued to battle residents back to their homes.

“We’re very away from home. hot spots on the edge of the “Alberta Health Services has hopeful that Many of the work city Monday while the fire still recommended that members of we’ll be able to camps were used raged out of control deeper in the public who had been previhold the line, but We are in the process of relocating to house evacu- the forest. ously arranging to return to the if not, we want to folks out of harm’s way and working ated residents “The original fire does pro- area under various requests not make sure that with the emergency operations who fled north vide a very good fire guard for return until those conditions people’s lives are command to evacuate facilities as when fire broke firefighters to work from,” said improve,” Notley said. “This is taken care of.” required. through into the Morrison. “They have done a something that could poten“The big faccity the after- very, very good job of holding tially delay recovery work and a tor obviously for noon of May 3. the line there and with the ex- return to the community.” the folks on site Those resi- tra fire guard I believe that they Karen Grimsrud, Alberta’s is that they will see very, very, president of oil and gasfield dents were taken to points will be quite successful.” chief medical officer of health, heavy, dark smoke,” said Mor- services for Clean Harbours, a south, including Edmonton Earlier Monday, officials said they expect the air quality rison. company that operates a work and Calgary, several days ago warned the air quality in the readings to remain in the exThe Rural Municipality of camp at Ruth Lake. and workers were moved back Fort McMurray area was dan- treme range for the next couple Wood Buffalo said the fire “We are in the process of re- in to begin ramping up oilsands gerously poor. of days. was moving 30 to 40 metres locating folks out of harm’s way production again.

Alberta Premier Rachel NotShe said workers in the area per minute and was expected and working with the emerAbout 2,400 structures were ley said the air quality health should be wearing respirators. ■

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. collects donations for Fort McMurray fire relief VANCOUVER, B.C. — Effective immediately, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will again partner with the Canadian Red Cross to collect funds until May 31, 2016 in support of relief efforts for those affected by the raging wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta, through the following 6 service locations in Metro Vancouver and Fort St. John.

1) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Social Service Centre (office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday - Saturday) 28 West Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. (telephone: 604-684-1628) 2) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Richmond Service Centre (office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday - Friday) 220 — 7000 Minoru Blvd., Richmond, B.C. (telephone: 604-279-7180) 3) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Tri-City Service Centre (office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday - Friday) #2058 — 1163 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam, B.C. (telephone: 604-468-6000) 4) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Burnaby Service Centre (office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday- Friday) #200 — 5172 Kingsway, Burnaby, B.C. (telephone: 604-430-1899)

5) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Surrey-Delta Service Centre (office hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday - Friday) #206 — 10090 152nd Street, Surrey, B.C. (telephone: 604-5886869) 6) S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Fort St. John Service Centre (office hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday - Friday) Suite 209-10142 101 Avenue, Fort St. John, B.C. (telephone 250-785-5323) “The Canadian Red Cross and S.U.C.C.E.S.S. have a long-standing partnership in responding to relief efforts in disaster situations. The current wildfire in Fort McMurray has been devastating to the community. We are in full support to raise funds to help those affected in this fire,” said Queenie Choo, CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. “Our hearts are with our neighbours in Alberta. When you only have time to flee with the clothes on your back, there’s going to be a lot of need - the most basic being food, clothing, and shelter,” said

Kimberley Nemrava, Vice-President for the Canadian Red Cross B.C. & Yukon.

“That’s why we value partnerships like this one with S.U.C.C.E.S.S., which enable us to help as many people as possible.”

On May 5, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the federal government will match individual donations made to the Canadian Red Cross to help those affected by the raging wildfire in Fort McMurray, Alberta.

The Government of Alberta has also agreed to match donations. As a result, for every dollar donated by Canadians, the Red Cross will receive a total of $3.

Canadians wishing to help are encouraged to make a financial donation to Alberta Fires Appeal online at www. redcross.ca, by calling 1-800-418-1111, by contacting their local Canadian Red Cross office, or by visiting one of the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. offices listed. Donations could provide relief for those affected in the form of emergency food, clothing,

www.canadianinquirer.net

shelter, personal services and other necessities that assist with recovery and resiliency.

Established in 1973, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is one of the largest social service agencies in British Columbia. It is a charitable organization providing services in settlement, language training, employment, family and youth service, business and economic development, health care, housing and community development. For more info, please visit: www.success.bc.ca.

The Canadian Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International Committee of the Red Cross and 190 national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Its mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in Canada and around the world.

Canada News

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

19

NDP satellite saga in Federal Court as issue continues to bedevil party

BY KRISTY KIRKUP The Canadian Press OTTAWA — The satellite office controversy finally landed Friday in Federal Court as the New Democrats wrestle with an issue that has been sapping the party’s political batteries since long before Tom Mulcair’s bid to become prime minister.

The party — already some $5 million in debt following the longest election campaign in modern Canadian history — is using its own funds to fight a decision made in 2014 by the secretive all-party Commons committee that polices parliamentary spending.

The board of internal economy ordered 68 NDP MPs — many of whom went down to defeat last October — to repay $2.7 million in parliamentary funds that went towards office operations in Montreal, Toronto and Quebec City.

The NDP has long denied that it used parliamentary funds for

non-parliamentary purposes.

“The concern is, were taxpayers’ money (meant) for parliamentary funds used for non-parliamentary purposes, and I have asked people, ‘Where was the evidence?”’ NDP House leader Peter Julian said in an interview.

“Everyone has admitted to me there was never a shred of evidence produced. That is an important point. What that means is the resources were being used for parliamentary purposes.”

Julian said the party would still like to see the attorney general refer the matter to the Supreme Court, to allow it to determine whether the board of internal economy can be subject to a court decision.

“This is a decision that can only be taken at the Supreme Court level,” he said. “The former government and the current government have refused to refer it to the Supreme Court, which I think is bad news.”

Julian said the government’s failure to refer the jurisdictional issue to the top court means

the process will be dragged out in Federal Court, costing more taxpayer dollars.

During Friday’s Federal Court hearing, a judicial officer heard arguments from both sides about whether the NDP should be allowed to introduce an affidavit from a legal expert about the jurisdiction of the courts in matters of parliamentary privilege.

The Federal Court officer, known as a prothonotary, promised a decision at a later date.

In March, The Canadian Press reported that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had already vetoed an out-of-court settlement in the long-running dispute.

At the time, Liberal House leader Dominic LeBlanc insisted Trudeau had nothing to do with it, despite multiple sources who said it was the prime minister himself who put an end to negotiations.

“The board of internal economy is the only body responsible for addressing the NDP’s

satellite offices and this misuse of public funds,” LeBlanc said, adding the Liberals never contemplated settling the matter out of court.

“It is the NDP who decided to begin frivolous judicial proceedings and subsequently asked for settlement negotiations,” he said. “We have always been of the view that the NDP misused public funds and should therefore reimburse taxpayers.”

New Democrats strongly disagree funds were misused and believe Commons administrators also wildly inflated the amount of money contributed from their office budgets towards the salaries of satellite employees.

Former Toronto MP Dan Harris was originally on the hook for more than $140,000, but late last year was effectively exonerated by the Commons’ chief financial officer.

Ex-Montreal MP Isabelle Morin had been ordered to repay $169,117 in salary paid to an employee, but her bill was slashed to below $30,000 because the

employee worked most of the time in her riding office, not the Montreal party office.

Mulcair, who will be leaving as party leader once a successor is named, remains personally on the hook for a bill of more than $400,000.

The NDP’s federal council — the party’s governing body, made up of about 100 people — is set to meet on Sunday as it looks to carve out the rules surrounding the party’s upcoming leadership race.

A letter from the party’s president, vice-presidents and treasurer — obtained by The Canadian Press — said the council should consider the likely financial impact of the race, given factors that include the party’s current debtload.

Recent figures released by Elections Canada also paint a bleak picture of the party’s fundraising efforts in its first quarter, when it collected just $1.3 million. ■ With files from Joan Bryden

Kami po sa Manila Express ay nagbibigay ng Abot-kaya at Maasahang Serbisyo sa lahat.

Mula pa noon hanggang ngayon.

Serbisyong Manila Express REM IT TA NCE

AND

C AR GO

www.manila-express.ca

West Broadway 604-736-6121

Calgary 1 (877) 502-7376

Richmond 604-279-1542

5th Street (403) 264-1100

Main Street 604-874-5571 Surrey 604-588-1975 MCE Warehouse 604-279-1544

Abot Kaya

Westwind Cres (403) 387-0022 36 St (inside T&T) (403) 452-3600

www.canadianinquirer.net

Edmonton Northtown Mall (inside T&T) (780) 478-7352 Winnipeg 1(888) 947-7376 Isabel St. (204) 947-5888

New Regina Office 1201 Osler St. 306-352-9922

Toronto 647-352-7376 North York 416-635-7376 Scarborough 416-299-8282

20

World News

MAY 20, 2016

Fertility doc arrested in Italy after woman says eggs stolen THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ROME — A fertility doctor has been put under house arrest in Italy after a Spanish nurse alleged that some of her eggs were surgically removed without her consent at his clinic.

On Friday, Severino Antinori was taken into custody by police at a Rome airport, and a Milan fertility clinic he ran was sequestered, according to Carabinieri police. The police said no one who worked on the investigation was available to give further details Saturday.

The Italian news agency ANSA quoted Antinori as denying the allegations, describing them as “out of this world.”

ANSA said Antinori spoke with the agency from a hospital where he was taken Saturday for a checkup after feeling ill.

Italian news reports on Saturday said the 24-year-old nurse, who had gone to the clinic to explore job prospects, told investigators that in April she was forcefully held, given anesthesia and had eggs removed following a hormone treatment apparently for an ovarian cyst.

During a call last month with

an Italian TV show, Antinori denied that any eggs were removed without the woman’s consent.

The woman’s lawyer couldn’t be reached for comment.

Police sequestered several embryos at the clinic to determine if they were created with the woman’s eggs but Italian news reports said none using her eggs had been found.

Antinori made worldwide headlines in 1994 when a 63-year-old post-menopausal patient gave birth after the implantation of an embryo using donated eggs. ■

Peru presidential candidate denies money laundering THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LIMA, PERU — Presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori denied a news report that raised questions about whether she was involved in money laundering.

The local America television network and U.S.-based Univision broadcast a report Sunday night suggesting the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating a member of Fujimori’s party for money laundering. The allegations come just weeks before the presidential runoff election.

The report said the agency was looking at whether Joaquin Ramirez of Fujimori’s Fuerza Popular party laundered $15 million for the candidate during a previous election.

Fujimori denied that she was involved with any money laundering, and said it was other party officials who handled her campaign funding. Ramirez also denied wrongdoing.

The DEA did not directly address the news report’s contention that Ramirez is under investigation, but it stressed that it is not investigating the candidate.

“Keiko Fujimori is not currently, nor has been previously, under investigation by DEA,” the agency said in a terse state-

Peru presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori.

CONGRESO DE LA REPÚBLICA DEL PERÚ / FLICKR

ment issued Monday.

Fujimori has struggled to cast off the legacy of her father, former President Alberto Fujimori, who is in a Peruvian prison serving a 25-year sentence for authorizing death squads and corruption during his decadelong rule in the 1990s.

Keiko Fujimori easily came out on top in the initial round of Peru’s presidential election April 10. She is facing the No. 2 finisher, former World Bank economist Pedro Kuczynski, in a runoff on June 5. Polling indicates the two are in a dead heat. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

Iran cracks down on models posing without headscarves online

BY AMIR VAHDAT AND JON GAMBRELL The Associated Press TEHRAN, IRAN — Iranian police have arrested eight people in a new crackdown targeting “un-Islamic acts” online such as female models posting images of themselves without their hair covered, state media reported Monday, part of a larger cultural struggle in the Islamic Republic over the country’s future.

The arrests follow the detentions of artists, poets, journalists and activists as moderate President Hassan Rouhani’s administration secured a landmark nuclear deal with world powers.

The arrests and harsh sentences handed down signal that hard-liners in the police and judiciary, who were unable to stop the accord and fear looser social norms will weaken the Islamic Republic, still hold significant power in the country.

State television said this latest operation, called Spider II, particularly targeted users of the Instagram picture-sharing application.

Instagram, owned by Facebook, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The television report included footage of model Elham Arab, known for her portraits in wedding dresses, speaking before Tehran prosecutor Abbas Jafari Dowlatabadi in a conference room, her blonde hair hidden under a black chador.

“All people love beauty and fame,” Arab said. “They would like to be seen, but it is important to know what price they will pay to be seen.”

Arab could not be immediately reached for comment. It wasn’t immediately known if she had a lawyer.

The TV report did not say what charges she faced, nor did it identify the other seven people arrested. It said police identified some 170 people in the operation through social media activity as being involved in modeling, including 58 models, 59 photographers and makeup artists.

It said those targeted saw their businesses shut down, as well as their pages on Insta-

gram and Facebook removed.

Arab’s Instagram account could not be accessed Monday.

“We must fight with enemy’s actions in this area,” Dowlatabadi was quoted by the stateowned IRAN newspaper as saying. “Of course our actions in this area will continue.”

The previous Spider operation targeted “pornography and insulting Islamic sanctity,” officials have said.

In recent years, Iranian women — especially in the capital, Tehran — have worn the mandatory scarf loosely on their head, drawing the ire of conservatives in the Islamic Republic. Tehran police chief Gen. Hossein Sajedinia in April announced his department had deployed 7,000 male and female officers for a new plainclothes division — the largest such undercover assignment in memory — to enforce the government-mandated Islamic dress code.

The model crackdown is just the latest move by authorities to control online expression in Iran. Nearly 40 per cent of Iran’s 80 million people can access the Internet, though the U.S.-based watchdog Freedom House describes web access as “not free” in the Islamic Republic due to censorship and filtering.

In May 2014, authorities arrested a group of young Iranian men and women for an online video of them dancing to Pharrell Williams’ song “Happy.”

While the arrests drew widespread criticism, including from the musician himself, those involved each received suspended sentences of six months’ imprisonment and 91 lashes.

Meanwhile, journalists, filmmakers, writers and activists also have been detained, sentenced or imprisoned.

On Monday, Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency reported authorities arrested Mahdi Boutorabi, the manager of an Iranian blogging service called persianblog.ir. The ISNA report did not elaborate on the case of Boutorabi, who previously was arrested following Iran’s disputed 2009 presidential election. ■ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

World News

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

21

Chinese bullet train in Venezuela stalls as alliance derails

BY JOSHUA GOODMAN The Associated Press ZARAZA, VENEZUELA — It was once billed as a model of socialist fraternity: South America’s first high-speed train, powered by Chinese technology, crisscrossing Venezuela to bring development to its backwater plains. Now all but abandoned, it has become a symbol of economic collapse — and a strategic relationship gone adrift.

Where dozens of modern buildings once stood, cattle now graze on grass growing amid the rubble of the project’s gutted and vandalized factory.

A red arched sign in Chinese and Spanish is all that remains of what until 16 months ago was a bustling complex of 800 workers.

That’s when the project’s Chinese managers quietly cleared out.

As with many unfinished politically motivated projects dotting Venezuela — government critics call them “red elephants” — the decaying infrastructure contrasts with the railway’s promising beginnings.

A decade ago then-President Hugo Chavez dreamed up the Tinaco-Anaco railway as a way to populate the plains and attract development from long-dominant coastal areas.

Stretching 300 miles (468-kilometres), it was intended to move 5 million passengers and 9.8 million metric tons of cargo a year at speeds up to 135 miles (220 kilometres) per hour.

Chavez turned to China, one of his closest ideological allies, for engineering and financing for the project, part of a $7.5 billion deal that has made Venezuela the world’s top recipient of Chinese loans. A consortium of state-run companies led by China Railway Group Ltd, the world’s largest train maker, was tasked with carrying out construction.

But completion is four years overdue, and work, when it happens at all, has slowed to a crawl. At one barracks facility visited by The Associated Press, half a dozen workers huddled under the shade of a giant cement mixer, while two shirtless managers lounged at a control panel smoking cigarettes.

Nowhere are the project’s

The construction of the connection from La Encrucijada to the Tuy Valley in Venezuela has been underway since 2007.

I, KILLMAN2.0 / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

declining fortunes more visible than in Zaraza, a sweltering crossroads town of 75,000 where what used to be an arenasized factory churning out concrete railroad ties was located.

In government news reels from 2013, the complex can be seen towering over manicured lawns and outdoor basketball courts where Chinese and Venezuelan workers socialized.

Shortly after the last Chinese managers left in January 2015, a mob of local residents — some of them armed — ransacked the site and hauled away everything of value. First to go were power generators, computers and air conditioners on the back of pick-up trucks. Vandals then tore apart dozens of buildings to scavenge for metal siding, copper wiring and ceramic tiles, some of which are now on sale at roadside stalls.

Jesus Eduardo Rodriguez, who owns and lives on the sprawling ranch where the factory was built, said the plundering lasted two weeks.

Several witnesses who declined to be named for fear of reprisals said the looting took place in plain view of National Guard troops, who they allege were on the take and working in collaboration with the town’s pro-government mayor, Wilfredo Balza, which is why the incident never garnered media attention.

Balza did not return repeated phone calls and text messages seeking comment and was said to be unavailable when AP journalists visited City Hall.

“They destroyed everything,” said Rodriguez, who eventu-

ally moved giant cinder blocks to cut off road access to the derelict property, which had become a haven for criminal gangs. “We just came to the house and almost cried, watching what they were doing.”

Emails to China Railway in Beijing went unanswered and the company didn’t comment despite phone calls and two visits to its office in Caracas.

The factory’s demise appears to have been triggered by Venezuela’s cash crunch.

In a June 2013 interview with local television network Televen, the then-head of Venezuela’s state rail authority acknowledged owing $400 million to the Chinese. Union leaders who for years complained of late salary payments say that has only multiplied as the economy spins further out of control. With foreign reserves at a 13-year low and inflation forecast to surpass 700 per cent this year, Venezuela has fallen behind on payments to foreign enterprises from airlines to the service companies that extract the oil on which this OPEC nation’s economy depends.

Until recently, China had been a lifeline for Venezuela.

Since 2007 it bankrolled the administrations of Chavez, who died of cancer in 2013, and current President Nicolas Maduro with a mix of cash, loans and investment commitments totalling $65 billion, according to a database maintained by Boston University and the Inter-American Dialogue. Back when commodity prices were high and South America’s economies www.canadianinquirer.net

booming, such deals in Venezuela and elsewhere in the region seemed a safe bet.

But lately, as China struggles with its own financial woes and the oil used as loan collateral has plunged in value, Venezuela is finding that kind of support harder to come by. A high-level mission to Beijing in February returned empty-handed.

Kevin Gallagher, a Boston University economist and the author of two books on China’s economic ties to Latin America, said the Chinese are increasingly concerned about their exposure to an imploding Venezuela.

“Now the whole underbelly is falling out,” said Gallagher, who was recently in Beijing gauging the state of the economic partnership. “The Chinese right now are completely panicked about risk.”

This week senior U.S. intelligence officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss their assessments by name, said that while China may be willing to ease repayment terms to help Venezuela stave off a meltdown, it is unwilling to provide any more financing to what they described as a bottomless rabbit hole.

Corruption may also be having a chilling effect. Six Venezuelan officials were arrested in 2013 and 2014 for allegedly embezzling $84 million from a Chinese development fund.

Outwardly, at least, there’s no sign of concern.

“China pays high attention to the development of China-Venezuela relations and will con-

tinue maintaining the interactions between the two sides on all fields and at all levels to enhance mutual friendship and trust, promote mutually benefiting co-operation and promote mutual growth,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in a faxed response to questions.

But President Xi Jinping’s government appears to be quietly hedging its bets. In addition to avoiding throwing good money after bad, they’ve quietly been courting a newly emboldened Venezuelan opposition that is trying to force Maduro’s recall or resignation.

The contacts began at a meeting of the Socialist International, a worldwide network of leftleaning political parties, in New York last July attended by opposition Venezuelan politicians and members of the Chinese Communist Party, according to a Venezuelan participant who spoke on condition of anonymity so as not to jeopardize the relationship. The same politician then travelled to Beijing at the party’s invitation to brief officials on the opposition’s plans following its landslide victory in December’s congressional elections.

China’s ambassador has also dined privately with opposition leaders, the politician said, despite Venezuelan government warnings to foreign diplomats not to meet with individuals they accuse of trying to destabilize the country. Opposition leaders, who used to accuse China of acting as Maduro’s enabler, have softened their criticism, sensing they’ll need help digging Venezuela out of its economic hole if they rise to power.

The diplomatic dance means little to Omar Correa, who like many in Zaraza was captivated by the railway project’s promise of progress. He still proudly wears the blue overalls emblazoned with the corporate logo of his former Chinese employees, only now he herds livestock amid the factory ruins.

“Are they going to come back?” a visibly stricken Correa asked. “I really hoped to see that train running one day.” ■ Associated Press writers Jorge Rueda and Ricardo Nunes in Caracas, Venezuela, and Joe McDonald in Beijing contributed to this report.

22

World News

MAY 20, 2016

Mexican president proposes legalizing gay marriage

BY E. EDUARDO CASTILLO AND PETER ORSI The Associated Press MEXICO CITY — President Enrique Pena Nieto proposed to legalize same-sex marriage in Mexico on Tuesday, a move that would enshrine on a national level a Supreme Court ruling last year that it was unconstitutional for states to bar such couples from wedding.

If it is approved, Mexico would become the fifth country in Latin America to make same-sex marriage legal. The announcement was hailed by LGBT activists and criticized by church officials in Mexico, which is home to the secondlargest Roman Catholic population on the planet.

Speaking at an event on the International Day Against Homophobia, Pena Nieto said he signed initiatives that would seek to amend the constitution and the national civil code.

Pena Nieto said he wants to change Article 4 of the constitution to clearly reflect the Supreme Court opinion “to recognize as a human right that people can enter into marriage without any kind of discrimination.”

“That is, for marriages to be carried out without discrimination on the basis of ethnicity or nationality, of disabilities, of social or health conditions, of religion, of gender or sexual preference,” he added.

Pena Nieto’s Twitter page and other government Twitter accounts were changed to include the rainbow colours as he made the announcement.

A two-thirds majority vote in congress is required to amend the constitution. Pena Nieto’s party and allies control about half the seats in both houses, and the measure could also pick up support from the leftist opposition Democratic Revolution Party.

It would then need to be ratified by a simple majority of states before going to the president for his signature.

The Rev. Hugo Valdemar, spokesman for the Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico City, urged lawmakers to listen to their “conscience” and oppose the initiative.

Morocco slams US human rights report as a list of lies THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mexico President Enrique Pena Nieto.

FREDERIC LEGRAND - COMEO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

“Marriage has some very concrete aims which, of course, two people of the same sex do not fulfil,” Valdemar said, referring to procreation.

He called Pena Nieto’s initiative a “distraction” in a country where “there are more serious issues that should be attended to” such as violence and corruption.

About 80 per cent of Mexicans are Catholic, though only about 15 per cent to 20 per cent regularly practice the faith, said Andrew Chesnut, chairman of Catholic studies at Virginia Commonwealth University.

He added that a recent Pew survey said Mexicans’ acceptance of gay marriage and LGBT issues in general closely mirrored views in the United States, where same-sex marriage was legalized by the Supreme Court last year.

The president’s announcement “is just of monumental significance,” Chesnut said. “It really is symbolic of the rapidly waning, eroding influence of the Catholic Church on both politics and the social front.”

Gay marriage is already legal in some parts of Mexico such as the capital, the northern state of Coahuila and Quintana Roo state on the Caribbean coast.

Adding it to the constitution and the civil code would expand gay marriage rights across the country.

Last June, the Supreme Court ruled it was unconstitutional for Mexican states to ban same-sex couples from getting married. But the decision did

not specifically overturn state laws, meaning couples have had to sue in court in each particular case.

Alejandro Brito, director of Letra S, a human rights group specializing in sexual diversity issues, called Pena Nieto’s announcement great news.

“I think it sends a very clear message of respect and against discrimination toward sexual diversity,” Brito said. “If it is enshrined in the constitution and the Supreme Court has established a precedent on this, it would seem just a question of time before all (government) entities across the country recognize equal marriage. ... I think this is a battle that has been won.”

Twenty-three countries around the world have legalized gay marriage, according to Pew Research. Argentina became the first in Latin America to do so in 2010, followed by Brazil and Uruguay in 2013 and Colombia earlier this year. Chile allowed same-sex civil unions last year. The U.S. island territory of Puerto Rico also legalized gay marriage by executive decree after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

“This, in tandem with Colombia, which is still close to about 80 per cent Catholic and is usually kind of looked to as the most devout Catholic nation in Latin America ... it’s amazing,” Chesnut said. ■ Associated Press writer Mark Stevenson contributed to this report. www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

In Washington, State Department spokesman John Kirby rejected the criticism of the reRABAT, MOROCCO — Mo- port by Morocco. rocco slammed the U.S. State “The Department of State Department’s report on hu- stands by the information conman rights in the North African tained in the 2015 Country Rekingdom as a list of inventions port on Human Rights Practicand even lies. es in Morocco,” Kirby said.

The official MAP news agenAmong other things, the cy on Tuesday quoted the In- lengthy State Department reterior Ministry as saying the port said that “systematic and report’s content is “truly scan- pervasive corruption underdalous.” mined law enforcement and Morocco is an important U.S. the effectiveness of the judicial ally in a volatile region, particu- system,” adding that “impunity larly valuable for its help in the was pervasive” with no official fight against terrorism, making data about prosecution or punits irate, public reaction to last ishment of officials committing month’s report highly unusual. abuses.

The report’s contents “went It also said decisions at trials from approximation of infor- touching on politically sensimation to pure and simple tive issues like the monarchy, invention, from erroneous security and Islam as it pertains appreciation to political life to lies,” MAP “appeared prequoted the mindetermined.” istry as saying. It While reports denounced the Morocco of disappearsources used to wants no ances and torcompile the remore evasive ture, widespread port as “unreliresponses, in the 1970s able” and “politibut precise and 1980s, have cally hostile.” case by case eased, the State The State Deanswers.

Department partment issues report noted a a country-by2014 report by country report the U.N. Working each year on huGroup on Arbiman rights around the world. trary Detention citing “sources The latest report, issued deemed to be credible” saying April 13, listed corruption and that disappearances have conwidespread disregard by secu- tinued. rity forces for the rule of law as While torture is constitutwo significant ongoing prob- tionally forbidden, the State lems in Morocco.

Department report quoted an Interior Minister Mohamed Amnesty International review Hassad has met with U.S. Am- claiming that “an array of torbassador Dwight Bush about ture techniques are used by the report, and “technical Moroccan security forces to working sessions” with embas- extract confessions ... silence sy officials have been held, the activists and crush dissent.” ministry said. Apparently to no The Interior Ministry, as avail. quoted by MAP, questioned the “Morocco wants no more credibility of a report prepared evasive responses, but precise in Washington and based on case by case answers,” he said. reports submitted by “a few inMorocco is obliged “to ex- dividuals with no credibility or plore all possible paths” to un- a handful of Moroccans known cover the report’s errors and “is for years for their aversion to prepared to go to the end,” not the regime.” ■ excluding taking its case to the “highest authorities in the dif- Associated Press writer Elaine ferent national American insti- Ganley in Paris contributed to tutions.” this report.

Community News

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

23

PH Embassy concludes overseas voting in Canada THE SPECIAL Board of Canvassers (SBOC) in Ottawa adjourned at 10:20 a.m., May 11, after the successful transmission of election results to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) central server.

SBOC reported the following results: PRESIDENT Candidate

Votes

%

Roxas, Mar

2,681

11.89

Seneres, Roy

7

0.03

VICE PRESIDENT Candidate

Votes

%

Cayetano, Alan Peter

6,993

31.11

Escudero, Chiz

1,168

5.19

Binay, Jojo

397

1.76

Honasan, Gringo

116

0.51

Defensor Santiago, Miriam

2,227

9.86

Marcos, Bongbong

8,622

38.36

Duterte, Rody

15,643

69.41

Robredo, Leni

5,391

23.98

Poe, Grace

1,582

7.01

Trillanes, Antonio IV

183

0.81

Voter turnout

A total of 22,738 out of 79,421 registered voters in 81 precincts participated in the 2016 national elections for a voter turn out of 28.62 percent. The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa and Consulates General in Toronto and Vancouver saw huge increases in voter turn-out relative to the 2013 elections at around 500, 600 and 700 percent, respectively.

Philippine Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia congratulated Comelec-deputized members of the Special Ballot Reception and Custody Group (SBRCG), the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) and the Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) as well as volunteers

and registered voters for bringing Philippine overseas voting in Canada to a successful conclusion.

Enverga congratulates Duterte

Meanwhile, Tobias C. Enverga Jr., senator from Ontario, congratulated the presidentelect of the Philippines, Rodrigo Duterte, on his election victory.

“I wish to congratulate Mr. Duterte on his decisive election victory in the latest presidential elections in the Philippines,” said Senator Enverga in a statement. “I wish him all the best on his term as President of my country of birth, and I hope that he will be successful with implementing his highly

ambitious agenda on both domestic and international issues. With the highest office of the country comes the greatest responsibility. I want to take this opportunity to remind the President-elect of the duty to selflessly serve all the people to the best of his ability,” he continued.

Enverga said he hopes Duterte will continue the process of strengthening the already deep relationship between Canada and the Philippines. “As a Canadian of Filipino heritage, I am in a unique position, and I assure you that I will use this to assist the governments of the two countries to achieve even closer ties,” Enverga said. ■

Little Miss PH Canada holds pre-pageant

BY FE TADURAN

PH filmmaker heightens awareness on climate change FILIPINO-CANADIAN independent filmmaker Wilfred Tangid is embarking on a new film project that has a pressing message on climate change urging us to rethink our pursuit of progress, comfort and convenience.

Tangid is reaching out to your sense of social responsibility and generosity to help him raise $40,000 to produce his award-winning screenplay, Now and At the Hour. The screenplay won 4th Place for Short Screenplay Competition at the London Film Awards in London, UK in May 2014.

Based on actual events, Now and at the Hour follows the story of Gina who was expecting her firstborn when super typhoon Haiyan devastated Eastern Visayas in the Philippines in 2013.

Typhoon Haiyan, the strongest typhoon on record, killed about

7000 in the Philippines, destroyed towns and cities, crops and sources of livelihood with damages close to $1 billion. It’s one of the devastating outcomes of climate change.

The screenplay was inspired by events Tangid witnessed while shooting his feature documentary The Surge in Tacloban, Philippines. The Surge recently premiered online and earned a spot on IMDB as one of the most popular documentaries with country of origin in the Philippines.

Tangid said “climate change is a global issue that affects everyone. We need to recognize beyond the political debate that climate change is impacting our lives. It affects us all whether we are here in North America, in Europe or in Asia. ❱❱ PAGE 31 PH filmmaker

THE LITTLE Miss Philippines Canada 2016 candidates of the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation (PCCF) showcased their talents and beauty during the pre-pageant show held May 7, at the Korean Cultural Centre in Toronto.

This undertaking of the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation’s goal is to inspire excellence in the children and promote in them a better understanding of the Filipino culture. It is also PCCF’s hope that they will be able to help develop the girls to be role models and inspiration to their peers, and at the same time develop their self-confidence and showcase their beauty and talents. More importantly, PCCF aims to instill in the young girls’ impressionable minds that by taking

part in activities aimed at benefiting not only themselves, but also those less fortunate than them, will make their ‘inner beauty’ shine brighter and help develop their character and substance.

The Little Miss Philippines Canada pageant is run by volunteers from the Filipino-Canadian community, headed by PCCF President Romeo Rafael, Pageant Director and PCCF Executive Vice-President Rosemer Enverga, Co-Chairs Fe Taduran, Sena Flores and Gloria Rafanan, and choreographer Chollo Lagdameo. It is now on its 6th year.

During the event, the following major awards were handed out: Miss Talent - Angeline Siao; Miss Photogenic - Rosebelle Amber Rinker; and Miss Charity - Ranielle Louen Lucero. Proud parents joined the candidates on-stage to show

Little Miss Philippines Canada contestants.

www.canadianinquirer.net

their pride and support, and to congratulate them for the very entertaining show.

Coronation of the Little Miss Philippines Canada 2016 winner will be at the Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show on June 18, at the Metro-Toronto Convention Centre. The winner will receive a free trip to the Philippines, amongst other prizes. She will serve as a PCCF ambassador of goodwill in various events and activities throughout Canada and the Philippines. She will have the chance to promote the Filipino culture, arts, heritage and charity. She will be meeting the community’s most influential leaders, appear on TV, meet GMA PinoyTV stars, make new friends and best of all, will be able to help the poor in the Philippines, through Kapuso Foundation and Ancop project. ■

24

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Entertainment

Jake plays a transvestite

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer ACTOR JAKE Cuenca said he was seriously losing weight and growing his hair long for a very challenging role—a transvestite.

“It’s my first time to play a transvestite,” Jake said of his new movie project with filmmaker Quark Henares. “I’m excited. It will be fun. I’ve done gay roles before, but never a transvestite.”

Jake said the film is something similar to Quentin Tarantino’s “Django Unchained,” which was released in 2013.

“It’s a slasher comedy. It’s something new for me. I find it challenging. I have yet to test myself in comedy. I don’t limit myself to any role. When this was offered to me, I said I need-

ed to do it. I won’t be able to live with myself if I let the opportunity pass.”

Jake was recently in New York City for a 22-day trip.

While there, he took acting workshops, saw some Broadway plays and set up test shoots for possible modeling gigs. “I kept myself busy. I was there to learn how I could still improve myself as an actor. It wasn’t a vacation,” he said.

Jake is currently seen in the drama series, “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” where he plays Jonas, a man trading illegal drugs. His team targets huge clubs and victimizes young customers.

He is part of the program’s “Ligtas Tips: Paalala Mula sa Probinsyano” campaign, which empowers viewers and helps them avoid falling prey to crime syndicates.

Other participants are the show’s lead stars, Coco Martin, Maja Salvador and Simon Pineda, who have also shared tips in clips aired during the series to warn people against the modus operandi of kidnappers, suspicious taxi drivers and gangs like “budol-budol.”

“Be smart,” advised Jake, when asked by INQUIRER to react to stories on the sex videos of his colleagues now proliferating on the Internet. “I’m curious why these videos are coming out all at the same time. Is there a group behind all the videos?”

“I’m confident that I’m not one of them,” he declared. “Taking a video of myself has never been my fetish. Also, I have never been to any of those websites promoting online sex. TV personalities should really be careful. I read that even the photos you save on iCloud could be

DEEJAYMARLON / FLICKR / 2.0

made public by hackers.”

Jake also said he would support efforts to improve the working conditions of people employed in film and TV production.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) recently released a labor advisory urging TV networks to uphold

the law on working only for eight to 12 hours per day.

“It’s a problem that every actor dreams of fixing. If you’re already too tired, your performance suffers. It’s better if the actors are left to decide on whether or not to extend their work hours. Most of the time, they are not given that choice.” ■

John Lloyd: Union will help the industry

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer ACTOR JOHN Lloyd Cruz is not one who turns a blind eye to the plight of his coworkers in the show biz industry.

John Lloyd is vocal about his support for calls to form a union in show biz.

“Producers and network people think of it (union) as something negative,” he observed.

“It’s actually a good thing. From the word itself, it will unite the industry. It will protect not just the actors and crew members, but also writers and members of the creative team.”

He added that he was pleased that industry leaders have been actively proposing change, particularly on the length of working hours in the industry.

The Department of Labor and Employment recently issued a labor advisory upholding the 8- to 12-hour work schedule for people working on film and television.

“It’s all about moving for-

MICHAEL HOWARD / FLICKR / 2.0

ward. We’re way behind in terms of labor standards in Asia. Nothing is impossible if we work as one,” he declared at his recent launch as endorser of Great Taste Coffee’s “Everyday Greatness” campaign.

“In the past, I’d go home feeling like a jerk, because I would leave everyone on the set at my cut-off time,” he confessed.

“Aside from campaigning for

the implementation of [more humane] working hours, we should also let the law protect us. If not, we will just keep blaming each other.”

On his love life, John Lloyd said he wasn’t dating anyone.

“I’m taking my time. I don’t want to date randomly. I’d rather get busy with work,” he pointed out. “Love is not my priority right now. I’m enjoywww.canadianinquirer.net

ing (being single) because I have more time now to focus on things that truly interest me.”

Former girlfriend

The actor claimed he and former girlfriend Angelica Panganiban have remained good friends, saying the actress even helped promote “Just the 3 of Us”—his latest romantic comedy flick with Jennylyn Mercado. “That’s

what friends do, they support each other. We’ve managed to maintain respect for each other, and we still communicate—those are important elements needed for friendship to work.”

That is why he said he does not feel offended by Angelica’s “hugot” lines on the ABS-CBN gag show, “Banana Sundae.”

“Hugot” means to draw from a specific emotional experience, such as a recent breakup.

Angelica, who publicly admitted to calling it quits with John Lloyd only in April, would often deliver her now-famous “hugot” lines in the program’s segment called “Hugot Class.”

“It’s a gag show. It would be too arrogant of me to think that these lines were all directed at me. In my mind, I hear her saying, ‘Not everything is about you, John Lloyd!’ What’s important is that both Angelica and I know the truth [about what happened between us].

That’s enough reason for me not to think that she’s doing this just to hurt me,” the actor explained. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

25

Dance program for indigenous youth offers boost within and beyond the classroom

BY LAUREN LA ROSE The Canadian Press

Shia LaBeouf attends the 'American Honey' photocall during the 69th annual Cannes Film Festival.

TANIAVOLOBUEVA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Shia LaBeouf finds raves in Cannes, will play John McEnroe

BY NANCY NUSSBAUM The Associated Press CANNES, FRANCE — In the last few years, Shia LaBeouf has recast himself as a conceptual artist, gravitated to more experimental filmmakers and repeatedly raised eyebrows for his antics, famously including wearing a paper bag over his head at a Berlin Film Festival premiere.

But at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday, LaBeouf arrived clean-cut, orderly and bag-less — and with a film that’s earning him some of the best reviews of his career.

In Andrea Arnold’s “American Honey,” which is competing for the Palme d’Or, LaBeouf stars alongside newcomer Sasha Lane as a leader of teenage drifters who travel the Midwest plains in a van, going town to town to sell magazine subscriptions. It’s a journey into the soul of modern America: a wild, kinetic vision of drugs, hip-hop, poverty and aimless youth.

The Hollywood Reporter praised LaBeouf’s performance as “an ideal vehicle to harness his edge-of-insanity unpredictability.” IndieWire said LaBeouf “has never been better.”

LaBeouf, who sported a white tuxedo on the Cannes red carpet, told reporters that Arnold’s freewheeling shooting style was liberating. Before production, the actor spent a week with a similar young sales team in the Pacific Northwest, but

said such preparation was only to learn the tricks of the trade.

His own upbringing in California sufficed.

“This is not new information to me,” said LaBeouf. “I’m part of that underclass.”

LaBeouf is effectively the most veteran presence in the film, led by the breakout star Lane and populated largely with nonprofessional actors Arnold cast in her own trip across the United States. In Cannes, the collective’s camaraderie was easy to see as they bounced to hip-hop from the film while striding down the red carpet.

LaBeouf, 29, also confirmed that he will play John McEnroe in the film “Borg/McEnroe,” about the ‘70s-’80s rivalry between the two tennis stars.

“Jake is me and so is McEnroe,” said LaBeouf, also referring to his “American Honey” character. “I understand these people. I empathize with them.

You just turn things up and turn things down. It’s me.”

The actor said his backhand was “getting there.”

Last year, LaBeouf held a kind of art instillation in New York where he watched all of his films at a Greenwich Village theatre in reverse chronological order over 72 hours. Some he watched eagerly; others, like “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” made him nod off.

With “American Honey,” though, LaBeouf seems to have found the film he was looking for. ■

ST. GEORGE, ONT. — Keanu Monias likes to crank tunes from Justin Bieber and Michael Jackson when he’s in the mood to groove, but recently dancing has become more than a hobby. It’s part of his curriculum.

The 16-year-old attends high school in the Garden Hill First Nation in northern Manitoba, one of four communities where indigenous youth are translating dance moves into credits — an initiative yielding even greater benefits beyond the classroom.

“It really helped me focus on my life,” said Monias.

“It makes me want to do something more than dancing.

I want to be able to do different things, something that would make people smile.”

Through the program Outside Looking In, professional choreographers have travelled regularly to each community over the course of the year.

While there, they offer teens the chance to hone their artistic skills and enhance their overall education.

“High school dropout rates for indigenous kids are so much higher than the Canadian average,” said program founder and CEO Tracee Smith, a member of the Missanabie Cree First Nation in

northern Ontario.

“Being a dancer myself, I thought we need something else that’s going to bring these kids through the doors of school every day.

“Music, dance, is very much built into our culture as indigenous people. So I thought this is something that will draw them in, get them out of their seats, get them moving and, hopefully, give them a reason to come back to school or come to school every day.”

Students from Lac La Croix First Nation and Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve in Ontario, and St. Theresa Point First Nation, Man., are also a part of this year’s program.

Beyond class credits, the teens will have the chance to bolster their performance resumes when they take to the stage at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto on Wednesday.

Under the shelter of a towering barn at Tim Horton Onondaga Farms in southwestern Ontario, the youngsters are clad in T-shirts, sweats and sneakers devoting hours of rehearsal time to prep for their big performance.

From an artistic point of view, Smith said she doesn’t typically include a lot of traditional dance in the show. The teens mainly focus on hip-hop routines, with modern and contemporary styles also in the

mix.

But this year’s closing number will feature award-winning music producer DJ Shub, who specializes in electronic powwow dance, which they will, in turn, incorporate into their performance, she noted.

Garden Hill First Nation high school teacher Swabia Allen said that while the training schedule has been gruelling for students, the dancing has paid dividends.

“I’ve noticed kids that were very shy and timid, you see them come alive when they’re performing and dancing,” said Allen.

“It’s more meaningful to come to school.... Grades are increased because they’re there on a daily basis to get the support and learn the work that’s being taught.”

Smith said she’s also heard of students speaking of improved family relationships and better behaviour at home as part of their involvement.

“It’s grown into something bigger than I thought it was going to be.”

Bradley Monias, who turns 16 on Tuesday, admitted to jitters when he first started, but has benefited from newfound skills — and an emotional boost.

“I’ve discovered I know how to dance,” he said.

“I can make friends easily and I have the confidence I’ve never had before.” ■

JK Rowling honoured by PEN for literary and humanitarian work

BY HILLEL ITALIE The Associated Press NEW YORK — J.K. Rowling’s passion for free expression is so strong it extends to someone she’d otherwise not care to discuss: Donald Trump.

Speaking Monday night before hundreds gathered for PEN America’s annual gala at www.canadianinquirer.net

the American Museum of Natural History, the “Harry Potter” author noted that she opposed a recent petition calling for banning the presumptive Republican presidential nominee from entering the United Kingdom, saying such actions endangered everyone’s rights.

Rowling received a PEN award for her writing and her humanitarian work.

PEN, the literary and human rights organization, also honoured imprisoned Egyptian author Ahmed Naji, whose brother Mohamed accepted on his behalf; Hachette Book Group CEO Michael Pietsch; and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha and LeeAnne Walters, who helped expose deadly levels of lead in the water in Flint, Michigan. ■

26

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Lifestyle

Guidelines on stem cell research put patients first, warn against hyping results

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — A global organization of scientists and bioethicists has released updated guidelines for research using stem cells, the so-called “holy grail” of regenerative medicine, stressing that the protection of patients must take precedence as the field continues to rapidly evolve.

The guidelines developed by the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) are aimed at assuring both the medical field and the public that research using these powerhouse cells is conducted with scientific and ethical integrity.

“ISSCR’s overriding goal is to improve human health through stem cell research,” society president Sean Morrison told a media telebriefing Thursday.

“That means promoting sound and rigorous science as well as accelerating the translation of that research to help patients.

“It also means opposing the marketing of unproven stem cell therapies to patients,” said Morrison, head of the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Dr. George Daley, director of the stem cell transplantation program at Boston Children’s Hospital, said the ISSCR is aware there’s “an industry already out there” that is marketing unproven stem cell therapies directly to patients.

Indeed, there is a growing international medical tourism business, in which patients des-

perate for treatments for serious or life-threatening illnesses travel to countries where unregulated clinics offer stem cell-based therapies that have not been proven to work and in some cases may be unsafe.

High-profile examples include former hockey great Gordie Howe, who travelled to Mexico in late 2014 for stem cell injections after suffering two debilitating strokes. Family members believe the therapy vastly improved the now 88-year-old’s symptoms at the time, although Canadian stem cell experts questioned whether the experimental and unapproved treatment was responsible.

In December, friends of Spirit of the West frontman John Mann, who has early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, organized a crowdfunding campaign to help the Canadian musician pay for an experimental stem cell treatment not available in Canada or the U.S. “It’s facilitated by the Internet, it’s facilitated by the international scope of medical care, it’s facilitated by rather weak regulatory structures in some countries and it is part of the concern that’s really raised the alarm and is part of the impetus behind having these guidelines,” explained Daley, who helped craft the recommendations.

There are many kinds of stem cells in the body, but much of the research focuses on embryonic stem cells and what are known as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs. Both have the power to give rise to almost any type of cell in the body, from

brain and heart to kidneys and bone. But iPSCs are developed from adult tissues like skin cells, which can be chemically manipulated in the lab to return to an embryonic-like state.

While research using stem cells derived from donated embryos is allowed in Canada, the U.S. and several other countries, the guidelines recommend some restrictions.

“The ISSCR holds that scientific research on preimplantation-stage human embryos is ethically permissible when performed under rigorous scientific and ethical oversight, especially in the areas of human development, genetic and chromosomal disorders, human reproduction, and new disease therapies,” the document states.

However, the group warns against scientists going too far when it comes to the use of new gene-editing tools such as CRISPR/CAS, which allows researchers to remove minute slices of DNA with incredible precision. The technology could be used, for instance, to remove a mutated gene that causes an inherited disease.

“This is obviously very important for biomedicine, but it also raises more challenging ethical questions, such as whether we should use the technology to edit embryos,” said Daley, who’s also a professor of biological chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Harvard Medical School.

“But we draw a very clear distinction given that there’s uncertainty about the safety of gene

www.canadianinquirer.net

editing of embryos and not yet any kind of social consensus on whether it should be practised.”

Although using such tools to modify the genome of human embryos can be used for basic lab-based science to advance biomedical knowledge, Daley said using altered embryos for human reproduction is premature and should be prohibited “at this time.”

While stem cells hold great promise, with hopes they could some day be harnessed to create replacement organs and cure such conditions as Parkinson’s disease, macular degenerationrelated blindness, diabetes and spinal cord injuries, the guidelines also caution researchers against “hyping” their results to the media and public.

“Scientists are often very excited by their findings and occasionally scientists and others can overstate either the clinical promise or the timelines needed in order to convert a finding into a clinical application,” said Jonathan Kimmelman, a bioethicist at McGill University who chaired the 25-member

international task force that updated the previous 2006 and 2008 guidelines.

“The guidelines clearly urge scientists to balance their communications with each other, as well as with the public,” he said, “and to make sure that the projected clinical applications are not unrealistically optimistic.”

Rigorously designed patient trials that emphasize the safety and efficacy of any experimental therapy are the gold standard of medical research, and that holds for stem cell research efforts as well, the guidelines stress.

“No doubt the path forward will be fraught with setbacks and not all of the clinical trials will work, but we believe that these trials will lead to new insights that will increase our chance of curing some of these diseases,” added Morrison, referring to Parkinson’s and other debilitating and often lifeshortening disorders.

“And even if we only succeed some of the time, it will change the world for subsets of patients who are currently beset by these terrible conditions.”

Details of the guidelines and related articles were published Thursday in a number of journals, including Nature, Science and the Lancet. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

27

Canadian trucking industry struggles to attract next generation of drivers

BY MORGAN LOWRIE The Canadian Press MONTREAL — After 40 years as a truck driver, Jack Fielding says it’s easier to name the places in North America where he hasn’t been than the ones he has.

And after driving five million kilometres, the 57 year-old still enjoys the freedom of the road.

“For the most part, there’s nobody looking over my shoulder telling me what to do,” says Fielding, who hails from McKellar, Ont. “I have an assignment and I’m left to do it at my own pace and how I think it should be done.”

But as Fielding and thousands like him near retirement age, the industry is struggling to recruit young people who share his enthusiam for the job.

This means the industry is facing a looming labour shortage that could reach 48,000 drivers by the year 2024, according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance.

The average age of a truck driver is over 47 — up from 45 in 2013 — and almost 30 per cent of the driving force is 55 or

over, which makes it one of the oldest workforces in Canada, according to the organization’s president.

“Tens of thousands of them are nearing retirement and we’re not getting anywhere near our commensurate share of new drivers into the business,” says David Bradley.

There are multiple reasons for the looming shortage, but many believe the lifestyle simply isn’t attractive to a younger generation.

Fielding, for example, usually works 10-14 days straight, with three days off between trips.

Schedules are not set in advance, and drivers often work 12 hours or more a day.

“You’re not home with your friends on Friday nights having parties,” he says. “If you have a family you might miss out on birthdays and things like that.”

Bradley says this makes it harder to attract younger people or those with familes, who tend to place a higher emphasis on work-life balance than older generations.

It may also explain why the industry struggles to recruit women, who make up only about four to six per cent of the

driving population.

Nadine Gauthier, who spent six years driving shipping containers in and around the Montreal area, is trying to change that.

The 43-year old, now a supervisor for Simard Transport, also works on behalf of Quebec’s trucking association to convince girls and women that trucking isn’t just a “man’s world.”

She says that while the first women “pioneers” may have been given a hard time, the industry has become very welcoming to women.

“I sincerely think men like having women in their teams and at the heart of the company,” she notes. “It brings a new dynamic, and men are very respectful of that.”

The average salary for a truck driver was listed as $40,728 in 2011, although Bradley says long-haul truck drivers can easily make $70-80,000 a year.

However, they’re often paid by the mile, which means their income can fluctuate based on unexpected delays or traffic. They also tend to work longer hours than the rest of the population.

It’s also difficult to hire immi-

grants, except under the Temporary Foreign Worker program, since truck driving is not considered a skilled occupation and drivers therefore aren’t eligible for most federal economic immigration programs.

Bradley says the current economic downturn in Canada — particularly in the oil industry — has alleviated the shortage for the moment.

But he believes long-term solutions are needed to ensure people who enter the profession stay there, instead of viewing it as a stop-gap between jobs.

The industry is working to change the classification of truck driving to semi-skilled or skilled, which Bradley says is key to getting more resources for training and attracting career-oriented candidates.

Provinces are also working on implementing their own regulations and mandatory training standards.

In its own bid to address the shortage, the Quebec government has implemented a training program for 17-and-18 year old wannabe truckers.

Students are partnered with companies that agree to give them internships at the end of

the four-month course, which often lead to permanent jobs.

One recent graduate, 20-year-old Anthony Boisvert, was hired straight out of school and already has two years under his belt as a long-distance trucker for Groupe Robert.

He loves the job, including the 60-80 hour workweeks and stretches of four to five days away from home, but realizes it isn’t for everyone.

“It’s more a passion than a job,” he says.

Bradley says that although individual companies are looking at scheduling, wages and recruitment strategies to tackle the shortage, change is slow to come.

“This is a fragmented, competitive industry, and it’s hard to turn it on a dime,” he says.

Fielding, who estimates he has five years of driving left, can’t quite figure out why more young people don’t seem to want to take over behind the wheel.

“Where (else) can you get paid to see North America, to experience things in life?” he says. “I think it would be a great job for somebody just starting out.” ■

10 ideas for theme nights at a vacation with family

BY NANCY NUSSBAUM The Associated Press IF YOU’RE renting a vacation house with extended family this summer and trying to figure out ways to bring a large group with different ages together, consider planning some fun theme nights. Here are 10 ideas.

Beach Olympics: A flip-flop toss, water balloon toss and using a seashell to fill cups with water. Winners get plastic gold, silver and bronze medals.

Neon night: Decorate Tshirts with neon paint and bring glow necklaces and bracelets. A black light adds flair to a neon dance party.

Pirate “pub” crawl: Hand out bandanas with a Jolly Roger pattern and souvenir cups.

Turn each room of the house into a different “pub” serv-

Who says you cannot have fun at home?

ing kids’ beverages (bug juice made from Sprite and gummy worms) along with specialty cocktails for adults (prosecco poured over a popsicle).

White wedding: Celebrate

a special anniversary by having a “wedding reception,” dressing up the bride and groom and designating wedding attendants. Wedding decor and a wedding playlist will get everywww.canadianinquirer.net

one in the spirit.

“Parched Games”: The grandchildren in our family came up with this take on the “Hunger Games” series. Follow a game of charades with a

water balloon and squirt gun battle. At the sound of a whistle, get ready to shoot with a goal of capturing a hidden pirate flag without getting wet.

Casino night: Games, a Vegasstyle buffet and packs of playing cards printed with a family vacation logo as souvenirs.

Luau: Pack a floral shirt, wear plastic flower garlands and play ukulele music.

Tailgate party: Dress in your favourite team’s colours and serve tailgate food.

“Iron Chef America”: Form teams and provide simple ingredients for a cook-off. The best dish wins.

Wii bowling tournament: Bring your Wii to the beach house, give out T-shirts in team colours and serve bowling alley food such as pizza and nachos.

Players with highest and lowest scores win trophies. ■

28

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Business

Ottawa’s economic advisers gather for first time

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Finance Minister Bill Morneau met Monday for the first time with his group of hand-picked advisers who will help the federal government create a plan to boost Canada’s long-term growth.

The advisory council, which also met with several of Morneau’s cabinet colleagues, is made up of 14 leaders with backgrounds in business, academia and the administration of public pension funds.

Much of the discussion at the meeting north of Ottawa was dedicated to exploring how the government can work together with institutional investors,

such as public pension plans, to help pay for infrastructure projects, Morneau told CBC in an interview.

He said he deliberately sought out the expertise of public pension funds by inviting the heads of two major plans to join his council — Mark Wiseman of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and Michael Sabia of the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec.

“We can keep the money here, it will help Canadian retirees, so we’re thinking about, how can we amplify the federal investment by finding ways to work together with institutional investors?” Morneau told CBC. “We’re actively engaged in that discussion. That was a sig-

nificant part of our day today because, as I said, we want to think about the long term and how we have the biggest impact — and they’ll be part of that.”

The Liberal government has committed to doubling infrastructure spending over the next decade, which will raise the overall federal investment to $120 billion.

They say increasing infrastructure spending will improve productivity and create jobs.

That extra infrastructure spending, however, will contribute to five straight budgetary shortfalls that could inflate Canada’s public debt by another $110 billion.

Ottawa is seeking other sources of cash that could al-

low the government to expand the number of infrastructure projects while helping prevent the country from sinking even deeper into deficit.

Morneau has said investors like Canada’s pension funds have international expertise investing in big infrastructure projects.

Senior Liberals, including Morneau, have been praising a funding model for a $5.5-billion light-rail proposal for Montreal. The partnership would include investments from Ottawa, the Quebec government and the Caisse pension fund.

Last week, Morneau said Ottawa is studying the Caisse’s plan with “lots of interest.”

The Finance Department said council members were joined Monday by Econom-

ic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland, Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi and Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk at the meeting in Chelsea, Que. The group is also expected to look for solutions that will address concerns such as helping more graduates find jobs out of university and managing the looming economic challenges posed by the aging population.

The government said one of its primary goals is to find ways to improve the economy over the very long term by, among other things, exploring how Canada can take advantage of its skilled workforce, available resources and strong fiscal position. ■

T&T Supermarket and Tzu Chi Foundation Canada Please Help Victims of Fort McMurray Wildfire In order to help Fort MuMurray to rebuild the city that is hardly hit by the cruel wildfire, T&T Supermarket will hold the “Together We Can Do So Much” fund raising event between May 11 and 23 to help the 80 thousand of victims who moved to the shelters in Edmonton to rebuild their homes.

T&T will once again joint hands with Tzu Chi Foundation Canada to hold a fundraising event for “Fundraising for Fort McMurray Wildfire Relief” from May 11 to May 23, with the support from Tzu Chi volunteers, the event will take place at 9 T&T BC stores, 5 T&T Alberta stores and 8 T&T Ontario stores to offer convenience for customers to help out the victims in need!

All the funds received will be transferred directly to Fort McMurray disaster area by Tzu Chi Foundation Canada. T&T Supermarket has worked together with Tzu Chi Foundation Canada on several charity events in the past. Tzu Chi has been a reputable organization that dedicates their efforts on the charity works especially on the natural disasters around the world.

Let’s contribute NOW and help the people in Fort McMurray to rebuild their homes! With your help, there is always hope!

www.canadianinquirer.net

29

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

Sports

Casey says Raptors need to start “guns-a-blazing” against well rested Cavs

BY LORI EWING The Canadian Press

Global rips foe but gets ripped off by thieves

BY CEDELF P. TUPAS Philippine Daily Inquirer GLOBAL CHALKED up its third straight victory at the expense of JP Voltes, 4-0, Thursday night in the United Football League, but the club was in no mood to celebrate after thieves ransacked their locker room inside Rizal Memorial Stadium and took away P500,000 worth of items and cash.

Ivorian forward Arthur Kouassi struck with two goals while Hikaru Minegishi accounted for another goal as the newly minted UFL Cup champions extended their unbeaten start and increased their tally to nine points.

But the celebration was tempered when Misagh Bahadoran, who was just substituted from the game, rushed out to the Global bench to report the burglary. Bahadoran and Omid Nazari had entered the locker room only to find out his bag was missing.

Sources said thieves broke through a small window from outside the stadium.

Global CEO Dan Palami said he noticed some workers, who were working near the locker room, were still there at the half, but were nowhere to be found after the game.

“I’m quite concerned with that,” said Palami. “I don’t want to say it’s them, but it was unusual they didn’t log out their names for the day.”

Global and national team physiotherapist Wally Javier lost a bag containing his passport, iPhone 6mobile and $600.

Global leaned on a solid second-half performance to gain top spot ahead of its clash with Loyola Meralco today.

An own goal from Jason Cutamora at the hour mark broke the Voltes resistance.

“I’m happy with the way the players responded in the second half,” said Global coach Leigh Manson. “Voltes are a very organized side, they made it difficult for us. But we got three wins out of three and this should give us momentum going to the Loyola game.”

Voltes kept Global at bay in the first half while also testing goalkeeper Patrick Deyto. Midfielder Yu Hoshide rattled the post with a free kick early on before Takumi Uesato forced a low save five minutes before halftime as the Japanese-powered side put the Global defense under constant pressure.

But the tide turned in the second half with Minegishi finally finding a way to penetrate the Voltes defense on the left flank.

A surge into the box led to the opening goal as his cross was deflected into the back of the net by Cutamora in the 60th minute.

Minegishi was at it again seven minutes later before delivering a teasing cross for Kouassi to head home nine minutes from time. Kouassi scored another goal in stoppage time. ■

his hustle, his hard play, his timely three-point shots are a big part of what we need and why we signed him,” Casey CLEVELAND — It was a sevensaid. “He’s exactly what we game drag ‘em out series that need at that position, to guard featured a slew of injuries and some of the power threes in had coach Dwane Casey comthis league.” paring it to a boxing match.

The Raptors will be in tough And now, just two days after to defend Cleveland’s threefinally knocking out the Miami point shooting. The Cavs hit 77 Heat in a gruelling NBA Eastthrees in their four-game sweep ern Conference semifinal, the of Atlanta. The Raptors, on the Toronto Raptors take the court other hand, were second last in against the well-rested Cavadefending the three in the reguliers. lar season.

The Raptors tip off their first“That’s going to be an issue,” ever conference final on TuesCasey said. “They’re such a day in Cleveland, against a Cavs great transition team, such a team that has engreat pick and joyed a nine-day roll team that if break. you try to stop “You always everything, you take rest over We have to go in with our guns can’t stop anyrust in the playa-blazing, playing hard and playing thing. We have to offs,” Casey said. to our identity, and let the chips fall pick our poison.

“I’ve never been where they may.

They’re a lethal with a team team right now, that’s had nine one through days off. Hopefive.” fully they’re a little rusty and out for the entire series, I don’t But while the Cavaliers are game-rusty. But sooner or later, know.” widely favoured to win the sethat rest is going to kick in and Without the starting centre’s ries, Casey’s not buying it. be a plus for them. post-up presence, the Raptors “Every time you walk on the “We have to go in with our will have their hands full with floor you’ve got to give yourself guns a-blazing, playing hard Canadian Tristan Thompson a chance. We’re humble but and playing to our identity, and and Timofey Mozgov. we’re hungry. I do believe we’ll let the chips fall where they DeMar DeRozan is also bat- play hard,” he said. “We’ll go in may.” tling a thumb injury that re- confident against what I feel The Raptors went the full quires wrapping during every is the best team in the league seven games in each of the first timeout to relieve the swell- right now as far as playing totwo rounds of the playoffs, ing by the team’s sport science gether, playing both ends of capped by their thrilling 116-89 guru Alex McKechnie and his the floor, shooting the threevictory over Miami on Sunday. famous red shoelace. ball.

Top-ranked Cleveland has DeMarre Carroll, who was “In my mind, LeBron James yet to lose in the post-season, acquired last summer for his is the best player in the league. sweeping Detroit and then At- defensive intensity, was huge He does so many things for his lanta. in containing Dwyane Wade team offensively and defensiveThe Raptors have recent his- and Joe Johnson in Toronto’s ly. (But) I have no doubt that tory on their side. They won the do-or-die Game 7. But he faces our team will compete and play regular-season series against a mammoth task in containing hard.” the Cavs 2-1, and saw big games Cavs star LeBron James. He Several hundred Raptors fans from Kyle Lowry. Toronto’s also missed more than half the are expected to make the trip scrappy point guard averaged season with a knee injury, and from Toronto for Game 1. Game 31 points on 66 per cent shoot- then sprained a wrist in Game 5 2 is Thursday, then the series ing, and had the highest player against Miami. returns to the Air Canada Cenefficiency rating of anyone who “He’s still kind of feeling his tre for Game 3 on Saturday and played at least 10 minutes a way as we go offensively, but Game 4 on Monday. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

game against the Cleveland in the regular season.

But the post-season has been costly. Toronto lost starting centre Jonas Valanciunas to a badly sprained ankle in Game 3 against Miami. Casey confirmed he won’t play in Game 1 and is unlikely to return for Game 2.

The Lithuanian big man is still limping badly, making it tough to see him returning at all in this series.

“I’d like to see (Valanciunas return), I’m not committing to it,” Casey said. “Just have to see how his body reacts, comes through rehab. To cancel him

30

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Technology

Why Apple plunked $1 billion into Chinese ride hailing

BY RYAN NAKASHIMA The Associated Press

PIETER BEENS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Anti-counterfeiting group suspends Alibaba

BY ERIKA KINETZ AND DESMOND BUTLER The Associated Press SHANGHAI — An anti-counterfeiting group said Friday it was suspending Alibaba’s membership following an uproar by some companies that view the Chinese e-commerce giant as the world’s largest marketplace for fakes.

The International AntiCounterfeiting Coalition told members that it had failed to inform the board of directors about conflicts of interest involving the group’s president, Robert Barchiesi.

Earlier Friday, The Associated Press reported that Barchiesi had stock in Alibaba, had close ties to an Alibaba executive and had used family members to help run the coalition.

The coalition, in a letter to members sent after the AP report came out, said conflicts weren’t disclosed to the board “because of a weakness in our corporate governance procedures.”

In its letter, the board said that as a result of members’ concerns, it was suspending a

new class of membership that had allowed Alibaba to join recently. The move would affect two other companies that signed up under the new rules.

At issue is the independence of a small but influential coalition that lobbies U.S. officials and testifies before Congress.

Alibaba’s membership could help shape the global fight against counterfeits. Fakes damage companies’ bottom lines, can harm consumers who unknowingly buy such products, and feed a vast underground money-laundering industry that supports criminal syndicates.

In recent weeks Gucci America, Michael Kors and Tiffany have quit the Washington D.C.based coalition, which has more than 250 members.

The AP found several ties between the group’s president and Alibaba: Barchiesi has owned Alibaba stock since its 2014 listing in New York. The IACC said in a statement that the holdings represent “a small percentage of his investment portfolio.”

Matthew Bassiur, who took over as vice-president of global intellectual property enforcement at Alibaba in January,

hired Barchiesi’s son, Robert Barchiesi II, to work at Apple back in 2011. Alibaba said that hire was made on merit. Apple declined to comment.

Bassiur is a founding board member of the ICE Foundation, which supports U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees. Since 2013, the foundation has been run

by Barchiesi’s other son, James Barchiesi. That same year, the foundation’s board voted to award a contract for “fiscal and operational management” to a private company, also run by James Barchiesi. The foundation has received grants Critics feared Alibaba will use IACC membership to gain legitimacy while papering over fundamental flaws in how it does business. Gucci and other brands owned by France’s Kering Group allege in U.S. court filings that Alibaba knowingly profits from the sale of fakes.

Alibaba has dismissed the case as “wasteful litigation.” ■ Butler reported from Washington. AP News researchers Jennifer Farrar in New York and Monika Mathur in Washington contributed to this report. www.canadianinquirer.net

LOS ANGELES — Apple new $1 billion investment in the Chinese ride-hailing service Didi Chuxing is as much about currying favour with regulators as directly expanding its own business, analysts said.

Apple might need the help; it faces slowing iPhone sales and tougher restrictions on its services in the country.

The investment — one of Apple’s largest to date — could serve other purposes as well. It helps the company put some of its giant overseas cash hoard to work without incurring taxes by bringing it back to the U.S. It might also inform Apple’s own interest in the automotive business; several reports suggest it has begun work on its own selfdriving car.

“It kills two or three birds with one stone,” said Patrick Moorhead, principal analyst with Moor Insights & Strategy.

Just last month, Apple was forced to shutter its iTunes Movies and iBooks Store in China, a company spokesperson confirmed. A few days later, the company reported that sales in mainland China — primarily of iPhones — fell 11 per cent in the first quarter, a big contributor to its first quarterly revenue decline in 13 years.

“The Chinese government knows what they have is access to this massive market,” Moorhead said. “What they would like is for you to take China more seriously” by making major investments in the country, he said.

With the global market for smartphones cooling, Apple has increasingly emphasized the money it makes from services such as music streaming and media downloads.

“The investment in Didi

highlights the strategic importance of China and the services segment for Apple’s future strategy,” wrote Jack Kent, an analyst with IHS Technology, in a report. “It could help Apple gain greater insight into the behaviour of users beyond its own ecosystem.”

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in a statement that Didi “exemplifies the innovation taking place in the iOS developer community in China.”

Apple had no comment beyond Cook’s statement.

Apple will become a strategic investor alongside Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba Group and Tencent Holdings Ltd., an online games and entertainment service, Didi Chuxing announced Friday.

China’s ride-hailing industry has grown rapidly, with competitors spending heavily to subsidize rides to capture market share.

Didi Chuxing, previously Didi Kuaidi, operates in 400 Chinese cities and provides over 11 million rides a day. It claims to account for 87 per cent of the private car-hailing service in China.

Uber, meanwhile, is losing $1 billion a year in China, according to an interview its CEO, Travis Kalanick, gave to the Canadian tech startup news website Betakit.

Kalanick noted wryly in a tweet early Friday that his girlfriend owns Apple shares and is thus now invested in his chief Chinese rival.

In September, Didi and Uber’s U.S. rival Lyft agreed to link their services so that travellers can use them in each other’s markets. In December, their alliance added India’s Ola and Southeast Asia’s GrabTaxi. ■ AP China correspondent Joe McDonald contributed to this report.

Technology

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

31

DOST showcases innovative food products

BY MA. CRISTINA C. ARAYATA Philippines News Agency MANILA — Various kinds of foods and flavorings developed through science and technology intervention give food lovers and developers wide prospects for innovation in food products, and provide entrepreneurs huge opportunities for business.

Filipinos, being citizens of the world, have acquired various tastes for various local and international food and have undoubtedly become more gastronomically adventurous.

This gives food experts much opportunities to come up with enhanced food products with very good quality and broad use, such as complementary and emergency food.

Moreover, various disasters have also sent food experts

thinking of ways to develop food items that can supply the nutritional needs of victims and can be stored and distributed without much issues.

A wide variety of such innovative food products were showcased in the recently concluded Technology Transfer Day in Pasay City.

Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Technology Transfer Day provided opportunities for technology developers and adoptors, including those in the food industry, to find technologies that are ready for takers.

The exhibit section, “Future Flavors” featured most DOSTdeveloped or funded food products, providing instant taste tests and treats to participants.

Among the foods on display and were up for taste and adoption were: Ready-to-Eat arrozcaldo:

Categorized as disaster relief food, this arrozcaldo (porridge) was developed as a disaster mitigation to address immediate hunger of disaster victims.

It has a shelf life of at least one year. The packaging structure is lightweight and very handy.

It was designed to withstand aerial distribution of about 800-1000 ft for the distribution in flooded areas or in disaster zone that cannot be reached by land because of damages.

Complementary foods: These are protein and energy food products made of rice-andmongo combination, in instant, ready-to-cook, and crunchies versions. Complementary foods are designed to fill the nutritional needs of small children aged 6 months to two years old.

Cassava cookies and cassava chips: Made of 100 percent cassava grates, these gluten-free goodies provide a healthy fix for

Nintendo eyeing filmmaking for growth after Mariners sale

BY YURI KAGEYAMA The Associated Press

that Nintendo’s work might be 3-D animation. It said Nintendo is in talks with various film companies on a possible partnership.

Wakae said an announcement will be made, but even the details of the Mariners sale have not yet been announced.

Nintendo has seen its growth stagnate in recent eyes amid competition from smartphones

TOKYO — Japanese video game maker Nintendo Co. is eyeing the movie business for growth.

Company spokesman Makoto Wakae said Monday details are undecided but the work might be a theatre release or a DVD. Nintendo, which makes the Wii U home console and Nintendo 3DS handNintendo has seen its growth held machine, has stagnate in recent eyes amid licensed its game competition... characters in the past, such as with its Pokemon movies, but it is now thinking and other devices, and films about make its own film content. could revive interest in its franIt won’t become a full-fledged chise, which also includes The film studio, but filmmaking is Legend of Zelda. one area it has chosen for fuNintendo reported a 24 bilture investment of proceeds lion yen ($216 million) loss for from selling its stake in the January-March, bigger than major league Seattle Mariners, the loss it reported the previous planned for later this year, ac- year. For the fiscal year ended cording to Kyoto-based Nin- March 31, it earned 16.5 billion tendo. yen ($148 million), down 61 per The Japanese daily news- cent from the previous fiscal paper Asahi reported Monday year.

Recent Wii U sales have lagged rivals Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 4 console and Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox One, including the key year-end holiday shopping season.

After years of scoffing at the threat from smartphones, Nintendo did an about face last year and entered an alliance with Japanese mobile game company DeNA Co. to develop games for mobile devices.

It has also said its new game platform codenamed NX will be launched globally in March next year.

In April, Nintendo of America said it’s selling its majority stake in the Seattle Mariners to a group of minority owners led by new chairman and CEO John Stanton.

Nintendo is selling all but 10 per cent of its stake in the franchise and the regional sports network ROOT Sports.

The deal is subject to approval

by Major League Baseball, expected during league meetings in August. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

people with sweet tooth. The cassava chips are ready to fry, perfect for movie or tele marathon snacks.

Thermally processed instant laing: This canned laing comes as a complete dish made of gabi (taro) leaves cooked very slowly in coconut milk and seasoned with ginger and chili for zing, and shrimp paste for unique salty flavour.

Nipa sugar and sweetener: This is an alternative sugar that contains minerals and has low glycemic index. It can also be used as sweetener and ingredient in several foods and confectionery products such as pastries and native delicacies.

Iron fortified rice: This is an enriched kind of rice made from a blend of iron rice premix or ordinary rice grains coated with iron using suitable solvent and binder.

Stabilized brown rice: This

brown rice has a lengthened shelf life of up to nine months with its original taste intact. This stability was developed through a combination of heat treatments.

Food Innovation Center products: These food products include vacuum-fried tahong (mussels), okra, squash, jackfruit, durian, pineapple, calamansi, tomato, bagoong and sea grapes, and freeze-dried pineapple.

The showcase of innovative food products and other technologies was one of the highlights of the celebration of the Technology Transfer Day to commemorate RA No. 10055 or the “Philippine Technology Transfer Act of 2009” which provides the framework and support system for the ownership, management, use, and commercialization of intellectual property generated from research and development. ■

PH filmmaker...

We should not forget how climate change has intensified natural disasters like hurricane Katrina in the US in 1995, or the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, said Tangid.

As of May 5, wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta were ongoing forcing its entire population of 80,000 to evacuate to Edmonton and Calgary. Most fear the thought that they are returning to nothing with the whole area gutted down by fire.

Canada’s Green party leader Elizabeth May has declared that climate change is partly to blame for the wildfire citing that “temperature records were being smashed through last month for northern Alberta… Scientists will say we know with a destabilized climate, with higher average global temperature, we will see more frequent, more extreme weather events… due to an erratic climate, due to our addiction to fossil fuels.”

Tangid said that a portion of the film’s proceeds will be donated to an organization supporting the fight against climate change.

Tangid has scrimped, saved and spent around $10,000 for preproduction which included traveling to the Philippines earlier in the year to check out shooting locations, audition actors, organize ❰❰ 23

the production crew and upgrade and maintain film equipment.

The most expensive part of film production is building the enclosure to simulate the wreckage that trapped the lead actor in her home in the aftermath of typhoon Haiyan. Production costs will also cover compensations of the cast and crew, transportation, board and lodging expenses, permits and licenses, venue rentals, insurances, among others.

Tangid is thankful for his job as a construction worker which has allowed him to finance pre-production work. But now he needs help to produce the screenplay. Tangid has opened a GoFundMe account for the screenplay at https://www. gofundme.com/nowandatthehour. Donors can go to this page and make a minimum donation of $5. In appreciation of the donors’ generosity, Tangid has put together amazing rewards which include being named a film producer and attending the premier night of the movie.

“When you help me produce this film, you are helping heighten awareness against climate change. You will also directly help an organization who is fighting climate change.

My cast and crew are hoping to raise $40,000 in 90 days,” Tangid said. ■

32

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Travel

TOURISMSASKATCHEWAN.COM AND SASKJON / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Lake, hikes and history draw visitors to Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park

BY JENNIFER GRAHAM The Canadian Press STEWART VALLEY, SASK. — Big lake. Big views. Big country.

That’s how Dave Silversides sees the 5,735 hectares of Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park, which straddles the west end of Lake Diefenbaker.

“A person could feel small here,” said Silversides, who is also the park manager.

Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park is in Stewart Valley, about 50 kilometres north of Swift Current in southwest Saskatchewan. As you head north on Highway 4 from Swift Current, the park comes into view.

Coulees, which are like a series of ridges or hills leading down into the valley, rise out of the prairie. The lake stretches in front, beckoning boaters.

“I don’t even want to use the word ‘rolling’ because you’ve got to be practically a mountain

goat to get up some of these it was restored and turned into 1.2-kilometre Ridges and Rathings,” Silversides said of the a visitor and interpretive centre. vines hike has a sharp decline coulees.

“Before that it hadn’t, like that could be difficult for some The serene surroundings be- most farmhouses, been lived in hikers. lie the fact that Saskatchewan for several years, decades, and it But Silversides says, for him, Landing was once a bustling was getting pretty dilapidated,” the lake is the lure.

Metis river crossing. said Silversides.

“We’re on Lake Diefenbaker, But the story is there, from A celebration marking its re- which is one of the No. 1 recthe Red River carts used to opening is planned for July 16. reational and fishing lakes in cross the river in the province. the 1800s, to the Whether it’s ruts left by those fishing, boating, carts, to the teewhatever, the pee rings, trails The history here is very interesting ... lake is a big draw, and Goodwin the scenery, the countryside, you just of course.”

House. don’t see that in too many places.

There’s a beach G o o d w i n where people can House, which catch some rays. was built in There are 1897 by Frank campsites where Goodwin, a former North West It’s a good place to stop, soak people can catch some rest.

Mounted Police officer, is a in the vastness of the park and And there’s the lake, where large stone building that sits get a geocaching or a trail guide. people can catch 11 different near the edge of the lake.

Then lace up your shoes for species of game fish. The webSilversides says when the the 2.6-kilometre Rings, Ruts site www.lakediefenbakertourhouse was built, Saskatchewan and Remnants trail or the ism.com boasts that there have Landing became more of a stop- 3.5-kilometre hike to the look- been several world recordping area and the house a bit of out on the Prairie Vista trail. breaking catches on the lake, a hotel. Twenty-five years ago, The guide does caution that the including a 21.8-kilogram rainwww.canadianinquirer.net

bow trout.

The marina, on the north side of the lake, rents fishing boats, pedal boats and kayaks.

There’s also an 18-hole golf course and a mini-golf course.

Silversides says the area has been a very popular spot for hundreds of years and it’s easy to see why.

“The history here is very interesting ... the scenery, the countryside, you just don’t see that in too many places,” he said.

If You Go...

Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park is about two hours and 45 minutes east of Regina.

Head east along the Trans Canada Highway to Swift Current, then north on Highway 4 for about half an hour.

Check out www.saskparks. net/saskatchewanlanding or tourismsaskatchewan.com for a list of activities and amenities in Saskatchewan Landing Provincial Park. ■

Travel

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

33

‘Buhangin’ festival continues to bless Ilocos Norte folk PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY PAOAY, ILOCOS NORTE — It all started with a miracle as local residents describe. In a barren area that looks like a dessert of no return, who would think the 81-kilometer stretch of pure and golden sand dunes of Paoay would become one of Ilocos Norte’s biggest crowd-drawing events since the birth of “Himala sa Buhangin! Art and Music Festival now on its fourth year in a row.

Seven year-old Anthony Casil from nearby Nagbacalan village looks with amazement at littered plastic bottles in some corners of the sand dunes theme park in Suba.

Every plastic bottle he collects means additional cent for his savings next school opening. Her mother, likewise, is busy tending to a makeshift stall, selling refreshment and snacks to visitors.

Tomorrow will be another day for the mother and son at the sand dunes to welcome more visitors.

Off-road drivers like Edward Tabili, 41, is also excited every time they see a bulk of tourists visiting the sand dunes.

This means more earning for them as every unit of 4x4 vehicle with about 4-5 passengers will give them PHP2,500 in just an hour of driving an off-road trail of the vast hilly sand dunes overlooking the West Philippine Sea. Tabili said driving a 4x4 vehicle is much more exciting and fun than driving a public utility jeepney or a passenger bus he used to drive.

“We are blessed in Paoay, we have this kind of livelihood we enjoy while we also have fun,” said Tabili.

In the early days, farmers living near the area thought it was a cursed land for having no plant to grow except for some isolated areas with Agoho trees.

But with its growing discovery for sand adventure and perfect cinematic landscape for film makers,the site also became popular for tourists.

The DENR however banned the operation of 4x4 in Paoay early this year but recently opened in time for summer, with stricter rules and regulations to professionalize off-road vehicles operation which has already become a lucrative business here.

Most importantly, the DENR in cooperation with the Ilocos Norte government wanted to ensure a sustainable management of the sand dunes, a declared natural geological monument.

“After all this dreadful campaigning and elections. May is the month of our La Virgen Milagrosa,” reelected Gov. Imee Marcos said referring to the provincial

A kid looks on as another commemorative sculpture was unveiled at the Paoay sand dunes, making Ilocos Norte as the center of film industry in the Philippines. Set at the vast sand dunes of Suba village in Paoay town lies the sculptures of four girls with a giant ice cream cone, depicting one of the scenes of the classic Filipino film, "Temptation Island."

DAVAO BUREAU / PNA

fiesta of the province paying tribute to its patroness, La Virgen Milagrosa de Badoc.

Believing that miracles do happen as it deed in the lives of every resident here, Marcos addressed the crowd during the fiesta opening, “Ipagdasal natin na tuloytuloy pa rin ang mga himala na binibigay dito sa atin—ang himala ng kakaibang kultura, ang himala ng kalikasan na nagbibigay pa ng kuryente at windpower, ang kakaibang tao na bumubuo ng Ilocandia na siyang talino at yaman ng ating lalawigan (Let us pray that the blessings keep on pouring unto us—the blessing of a unique culture, the blessing of the environment which nurtures us with electricity and windpower, and the different people that make up Ilocandia who are the treasure of our province).”

Attended by over 6,000 partygoers based on estimate of the Ilocos police, the participants are getting bigger and bigger every year.

More Art Installations

First, there was the “Elsa” sculpture, an iconic character of veteran actress Nora Aunor in the Pinoy classic film “Himala”, followed by ‘Flavio’ of “Ang Panday” played by the late actor and “King of Philippine Movies”, Fernando Poe Jr., which were filmed in Paoay that had inspired the festival.

Adding fan fare to this year’s celebration is the unveiling of another commemorative sculpture. This time, it’s “Temptation Island.”

Temptation Island is one of the mostcritically acclaimed films in the country for merging social commentary with a distinct brand of wit and humor and escapist entertainment despite its limited filming budget.

The film’s original casts were played by country’s former beauty queens Dina Bonnevie, Azenith Briones, Jennifer

Cortez and Bambi Arambulo while the 2001 remake included Marian Rivera, Rufa Mae Quinto, Heart Evangelista, Lovi Poe and Solenn Heusaff.

Inspired by the original version directed by Joey Gosiengfiao and the 2001 version of the film by Chris Martinez, Marcos along with Rufa Mae Quinto (one of the lead characters) and co-star John Lapus attended the unveiling ceremony on Saturday evening. Director Martinez himself also witnessed it.

The crowd cheered as the governor treated them with ice cream on a sizzling hot evening while performers rock the sand dunes.

Meanwhile, dance performances from the LGBT community enliven the Paoay sand dunes as spectators were also treated with a free concert by Parokya ni Edgar and Gloc-9. Other sports events such as sand boarding, dune bashing and sand-castle building among others were also featured during the day.

With barely two weeks preparation for the festival, the Ilocos Norte govern-

www.canadianinquirer.net

ment tapped renowned theater designers Mitoy Sta. Ana for the art installation and Ohm David for the set design.

The sculptures depict one of the highlights of the film wherein the main characters are shown licking a giant ice cream cone to cool off from the scorching heat of the summer sun.

Done on mixed medium, Sta. Ana said, “The interpretation has fiberglass as its base, the rock formation which serves as the platform, mylar boards in mosaic patterns and the figures, sculpted in Paoay sand.”

According to Ianree Raquel, head of the Ilocos Norte Tourism Office (INTO), this year’s festival aims to promote unity and equality through its Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT)-inspired celebration of Ilocano culture and heritage.

“This is inspired by the vibe of Temptation Island as a film which harmonizes with the fun and outgoing attitude of the LGBT community,” said Raquel citing “it’s a celebration of the unity that we have in the province that knows no gender and no race.” ■

Events

34

2016 Annual General Meeting By the Canadian-Filipino Association of Yukon WHEN/WHERE: 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 28, at the Multicultural Centre of the Yukon, 4141D 4th Ave., Whitehorse, YT MORE INFO: Potluck event

YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

MAY 20, 2016

Philippine Night at DMCI

By Phil. Heritage Council of Manitoba WHEN/WHERE: 5:30 p.m., June 3, at DMCI 720 Alverstone St., Winnipeg

CANADA EVENTS

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre

By WelcomePack Canada Inc. NUNAVUTWHEN/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) 9289355

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Tagalog Class

By Filipino Center Toronto

ALBERTA

WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, Toronto Homework/Tutorial Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, ON MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-928-

MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

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 Knitting and Crocheting Classes

By The Seniors Brigade Society of BC with PH Bagong PAg-Asa Society of BC, Zambales Society of BC and Filipino Zodiac Circle of BC WHEN/WHERE: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on May 21 and 28 at 2nd Flr. 5288 Joyce St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-453-5885 or email seniorsbrigade@yahoo.ca 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 College (near UBC) 5935 Iona Dr. Vancouver BC. Free pick up and drop off service.

ONTARIO

FRIDAY

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

9355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

Girl, Ikakasal Ka Nga Ba?

By JDL Performing Arts WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., June 16, at 50 Gervais Drive, Toronto, On. MORE INFO: with Gabby Concepcion

NEWFOUNDLAND

QUEBEC

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 up to May 19, at Rm. 200-504 Cottonwood Ave. Coquitlam, B.C. MORE INFO: Contact Liza dela Rosa 778-861-8499 or email at liza.delarosa@issbc.org Asian Waters: Watercolour Exhibition by Etsu Inoue, Angela Leung and Esmie Gayo McLaren

By Jeunesse Gallery of Fine Arts WHEN/WHERE: Up to May 31, at Jeunesse Gallery of Fine Arts, 2668 W. 4th Ave., Vancouver, B.C. 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. Annual General Meeting and Camping

By Batangas Club of BC WHEN/WHERE: May 21 and 22, Hazelmere RV Park and Campground, 18843 8th Ave. Surrey, B.C. Hawaiian Dinner and Dance Buffet Party By the Victoria Filipino Canadian Seniors Association WHEN/WHERE: 5 p.m., May 21 at Cedarhill Recreation Centre, Victoria, B.C. www.canadianinquirer.net

Tapayan: Preserving Our Mothers’ Secret Recipes

By Akulturado NOVA WHEN/WHERE: SCOTIA 7 p.m., May 22, 46 Begbie St. New Westminster, B.C. MORE INFO: 7-course degustation dinner featuring well-loved Filipino heirloom recipes Harana By the North Vancouver Community Arts Council and the Phil. Consulate General-Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: 7 to 9 p.m., May 26 Opening Reception; May 27 to July 2 - Exhibit BC vs Alberta ABC Border Bowls 2016

By All Canada Gridiron WHEN/WHERE: May 28, Greater Vernon Athletics Park 6950 College Way, Vernon, B.C. MORE INFO: $5 for 12 and up Fort McMurray Adra Fundraising Concert

By Westminster Sevent Day Adventist Church WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m, May 28 at 7925 10th Ave., Burnaby, B.C. Seniors Club Knitting Circle

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 1–3 p.m., Tuesdays at Mosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call (604)438-8214 English Drop-In Conversation Circle for Work Permit Holders

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: Mondays, 6:30 t0 8:30 p.m., till June 13 at Mosaic Community Room, 1720 Grant St. Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Learn effective communication skills, understand Canadian workplace culture, meet new people and have meaningful conversations.

MAY 20, 2016

35

CANADA

Wanted: Carpenter Helper Full Time Position

Local carpentry company (Established since 1992) looking to hire an installer position.

Work consists of installing crown moulding, baseboard, casings, doors, & etc.

Experience is appreciated but not mandatory.

Individual must be motivated and willing to learn. Must have steal toe boots. Work is mostly Vancouver & Richmond.

Call Ajay- 604-318-7964.

A Japanese restaurant in a food court is looking for a PT and FT Line cook.

Salary negotiable as per experience.

Call 778-708-2005 F ill Unused Capacity C ash Savings B ill More Hours E xtra Income If you want new customers, more sales and are looking for ways to save cash, call First Canadian Barter Exchange.

604.759.3223 / info@barterfirst.com

Toronto Enquiries: salestoronto@canadianinquirer.net Philippine Enquiries: salesphilippines@canadianinquirer.net

www.canadianinquirer.net

Tel: (1) 647-521-5155

36

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

Food

Customers, especially millennials, driving changes to beef industry standards

BY LAURA KANE The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — When Ben Campbell heard Earls was switching to Certified Humane beef from the U.S., he had a different reaction than many Alberta ranchers.

The 32-year-old raises grass-fed cattle without added hormones at his ranch in Black Diamond, about 60 kilometres southwest of Calgary. He sells directly to customers, often inviting them to visit the rolling hills where his animals graze.

To Campbell, Earls’ decision was a response to a trend he had seen firsthand: growing consumer demand for ethical meat. And though Earls backtracked after a social media slaughtering, Campbell said the beef industry can learn from the controversy.

“People care about where their food comes from and they should,” he said.

“The average Alberta farmer is proud of the way he produces his beef or she produces her beef, and we want to showcase it. I think a lot of people will be happy to have a certification to show the high standard.”

Alberta ranchers say Canada is a leader in animal welfare standards. But companies like Earls and McDonald’s are increasingly finding that customers, especially millennials, want proof that meat was raised humanely — forcing the industry to embrace certification programs it once resisted.

“We’ve got to get more comfortable as an industry with those verifications and audits,” said Bob Lowe, chairman of Alberta Beef Producers.

sie University, said ethical meat is more important to millennials, who now outnumber boomers in the marketplace.

“It’s way beyond just the calories. It’s really about feeling good about what you’re buying and making a difference in the world.”

Earls has since apologized for its “mistake” and promised to source some of its beef from Alberta suppliers that meet its criteria. The chain made the switch after surveying customers and staff and finding a majority favoured “humane” beef.

Spokeswoman Cate Simpson said anecdotally about half of Earls guests and the majority of its staff are millennials.

Alberta ranchers say Canada is a leader in animal welfare standards. But companies like Earls and Staff reported a high awareness of aniMcDonald’s are increasingly finding that customers, especially millennials, want proof that meat was mal welfare since childhood, she said. raised humanely McDonald’s opted to work with the Canadian industry when it decided “We have been doing things very well ada option SPCA Certified. Animal wel- to begin serving sustainable beef, and and we’ve been adapting to the science fare advocates say it should be the job many ranchers credit it with helping as it comes along, but it’s just the in- of government to inspect farms for hu- drive change. The burger giant introdependent nature of cattle producers. mane treatment. duced a pilot project last year in which They just don’t want people snooping “What the Earls situation really farms were audited for animal welfare, around.” brings to the forefront is that this indus- among other things.

Certified Humane is a U.S.-based try isn’t being regulated, and consumers Stephen Hughes, whose Chinook trademark with standards enforced want the regulation,” said Anna Pippus, Ranch won a 2003 environmental stewthrough annual inspections. Some Ca- a lawyer with Animal ardship award from nadian ranches have the designation, Justice, a legal group Alberta Beef Producbut when Earls couldn’t find enough that fights for the ers, jumped at the supply in Canada, it switched to buying rights of animals. chance to get verified exclusively in the United States.

Rob McNabb of under the pilot.

The Canadian industry balked, in- the Canadian CattleIt’s way beyond “I changed nothing sisting that local ranchers already met men’s Association just the calories. to fit the parameters. similar standards under national codes pointed out cattle It’s really about It’s just getting the of practice. However, the codes of prac- are inspected during feeling good story out and gettice are guidelines that aren’t enforced transportation for about what ting verified, (that) is through inspections. slaughter, and the you’re buying where I think our inRanchers have had to turn to third- final product is inand making a dustry has opportuparty programs for verification, like spected at the meat difference in the nities going forward,” Certified Humane or the made-in-Can- packing plant. Proworld. he said. vincial SPCA officers Hughes said urban inspect farms when eaters are increasingthey receive cruelty ly disconnected from complaints. food producers, and “There’s no need he understands the (for regular on-farm inspection by gov- need for certification to instill consumernment),” said McNabb. “At the end of er confidence. But after spending all day the day, nobody is questioning the value helping to deliver calves in a snowstorm, or the safety or the wholesomeness of he issued a fierce rebuke to city-dwellers Canadian beef.” who assume the worst of ranchers.

The association is set to unveil its own “There are a lot of bleeding hearts in audit-enforced program called Verified downtown Vancouver and Calgary who Beef Production Plus in June. The Ca- would think they’re more worried about nadian Roundtable for Sustainable Beef my animals’ welfare than I am who is crafting standards for animal welfare, wouldn’t have set foot in that storm,” he sustainability and biosecurity that will said. become part of the program.

“It’s actually my financial existence.

Sylvain Charlebois, a professor in Plus, I just care, and that’s why I do it. I food distribution and policy at Dalhou- care about animals.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Seen & Scenes

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

37

SURREY'S INTL. TRADE AWARDS Members of the Philippines Canada Trade Council (from L) Pure Channel’s Doreen Marco; Ria’s Gigi Astudillo; PCTC President Jorge Marco; and Pulo’s Vincent Uy recently attended Surrey’s International Trade Awards.

HARANA AT DUNGAW In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Philippine Consulate Office in Vancouver, the Vancouver Consulate held “Harana at Dungaw,” a solo art exhibit of Heber Bartolome. The featured visual artist is the founder of the 1970s band Banyuhay. He is likewise a multi-awarded folk and rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, poet, actor and musical director.

Bartolome is coming back on June 25, to spearhead the University of the Philippines Alumni Association’s “Harana, Tula, Kundiman at Balagtasan: Ang Ikalawang Yugto” (Photos by Christian Cunanan).

ATENEO FEST The Ateneo Alumni Association of BC under the leadership of Amado Mercado III, held a scholarship fundraiser entitled, Olympic Fest Dance Party on May 14, at St. Monica’s Parish Hall in Richmond, B.C. Here are some scenes from the wellattended event (Photos by Christian Cunanan).

EX-PNB STAFF GET-TOGETHER Former colleages (from L) Marge, Eva, Dulce, Mai and Laarni at Barnet Marine Park on May 8.

www.canadianinquirer.net

38

Seen & Scenes

MAY 20, 2016

FRIDAY

TORONTO MEDIA ON ELECTIONS Ting and Pidoy Pacis (president of Gawad Kalinga Canada) invited the board of the Philippine Press Club Ontario (PPCO) at Max’s Restaurant Toronto on May 7, to hear their take on the Philippine elections (Photo by Ariel Ramos).

RAY-AN FUENTES CONCERT

LITTLE MISS PHILIPPINES PRE-PAGEANT

Agatha Favis

Canada-based singersongwriter and stage performer Ray An Fuentes starred in a recent gospel concert entitled, “Celebrate New Life” at Shediac Bay Community Church in New Brunswick.

Here are some scenes of the May 15 event (Photos c/o Mariagg Moreno).

Angeline Siao

PH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SEMINAR Philippine Chamber of Commerce (PCCT) conducted another useful seminar on financial matters, insurance, business visibility and branding on May 12, at the Sunlife Building – Toronto (Photo by Ariel Ramos).

Janelle Gonzales

Sophia Antonio

For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net. www.canadianinquirer.net

39

FRIDAY MAY 20, 2016

Don’t limit your dreams Be different!

Become an Independant Financial Consultant Becoming an independent financial consultant has been a huge stepping stone for many who join Greatway Financial.

This has enabled them to achieve their financial goals and dream bigger. It is not full-time but part-time. They do it at their own time. You too can have that opportunity to write your own pay cheque! What do Greatway financial consultants do? They passionately share their blessings with others by educating others about finances.

www.canadianinquirer.net

40

MAY 20, 2016

.90ctw $1995 $1995 .90ctw

1.00ctw$2495 $2495 1.00ctw

NOW $988

NOW $1299

FRIDAY

1.00ctw $2895 1.00ctw $2895

NOW $1499

Last Day - May 30th - Further Reductions

30-70% Off

$1 $149 $149 49

1.5c tw $44 95 1.00ctw $2895

NOW $59

1.00ctw 1.00ctw

NOW $1888

NOW $1899

Everything Must Go METROWTOWN STORE ONLY

Located by the food court near The Bay.

MON- SAT 9:30AM-9PM SUN 11AM-7PM www.canadianinquirer.net