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Bangsamoro gets ‘jewel in the crown’ BY TJ BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer
WORLD’S LONGEST PEACE MURAL. Men from the Philippine Air Force work on the peace mural on Camp Aguinaldo’s perimeter fence starting
from the People Power Monument to White Plains Avenue in Quezon City. When completed, the series of murals around Camp Aguinaldo will stretch for 4 kilometers and will be the longest peace mural in the world. PHOTO BY RAFFY LERMA
Speaker has no plans to scrap pork PHOTO FROM MIRIAM.COM.PH
❱❱ PAGE 7 Bangsamoro gets
Miriam blows lid off Senate perks ❱❱ PAGE 3
❱❱ PAGE 4 Speaker has
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DESPITE the scandal stemming from the investigation of a racket involving P10 billion in pork, Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte will not let go of the muchmaligned program just yet. Expected to be elected again as Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 16th Congress, Belmonte told reporters yesterday that the pork barrel, officially
called Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF), had many safeguards that could be implemented to ensure that funds were spent properly. There are areas in the country that do not get enough funds from the national budget and will benefit from the lawmakers’ pork, Belmonte said. But Belmonte also said that he wanted the House to look at all the documents and data that the authorities had on the
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BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer
BANGSAMORO leaders will never have to face Congress to defend their budget because the Moro homeland in Mindanao will get an automatic appropriation in the national budget. “This is the jewel in the crown,” the chief government peace negotiator, Miriam Coronel-Ferrer, told reporters yesterday at a briefing in Malacañang on the wealth-sharing deal that the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, late Saturday. The deal, struck after six days of negotiations, clears the way for the government and the MILF to divide up income from taxes and natural resources in the autonomous Bangsamoro region that will be established after they sign a final peace agreement that will end four de-
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 2
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Miriam blows lid off Senate perks BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer WHY DO senators covet leadership posts and committees? In a speech before members of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago said that Senate officers Juan Ponce Enrile (President), Jinggoy Estrada (Pro-tempore), Vicente Sotto III (Majority Leader) and Alan Peter Cayetano (Minority Leader) enjoyed a premium of between 21 percent and 166 percent over the average P43 million in “personal income” received annually by regular senators. Santiago said that based on a 2011 Commission on Audit report, the top four Senate officers got the four biggest spending budgets among the 23 senators—Enrile, with a total of P118 million, Estrada with P62 million, Sotto with P56 million and Cayetano with P55 million—due to the honorarium reserved for their positions.
Senate’s budget. “Immediate past experience shows us that the amount known as ‘additional MOOE’ (maintenance and other operating expenses) becomes the personal pork barrel of the Senate President. In the hands of a corrupt Senate President, this discretionary power over the additional MOOE becomes a tool not only of corruption, but also of oppression and of ugly politics,” said Santiago, who was among four senators who did not receive a P1.6 million cash gift from Enrile last year. Santiago proposed that the power to control the Senate budget should be transferred from the Senate President to the entire body. She said the Senate President should also give up his powers to reallocate the savings of the Senate to his chosen senators. “Just because one senator has left his office is no reason to avail of the monies allocated for his office as additional MOOE. It makes the additional MOOE the personal pork barrel of the Senate President,” said Santiago.
Salary boost
Return savings
Santiago said the officers’ salaries were further boosted by their memberships in regular committees, oversight committees and the Commission on Appointment (additional P50,000 each per month). “A senator’s annual gross salary is some P1 million. But on the average, a senator is a member of seven oversight committees. Thus, he receives P2.5 million annually in socalled extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses or EME. The EME that he receives is more than double his salary, which is not equitable,” said Santiago, who proposed that the extra income for membership in committees should be capped at P500,000 a year. Aside from receiving nearly triple what the average senator received, Santiago said that Enrile as Senate President also controlled 50 percent of the
“Savings, which were previously realigned as additional MOOE, should be returned to the Senate. I did this in good faith during my first year as senator, but was roundly attacked by my colleagues who resented what I did, because it showed how much they kept for themselves,” she said. Santiago added she would push for the imposition of a more stringent liquidation system using receipts and other official documents. “The Senate is rethinking the previous policy of Mr. Enrile, that certain amounts received by a senator could be liquidated by simply signing a certification that the money had been spent. The new Senate that opens this July will have the power to retain or to reform the system. This will need the majority vote of the senators from the current policy of mere certification,” said Santiago. ■
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Speaker has... alleged pork scam so that it could determine if it should proceed with an investigation. “Whether this is true or not true, there is a need to keep on tightening the rules to make sure the uses (of pork) really benefit the people,” Belmonte said. “[T]he issue of everybody knows where it’s spent, and the issue of accountability... these are the ends we would like to do,” he said. He added that he was in favor of the “100 percent” scrutiny of the PDAF to see how it is used, of the House periodically upgrading or improving the ways to spend the money, and of making the whole thing open to the public. ❰❰ 1
Abolish pork
Sen. Franklin Drilon has proposed the abolition of the pork barrel amid allegations that lawmakers had channeled their allocations to fictitious projects through bogus NGOs. Many of the representatives linked to the pork scam are no longer members of the House.
One incumbent on the list of lawmakers allegedly involved is Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, who denied having had any dealings with the group allegedly behind the scam. Rodriguez said yesterday that he never had any dealings with JLN Corp. or its owner, Janet Lim-Napoles, or any of her representatives. He said his pork went to the Technology Livelihood Resources Center for livelihood projects, which were implemented in his district. The projects include soap and jewelry making, he said. Rodriguez said he favored the investigation of the pork scam. Belmonte said the Department of Budget and Management was already tightening the rules for the pork barrel’s use. For instance, lawmakers can only choose to fund projects listed on a menu prepared by the department, he said. Support for abolition
But ACT Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio said it was high time for Congress to abolish the
pork barrel, but acknowledged the abolition would be difficult, as there would surely be strong opposition in the House. Still, he said, the extent of the magnitude of the alleged scam is a good argument for abolishing the pork barrel. “This P10-billion PDAF scam makes the notorious P700-million fertilizer fund scandal during the Arroyo administration look like petty thievery. The magnitude of the alleged plunder involving JLN Corp. and a large number of legislators in both chambers of Congress has outraged the nation and shown that the PDAF is a corrupting mechanism that is beyond repair,” Tinio said in a statement. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) Director General Joel Villanueva, formerly a partylist representative, said he did not get a single cent of his pork allocation during the Arroyo administration so he could not have been involved in the alleged scam. Villanueva urged the National Bureau of Investigation to dig deeper to find out who forged his signature in the documents that implicated him. Villanueva was Cibac repre-
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sentative for nine years until 2010, when he was appointed by President Aquino to head Tesda. Lawmakers involved
According to the NBI probe, 28 lawmakers—five senators and 23 representatives—allegedly authorized dummy NGOs put up by Napoles to use their pork allocations for phantom projects over the last 10 years. Abono party-list Rep. Conrado Estrella III yesterday admitted meeting Napoles, but he denied having taken part in any of her projects. Estrella, s former representative of Pangasinan’s sixth district, said he was introduced to Napoles only recently, and met her on at least two occasions. “But I have no association with her. I see her sometimes and we just exchange hellos. I did not know that she was associated with the foundations mentioned in the papers,” he said. Estrella said he did not release his pork allocation to any NGO, adding that it was government agencies that implemented his projects. COA report questioned
He said that three years ago,
he questioned a Commission on Audit (COA) report that indicated he had endorsed certain foundations as project implementers. “I didn’t endorse any foundation. I dealt directly with the agency. Why should I deal with the foundation when I knew the secretary, I knew the undersecretaries themselves? I knew them personally and I had the personality to deal with them,” Estrella said. “I looked at the signatures in the papers given by COA and the signatures were not mine. I did not endorse [the projects]. My signatures were forged,” he said. A list furnished the INQUIRER indicated that Estrella released some P97 million in 2009 and 2010 to various NGOs to implement projects in the towns in Pangasinan’s sixth district. The NGOs, however, turned out to be bogus and the money ended in the bank account of JLN Corp. Estrella said the signature of his brother, Robert Raymund, then representative of Abono, was also forged. Robert Raymund reportedly channeled P41 million to bogus NGOs. ■
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Cha-cha ‘like burning down the house’ BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer IF THE INITIAL attempt was like playing with fire, the latest proposal put forward to amend the Constitution is “like burning down the house,” antiCharter change (Cha-cha) lawmakers warned yesterday. It will be a “total sellout of our country and must be stopped,” said party-list House members Neri Colmenares and Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna). The militant party-list members were referring to the bill filed the other day by Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez calling for the convening of a constitutional convention (con-con) to carry out the amendments. “If Representative Belmonte’s proposal of Charter change through legislation is like playing with fire, Representative Rodriguez’s constitutional convention proposal is like burning the house down,” Colmenares said in a statement. Earlier this week, Quezon City Rep. Feliciano Belmonte Jr. filed a resolution that could pave the way for the passage of new laws lifting the economic restrictions in the Constitution. The Belmonte resolution proposes to insert the phrase, “unless otherwise provided by law,” to each economic provision, and thus allow Congress the freedom to pass new laws that would relax these restrictions. All-out assault
Zarate said the Rodriguez’s proposal to call a con-con goes even further, calling it nothing less than “an all-out assault to change not just the economic provisions of the Constitution but its political provisions as well”. The con-con proposal is a “blatant attempt to entice elected officials with term extensions,” he said. Among the proposed amendments in the Rodriguez propos-
al is the one proposing to give members of parliament and local officials a four-year term with no limit to the number of times they can be reelected. The Cagayan de Oro congressman called for a shift to a federal system and a parliamentary form of government with a unicameral legislature.
nomic provisions and leave the political provisions, particularly those pertaining to term limits, alone. “Let’s not touch the present system of government. Let them tackle just the economic provisions,” Estrada said in an interview earlier this week. He said proposing changes to the political provisions such as on term limits could “turn off the people” and “make the issue complicated.”
Nationality requirements out
Rodriguez wants to lift “all nationality requirements in the exploration and utilization of all natural resources, all areas of investments, all public utilities, all educational institutions, and all fields of mass media and advertising.” “The provisions on ownership of land which shall remain exclusively to Filipinos until distribution of farms lots to qualified farmers/beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program is completed,” Rodriguez said in the explanatory note to his proposed Constitutional Convention Act of 2013. “In the light of expanding global demands and the present economic and political realities, there is a most urgent need to address economic and political areas which have been widely recognized as prime sources of the nation’s difficulties,” he wrote. Rodriguez’s arguments were dismissed by Zarate who maintained that “changing the Constitution and letting foreigners have total control of our national patrimony is not the answer in solving hunger, corruption or political patronage in the country.” “In fact, foreign companies are already exploiting Philippine natural resources, as in the case of mining, even with restrictions on ownership and investment. By tinkering now with the Constitution it may worsen the current situation,” he said. P-Noy stance unchanged
Malacañang yesterday said
CBCP advises caution
PHOTO FROM GETTY IMAGES
it would not try to stop administration allies in the House of Representatives from pushing for Cha-cha but reminded them that President Aquino’s stance opposing it remained unchanged. “Our lawmakers are free to push for any initiative under the law, or what we call their advocacies,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told a Palace briefing. Besides, the new campaign for constitutional amendments has not yet reached a stage where the executive department would be in a position to stop it, she said. “The position of the President has not changed,” said Valte while acknowledging that Mr. Aquino and his House allies have “divergent positions” on the matter. The President has repeatedly declared that removing the restrictive economic provisions in the Charter is unnecessary. He disagreed with the view that certain economic provisions, including the limit on foreign ownership of land, were discouraging
foreign direct investments. Mere posturing
Colmenares was unconvinced that Mr. Aquino really did not want Cha-cha. “It’s just posturing,” he said in a text message. “It is unlikely for President Aquino to directly oppose Chacha because he actually agrees with the very policies espoused by Cha-cha proponents. In fact he is already implementing these anti-Filipino policies that favor foreign investors,” he said. “He’s just afraid of the people’s wrath that’s why he is posturing that he is against it,” Colmenares said. At least one newbie senator seems to appreciate Mr. Aquino’s anti-Cha-cha stance. “Didn’t President Noynoy [Aquino] already say that this is not a priority? For me, I would rather take my cue from the President,” Sen. Nancy Binay told reporters yesterday. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, the acting Senate President, said proponents of Cha- cha should confine themselves to the eco-
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) yesterday said that while many provisions in the Constitution needed to be amended, the government must still be very careful in pursuing Cha-cha. In an interview through CBCPNews, the organization’s official news service, CBCP president Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said the bishops’ stand on the matter was for the government to spend more time to study the move. “Even before, we recognized that there were provisions that should be amended, yet it’s not just a matter of changing them because we already have good laws. It’s just a question of implementing the laws that we have,” Palma said. “Without denying there are also provisions in the Constitution that need to be changed and yet as we always say, we should be extra cautious and I think we need more time to study it,” he said. Palma also pointed out that amending the Constitution would surely entail a lot of expense. “The other dimension to this is also the money involved because there might be other important things that the government should spend on rather than for the purposes of Charter change,” he said. ■ With reports from TJ Burgonio, Norman Bordadora and Jocelyn R. Uy.
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Philippine News
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 6
2 Senate bills to make Sandigan more effective BY NORMAN BORDADORA Philippine Daily Inquirer
bayan from 14 to 44. Additional justices
TWO SENATORS from the ruling Liberal Party have filed bills designed to fast-track the resolution of corruption cases before the Sandiganbayan following a reported increase in new cases filed in the antigraft tribunal. Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, chair of the Senate blue ribbon committee in the past Congress, cited a Supreme Court and World Bank study that showed each of the tribunal’s five divisions handling approximately 1,000 cases a year. Guingona added that according to the high tribunal and World Bank study, each case before the Sandiganbayan takes an average of seven years for the court to dispose. Guingona, who has yet to make known his committee chairmanship of choice in the 16th Congress, filed Senate Bill No. 472 seeking to increase the number of associate justices in the Sandigan-
“With the additional associate justices in the Sandiganbayan, the need to extract accountability in a timely and relevant manner will no longer suffer,” Guingona said. SB 472 seeks to increase the antigraft courts’ number of three-magistrate divisions from five to 15. It proposes that seven divisions be placed in Manila while four each in the Visayas and in Mindanao. “We cannot stress enough the importance of extracting accountability in a timely and relevant manner. However, our justice system is undermanned and overburdened,” Guingona said in a statement. “We need additional associate justices in the Sandiganbayan for it to fulfill its mandate of implementing fair, equitable justice in a speedy manner,” he added. Drilon bill
Sen. Franklin Drilon earlier filed SB 470 seeking to allow one
Senators Teofisto Guingona III and Franklin Drilon filed bills to fast-track the resolution of corruption cases in the Sandiganbayan. PHOTO FROM GOVERNMENT ARCHIVES
justice in a division to hear a case and accept evidence instead of having three justices present to do the task as required by the Sandiganbayan charter. Guingona’s SB 472 has the same provision on allowing one justice to hear a case assigned to a division. Drilon said SB 470 was meant to ensure the quick resolution of the 2,600 cases now pending
in the Sandiganbayan. The bill proposes to amend section three of the Sandiganbayan law that strictly requires the presence of at least three justices before a case and evidence could be heard. “The existing provision became inapplicable to the present times since the government has expanded and cases filed before them have multiplied over the
years, and that provision only contributes to the increasing number of unresolved cases,” Drilon said in a statement. Drilon added that litigation of graft cases filed at the Sandiganbayan usually takes five to eight years before they are promulgated. “This delay is intolerable if the war against corruption is to be won,” Drilon said. ■
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Bangsamoro gets... cades of Moro insurgency in Mindanao that has cost an estimated 150,000 lives. Under the deal, the government has agreed to let the MILFled Bangsamoro have a 75-percent share of earnings from natural resources and metallic minerals in Bangsamoro. For energy resources, both sides agreed to spilt earnings equally. All earnings from exploration, development and utilization of nonmetallic minerals will go to Bangsamoro. Of taxes collected by the national government in the autonomous region, the deal raised Bangsamoro’s share to 75 percent, up from the current 70 percent for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Ferrer described the deal as “fair, viable and constitutional.” She said the wealth-sharing annex to the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro signed by the two sides last October would need no amendments to the Constitution. The annex mandates the central government to provide an automatic appropriation for Bangsamoro, which will replace the ARMM. The appropriation will be in the form of a block grant, a lumpsum amount similar to the internal revenue allotment (IRA) received by local governments from the national government. The Bangsamoro basic law will provide the formula for the computation of the block grant. At present, the ARMM budget is a line item in the General Appropriations Act, and is itemized as capital outlay, personnel services and miscellaneous and other operating expenses. “Wewill have far better sets of institutions and powers for the Bangsamoro government than what is currently enjoyed in the ARMM. That is for sure,” said Ferrer, explaining why the government had given more concessions to Bangsamoro this time. She said the idea behind giving Bangsamoro the bigger share of revenue from natural resources was to fulfill the Bangsamoro people’s aspiration “to be at least autonomous” on fiscal matters. “We all know that if you don’t have your own money, you can❰❰ 1
not really be autonomous,” Ferrer said. At present, the ARMM is totally dependent on the central government for revenue and financial aid, which “does not speak well for autonomy,” she said. “And I think you [have to hand it] to the MILF that they are really driven by that sincere desire to be able to stand (on their own),” Ferrer said. Backed by P-Noy
The sharing formula has the full backing of President Aquino, Ferrer added. She said the negotiators adopted the MILF proposal that Bangsamoro’s revenue from additional taxes and share of income from natural resources be deducted from the annual block grant in the fourth year of operation of the Bangsamoro government. “This provision came from the MILF. It indicated that behind the haggling for [bigger] shares is the intent to [make Bangsamoro] less and less dependent on the national government,” Ferrer said. MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal told the INQUIRER earlier that the MILF gave the negotiations on wealth-sharing special attention “because the resources under the disposal of of the future Bangsamoro will give meaning to its political autonomy.” “Fiscal autonomy goes hand in hand with political autonomy,” Iqbal said. The MILF’s position was for Bangsamoro “to get more than what the ARMM currently gets,” he said. Since the executive had been consulting lawmakers on the matter, Ferrer said she was confident that Congress would honor the deal. Regalian doctrine
In a forum at Ateneo Law School yesterday, lawyer Armi Bayot, amember of the legal team from the Office of the Solicitor General, said the government panel agreed to remove references to the regalian doctrine in the wealth-sharing annex to show respect and acknowledge the history of the Bangsamoro people. Embodied in Section 2 of Article XII of the Constitution, the regalian doctrine states that all lands and natural resources in the public domain belong to the state. Bayot said the regalian doc-
Mindanao: rich in natural resources. Shown here is the stunning Tinuy-an Falls near Bislig City.
trine would not cease to exist, as it is part of the Constitution, but it was not necessary to include it in the wealth-sharing annex to the Bangsamoro peace template. “Removing it from the annex is a sign of respect and acknowledgment of the history of the Bangsamoro people,” Bayot said. Difficult rounds
Ferrer and Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles predicted that the talks on the remaining annexes on the disarming of the MILF and power-sharing would be as intense and difficult. “The signing of the second annex is, indeed, a breakthrough. We expect the discussions on the power-sharing and normalization annexes to be just as intense,” Ferrer said. “But when you’re halfway through, there is no reason to turn back.” “This has been a truly difficult time in the negotiations, but we come away with the affirmation, with the real strong sense and proof that indeed things can be as difficult, as we know they will, that the next annexes will also be difficult,” Deles said. “But, as has been shown, and www.canadianinquirer.net
we have the proof now, … we, together, look for solutions when there are problems. We don’t find our solutions on the battlefield. We find it at the table,” she said. The talks would resume after the Ramadan, and it would be fair to assume that the two annexes would be signed within the year, Ferrer said, stepping back from her statement on Sunday that a final peace agreement could be signed after Ramadan, which officially ends at the end of July. The MILF vice chair for political affairs, Ghadzali Jaafar, said on Sunday that the MILF fighters would not disarm unless clear conditions and terms for their safety are met. “There must also be an assurance the fighters will be free from harassment from troops once they are disarmed,” Jaafar said. Ferrer yesterday acknowledged the difficulty of disarming for the MILF. “It is something they cannot simply do [because] there are so many other armed groups in the area,” Ferrer said. But "[a]s indicated in the framework agreement, the normalization process will be phased and gradual,” she said.
“It will not happen in one instant. The goal is to finish it by 2016.” Bishops for transparency
Catholic bishops in Mindanao yesterday welcomed the wealthsharing deal, but said they hoped both sides would exercise transparency in implementing the agreement and would honestly deliver basic services to the people of the ARMM. “In the past, some regional governments were corrupt and both the Muslims and Christians in the ARMM suffered,” Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad said. Speaking on Church-run Radio Veritas, Jolo Bishop Angelito Lampon said a “legislative assembly” should be created to oversee the use of Bangsamoro income for services to the people of the region. Lampon said the body should also determine which places in Bangsamoro should benefit from projects and how much should be spent for the projects. Cotabato Auxiliary Bishop Jose Colin Bagaforo said he hoped the deal would be implemented with transparency “for the true realization of Bangsamoro.” ■
Philippine News
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 8
Rejected Pinoy war vets may yet get US benefits BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer
The case arose from the issuance of two tax credit certificates in favor of JAM Liner Inc., which were found to be fraudulent by a task force created by President Joseph Estrada in 1999. PHOTO FROM JAM LINER ON FACEBOOK
SC lets ex-lawmaker turn witness in tax credit scam BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SUPREME Court has paved the way for a former party-list representative to turn state’s evidence against former finance department officials charged in the Sandiganbayan with involvement in an P11million tax credit scam more than 10 years ago. The high tribunal’s Third Division reversed two rulings of the Sandiganbayan issued in 2008 that refused the Office of the Ombudsman’s bid to turn former 1-Utak party-list Rep. Homer Mercado into a state witness against Undersecretary Antonio Belicena, Deputy Director Uldarico Andutan Jr., Assistant Executive Director Raul de Vera and Rosanna Diala, formerly of the Department of Finance’s (DOF) One-Stop Shop InterAgency Tax Credit and Drawback Center. The case arose from the issuance of two tax credit certificates in favor of JAM Liner Inc. which were found to be fraudulent by a task force created by President Joseph Estrada in 1999. Mercado, who was then president of JAM Liner, came out in 2000 to testify against the syndicate that allegedly ran the credit scam at the DOF onestop shop. He applied with the
Department of Justice for immunity as a state witness under the government’s witness protection program. The bus operator revealed that he obtained the certificates in 1997 through an intermediary who claimed to have close ties to the one-stop shop officials. He said the amount on the certificates was 20 percent more than what the company was supposed to get and that the intermediary told him the excess would be given to his connections in the one-stop shop. The DOF officials were later accused of illegally approving and issuing two certificates in favor of Jam Liner: One was worth P7.35 million for domestic capital equipment and the other P4.41 million covering the purchase of six Mitsubishi buses. The Office of the Ombudsman initially included Mercado in the charges of graft and falsification filed in the Sandiganbayan against the DOF officials. Mercado, in a motion, reminded the Ombudsman of the DOJ’s grant of immunity to him. In September 2003, the Ombudsman executed an immunity agreement with Mercado, who was required “to produce all relevant documents in his possession and testify against the accused in all the cases, criminal or otherwise, that may be filed against them. ■
THOUSANDS of Filipino veterans have been given another crack at receiving benefits for their service to the United States during World War II, after Washington expanded the list of qualifications to include those with documents solely from the Philippine Army. The Philippine Embassy in the United States said yesterday some 4,000 Filipino war veterans may yet be eligible for compensation under the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) Fund, part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Arra) that provides for benefits to Filipinos who had fought alongside US forces in the war. Under the 2009 FVEC Fund signed by President Barack Obama, Filipino war veterans living in the Philippines are eligible for a one-time $9,000 lump sum payment, while those residing in the United States get $15,000. Reconsidered
Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Cuisia Jr. said the White House Interagency Working Group had committed to reconsider the applications for benefits of the Filipino veterans following appeals by the embassy and Filipino-American organizations.
“We appreciate the commitment demonstrated by the Interagency Working Group and the efforts taken by the member agencies to review the certification process of the Filipino veterans and address their concerns,” said Cuisia. “We are hopeful the procedures introduced would result in more appeals being approved and the processing time reduced,” he added in a statement. Rosye Cloud, White House Director of Policy for Veterans, Wounded Warriors and Military Families, released a report titled “Recognizing the Extraordinary Contribution of Filipino Veterans” which “outlines the efforts taken by the United States to increase transparency and accelerate the processing of the claims of Filipino veterans.” The US’ Interagency Working Group, composed of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense and the National Archives and Record Administration, began work on the appeal made by the Philippine Embassy and concerned Fil-Am groups in October 2012, “to address issues surrounding the denial of claims of veterans under the FVEC Fund,” the embassy said. Under new guidelines set in the report, the US Veterans Administration will now accept Philippine Army documents from the Adjutant General of the Armed Forces of the Philippines in processing claim appli-
cations under the FVEC Fund, Cuisia said. Many rejections
Previously, the US-processed only the applications of Filipino veterans who could present certifications from the US National Personnel Records Center asserting that they were both on the Roster of Troops and the Discharge List, documents prepared by the US Army at the end of World War II, said Maj. Gen. Delfin Lorenzana, head of the Philippine Embassy’s Office of Veterans Affairs. Lorenzana said the claims of many veterans were rejected because their names appeared on only one list. “What the embassy had been asking the US government to do was to allow Filipino veterans to submit other official documents, and not to decide the fate of our veterans based solely on the two lists,” Lorenzana said. Cuisia said the embassy would coordinate closely with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office and the AFP Adjutant General “to ensure that the US Veterans Affairs regional office in Manila will be able to access Philippine Army documents that will aid in their positive evaluation of applications.” The embassy will also continue to engage the US government in order “to explore all possible avenues” and help other Filipino war veterans qualify for FVEC benefits,” he said. ■
Allied forces made up of Filipino and American fighters during the Bataan Death March. PHOTO FROM THE NATIONAL GUARD
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Philippine News
9 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Wanted: A new capital BY NORMAN BORDADORA Philippine Daily Inquirer SAYING Metro Manila had lost its luster as a national capital and could hardly keep up with the demands of modern living, a senator is seeking the creation of a commission that will study the possible relocation of the country’s seat of power. “Lamentably, Metro Manila is a capital which could hardly stand proud in the ranks of national capitals around the world,” Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said in his Senate Bill No. 655. “It is therefore imperative for Congress to create a National Capital Commission (NPC) to comprehensively study the potential of relocating and transferring the national capital and permanent seat of the national government from the City of Manila and the National Capital Region,” he added. Earlier call from MMDA chair
Trillanes’s suggestion echoed
that made last year by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chair Francis Tolentino, who pointed to Tanay, Rizal province or the area covered by the towns of San Rafael, San Ildefonso and Doña Remedios in Bulacan province as alternative locations. Tolentino, who even wrote a book on his proposed “showcase city,” stressed that “we cannot plan for Metro Manila on a clean slate because of accumulated historical biases, among other things. It has already reached its carrying capacity.” According to the Trillanes bill, the NPC may be composed of three commissioners, who will be appointed by the President, and a secretariat that will provide technical and administrative assistance to the commission. “The relocation of a nation’s capital and government center is a monumental task. National capitals occupy a commanding position in the stature and devel-
opment of nations. They are the visible symbols of national pride and a defining vehicle for national progress,” Trillanes said. Little space left for dev’t
“Since 1976, the city of Manila and the NCR have been the seat of the national government. Unfortunately, decades henceforth, lack of urban planning as manifested by antiquated drainage systems, degraded air quality, faulty traffic management, and proliferation of illegal settlers make Metro Manila a place with only little space for development,” he added. “A well-planned capital and government center is one which combines functionality and aesthetics. It promotes a more efficient government operation, encourages economic buoyancy in a seemingly underdeveloped region, and stands as a testament to the unique heritage of a nation,” he added. Trillanes cited the Australian city of Canberra as an example used by many emerging nations
PHOTO FROM STORM CRYPT (FLICKR)
in the post-World War II period. An international competition was even held to design this new capital city, he noted. He also cited Brasilia, which he said experienced rapid growth after its establishment as Brazil’s capital in 1961. The senator’s bill came at a time when the MMDA and local governments in the capital are
again grappling with perennial urban problems like heavy traffic, garbage, flooding and slum communities. Metro Manila’s image also took a new blow when bestselling novelist Dan Brown described it as “the gates of hell” in his new book “Inferno,” a label which Tolentino strongly protested. ■
‘Veteran drug-buster’ is new NCR police chief BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer
Marcelo Garbo, Metro Manila’s new police chief. PHOTO FROM ARCHIVES.PIA.GOV.PH
METRO MANILA has a new police chief, a “drug-buster” who came all the way from Cebu province. In ceremonies at Camp Bagong Diwa in Taguig City, Director Leonardo Espina officially turned over the command of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo, his “mistah” (classmate) in the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1981. Garbo previously served as director of the Police Regional Office 7 in Central Visayas. He
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also had stints as NCRPO chief of Regional Operations Division and as deputy director for operations of the Philippine National Police (PNP). Garbo is known as a “veteran drug-buster,” according to an NCRPO statement. “Our plans should be simple and responsive, measurable, attainable and should be realistic to the issues that we have recognized to address. We will enhance our crime database, the erogues gallery, the e-warrant (system), and we will make full use of our investigative capability,” Garbo said in a speech. Speaking to reporters, Garbo said an “immediate challenge” for the NCRPO would be the se-
curity measures for the upcoming State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Aquino at the Batasan complex on July 22. He said he would prioritize ways to implement the “CodeP” program set by PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima. Code-P stands for “Competence, Organization, Discipline, Excellence and Professionalism.” Purisima said Garbo’s mission would be to keep the momentum gained by the PNP in protecting the capital’s 18million residents. Espina was earlier appointed chief of the PNP Directorial Staff, the fourth highest position in the force, after his 317-day tour of duty in the NCRPO. ■
Philippine News
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 10
Palace: There’s growth in all income groups BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer ALTHOUGH poverty is still widespread, the gap between the rich and poor in the country has not widened, Malacañang yesterday said, contrary to a report by the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB). “I’m not sure if that’s correct. There has been growth even in the lowest levels,” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said at a briefing, disputing the conclusion of an NSCB study culled from official statistics. Lacierda pointed to the continued increase in the income levels of Filipinos belonging to the middle class. “For instance, there’s a growth (in income) of 8 percent in the lowest level; 4.3 percent in the middle income; and, from the high (income individuals), it is about 10 (percent). All those growths, if you notice, are above inflation rates. Inflation is 3.2 (percent). There’s real growth even in the low level,” he said. A paper, written by NSCB Secretary General Jose Ramon Albert, detailed the country’s national income accounts that supported the perception that the benefits of the robust economy were enjoyed more by the rich than the poor. The paper confirmed what was obvious to the public: The gap between the country’s rich and poor is widening, with high-earning individuals enjoying significantly faster growth in incomes compared with people from the middleand low-income classes.
“practically unchanged” from the same period in 2009 (28.6 percent) and 2006 (28.8 percent). “I have my doubts,” the President then told reporters while he was in Brunei for a regional summit, asking whether wrong population data was used by the NSCB. Expanding inequality
With the incomes of the rich growing faster, income inequality is expanding as a consequence. Albert said that people from the highin-
come class, which account for between 15.1 and 15.9 percent of the country’s population, enjoyed a 10.4-percent annual growth in income in 2011. The study used data covering 2010 and 2011. In contrast, incomes of people in the middle-income segment grew by only 4.3 percent, and incomes of those in the lowincome group by 8.2 percent. Albert said the NSCB found that those from the high-income class had incomes rising much faster than those in the
middle- and low-income class. Address disparities
“While such an examination of income is rather simplistic, it points to issues about income inequality, and the need for government and society to address these disparities, and ensure a path toward inclusive growth,” he added. Albert defined high-income individuals as those who belong to households that earn more than 10 times the poverty line (more than P78,200 a month or at least P940,000 a year.) The NSCB
placed the poverty line for a family of five at P7,821 a month in the first semester of 2012. Middle-income households are those that earn from twice to 10 times the poverty line. Low-income households earn twice the poverty line or less. ‘Rising tide lifts all boats’
Lacierda said the Aquino administration was pursuing its “inclusive growth” policy. “We are addressing inclusive growth. It is a challenge for us. From the very start of our administration, we have said that we are going to bat for inclusive growth and it’s not going to happen overnight. So, we are continuously doing and making sure that no one would be left behind,” he said. Asked if generating new jobs was the focus of the administration in addressing low incomes of most families, Lacierda said job creation was just “part of it.” Asked about tax breaks for the middle class that regularly pay their taxes, he said: “What we are doing is making sure that we create jobs not only for the unskilled laborers. For instance, BPO (business process outsourcing) is for the middle level (income individuals). Also, (government is providing) financing for those who would wish to go into entrepreneurship.” Conducive to investment
Thus, Lacierda said, the government was focusing more on job generation and making the Philippine business environment “conducive for more foreign investments, and we believe that we’re on that track.” “We are on the right track. In fact, Secretary (Arsenio) Balisacan has mentioned that we are now in a new growth trajectory. So all these we are doing right now and, again, let me just emphasize that inclusive growth is not going to happen overnight,” Lacierda said. Balisacan is the socioeconomic planning secretary. Lacierda said “we are making sure that no one should be left behind. We are trying to make sure that everyone will (benefit). Like I said, a rising tide lifts all boats—that’s our plan.” ■
Second time
This was the second time that the Aquino administration questioned official data from the NSCB, which is attached to the National Economic and Development Authority. In April this year, President Aquino himself doubted the veracity of poverty statistics released by the NSCB that indicated that economic growth had hardly made a dent in poverty incidence in the country. The NSCB reported that the poverty incidence stood at 27.9 percent in the first semester of 2012—a level that was www.canadianinquirer.net
Philippine News
11 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Lacson wants to be ‘long arm of law’ vs corrupt gov’t execs BY CATHY YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer FORMER Sen. Panfilo Lacson would like to head an anticorruption agency with its own operational capabilities and a law enforcement arm that would allow it to entrap government officials suspected of engaging in illegal activities. In a radio interview yesterday, Lacson said he had submitted to President Aquino a draft executive order (EO) creating the anticorruption agency. Lacson, however, said he was also bracing himself for the possibility the draft would be “watered down,” making the proposed body less effective. Last year, President Aquino
announced that Lacson and former Sen. Francis Pangilinan would be joining his Cabinet after their second six-year terms expired on June 30. While Pangilinan is expected to join the Department of Agriculture or a related agency, Mr. Aquino said he wanted Lacson to assume a “more general” role in his administration. Following Lacson’s stint as director general of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and head of the Presidential AntiOrganized Crime Task Force before becoming a senator in 2001, observers expect him to take a role involving crime fighting. Lacson noted that the draft EO detailing his new job description had been submitted to Malacañang. He recalled ask-
ing the President to examine his proposal. Lacson said his EO detailed a law enforcement agency with heavy focus against corruption. He noted that while the Ombudsman investigated cases of graft and corruption and the Sandiganbayan tried cases with probable cause, “there is no strong law enforcement component” that goes after suspects. “Kulang sa aparato (Lacking in devices)” was how the former senator described government efforts to combat corruption. He noted that while the National Bureau of Investigation and the PNP were both authorized to go after government officials suspected of corruption, “there is no dedicated agency that would complement the
work of the Ombudsman.” “So there is a vacuum in the law enforcement aspect. This is what I want to fill, have a dedicated government unit that would focus on an anticorruption campaign,” Lacson said. He said he and the President had agreed “in principle” about how the anticorruption agency would function. “The President said he wanted the proposal studied but, of course, he would be the one to sign the EO, if ever,” Lacson said. The former senator said he was not dismissing the possibility that not all of his suggestions would make it to the final copy of the EO. “It’s possible that along the way, some suggestions would be changed. It might be watered
down and turned into a paper agency… I hope this doesn’t happen because the agency might lose its effectivity, if it is turned into a purely coordinative body,” he said. ■
Davao City recognized as an ASEAN model-city for anti-smoking laws The Associated Press
PHOTO BY THE US MARINE CORPS
2 Philippine army soldiers, 5 renegade Muslim guerrillas killed in clash The Associated Press MANILA, Philippines—Members of a breakaway Muslim guerrilla faction attacked government troops Saturday, triggering a firefight that killed two soldiers and five guerrillas as negotiators from the government and the main rebel group were holding talks in Malaysia, the military said. About 20 gunmen belonging to the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters ambushed the soldiers on a military truck in southern Maguindanao province’s Guindulungan township, about 900 kilometres (560 miles) south of Manila, said re-
gional military spokesman Col. Dickson Hermoso. Hermoso said the firefight that erupted lasted about 15 minutes before the guerrillas withdrew with troops in pursuit. The military said the same group launched attacks last week in Maguindanao and nearby North Cotabaot province to undermine ongoing peace talks. Five soldiers and at least 25 guerrillas were killed then. Malaysia is brokering the negotiations to end the decades-long rebellion led by the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front. The renegade guerrillas
broke off from the main rebel front two years ago. The faction, led by Ameril Umbra Kato, has rejected the talks, saying the negotiations have gone nowhere, and has vowed to continue fighting for a separate homeland for minority Muslims in the south of the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines. Negotiators signed a preliminary peace agreement in October. Saturday’s meeting in Kuala Lumpur was to cap this week’s talks meant to reach an agreement on sharing the wealth of the resource-rich southern region, but the two sides could not immediately settle on an acceptable formula. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
DAVAO CITY has been named the first 100-percent smokefree metropolitan in Southeast Asia, after over a decade of successfully implementing its Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance. The city-wide smoking ban was passed in 2002, and has since been very successful. Bungon Ritthiphakdee, director of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (Seatca), conferred this recognition on the city on July 7, 2013. The Seatca director addressed representatives from ASEAN member countries at a regional workshop held in Davao. During the workshop— which centered on the best anti-smoking practices—Ritthiphakdee said that Davao City should serve as a “model city in implementing law against smoking.” Seatca, a multi-sectoral alliance, works closely with the ASEAN governments and the World Health Organization (WHO to help ASEAN countries develop tobacco control policies.
In May of this year, Davao further tightened its antismoking rules by setting in motion the New Comprehensive Anti-Smoking Ordinance. This new policy includes a wider range of banned tobacco products, as well as greater coverage of areas in which these products are banned. Under the updated law, offenders will be issued citation tickets for using all tobacco products—including e-cigarettes and shishas—in all public places, buildings and outdoor spaces, and public and government-owned vehicles. Several local governments, among them Albay in Legazpi City, have followed suit by enacting policies similar to Davao’s in solidarity with the Tobacco Regulation Act of 2003. The Philippine government greeted 2013 with higher taxes for tobacco and alcohol products through the enactment of a controversial “sin tax” law. These efforts did not go unnoticed, as the WHO recognized President Benigno Aquino III and other ranking government officials for their campaign at lessening tobacco consumption among Filipinos. ■
Philippine News
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 12
World Bank releases $300 million budget support for Philippine reforms to reduce poverty The Associated Press MANILA, Philippines—The World Bank has released a $300 million development loan to the Philippines to support the government’s poverty reduction efforts. Axel van Trotsenburg, the bank’s vice-president for East Asia and the Pacific, told a news conference Friday that the Philippines’ robust economic growth will boost efforts to create more jobs and cut poverty. He said the bank has transferred $300 million to support reforms that will accelerate growth, create more jobs and reduce poverty.
He said poverty reduction requires a long-term commitment and that turning “high growth into inclusive growth is increasingly important for the Philippines.” Although the $250 billion Philippine economy surged 7.8 per cent in the first quarter, nearly 28 per cent of the 97 million people in the country are extremely poor, which the government aims to cut to 16.6 per cent by 2015. Van Trotsenburg said the bank is developing an assistance strategy for the Philippines that will continue to support government programs including those that create jobs in rural areas where most
of the poor are, and to expand the Conditional Cash Transfer program that gives cash to poor families if their children stay in school and have medical care. He said the bank is committed to supporting economic development in conflict areas in the southern Philippines. He met Wednesday with Muslim rebel leader Al Haj Murad Ebrahim whose group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, is negotiating with government for a final settlement that grants minority Muslims in the southern Philippines broad autonomy in exchange for ending the violence that has killed tens of thousands of people and crippled development. ■
Nearly 28 percent of the 97 million people in the country are extremely poor, said the statistics. PHOTO BY ROGER ALCANTARA (FLICKR)
Makati court won’t honor US ruling vs Marcoses BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer THE MAKATI Regional Trial Court (RTC) has dismissed Priscilla Mijares et al.’s petition to enforce in the Philippines an 18-year-old United States District Court decision awarding some $2 billion from the Marcos estate to victims of human rights violations during the late dictator’s administration. A PDF copy of the 11-page decision rendered by Judge Bonifacio Pascua of Makati RTC Branch 56 was furnished the INQUIRER by the staff of Sen. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who expressed the family’s feeling of vindication on the heels of the June 25 ruling. “Even if wewere to espouse fear or threat as reasons for plaintiffs not to file the same in the Philippines, MDL No. 840 was filed in 1991, or five years after Ferdinand E. Marcos was deposed,” the Makati court said in dismissing the plaintiffs’ petition for enforcing the Hawaii court’s award of billions of dollars in damages. “Moreover, the case was filed on foreign soil nearly two years after the death of Ferdinand E. Marcos. A thought along the line of fear or threat on the plaintiffs that could have precluded their filing of a case in
Former president Ferdinand Marcos and First Lady Imelda Marcos in 1979. PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
the Philippines is obviously imaginary,” the Makati court added. The court said it was unclear how the jurisdictional requirement was overlooked by the US District Court of Hawaii when it rendered the award of damages to the human rights victims in MDL No. 840. “The failure of the plaintiffs to exhaust the remedies here, where justice and democracy are working, in the mind of this court renders the final judgment in MDLNo. 840 null and void for want of jurisdiction,” the Makati court said. Aside from Mijares, among the petitioners in Class Action No. MDL 840 were Loretta Ann
Rosales, now the chair of the Commission on Human Rights, Hilda Narciso Sr., Mariani Dimaranan and film director Joel Lamangan. The Marcos estate was represented by former first lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos and Senator Marcos. The Makati court also questioned how the Hawaii court determined the huge amount in damages awarded to the plaintiffs. “In the Philippines, there is no known jurisprudential citation or law allowing the use of generalized proof or specifically, statistical sample of class claims, in determining damages in a mass tort action,” the www.canadianinquirer.net
Makati court said. “To the mind of this court, proving a specific amount of damage could only be determined by requiring the individual presentation of evidence by each party wronged,” it added. “In a nutshell, the court is of the view that the method used by the District Court in MDL No. 840 in determining compensatory damages violated defendants’ constitutional right to due process,” the Makati court said. The court also cited the Supreme Court’s opinion on the US decision when it reinstated in 2005 the case for recognition and enforcement of foreign judgment before the Makati RTC. “It bears noting that Section 48, Rule 39, acknowledges that the final judgment is not conclusive yet but presumptive evidence of a right of petitioners against the Marcos estate.” The case for enforcing the US court ruling was dismissed in 1998 for failure to pay filing fees but the Supreme Court reinstated the case before the Makati RTC in its 2005 decision. Senator Marcos lauded the decision of the Makati court. Records showed that on May 21, 1997, the plaintiffs filed a petition for enforcement of the foreign judgment in the Philippines.
The Makati court said the plaintiffs had not presented any new evidence and that they anchored their cause of action in Hawaii upon the Torture of Victims Protection Act (TVPA), which was signed by President George H. W. Bush on March 12, 1992. The Makati court said that under the TVPA, “a court shall decline to hear a claim… if the claimant has not exhausted adequate and available remedies in the place in which the conduct giving rise to the claim occurred.” “Instead of presenting rebuttal evidence to counter defendant’s theory of nonexhaustion of remedies, plaintiffs pleaded for a decision. It is very apparent that they are in deep haste to conclude this case, as the records show that their counsels at the onset of this presiding judge’s handling the case, always hammered on their constitutional right to a speedy disposition of their case,” the Makati court said. The court added that aside from the failure of the plaintiffs to exhaust remedies, the 1995 Final Order in MDL No. 840 displays the glaring absence of the list of plaintiffs under each of the selected class claims, such as torture subclass, summary execution subclass, and disappearance subclass. ■
Philippine News
13 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Bounty of good news elates P-noy BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT Aquino kept a happy face when he met visiting dignitaries in Malacañang yesterday, buoyed up by a bounty of “good news” from newspapers. “I had to admit the energy level was a bit down this morning until I read the papers which surprisingly had tremendous good news, left and right. That’s kind of unique. I think I will preserve my copy of today’s paper for posterity, just in case they never repeat it,” Mr. Aquino told them. In particular, the President was ecstatic over the decision of the European Union (EU) to lift a three-year ban on Philippine Airlines flying to European airspace as it would complement the robust growth in tourism, one of the engines of the country’s economic growth. The INQUIRER and other major dailies also prominently carried news about the higher growth forecast for the Philippines by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the growth in all income groups of Filipinos belonging to the middle class, and the initial success of proponents of the reproductive health law in the Supreme Court. Pepped up by the good news, Mr. Aquino welcomed ambassadors, consul generals and tourism directors from North America led by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Cuisia Jr. who called on him at Rizal Hall in Malacañang. Welcome relief
The President said his guests provided him a welcome relief from his stressful duties. For the past three days, he has been scrutinizing his national budget proposal for 2014 that will be submitted to Congress later this month. His enthusiasm drew applause from the 392 delegates from Los Angeles, Hawaii, Washington DC, New York, San Francisco and Chicago in the United States, and 105 from Toronto, Winnipeg, Edmonton and Vancouver in Canada. They were attending the 8th
Ambassadors, Consul Generals and Tourism Directors’ Tour, a joint project of all Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States and Canada in cooperation with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Trade and Industry. The project aims to promote the Philippines as a top tourist destination by encouraging FilipinoAmericans and Filipino-Canadians to visit and discover the natural wonders of the country. CAAP’s ‘stunning progress’
Mr. Aquino also heaped praises on the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) under William Hotchkiss, which, he said, had been working long nights and “made stunning progress.” He recalled that his administration had worked hard to liberalize aviation since 2010, and to open up the country to new local and foreign airlines. In March, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) lifted the “significant safety concerns” it had previously identified in the Philippines. “This led to the very good news we received that the air safety committee of the European Commission has allowed our flag carrier—Philippine Airlines—to resume direct flights to Europe,” he said. For this, he declared that the CAAP “has achieved one of its major goals.” “I extend my full gratitude and congratulations to its head General Hotchkiss and all who worked to make this possible,” he said. “Hopefully, this development will give them the extra energy they need to pursue all our other goals in the aviation sector.” Fun mood
The President was also in the mood to tease his audience. “While looking at your faces, I was wondering if you’re all still victimized by jet lag. I wonder if I look like you. We finished at about midnight going over the budget, and some details about our ongoing negotiations on the annexes on the framework peace agreement with the Bangsamoro,” he said.
President Benigno S. Aquino III with the participants to the 8th Ambassadors, Consuls General, and Tourism Directors’ Tour (ACGTDT) at the Malacañang Palace on July 11. PHOTO BY LAURO MONTELLANO, JR./MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU
Learning that his guests had visited museums, campuses, a hotel and casino complex and a mall in Metro Manila, and that somewent to Cavite, Laguna and Tagaytay City, he said the sheer number of natural gifts in the country “can take your breath away.” “But I also hope that in the few days you have spent here, you have seen the can-do attitude and the renewed confidence that have revitalized the Philippines. We are once again an up-and-coming place, respected in the community of nations, where families are moving forward as we strive for inclusive growth,” he said. Mr. Aquino explained how his administration had “turned things around.” “From a place of unfulfilled potential to a nation and people not just exceeding expectations but also creating even more potentialities for Filipinos and other people of good will,” he said. He described tourism as “a lyncpin for our economy.” “We identified tourism as a low-lying fruit that needed to be picked. From day one, we have worked to grow tourism in the Philippines to the industry that it could become,” he said. President thanked Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. for the “highly successful tourism campaign.” “In fact, after the tours you have gone on, you can probably attest that it really is truly more www.canadianinquirer.net
fun in the Philippines. That is the secret of our campaign: We are not mouthing a marketing slogan. We are simply repeating a basic truth,” Mr. Aquino said. Ultimately, he said, “the good news is you—and the millions of other tourists who have passed through our country— are not the only ones who have noticed.” In its 2013 report, the World Economic Forum Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index ranked the Philippines No. 1 in the world in terms of government spending on tourism as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP). “This helped us jump twelve spots in their index—from 94th to 82nd,” Mr. Aquino said. Citing reports in several publications, he said “we are among the world’s best diving and beach destinations.” “Travel+Leisure magazine has even recently called Palawan ‘ The World’s Best Island,’” he said. Tourism targets
Last year, the Philippines breached the four-million mark in foreign tourist arrivals for the first time, recording 4.3 million or a 9percent increase from the 3.9 million in 2011. A total of 37.5 million domestic travelers was recorded in 2011, surpassing the government’s target for 2016. “We have already surpassed the 2016 target as early as 2011,”
the President said. “Of course, we are always looking to improve on our performance, and so we have decided to put just a little bit more pressure on Secretary Jimenez.” From 35 million travelers, the domestic tourism target for 2016 has been adjusted to 56.1 million by 2016 and 6.8 million by next year, Mr. Aquino said. The President also reported on efforts to stamp out corruption and the strong economic growth since 2012. Inclusive growth
“We know fully well the challenges that remain. We must make certain that this growth becomes even more inclusive— that the economic benefits do not merely trickle down to our people, but that every Filipino is able to ride the rising tide of progress. If what we have achieved in the past three years tells us anything, it is that nothing is impossible to a united Filipino people,” he said. He challenged the Palace visitors to become “informal Philippine ambassadors,” invoking “the spirit of bayanihan— the spirit of coming together to lift each other up—burns bright in every Filipino.” “Our country is on an upswing, and I invite you, and every Filipino out there, to help keep our momentum going—to help us bequeath to future generations a Philippines they can be truly proud of,” he said. ■
Philippine News
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 14
Whistle-blower of P10-B pork scam faces arrest BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PRINCIPAL whistleblower in the misuse of P10 billion in pork barrel funds is facing arrest following the resolution of theft charges brought against him by the alleged brains behind the scam. In his June 25 resolution, Pasig City Assistant Prosecutor Rey Camilo B. Dumlao II recommended no bail for Benhur K. Luy, whom Janet LimNapoles, head of JLN Corp., accused of stealing P300,000 from the company and taking out two loans amounting to P5 million from the Air Materiel Wing Savings and Loan Association Inc. (AMWSLAI) on her behalf without her authorization. The Pasig court is expected to issue a warrant for Luy’s arrest soon. Napoles brought the charges against Luy after her former employee at JLN accused her and her brother, Reynald “Jojo” Lim, of kidnapping him for planning to strike out on his own with a scheme similar to JLN’s. National Bureau of Investigation agents rescued Luy from an apartment in South Wings Garden of Pacific Plaza Tower in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City on March 22. Luy spilled the beans on Napoles and the NBI brought kidnapping charges against
Napoles and Lim to the Department of Justice (DOJ) then opened an investigation into Napoles’ activities. Lim was arrested and briefly detained while Napoles submitted an affidavit to the NBI denying involvement in Luy’s kidnapping. The DOJ, however, dismissed the complaint for “lack of probable cause.” Motion for reconsideration
The NBI has asked the DOJ to reconsider the decision, saying that the resolution by Assistant State Prosecutor Pedro Navera “failed to recognize the key facts [that] clearly prove a prima facie existence of probable cause” to prosecute Napoles and Lim for kidnapping and serious detention. The NBI said the “resolution blindly accepted the respondents’ version of the incident and failed to see through the polluted motives of their witnesses, who are all economically dependent on them.” “It also failed to see that there was actual restraint on the victim’s liberty,” the NBI said. “In fact, Janet Lim-Napoles admitted having uttered the culpable order to her people, ‘ ikulong na ‘yan (lock him up).’” Restraint of liberty
The NBI added that based on a Supreme Court ruling, “it is enough that the liberty of the victim is restricted in any manner” to recognize kidnapping.
“It was respondent Lim who was in control of the movement of the person, as well as the disposition of the victim’s properties,” the NBI said. The exchanges of “text messages between the victim’s mother and respondent Lim show that he was the one who decided when, where and how the family can see the victim,” the NBI said. Luy and five other whistleblowers are all longtime employees of JLN. The NBI is investigating Napoles’ activities in connection with allegations that JLN cheated the government of funds estimated at P10 billion with the connivance of some lawmakers. Countercharge
Napoles brought the theft charges against Luy after he had filed the complaint against her and Lim in the DOJ. Napoles alleged that Luy pocketed the P300,000 that he was supposed to deposit for her in the bank. She charged that Luy took the P300,00 to finance his “vices.” She said she found out that Luy stole her money after AMWSLAI officer Patricio Asoy informed her that Luy took out P5 million in loans on her behalf, but she had no knowledge of those loans. In his resolution, Dumlao said he found “sufficient grounds” to prosecute Luy for qualified theft. ■
The National Bureau of Investigation rescued whistleblower Benhur K. Luy from an apartment in Taguig City on March, and charged Janet Lim-Napoles, head of JLN Corp., of kidnapping. Napoles is accused of cheating the government of funds worth P10 billion with the connivance of some lawmakers. PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
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PHOTO FROM PNP FACEBOOK PAGE
DILG versus bad cops: abolish “padrino” system BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer IN the classic battle of “good cop, bad cop”, it seems that the scales have been tipped in favor of the latter within the ranks of the Philippine police force. At least this is the prevalent perception. On Tuesday, July 09, 2013, Transparency International reported that 69 percent of Filipinos think the PNP is affected by corruption. In a country where police personnel are severely underpaid, corruption has run rampant, reinforcing and perpetuating the “bad cop” dilemma. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Mar Roxas, who oversees the Philippine National Police (PNP), is working to change this situation by re-evaluating the recruitment system; something he believes to be a big step in the right direction. “[I]sang malaking hakbang na gagawin natin ay yung pagbabago sa pamamaraan ng pagpili kung sino yung magiging pulis o hindi (One big move is the change in the process of determining who or who will not be a cop),” Roxas said on Thursday. He highlighted the “padrino” (godfather) or “bata-bata” system, by which officers endorse the applications of police-force
hopefuls in exchange for favors. Roxas added that this system influences recruits to be corrupt even before they enter the force, surmising that most applicants would have to “raise funds” for bribing his or her “padrino.” “[A]ng unang gagawin nyan eh di maghahanap ng ibang pagkakakitaan para mabawi yung sinuhol (The first thing the recruit would do is look for a source of funds to get the bribe back),” Roxas said. He has instructed the National Police Commission to finalize new recruitment rules, and implement a process by which names of qualified applicants will be drawn in raffle. This would hopefully ensure fairness in the selection process, and eliminate the need for a “padrino”. “Hindi na kelangan padrino, kakilala (You don’t need a “padrino,” you don’t have to know anyone).” Roxas recognizes that creating change within the system is a big challenge. “Tanggap natin ito bilang napakalaking hamon at tutugunan natin itong hamon na ito sa pamamagitan ng mga konkretong hakbang na sa ngayon pa lang ay isinasagawa na natin (We accept this as a big challenge and we will respond to it through concrete steps which are being undertaken this early),” he said. ■
Philippine News
15 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Danding loses UCPB case High court rules gov’t owns Coco bank shares BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SUPREME Court has ruled with finality that the government owns the shares of businessman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco Jr. in United Coconut Planter’s Bank (UCPB) and that these should be used for the benefit of the coconut farmers. The court referred to what critics of Cojuangco called the “commission,” or shares of stock, the uncle of President Aquino received after negotiating the acquisition by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) of First United Bank (FUB), which was later renamed UCPB and which became the depository of coconut levy funds. The value of the contested shares was not immediately clear, but a former UCPB director said it was a “pittance” compared to the 27 percent of the sequestered shares of stock in San Miguel Corp., worth P70 billion, that the court ruled last year belonged to coconut farmers because it was acquired with the coconut levy and should be used for their benefit and the development of the coconut industry. The levy was imposed from 1973 to 1982 on coconut farmers whose families comprised the Philippines’ poorest sector.
In its en banc meeting on Tuesday, the high court denied with finality the motion for reconsideration sought by Cojuangco of its previous ruling declaring that these shares of stock were bought with public funds and thus, were considered public property. “Considering that the motion for reconsideration contains a mere reiteration of the arguments that have already been previously pleaded, submitted and resolved by the Court in its Nov. 27, 2012, decision, and that the arguments in the motion are too unsubstantial to warrant reconsideration or modification, we find no reason to modify or abandon the challenged decision,” the high court said, according to a summary of the case prepared by its public information office. Unanimous vote
The court said that it would no longer entertain any further pleadings on the case. Except for Associate Justice Arturo Brion, who was on sick leave, the high court voted unanimously on the ruling penned by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. Cojuangco in his motion said the court had erred in affirming with modification the Sandiganbayan’s decision on his case. He also said that the ruling violated his constitutional right to due
process and non-impairment of contract and thus, sought for the dismissal of the complaint against him in the Sandiganbayan case. In the Nov. 27, 2012, ruling, the high court upheld but made modifications on a Sandiganbayan ruling issued on July 11, 2003, and amended on June 5, 2007, in connection with Cojuangco’s UCPB shares. The high tribunal declared as unconstitutional provisions in the agreement between Cojuangco and the PCA in May 25, 1975, which allowed the businessman, known to be a crony of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, “to personally and exclusively own public funds or property.” Commission
The agreement provided for the transfer to Cojuangco “by way of compensation,” of 10 percent of the 72.2 percent shares of stock that PCA purchased using the coconut levy funds. “In sum, Cojuangco received public assets—in the form of UCPB shares with a value of P10.88 million in 1975, paid by coconut levy funds,” the court had said. It had also noted that Cojuangco had admitted that the PCA paid the entire acquisition price for the 72.2-percent option shares. “We, therefore, affirm, on this ground, that decision of the Sandiganbayan nullifying the shares of stock
Mad scramble for firemen as fires raze two areas in the heart of Makati City BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer IT WAS a busy day for firefighters around the Metro, as two fires razed separate locations of Makati City midmorning of Thursday, July 11, 2013. According to an inspector from the Manila Bureau of Fire Protection, the fire at the creek-side Botanical Garden area near the Makati Medical Center on Chino Roces Avenue started at 10:19 a.m. He added that the blaze spread quickly, and had reached General Alarm status—the highest fire alarm level, mandating the response of all fire stations within the National Capital Region—by 10:44 a.m. Thick, black smoke billowed high above the vicinity, as the homes of almost 300 families—mostly shanties of
informal settlers—were consumed by the blaze. The fire was declared under control at 11:30 a.m. according to a Twitter post by the Makati Traffic office. Shortly after the start of the Botanical Garden blaze, yet another one broke out on nearby Bagtikan Street in Bgy. San Antonio. Firefighters—still busy on the first scene—were hard-pressed to rush to the second area, as flames gutted the 6th floor of the Dona Guadalupe Building, destroying the office of a Swiss foundation campaigning against landmines. The second blaze reached Task Force Alpha status, and took firefighters almost two hours to put out. The cause of both fires remains unknown and under investigation. Two people were injured in the incidents, but no deaths were reported. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
transfer to Cojuangco. Accordingly, the UCPB shares of stock representing the 72.2-percent fully paid shares subject of the instant petition, with all dividends declared, paid or issued upon thereon, as well as any increments thereto arising from, but not limited to, the exercise of preemptive right, shall be reconveyed to the government of the Republic of the Philippines, which as we previously clarified, shall be used ‘only for the benefit of all coconut farmers and for the development of the coconut industry.’” The disposition of the P70 billion in San Miguel Corp. shares that reverted to the government last year has not been outlined. Militant groups in the industry are protesting a move by the Aquino administration to transfer the amount to the general appropriation fund to finance antipoverty programs. The militant groups said that the money should be used specifically for the amelioration of the coconut farmers who paid the levy, as directed by the Supreme Court, and that any antipoverty measure should come from the national budget. Last year, the court likewise ruled that a separate 20-percent block of SMC shares, which farmers claimed was also acquired with the levy money, belonged to Cojuangco. It was worth at least P85 billion. ■
Opinion
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 16
WITH DUE RESPECT
Erap: Why was I ousted? By Artemio V. Panganiban Philippine Daily Inquirer “THE CONSTITUTION states that the Vice President may become President only in case of death, permanent disability, removal from office, or resignation of the President. Why then was I ousted, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (GMA) installed as President when, clearly, I have not died, have no permanent disability, have not been removed from office, and have not resigned?” asked President Joseph Ejercito Estrada during our encounters. More questions. He likewise lamented, “During my two and half years in office, I named several justices. Why is it that none of them dissented from the 13-0 decision ousting me? Why did Chief Justice [Hilario] Davide, whom I also appointed, swear in GMA as permanent President, not merely as Acting President?” I do not have the space to detail the Edsa II events that triggered Estrada’s ouster and GMA’s ascension. But readers may refer to the Jan. 13, 2002, INQUIRER on the “Filipino of the Year 2001” award to the Supreme Court and the Feb. 25, 2002, issue on the “riveting behind-the-scenes excerpts” from “The Fall of Joseph
Estrada: The Inside Story” by columnist Amando Doronila. In this piece, let me just focus on my conversations with Estrada. To begin with, the Supreme Court’s role in Edsa II began on the early morning of Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001. At that point, the massive, chanting throng at the Edsa Shrine was poised to march on and take over Malacañang where Estrada and his supporters were entrenched. At that point also, the major commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police had publicly withdrawn their support from Estrada and pledged their allegiance to GMA. The majority of the Cabinet members had resigned. Clearly, Estrada could no longer govern the country, but GMA had no legal authority to lead either. In short, there was no effectively functioning government. Worried that violence, civil strife and bloodshed would ensue, I proposed that Arroyo be sworn in as “Acting President.” CJ Davide agreed, and in a hurriedly-convened session that morning, the justices concurred. However, during the historic oath-taking at noon of that day at the Edsa Shrine, Davide swore in GMA “to act as President,” not as
“Acting President.” Totality test. Last Jan. 22, some justices were furious at the different oath administered. Davide accepted full responsibility for the change, saying that the words “to act as President” were neutral and could, at the proper time and case and after full hearing, be clarified. After a lengthy deliberation, the Court unanimously passed a resolution “to confirm the authority of
All he now hopes and prays for is to be given a chance to redeem himself in the way he knows best: by serving the people for one last time as mayor of Manila. the Chief Justice to swear in” GMA as “President of the Philippines.” In Estrada vs Desierto (March 2, 2001) came the “proper time and case.” The Court, voting 13-0 (Davide and I inhibited on motion of Estrada’s counsel Rene A.V. Saguisag), upheld the ouster of Estrada and the legitimacy of GMA’s presidency. The decision, written by Justice Reynato S. Puno and concurred in by five others—Justices Jose A.R. Melo, Leonardo A. Quisumbing, Minerva
P. Gonzaga-Reyes, Sabino R. de Leon and Arturo B. Buena (who voted “in the result”)—explained that resignation may be express or implied. It held that though Estrada had not written any express resignation, “the totality of prior, contemporaneous and posterior facts and circumstantial evidence,” put together, could be and were in fact construed as implied resignation—hence the term “constructive resignation.” It said that the diary of then Executive Secretary Edgardo Angara serialized in the INQUIRER provided “an authoritative window” on Estrada’s “intent to resign,” confirmed by “his leaving Malacañang ... without saying that he was leaving the Palace due to any kind of disability and that he was going to reassume the presidency as soon as the disability disappears.” It added that constructive resignation was strengthened by two more facts: (1) Congress confirmed Teofisto Guingona Jr.’s nomination as Vice President to replace GMA, and (2) Congress “clearly rejected” Estrada’s claim of being merely a “President on leave.” Reality and redemption. Justice Josue N. Bellosillo opined that Estrada suffered from permanent “functional” disability. Justice Vicente V. Mendoza clarified that what enabled
GMA “to assume the presidency was ... the vacuum in executive leadership which made the government rife for seizure by lawless elements.” Justice Jose C. Vitug held that Estrada practically abandoned the presidency, an act equivalent to resignation. Justices Santiago M. Kapunan, Bernardo M. Pardo, Consuelo YnaresSantiago and Angelina SandovalGutierrez ruled that Estrada had not resigned. But the stark reality was that GMA had actually taken over the presidency and was recognized as such by Congress, the international community and the Filipino people. In Gutierrez’s words, “this Court has to declare as a fact what in fact exists.” Pardo, Santiago and Gutierrez were Estrada appointees. Their “reality” stance answers Estrada’s earlier question. Though Estrada still maintains he did not resign, I think he has accepted the immutability of his fall. All he now hopes and prays for is to be given a chance to redeem himself in the way he knows best: by serving the people for one last time as mayor of Manila. After all, with full knowledge of his checkered past and his heroic effort to resurrect from misfortune, the people have spoken loud and clear. And in a democracy, the ultimate axiom is: Vox populi, vox Dei. ■
PUBLIC LIVES
Surviving the government gauntlet By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer DEALING WITH the government’s frontline offices often feels like running the gauntlet. Meaning: It’s not a pleasant experience but a kind of hazing. There’s danger lurking everywhere, and you feel defenseless. You need a good map or a guide to tell you where to go, what you must have with you, and how to get to the end of the ordeal with your pride, sanity, morals, and faith in government intact. Going to the Land Transportation Office to renew a driver’s license or a vehicle registration is one such experience. It need not be. Recent reforms show that a lot can be done to simplify the process while making it foolproof. It was definitely a hundred times worse in the past. The whole system seemed structured precisely to give work to the army of fixers that inhabited the LTO premises. Fixers jump the line and ease the process for those who pay, while lengthening it for those who take the trouble to fall in line. The last time I renewed my driver’s license at the LTO main office many years ago, I brought two books with me to read and prepared myself psychologically to spend the whole day shuttling
from one window to another and waiting in a cramped, poorly ventilated public area. Someone from the chief’s office recognized me and invited me to wait in their air-conditioned office while my license was being processed. I politely refused, but he might have done something to speed up the process for me because I was soon called to a room where my photo was promptly taken. These days I go to an air-conditioned mall to have my driver’s license renewed. It takes no more than an hour. I read and have coffee while waiting. But the one thing that had always baffled me is why the drug test and the vision test cost more than the license itself. Recently, the drug-test requirement was abolished on the ground that the expensive test had failed the law’s intent and is unnecessary. I am sure there are countless other equally superfluous requirements that have been built into the system by all kinds of laws. They create business for a few entrepreneurs at the expense of the general public. The government agencies in charge of enforcing them know that they are basically useless, yet they cannot do much to change them without amending some law or other. If one wants to get a good glimpse of the appalling quality of leg-
islative work in our country, the best way to proceed is by reviewing the different requirements and signatures needed for the most common transactions with government offices. One can start with the LTO. The registration of vehicles used to be nightmarish and immensely more complicated than renewing a driver’s license. I used to ask the dealers from whom I purchased my vehicles to
To get a good glimpse of the appalling quality of legislative work in our country, [review] the different requirements and signatures needed for the most common transactions with government offices. take care of renewing the registration every year. They charge a service fee for this, which I didn’t mind paying. But when a new law requiring emission tests for motor vehicles was passed, I thought it was an additional hassle to have to bring the vehicle to a testing center to obtain a clearance before it could be registered. I decided it would be quicker if I brought the vehicles for emission testing and registered them myself. In my
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case, these are mostly motorcycles. In the last seven or eight years, I have been personally bringing my bikes for emission testing, before proceeding to the LTO main office for inspection, the TPL insurance, and registration. On fast days, the entire process takes about four hours. On slow days, one has to return the following day. Curiously, in all these years, I have never encountered any other big bike being inspected or registered in this place. Maybe my fellow big bike owners do it elsewhere, or maybe they ask others to do it for them who don’t have to bring in the bikes for inspection. I welcome the thorough inspection, though I have always wondered why it needs to be done every year. If there’s anything faulty with my bikes, I should be the first to know and be concerned. I would have it at once corrected, since it’s my safety that is at stake. Besides, the law enforcers in the streets should be able to stop anyone driving a vehicle with busted lights or worn tires. Indeed, I have long asked why vehicle registration has to be done every year. This used to be the case for driving licenses, but now they are good for three years. In most countries, such licenses are given for much longer periods and they could be obtained
through the mail. I am, of course, aware of the need to guard against the registration of stolen, smuggled, and “chop-chopped” vehicles. But how effective are the present procedures and their myriad requirements in preventing spurious registrations? Take as an example the whole business of requiring stenciled images of the engine and chassis numbers. I used to spend whole mornings trying to get a good stenciled likeness of these two numbers while the vehicle is cold. I always emerge from the effort filled with grease and getting no more than a faint impression. I have since discovered the “stencil boys” around the LTO who can work around the hottest engines for a few pesos. Their work seldom yields clear numbers, but that doesn’t seem to matter to anyone at the receiving counter. So, why continue to require it? It’s the law, that is why. My friends tell me: Why spend precious time attending to these little chores when others can do them for you for a small fee? To me, it’s not the time or the money that matters but the need to understand why things remain the way they are, and how we may make them better. We simply cannot continue inventing new laws to make up for our inability to enforce the existing ones. ■
Opinion
17 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
AT LARGE
Balikbayan NGOS defend themselves By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer IT ISN’T the first time—nor will it be the last, I’m afraid—that shenanigans in the distribution of public funds, or even foreign development assistance, have been brought to light. The ongoing inquiry by the National Bureau of Investigation into allegations of how government money, including funds earmarked for projects of legislators (more commonly known as “pork barrel”) had been “misdirected” by the firm JLN Corp. has once more brought to the limelight the collusion between government officials and private persons bent on defrauding the people. What makes the case even more alarming is that JLN, named after its founder and head, Janet Lim-Napoles, not only was supposedly able to get its hands on P10 billion over the past decade, but also that it did so by “earmarking” the amounts for ghost projects channeled through fictitious NGOs (nongovernment organizations). The story is convoluted and appears to involve even personalities at the very top of the Aquino administration (Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa’s law firm, from which he is on leave, represented Napoles). But worse, the tales of fund misuse, coercion, intimi-
dation and even kidnapping, all done seemingly under the very noses of our officials and legislators, can only boost the suspicions of foreign governments. It seems that foreign money donated for development projects out of their governments’ own foreignpolicy priorities, if not their hearts, is being siphoned off by criminals in and out of government. Adding fuel to the fire is that many NGOs are supposedly involved in these scams, casting a cloud over the nongovernment community here. The Philippines has long been known as the “NGO capital” of the world, owing to the large number of groups addressing a myriad of concerns, and the very dynamic and prominent nature of many such organizations and coalitions. Now come concerns that many of these NGOs are simply fronts for politicians or for criminal activity— which in the context of the JLN case seem to be one and the same thing. *** SOME time back, the French government said it had blacklisted the Philippines and 16 other countries because their governments were doing little, if anything, to investigate foreign aid fraud. It mattered little that, as deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said, the Philip-
pines was “in the company of Switzerland and Brunei, among others.” So what was she trying to say? That “exalted” company somehow mitigates our culpability? No wonder some NGOs working in the field of children’s and women’s rights, or at least those who have gained a lot of credibility through decades of work and results, are sounding the alarm over the situation. (They spoke out even before the “JLN scam” hit the front page.)
In [a letter], the NGOs said “recent events and news about alleged serious violations of ethical standards … have challenged the credibility of the NGO community.” In an invitation letter to a roundtable discussion next week, the NGOs said “recent events and news about alleged serious violations of ethical standards … have challenged the credibility of the NGO community.” Thus, they said, “we strongly feel the need to gather opinions, constructive feedback and suggestions about how we may learn from these disturbing developments and muster a common agenda that will further pro-
mote our commitment to uphold children and women’s rights… We feel we should not be silent while our credibility and reputation are put in question.” Here’s hoping the discussion doesn’t end with mere breast-beating and denunciations, but with concrete steps to protect genuine development NGOs from criminals hiding behind the skirts of civil society. *** MOVING on to quite another sphere… At a recent lunch at Flavors, the all-day dining restaurant of Holiday Inn and Suites in Makati, we found an entire station devoted to children—or at least to “kid cuisine.” Star of the station was an entire hot dog corner, complete with the meaty dogs, buns, and all manner of fixings. Definitely a “costar” in my book was the “Mac and Cheese,” which I had coincidentally been craving for just before our visit to the Holiday Inn. It isn’t every day, after all, that one finds comfort food—much less food that reminds one of childhood—in a hotel buffet, but as Teri Flores, the hotel’s PR and marketing manager, declares: “We take pride in offering family-friendly accommodations in every Holiday Inn.” The hotel’s Sunday brunch offering is particularly geared toward family fun, with food and activities for chil-
dren and the whole family. And true to its name, “Flavors” organizes its buffet according to five flavors: spicy, sweet, creamy, fresh and savory. *** ALSO banking on the comforts of the familiar are the guest bedrooms in the Holiday Inn, the first purposebuilt Holiday Inn in the country (previous incarnations made use of existing properties). The beds, mattresses, pillows and other amenities can be found in all other Holiday Inn properties around the world. Making sure, it seems, that guests feel welcome wherever they are in the world. And it seems the complimentary toiletries, which many guests ignore, are quite in demand, too. Flores says guests express appreciation for finding the same brands available in other Holiday Inns, another hallmark of the familiar. The new Holiday Inn has another ace up its sleeve: It’s located right next to Glorietta 2, the newly rebuilt section of the Glorietta mall. Guests, many of them or out-oftowners, can shop to their heart’s fulfillment while having a place nearby to park their tired bodies after a long day of trawling the shops. And there’s always the hot dogs and macand-cheese for comfort and familiarity! ■
GET REAL
Here’s why we are where we are By Solita Collas-Monsod Philippine Daily Inquirer IF ONE recalls correctly, at the time the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System called for bids from the private sector to run its water (and almost nonexistent) sewerage operations, it was charging almost P11 per cubic meter of water, it was suffering tremendous nonrevenue water losses, water service was sporadic and of limited reach, and the water itself was of doubtful potability. The Lopez group’s Maynilad and the Ayala group’s Manila Water turned in the winning (lowest) bids for the west and east zones of Metro Manila, respectively, at rates that were roughly 50 percent and 75 percent less, again respectively, than the prevailing MWSS rates (Manila Water’s bid was P2.32 per cubic meter). Naturally, there was much rejoicing from the 1112 million Metro Manila water consumers, who were given to understand that the rates would not be changed except to account for inflation—the much vaunted efficiency of the private sector presumably at work that would reduce nonrevenue water (at the time, almost 70 percent of the water that was coming out of the MWSS was nonrevenue, meaning
it was being stolen or leaked out) and allow the cheaper rates. It was considered another feather in then President Fidel Ramos’ cap, the first one being the end of the power crisis (privatization of generation). Applause. Fast forward to today, and the consumers are faced with water rates that are almost 15 times (for Manila Water clients) and about seven times (for Maynilad clients) what they had to pay 15 years ago. What happened? Philip Medalla, an economist par excellence, has an answer: The rules of the game, the bidding rules and the concession agreement that the MWSS used—with the help of the World Bank and its subsidiary, the International Finance Corporation—encouraged the concessioners to “take a dive,” as it were, on the bid price, because the concession agreement provisions were in their favor. I understand that Mark Dumol, chief of staff of the Department of Public Works and Highways, who was representing his principal in the bids and awards process, made his reservations known about what has to be this perverse incentive, but was ignored. Too bad. In any case, water rates can now be changed—every quarter to account for
foreign exchange fluctuations, at any time in case of some “extraordinary” event, and definitely every five years when negotiations take place as to what an allowable discount rate, or a rate of return on investment, would be. And that is why we are where we are as far as water rates are concerned. The first increase in water rates was actually demanded by the concessionaires barely two years after the concession agreements were signed. They cited the Asian financial crisis, and if Jude
Can anything be done to slow down the steeply rising water charges? The key is in the allowable discount rate. Esguerra’s paper is accurate, exercised strong-arm tactics—maybe financial blackmail? — to get what they wanted. On the other hand, we do have potable water, 24-hour service, 100-percent coverage. And as far as the small water consumers are concerned— those who, during the MWSS days, were paying informal suppliers up to P150 per cubic meter of their water—the private concessionaires have been a godsend. Philip Medalla relates that he attended a water rate increase
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hearing once, and observed that those opposed to the increase were welldressed, while those who were supportive of the water concessionaires were clearly in the low-income category. And why not? “Lifeline” customers—those consuming 10 cubic meters a month or less—pay about P12 a cubic meter at present. I have said it once, and I will say it again: Between the MWSS and the concessionaires operating the system, the concessionaires win, hands down. What about the income-taxes-arebeing-passed-on-to-the-consumers brouhaha? Again, here, the MWSS is clearly in the wrong, in the sense that the concession agreement clearly states that business taxes (which include income taxes) are to be treated as an expense. I read it myself, but won’t quote it. If the MWSS insists on its position that what the concessionaires are doing is illegal, it will have a fight on its hands, and the language in the agreement is specific enough. The matter will go to an Appeals Board, and the odds are not only that the MWSS will lose, but also that the legal fees are exorbitant (foreign lawyers at $350 AN HOUR, according to Philip Medalla, who was paid $1,000 a day for his expert testimony during one such contest). And guess who will ul-
timately pay the legal fees of the concessionaires? That’s nous, pardon the French. Thanks to a concession agreement that seems to have been written to protect the (foreign) private enterprise (please to remember that Maynilad had a French partner, and Manila Water had an American one), the domestic investors got a free ride. Is the MWSS as incompetent as I seem to have made it out to be? No, not really. The concession agreement allows the concessionaires to pass on expenditures that are “efficiently and prudently incurred.” I have been informed that Maynilad, for example, was disallowed P9 billion of expenditures. In the interest of transparency, the MWSS Regulatory Office should report how much of Manila Water’s expenditures were disallowed. Can anything be done to slow down the steeply rising water charges? The key is in the allowable discount rate. In 2007, one concessionaire was allowed a 9.4-percent rate of return, presumably because of the high cost of capital. But now that the Philippines is in the world’s good graces credit-wise, Philip Medalla, off the top of his head, thinks that a 6-percent rate sounds reasonable. The request is for 8.9 percent. The negotiations bear close watching. ■
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
18
Canada News
New, familiar faces alike play part in Harper’s long awaited cabinet overhaul
NEWS BRIEFS
The Canadian Press OTTAWA— Prime Minister Stephen Harper kept his core economic team intact while bringing some fresh blood to the cabinet table Monday as he gave his inner circle its biggest shakeup since coming to office in 2006. The key economic portfolios stayed in old hands as Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird, Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver and International Trade Minister Ed Fast stayed put. That team is expected to lead the governing Conservatives into the next federal election campaign in two years’ time. “These changes to the ministry feature both younger members of Parliament ready for new opportunities, and steady hands that will continue to deliver strong leadership in key portfolios,” Harper said in a statement. But on other files, the prime minister brought in some new faces, including four “strong and capable” women—backbench standouts Shelly Glover, Michelle Rempel, Candice Bergen and Kellie Leitch. Manitoba MPs Glover and Bergen became heritage minister and minister of state for social development, respectively. Leitch was named labour minister, while Rempel becomes minister of state for western economic diversification. The Harper government has been under fire over the Senate spending scandal and is looking for a reboot ahead of the 2015 vote. The emphasis on a mix of younger MPs and experienced veterans could be an attempt to fend off the challenges the Conservatives face from a youthful Liberal leader and a sizable group of young New Democrats, most of them from Quebec. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said the cabinet shuffle doesn’t change who really runs the government. “Today’s cabinet shuffle will not provide Canadians with the real change they want to see. It is clear that the only minister who has any power in this government is the
FOR THE FIRST TIME, NO SENATE REPRESENTATIVE IN CABINET OTTAWA—Among the ministers demoted or fired in Stephen Harper’s cabinet overhaul, add the Senate to the list of big losers. The prime minister did not include the scandalplagued upper house’s leader in his cabinet line-up. It’s the only time in Canadian history— but for a few months in 1926—that there’s been no Senate representative in cabinet. LEGAL BATTLE BEGINS IN MEGANTIC: LAWSUIT MOTION FILED
Hon. Jason Kenney is no longer Minister of Citizenship and Immigration. Please see related story on page 23.
prime minister,” Trudeau said in a statement. “Today’s shuffle does not change that.” Harper also promoted relative youngsters Pierre Poilievre, Rob Moore and Chris Alexander to cabinet posts. Poilievre, the Tory go-to guy to fend off opposition attacks, becomes minister of state for democratic reform. The 39-year-old Moore is now the minister of state for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. But Alexander scored a big promotion with his move to citizenship and immigration. The former diplomat takes over from the long-serving Jason Kenney, who moved to the rebranded employment and social development portfolio. Indeed, Harper did not shy away from moving some of his senior ministers. Veteran ministers Peter MacKay and Rob Nicholson swapped jobs. MacKay is now the justice minister and Nichol-
son becomes defence minister. Rona Ambrose, previously minister of public works, was appointed minister of health. Her predecessor, Leona Aglukkaq, moved on to become minister of environment, CanNor and the Arctic Council. Christian Paradis, whose Quebec riding was the site of the tragic train explosion in Lac-Megantic that killed an estimated 50 people, was moved to international development and minister for La Francophonie. He was previously industry minister, a post now occupied by former heritage minister James Moore. Lisa Raitt was named the new transport minister. Others kept their portfolios. Bernard Valcourt was re-appointed as aboriginal affairs minister and Alice Wong stayed in her post as minister of state for seniors. The new appointments trickled out in 140-character snippets over Harper’s official Twitter account. ■
LAC-MEGANTIC, Que.—A motion to file a class-action lawsuit has been registered by two Lac-Megantic residents in the opening shot of what could be a long and complex legal battle. The motion has been filed by two Lac-Megantic residents who want to sue the owners of the train that derailed in their town, killing an estimated 50 people. CANUCK FILMMAKERS SHARE MONTEITH MEMORIES TORONTO—Cory Monteith was a joyful, generous and humble actor who was just beginning to tap into his talents as a vulnerable and authentic dramatic actor, say Canadian filmmakers who worked with the late “Glee” star on big-screen projects, including one that’s due out this fall. Gia Milani, producer, writer and director of the upcoming drama “All the Wrong Reasons” that stars Monteith as a department store manager, said Monday she saw the 31-year-old just four weeks ago and he “looked super fit and was energetic and excited.” FIRST CHICK AT CALGARY ZOO’S PENGUIN PLUNGE CALGARY—The flood-damaged Calgary Zoo will have a new baby to show off when the animal park partially reopens at the end of the month. The zoo says a gentoo penguin chick successfully hatched July 7 after both parents took turns incubating the egg over 37 days.
Canada News
19 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Building a BC for our Children Promotion to prime minister's inner circle comes with financial perks
BY CHRISTY CLARK MLA-Elect Westside Kelowna Premier, British Columbia LAST Wednesday, residents of Westside Kelowna affirmed the values British Columbians believe in. They showed us they believed in growing the economy with optimism and a hope for the future. They came out and voted for the value that it is our duty to leave our children with a better future. Those are the same values British Columbia’s Filipino community showed its support for when they campaigned for so many of our candidates around the province. Thank you for your support in Westside Kelowna, and during the general election. Thank-you for believing that together we can bring a better future to British Columbia. I have heard many British Columbians from the Philippines tell me they came here for their
BY STEPHANIE LEVITZ The Canadian Press Premier Christy Clark during the campaign period
children. Over the next four years, my government and I will be working hard for you and for your children’s future here in BC. I want to ensure that the province you call home remains an incredible place for you and your family. By opening up markets in Asia for Liquefied Natural Gas, and providing support for our growing technology sector, we will create the jobs that fuel a Strong Economy. We will build on our skills training so that people in the community and their children will have the skills necessary to Secure Tomorrow. I will stand up for the same belief that brought you and your families to British Columbia – that this is the best place for your children. Growing up, my parents en-
sured that my siblings and I were taken care of. It was important to them, that we watched every penny, and spent it wisely. My mother and father did not struggle so that we would have more debt. As Premier, I will helping you do the same for the next generation. By controlling spending our government will reduce the debt for our kids. The next four years will not be easy. Paying down debt is always hard. However, it is the right thing to do. Just like coming to British Columbia was the right thing to do for your family. It will be hard work. There may be setbacks. When there are, we will just work harder because that is the right thing to do. The next generation is counting on us. ■
Canadian Inquirer
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OTTAWA—A promotion into the prime minister's inner circle instantly ups a member of Parliament's political cachet. But becoming a cabinet minister or parliamentary secretary also brings with it financial perks and some strict new rules. In addition to their base MP salary of roughly $160,000 a year, cabinet ministers earn an additional $76,700 while parliamentary secretaries get a $57,500 bump. Cabinet ministers also get a $2,000 car allowance and the position includes a car and a driver. It added up to roughly $9 million a year in salaries and perks for the cabinet Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed in 2011, his last major
shuffle. And that was before the thousands of dollars cabinet ministers charge taxpayers in other expenses, with some ministers submitting heftier bills than others due to their portfolios. For example, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird's bill for hospitality and travel for January to the end of May this year was $83,492.09. On the other hand, Public Works Minister Rona Ambrose only submitted for about $5,400 worth of expenses. But with the bigger expense accounts comes an added level of scrutiny. Former international affairs minister Bev Oda resigned last year after The Canadian Press revealed her travel expenses included bills for a $16 glass of orange juice and $3,000 for a ❱❱ PAGE 22 Promotion to
World News
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 20
Saudi princess charged in Calif. with human trafficking free on $5M bail but must stay nearby BY AMY TAXIN The Associated Press SANTA ANA, Calif.—A Saudi princess charged with human trafficking was freed after posting $5 million bail, but authorities imposed strict travel requirements and GPS tracking to keep her in Southern California. Meshael Alayban, 42, who prosecutors said is one of the six wives of Saudi Prince Abdulrahman bin Nasser bin Abdulaziz al Saud, was released Thursday after posting the hefty bail amount a day after her arrest. Earlier in the day she had appeared in court wearing a dark blue jail jumpsuit to answer to one felony charge of human trafficking. She did not enter a plea. Her arraignment was postponed to July 29. Alayban was arrested after a Kenyan woman who worked for her as a maid alleged she was held against her will and forced to work. The maid led police to a condominium where Alay-
ban’s family was staying, authorities said. Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said after court Thursday that the woman was subjected to “forced labour,” and likened Alayban to a slave owner. “It’s been 150 years since the Emancipation Proclamation, and slavery has been unlawful in the United States, and certainly in California, all this time, and it’s disappointing to see it in use here,” said Rackauckas, who had requested that Alayban’s bail be set at $20 million. Defence attorney Paul Meyer declined comment on the case but previously said it was just a dispute over domestic work hours. Alayban is forbidden to have contact with the alleged victim, cannot leave Orange County without permission from the court, and had to turn over her passport. The Kenyan woman said her passport was taken from her when she left her country to
work for Alayban, hoping to make enough money to cover her ailing 7-year-old daughter’s medical bills. The 30-year-old woman, whose name has not been released, alleges she was forced to work long hours and was paid only a fraction of what she was promised. Authorities said it wasn’t un-
til she travelled with the Saudi family on their vacation to the United States that she was able to escape, flag down a bus, and call police, authorities said. W h e n p o l i c e searched the condo, they found four other workers, from the Philippines. The women left voluntarily with officers and told them they were interested in being free, police said. No charges have been filed related to those women and police said there were no signs any of the workers had been physically abused. The women’s passports had been held with the victim’s doc-
uments in a safe deposit box, Rackauckas said. The case is the first labour trafficking case prosecuted in Orange County since voters approved a law last year to stiffen the penalties for the crime. If convicted, Alayban faces a maximum sentence of 12 years, which is double the sentence she could have received a year ago, Rackauckas said. The Saudi royal family is extensive, with thousands of princes and princesses, including some who have run into trouble with the law. In 2002, Saudi princess Buniah al-Saud, who was accused of pushing her maid down a flight of stairs, entered a no-contest plea in Florida and was fined $1,000. In 1995, another Saudi princess, Maha Al-Sudairi, allegedly beat a servant in front of sheriff’s deputies providing off-duty security. No charges were ever filed. “These people have lots of money; they think they’re above the law,” said Ali AlAhmed, director of the Washington-based Institute for Gulf Affairs. ■
Greece: First state job cuts spur general strike, flights disrupted BY DEREK GATOPOULOS The Associated Press ATHENS—Unions opposing austerity measures in Greece staged their fourth general strike this year on Tuesday, as the government prepared to start axing public sector jobs. Several thousand protesters, most wearing caps to shield themselves from the midsummer heat, joined a march to parliament, as the 24-hour walkout disrupted flights, public transport, state hospitals and other services. More demonstrations are planned later in the day, while local government offices remain closed for a second day. Although the march ended peacefully, protest organizers directed angry rhetoric at the government and the “troika” of debt inspectors from the European Union, European Central Bank and International Mon-
etary Fund. “You politicians, kowtowing to the troika, have raped our souls, destroyed our lives,” Nikolaos Kioutsoukis, general secretary of Greece's largest union, the GSEE, told gathered protesters. “Do not test our patience any longer ... We are hungry, jobless and poor. We have nothing to fear and nothing to lose.” The public sector has so far been spared from the job cuts
that have hit the rest of the Greek economy—and pushed unemployment up to 27 per cent— since the country got its first international bailout in 2010. However, the government has been forced to launch the cuts—15,000 firings by the end of 2014 and 12,500 transfers this year—so it can continue receiving rescue loans from the IMF and the other countries using the euro. Parliament began a debate on www.canadianinquirer.net
the new measures before a vote expected late Wednesday. “It's a disgrace for the government to say that things are getting better with unemployment at such a high level ... It is clear that with the economy still shrinking that we need a change of course,” Efklidis Tsakalotos, a lawmaker from the left-wing main opposition party Syriza told parliament. “The people running this country live in a different envi-
ronment. They go to different hospitals. Their kids go to different schools. And they don't understand what people are going through.” Syriza lawmakers later stood on the steps of parliament and unfurled a banner that read “Fire the government, not workers in the public and private sector.” Formed after elections last summer, the conservative-led government lost a junior coalition partner last month following a sudden decision to shut down state broadcaster ERT. “The general strike is unlikely to succeed in its aim of forcing the government to withdraw its latest reform bill or convincing enough MPs to vote against it,” said Martin Koehring, an analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit. “(But it) once again demonstrates the strong anti-austerity sentiment among the population.” ■
World News
21 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Civil rights leaders promise more protests over Zimmerman verdict The Associated Press MIAMI—Civil rights leaders said Tuesday they are planning vigils and rallies in 100 U.S. cities this weekend to press the federal government to bring charges against a formerneighbourhood watch volunteer acquitted in the killing of an unarmed black teenager. George Zimmerman had been charged with second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year, but a jury of six women found him not guilty of that charge as well as the lesser charge of manslaughter. “People all across the country will gather to show that we are not having a two- or three-day anger fit. This is a social movement for justice,’’ Rev. Al Sharpton said as he announced the plan outside the Justice Department in Washington, D.C. The rallies and vigils will occur in front of federal court buildings at noon Saturday in cities includ-
ing Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia and New York. Martin was visiting his father and returning to the home of his father’s fiancee after a trip to the store when Zimmerman identified him as a potential criminal. The neighbourhood watchman fatally shot Martin during a physical confrontation in the gated community in February 2012. Sharpton says vigils will be followed by a conference next week in Miami to develop a plan to address Florida’s “standyour-ground’’ law. The law gives people wide latitude to use deadly force if they fear death or bodily harm. Meanwhile, protests over Zimmerman’s acquittal had broken out as far away as California. In Los Angeles, people ran through streets Monday night, breaking windows, attacking people on sidewalks and raiding a Wal-Mart store, while others blocked a major freeway in the San Francisco Bay area in the third night of demonstrations. Fourteen people were arrest-
ed after multiple acts of vandalism and several assaults in Los Angeles. Los Angeles police vowed Tuesday to crack down with quick action and arrests if further disturbances arise. Demonstrators must remain on sidewalks Tuesday night and will be arrested if they commit any crimes or block traffic, police said. “For those of you who were here last night and came for the wrong reasons, if you come here again tonight, you will go to jail,’’ police Chief Charlie Beck said at a news conference. The Justice Department has said it is looking into Martin’s death to determine whether federal prosecutors will file criminal civil rights charges against Zimmerman, who is now a free man. His lawyer has told ABC News that Zimmerman will get his gun back and intends to arm himself again. The key to charging Zimmerman lies in whether evidence exists that he was motivated by racial animosity to kill Martin.
While Martin’s family has said the teen was racially profiled, no evidence surfaced during the state trial that Zimmerman had a racial bias. Zimmerman’s friends and family have repeatedly denied he harboured racial animosity toward blacks. Florida did not use its own hate crime laws against Zimmerman. The lone juror in the case who has spoken publicly—known only as Juror B37 because their identities have not been released—said Monday that she did not believe Zimmerman followed Martin because the teen was black. Still, supporters of the Justice Department filing civil rights charges say additional evidence could exist in the federal investigation that didn’t come up in the state prosecution of Zimmerman. Beyond the exact language of the law itself, the federal probe must navigate between sensitive racial and political issues that arose when Zimmerman initially wasn’t charged in Martin’s killing. “Many people simply cannot process how an unarmed teenager is killed, and yet no one is held criminally accountable for his death,’’ said Marcellus McRae, a former federal prosecutor in Los Angeles.
Resnick said a federal jury would have to find beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman had a racial motive when he began following Martin and that he did not act in self-defence when he fired his gun. Zimmerman could get life in prison if charged and convicted under federal hate crime laws. ■ Associated Press writers Curt Anderson in Miami, Mike Schneider in Orlando and Shaquille Brewster in Washington contributed to this story.
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Immigration
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 22
Four Lilian To bursaries valued at $8,000 each will be awarded this fall: apply by August 30, 2013 VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - July 15, 2013: Ashton College understands the importance of finding a rewarding career. This is why it believes it is important to award Lilian To Bursaries, valued at $8,000 each, to four outstanding immigrantseach year. Over the past eight years, in partnership with Canadian Immigrant Magazine, over forty Lilian To Bursaries have been awarded. These bursaries haveprovided recipients with thefinancial resources to enroll in a full-time program that has in turn helped them obtain thecredentials they require to start their careers in Canada. For past Lilian To Bursary recipient Serah Gazali, who has since graduated from Ashton College with her Immigration Consultant Diploma, this bursary was her golden ticket to starting her career in Canada. In her own words, after learning she was a bursary winner she felt “happy, elated, and proud” of her achievement, especially because Ashton had seen potential in her to excel and use her talent to give back to the community. Since being awarded her bursary this
past fall, Amelia Agbayani has enrolled in the Certified Financial Planning program and is currently working towards her career aspiration of becoming a Financial Planner. Winningone of the Lilian To Bursaries meant“pursuing a good education to help me find a better-paying job and give me the skills to set up my own business … as a certified financial planner.” Lilian To was a crusader for immigrants as the long-time executive di-
rector and CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.. Lilian passed away in 2005. The Lilian To Bursaries were established to honour her legacy by ensuring that immigrants have the resources to work towards the goal of having a secure and stable career in Canada. Canadian citizens or permanent residents who arrived in Canada for the first time during or after 2008 are eligible and encouraged to apply for one of the four Lilian To Bursaries. The deadline
to apply has been extended to August 30, 2013 to allow more immigrants to take advantage of this opportunity. Apply now for the Lilian To Bursaries: www.ashtoncollege.com/grants. ■ For more Information, please contact: Jane Chang, Vice President and Director of Business Development Ashton College 604-899-0803 Ext. 111 jchang@ahtoncollege.com
Promotion to... car and driver to take her less than two kilometres. She was later forced to pay the money back. The Conservatives were also prompted to change the rules around transportation after reports that ministerial drivers were billing more than $600,000 a year in overtime. The difference between what cabinet ministers make and spend and what's available to backbenchers has been a source of tension. Former Tory MP Brent Rathgeber, who is now sitting as an independent, began his slow march to independent status with a blog post last summer on the subject. His thoughts came after a visit to the town of Grenfell, Sask. “In Grenfell, most of the attendees have never ridden in a limo and none of them have ever drunk $16 orange juice,” he wrote at the time. “Surely, they would appreciate if government took more care in spending their money.” In addition to facing greater scrutiny of their bills, cabinet ministers must follow stricter conflict-of-interest rules, which also extend after they leave office. For example, while both MPs and ❰❰ 19
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ministers must disclose their assets, liabilities, sources of income and activities outside of Parliament, ministers must complete the process within four months, while there's no deadline for MPs. And once in office, they need to be more careful about walking the line between being an MP and cabinet minister. While MPs of all political stripes lobby on behalf of their constituents, at the upper echelons of power such efforts can be more contentious. John Duncan stepped aside as aboriginal affairs minister after it was revealed he contacted a tax court judge on behalf of someone in his riding. Finance Minister Jim Flaherty also had his knuckles rapped over contacting the CRTC about a radio station's bid for a new license. “While ministers are not precluded from representing their constituents in their capacity as members of Parliament, they are prohibited, under section 9 of the Act, from using their positions as public office holders to seek to influence decision-making so as to improperly further the private interests of another person,” the federal ethics commissioner said at the time. ■
Immigration
23 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Ex Afghan envoy Alexander joins Harper cabinet as immigration minister BY MIKE BLANCHFIELD The Canadian Press OTTAWA—Chris Alexander was in his early 30s when he became Canada's face to the world in post-Taliban Afghanistan more than a decade ago. He was Canada's first ambassador in residence to Afghanistan after the 9-11 terror attacks, quickly becoming a passionate advocate of his country's mission to save what he saw as an embattled, wartorn people in a scarred but beautiful land. On Monday, still sporting a youthful glow at 44, Alexander was touted as one of the new faces of “generational change” when Prime Minister Stephen Harper handed him the immigration portfolio in his newly shuffled cabinet. Alexander's promotion came after a two-year appren-
ticeship on the back benches where he distinguished himself as a polished communicator of the government's message— one also highly capable of the spirited bare-knuckled partisanship of the toughest of his fellow Tories. Alexander increasingly proved his ability to throw political punches in the particularly acrimonious sitting of Parliament that ended last month. The Conservatives plunged in the polls amid the Senate spending scandal while Justin Trudeau, the youthful new Liberal leader, pulled ahead. The promotion of younger caucus members such as Alexander is as much about countering the rise of Trudeau ahead of the 2015 election as it is about setting a new agenda for governing. Alexander proved himself capable of blistering partisan-
ship in the dying days of Parliament last month when he used a member's statement in the Commons to fire a rocket at Trudeau, under fire at the time for his paid speaking engagements. Alexander accused Trudeau of “ripping off charities” and called him “a defiant millionaire Liberal leader.” “Make no mistake,” he thundered, “the Liberal leader will not think twice about scamming the most vulnerable in our society or abandoning his best friend if he thinks he can make a buck.” Megan Leslie, the deputy NDP leader, expressed great skepticism Monday about Harper's youthful new cabinet members, Alexander included. Leslie lumped Alexander in with 34-year-old Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre, who was promoted to minister of state for democratic reform, and
is probably the government's most fang-bearing partisan this side of Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird. “Ever since becoming an MP, Mr. Alexander—like Mr. Poilievre—quickly adapted to parroting PMO talking points. It's been disappointing to watch a former diplomat stoop to that level of partisanship,” she said in an email. “The one thing that's clear looking at him and Mr. Poilievre is that doing nasty attack politics is how you get ahead in Stephen Harper's cabinet.” Before entering politics in May 2011, when he won the long-held Liberal riding of Ajax-Pickering, Alexander had a thriving career as an international diplomat. After his groundbreaking stint as Ottawa's man in Kabul, he stayed on in Afghanistan as the deputy special representative of the United Nations Assistance Mission until 2009. He wasn't ready for cabinet two years ago, but Harper appointed him parliamentary secretary to the defence minister, a job that would eventually see him cutting his teeth defending the F-35 stealth fighter jet procurement debacle,
BC HAPPY HOMES IMMIGRATION SERVICES
among other things. Most recently, he was the government spokesman for the deployment of a few dozen Canadian Forces personnel to Haiti, a Quebec announcement that highlighted his effortless command of French. On Monday, he was one of the few new cabinet faces to address the throng of media gathered outside of Rideau Hall. Alexander said it was too early to talk about the policy direction in his new portfolio, which he took over from cabinet heavyweight Jason Kenney. But drawing on his long diplomatic career, as well as his two-year political apprenticeship, he kept the focus on the government's core message: jobs and growth. “We have a proven track record of success,” Alexander said. “It's that diversity—men and women, east, west, north, south—that is going to ensure this government delivers the economic agenda that Canadians want, the financial security they want, the continuing creation of jobs, prosperity and long-term growth for this country.” ■
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Seen & Scenes
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 24
WELCOME FOR FR. GEORGE MORENO The Block Rosary Crusade of Toronto welcomed Rev. Fr. George Moreno, Pastor of Santo Domingo Church of Quezon City, Philippines. (Santo Domingo Church is one of the largest Church in Metro Manila.) Fr. George, a Dominican for over forty years, has been Santo Domingo Pastor for the past four years. He came from the Philippines to visit his sister Lynn Widjaya, who recently passed away. The Block Rosary Crusade had Fr. George as their Spiritual Director in their Pilgrimage to Carey, Ohio, 8 years ago. Photo shows Fr. George Moreno, standing at left. Others standing (from L>R are: Remy & SK Frank Laxamana, Sir Jozef Widjaya, Conrad de Leon, Sir George R. Poblete, Lita Abesamis, Myrna de Leon, Lady Dolly Poblete and Eli de Guia. Sitting from left are: Luz Ruelos, SK Seth Aniceto, SK Johnny & Lita Cabildo, Dolly Bugayon, Marie Pobre, Purita Fargas, Danny de Guia, Lita & Tony Leano.
CALGARY STAMPEDE The Calgary Stampede is an annual rodeo, exhibition and festival held every July in Calgary, Alberta. Many thought it would not push through due to the recent flooding of Downtown Calgary, but as stated on their website, "Thanks to you, the show went on.� PCI was witness.
PINOY FIESTA TORONTO AN ENORMOUS SUCCESS, ONCE AGAIN ! Dennis Trillo, Glaiza de Castro and Rafael Rosell were a colossal hit at the PCCF's Pinoy Fiesta and Trade Show sa Toronto, which was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre Hall. Festive pandemonium erupted when the GMA Pinoy TV artists went on stage and performed their best to the thousands upon thousands of fans and well wishers.
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Seen & Scenes
25 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
YUGYUGAN PARTY
At the YK13 Dance Marathon, Indak Kabayan sa Tugtugin ng Anim na Dekada, a dance celebration at the BCIT Gym on July 13 held to celebrate the success of the Philippine Independence Day celebrations. Photos by Bert Morelos
SIMPLY NO DEBT
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Appreciation picnic of Simply No Debt held at White Rock, B.C. on July 13
Filipino-Canadian in Focus
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 26
FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS
Rafael “Rely” Diego
Entrepreneur Rely Diego with family
BY MELISSA REMULLABRIONES Philippine Canadian Inquirer A FIELD of green, a slight rustling of the leaves, the smell of palay in the air as it dries under the Isabela sun, a life well-lived. Why leave it? For the children
For businessman Rely Diego, the answer was easy. But the choice was not the easiest to make as he and his family lived an interesting and exciting life in the laid-back province of Isabela. “My wife and I were into farming, agri-business and had some entrepreneurial ventures. Looking back at the situation then, there was no urgent or compelling reason for us to leave our motherland for an unknown place uprooting a growing family and to begin life anew. Our parents and our siblings were all residing in the Philippines then. Nobody had any interest or plan whatsoever to leave our town, San Mateo. Nobody had the faintest idea that we will immigrate to a foreign land and leave our comfort zones. Our families were closely knit. We had a solid family support system and we were deeply integrated with the church and the community.” The main reason (reasons) for their decision was their children. Rely wanted to secure for them a better place and a brighter future. “We wanted to provide our children a new outlook in life, more and better opportunities. Our eldest was graduating from college and our youngest was graduating from kindergarten. They were all contented and enjoying their growing age and their school life. While we did not ask for their opinion, much less for their decision, our children faithfully toed the line with our plans,” he said.
and investment. We heard and read exciting and wonderful stories about the country. Being a bit laid-back country as compared to bigger cities in US of A added to the appeal for us since we come from a rural area. We thought that it will provide us a more family-oriented place.” His children were excited at the prospect of travelling and living abroad, but, Rely said, “It was hard to find the right time to inculcate in their minds that we were really leaving our families, relatives, household helpers and friends for good. It never occurred to them about the adjustment and change of lifestyle that come with the big move.” They arrived in British Columbia in June 1995 with one distant relative who helped them during the first few, hard weeks. “It was a big risk but we prayed hard for discernment and for God’s guidance. Nevertheless, we were very firm with our plan that we need to improve and expand the horizon of the children. We planned to draw a new roadmap for the future of the family,” he said.
Going back to his roots The Secret
Why Canada
“Canada was the only country that was (and still is) offering immigration status without any direct family sponsorship required if you have none,” Rely explained. He added, “Aside from family sponsorship, immigration applications were based on point system, skills
wards that will haunt us forever. And, we wanted to avoid compromising the future of our children who were the main reason for our decision. We conditioned ourselves and put a mindset to be ready to brace the unexpected and the challenges that will come our way especially during the early months,” he said. They knew their children had a far more difficult path. “The older children were most affected because they suddenly realized that they have to start establishing their own life via school and work. [But] we were ready to give the full support to the children during this adjustment time,” he said. They all started looking for work amidst fighting terrible homesickness. Rely said, “We kept ourselves busy appreciating the natural beauty of Canada and this fast-tracked our integration and cushioned and mitigated the effects of those first few weeks.” The Diegos are now on their 18th year in Canada.
Not everyone steps onto terra firma when arriving in Canada. Many in fact get lost in the enormity of the challenge. It was also difficult for the Diegos, but they came prepared. “Before we decided to apply for Canada, my wife and I had to make that firm decision. We did not want to have regrets after-
In 2002, Rely had a vision of Isabela and its farm lands and he turned that passionate longing into a project that would help rice farmers in the Philippines. Through a company he co-founded, Rely and his team were able to devise a way of using saw dust and rice husk—byproducts that were of no use to rice farmers—to make various www.canadianinquirer.net
wood plastic composite products by processing it with plastic resin (R&D was funded through a joint collaboration with a Singapore-based company and the National Research Council Canada (NRC)). These products were earmarked for the building and automotive industries. From R&D, the company was publicly listed in 2004 to raise funds for the establishment of manufacturing plants in Canada and in Asia. As his vision was nearing fruition, however, he had to leave the company for health reasons. But ever the entrepreneur, Rely cannot be deterred from realizing his lofty dreams of alleviating and improving the lives and well-being of farmers, and they are again the focus of his new start-up company. “I co-founded Cleanergy Resource Corp., a social corporation to help improve the environment through the establishment of feedstock plantation, encourage the utilization of biofuels and to actively involve the people and farming communities within the project area as co-operators,” he said. Although the company planned to establish itself in selected Asian countries, the Philippines was selected to be the first project area. Rely explains, “The Philippines was selected for many compelling reasons. It is the first country to mandate the use of alternative fuels under the Biofuels Act 2006. Secondly, the founders of the company have deep roots
in the Philippines having come from there. Finally, the demand and awareness for green and alternative fuels have been growing by leaps and bounds.” Because of the perils of climate change, it has become the company’s passion and desire “to be part of a global effort to assist educating people in respecting, protecting and conserving nature by planting more trees and using biofuels and other alternative energy to minimize gas emission that pollutes the air.” An entrepreneur with a social conscience, this is Rely's advice to Filipinos who would like to follow his path: “Look for innovative business concepts utilizing new technologies that can be turned into a viable business venture. Be patient, be creative, and make use of Canada’s services and good reputation when doing business outside of Canada.” ■ For more information, please visit www.cleanergyresource.com. The Philippine Canadian Inquirer turns its focus on Filipino-Canadian entrepreneurs, top honchos, connectors, community leaders and movers and shakers who are willing to mentor fellow Filipinos in a series of entrepreneurship workshops to culminate in “The Philippine Canadian Inquirer” Appreciation and Awards Night and Gala. If you have someone in mind who fits the bill, please e-mail editor@canadianinquirer.net.
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Summer
Palawan takes top spot on Travel+Leisure magazine’s 2013 list of best islands BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer BORACAY had long held the top spot on Travel+Leisure magazine’s list of best islands. Not so for 2013. The island paradise and its famed stretch of powder-fine white sand beach has been pushed to number 2 by yet another Philippine gem: Palawan. Palawan has been named the best island for travelers in the “2013 World’s Best” put out by Travel+Leisure magazine. Scoring 95.04, the island— which enters the list for the first time—beat Boracay’s score of 93.58 points, based on a poll of the renowned magazine’s readers from December 2012 to April 2013. Survey respondents were asked to rate islands based on: natural attractions, beaches, activities, food and people. In 2012, Palawan took centerstage as a global destination after the Puerto Princesa Subterra-
nean River was named one of the new seven wonders of nature. The underground river has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1999, joining Palawan’s Tubbataha which was placed on the UN list in 1993. Found in the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, the underground river was in 2012 likewise named a protected wetland, under an international convention. Both Palawan and Boracay islands bested several world-famous islands in the list, some of which are in in Travel+Leisure’s hall of fame. The top 10 best islands on the 2013 list are: 1. Palawan in the Philippines 2. Boracay, also in the Philippines 3. Maui in Hawaii 4. Santorini in Greece 5. Prince Edward Island in Canada 6. Bali in Indonesia 7. Kauai in Hawaii 8. Sicily in Italy 9. Koh Samui in Thailand 10. the Galapagos in Ecuador ■
Canada's mountains, vast forests, and the ocean = beautiful But someone had to be last
Philippine Canadian Inquirer 999 CANADIANS have spoken and the verdict is out on the most (and the least) beautiful in Canada, that is, in terms of scenery, friendliness of people, provincial management, taxes and opportunities for business. According to an Abacus Data survey which was recently released, Alberta and British Columbia topped the list on 5 of the 6 positive attributes tested, while Quebec topped the list in 3 of 5 of the negative attributes tested. Alberta was most likely to be viewed as the best managed province, the province with the lowest income taxes, and as the best place to open a business. In contrast, Quebec was most likely to be viewed as the worst managed province, the worst place to open a business, and the province with the least friendly people. According to the poll, other winners (or losers) included British Columbia as having the most beautiful scenery and the place Canadians would most like to visit on a vacation and Newfoundland and Labrador as having the friendliest people. Ontario was perceived to have the highest income taxes while Saskatchewan had the unfortunate distinction of being perceived to have the least beautiful scenery in the country.
Below are some of the results. Most and Scenery
Least
Beautiful
2013 Most Beautiful: British Columbia (54%), PEI (9%), Newfoundland and Labrador (8%) Least Beautiful: Saskatchewan (43%), Manitoba (20%), Quebec (8%) 2012 Most Beautiful: British Columbia (50%), Newfoundland and Labrador (10%), PEI (9%) Least Beautiful: Saskatchewan (47%), Manitoba (20%), Ontario/Alberta (8%) B.C. once again topped the list of most beautiful provinces, “Beautiful British Columbia” is an appropriate slogan for Canada’s westernmost province. More than half of all respondents (54%) felt that B.C. had the most beautiful scenery in Canada, followed by PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador. Saskatchewan again topped the list for least beautiful province, followed by Manitoba and Quebec in third. Most and Least Friendly People
2013 Most Friendly: Newfoundland and Labrador (22%), Quebec (16%), Nova Scotia (12%) Least Friendly: Quebec (46%), Ontario (29%), Alberta (8%) 2012 Most Friendly: Newfoundland and Labrador (26%), Quebec (14%), Nova Scotia (11%) Least Friendly: Quebec (45%), Ontario (27%), Alberta
(12%) This category saw virtually no change from the results in 2012. Newfoundlanders and Labradoreans were again most likely to be considered Canada’s most friendly. Over one in four respondents selected Canada’s easternmost province as the friendliest, followed by Quebec and Nova Scotia. As a region, Atlantic Canada was seen as the friendliest by over half of Canadians. Quebec was perceived to have Canada’s least friendly people, as over four in ten respondents selected La Belle Province. Ontario was second at 29% while Alberta came third at 8%. Place Canadians Would Most Like to Visit
2013 Most Like to Visit: British Columbia (33%), PEI (13%), Newfoundland and Labrador (12%) 2012 Most Like to Visit: British Columbia (29%), PEI (17%), Newfoundland and Labrador (16%) Overall, there was no observed change in travel preference between 2012 and 2013. Canadians, it seems, want to visit the coast, with three-quarters of Canadians selecting a coastal province for their vacation destination of choice. While a third of Canadians would like to visit British Columbia (33%), 41% would like to visit one of the Atlantic provinces. ■
Summer
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The Down-Low on Iloilo BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer ONE of the best places in the Philippines to visit is the province of Iloilo. Known as the “City of Love,” Iloilo is definitely set to steal your heart and make you fall in love with its heritage, people, and cuisine. Do not miss the chance to visit one of the four UNESCO World Heritage Churches in the Philippines: the Miag-ao Church, which is about an hour’s travel from the city. The trip may be long but it is definitely worth it! The sheer size of this glorious church is set to make your jaw drop. It is massive and majestic, quite impossible not to admire even from afar. The church is surrounded with a well-kept garden, which provides a great frame for picture-taking. If your timing is right, you might catch the church’s caretaker and layminister, Kuya Noel, who will happily give you a tour of the church to further appreciate its history. Be sure to take lots of pictures as there are no souvenir shops around the area. Right across the church is the plaza, where you can hang out and watch the
Summer shopping? How to score the best deals from summer sales BY LISA A. FLAM The Associated Press
laidback Ilonggo life go by as you rest from the trip. To reach Miagao Church, take a jeepney from “Super” at the back of the public market, near Robinson’s Place Iloilo. The ride will cost you PhP 50.00 per person, one way. When you feel your tummy rumbling, head on to the town of Jaro to feast on giant burgers courtesy of Perri Todd’s. This Iloilo-original establishment serves out-of-this-world burgers just walking distance from two other landmarks in town: the Jaro Cathedral and Belfry. Do not let the pictures on the menu fool you because their burgers are big enough to have its own
gravitational pull. You can share it with three other people, or one really hungry traveler. They have premium (all-beef ) and grilled burgers and over a dozen other side dishes to complete your Perri Todd’s experience. And because of the size of their servings, this joint is most definitely easy on the wallet. It is indeed more fun in the Philippines even during the rainy season. While most of the country is complaining because of the weather, it is best to make the most out of it by taking advantage of the country’s assets: our rich heritage and culinary ingenuity. ■
DON’T worry if you never got around to buying a summer ensemble in time to make a splash at July Fourth pool parties and barbecues. Now the fun kind of summer shopping begins, those exhilarating trips to your favourite haunts where you can score a swimsuit, sundress and sandals—all on sale—just before embarking on a week at the beach. “It’s never too late,” says Anu Narayanan, vice-president of women’s and non-apparel at Old Navy. “You can always find, even on sale, great pieces, and it’s how you mix them together that makes everything look new.” This year, many stores are recognizing that shoppers like
to purchase summer clothing closer to when the weather is warm enough for them to wear it, says Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst with The NPD Group. That translates to a later, more gradual rollout of summer clothing as well as staggered and later-than-usual sales, he said. While the 40 to 50 per cent off deals used to arrive in early July and grow to 75 per cent by August, Cohen predicts it will be August when the half-off sales begin. “It used to be June would be when sales began and July Fourth would be the big clearance,” Cohen said. “Now, July Fourth is the beginning of the sales.” The weeks ahead in mid-July and August are prime time to look for deals on basics like ❱❱ PAGE 44 Summer shopping
CIBC offers banking solutions for newcomers looking to establish credit history in Canada Addresses top newcomer challenge by offering credit cards that require no deposit, no credit history TORONTO, June 13, 2013 – As part of an enhanced CIBC Welcome to Canada Package, CIBC (TSX: CM) (NYSE: CM) has introduced a range of new unsecured credit card options to help new Canadians address their challenges with establishing a credit history in Canada. “New Canadians tell us that establishing a credit history in Canada can be challenging – and they are often unable to get a credit card without pledging a security deposit,” said Teresa Tazumi, CIBC’s Director of Cultural Business Development. “To help them establish a financial foothold in their new home, CIBC is pleased to introduce a range of CIBC credit cards for newcomers without a deposit or credit history requirement when they hold eli-
gible CIBC personal banking products.” CIBC’s Welcome to Canada Package is available to permanent residents who have been in Canada for less than three years. It offers foundational banking products such as a free CIBC Everyday chequing account with unlimited transactions for one year; a mortgage with great rates and a streamlined approval process; and a range of credit card options, subject to conditions. The new unsecured credit card solution is available as part of this package for qualified clients holding an eligible CIBC product. Other unsecured card options are available for clients meeting CIBC’s minimum household income and credit criteria.
CIBC recently launched a nationwide campaign, translated into seven languages, with special focus on large newcomer communities across the country. The campaign promotes the CIBC Welcome to Canada Package and highlights the unsecured card options. CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. CIBC offers a full range of products and services through its comprehensive electronic banking network, branches and offices across Canada, and has offices in the United States and around the world. You can find other news releases and information about CIBC in our Press Centre on our corporate website at www.cibc.com. www.canadianinquirer.net
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5 Quick ways to afford summer fun BY ANDREA WOROCH THE summer provides endless opportunities to participate in plethora of activities. With such an abundance of fun and sun, many Americans play fast and loose with their budgets. In fact, one study found spending for the recent July Fourth holiday was up 58 percent over last year. Before your seasonal spending forces you to hunker down for the winter, consider a few of these ways to make your good times more affordable. 1. Pet Sit Pet sitting is not only the perfect way to earn extra money, it's also great for giving your serotonin and dopamine levels a boost. Unless you're caring for an animal with medical ailments, this task is fun and relatively effortless for existing pet owners. If you're running short on friends with pets, create a profile at DogVacay.com to connect with those in need of a sitter. 2. Mystery Shop Shopping more to earn more seems counterintuitive. Though working as a mystery shopper won't pay off your student loans, it can earn you some quick cash to spend on the weekend. When looking for opportunities, make sure you go through trusted services such as BestMark to ensure prompt payment and reimbursement for your expenditures. 3. Give Your Opinion Should you find spending too tempting while mystery shopping, you can always turn to focus groups. As long as you fit the required demographic of the study, the only other thing you need is your opinion. Stumbling into a random focus group at the mall is a rarity, so use FindFocusGroups. com to seek out local focus groups you qualify for. In many cases they can even be completed
online or over the phone. 4. Sell Gift Cards You always have the option to sell some of your stuff to the pawn shop, but it feels kind of desperate and you're not going to get a great price anyway. Instead, sell any gift cards you have laying around through GiftCardGranny.com to pick up extra summer cash. Payouts on gift cards cards for stores such as Target and Best Buy are typically as high as 92 percent of the card's value. 5. Rent Your Car While you sit in an office all day, that car you paid thousands of dollars for is just sitting idle. It requires a trusting personality, but services like GetAround.com are popping up all over the place to help car owners connect with people who want to rent a vehicle by the hour. If you're still not comfortable handing over your keys to a complete stranger, test the waters by renting your parking space through Parking Panda. ■ Andrea Woroch is a nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert who helps consumers live on less without radically changing their lifestyles. From smart spending tips to personal finance advice, Andrea transforms everyday consumers into savvy shoppers. She has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC's Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. You can follow her on Twitter for daily savings advice and tips.
Spellbinding Siquijor BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer YOU’VE probably heard or read somewhere that Siquijor Island is no longer a place feared for dark magic and supernatural creatures, but a hidden tourism gem slowly being discovered for its captivating natural beauty.
Here are some activities and places that you shouldn’t miss when in the Island of Fire. Jump off a cliff at Salagdoong Beach. Salagdoong Beach Resort and Hotel Agripino is a government-managed property in the town of Maria. It is most famous for the rock formation where ❱❱ PAGE 44 Spellbinding Siquijor
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Entertainment Bianca Gonzalez’s tweet on ISFs, a disappointment to Kabataan party list BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer
Joey Albert and Kris Bernal.
GMA International Supports 2nd Annual Original Pinoy Music Festival in Vancouver GMA International – the business unit handling GMA Network’s three international channels – celebrates Filipino music by partnering once again with the Filipino Canadian Marketing Group (FCMG) in presenting the annual Vancouver’s Original Pinoy Music (OPM) Festival in Canada. Filipinos are known musiclovers and this fact rings true wherever they may be in the world. Launched in 2012, this year’s Vancouver Original Pinoy Music Festival 2013 is slated to be held at the Plaza of Nations, 750 Pacific Boulevard in Vancouver, on Sunday, July 21st, from 3:30 pm – 9:30 pm. Admission is FREE for all our Filipino-Canadian kababayans. Joining them would be the popular Kapuso loveteam, the hunk Aljur Abrenica and talented actress Kris Bernal, both survivors of the reality-based artista search StarStruck: The Next Level. They will have a meet-and-greet on July 19, 2013
at Max’s Restaurant Cuisine of the Philippines on Kingsway in Vancouver. About 5,000 people are expected to attend this event with the tagline “Ipagdiwang ang Musikang Pinoy!”, with OPM Queen Joey Albert, who migrated to Canada in 1994, also set to perform in the Festival. The event also boosts local Filipino talents by providing them a venue to showcase their singing prowess. Truly, the OPM Festival commemorates great Filipino composers and artists from decades past, celebrates Pinoy Pride, and, most importantly, aims to bring Filipinos closer together while bringing back good old memories from the homeland through the music they have known, reminisced with, and loved. "We are very excited to hold this 2nd Year's Vancouver's Original Pinoy Music Festival! We strongly believe that despite living abroad, it is im-
portant to embrace our Filipino roots, culture, values and traditions and what better way to do it than thru our very own music. I would say that over 80% of Filipino households own some kind of karaoke system, which proves to show our love and passion for music. We are so pleased and honoured to partner with GMA International Inc. who truly supports Filipino talents both locally and internationally and we hope to continue this community service for many years to come!" Faye Nalicat-Auyong, President, Filipino Canadian Marketing Group, inc. ■ For details or inquiries, please call FCMG at 778.223.7848 or email them at opmfestival@filipino-canadian.com. The Plaza of Nations is easily accessible via public transportation and just a few minute-walk from BC Stadium Skytrain Station. Both paid and free (underground) parking also available.
CELEBRITY endorser and TV host Bianca Gonzalez - who has gained smiles and admiration not only for her talents, but also for her personal advocacies has now put a frown on the faces of many. The Close Up brand ambassador is now embroiled in controversy, on account of a tweet she made last week. Her statement read: “Ang dami nating nagtatrabaho para makaipon para sa prime lot at bahay plus buwis pa. Bakit nga ba bine-baby ang mga informal settlers? (So many of us work to save up for a prime house and lot, plus taxes. So why are the informal settlers being babied?)” The post—which many deemed highly opinionated and insensitive—was made in the midst of government efforts to relocate informal settler fami-
Bianca Gonzalez.
lies, especially those in waterways and other danger zones, to various housing projects. The houses are to be constructed at minimal cost to the ISFs. In addition, it has been proposed that a one-time sum of P18,000 be given to every informal settler family to be relocated from danger zones to tide them over while the relocation sites are under construction. Gonzalez, deemed as one of “young celebrities with a cause”, was criticized for her comment by Kabataan partylist Rep. Terry Ridon, who said that his group expects more from her. “Nalulungkot kami na nagtweet siya ng ganun kasi si Bianca ay isa sa mga inaasahan naming na mga celebrities na nakakaunawa sa mga pambansang usapin tulad ng kahirapan. (Her tweet makes us sad because Bianca is one of the celebrities who we expect to understand national issues like poverty),” Ridon said. ■
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Entertainment
33 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Coroner says ‘Glee’ star Cory Monteith overdosed on heroin and alcohol BY KIM NURSALL AND VIVIAN LUK The Canadian Press VANCOUVER—“Glee’’ star Cory Monteith spent his last evening out on the town with three friends before returning to his luxury hotel room alone where he took heroin and died early Saturday morning from the effects of the drug combined with alcohol. By the time police arrived several hours later, there were no signs of a struggle and no evidence of foul play. Police were sure, almost immediately, what had happened. “There was evidence in the room that was consistent with drug use,’’ Const. Brian Montague, of Vancouver police, said at a news conference Tuesday after the B.C. Coroners’ Service announced the results of an autopsy and toxicology tests. “It was the opinion and belief of our investigators at that time that this was going to be a drug overdose.’’ The service’s Barb McLintock said the coroners’ investigation will continue. Police say the unanswered questions McLintock’s office will determine include the levels of alcohol and heroin in Monteith’s system and whether the 31-year-old was the victim of a bad batch of heroin, something which turns up from time to time in Vancouver. “There’s absolutely nothing, no evidence to suggest this is anything other than the most sad and tragic accident,’’ McLintock said in a news release, noting the coroners’ service will not comment further until the final report is complete. Montague said the police investigation is finished. He said the two women and another man Monteith were with last Friday night co-operated fully with police and investigators believe they know exactly what the group was doing and where they were. He wouldn’t elaborate and said officers won’t pursue where Monteith might have gotten the heroin. Monteith played the role of football player and singer Finn Hudson on the popular television series “Glee.’’ Before becoming an actor, he worked as a WalMart people greeter in Nanaimo, B.C., as well as a taxicab driver, school bus driver, and roofer. For days, a makeshift memorial of cards and flowers has been visited by fans, friends and at least one relative outside the hotel where he died. Monteith had spoken publicly in the past about his struggles with drug addiction and had reportedly entered rehab earlier this year, but the role of drugs in his death still came as a shock to his fans. “Just hearing about it, I was shocked,’’ Tyler Gibbs, 21, said from the sidewalk shrine. “It wasn’t something I expected. I hear he just completed rehab ... and all of sudden this happens. I can’t even
Cory Monteith and Lea Michelle. PHOTO BY FEATUREFLASH | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
come up with words to describe it.’’ “I didn’t expect to hear about the heroin at all. That blows my mind.’’ Marcela Zuniga, 17, said she simply couldn’t believe the news at first, but was left deeply saddened by the cause of Monteith’s death. “I’ve known many people who have fallen to addiction, and I just stand by my views that I think when you do drugs you’re sort of being controlled by demons, so he just fell to that.’’ Added Shirley Sadler, who broke into tears: “It’s just something he got into. It’s hard to get out.’’ Sadler said her nephew died because of an addiction he couldn’t kick. “He tried and tried and tried and he couldn’t.’’ Industry Minister James Moore, who represents B.C. in cabinet, tweeted Tuesday he hoped the “sad death’’ prompts “a discussion of the complex health issues of addiction and recovery.’’ Dr. Evan Wood, who works in addiction treatment at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, said a study by the Centre for Urban Epidemiological Studies suggested accidental overdose deaths rose substantially when opiates and alcohol were combined. The study, published in the journal Addiction several years ago, focused on deaths in New York between 1990 and 1998. “It’s essentially the toxic effect of two depressant substances in combination, being really hazardous,’’ said Wood, who is also a professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia, where he holds the Canada research chair in inner-city medicine He said the substances work on two different parts of the brain and shut down a person’s respiratory centre in the brain until their breathing starts to slow, then stops. “You’d be under the effects of the drugs to the point where you wouldn’t be aware or be able to call for help be-
cause you’d be sedated.’’ Such overdoses often happen when people are alone and have abstained from using drugs for a while, Wood said. “A very dangerous time for people to overdose is when they’ve come out of treatment,’’ he said. “Certainly the combination of alcohol and opiates is just a huge risk. “If he was alone and it appears he was using alcohol, those would be two dangerous combinations but of course the stigma and the shame around addiction often has that unintended consequence of driving people into an environment where they might be alone.’’ Heroin in Vancouver, often called China White, is typically strong and comes from South East Asia, compared to Los Angeles, where the drug tends to originate from Latin America and has the street name Black Tar, said Wood. Aiyanas Ormand, with the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, a group that advocates for better public policy around illicit drugs, said he couldn’t talk specifically about Monteith’s death. But he said VANDU has been lobbying for over a decade for city officials to test illegal drugs and release the findings about potency and what additives might be in them.
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“We don’t think that people should have to die because they’re addicted to drugs and aren’t sure of what they’re injecting into their bodies.’’ Ormand said the result of the drug war in a criminalized drug market is that people often don’t know what they’re getting. “Occasionally we’ll get a health warning—and it’s usually after there’s been a bunch of deaths—that there’s extremely pure heroin on the streets.’’ Ormand said seasoned heroin users would “taste’’ the drug first, meaning they would inject a small amount and get a sense of it. “Often where you get people OD-ing it’s with less experienced users or folks who have been in jail or detox and their body was once accustomed to much larger doses ... it can be deadly,’’ he said. A candlelight vigil for Monteith is planned for this Friday outside the Fairmont Pacific Rim. Before the coroners’ announcement, invitations to the evening were spreading on websites and blogs across the Internet. A separate vigil is also being planned for friends and fans of the actor on Friday at Maple Leaf Square in Toronto. ■ With a file from Camille Bains
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Alessandra De Rossi Rica Peralejo to give birth next year stars in Korean film Philippine Canadian Inquirer
BY KATHERINE MARFALTEVES Philippine Canadian Inquirer VERSATILE actress Alessandra de Rossi will conquer the international scene once again in the South Korean film “Mango Tree.” She joins Korean star Seo Jiseok, known in top TV shows like “Pure in Heart,” “Mr. Goodbye,” “Manny” and “Ireland” and films like “The Etudes of Love” and “The Bow.” The film is directed by Lee Soo-sung. “Mango Tree” is a romantic comedy which also features Hong Soo-ah, from the TV shows “The Great King’s Dream,” “I Believed a Guy” and “My Precious You” and films such as “101st Proposal,” “She’s on Duty,” “Face” and “My Wife is a Gangster 2.” Starring in international
films is not new to De Rossi. The Pinay actress has appeared in the 2005 Singaporean thriller “The Maid,” directed by Kelvin Tong, and in the 2009 Taiwanese comedy “Pinoy Sunday,” directed by Wi Ding Ho. De Rossi’s first Korean starrer was the 2011 ABS-CBN soap “Green Rose.” The show filmed scenes for ninedays in Korea. “A new working environment always excites me, even if that means I’ll be working with a foreign team,” says De Rossi. Some scenes in the film were shot in Cebu. The “Mango Tree” director says that the Filipino actress has a brief but important role in the film. “She is the reason that a young Korean comes back to the Philippines,” says director Lee Soo-sung. Richard Quan, another Filipino actor, is also in the cast. ■
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Dolphy to star in a mobile game Philippine Canadian Inquirer AS a way of living the legacy of the late comedian Dolphy, a game similar to “Angry Birds” and “Super Mario,,” will star no less than the “King of Comedy.” On. the eve of Dolphy’s first death anniversary, Eric Quizon, the actor-director son of the deceased comedy icon said that a foreign company offered them to create such a game, which will be available for smart phones.
Zsa Zsa Padilla, widow of Dolphy, is happy about the looming project for her late partner. She also encourages Dolphy’s fans to support the project, “Siyempre natutuwa ako. “Kasi konti lang ang mga Filipino apps, ‘di ba?” (Of course I am happy. Because there are only few Filipino apps, right?) At the moment, Filipino boxing icon and Saranggani Congressman Manny Pacquiao is the only other Filipino to star in a computer game. ■
ACTRESS Rica Peralejo will receive the best wedding anniversary gift next year—no less than a baby! Peralejo married Pastor Joe Bonifacio on January 29, 2010, and she is expected to give birth between January 26 to 31, 2014. The actress updates her blog with posts that include, how she discovered that she’s indeed pregnant and the progress of her pregnancy. She titled her blog post last June 5 as “6 Weeks and 3 Days Old,” which reads as: “A day before going to the doctor to check if I am really pregnant, I already did the home pregnancy test twice. Both tries came out positive. I couldn’t believe it. I mean isn’t it always a wonder, a puzzle, a mystery, how can we carry miracles in our bodies!?!?! What a privilege!” She also shared her joy upon seeing her baby’s heartbeat on her first checkup. Though she doesn’t crave for any food yet, she admits that she’s “exceptionally hungry at odd hours and always sleepy.” Just recently, she posted a photo on Instagram that tells people how she’s adjusting to her new condition: A bowl full of ice cubes which bears a caption: “ice therapy for the buntis (pregnant).” Rica, who is now 10 weeks and 10 days pregnant, will still make herself busy with meaningful things, such as conducting a series of talks in the U.S.,
PHOTO FROM FORUMS.SOOMPI.COM
Japan and Cebu, writing her newspaper column, updating her blog, overseeing house renovation projects, and engaging in other writing tasks. In 2011, Yahoo! Philippines OMG asked Rica if she feels any pressure of having a baby after getting married, and this was her reply: "A lot of people are saying that we need to take some time off and rest. We’ll see, we’re not pressured.” Leaving showbiz, Rica says,
allows her to have a “more peaceful” life. Now, she can focus more on her studies, and has more time for her husband. The 33-year-old actress is now more cautious about her diet and fitness routine; she adds that she’s also seeking advice from her friends who are moms already. Her pastor-husband is just as equally excited, having a tough time sleeping. Rica said that they are praying for a baby boy. ■
Phil and Angel love “Humanap ka ng Panget” (Find Someone Who’s Ugly) Philippine Canadian Inquirer IRONIC it is, but star couple Phil Younghusband and Angel Locsin love singing Andrew E’s song “Humanap ka ng Panget.” (Find Someone Who’s Ugly). At the launch of Smart Music last July 8 at the Bonifacio Global City, the Philippine Azkals midfielder said he likes www.canadianinquirer.net
the particular song because of its enticing rap part and he immediately cleared that he’s “not looking for anyone ugly." He added: “I enjoyed the melody more than the lyrics. It’s a funny song.” Younghusband, who once joined the defunct singing competition, “Celebrity Duets,” said he would rather sing in the bathroom. Apart from listening and
singing to Original Pilipino Music (OPM), he also said that he has been learning some Tagalog words, with his beautiful girlfriend, teaching him patiently. The newest Tagalog word he just learned from Angel, “Matipuno.” (Muscular). The relationship of the two is stronger than ever, but there will be no wedding bells yet for the lovely couple anytime soon ■
Entertainment
35 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Del Toro brings technical skill but little subtlety to big, noisy ‘Pacific Rim’ BY JOCELYN NOVECK The Associated Press IT’S one of the saving graces of “Pacific Rim,” Guillermo del Toro’s new mega-budget monsters vs. robots extravaganza, that at a key juncture, it knows how to make fun of itself. This welcome bit of comic relief amid all the crunching, smashing and groaning in 3-D comes just as the good guys—that would be the robots, or rather the humans operating the 25-story machines built to save humanity—have hit a snag. These massive, digitally controlled contraptions suddenly all fail at once. But then—eureka!—someone points out that one rusty old robot is analog. And so, in a movie that has spent some $200 million to boast the very best in state-of-the-art tradecraft, an analog machine saves the day,
at least temporarily. Ha! Holy retro technology. It’s too bad that del Toro’s film, a throwback to the Japanese Kaiju monster films made famous by “Godzilla,” doesn’t have many more such deft moments. Though it’s made by an obviously gifted director and will likely please devotees of the genre, it ultimately feels very short on character and long on noise, noise, noise. Did we mention the crunching, smashing and groaning? Happily, the plot is not convoluted (the script is by Travis Beacham and del Toro) and there’s at least one really cool concept, called “The Drift.” No, this doesn’t involve land formations. It’s the mind-melding that occurs between the two pilots of each Jaeger—that’s what they call the mega-robots that humans have built to fight the monsters rising from the sea. Subjected to a pre-flight “neu-
'Despicable Me 2' is another zany, if not quite as winningly despicable, escapade
PHOTO FROM FLICKR.COM
ral handshake,” the pilots are suddenly sharing brains, the better to command their robot. This leads to amusing dialogue, such as: “You know what I’m thinking?” Beat. “I’m in your brain!” That’s meant to be funny, but a later remark seems inadvertently so, when the hero balks at going back to battle: “I can’t have anyone in my head again!” The real action begins some seven years into the Kaiju offensive (and circa 2020.) The Jaeger program, once successful, is failing. Global defence authorities decide to drop it and go for a giant coastal wall. Didn’t they see “World War Z?” Ask Brad Pitt: Walls don’t keep out zombies, and they won’t keep Kaiju out, either. It’s back to the Jaegers. Enter jaded former pilot Raleigh Becket (a handsome but bland Charlie Hunnam). Raleigh lost his co-pilot and brother in a Jaeger fight, and is BY MICHAEL RECHTSHAFFEN
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES—Stealing the moon can be a tough act to follow, as reformed criminal mastermind Gru and the creative team behind the $540-milliongrossing 2010 smash “Despicable Me” discovered when it was time to dream up an encore. After all, it was no mean feat to successfully juggle all that lunar lunacy with a delightful companion plot involving a trio of orphaned girls who, in turn, steal Gru’s heart. While the new edition doesn’t quite catch that inspired spark, there’s still plenty to enjoy here courtesy of those zippy visuals and a pitch-perfect voice cast led by the innately animated Steve Carell. “Despicable Me 2” finds Carell’s Gru more or less embracing his newly domesticated life
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in no mind to share his, er, mind again. But humanity’s at stake. His new co-pilot is a young Japanese woman named Mako (Rinko Kikuchi) with a serious beef against the Kaiju. Showy supporting parts are played by Idris Elba as the impressively named commander Stacker Pentecost; Charlie Day as a manic, nerdy scientist (but not as funny as he could be); and Ron Perlman as a shadowy Kaiju-parts dealer. It takes a good hour for the real battle to get going. You’re glad when it does, but mostly, you wish the mind-melding concept had been mined more fully, especially since the scenes
inside people’s minds show, too briefly, another, subtler side of del Toro’s talents. One arresting flashback to Mako’s youth almost seems to come from a different movie—like the dloeperloeirector’s powerful 2006 “Pan’s Labyrinth.” Too bad del Toro doesn’t share a bit more of that terrific side of his moviemaking mind with us here. “Pacific Rim,” a Warner Bros. release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America “for sequences of intense sci-fi action and violence throughout, and brief language.” Running time: 131 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. ■
after adopting Margo (Miranda Cosgrove), Edith (Dana Gaier) and little Agnes (Elsie Fisher), even swapping his more nefarious activities for a startup jellyand-jam-making operation. But he soon finds himself in a stickier situation when he’s dispatched by the top-secret Anti-Villain League to track down the perpetrator of a fresh heist involving a ginormous electromagnet. Setting up an undercover operation in a mall cupcake shop, Gru is reunited with fresh AVL recruit Lucy Wilde (Kristen Wiig, formerly the proprietor of Miss Hattie’s Home for Girls), with his suspicions set on the gregarious owner of a Mexican restaurant (a terrific Benjamin Bratt), who bears a nagging resemblance to El Macho, a notorious villain believed to have perished while riding a shark into a volcano with 250 pounds of TNT strapped to his chest.
It’s those sort of details that lend the “Despicable Me” franchise an irresistible Looney Tunes-style nuttiness—one even more prevalent this time around in the absence of a more substantial plotline. Still, returning directors Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud and the returning writing team of Ken Daurio and Cinco Paul again maintain the energy at a brisk, buoyant clip, while Carell and the rest of cast add an extra layer of dimension to those expressively drawn characters. Those who foolishly opt to leave at the start of the end credits will be missing out on another entertaining 3D demonstration again led by a handful of those wacky Minions. “Despicable Me 2,” a Universal release, is rated PG for, according to the Motion Picture Association of America, “rude humour and mild action.” Running time: 98 minutes. ■
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
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Lifestyle
French teaching us ‘how great we are’
Hi’pag ritual sculpture
PHOTO BY CLAUDE GERMAIN/MUSÉE DU QUAI BRANLY
BY ALEX Y. VERGARA Philippine Daily Inquirer IRONICALLY, it took the French “to teach us how great we are,” noted Sen. Loren Legarda of the exhibit “Philippines: Archipelago of Exchanges,” at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris, which ends today. MUSEUM’S souvenir shop features items from the Philippines, including French versions of F. Sionil José’s novels and books on Philippine history and Filipino grammar. The three-month showcase of selected indigenous art pieces and ethnographic items at the Musée du Quai Branly in Paris is biggest and most substantial exhibition of precolonial Philippine artifacts ever assembled in the world, even in the Philippines. But the lessons of the onceina-lifetime exhibition have managed to inspire both its supporters and people directly involved in its staging. For one, exchanges between the Philippines and France, much like between Filipinos and their neighbors in preSpanish Philippines, have gone beyond the physical. Sen. Loren Legarda, Senate committee chair on foreign
relations and cultural communities, has been a very vocal supporter of the endeavor ever since Stéphane Martin, president of Musée du Quai Branly, briefed her about the project during a courtesy call he made in Manila three years ago. Paying homage The French government, which funded the project through its ministry of culture, has lately taken an interest in the Philippines, which, unlike France’s former colonies and their neighbors that used to make up what was then called Indochina, is little known in the country. “The arts of the Philippines are little known in France and rarely shown in their entirety and diversity,” said Martin in a previous interview. “We pay homage to these multiple artistic expressions.” Apart from the French, the exhibit also drew a considerable share of foreign visitors from other countries, said Philippine Ambassador to France Cristina Ortega. Summer, which began in June, is the start of France’s tourist season. “A t t e n d a n c e has been steady,” said Ortega, “but during Philippine Week (April 27-May 5), there were a lot of people. It was quite common to see queues leading to the venue almost daily.” The embassy was instrumental in staging workshops on Filipino cooking, dance and
PHOTO BY GAUTIER DEBLONDE/MUSÉE DU QUAI BRANLY
Tagalog lessons alongside the exhibition. Ortega even wanted to bring in an expert in arnis to introduce the French to the Philippine form of martial arts, but she couldn’t find one in time. Her office also helped fly in entertainers and some of the Philippines’ leading chefs during the exhibition’s opening week early April. “The reaction to the exhibition was fantastic,” Ortega said. “To them, it was a discovery of the Philippines. There have been considerable attempts on our country’s part in the past, especially when President Cory Aquino visited France early in her administration, to promote the Philippines here, but such efforts were sporadic. They weren’t sustained.” Lessons learned
Before this exhibition, for instance, most French people were unaware of how rich and diverse our pre-colonial heritage was. They also have this lingering impression of the Philippines’ closeness to America and Filipinos’ preference to do business with the United States and Japan over France, said Ortega. But learning is never a oneway street. The irony behind the warm reception the exhibition got from the French and other Europeans didn’t escape Legarda. “The Europeans are teaching
us to love ourselves,” she said. “The French have to teach us how great we are through this exhibit. Then again, deep in our hearts, we know we’re great. Let’s put a stop to selfflagellation because we’re beautiful, we’re rich and we’re talented.” When Legarda first learned that people behind the exhibition were producing a bound catalog of featured artifacts in French, she appealed to them to also do one in English. Since there were no funds for the English version, Legarda offered to finance it through part of her Priority Development Assistance Fund. “How many Filipinos can travel to France and see this exhibit within a three-month period?” she asked over lunch with Ortega and this reporter at the exclusive Cercle de l’Union Interallieé in Paris. “I want our culture, especially our precolonial past, to be understood, appreciated and recognized by all Filipinos, particularly our students.” Through the assistance of Ortega, who also helped oversee the exhibition’s grand opening attended by Vice President Jejomar Binay and French Prime Minister JeanMarie Ayrualt in April, Legarda ordered enough copies of the catalog to distribute for free to every state college and university in the Philippines. As a former broadcast journalist for 20 years, Legarda is
also aware that Filipinos are generally visual. She has also offered to write, edit and annotate pro bono an existing video about the exhibition, which will be uploaded on YouTube for everyone to see. The historic project, which saw Frenchwoman Constance de Monbrison, the exhibition’s curator, and her Filipino counterpart, anthropologist Corazon Alvina, former director of the National Museum in Manila, burning the lines and globetrotting to borrow and beef up available artifacts, took all of five years to complete. The exhibit
Minimalist in terms of presentation, the exhibit occupied a 2,000-sq m space designed by French architect Gaelle Seltzer. It is generally divided into three main sections: ethnographic or everyday pieces used by various indigenous peoples in the northern highlands of Luzon, including an impressive collection of wooden images of rice gods or bulul; costumes, ornaments, textiles and weaponry of headhunters and warriors from Northern Luzon and Mindanao; and various artifacts that highlight early Filipinos’ seafaring culture and how it left its mark among coastal villages in Palawan, Mindanao and Sulu. It is assumed that early Fili❱❱ PAGE 38 French teaching
Lifestyle
37 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
My grandma is reading ‘50 Shades of Grey’ BY PAM PASTOR Philippine Daily Inquirer IT STARTED in November last year, when I called my grandma while standing in the middle of National Book Store’s ShangriLa Mall branch. “La, I’m at National. Are there any books you want from here?” “Oo,” was Lola Charit’s immediate reply. “Yung sequel nung ‘Creep’ and yung ‘Painting the Town Grey’ ba yun?” I was stunned. Did she mean “50 Shades of Grey,” the surprise erotic hit from E.L. James? The first book of the popular BDSM trilogy that spawned a million mommy porn copycats? I hoped not. But minutes later, my 86-year-old grandma texted: “‘Freak,’ sequel to ‘ Creep’ by Jennifer Hillier. The other book is ‘Fifty Shades of Grey.’” Uh oh. House of books
Books are a big part of my relationship with my grandma. I grew up in a duplex with my parents and my paternal grandparents—it was a house that was always filled with books. Stephen King, Irving Wallace, John Grisham, James Patterson, Richard North Patterson, Nora Roberts, Robert Ludlum, Dean Koontz, Michael Crichton, Sidney Sheldon, Agatha Christie, Ken Follet, Tom Clancy—they all lived in the many shelves that lined our walls. My grandma jumpstarted my love for reading. Even before I figured out how to do it on my own, she used to read to me—everything from Greek mythology to stories from the Collier’s Junior Classics set that she bought for my dad and his siblings in the 1960s. When I learned how to read, I didn’t just devour my own books, I read everyone else’s. I even spent hours in my grandma’s attic, reading her back issues of Reader’s Digest from the ‘60s and the ‘70s. Because of that, and because she had gotten tired of me swiping her new copies before she could read them, every year, part of her Christmas gift to me was a subscription to Reader’s Digest. She’s always been supportive of my passion for words. When we’d go to the malls, she’d head to the supermarket and leave me behind at National Book Store where I filled a cart with books I wanted. She’d return, pay for them and I’d happily walk out of the bookstore, red bags bursting with Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, Lois Lowry, Nancy Drew, Enid Blyton, Roald Dahl and new titles about The Baby-Sitters Club and the Sweet Valley Twins. When I got older, it was my turn. I bought books for my grandma and I passed on titles I’d read that I think she’d like, from chick lit and sweet romances to memoirs, courtroom dramas and true crime stories. I’ve sent her books by Ruth Reichl, Nora Ephron and David Sedaris, Marian Keyes and Nick Hornby. Like me, she enjoys Sophie Kinsella’s Shopa-
lot of trouble. Why do you ask?” She sounded like she was enjoying the book and I realized then that how I felt about “50 Shades” didn’t matter—I was going to buy her the rest of the books in the trilogy if it would make her happy. Too erotic
holic series. We laugh about how we feel like wringing Becky Bloomwood’s neck sometimes. Over the years, we must have read hundreds of the same books. By now, choosing which books to send to her is a breeze. I know her literary tastes inside and out, I know exactly which books she would and wouldn’t like. Or so I thought. Because “50 Shades of Grey”? This was going to be the ultimate test for our otherwise harmonious two-person book club. Denial
I tried reading “50 Shades of Grey” when it first came out but I couldn’t finish it. I read 10 chapters in one night and woke up the next day with absolutely no desire to continue reading. I didn’t stop out of protest, I wasn’t shocked by the content, I wasn’t turned off by the sex. I’m no stranger to erotica—I read “Story of O” in high school, I buy anthologies like “Herotica.” I am not a conservative reader, I’m not conservative, full stop, I just didn’t like “50 Shades of Grey.” Weeks after my grandma’s request, I forced myself to finish reading “50 Shades” in ebook form. I really didn’t like it. But every single time I went to the bookstore (and I go to bookstores a lot) and every time I saw “50 Shades of Grey” staring up at me from the shelves, I felt guilty. And so two weeks ago, I finally relented. I bought Lola Charit a copy of “50 Shades of Grey” and I handed it to her along with Dan Brown’s “Inferno.” “Ano yan?” asked my dad, who had taken us out for lunch. She said, “Ito yung book ni Dan Brown na nagalit yung mga tao kasi sinabi niya gates of hell yung Manila.” (Yes, she is cool and always updated.) “Eh yung isa?” he asked. “Hay naku, si Lola, gusto magbasa ng bastos,” I said to him. “Talaga,” she said, without missing a beat. I’m not sure if she misheard me. I took a photo of her holding “50 Shades” and told her I was going to Instagram it. She laughed. The next day, I texted her. “La, have you started reading ‘50 Shades’?” Her quick reply: “Yup, very interesting! Parang I have an inkling about this guy Grey, I think our little heroine is in a
But that’s not going to happen. Because four days later, Lola Charit finished the book and when I asked what she thought of it, she sent me this text: “I like her style, straight to the point which makes the book easy reading. The story is a love story kaya lang, Pam, she went overboard on the sex issue! It is too erotic for my taste.” I asked her if she still wanted “50 Shades Darker” and “50 Shades Freed” and she replied: “How can I? Sayang, Pam, it could have been a beautiful love story if she did not let her imagination run wild. Imagine, except for 2 or 3 chapters, lahat about sex in detail in vivid colors, pang 3-D pa!” Dorian Gray
I asked her why she wanted to read it in the first place. Was it the hype? All the articles about it? “I wanted to read it kasi I remembered a film I saw years ago—’The Picture of Dorian Gray,’ a beautiful story. Ang gandang film, akala ko this control freak is my pitiful Dorian Gray! I had no
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idea I was holding a well-written porno!” Lola Charit said she first read “The Picture of Dorian Gray” when she was very young, during the Japanese occupation. “Walang magawa ang mga tao noon so we simply read and read! Want to know where we got our reading materials? A very enterprising young guy na puro pimples sa face.” The man opened a stall at the wet market in Blumentritt and allowed people to rent books. “Everyone went crazy there, unahan kami talaga kasi hindi masyadong marami ang books,” my grandma said. My grandma remembers fighting with a guy over a book—she was just 14 then. She was already holding the book when a tall guy claimed he saw it first. “Inis na inis ako sa kanya. I was so mad, hindi ko binigay! And I held on to that book for a long time, hindi bale na magbayad ako ng fine. Even the pimply guy got mad at me.” That tall guy she fought with? He ended up becoming her husband, my Lolo Osing, whowas also a big reader. Suddenly, everything made sense again. My grandma did not want E.L. James—she wanted Oscar Wilde. So I will get her a copy of his novel “The Picture of Dorian Gray” and then I’m sending her Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl.” Our happy little book club will carry on—this time without paddles and safe words. ■
Lifestyle
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 38
FAST FOOD FOR THOUGHT
French teaching...
Hodge-podge BY RUDY M. VIERNES
WE are enchanted to see athletes who half-consciously make a perfunctory cross sign when they enter the game. We observed this act of piety during a soccer match between two teams from South American countries whose players were undoubtedly Roman Catholics. Doing the sign of the cross purports to ask for divine help, that they play their best to win. We have on easy recall Filipino basketball-icon Robert Jaworski (who doesn’t know him among basketball-crazed Filipinos? He parlayed his superstar sheen to run for senator and he handily won!), who would show his religious fervor with a quickie cross sign as he checks into the court. But the next instant he is seen by the unerring TV camera smacking at the ribs of his guard, or throwing incoherent verbal jabs at the referee when whistled for an infraction. When the winners of sports events are interviewed they credit their winning to God, claiming the Lord was on their side. Which is a false claim. The members of the losing team had prayed just as devoutly for divine assistance. God wasn’t the reason for their loss or win. He let them play to win on their own. He doesn’t want to be a biased God. Dragging God’s name in vain is probably the most violated of the commandments. Sports is a battle of wit, stamina, brain and brawn. The first to blink loses. Not that God didn’t help them. The winners must have done their homework better, albeit have more savvy, sharper skills and stronger determination to win. Plus luck. The same is true with the winner of a beauty pageant who credited “Somebody up there” (pointing to heaven) for her victory. That’s again a false claim. Obviously she has what it takes to be a beauty queen. Beauty, brains, personality, plus luck again.
It isn’t correct to credit everything to God. A sage once said, “One reaps what he works for.” Or “God help those who help themselves.” Sermon on the Mount
They say that priests should not talk about money matters in their homilies, especially if they infer that not much is being contributed by parishioners. This could turn off churchgoers if they see signs of opulence in the personal life style of their pastor. If money matters are to be talked about during Church service let the treasurer of the parish do it. The priest should deliver his Sermon on the Mount, not Sermon on the Amount. I remember a priest in the Philippines who always laces his homilies with humor. This priest makes light of church contributions. He jokes that when there’s a big donation by the godfather during baptism or wedding the church bells peal loudly— TIBANG TIBANG. Tumiba ang abuloy. When the abuloy is pretty petty, the sacristan rings his little kampanilya lackadaisically—KATITING KATITING. But the joke helps. Tiba ang collection during that particular mass. It takes a little enterprise, use of imagination and metaphors. False Prayers
Reading the obituaries in the papers one will come across such declarations that the deceased has “Peacefully returned to the Creator,” “Joined Our Lord,” “Has gone to be with his God,” “Departed in the grace of God,” “ Has been re-
pinos’ mastery of the seas is tied to their ability to read and mark the constellations. This backdrop of stars, in turn, became De Monbrison’s visual peg in presenting an exquisite and finely crafted collection of pre-Spanish gold pieces sourced primarily from collections of the Central Bank of the Philippines and Ayala Museum. The French, who pride themselves on their tradition in the art of haute couture, were also most likely drawn to the section of the exhibit devoted to intricately beaded and hand-dyed ceremonial garments used by the elite of various indigenous groups in Mindanao. De Monbrison and her collaborators also paid homage to early Filipinos’ animist beliefs in the existence of supreme beings and the afterlife, with a subsection devoted to funerary objects, including a number of burial jars with huge, symbolic lids. Apart from tapping into their respective collections, both the National Museum and Musée du Quai Branly, led by De Monbrison, who’s also in charge of the latter’s Southeast Asian collections, borrowed pieces from the National Museum of Ethnology in Leiden, Museum fur Volkenkunde in Vienna, Museo Nacional de Antropologia in Madrid, American Museum of Natural History in New York, and the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. De Monbrison and Alvina also had to contact and borrow from known private collectors the world over. In fact, before the exhibition, a good number of the featured pieces had never been seen before in public. They had either been kept in museum archives or the living rooms of collectors for nearly a hundred years. ❰❰ 36
united with his Maker,” and such other wistful expressions. Then the living beseeches the pious readers to pray for the repose of the soul of the departed. Aren’t these entreaties false or superfluous? If their departed has joined his creator that itself is a perfect repose. Perfectly at peace with God. We know of a family in the home country who were well-to-do, who weren’t churchgoers. When the husband died the family put up a full-page obituary in the papers stating that “he has joined his Redeemer in heaven.” How did the family know? In life he has not been known as a charity giver or a “friend” of the Church. He was a miser to his employees, not giving them the minimum wage, not even remitting their SS contributions, much less his own. Unless he was like the penitent thief on the cross, or Sacchaeus the tax collector, Mary Magdalene the prostitute, or the prodigal son who, in restitution, all turned about face towards God at the end, this one could have gone straight to limbo or the doghouse. And no amount of entreaties for prayers, or of number of masses offered or candles lighted could save his soul. And a Joke
An old man saw a bottle on the table of his son. It says “Viagra.” He asked his son if he could try a pill. Yes, Dad, by all means, that will be ten bucks. The following morning the son saw a check of $110 on his desk. He told his Dad it’s only ten bucks. “It’s OK son, the ten bucks come from me, the 100 from your mother.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
Austronesian culture
One thing that struck De Monbrison while sourcing for and editing Philippine pre-colonial pieces for the exhibition was the richness, sophistication and diversity of the Philippines’ ancient Austronesian culture. “We decided to focus on preSpanish pieces because it is important for us to understand the Philippines’ first culture,” she said. “Of course, the Filipino culture didn’t begin with the arrival of the Spaniards.”
Although billed as a collection of preSpanish artifacts, certain pieces featured in the exhibit were made in the 18th, 19th and even early 20th centuries. But these artifacts, said De Monbrison, unlike those found in the lowlands, have remained free of any Western influences. “People, for example, living in the Cordilleras had managed to maintain their arts and traditions because they were isolated from the rest of the Philippines even during Spanish rule,” she said. She pointed to one of the bulul and marveled at its beauty, simplicity and subtle power to evoke awe and all sorts of emotions on its observers. “You can put this bulul beside the statue of a Roman virgin, and it can still hold its own,” De Monbrison said. To give Filipinos as well as foreigners who weren’t able to catch the exhibition a chance to see part of it, Legarda is thinking of tapping the National Museum to do a “mini Branly” in Manila. “Staging the entire thing in the Philippines would be too costly,” she said. “Insurance alone would be prohibitive. I want an exhibition featuring artifacts shown in Paris and destined for return to the Philippines. Even just one-third of the collection assembled in one place would be beautiful.” Rizal’s fabrics
At the same time, Legarda is working on having a collection of Filipino costumes made of native fibers, which once belonged to Philippine National Hero José Rizal, curated and exhibited in Germany. She learned about the existence of the pieces during a recent trip to the Ethnological Museum of Berlin. While studying in Heidelberg, Rizal became friends with Adolf Bastian, the Berlin museum’s founder, Legarda said. He later donated his collection of costumes to the museum. The pieces were just there in the archives because no one in the establishment is knowledgeable enough to curate them. “We know so many things about Dr. Rizal, but I never knew that he was also into indigenous tropical fabrics,” said Legarda. “Even then, he already had vision.” ■
Business
39 FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
Jollibee goes Modern Tropical A fresh, new start for the homegrown brand BY THERESA S. SAMANIEGO STARTING last year, some of the Jollibee stores in Metro Manila have begun sporting a modern, sleek design which was supposed to provide dining customers with a more “relaxing and homey ambience.” Jollibee vice president for real estate William Tan Untiong explains that these renovations were part of the company’s efforts to raise the bar in fast-food dining, without veering away from that familiar, homey feel that Pinoys across generations have come to love about Jollibee. Like a typical Filipino home that goes through various stages of renovations and refurbishment to keep up with the changing times, the country’s No. 1 “quick service restaurant” (QSR) isn’t, of course, going to be left behind. “We want our customers to always feel at home and we believe that the new store design will help us achieve that goal. The new store look shall serve as a reminder of fun and family done the Filipino way. In every store that they visit customers will be reminded of the warmth of being home,” Tan Untiong explains. “We want our stores to align well with the brand image of Jollibee which is fun, family and Filipino. We really wanted to create a design that resonates with the brand that is why wewent back to our roots—the nipa hut—but set in the modern days and we refer to this as ModTro or Modern Tropical,” he further says. For instance, a Jollibee branch in Amang Rodriguez, corner Marcos Highway in Pasig City, now features warm earth tones and is artfully punctuated by large windows with red lines, thus providing a smooth flow. This store, which opened only last year, also has an al fresco dining area that’s accentuated by bamboo trees for a more Zenlike atmosphere. Customers of this branch are greeted by a high ceiling that is further emphasized with natural lighting made possible through the big windows installed in the store.
The store’s interiors are further enhanced by the furniture used by its designers such as the plush seats that come in red, purple and pewter shades—all cozy enough to serve as a nook for groups of friends who want to lounge around and just bond. The tables’ neutral earth tones also give the store a classy and grounded appeal. Meanwhile, the store’s counter has been made out of a solidwhite block with small mosaics of red and yellow as base. According to Tan Untiong, Jollibee’s new look was first introduced in 2012 and so far, a total of 28 outlets have already been redesigned and given that “modern tropical vibe.” For this year, the company is targeting to redesign a total of 100 stores. Currently, Jollibee has a total of 765 stores in the Philippines, 39 in Vietnam, 13 in Brunei, 27 in the United States, 8 in Jeddah, three in Qatar and one each in Hong Kong, Kuwait and Singapore. “We can’t say for sure if we will apply this design to all our stores but we are continuously looking for ways to improve the overall look and feel of our stores to ensure that our customers will continue to have the best dining experience. Who knows, we might even come up with an even better concept one that is consistent with our thrust to be the leader when it comes to store design,” Tan Untiong discloses. It is not only the store’s facade, however, that is getting a facelift. According to Tan Untiong, all kitchens at Jollibee stores are also undergoing a major transformation. “A major breakthrough has also taken place at the back of the house. The new kitchen aims to provide high-quality and great tasting, every day delicious food that is synonymous to the Jollibee brand,” he notes, without disclosing much details. The bottomline to these changes is that they are all geared towards keeping the Jollibee brand at the top spot in the local quick service restaurant (QSR) league. This, Tan Untiong is ensuring, by making that all stores are strategically located in areas that are suitable, convenient and accessible
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to customers. As vice president for real estate, he also helps plan and design the stores to ensure that it will suit and cater to the needs and whims of diners. “All the major QSR brands in the country originated from the www.canadianinquirer.net
United States and its stores carried on its western appearance and this is precisely the reason why we are delivering this new look in our stores, one that is built on the brand’s Filipino heritage and goal to become the pride of the Filipinos,” Tan Un-
tiong explains. As the brand celebrates its 35 years in the food industry, Jollibee isn’t about to slow down anytime soon as the brand continues to gear up for further store expansions and renovations. ■
Sports/Horoscope
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 40
Chot’s final 12 is PH ‘A-team’ for Fiba Asia 19-man shoot squad BY MUSONG R. CASTILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer WITHOUT making specific reference to the hit fictional television series of the 1980s, Gilas-Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes describes his squad for the coming Fiba Asia Championship as the “A-Team.” “They are not a collection of the biggest stars in the PBA,” Reyes told the INQUIRER via a text message from New Zealand, hours after releasing his final 12 for the Manila World Championship qualifier slated Aug. 1 to 11. “This is A-Team,” Reyes added. “I think that’s what we have now.” Beau Belga of Rain or Shine was the last man to be cut as Reyes completed his roster that would try to finish at least third in the 16-nation event and make the World Championship in Madrid next year. “I wanted players who genuinely wanted to be in the team and are willing to sacrifice their vacation, family time and even their careers for the cause,” Reyes said. “I’ve never wavered from the team I wanted to build from
PHOTO FROM INQUIRER.NET
Day 1: quick, versatile (with) great outside shooters.” Naturalized 6-foot-10 center Marcus Douthit and reigning Jones Cup MVP LA Tenorio banner the squad that will clash with Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Chinese-Taipei in the first round of the preliminaries scheduled at Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay. The team winds down its preparations in a hectic stint in New Zealand against the host’s national team. The Filipinos started off with an 82-78 decision off the Hawke’s Bay Hawks at Hastings Sports Centre in Napier. PBA scoring champion Gary David, Larry Fonacier and Jeff Chan are the deadly shooters that Reyes is talking about with Ranidel De Ocampo, June Mar
Fajardo and Marc Pingris giving Douthit support in the middle. Gabe Norwood, Japeth Aguilar, Jimmy Alapag and Jason Castro will share the backcourt with Tenorio. The squad is in New Zealand to get some real-game exposure against club squads there, something Reyes had to do after the defending champion Filipinos were given the snub by the Jones Cup organizers in Taiwan. Gilas-Pilipinas would have had the chance to sample the Fiba Asia opposition in Taipei. “We hope to come back about 85 percent ready (for the Fiba Asia),” Reyes told the INQUIRER. As hosts, the Philippines had the luxury of choosing its group in the Fiba Asia. With Reyes electing to be in Group A, the Filipinos can avoid clashing with powerhouses China, Iran and South Korea until the knockout stages. But the Filipinos would have to top their two-round preliminary assignments to be able to have a light quarterfinal foe— possibly Kazakhstan—before drawing any of the three rocksolid countries in the Final Four—where a win would land them a slot in the Worlds. ■
heads for World Cup BY JUNE NAVARRO Philippine Daily Inquirer A CRACK team of Filipino shooters hopes to make an impact in the European-dominated World Rimfire and Air Rifle Benchrest World Cup set Aug. 116 in Plzen, the Czech Republic “They’ve practiced hard to prepare for this event. In fact, a world record was surpassed by one of the players in practice,” said Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia during the send-off for the 19man team at Manila Golf Club. The outstanding feat came fromRandy Paronda, whoregistered a perfect score of 750 with 64 Xs for the Heavy Varmint 25 event. The world record was 63 Xs. “When pressure kicks in, you will feel the tightness in your fingers. This sport is really a part of me because I was shooting before,” noted Garcia, a former rifle and pistol aficionado. Team captain Tony Olbes and Paronda will banner the squad that also include co-captain
Enchong Formoso, Louie Gonzalez, Bernadette Gan, Maria Parsons, Augsie Estrada, Toby Gan, Jimmy Maniwang, Nonie Alvero, Rafael Cruz Jr., Marlon Palmario, Felino Neri IV and Dondi Santos. Philippine National Shooting Association vice president Richard Fernandez said Francis Perez, Eli Canivel, Chim Esteban, Ronald Hejastro and Boy Rotea are also in tip-top condition for the 23-nation tournament. In the 2012 World Postal Match, Olbes, Paronda and Gonzales brought home a bronze medal for the team event with Paronda finishing fourth in the individual category, where over a hundred shooters competed. ■
HOROSCOPE ARIES
CANCER
LIBRA
CAPRICORN
(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)
(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)
(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)
(DEC 22 - JAN 19)
Today you glow, Aries. Different versions of yourself will melt and flow into one. Jump, your blood is bright with life. The old ways have nothing on which you can depend. You’re free from what you despise.
TAURUS
Get it before you let it get to you, Cancer. While everyone’s talking about the weather, look for focus, look for a map, and see how you can get from one to two.
Too much devotion can tear you apart, Libra. Don’t bite down too hard on the routine you’ve grown used to. A change of ways, a different road may serve best for emotional growth.
LEO
SCORPIO
(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)
(OCT 23 - NOV 21)
(APRIL 20 - MAY 20) You’ve been waiting for so long, Taurus, it’s time you throw yourself into it instead of wasting away. Even if you’re in over your head, everything could feel good and real if only you ask it of someone.
GEMINI (MAY 21 - JUNE 21) Are you doing it right, Gemini? You should ask someone to let you know. Take the moment to breathe in, breathe out and “feel it” even on an empty night. Someone will come and be with you while you’re dreaming.
Take a ride as a passenger late one night, Capricorn. See the bright dome of the sky, the stars that shine, the city and how it sleeps at night, the ocean. Sing and know that all of it is yours.
AQUARIUS (JAN 20 - FEB 18)
An army wouldn’t be able to hold you back today, Leo. You have the fight in you and everyone knows it. They see it coming from your eyes and you can feel it in your bones.
Don’t walk away, Scorpio. Even if it feels like the world’s crumbling down. You may be walking on the edge of the knife, but you’re hand-in-hand with someone in this life.
VIRGO
SAGITTARIUS
(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)
(NOV 22 - DEC 21)
You might feel like you’re losing your mind, Aquarius. If you’re walking on air and your head might collapse, go to the beach. Swim out at sea and watch fish darting from behind the coral.
PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20)
Go out tonight, Virgo. Drive your car like you never want to go home, and feel young and alive with the music and people around you. To see life is a privilege.
It’ll be a tough week ahead for you, Sagittarius. You’ll be glum from Monday to Thursday, but by Friday you’ll find something to love. Wait for it, and don’t hesitate. It’s a delightful surprise.
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You might feel weak today, Pisces. But eyes are upon you. Don’t lock yourself in, don’t fall for the trap, wait, and seek someone’s priceless advice before succumbing to complaints.
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
41
Travel
FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT, CANADA!
Pinoys in Canada Must See— “Flyover Canada” BY BABES NEWLAND
FOR someone like me who has this nasty combination of phobias such as claustrophobia (a fear of enclosed spaces), acrophobia (a fear of heights) and aviophobia (a fear of flying in an airplane), being charmed by my family into spending a good 30-45 minutes of virtual flight with them overlooking stunning landscapes of the country, was really a huge feat! With my eyes slightly closed, I calmly surrendered myself into buckling my seat belt while inhaling the mist of a
make-believe flight of the unknown. As it turned out, the journey was spell bounding. Literally breath-taking. After all, it is Canada’s first virtual flight where Vancouverites and guests are taken on a stunning tour of the country. Passengers are greeted by friendly and professional virtual pursers who requested everyone to orderly fall in line and not to push each other on the way. We were ushered in to our seats and requested to take off our flipflops (for those wearing them) and tuck our purses under our seats prior to take off. It was so surreal; it felt the closest thing to flying like a bird! This is a must-experience for anyone who think they have seen it all. Especially for Fili-
pinos living in Canada. Flyover Canada is something to take your families to on a good Saturday or Sunday afternoon; allages can ride like no other. You will take off into a huge domed screen with the latest in projection and ride technology creating a true flying experience. The flight may be short, but in encapsulates the most spectacular scenery from east to west that the country has to offer. High tech special effects and a beautiful original soundtrack all combine to make FlyOver Canada an unforgettable experience. Please do check out Flyover Canada at Canada Place, Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. ■ babescastronewland@gmail.com
Siargao beach, ranked among top 10 world’s best surf spots BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer HAILED by the Department of Tourism (DOT) as a “surfing mecca”, Siargao in Mindanao has been named among the top 10 surf spots in the world. In CNN Travel’s recently released list, “World’s 50 best surf spots”, Cloud Nine beach in Siargao, Siargao del Norte, was ranked (coincidentally, perhaps) 9th worldwide. Cloud Nine takes 9th, making it the only Philippine beach in the top 10 and only one of three Southeast Asian beaches in the top 50. Cloud Nine has gained acclaim for its thick, hollow tubes and right-breaking reef wave. It is the site of the annual Siargao Cup, a domestic and international surfing competition sponsored by the provincial government of Surigao del Norte.
“This dramatic and powerful reef break, which crashes onto shallow razor-sharp coral, offers right and left death rides,” CNN said of the top-ranked spot. The two other Southeast Asian beaches on the list are Uluwatu and Kuta in Bali, Indonesia (4th) and Lance’s Right in Sumatera Barat, also in Indonesia (10th). Oahu, Hawaii’s Pipeline beach took the number one spot, followed by Supertubes beach in South Africa, and Teahupo’o in French Polynesia ranking 2nd and 3rd respectively. Also deemed worthy of a spot in the top 10 were P-Passin the Federated States of Micronesia (5th), Maverick’s in California (6th), Hossegor in France (7th) and Puerto Escondido in Mexico (8th). The list was put together by those in the know: professional surfers and editors of Surfing Magazine, as well as editors of
CNN Travel. But there’s more to Siargao than superb swells. Although generally known as the “surfing capital of the Philippines”, the DOT reminds travelers everywhere that it is “not all about surfing.” On its website, the DOT highlights that the island is “also well known for game fishing. In fact, a game fishing event is held every summer,” adding that tuna, mackerel, marlin, and even crabs, squids, octopus, and sting rays abound off Siargao’s coast. Recently, the island was also named among the “25 emerging tourism hot spots in the country” by international consultancy firm Isla Lipana & Co. On its Philippine Gems site, the company said that “apart from surfing, Siargao is also open to other activities such as cave explorations and rock climbing.” ■
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Travel
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 42
Hidden gem of birds, berries and wine surprisingly close to urban rush BY CAMILLE BAINS The Canadian Press WESTHAM ISLAND, B.C.—A hidden oasis that seems far from the urban rush of Vancouver awaits visitors to tiny Westham Island, B.C., a mere 30 minutes south of the big city. Floating homes on one side of the partially single-lane wood-deck swing bridge into the community near Ladner, B.C., are the first sign of the calm that welcomes folks to farms, a fruit winery and one of Canada's most renowned bird sanctuaries. On this day, dozens of fruit lovers are busy plucking strawberries, raspberries and tayberries at several farms, where containers are brimming with the summer harvest. Raspberries, blueberries and gooseberries will entice people back in the weeks ahead. Down the road, at the Westham Island Herb Farm, owner Sharon Ellis toils in the field of artichokes, tomatoes, pep-
pers and cucumbers before it's time to pick the garlic. The 50-hectare property includes a barn built in 1916, a quaint general store with goodies such as purple basil jelly, mint chocolate soap and dandelion honey made by a local beekeeper. In an area called Herb's Place, named after Ellis's great-grandfather Herb El-
PHOTOS FROM WESTHAMISLANDHERB.CA
lis, thyme, lemon grass and tarragon are among the items for sale. And seedlings of leeks, kale, sunflowers and various varieties of squash—including acorn, spaghetti, stardust and butternut—are close by for the picking. For years, Ellis has invited school children to her farm, where donkeys, roosters, goats and a Scottish highland steer named Bucky await the sometimes astonished looks from kids who've never been to a farm. Educating children about the origins of food is a passion for Ellis, who says even parents tagging along on field trips often learn a few lessons during the tours she provides—often during a visit to the annual pumpkin patch. “I think that's the only way for people to realize you have to have farmland,” she says of raising awareness about locally grown produce. “You can import more food but I don't think that's the way to go.” On Sept. 15, Ellis's farm will host the Chef Survival Challenge Extreme, a fundraising event complete with kids' activities and a band to support the conservation of farmland. Ten chefs from the Vancouver area will run through obstacle courses—everything from diving under irrigation pipes and jumping over hay bales to a cheering crowd. Each chef will pick ingredients from the fields to create a dish and all the meals will be auctioned off. Up until this year, the event has been held at a farm in Victoria, but organizers hope it will spread across Canada and to
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other countries. At the Westham Island Estate Winery, owner Lorraine Bissett's customers often wander into her store on their way to the Reiffel Bird Sanctuary, a protected area for migratory birds. Fruit wines including snowgoose, strawberry rhubarb and black currant are a big draw at the store that's been a fixture since 2003 on the island where Bissett also owns one of 15 farms. “It was my husband's dream to open up a fruit winery,” she says. “However, he passed away before we opened.” The black currant wine seems to be particularly popular with Bissett's Russian customers. “You get your vitamin C and your buzz to boot.” At the home of beekeeper Don Cameron, who has about 50 hives, there's a sign in the driveway for honey-hunting drivers to honk their horn. Cameron, who moved from Toronto in 1996, says bee-keeping is a hobby that keeps him busy on the island that's an ongoing retreat. “It's surprising that people can live in the Vancouver area for 50 years and have never found it,” he says. The locals don't seem to mind that Westham Island is a well-kept secret. If you go
From Vancouver, drive south on Highway 99 and take the first exit after the tunnel, onto River Rd. South. Turn left on Elliott St., then right onto 47A Ave., which turns into River Rd. Turn right at sign for Westham Island. ■
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
43
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Summer
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 44
Spellbinding Siquijor...
Summer shopping...
most swimmers can jump off into the crystal blue waters from a height of about 15 feet. The sand may not be as fine as Boracay’s, but Salagdoong boasts of the most inviting waters you will ever see. Try Salagdoong Restaurant’s Salt & Pepper Chicken. This may very well be the best chicken dish in the island. Two to three people can enjoy a plateful of crispy, juicy fried chicken generously showered with toasted golden garlic and slivers of green pepper. The clean, fresh taste of the crispy chicken will compliment the almost fruity taste and texture from the pepper and kick of the toasted garlic. Enjoy the luxurious “water massage” at Cambugahay Falls. 136 steps from the main road in the town of Lazi, you will find the most enchanting series of waterfalls in the island, if not the country. Cambugahay Falls has three waterfalls cascading onto each other with varying depths. The topmost and bottom pools are quite deep, so if you’re not very confident with your swimming skills, it is best to stick to the middle pool. Near the edge of the bottom waterfall, you will find boulders that will perfectly hug your body when you sit down. This is nature’s “water massage.” Just lean back, close your eyes, and let the flow of the
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Jump off a cliff
water carry your stress away. Try the Bocayo bread from Aling Lucille’s roadside bakery. In the town of Enrique Villanueva, just along the coastal road, you will find the most unassuming food stall with the best bread in the island. Bocayo is a pastry filled with grated coconut meat cooked in brown sugar until extremely tender. Right out of Aling Lucille’s make-shift oven, the bread is brushed with evaporated milk, which seeps into the bread right away, making it creamier and even softer. It is wrapped in banana leaves and best eaten while it’s still warm. A visit to Siquijor isn’t complete without having a taste of these treats – delicious simplicity in a pocket of warm bread. In a sense, Siquijor is just like this bread: plain and simple on the outside, but bursting with surprisingly unforgettable stuff inside. ■
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tank tops and trendy dresses, printed pants and colorful blouses, he said, though it may be trickier to find what you want because the sales will not be storewide. Cohen recommends checking online for deals before shopping. While you’re making your way through the sale racks, style experts recommend keeping an eye out for clothing that remains in the fashion forecast for fall. Consider if a piece can be worn with boots instead of sandals. Can you swap shorts for dark pants? “It’s a great time to find things you’re going to wear for the summer months and a great time to look for things that will effortlessly move into your fall wardrobe,” said Ken Downing, senior vice-president/fashion director for Neiman Marcus. “I’m all about a great trend that has staying power.” Calling leather now a “365-day-ayear proposal in fashion,” his top pick is warm-weather leather, especially by way of a biker jacket. “Scoop up every biker jacket you can find on sale after July Fourth because rocker chic is the major message as we go into the fall season,” he said. “You can make it super girlie, you can make it tomboy. That biker jacket will take you everywhere.” For colour, think orange, a popular spring and summer hue that will work well in autumn with violets, reds and cranberries, Downing said. An orange handbag, he said, “pops everything in your wardrobe.” Distressed denim and peep-toe booties also make his “buy” list, and anything that follows the blackand-white trend. Old Navy is influenced by the buy-now, wear-now trend, with stores receiving new summer clothing into early July, Narayanan says, adding that stores will have summer items like denim cutoff shorts, peasant tops and bathing suits this month. “All of these are new stories, new ideas that the customer hasn’t seen earlier in the season, which gives you a reason to want to shop,” she said in a late June interview. “Summer has just started in most of the country, and we’ve still got two more months to go.” Narayanan suggests grabbing a pair of printed shorts on sale for a summer update along with a tunic or caftan to polish your poolside look. Consider maxi dresses and skirts that can move into fall with flat boots, she said, and if you’re a fan of denim-on-denim dressing, look for denim
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tops on sale. “Any denim jacket or vest, that’s a key staple,” she said. “It’s become the new cardigan.” While a hot designer boot or a blouse in a certain print may sell out before markdowns, Louise Roe, host of NBC’s “Fashion Star,” suggests shopping by category, like dresses, rather than searching for one special piece. “With sales, remember, it’s hit or miss,” Roe said. “Try not to have your heart set on a specific item because chances are, you might miss out or it might not be as discounted as it should be. It’s better to enjoy and be potluck.” Bright, printed tops in acid yellow, coral and fuchsia are good bets to wear again in autumn, Roe said. “Usually fall is all about dark colours, but this season we saw pops of bright colours,” she said. Classics like a blazer, a crisp white shirt or a leather pencil skirt are worth spending more on during a sale, along with luxury textures, she said. “Lace and leather have been huge for summer, and those fabrics are associated with winter usually,” Roe said. “You’ll be one step ahead of the game if you can snap them up in the sales.” Don’t be afraid to ask for further discounts, she said, and beware of old merchandise that gets brought back out for a sale. Cohen advised that if you find something you love, buy it and seek a price adjustment if possible during a sale. “If you wait for prices to go down later,” he said, “the item is going to be gone.” ■
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013
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Canada
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2013 46
Karamihan sa mga bagong-dating sa Canada ay hindi kumpiyansa sa kanilang pangpinansiyal na kaalaman: RBC Poll Ang mga maling pakahulugan tungkol sa credit ay nananatili sa mga bagong imigrante ANIM-SA-10 na mga bagong-dating (60 porsiyento) na dumating sa Canada noong nakaraang taon ay nagsasabi na sila ay kulang sa pang-pinansiyal na kaalaman, kasama na rito kung paano magtayo at magtatag ng credit sa kanilang unang taon ng pamumuhay sa Canada, ayon sa RBC Newcomer Financial Attitudes Poll. Sa mga nanirahan na sa Canada sa pagitan ng dalawa at limang taon, 92 porsiyento sa mga mas bagong Canadian ay nakitang humusay ang kanilang pang-pinansiyal na karunungan sa mga opsyon sa paghiram. “Mayroon tayong oportunidad para sa mga bagong-dating sa Canada na mapahusay ang kanilang pang-unawang pang-pinansiyal sa kanilang unang pagdating at mayroon tayong tungkulin na dapat gampanan na tiyaking sila ay makakuha ng tamang payo mula sa unang araw pa lamang,” ayon kay Paul Sy, direktor ng Multicultural Markets, RBC. “Ang pagtatatag ng isang matibay na marka sa credit ay mahalagang tulong sa iyong maging matatag sa Canada, partikular na sa pagdating ng panahon na bibili ng kotse o isang tahanan ng pamilya.” Sa unang taon nila sa kanilang bagong tahanang bansa, kaunting mga bagongdating ang naniwala na ang paggamit ng credit card ay makakatulong sa kanilang magtatag ng isang tala ng kredito (siyam na porsiyento) o ginagawang mas maginhawa ang buhay (12 na porsiyento). Pero sa paglipas ng panahon, ang mga bagong-dating na ito ay mabilis na nakakapulot ng pang-pinansiyal na kaalaman, habang sila ay nakikisama sa kanilang mga komunidad at natututong gumamit ng credit nang responsable. Para sa mga imigrante na tumira na sa Canada ng dalawa hanggang limang taon, sila ay mas malamang na sasang-ayon ngayon na ang mga credit card ay ginagawang mas maginhawa ang buhay (59 na porsiyento) at madaling gamitin ang isang credit card para tumulong na magtatag ng isang Canadian na tala ng kredito (54 na porsiyento). “Sa ekonomiya at sa lipunan, nasa pinakamabuting interes ng Canada
na ang mga mamimili ay maging marunong sa pinansiyal at maging kasanayan nila ang mga mabubuting pang-pinansiyal na kagawian,“ ayon kay Sy Pag-alis sa mga katha-katha ng credit para sa mga bagong-dating
Marami pa ring mga maling pakahulugan pagdating sa paggamit ng credit para sa mga bagong-dating sa Canada at nilinaw ni Sy ang mga sumusunod: Katha: Sa Canada, ang iyong tala ng kredito ay apektado ng iyong edad, kita at kasarian. Habang mas tumataas ang kita ng isang tao, mas bubuti ang tala ng kredito ng taong ito. Katotohanan: Ang iyong tala ng kredito ay nakabatay sa rekord ng iyong responsableng pamamahala ng iyong mga pananalapi. Ang mga tagapagpahiram ay tumitingin sa kung paano mo pinapangasiwaan ang iyong mga obligasyong pang-pinansiyal, tulad kung ikaw ay nagbabayad ng iyong mga buwanang bayarin sa tamang panahon, nagkakabalanse, o regular na pumapalya sa mga pagbabayad. Katha: Ang isang tao na may maraming mga ari-arian sa kanilang lupang tinubuan ay magkakaroon ng mas mabuting tala ng kredito. Katotohanan: Kahit na ang mga ariarian ay parte ng
ekwasyon, ang mga tagapagpahiram sa Canada ay tumututok din sa nangyari sa iyong mga nahiram sa Canada para tasahin ang iyong pagiging karapat-dapat sa kredito. Kaya mahalagang maitatag mo ang iyong Canadian na credit profile sa umpisa pa lang, lalo na kung may mga plano ka para sa malakihang mga pamimili, tulad ng isang bahay o kotse, na karaniwang nangangailangan ng pangungutang. Kahit ang mga mas maliliit na transaksiyon, tulad ng pag-upa ng matitirhan o pagbili ng isang cell phone, ay madalas na nangangailangan ng isang credit check. Katha: Kapag ikaw ay nagpakasal, ang inyong mga marka ng kredito ay pinagsasama. Katotohanan: Ang mga marka ng kredito ay batay sa mga indibiduwal. Anumang pinagsamang application para sa isang utang ay tatasahin sa mga credit profile ng parehong magkabiyak. Gayun din, anumang negatibo o positibong pag-uulat ay makikita sa bawat marka at maaaring maka-apekto sa inyong pagiging aprubado o sa termino ng inyong utang. ■ Para higit pang malaman kung paanong tumutulong ang RBC sa mga bagongdating para maging pinansiyal na handa sa buhay sa Canada, mangyaring bisitahin ang: www.rbc.com/canada/index.html.
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