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CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER www.canadianinquirer.net

VOL. 2 NO. 156

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Muslim rebels return rifles of fallen commandos

Boracay is 2015 best beach in Asia

Look who's behind oust-P-Noy effort

TO Police need help with mystery tunnel

Pac and Mayweather finally deliver

It’s on: Floyd Mayweather says he and Manny Pacquiao to meet May 2 in richest fight ever BY TIM DAHLBERG The Associated Press PEACE IS THE ANSWER. Members of several Moro groups make the peace sign with their fingers during a rally at the Golden Mosque in Quiapo,

Manila on Friday. The Moro groups denounced war as a solution to the hostilities in Mindanao, and urged Congress to proceed with the hearings on the Bangsamoro Basic Law that has been on hold since the bloody Mamasapano clash of Jan. 25. JOAN BONDOC

Protesters converge on Edsa vs P-Noy BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO AND MARICAR B. BRIZUELA Philippine Daily Inquirer “THIS IS the only Aquino who is afraid of people power... what is he afraid of?” Former Tarlac Gov. Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco was referring to her nephew, President Aquino, who was

the object of protest rallies staged in commemoration of the first day of the 1986 Edsa People Power uprising yesterday. Her husband, former Tarlac Rep. Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr., described as an “overkill” the way policemen barred them from joining groups calling for

Fil-Can in Focus: Ricky Cuenca

THE FIGHT is finally on. Floyd Mayweather Jr. will meet Manny Pacquiao on May 2 in a welterweight showdown that will be boxing’s richest fight ever. Mayweather himself announced the bout last Friday after months of negotiations, posting a picture of the signed contract online. “I promised the fans we would get this done and we did,” Mayweather said. The long anticipated bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas will almost surely break every financial record, and make both boxers richer than ever. Mayweather could earn $120 million or more, while Pacquiao’s split of the purse will likely be around $80 million. The fight, which matches boxing’s two biggest attractions of recent years, has been in the making for five years. It fi-

❱❱ PAGE 26 ❱❱ PAGE 13 Protesters converge

❱❱ PAGE 44 It's on

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Student marchers call for P-Noy resignation BY NATHANIEL R. MELICAN Philippine Daily Inquirer ABOUT 300 students from different colleges and universities in Manila are urging President Aquino to resign for his handling of the police debacle in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, and other issues of national importance. Wearing crapes and white shirts with the hashtag #NasaanAngPangulo printed on them, the students marched from Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park to the Archdiocesan Shrine of Nuestra Señora de Guia Parish, or Ermita Church, on Monday morning, calling for truth, justice and accountability for the deaths of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos in clashes with Moro rebels in Mamasapano on Jan. 25. “We are still looking for the President and his presence and leadership in the Mamasapano massacre,” said Lianne Timenia, spokesperson for the Youth

Action Now group that orga- that he cannot be a leader. He them just last week,” Magsayo nized the march. hasn’t owned up to his par- said. The group is composed of ticipation a month after the He was referring to reports by students from Eulogio Amang incident, and then he goes to the families of the slain policeRodriguez Institute of Science the families of the killed SAF men that Mr. Aquino was laughand Technology, ing and smiling Colegio de San while they were Juan de Letran demanding anand Universidad swers and jusde Manila. [Mr. Aquino] has shown us that tice for their lost The group’s loved ones. head, Lloyd he cannot be a leader. He hasn’t The relatives Magsayo, said said that at one a month had owned up to his participation a point, the Presipassed since dent responded the Mamasamonth after the incident, and then to questions by pano incident, asking the famiwhich also led he goes to the families of the killed lies if they played to the deaths of video games, and 18 Moro Islamic SAF members and ridiculously that they were Liberation Front now on equal (MILF) fightand sarcastically responds to their footing with him, ers and five cias he also grieved vilians but the questions when he talked to them for his father, President had Benigno “Ninoy” yet to own up to just last week. Aquino Jr., who his direct parwas assassinated ticipation and in 1983. command in the Magsayo notdisastrous police operation to members and ridiculously and ed that the Mamasapano clash take down two terrorists. sarcastically responds to their was not the first matter of grave “[Mr. Aquino] has shown us questions when he talked to and national concern that Mr.

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Aquino had botched. “He also failed to take the lead in the aftermath of Supertyphoon ‘Yolanda,’ (international name: Haiyan) and [failed] to spend the budget [as] appropriated, [resorting instead to] the Disbursement Acceleration Program,” he said. “The President has proven he is incapable and incompetent. So we urge him to resign now,” he said. On reaching Ermita Church, the group offered Mass for the achievement of truth and justice through the Mamasapano investigation. The Mass was also held in observance of National Migrants Sunday. Timenia said Youth Action Now would participate in the 29th anniversary celebration of the People Power Revolution, or Edsa 1 at Ortigas on Feb. 25. “We will carry on our protests until we get the truth, hold someone accountable, give justice and make Aquino resign over the Mamasapano massacre,” Magsayo said. ■

Philippine News

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FRIDAY

Board of Inquiry to call P-Noy Muslim rebels return BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer

Kept in dark

Earlier reports said the President, along with resigned PNP Director General Alan Purisima, had knowledge of the ill-fated operation led by since relieved SAF chief Director Getulio Napeñas, but that Espina and Roxas were kept in the dark about it. The botched mission to arrest two highprofile terrorists led to the deaths of 44 SAF commandos, 18 Moro rebels and five civilians. Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli Bin Hir alias “Marwan” was also killed, but his associate, Filipino terrorist Basit Usman, managed to slip away. Police Director Benjamin

over by the MILF are now with the PNP crime laboratory for ballistic tests and forensic examination. The returned items will be part of its investigation, the BOI said of the 13 M4 rifles, two machine guns and the upper receiver for an M4 rifle. A cell phone returned by the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao police regional office is now with the Anti-Cybercrime Group for digital forensic examination.

THE BOARD of Inquiry (BOI) last Friday signified its intention to interview President Aquino and get his statement on what he knew about the illfated police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, on Jan. 25. But a source said it would be up to the President to decide if he would give a statement to the BOI. A clearer picture Another source, who deThe BOI is scheduled to go to clined to be named for lack of Mamasapano, Maguindanao, authority to speak to media, this week to conduct an onsite said the BOI, composed of the survey and interview key perPhilippine National Police ofsonalities from the AFP and the ficials, also wantMILF, “to [get] a ed to get the clearer picture of statements of the actual events Interior Secreand to validate tary Mar Roxas, It would be up to the President to the claims, asserArmed Forces of decide if he would give a statement tions and allegathe Philippines to the BOI. tions regarding Chief of Staff the incident.” Gen. Gregorio Consolidated Pio Catapang Jr. medico-legal and PNP officer reports on the in charge Deputy Director Gen- Magalong, BOI chair, earlier victims showed that nine SAF eral Leonardo Espina. said the inquiry was almost fin- men died of gunshot wounds to n its third progress report ished and the final report, due the head, 18 suffered gunshot submitted on Friday to Espina, at the end of the month, would wounds to the head, trunk and the BOI said three of the 346 be submitted to Espina, Roxas extremities, and 17 died of gunsurviving Special Action Force and the President. shot wounds to the trunk and (SAF) commandos had yet to extremities. submit their statements on the Ballistic tests All of the police commisincident, and that more than The BOI held meetings last sioned officers died of gunshot 400 witnesses had been inter- week with the Operational Au- wounds to the head, except for viewed since the body’s credit Team to discuss the SAF Senior Insp. Max Jim Tria who ation on Jan. 26. operation from its planning, ex- died of gunshot wounds on his The progress report also ecution and termination, dur- extremities. mentioned the turnover of the ing which the police commanThe BOI earlier said three firearms taken from some of dos clashed with Moro Islamic of the victims had gunshot the 44 fallen commandos, and Liberation Front (MILF) and wounds in their trunk, an ina planned ocular investigation Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom dicator their bullet proof vests in Mamasapano from Feb. 24 Fighters guerillas. may have been removed before to 26. Meanwhile, the guns turned they were shot. ■

The Board of Inquiry wants to interview President Aquino to get a statement on what he knew about the police operations in the Mamasapano incident, but in the end it is up to the President if he wants to grant such an interview. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

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16 assault rifles of slain Filipino police commandos to save peace deal THE ASSOCIATED PRESS COTABATO, PHILIPPINES — Muslim guerrillas returned to the Philippine government Wednesday at least 16 assault firearms of police anti-terror commandos who were killed in what the insurgents say was a “misencounter” that has stalled a new peace deal. Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebel Rasid Ladiasan said the handover of the firearms to government officials in a military camp in the south was meant to show the insurgents “want peace.” A cellphone was also given back by the insurgents, and at least one more rifle from the slain policemen will be returned by the rebels later, he said. President Benigno Aquino III has asked the rebels to return the slain commandos’ weapons and help government forces hunt down terror suspects in the south. “We want to show our sincerity and our commitment to the peace process,” Ladiasan said by phone. “The police and military are no longer our enemies. There has been no fighting for three years, but what happened was really unfortunate and beyond our control.” “In war, we all lose,” rebel leader Mohagher Iqbal said during a ceremony in which the rebels handed back the firearms. Presidential adviser on the peace process Teresita Deles said the rebels’ decision to return the firearms showed that the 11,000-strong Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s leaders have control over their fighters, who traditionally don’t return weapons they seize in gunbattles. “It’s a show of good faith,” Deles said. The police commandos reportedly killed one of Southeast Asia’s most wanted terror suspects, Malaysian Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, in a Jan. 25 raid in the marshy outskirts of southern Mamasapano town. But as they withdrew, the policemen got entangled in two

gunbattles with Muslim rebels and other armed groups in the far-flung region, killing 44 of the commandos. At least 18 Muslim rebels and three villagers were killed, police said. The huge police casualty toll — the government’s biggest single-day combat loss in recent memory — angered many, including lawmakers, who have suspended committee hearings on a proposed law that will create a more powerful autonomous region for minority Muslims in the south under a peace deal signed by the government and the Moro rebels last year. But a cease-fire under the peace deal actually worked to prevent more casualties when foreign and Filipino peacekeepers intervened and managed to ease the fierce Mamasapano clashes. They also arranged the safe retrieval of the slain commandos from the two scenes of the gunbattles after the clashes, officials said. The United States, Russia, Australia and several other governments have renewed their support to the peace process in the south and have also condoled with the families of the slain commandos. Police commanders who oversaw the anti-terror raid have acknowledged in congressional hearings that they did not effectively notify the Moro rebels about the raid as required under the cease-fire to prevent accidental clashes. A police commander involved in the assault also has acknowledged in a congressional inquiry that he and other police officials did not notify the military and an acting national police chief before the assault was launched. That prevented the military from rapidly providing combat support to the commandos who were surrounded by an overwhelming number of insurgents. Aquino has suggested that the anti-terror raid should have been aborted when the planned night assault unraveled not according to plan. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

President downgrades celebration of Edsa I BY AMANDO DORONILA Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT AQUINO has downgraded the 29th anniversary celebration of the Edsa People Power Revolution on Wednesday amid calls from the streets for his resignation over his mishandling of the Jan. 25 massacre of 44 Philippine National Police commandos by Moro guerrillas in Mamasapano. Five days ahead of the anniversary of the overthrow of the 14-year Marcos dictatorship, Malacañang on Saturday declared the Feb. 25, 1986 revolt, merely as a “special holiday for schools only”—seen as an attempt to preempt the streets from developing into a mass movement to topple his fiveyear regime amid unrest in the security forces and civil society groups, and reports of alleged coup plots against the government. Apparently in response to these reports, Malacañang has been forced to take measures to try to avert the unrest, widely reported in the mass media in the aftermath of the heavy casualties the PNP Special Action Force suffered in the blundered operation in Maguindanao province, from snowballing into another people power revolution. The security services have declared their loyalty to their Commander in Chief despite his failure to take chain of command responsibility for the fiasco of the military-police operation against the guerrilla forces linked to Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), with which, the government has signed an agreement to establish an autonomous Bangsmoro substate within the framework of a democratically elected republican state, also within the national territory of the independent Philippine Republic. But the resurgence of coup plots against President Aquino, 29 years after Edsa 1986, haunts him because during the presidency of his mother, Cory Aquino, who was installed in the People Power Revolution, sparked and backed by a military revolt against the Marcos regime, her administration was threatened by up to six coup attempts.

Vice President Jejomar Binay graces the wreath laying ceremony at the Libingan ng mga Bayani with Former President Fidel V Ramos, Lt Gen Hernando DCA Iriberri, EDSA People Power Commission Commissioner Cesar Sarino, and DND and PNP Officials. CPL. JABER JABALDE / OACPA

Troops warned tions.” These coup attempts may The PNP spokesperson, have left deep traumatic scars Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr., Schools only event on the President and insecurity said: “Our citizens are free to According to a Palace statefrom a military-police appara- conduct protest actions as long ment, despite the efforts of tus seething with anger over as they have the required per- the administration to reduce their belief that the adminis- mits to rally, (but) if they invite the scale of the commemotration’s ineptitude in handling uniformed personnel, that’s a ration to an “schools only” the operation to rid Mindanao different story.” Those in the event, the President would of terrorists led to the slaugh- PNP cannot join antigovern- (nominally) lead the program ter of the troops in the Mama- ment rallies, he said, and these centered at the Edsa Shrine at sapano encounter with armed should not have armed compo- the perimeter walls of Camp groups linked to the separatist nents. Aguinaldo, the headquarters MILF. He issued the statement in of the Department of National The irony that Defense. the Cory Aquino There, then administration Defense Secrehad been hostage tary Juan Ponce to coup attempts Malacañang on Saturday declared Enrile and Philappears to have the Feb. 25, 1986 revolt, merely as a ippine Constabbeen hard to “special holiday for schools only”— ulary chief, Lt. erase from the seen as an attempt to preempt the Gen. Fidel Ramind-set of the streets from developing into a mass mos, announced insecure incummovement to topple his five year their breakaway bent President. regime. on Feb. 22, 1986, In a manifestaat 6:45 p.m. tion of the destaRamos debilizing effects of clared then: the public rift between the na- reaction to planned protests “We are withdrawing our suptional police and military in the during the Edsa anniversary in port for Mr. Marcos and all Maguindanao operation, PNP Metro Manila, which organiz- his cohorts, in view of the fact officials warned at the weekend ers claimed would lead to an that we no longer perceive his their members may not join Edsalike uprising. proclaimed presidency and multisectoral protest actions The statement warned: “We, the rest of his government as during the Edsa anniversary on as uniformed personnel, are in representing the people. They Feb. 22 to 25. government service. It would are not to me already the duly The warning is also a symp- be dangerous for us (to join the constituted authorities of this tom of the vulnerability of the event). Once there are armed country under Constitution…. present Aquino administration people in a rally, that’s a prob- I am calling on on all members to a burgeoning unrest in the lem. That’s why we prohibit our of the Armed Forces of Philipstreets. men (from joining) such ac- pines and Integrated National Traumatic scars

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Police to disobey all illegal of whoever gives them…. And I consider any assault on the people, the firing upon unarmed and unprotected civilians as partaking of illegal orders.” Defining moment

That was the moment when people in the streets believed that the Armed Forces were truly on their side. From that moment, the Marcos regime crumbled swiftly. As soon as they ended their statements, heavily armed soldiers entered the conference room, moving in boxes of weapons and ammunition. The men wore fatigue camouflage uniforms, with shoulder patches of the Philippine flag, turned upside down, the red side on top. This meant the Armed Forces were at war against a hated regime. Within hours, the archbishop of Manila, Jaime Cardinal Sin, spoke on Radio Veritas, calling on the people to support Enrile and Ramos. Soon after, the people flocked to the streets in a human flood going to the military camps to protect the rebels from reprisal from loyalist Marcos armored units. That was the moment when people power took control of the streets around Camp Crame. ■

Philippine News

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FRIDAY

Boracay is 2015 Traveller’s Choice Awards’ best beach in Asia BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency MANILA — Never failing to impress tourists for its picture-perfect view, Boracay on Tuesday was named as the best beach in Asia by the world’s largest travel website, TripAdvisor in its 2015 Traveller’s Choice Awards. Boracay’s White Beach to be specific, received the top rank for its “calm, warm waters, gently sloping sand,” which the site described as “very relaxing” and “possibly the most beautiful beach in Asia.” The site also noted that the best time to go to Boracay, which has also been dubbed as Asia’s 24/7 Island, was during peak season on the months December to May. Also making it to the list of best beaches were the Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach) also

in Boracay, Aklan ranking fifth and the Secret Lagoon Beach in El Nido, Palawan ranking 16th. The Department of Tourism (DOT) on its official Facebook and Instagram accounts, meanwhile, welcomed the country’s newest achievement. “What makes this recognition significant is because the list of award-winning beaches is determined based on the quantity and quality of millions of traveller reviews and ratings for beaches on TripAdvisor, gathered over a 12-month period,” the DOT said. “Summer in the Philippines is coming fast and make sure Boracay is in your bucket list,” it added. The full list of ‘best beaches in Asia’ are as follows: 1. White Beach in Boracay, Aklan 2. Radhanagar Beach in Havelock Island, Andaman and Nicobar Islands

3. Nai Harn Beach in Rawaii, Thailand 4. Ngapali Beach in Ngapali, Myanmar 5. Yapak Beach (Puka Shell Beach) in Boracay, Aklan 6. Agonda Beach in Agonda, India 7. Railay Beach in Railay Beach, Thailand 8. Kata Noi Beach in Karon, Thailand 9. Phra Nang Beach in Ao Nang, Thailand 10. Otres Beach in Sihanoukville, Cambodia 11. Palolem Beach in Canacona, India 12. Varkala Beach in Varkala, India 13. Nusa Dua Beach in Nusa Dua, Indonesia 14. Mandrem Beach in Mandrem, India 15. Yonaha Maehama Beach in Miyakojima, Japan 16. Secret Lagoon Beach in El Nido, Palawan

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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

17. Cavelossim Beach in Cavelossim, India 18. Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An, Vietnam 19. Sunrise Beach in Ko Lipe, Satun Province 20. Haeundae Beach in Busan, South Korea 21. Thong Nai Pan Noi in Ko

Phangan, Surat Thani Province 22. Dhanushkodi Beach in Rameswaram, India 23. Yalong Bay in Sanya, China 24. Nishihama Beach in Hateruma-jima Taketomi-cho, Yaeyama-gun 25. Benaulim Beach in Benaulim, India. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Senator Poe says operation poorly planned as Senate wraps up investigation on Mamasapano incident BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — After five hearings, Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, said Tuesday that the Senate will have to wrap up its investigation on the Jan. 25 anti-terrorist operation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Poe said the Senate will prepare a committee report that would include necessary legislation including the proposed PNP Modernization Program which remains pending in Congress. ”In closing, these hearings have necessarily focused on the undeniable lapses in the conduct of operations leading to 44 deaths of the PNP-SAF. It appears that the operation was poorly planned from the start to make matters worse, there was an undeniable breakdown of both leadership and command and control in the PNP,” Poe said. Poe said it is clear the lack of coordination among the concerned officials both from the PNP and the AFP should be addressed both by the executive and legislative branches of the government. ”In the joint committee report that we are preparing, the committees will propose legislative actions necessary to avoid repetition of this incident in the future,” she said. Poe also thanked all the concerned individuals from the government and from the leadership of the MILF for cooperating throughout the five public hearings. During the hearing, resigned PNP chief Alan Purisima con-

firmed that President Benigno S. Aquino III ordered him to specifically inform acting PNP chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina about the Oplan Exodus. ”I confirmed that the order was given to me by the President,” Purisima told Senate President Franklin Drilon during Tuesday’s continuation of the Senate inquiry in the Mamasapano incident. ”The order was given to you by the President but you only informed him after the operation was launched already?” Drilon asked again Purisima. Purisima answered: “Yes your honor.” Purisima, who was then a suspended PNP chief, claimed only the accountability to delegate the authority to PNP Special Action Force (SAF) chief Director Getulio Napenas. ”The responsibility and accountability rest on me because I have delegated that authority to SAF director. The accountability rest on me to delegate authority to Napenas,” Purisima when asked by Senator Loren Legarda who headed the Oplan Exodus. Napenas, for his part, acknowledged that he has been delegated to carry out the operation plan that, he said, all emanated when the intelligence packet was given to him by Purisima at 10:00 p.m. on November 10, 2014. ”After we prepared the operation plan, we had it approved by the PNP chief Gen. Purisima who then was still active,” Napenas said. Napenas insisted that he just followed the advice of Purisima not to coordinate with acting PNP chief Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina and Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II as well as with Armed

”In closing, these hearings have necessarily focused on the undeniable lapses in the conduct of operations leading to 44 deaths of the PNP-SAF," said Senator Grace Poe, on the wrapping up of the hearings on the Mamasapano incident. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff Gen. Pio Catapang Jr. ”I wish that I could have been given that authority (to coordinate) because otherwise I will be bypassing the OIC PNP,” Napenas told Legarda when asked why he did not coordinate with AFP and Espina way ahead of the mission. The relieved SAF chief told the Senate panel that President Aquino commented during a January meeting, telling Purisima to coordinate with Espina, Roxas and the AFP. ”It was a comment during that meeting that coordination shall be made to the AFP your honor. It was clear that coordination with AFP should be undertaken,” Napenas said. For Roxas, whether the instruction of Purisima was advice or order, “there was an overt attempt or effort to keep this away from the OIC PNP chief (Espina) and from the DILG chief. Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire

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Gazmin, on the other hand, believed that Purisima was the head of the Oplan Exodus designed to capture terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias "Marwan" and Basit Usman. In defense, Purisima said his understanding was that Napenas would be the one coordinating with Catapang because he was then suspended. ”This is clear misunderstanding,” Legarda commented. The public hearing on the Mamasapano incident started almost two-hour late of the 10:00 a.m. schedule due to an executive session where the PNP and the AFP officials have been given a chance to reconcile their statements on the issue of lack of coordination that led to the killing of the 44 SAF troopers. However, Napenas failed to control himself from expressing again his frustration from the late reinforcement he requested from the AFP when the 55th Special Action Company encountered with combined forces of the Moro Islamic

Liberation Front (MILF) and Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). ”Contrary to the reports in the media that the AFP did not help us, we acknowledged that they gave us a big help. However, had we been given the support or artillery that we had been asking from the very morning of that day, maybe we could have avoided this incident of losing 44 lives,” Napenas said. Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the Philippine Army’s 6th Infantry Division that sent mechanized brigade and artillery in the Mamasapano encounter, could not hide his emotion when Napenas blamed anew the AFP. ”I’m thankful that at least our little help was recognized and it eased the pain I felt right now but what I can’t accept was that he thanked but just the same, we are still blamed for the death,” Pangilinan, holding his emotion, said. ”I have disclosures (in executive session) that I did not disclose because our secretary and chief of staff have guidance not to add that would worsen the wounds of the victims. But how about our feelings, the people who helped, that’s painful to me. I don’t want to be emotional here,” Pangilinan added. Senator Poe advised Napenas to stop making statements that would hurt the relationship between the PNP and AFP. ”I’m not giving side to anybody here but if you will express appreciation and then putting blaming again, it is not productive. We cannot say that AFP did not do anything,” Poe said. ■

Philippine News

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 FRIDAY

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Resigned PNP Chief Alan Purisima (right) disclosed the text messages between him and President Aquino during the Mamasapano incident. Purisima said that he was not directly involved in the operation, but was merely relaying to the President information he received from the ground. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Purisima reveals text conversations with President Aquino during Mamasapano incident BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Resigned Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima disclosed on Monday the exchange of text messages between him and President Benigno S. Aquino III during the Mamasapano incident on Jan. 25. At the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the bloody Mamasapano encounter that left 44 Special Action Force (SAF) men dead, Purisima said he first informed the President about the implementation of the "Oplan Exodus" through text short message service (SMS) at 5:45 a.m. on that Sunday. In the same first SMS to the President, Purisima informed the Commander-inChief about the killing of international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias Marwan, who was the prime target of the operation. Here is the complete SMS transcription of the conversation between His Excellency Benigno S. Aquino III (HEBSA III) and Police Director General Alan La Madrid Purisima as revealed during the Senate inquiry chaired by Senator Grace Poe: PDG ALAN PURISIMA to HEBSA III — January 25, 2015, 5:45 a.m. (Sunday) — PDG PURISIMA: “Sir good morning. For info SAF elements implemented oplan against high value targets. As of now sir results indicate that Marwan was killed and one Saf trooper wounded. The body of Marwan was left behind but

pictures were taken. The troopers are now withdrawal phase and progress report to follow.” HEBSA III (7:36am): “Why was it left behind? The other two targets?” PDG PURISIMA: “Sir accordingly, when the nearest target from the line of approach is M1 and when they hit the primary target, the other house where Basit Usman was located with other elements reacted and fired at the troopers. There were about 15 to twenty armed elements. It was about 430am and it was decided that they pull out after gathering pictures and other evidences. They were not able to reach the secondary targets sir.” HEBSA III: “If I remember correctly, 160 SAF troopers were directly involved in this operation plus provision for other PNP and AFP units to assist. The terrain is flat and clear as opposed to upland forested or jungle terrain. Why could they not contain and/or overwhelm the 15-20 member opposing force? Are they still in contact with the two other targets? If not and the opposing force has escaped, are we now back to square one?” PDG PURISIMA: “They are presently in contact with reinforcing elements from BIFF. The containment forces are the ones in contact right now. They are supported by mechanized and artillery support, Sir.” PDG PURISIMA: “The local target Basit and his group were the first group that were engaged by main effort group.” HEBSA III: “Review your earlier and latest texts. They differ as to which was

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engaged first.” PDG PURISIMA: “I mean sir the first target was M1 where they were able to neutralize first. The group of Basit retaliated which was about 100 meters away.” HEBSA III (10:16am): “Basit should not get away.” PDG PURISIMA (11:38am): “Already advised sir but as of the moment the main effort is withdrawing and according to dir IG we still have our contact with the ...and will hit them again sir.” PDG PURISIMA (6:20pm): “Sir latest report from operating elements in Maguindanao states that the security elements who were engage by BIFF/MILF Elements suffered heavy casualties. They were reportedly overrun. CCH (committee on the cessation of hostilities) and international monitoring team are in the area retrieving casualties. The main effort is still in the process of rendezvous with other SAF and AFP elements.” Purisima explained that some of the SMS did not have time element due to his phone features. The former PNP chief also clarified that he was not directly involved in the operation but was merely relaying to President Aquino the information he received from the ground, including from relieved SAF chief Director Getulio Napenas and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Western Mindanao Command head Lt. Gen. Rustico Guerrero. Purisima said he was in his home province in Nueva Ecija on Jan. 25. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Senate probe zeroes in on P-Noy instructions BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SENATE’S public hearing on the Mamasapano debacle today will delve into what President Aquino knew and what he did as Commander in Chief to save troops battling for their lives against Moro rebels, Sen. Grace Poe said on Monday. The chair of the committee on public order said the resigned Philippine National Police chief, Director General Alan Purisima, would be made to disclose his SMS messages to Mr. Aquino about the operation to get Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” that led to the slaughter of 44 Special Action Force (SAF) commandos. Poe said Purisima could not invoke executive privilege to avoid questioning on his role in the botched operation in the marshland of Maguindanao province. “We have not received any request from the President himself invoking that,” Poe said in an interview over radio dzBB. This is why, she said, she expects Purisima to read the SMS messages. “If not, we will see if we would need to compel him to read those” to complete the story, she said. Purisima earlier admitted giving “advice” to the SAF commander, Director

Getulio Napeñas, on the operation even pening. Or if you made a decision, and though he was under preventive suspen- if it’s wrong, that is based on whether sion on corruption charges at that time. you were given the complete picture or The Senate committee has conducted there was something hidden from you,” two public hearings and two executive Poe said. sessions on the Jan. 25 operation that The mistakes in the operation, she resulted in the slaughter of the com- said, appear to be in the chain of commandos at the hands of combined forces mand, communication and other stratof the Moro Islamic Liberation Front egies. She said she was not siding with and the Bangsamanyone and believed oro Islamic Freedom everyone involved Fighters. had a share in the opPurisima earlier erational lapses. asked for time to The people In running an orseek the President’s won’t be ganization, Poe said, permission before satisfied until the one at the top gets speaking on what they’ve learned those below to handle they had discussed what was in the things on the ground, about the operation heart of the but the leader cannot to get Marwan. President when do the right thing if he learned of the information given What P-Noy knew what happened. to him is wrong or in“The people won’t adequate. This why be satisfied until those who fail in their they’ve learned what jobs must be relieved, was in the heart of she added. the President when he learned of what She said the President could not be happened,” Poe said. forced to appear in the Senate, as a matShe also said it was necessary to know ter of courtesy, although written queswhat the officials concerned told the tions could be sent to him. President, and whether his instructions She said the Senate could still fulfill its were followed. legislative role even if Mr. Aquino would “You won’t be able to make a decision if you don’t know what’s really hap-

Government will go after those responsible for the death of the 44 police commandos, says Palace PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The government will charge those responsible for the death of the 44 police commandos in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, once they have been identified, a Palace official said on Monday. "Let us wait for the report of the (Philippine National Police’s) Board of Inquiry because we have yet to identify who these people are. So if charges are filed, we will go after them. It is our responsibility to enforce the law," Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters during a press briefing in Malacañang. Lacierda was responding to a question on the need for the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to surrender their members who were involved in

not personally appear in the probe. As to whether the President was among those who made mistakes, she said it would be better to listen to the testimonies. US involvement

Also invited to the hearing today was Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario to shed light on the Philippines’ agreements with other countries on antiterrorism activities amid persistent reports that the United States had a direct hand in the Mamasapano project. Poe said she could not understand why, if the United States did provide help, this had to be kept hidden. “If they are true in helping our country in these kinds of operation to go after a criminal, a terrorist, we shouldn’t be surprised if they’re providing assistance,” she said. Another matter that Poe said should be looked into was the competition between the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, as well as the rivalry between different units of the PNP. She wants to know how interagency relations could be strengthened amid the culture of promotion and creditgrabbing. This is an institutional and cultural problem, she said. ■

“Through the 2015 immigration plan we will welcome a record number of individuals who will contribute to our economy and labour market.” - Hon. Chris Alexander, MP

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Respond to Canada’s need for immigrants.

the deadly encounter between Moro rebels and the police commandos during the latter’s mission to arrest two terrorist suspects in Mamasapano last Jan. 25. “When crimes have been determined and those to be charged identified based on due process, as embodied in Philippine laws, the government will enforce the law without fear or favor," he said, quoting Presidential Peace Adviser Secretary Teresita Deles. President Benigno S. Aquino III, in a public address, asked the MILF to show their sincerity to the peace process by returning the belongings and firearms seized by the rebels from the slain police commandos; surrendering those who killed the police officers; and helping capture suspected terrorist Abdul Basit Usman, who had evaded arrest during the operation. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

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Philippine News

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 FRIDAY

The reverse of the Bamboo Organ.

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Dwindling funds threaten to end 40 year old international bamboo organ festival in Philippines BY TERESA CEROJANO The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A nearly 200-year-old Philippine bamboo pipe organ, said to be the oldest and most complete in the world, has survived time, storms and wars. But an annual concert festival that has showcased its unique, lilting music in a Roman Catholic church for four decades may be playing out for the last time due to waning funds and interest in a country where many have been enthralled by modern Western music. The clear, flute-like sounds produced by the organ’s 902 bamboo and 129 metal pipes have captivated music lovers for decades. By pulling different knobs, an organist can make the instrument produce distinct sounds that one player

said was like calling on differ- sors more inclined to spend for ($72,400) budget had been seent members of an orchestra, a Justin Bieber concert than cured. The rest of the pledged one after another. the music of masters may mean donations had not yet been sent Organizers of the Interna- the end to the annual concerts, to the foundation that runs the tional Bamboo Organ Festi- held since 1975 at St. Joseph festival, and ticket sales alone val hope history, pride and a church in Las Pinas City, in were not enough to fund the rediscovery of performances. Baroque music After this year’s from the counfestival, the try’s musical foundation’s repast will prompt A nation does not need only serves will be exFilipinos not to entertainment, it needs values which hausted. abandon a yearly are permanent: a sense for real Organizers tradition that beauty, appreciation of real artists, blame the fundhas attracted knowledge of its roots and listening ing crunch on renowned musito all the good things our ancestors the abolition of cians and curiwere able to accomplish, and which a government ous visitors from we can admire in our heritage discretionary as far as Europe fund for lawmakand the United ers’ pet projects, States. belt-tightening Belgian Leo Renier, a former southern metropolitan Manila. by European embassies affectpriest who founded the festival This year’s event runs from Feb. ed by the economic downturn and is its executive director, 19-27. in their countries, and less supworries that drying funds from As of last Wednesday, the eve port from corporate sponsors the Philippine and foreign gov- of the festival’s 40th year, only more keen on involvement in ernments and corporate spon- a portion of the 3.2 million peso pop concerts. www.canadianinquirer.net

The organ — completed in 1824 by the Spanish priest Diego Cera — is also played during church services, but Renier said that without the festival, where renowned musicians bring out the instrument’s beauty, it would have no venue to really shine. “The bamboo organ is not just a piece of furniture with bamboo, but you have to hear it,” he said, as performers rehearsed music from Bach’s Mass in B minor under chandeliers made of Capiz shells and bamboo. He said Cera was a genius who created a complete instrument and brought it to its ultimate level, gathering the pipes from nature and classifying them into related sounds. “I guess you cannot go farther than what he did in the number of pipes, in the extension of the keyboards. Normally the key-

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

board ends at ‘do’ — he made it up to ‘fa,’” Renier said. Swiss organist Guy Bovet, in his seventh year at the festival, said, “All the bamboo parts of the organ are very gentle, and reminds you a little of, I would say, a pan pipe, or something like a wooden flute.” “If I pull this one, or this one, the sound will be very different,” he said, pulling on knobs to make different sounds. “It’s just like calling for one instrument of the orchestra or for another one.” The organ has been declared a national cultural treasure, and the festival’s organizers are confident the instrument will continue to have support from the Philippine government. Still, the eight-night festival — when the organ is accompanied by an orchestra, a choir and singers under the direction of noted conductors at the stoneand-wood church — is at risk due to the dwindling funds. Renowned musicians from overseas come out of love, receiving minimal pay for the festival, which serves as a forum for musicians to meet, and as a training ground for local talent. Several former members of the Las Pinas boys choir, which performs at the festival, have gone on to pursue international careers in music and organ building after training in Europe. The festival’s artistic director and resident organist, Armando Salarza, is a product of the boys choir, and has played the bamboo organ since he was 11. After high school, he was sent on a scholarship to study music in Graz in southeastern Austria. He did his post-graduate studies in Vienna, but came back in 1992 to share his talent with the younger generation in his hometown.

“It’s the only place in the Philippines where you hear this kind of music and with this kind of interpretation,” said Salarza, a professor of organ at the University of the Philippines. Throughout its existence, the festival has been dedicated mainly to Baroque music, which preceded classical, because the bamboo organ was built as a retro-18th century Iberian-style instrument. Salarza said such music is seldom introduced in Philippine schools, with popular music most often heard in public places and on the airwaves. The challenge, he said, is to educate and expose children to it. “We keep coming back because it’s a wonderful atmosphere, you find that nowhere else in the world, and the sound of the organ is magnificent,” said Jules Maate, a 53-year-old Dutch expatriate who attended the festival for the fourth time. But more than just a festival, Renier said the annual gathering preserves heritage, revives forgotten Baroque music played on the bamboo organ and promotes excellence among local musicians. “A nation does not need only entertainment, it needs values which are permanent: a sense for real beauty, appreciation of real artists, knowledge of its roots and listening to all the good things our ancestors were able to accomplish, and which we can admire in our heritage,” he said. Melvyn and Paulette Marcial,a Filipino couple who attended the festival for the first time, said they enjoyed it and plan to return next year with their two sons. But whether there will be a concert for their children to enjoy next year remains to be seen. ■

Malacañang still trusts MILF as government partner in peace process PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

The Bamboo Organ, circa 1890.

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MANILA — The Palace said it remains hopeful that the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) would stick to its commitment to peace, despite the bloody Mamasapano clash and as time is running out in the passage of the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL). Congress has to complete the deliberations on the BBL at the committee level before adjourning on March 20, and resume deliberations at the plenary level when sessions resume on May 4. In a press briefing in Malacañang on Tuesday, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said President Benigno S. Aquino III and his administration still consider

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the MILF as a government partner in achieving peace. During those periods, there was no violent clash between government and MILF combatants, according to Coloma. The government will stick to that position, but in case there are groups that will sow instability, the country’s security forces are ready to act to maintain order, he added. It can be recalled that after the Supreme Court declared the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (MOA-AD) unconstitutional in 2008, the MILF attacked several communities in Mindanao. Coloma said it is up to legislators to follow the initial timetable for the approval of the proposed BBL, considering the narrowing window of opportunity for its passage. ■

Philippine News

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 FRIDAY

Philippine court makes not Prosecutors say Revilla guilty plea for US Marine came to Enrile’s party charged in transgender Filipino’s killing BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press

meeting in a bar. The anti-tank missile man from Bristol, Massachusetts, was bar-hopping with fellow MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A Marines at the time after parPhilippine court entered a not ticipating in joint U.S.-Philipguilty plea Monday for a U.S. pine military exercises. Marine charged with murderThe evidence submitted by ing a transgender Filipino, al- prosecutors included statelegedly after he discovered her ments by three Marines who gender when they checked into were with Pemberton in Olona hotel. gapo, a former liberty town Marine Pfc. Joseph Scott when the U.S. Navy operated Pemberton refused to enter a the vast Subic Naval Base, now plea in the brief proceeding in a bustling commercial port. a court in Olongapo city northPemberton and some of his west of Manila, according to colleagues picked up women at Justice Secretary Leila de Lima. the bar, checked into nearby hoJournalists were barred from tels, and returned to their ship the courtroom. after midnight, prosecutors Dozens of left-wing protest- said. Witnesses saw Pemberers waved red ton check into a flags outside the hotel with Laude courthouse, deand then leave manding justice shortly before and an end to the discovery the U.S. military of her body, the presence in the prosecutors said former Ameri‘Finally in a statement to can colony. Gay justice can be the court. and lesbian attained Marine Lance groups have also for our Cpl. Jairn Mistaged protests sibling,’ chael Rose, who denouncing the Marilou was with Pemkilling of JenniLaude, the berton that fer Laude, whose victim’s sister, night, said the former name told reporters. defendant conwas Jeffrey, as a fided back at hate crime. their ship that Monday’s arhe choked the raignment paves woman after disthe way for Pemcovering she was berton’s trial, a transgender which lawyers when she unof the victim’s family said is dressed, according to the prosscheduled to start next month. ecutors. “Finally justice can be at“I think I killed a he/she,” tained for our sibling,” Mar- Pemberton was quoted as havilou Laude, the victim’s sister, ing told Rose. told reporters. She said she was The case comes after the shaking in anger when she saw Philippines and the United the handcuffed suspect, who States strengthened ties with was guarded by several security the recent signing of a defence escorts in the courtroom. accord that allows greater U.S. Pemberton has been charged access to Philippine military by prosecutors in the Oct. 11 camps. The accord will help killing. They say the U.S. Ma- Washington’s bid to reassert rine strangled her and then its presence in Asia, and enable drowned her in a hotel toilet Manila to deter what it calls after discovering she was a China’s aggressive moves to retransgender woman. They had inforce its claim to virtually the checked into the hotel after entire South China Sea. ■

DID “POGI” party with “Tanda” on Valentine’s Day? State prosecutors are claiming that detained Sen. Bong Revilla attended the birthday party on Feb. 14 of another detained lawmaker, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, at the Philippine National Police General Hospital at Camp Crame without the permission of the court trying his plunder case. In an opposition to Revilla’s request for medical tests, the prosecution urged the Sandiganbayan to immediately transfer the senator to a regular jail facility managed by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology at Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig City. In support of its motion, the prosecution submitted to the antigraft court’s First Division two photos showing the two senators sharing a table during Enrile’s 91st birthday celebration in one of the police hospital’s rooms. The Ombudsman prosecutors also attached a printed copy of an article written and posted on the Internet by Milwida Guevara, a former finance undersecretary, who claimed to have seen Revilla at the party. “If this information recently received by the prosecution is accurate, it confirms and validates prior reports that accused Revilla is being accorded special privileges while in detention at the PNP Custodial (Center),” they said in the motion filed last Friday. Whistleblowers have alleged that Revilla was identified in the records of alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet LimNapoles as “Pogi” (handsome) while Enrile was known as “Tanda” (old man). Commotion

In her article, Guevara said there was “a bit of commotion” at Enrile’s party when Revilla arrived. She said that Revilla was “only allowed to stay for a few minutes.” “A temporary reprieve must have been granted to enable Senator Revilla to wish ‘Manong’ (Enrile) many happy www.canadianinquirer.net

Senator Bong Revilla.

returns of the day,” Guevara wrote. Revilla, who was wearing a white shirt, and several other men, including his son, Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla, were seen in the pictures seated around a table with Enrile. A policeman in uniform and another man wearing a checkered shirt occupied an adjacent table where the person who took the photographs was also seated.

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the court to resolve its pending motion seeking to overturn the court’s Sept. 4, 2014, ruling which allowed Revilla to be detained at the police detention facility. In opposing Revilla’s request for a medical exam, the state prosecutors argued that the medical certificate issued by Dr. Francisco Agudon, which the senator submitted with his motion, should be set aside by the court since it was not notarized.

Bosom buddy

Along with his bosom buddy, Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Revilla has been detained at the PNP Custodial Center since the antigraft court ordered their arrest in June last year following their indictment for graft and plunder in connection with the P10billion pork barrel scam. The detention facility is a few meters from the police hospital where Enrile is detained for the same offense. In its motion, the prosecution reiterated that the court succinctly ordered the PNP to “keep (Revilla) in its custody… and not allow the accused to be moved, removed or relocated until further orders from the court.” The prosecution also asked

Mere impression

Besides, the prosecution said, Agudon’s opinion on Revilla’s condition was “a mere impression and is not based on any diagnostic examination.” “There is nothing in Revilla’s motion or in the medical certificate… which indicates that he has undergone any examination to prove that he is indeed suffering from this ailment,” it said. The prosecution argued that the senator should be examined by government doctors, “otherwise, there can be no factual basis for the honorable court to consider and evaluate the merits or veracity” of his claims that he needed medical therapy. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Protesters converge... the resignation of the President outside the Shrine of Mary, Queen of Peace at the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and Edsa in Mandaluyong City. The Cojuangcos had just attended Mass at the Edsa Shrine and were about to join a rally demanding the resignation of their nephew but a police barricade outside the chapel prevented them from crossing that side of the shrine. The couple did not publicly call for their nephew to step down but they made it clear they were unhappy with the way he has been managing the affairs of the country, including the Jan. 25 police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, that targeted two known terrorists and ended with the killing of 44 commandos. Instead of supporting resignation calls, Peping Cojuangco made it clear he believed President Aquino could still implement reforms and suggested that he form a shadow Cabinet to help him achieve these. Cojuangco and other members of the Council on Philippine Affairs (Copa) have been talking to groups demanding the ouster of President Aquino or rallying for reforms in government. According to Copa secretary general Pastor Saycon, the group which he calls “veterans of Edsa,” along with other groups, will make an announcement in the next 10 days regarding its petition to ❰❰ 1

Vehicles crawled bumper-to-bumper along the northbound stretch of Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) from Pasay City to Guadalupe in Makati City due to the closure to traffic of the northbound section of EDSA from Shaw Blvd. in Mandaluyong City to Santolan Road near Camp Crame in Quezon City in connection with the celebration of the 29th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Wednesday (Feb. 25, 2015). President Benigno S. Aquino III led the celebration at the EDSA Shrine in Quezon City. GIL S. CALINGA / PNA

the President. The groups will have several activities until Feb. 25, the 29th anniversary of the Edsa uprising, Saycon said. T-shirts with Cory, Ninoy

During the 11 a.m. Mass at the Edsa Shrine yesterday, Cojuangco and other members of Copa wore T-shirts bearing the image of Aquino’s parents—the late President Corazon Aquino and martyred Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr.—covering their faces. Emblazoned on the

Tshirts were the words, “Anak, bakit ka nagkaganyan (Son, what happened to you)?” Present during the Mass were former Sen. Francisco Tatad and former National Security Adviser Norberto Gonzalez, who are both part of the National Transformation Council, which is calling for the resignation of President Aquino and other officials and the creation of a transition council. Joining the call for President Aquino to step down were about 1,000 members of various

associations and nongovernment organizations, who joined a caravan that went around Metro Manila on Sunday. Gathering early in the morning at the corner of Paseo de Roxas and Ayala Avenue in Makati, members of the Movement Against (Political) Dynasty (MAD), Citizens’ Crime Watch (CCW) and August 26 People’s Coalition came in their cars and motorcycles and wore red T-shirts signifying their “fervor for good governance.”

“This movement is part of the 2.22.15 Coalition and we condole with those calling for the resignation of the President because we believe he is no longer capable of running this government,” MAD founding chair Quintin San Diego told the INQUIRER. He said the groups were purely for change and transition in the government. “We do not want any politicians being seen with us because we do not support any of them. We are for the people,” he added. ■

Come home, bishops urge OFWs who may face persecution BY TINA G. SANTOS Philippine Daily Inquirer CATHOLIC BISHOPS have appealed to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in countries where Christians are persecuted to avail themselves of the government’s offer of repatriation and come home. “I hope that OFWs will be endowed with the wisdom to think of their lives and wellbeing ahead of the opportunity to earn money,” said Bishop Ruperto Santos of the Diocese of Balanga, chair of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission

on Migrant and Itinerant Peo- facilities to whom this offer of responding positively to the ple (CBCP-ECMIP). repatriation is being extended. repatriation option, while in Santos, in a post on the CBCP Unfortunately, only a few want Yemen roughly 1,000 Filipinos website, said are awaiting the his office had g o v e r n m e n t ’s teamed up with crisis managethe Department ment team. of Foreign AfI hope that OFWs will be endowed fairs in an efwith the wisdom to think of their Remain in the fort to persuade lives and wellbeing ahead of the country OFWs in counopportunity to earn money. Santos reaftries like Libya, firmed the posiSyria and Yemen tion of the CBto take advanCP-ECMIP that tage of the govFilipinos should ernment’s offer of repatriation. to take the flight home,” he said. remain in the Philippines to “In a conflict-ridden country But he said officials of the work, instead of having to seek like Libya, we have more or less Philippine Embassy in Syria greener pastures elsewhere at 4,000 countrymen working in had talked to 5,000 to 6,000 great sacrifice to their families. oil fields, hospitals and medical Filipino migrant workers about “As we celebrate the 29th www.canadianinquirer.net

National Migrants Sunday, we would like to highlight the beauty of family members staying together, united in their love with one another,” he said. While he admitted that there was nothing the Church could do at the moment to stop Filipinos from leaving their loved ones and the country for higher-paying overseas employment, Santos lauded OFWs for their selflessness and the sacrifices they make to give the best life possible to their families, as well as the dollar remittances they send back home which keep the Philippine economy afloat. ■

Philippine News

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 FRIDAY

Gov’t owes PNP, AFP retirees P18B in pension BY JOVIC YEE Philippine Daily Inquirer THIS WEEK’S chilly midmorning breeze in Taytay town, Rizal province, failed to temper the anxiety felt by a group of retired soldiers who have been waiting these past 14 years for the Commission on Audit’s decision affirming the release of their accumulated pension arrears. Retired Maj. Alfonso Besario, the national president and chair of the Conference-Assembly for Unity and Solidarity of Associations in the Armed Forces and Police Retirees, Veterans Pensioners Inc., said that their group of 120,000 retired soldiers and pensioners all over the country, has been “at the mercy of the government for the past 14 years,” as it held back their pension arrears that have so far ballooned to at least P18 billion. In his address before a small crowd of about 30 retirees and pensioners in Taytay during the organization’s second anniversary, 64-year-old Besario said the arrears have ballooned to P18.4 billion to date, after the government “(failed) to implement well Presidential Decree No. 1638 or the AFP Retirement Law, and Republic Act No. 9166, which allows for an increase of base pay rate and benefits among AFP officers and enlisted personnel.” The long wait has decimated their ranks, the retired major said, adding that two weeks ago, they lost another colleague to advanced age. Under the laws cited by Besario, the government was obliged to make a corresponding adjustment to the pension of retired soldiers whenever salary increases were given to active military personnel. But in the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9166 crafted by then National

Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina (right) and retired Maj. Gen. Alfredo Cayton (left) talk to 90-year-old World War II veteran Dr. Cesar B. Villones during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the town of Angono, Rizal from Japanese occupation on Monday (Feb. 23, 2015). JOEY O. RAZON / PNA

Defense chief Angelo Reyes and Budget Secretary Emilia Boncodin in 2002, the “adjustments for retired personnel weren’t mentioned,” lamented Besario, who served the military for 24 years. Hence began the accumulation of the differential adjustments since 2000, he added. On April 29, 2013, the Taytaybased organization, which has a membership of 10,000 retirees and pensioners from 22 organizations, filed with the COA a class suit against the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), the Department of National Defense and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, demanding the release of the arrears. No target date

On Aug. 8, 2014, the COA issued a memorandum to the GHQ COA and the AFP asking them to “comply (with) its requirements” by submitting the list of claimants and the funds released to them, according to cor-

porate secretary retired Lt. Col. Buenaventura Aguilar. But the memo did not include any target date for compliance, he added. Besario was quick to dispel notions that their group was riding on the tide of public outrage against the Aquino administration in the wake of the Mamasapano, Maguindanao clash that killed 44 Special Action Force commandos in a covert operation to get Malaysian terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and his Filipino deputy Basit Usman. “What we are looking for is the government’s care [for retirees and pensioners]. We have been begging [the government] to give us [the benefits] we rightfully deserve,” Besario said. “Our members are already dying and yet we are still here hoping. We are looking for care and compassion since we have served well the government, the flag, and the citizenry.” On Feb. 7, one of the organization’s board of trustees, retired Lt. Reynaldo Magnaye,

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succumbed to old age. Magnaye was very diligent in preparing the documents needed to ensure that the retirees and pensioners would get what was due them, Aguilar said. Attention: Heidi Mendoza

He added the group was hoping that the country’s “living heroes” wouldn’t need to die to get their full retirement benefits, as the money would go a long way to help these soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for their countrymen. Now that Heidi Mendoza has been designated COA’s officer in charge, Aguilar said he hopes that she would look into the plight of retirees and pensioners and “make a decisive decision” for President Aquino, who can then direct the DBM “to implement [fully] RA 9166.” “We’re not after the lump sum disbursement. The (government) can do it in tranches. What we want is the certainty that it will be given to us,” Aguilar said. One of the retired pension-

ers, Staff Sgt. Jesus Anino said he hopes to fix the house he had built in Barangay Sampaloc in Taytay from a P190,000 loan from the military should he get the arrears in full. Now 62, Anino became blind on his sixth year of military service after members of the New People’s Army (NPA) under the command of Roger Rosal stormed his detachment at Guinayangan, Quezon province, in November 1984. Anino recalled that the rebels sprayed bullets at them on the afternoon of that fateful day, with a carbine bullet hitting his eye. But he was luckier than the 7month-old baby, the child of a colleague, whowas hit by an Armalite bullet in the head. The infant’s mother was breastfeeding the child when the rebels fired shots at the police detachment. The bullet hit the woman’s arm and passed through the baby’s head. Anino was later reassigned to the army’s entertainment division, where he served the next 14 years of military service as the band’s vocalist. Since then, his family had to make do with the meager P6,000 to P10,000 pension he received through the years, Anino said, adding that his wife augmented his income by offering laundry services to his fellow soldiers. But he is thankful, he said, that although they’ve had financial difficulties, all their seven children have turned out well, with two finishing their studies through scholarships. In fact, his eldest daughter is assigned at the Army’s Women Auxiliary Corps. “I didn’t discourage her despite my experience. She really wants it, and she’s battle-tested. She was there in the detachment when we were harassed by the (NPA). She was 3 years old then,” Anino said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

French President Hollande to meet Filipino businessmen in state visit BY KRIS M. CRISMUNDO Philippines News Agency MANILA — French President François Hollande is set to meet businessmen from the Makati Business Club (MBC) during his two-day state visit to the Philippines that will kick-off on Thursday. On his meeting with the MBC during the first day of the state visit, Hollande will discuss how the Philippines and France can partner in addressing climate change, which also affects economies, for inclusive growth and development. The French President will also highlight bilateral ties of the two countries. After meeting businessmen, Hollande will also attend an inter-university forum then will proceed to Malacañan Palace for the official ceremony and launch of the Manila Call to Action for Climate Change. Hollande and President Benigno S. Aquino III are expected to witness the signing of cooperation agreements in the areas of development, tourism,

François Hollande, President of France, kicks off a two day state visit of the Philippines this Thursday. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

health, and academic exchanges. On Friday, Hollande will fly to Guiuan, Samar, one of the areas that badly hit by typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (Haiyan) in 2013.

“This visit has two important aspects. First, it is to highlight the very positive phase in the bilateral relations between France and the Philippines. The French

3 foreigners shot over argument in Philippines; German dead, French and Indian wounded THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ried to Filipino women. Millard’s wife was with them and overheard the men making fun of Saparaiya, triggering the MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Assailants argument. fatally shot last Friday a German and Police said the Filipino men returned wounded a Frenchman and an Indian with others who were armed and opened inside a restaurant fire. German Henry in the central PhilHaffner, 31, was shot ippines in what apoutside the restaupeared to be random rant and died at a violence, police said. The Philippines has hospital. The other The pre-dawn one of the highest two foreigners were shooting inside a homicide rates wounded. McDonald’s resin Southeast The suspects estaurant followed a Asia, fueled by caped and police disheated argument bea proliferation of tributed their images tween two unidenfirearms. from closed-circuit tified Filipino men TV to help catch and Indian Cheten them. Saparaiya, 32, and his friend Julian The Philippines has one of the highest Millard, a 31-year-old Frenchman, said homicide rates in Southeast Asia, fueled Talisay city police chief Reycel Carmelo by a proliferation of firearms. The govDayon. ernment has opposed a total gun ban but The two foreigners are residents mar- has called for tighter control. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

President would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm the friendly ties between our two countries,” said French Ambassador Gilles Garachon. “We would like to call on all leaders involved in international climate negotiations to reach an agreement as soon as possible. We’d like to make this call with the Philippines because your country is very much involved in the climate issue. The Philippines, though very vulnerable to the consequences of climate change, has a positive and constructive international stand,” he added. Meanwhile, Hollande will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Laurent Fabius; Minister of State for Development and Francophony, Annick Girardin; and Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy, Ségolène Royal; and France’s Special Envoy for the Protection of the Planet, Nicolas Hulo. The visit of the French President in the Philippines is a return visit after President Aquino met Hollande during his European state visit in September last year. ■

Opinion

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 FRIDAY

AS I SEE IT

Look who’s behind oust-P-Noy effort By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer THE MOVE to make President Aquino step down and replace him with a so-called national transition council suffered another setback with the identification of former lawmaker Peping Cojuangco as one of its supporters or instigators. The oust-P-Noy effort already suffered credibility problems when Norberto Gonzales, national security adviser of the Arroyo administration, came out as a supporter (or instigator). The effort is doomed to fail just by the presence of these two characters. It may be noted that those behind the move are all on the outside looking in at the Aquino administration. They have not been given any position in the government. They also cannot win any election, even as barangay captain. So the only way for them to get in is to force P-Noy to step down and then force their way in. Some aging bishops have proposed a transition council to replace the President but have not named who would compose it. (The majority of the bishops immediately disowned them.) Very likely, Gonzales and Co-

juangco would be among the council because Bam Aquino, P-Noy’s cousin, P-Noy is the only president who members, which immediately dis- was already there. So Tingting ran in has sincerely tried to stamp out graft credits it. No administration that in- the slate of another party, and lost. and corruption in the government. cludes these two would ever succeed. Bam, on the other hand, won with No other administration has deAlso very likely, the council would be the LP ticket. Cojuangco and his wife tained and filed charges against a forjust another bunch of fortune-hunt- must have an axe to grind against mer president, impeached a chief jusers and powergrabbers. their nephew for neglecting them. tice, jailed a former Senate president Look what happened to the Arroyo But P-Noy, who is trying to transform and two other senators and their coadministration, under which Gonza- Philippine politics and society, even horts, and filed charges against other les was also defense secretary. It was without the help of the bishops, did lawmakers and public officials, all for a failure. Cojuangco came to promi- not want to have another political corruption allegations. nence when his sister, Cory Aquino, dynasty that Filipinos already abhor. Replacing P-Noy will only set back became president in this anticorruption 1986. But her presicampaign. If GonThey have been out of the limelight for so long, and this dency was spoiled zales comes into uproar over the Mamasapano massacre that critics want to by Kamaganak Inc., power, his benefacpin on P-Noy is an opportunity for them to be in the news. which pushed influtor, GMA, would ence-peddling to a probably be renew high. “Nagpapapansin lang yan (They just leased immediately from detention That is probably the reason P-Noy want attention),” observers joke about and the charges against her dropped. did not appoint any of his relatives to Gonzales and Cojuangco coming out If Vice President Jojo Binay becomes positions in his administration. He against P-Noy. Indeed, they have been (God forbid) president, probably the did not want what happened to his out of the limelight for so long, and this first thing he’d do is release from demother’s administration to happen uproar over the Mamasapano massacre tention Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, to his. Perhaps Cojuangco, being an that critics want to pin on P-Noy is an Jinggoy Estrada (his cohorts in the uncle of P-Noy, was expecting a posi- opportunity for them to be in the news. United Nationalist Alliance), and tion in the government and was disDon’t pay any attention to this Bong Revilla, and have the charges appointed when he did not get any. oust-P-noy effort. He won’t step against them dismissed. So, bishops, If I am not mistaken, there was an down, and the people don’t want him how will that transform the Philipattempt to include Cojuangco’s wife, to. Given all those who preceded him, pines from evil to good? Tingting, in the Liberal Party’s sena- he is our best president so far. More likely, it would be from good torial lineup but she was not included *** back to evil.

*** Critics are questioning the presence of American personnel in the Special Action Force’s command post during its mission to get terrorists Marwan and Usman. What is wrong with that? The targets are terrorists wanted in several countries, and governments should help one another in stopping them. When we want to capture a criminal hiding in another country, we ask the help of Interpol, the international police organization. What’s wrong with the Philippines getting technical help from the United States in our effort to catch international terrorists? Militants are in a Jekyll-and-Hyde situation in our relations with the United States. They do not like US presence in the Philippines but when we are in trouble, politically and financially, we run to America for help. We seek US help in ejecting China from Philippine territorial waters in the South China Sea. We can never do that without US assistance. Whenever we are in trouble financially, we run to US agencies for help. But now that the United States has helped us bag an international terrorist, we are criticizing the Philippine government for it. Ano ba talaga, kuya? ■

PUBLIC LIVES

Edsa 1 in JoAl’s eyes By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer “JOAL” IS Jose T. Almonte, the softspoken, high-minded military man who likes grand ideas and once navigated the corridors of power as an adviser/guru to the powerful and the ambitious. He is sometimes referred to as the “thinking soldier,” a description that fits General Almonte precisely because it implies that such a phenomenon may be as uncommon as it is dangerous. JoAl does have that sinister reputation, and, I suspect, he revels in it. JoAl tells his story to journalist Marites Dañguilan Vitug in “Endless Journey: AMemoir,” a new book that will be launched on Feb. 25, the 29th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Uprising, at Club Filipino in Greenhills, San Juan. Many will remember that this is the same place where Cory Aquino took her oath as president of the country a few hours before Ferdinand Marcos and his family fled Malacañang on helicopters supplied by the US Embassy. The book, written in the creative nonfiction style, does read like a fastpaced political thriller focusing on the underside of public events. JoAl narrates crucial moments in our nation’s history with a sharp eye for detail—and a penchant for sweeping

gloss—that can leave a reader both with this chaotic situation.” This idea should preserve life. It is paramount,’ awestruck and incredulous. He ap- was intensely debated. JoAl’s input to I explained. ‘We are fighting for popears to be situated at the center of the discussion proved to be the game- litical ideals and no political, social events at the right time, initiating changer. “From then on, we planned or economic ideals will justify the and/or observing social action, as to attack Malacañang…. We had to go taking of life.’…. I said the Marcoses it becomes history. Yet, through all to the details of what to attack and should be kept alive so they could this, he remains largely invisible. I who the persons in charge would be.” face a people’s court.” can’t recall a photograph of Edsa 1 “The plan of Gringo was to kill The coup plotters, as expected, hotwith JoAl standing beside any of its Marcos and his family. He would lead ly debated this particular intervenprincipal characters. But no one will the attacking force. Red would lead tion by RAM’s prophet. In the end, the dispute he was there. the attack outside the Palace, in the decision that was taken was to capture In his recounting of the events lead- park, against the Presidential Secu- the Marcoses rather than eliminate ing to Edsa 1, JoAl takes the reader to rity Group.” While reading this in the them. This change in the plan entailed the basement of the defense depart- nonchalant tone it is narrated, I of a fundamental expansion of the forcment in Camp Aguies needed to take naldo, where Lt. Col. Malacañang. It also The plan of Gringo was to kill Marcos and his family. He Gregorio “Gringo” raised the risk of exwould lead the attacking force. Red would lead the attack outside Honasan held office posing the plot and as chief of security of multiplying the the Palace, in the park, against the Presidential Security Group. of the then defense number of potential secretary Juan Ponce Enrile. Three course couldn’t help being intrigued casualties. JoAl pondered the choicmembers of the core group of the Re- if Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Mar- es before them in his characteristic form the Armed Forces Movement cos Jr., Gringo’s colleague at the Sen- philosophical way: “I feared the fickle (RAM)—Gringo, Vic Batac and Red ate, had ever heard this story before. nature of history whose judgment of Kapunan—often met there. This was But perhaps more than that, I won- historical figures is never final.” where they explained to him their ini- dered how this plan, if it had materiAs we all know, the whole plot tial plan. “A coup was on their minds, alized, would have altered the entire was discovered even before a single but it was still hazy, because they course of our nation’s history. shot could be fired. Eventually, the didn’t know how things would unfold. But, ever the prophetic voice of leaders of this aborted putsch found That was where I came in.” reason and compassion, JoAl at once themselves retreating to Camp AguiJoAl persuaded them that instead objected to killing the Marcoses. “I naldo to announce their withdrawal of sparking chaos in the military as a insisted that we had no right to take of support from the Marcos regime clumsy prelude to a coup, which was the life of anybody. It is only the Fili- before the predominantly foreign their original plan, they should “aim pino people who can decide to take media, and asking for the Filipino at Malacañang rather than fiddle their lives, not us. ‘Our revolution people to support them. Marcos

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found out what they were up to, and he knew they had nowhere to go. In the beginning, he talked to them like a forgiving father to a bunch of helpless kids who had lost their way. Then he started berating them. This was where people power intervened. An awakened nation boldly stepped up to the plate following a failed coup attempt, and freed itself. The military might be forgiven for thinking it was they who won. But had they listened to the voices of the people outside the camps, they would have realized it was neither Enrile’s nor Fidel Ramos’ nor Gringo’s whose name the people were shouting but Cory’s. Filipinos had no wish to be ruled by the military. They showed this in all the military-led coup attempts that followed Edsa 1. In the book, JoAl says he tried to warn the RAM against attempting to unseat Cory. They instead asked him to lead. “I explained to them that in a revolution, the reliance on arms is wrong. Ideals should propel a revolution. And over and above all of this, I said they could not go beyond what the people would tolerate.” His words fell on deaf ears. “Gringo no longer informed me of their succeeding plans. Seven coup attempts took place during the reign of Mrs. Aquino.” ■

Opinion

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

SISYPHUS’ LAMENT

Did Erap win SC case on technicality? By Oscar Franklin Tan Philippine Daily Inquirer AFTER THE Supreme Court ruled against the disqualification of former president Joseph “Erap” Estrada as mayor of Manila, some accused it of upholding technicality over justice. This is a familiar criticism, yet the case turns solely on a one-page document. The ruling was announced three weeks ago, along with others on the Disbursement Acceleration Program and the bishop of Bacolod’s “Team Patay” tarpaulins. Unfortunately, the high court released the actual decisions weeks later. This hamstrings public debate because the news cycle has moved on before the full details may be discussed. In 2007, Erap was convicted of plunder and thus perpetually disqualified from public office. The next month, then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo pardoned him. He ran for president in 2010, placing second, then successfully ran for mayor of Manila in 2013. His victory was challenged because the pardon did not specifically remove his disqualification from public office. The Risos-Vidal case hinges simply on how an ordinary person would read Erap’s one-page pardon. Its three-sentence body reads: “I hereby grant exec-

utive clemency…. He is hereby restored on pardons, and the Revised Penal Justice Arturo Brion’s opinion criticizes to his civil and political rights. The Code passed in 1930 requires that a Leonen for “a very literal reading” and forfeitures imposed by the Sandigan- pardon be explicit when restoring the hinted that perhaps it is Leonen’s opinbayan remain in force and in full … ex- right to seek public office. ion, almost thrice the length of the main cept for the bank account(s) he owned There are two basic problems with decision, that invokes technicality. before his tenure as President.” this argument. First, a president’s Leonen also raises this phrase in If the pardon were shorn of politi- power to pardon is traditionally un- the pardon’s preamble: “WHEREAS, cal overtones, one would readily read it restricted. The nationally elected Joseph Ejercito Estrada has publicly as restoring Erap’s right to seek public president is entrusted with the final committed to no longer seek any office, the companion political right of option to temper the administration elective position or office.” Howevthe right to vote. The pardon did not of justice and check Congress and the er, preambles or so-called “whereas highlight any restriction in his politi- courts. For example, in 1798, the US clauses” are intended to have no cal rights, and the right to seek public Congress passed the Sedition Act, legal effect. They merely give introoffice is arguably ductory context to the most relevant a reader, a godsend If a court reads the same words differently when intendone to be restored. when dealing with Instead, the pardon complicated or muled for saint or sinner in the name of “what is best for society,” it highlighted that it tiple, interrelated undermines the equally important integrity and consistency of did not reverse the legal documents. our legal system. forfeitures enumerBinding language ated in his conviction, those of the “Bo- which punished malicious writing belongs in a document’s body, and to racay Mansion” and the “Jose Velarde” against the president or Congress. draft otherwise is a mark of astoundand Erap Muslim Youth Foundation Thomas Jefferson, the next presi- ing incompetence in a lawyer. We accounts. (Note that Erap’s candidacy dent, pardoned everyone convicted encounter this basic convention even for president is more complicated than under it, believing that it violated in simple two-page affidavits. It is no his candidacy for mayor as it involves free speech. The Risos-Vidal major- obscure technicality that the majorconstitutional prohibitions on a presi- ity stressed that it would be difficult ity ignored the pardon’s preamble; dent’s reelection.) to accept even procedural restric- to do otherwise would universally Pundits highlight Justice Marvic tions on this broad power. change how we interpret even the Leonen’s dissent, joined by Chief JusSecond and more simply, the argu- simplest legal documents. tice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Senior ment strains ordinary language. The Leonen’s perspective is ultimately Associate Justice Antonio Carpio in majority asked why Leonen would moral. His dissent ends: “The person a rare pairing of the three most vocal distinguish the phrase “restored to his convicted of plunder now walks free justices. Leonen posits that Congress full civil and political rights” from “re- among us. … It is hope for those who may impose procedural restrictions stored to his civil and political rights.” occupy high government offices who

commit crimes as they await a next political term when the people’s vigilance would have waned.” My neighbor in these pages and a determined pragmatist, Peter Wallace, echoes: “The Supreme Court allowed adherence to strict interpretation of the words of the law to overrule good common sense and what is best for society.” The high court is a court of law, not of “good common sense.” Faced with the narrow task of interpreting a onepage pardon, it has little room to consider “what is best for society.” Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. famously said that “hard cases make bad law,” and a court must often rule on law and let political and moral chips fall where they may. If a court reads the same words differently when intended for saint or sinner in the name of “what is best for society,” it undermines the equally important integrity and consistency of our legal system. One must thus stress that RisosVidal’s reasoning is readily respectable. Indeed, why must the high court shoulder any alleged moral shortcoming instead of the president who granted the pardon in the first place? Or, since that president’s supposed intention was merely to pardon prisoners over 70, is this simply a case of imprecise legal draftsmanship that snowballed? ■

GET REAL

Why Alphaland should be grateful to Binay By Solita Collas-Monsod Philippine Daily Inquirer MAY I suggest to the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee chair Koko Pimentel: The whole thing started with the overprice of the Makati Parking Building, but it has gone far beyond that to include the seeming pattern of overprice for other buildings, “Hacienda Binay” in Batangas, and now the Boy Scouts of the Philippines/ Alphaland issue. Who knows what other matters may come up? One report covering all these may be too unwieldy, both for the writers and the public, and too much for the readers to digest. The purpose of all the hearings is in aid of legislation, but in the case of Vice President Jejomar Binay, since he is the only one who has thrown his hat into the 2016 presidential ring (lately joined by Davao Mayor Rodrigo Duterte), the report will also serve to help the people make up their minds. Binay says that we should all wait for the courts to decide whether he is guilty or not, and that he should be presumed innocent. But that doesn’t fadge. Firstly, the Sandiganbayan averages eight years to decide a case; secondly, not all charges against him have been filed. And we the people

have to decide by May of next year. do remember that Sen. Serge Osmeña The BSP got its rent after a year’s use! Anyway, the Senate subcommit- wasn’t impressed at all. I heard him say Now the next issue: what Binay tee’s first report should cover its that had the BSP just sat on the land got from the deal. This was first exfindings on the overprice of Makati (a little over one hectare), it would be posed by Mercado last month, when City buildings; the second report, on worth at least P3 billion today. (Actu- he claimed that he wanted an 80-20 the Batangas (Hacienda Binay) prop- ally, Osmeña was being conservative. deal instead of the 85-15 deal that erty; and the third report, on Binay’s He thinks it should be worth at least P4 he got, but both Oreta and Gerardo actions on the BSP. If something new billion, based on similar sales.) Limlingan told him that the differcomes up, the subcommittee should In addition, the point is that the ence of 5 percent would be used for issue a fourth report. Thus, there will BSP apparently has not received a sin- Binay’s 2010 election campaign. The be less risk of indigestion, and the gle centavo since the deal was struck Wednesday hearing brought out that subcommittee can be as detailed as it seven or so years ago. Mercado said there were deals between Alphaland wishes to be. And the readers do not this a month ago (Jan. 22), and the and Noble Care (Oreta’s company), have to wait to start evaluating Bi- hearing on Wednesday elicited the which sound suspiciously like Noble nay’s qualifications. Care was being used Now I turn to last as the conduit for Binay says that we should all wait for the courts to Wednesday’s hearthe payoffs to Binay. decide whether he is guilty or not, and that he should be preing, with Roberto Item: Alphaland resumed innocent. But that doesn’t fadge. Ongpin and Mario ported to the PhilOreta of Alphaland in ippine Stock Exthe “hot seat.” What did we learn from information from Oreta that he paid change that it lent Noble Care P100 the hearing on: 1) what benefits the BSP the BSP in January this year the rent- million, and then condoned the loan got out of the deal; 2) what Binay got out al for the use of its auditorium in the the following year—but Noble Care’s of the deal; and 3) what Alphaland got building—the amount being about P7 financial statements don’t show the out of the deal? (I touched on some of million (rental is more than P500,000 transaction at all. this in my column last Jan. 24.) a month). So Alphaland had been usAnd then Ongpin said Oreta was not Oreta, in his letter to Ernesto Mer- ing the space for about a year. I think just an employee, he was given stock cado which I adverted to in my earlier it was Sen. Sonny Trillanes who asked: bonuses (like the negotiated deal with column, wrote that the BSP stood to When in January? Jan. 23, the day af- the BSP). The hearing showed that earn P3 billion from the deal, and it ter Mercado made his statement. shares of stock were transferred at par was the best deal it would ever be able See what I mean? The question I value of P10 (for a total of P20,000) to to make. This was repeated by Ong- would like to ask is: Why didn’t Alpha- Noble Care, and then were converted pin, Oreta’s boss, in the hearing. I don’t land pay the rent monthly? Others get to 8.9 million other shares valued at have a transcript of the hearing, but I their rent in advance, for heaven’s sake. P89 million. Worse, the value of those

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8.9 million shares, according to the PSE, was not P10 but P62. This, all within Noble Care. It’s pretty hairy, I know, but I think what the hearings are going to show is that somebody actually made over 500 million from what was valued at P20,000, and that somebody who benefited was likely Binay. A conjecture on my part. Why should Alphaland be so grateful to Binay? Only think. Binay put the two—the BSP and Alphaland—together. No other possible partners. Then, it was Makati who changed the classification of the property from industrial to commercial, giving Alphaland a boost. Then, Makati, as an “incentive” to Alphaland (it has not done this to anyone else), changed its floor area ratio (FAR) from 6-8 to 12. What does this mean? That the floors that Alphaland can build on the property was increased by 50 percent! This was given in 2012 by Makati. How can you connect it to Binay? Well, the foundations of the buildings were built sometime in 2009, presumably to a FAR of 8. But the foundations were not changed in 2012. So either Alphaland, as far back as 2009, knew that FAR 12 was coming, or the buildings now in place are at great risk. ■

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Canada News

Toronto police ask the public to help solve the mystery of the tunnel BY PAOLA LORIGGIO The Canadian Press TORONTO — “If you built a tunnel near Rexall Centre in Toronto give us a call, k?” The tweet from a Toronto police officer followed a call from authorities for the public’s help in solving the mystery of an underground chamber discovered last month near a Pan Am Games venue. Police said Tuesday they don’t know who built it and they don’t know why. The bunker, discovered in January by a conservation officer in a densely wooded area, is located 25 metres from the fence of the Rexall Centre, which is to host tennis events for the summer’s Pan Am Games. But while the investigation is still ongoing, police emphasized that the structure wasn’t currently thought to pose a public safety threat. “I don’t have any evidence that suggests criminality at this point,” said Deputy Chief Mark Saunders. “But bear in mind I don’t have the intent behind this at this point, that could change. I’m open to anything right now.” In the absence of such evidence, he said, “there’s no criminal offence for digging a hole.” Calling the discovery of the bunker “not your every day find,” Saunders said police would continue to investigate until they discovered who built it. Other authorities — including national and international security agencies — have been notified, Saunders said, but the investigation currently remains in the hands of Toronto police. “In light of today’s present circumstances, anything that we don’t have an answer to, we want to fully explore, we want to get the answers and if it compromises public safety, we have a concern,” he said. “So until we

Toronto Police are asking people to come forward that may know the origins or purpose of a mystery tunnel found near some sports facilities for this summer's Pan Am Games. TWITTER PHOTO

get what the intent is behind this, we’re going to continue to investigate.” The police probe so far has determined that the chamber was used at some point during the winter. However, Saunders said it’s more likely the tunnel was built in the summer or fall, when the dense foliage in the area would have kept the operation out of sight. Those responsible for building it clearly had some level of expertise in ensuring its structural integrity, Saunders said. Police believe a bucket pulley system was used to haul the dirt out of the chamber before it was carried away by wheelbarrow and dumped in a nearby pile. “Whoever decided to build this took quite a bit of time,” he added. Police found plywood wall supports, a generator, moisture resistant light bulbs and a sump

pump in the chamber. They also found a rosary with a Remembrance Day poppy nailed on to a wall in the chamber and food and beverage containers. Police said the chamber was almost two metres high, 86 centimetres wide and 10 metres long. It’s unclear whether the bunker was finished or if whoever built it intended to continue, Supt. Bryce Evans of the Specialized Criminal Investigations Unit said. Evans said he believes it to be the work of more than one person. “In my personal experience, it would be a lot for one person to do by themselves because if they start getting the pulley, bringing the buckets up, you gotta load the buckets full of dirt, so it would really be a manual task for one person,” he said.

“They had to do this manually, and going 33 feet in the distance and the height and then getting the material there and then building support walls and building the tops on top — there’s more. It’s not just a week’s job.” A Toronto construction company estimated it would take months to complete such a job by hand, even with several people involved. Jeff Chomyn, project manager at MGI Construction Corp., said the soil near York University is clay or silt, which is time consuming to dig out but “relatively safe” in terms of avoiding cave-ins. “It would take someone to dig and one person would have to be moving the material out of the way consistently or else it would take one person a year,” Chomyn said. “I’d say it’s four or five people

in my opinion.” Police are working to see if they can trace the generator, which they said was hidden in a separate hole about nine metres from the chamber and connected through wiring buried underground. They said it appears the wood used to brace the walls may have been taken from temporary bleachers set up at the Rexall Centre for last summer’s Rogers Cup tennis competition. The discovery of what has become known as “the mystery tunnel” is already making international headlines, while many took to social media to offer theories about the possible motives, that ranged from zombie hideouts to affordable housing. “That tunnel they just found sold for 450k. The Toronto real estate market is that hot” one tweet read. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Harper urges swift passage of anti-terror bill as NDP calls for full study BY JIM BRONSKILL The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper is urging a House of Commons committee to study the government’s antiterror bill as quickly as possible, in spite of accusations the Conservatives are using their majority to rush the legislation onto the books. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair told the Commons on Tuesday it is essential to scrutinize the bill, and asked Harper to ensure that security and human rights experts are not only heard, but also heeded. The Conservatives brought in the bill — which would significantly expand the powers of Canada’s spy agency — following the murders of two Cana-

dian soldiers last October. The bill would also make it easier for authorities to control the movements of terror suspects, expand no-fly list powers, crack down on extremist propaganda and outlaw encouraging someone to commit a terrorist act. The NDP opposes the legislation, saying it threatens civil liberties and fails to make Canadians safer. Harper dismissed Mulcair’s criticisms and said the public strongly supports the proposals. “I would urge the committee to study this bill as quickly as possible, in order to ensure the adoption of these measures to ensure the security and safety of Canadians,” Harper said. NDP public safety critic Randall Garrison said the Conser-

vatives rammed the legislation through the House. “Will the government commit today to a full and proper study of this sweeping security bill?” The NDP hopes to call anywhere from 80 to 100 witnesses to testify on the bill during more than two dozen meetings, and as of Tuesday had finalized a preliminary roster of 20 names. They include four former prime ministers and several retired Supreme Court justices who recently published a statement calling for increased oversight of Canadian intelligence activities. The New Democrats also want to hear from Eva Plunkett, the former inspector general of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, whose office was abolished as a cost-cutting

PM.GC.CA

measure. Critics including the NDP and Liberals have called for more robust oversight to complement the work of the Security Intelligence Review Committee, the remaining watchdog charged with keeping an eye on CSIS.

Estimated budget figures published Tuesday put the watchdog’s planned expenditures for 2015-16 at $2.8 million, only slightly above this year’s allotment. The estimate for CSIS, meanwhile, was $537 million, up almost $21 million from last year. ■

Obama veto of Keystone XL bill not the final word in pipeline dispute BY ALEXANDER PANETTA The Canadian Press WASHINGTON — U.S. President Barack Obama made good Tuesday on a threat to veto a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, bringing the two sides in the long-running controversy to a rare point of agreement: their battle is far from over. “The president’s veto of the Keystone jobs bill is a national embarrassment,” said the top Republican in the House of Representatives, John Boehner. “We are not going to give up in our efforts to get this pipeline built — not even close.” The issue is about to play out on two fronts. One is a major presidential regulatory decision and the other, as suggested by Boehner, likely involves future clashes with Congress. The Canadian government echoed that theme: “It is not a question of if this project will be approved; it is a matter of when,” said a statement from Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford.

“We will continue to strongly advocate for this job-creating project.” Even the White House concurred that the issue is far from settled. It pointed out that Tuesday’s announcement was a step in a long, winding process — not a final destination. The president cast the veto as a matter of procedural principle. In his letter to Congress, Obama said the bill he was scrapping had improperly tried to usurp presidential authority. The White House position is that cross-border pipeline permits are a matter for the president to decide — not Congress, which passed a bill earlier this month forcing the approval of the project. That bill was delivered to the president Tuesday and he vetoed it on the very first available day. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the president could still, in theory, approve the pipeline. The veto doesn’t necessarily reflect Obama’s view on the pipeline itself, he noted. “It certainly is possible,”

said Earnest said, noting the president would keep an “open mind” on the project. “(This) does not represent a specific position on the pipeline itself... It just merely says that the benefits, and consequences, of building that pipeline should be thoroughly evaluated by experts and through this administrative process that has existed for decades.” The administration is in the final phase of its regulatory review of the project — which was delayed by a dispute over the route in Nebraska, then again in a procedural dispute with Republicans in Congress in 2011, and once more during a court case involving Nebraska landowners last year. The administration couldn’t say Tuesday when the process would wrap up. But Earnest said he expects a decision soon after the conclusion of the review by the State Department, which is leading the process. There could also be many more twists and turns in Congress, as alluded to by Boehner. Republicans will attempt to override the veto, although they www.canadianinquirer.net

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

don’t appear to have the necessary two-thirds majority. The project only has support from a minority of Democrats. One of those rare Democrats also hinted at future congressional efforts. There’s widespread expectation that lawmakers might try attaching a pipeline provision to legislation Obama might find attractive, and difficult to veto. “We’re going to basically find a middle, if you will, and move forward,” West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin told Fox

News on Tuesday. But the sides in this dispute can’t agree on much else — not even basic poll findings. Keystone XL supporters point to surveys consistently showing that a majority of Americans — or at least a plurality — support the project. But environmentalists released their own poll this week suggesting most Americans don’t really have a strong opinion on the issue, and would rather see Congress move on to other things. ■

Canada News

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FRIDAY

A BC legislative committee has recommended that the provincial government "aggressively pursue" the implementation of police body-mounted cameras, a move that has already been in the works in both the Toronto and Calgary police departments. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Body worn cameras will do B.C. police good, recommends all party report BY TAMSYN BURGMANN The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — A British Columbia legislative committee has recommended the provincial government “aggressively pursue” whatever steps are necessary to suit up police with body-mounted cameras. The proposal from an allparty special committee is “strongly supported” by its members, who urged the government to undertake consultations and then implement the measure in a report released on Monday. It comes just days after the country’s federal and provincial privacy watchdogs jointly appealed to police departments nationwide to consider how equipping officers could infringe on the public’s privacy. It also takes a page from the Vancouver Police Department, which in October became the first force in B.C. to outfit officers with wearable cameras

when they dismantled a protracted homeless encampment. “It’s the direction that a lot of police forces are going because it provides a lot more insight into the valuable work that the men and women do,” said Mike Morris, the committee’s chair and member of assembly for the governing Liberals. But he noted the committee is aware that privacy czars have signalled caution, and for jurisdictions considering implementation “to see what kinds of legal roadblocks might be in the way.” The recommendation was formed on the basis of several factors, including the rising use of body-worn cameras in other Canadian cities, which shows the measure would not only be “feasible” but “benefit law enforcement and citizens alike.” Both Toronto and Calgary are already in the process of expanding the use of cameras. The committee also de-

scribed the move as a “really practical suggestion” that would be a natural progression within current technological capabilities. Last October, Vancouver police donned light-weight, highdefinition GoPro video cameras in a limited trial to clear away makeshift shelters from a park in the city’s impoverished Downtown Eastside. In a presentation to the committee last fall, University of Victoria law Prof. Michelle Lawrence pointed to nine coroners’ inquests that recommended the use of recording devices by police. She said the cost of equipment pales in comparison to the injuries and harms suffered when there’s not enough evidence showing what happened during a police encounter. The recommendation comes as part of a broader report reviewing the province’s Independent Investigations Office, the police watchdog asked to investigate cases in which www.canadianinquirer.net

people are seriously injured or killed by police officers. Spencer Chandra Herbert, the committee’s deputy chair and a member of the Opposition New Democrats, said that body-worn cameras remove the need to rely on people’s memories or notes. He said cameras would greatly benefit investigators in cases where police may have been involved in a deadly incident. “They want the evidence to come out and show if they’ve operated within the law and they did everything to reduce antagonism or aggression,” he said. “And if they break the rules, we need that evidence too.” Last week, personal-information protection officials from across Canada released a document that provides guidance into the widespread use of cameras. It encouraged pilot programs first and said safeguards are imperative, such as encryption, restricted access and strict retention periods.

Josh Paterson, executive director of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association, said that while his organization does not oppose the measure, they want a detailed set of rules to be installed alongside the technology. “Who gets to control the footage? How long is it kept? Who has access to it? To what purposes can it later be used? When will it be destroyed? What will the officers’ rights be in relation to it?” are all questions that need to be answered, Paterson said. He said protocol must be firm to prevent abuse, such as a scenario where officers might record indiscriminately to the point of creating a new blanketlayer of surveillance. B.C.’s ministry of justice must green light the recommendation as a first step. Then work can begin with police departments to determine budgets and what circumstances would be most appropriate for camera use. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Judge rules Mountie lied at Robert Dziekanski inquiry THE ASSOCIATED PRESS VANCOUVER — A B.C. Supreme Court judge says an RCMP officer who stunned Robert Dziekanski with a Taser lied during a public inquiry. Const. Kwesi Millington was among four officers charged with perjury for their testimony at the 2009 inquiry, which examined what happened the night the Polish immigrant died at Vancouver’s airport. The Crown alleged the officers colluded on a story to tell homicide investigators and then lied at the inquiry as they attempted to reconcile their own accounts and an ama-

teur video showing Dziekanski being stunned. Judge William Ehrcke says the Crown has proven Millington lied when he claimed Dziekanski was standing while he was stunned a second time, though it’s clear on the video that Dziekanski was already on the ground. Millington and three other officers were called to the airport after Dziekanski, who didn’t speak any English, started throwing furniture in the international arrivals area. Const. Bill Bentley was acquitted in 2013, former corporal Benjamin (Monty) Robinson is awaiting a verdict and Const. Gerry Rundel’s trial is almost finished. ■

Experts to discuss what Japanese prime minister should say in statement to mark WWII’s end BY MARI YAMAGUCHI The Associated Press TOKYO — A panel of experts appointed by Japan’s prime minister will meet for the first time Wednesday to discuss what he should say in a statement marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, fueling speculation that he may water down previous government apologies for the country’s wartime past. Japan issued a landmark apology on the 50th anniversary in 1995 under then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, for the first time acknowledging its colonization and aggression in parts of Asia before and during the war. In 2005, then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also apologized. Current Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has appointed a 16-member panel — 10 academics, three business leaders, two journalists and an international aid worker — to seek advice on what to say in a statement he plans to make on the Aug. 15 anniversary of the war’s end. Abe, who took office in late 2012, initially signalled his intention to revise the 1995 Murayama statement, triggering criticism from China and South Korea. He now says his Cabinet stands by the 1995 apology, but that he wants to

issue a more forward-looking statement on the anniversary, raising suspicion that he will somehow water down the apology. About one-third of the panel members are regulars on Abe’s policy advisory committees, though they exclude his associates with the most extreme rightwing views. The appointment of centrist Asia experts Takashi Shiraishi and Shin Kawashima and a journalist from the liberal-leaning Mainichi newspaper give the panel some balance. China and South Korea have sent warnings on the statement. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, speaking at a U.N. public debate, warned against attempts to “whitewash past crimes of aggression.” In Seoul, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Abe’s statement should not backpedal from past apologies. The debate over the statement reflects a simmering divide in Japan, 70 years after the war. On one side are those who say the accounts of Japan’s wartime atrocities are falsified or exaggerated, and that it’s time to restore pride among Japanese in their country. On the other are liberal defenders of Japan’s Constitution, who don’t want the country to forget its colonization of Korea and invasion of China and Southeast Asia, and the disaster they spawned. ■

Funeral Saturday for Elijah Marsh, 3, who died after wandering out on frigid night THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — A funeral for a Toronto boy who died after wandering outside in the middle of a bitterly cold night dressed only in a shirt, diapers and boots is scheduled for Saturday. Three-year-old Elijah Marsh died last Thursday after wandering away from his grandmother’s apartment building, sparking a search that gripped people across the country. His family has extended a public invitation to both Saturday’s funeral and the visitation, which will be held on Thursday. Elijah’s death prompted Justin Kozuch, a Toronto man who has a threeyear-old son and nine-year-old daughter, to start a campaign on Tilt.com to help raise money for the boy’s funeral. A total of $173,557 was raised in the campaign, which started with an initial goal of $20,000. Kozuch said it is all being donated

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to the Marsh family and it is up to them to decide how they want to use the funds. Elijah’s mother, Georgette Marsh, thanked those who donated to the online fundraiser, calling it “surreal.” “I know so many people, people who don’t know him, love him and feel for me and family who are grieving so much,” she said Monday in a release. “It’s the worst thing in the world to lose your child and to lose him like this.” A second online fundraiser started by Maria Petrov and the Toronto Mommies Facebook group had raised nearly $4,300 by mid-afternoon Monday. In announcing the funeral, the Marsh family said it continues to be grateful for all the donations they have received and appealed for donations to a trust account “to support Elijah Marsh.” A makeshift memorial of flowers and stuffed toys was also erected outside the grandmother’s apartment building. ■

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FRIDAY

SENIOR'S CLUB VALENTINE'S PARTY Filipino Seniors’ Club of BC held a Valentine party last Feb. 22, featuring the crowning of Ms. Valentine 2015 Redempta Ragasa and the King & Queen of Hearts Raymond Lam and Frances Cantoria (Photos by Freddie Bagunu).

MISS WORLD CANADA Candidates of Miss World Canada 2015 joined the festive Lunar New Year parade and festival in Vancouver’s Chinatown. (Photo by Angelo Siglos)

KUNG HEI FAT CHOY

YEAR OF THE SHEEP Vancouver Art Gallery’s Lunar Fest celebrating the Year of the Sheep.

For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net. www.canadianinquirer.net

Revellers ringing in the Year of the Sheep trooped to Vancouver’s Chinatown on Feb. 22, where 80 cultural groups participated in the annual Chinese New Year parade complete with dancing lions, dragons, acrobats, and lots of politicians (Photos by Bert Quibuyen.)

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Seen & Scenes: Toronto

FILIPINO CENTRE TORONTO Filipino Centre Toronto (FCT) held its Valentine's Party at Rizal Hall on Feb. 14 with friends, former Miss Paraluman participants, and supporters of FCT. Here are highlights of the event.

www.canadianinquirer.net

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FRIDAY

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS:

Ricky Cuenca

Co-Founder and President of ANCOP Canada and member of Couples for Christ BY EARL VON TAPIA Philippine Canadian Inquirer ONE OF the benefits of becoming involved in an organization is being able to tap into that organization's network whenever and wherever you are in the world. For Ricky Cuenca, it was his involvement in Couples for Christ that helped him and his family transition into life in Canada. It was also through his activities with the group that he was able to find his calling in life, that being one of helping the poor, establishing ANCOP Canada, and spreading the love and faith of Christ. Ricky was born in Manila in 1955 to a father that was a government employee and a mother that was a schoolteacher. His hard-working parents were able to send him to good schools while he was growing up. Ricky graduated from De

La Salle University, and upon the enrichment of marriage and “There was a calling, for me graduation he found work in a family life. Through various ac- to go to Canada and migrate . . . finance company. tivities, the values of family life it was not for greener pastures, After three years, Ricky es- and marriage are strengthened because at that time I was not tablished his own businesses: and nourished. rich but I was in business at a fishing business, and an im“Upon joining Couple for that time and life was pretty ported car dealership. He met Christ my married life and fam- good for me already,” he said. his wife Irma and got married ily life improved and became So Ricky left his businesses in 1979. They had and everything two daughters, else behind to born in 1979 and move to Canada 1983. Life was and pursue the going well for God provides and I know that he’s calling of the Ricky and his out there and that he will really lord, to grow the family. take care of us. mission of CouAnd then one ples for Christ in day in 1986, Canada. Ricky was invit“I became fulled to join a group time for Couples called Couples for Christ, and better, and I really started and for Christ, so I was no longer that changed the course of his became dedicated in serving selling cars, but then I was selllife. God and the poor,” he said. ing Christ . . . to really bring “I was brought to the Lord Ricky continued with his more people into it so that they when I was invited to join businesses and his Couples for would experience the love of a group called Couples for Christ activities until in 1997, Christ in their marriages and in Christ,” he said. he decided to take his involve- their families,” he said. Couples for Christ is a renew- ment with the group and his It was Ricky’s connections al ministry for the promotion of faith to another level. through Couples for Christ that www.canadianinquirer.net

helped him and his family establish themselves in Canada. CFC members in Canada were there to welcome him and his family upon their arrival. They found an apartment for Ricky and his family to live in, helped with finalizing documents needed to complete the move, and helped with things such as the opening of bank accounts. They helped Ricky get a car to move around, and they helped his wife get a job as a real-estate broker. “I would say that I was really fortunate and blessed because the members of the Couples for Christ really assisted me in my migration to Canada,” he said. In 2002, after firmly establishing his family in Canada, Ricky knew he wanted to do more to spread the good work of Couples for Christ, not just to within the families of the members, but also to the less fortunate out there.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

“The work of Couples for Christ is not only limited to evangelization, because we were also called to help the poor . . . because we in Couples for Christ would really not only look at the blessings that we received in our marriages and our families, but we were told by the Lord to share our blessings, especially to those that are in need and the less fortunate,” he said. With that in mind, Ricky and two other people established ANCOP Canada (ANswering the Cry Of the Poor) in 2001. ANCOP Canada is a registered charitable non-profit organization that was founded in Toronto, and has since expanded to include multiple branches all across Canada. It is part of a much larger network of ANCOP organizations around the world. ANCOP organizations seek to provide solutions to extreme poverty by targeting the poorest of the poor and responding to their needs, without discriminating on the basis of faith or compelling recipients to accept Christian beliefs. So far, ANCOP Canada and its partners have built over 2500 homes for the poor

in the Philippines and sent over 3000 poor children to school. From 2002 until 2010, Ricky was President of ANCOP Canada, helping see the organization grow and expand across Canada while fulfilling its mission of helping the poor. In 2010, Ricky was called back to the Philippines, where he became Chairman of Couples for Christ Global Mission, helping CFC grow in places such as Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and India. Upon finishing his term in 2014, he came back to Canada and once again resumed his post as President of ANCOP Canada. “The poor is central to the Gospel, and we cannot live our lives here without helping the poor, so as president of ANCOP it is my desire to really grow the work of the mission by expanding and increasing our revenues so that many poor people will benefit,” he said. “When we are able to help the poor, what happens to them is that it’s not only the material aspect of their lives that is being changed, it is also the values that they are able to adapt in their lives, it is the behavioral and the attitude change that happens to those that

we are giving benefits and help to . . . so what happens really is they become a better person. That is the effect of the program,” he added. It is clear that Ricky’s involvement with CFC and his work with ANCOP has led to a happy and fulfilling life. Both of his daughters are now grown up and married, and they too are members of CFC. It was through CFC that his family’s transition into Canada was made smooth, and that is why he wants other people to join the group. “Maybe one of the things that people will consider is joining Couples for Christ, because what we do is sharing and helping and loving together, and that is what community life is all about, that is what our missions is, to be able to really help one another,” he said. Ricky understands the plight of the new immigrant, having come across many such people during his time in Canada. He gave some advice to those new immigrants who may be facing some difficult times. “Perseverence. I have a lot of friends now and many in the community that have experienced the same thing. Some would have to take on menial jobs, even if they had good jobs in the Philippines. Many were managers there, had executive positions. But we just move on. Persistence and perseverance, and after a year or two or three they were also able to get the jobs that they wanted,” he said. www.canadianinquirer.net

“But more important than perseverance and persistence and not giving up, I would say that the best way to overcome all of these challenges is through prayers and faith in God. God will never abandon us, and he will provide for us because he loves us so much and that he will take care of us as long as we remain faithful to him, and we will be all right . . . I am very confident that God is a loving God and that God provides and I know that he’s out there and that he will really take care of us,” he added. For now, Ricky hopes to continue his work with CFC and ANCOP to expand the organization even further and to help as many poor and unfortunate people as possible. “My goal right now is to focus on the work of ANCOP, and I can see that there are many opportunities that are available for ANCOP being able to expand and improve and grow and raise our revenues, so that is what I will do in the next couple of years. And as far as Couples for Christ and the foreign missions, there are still millions of people that have to hear the good news of the Lord, and this is my way of being witnesses to them, being a good model, and really being able to share the love of Christ with them,” he said. “So with God there and with my spouse and my family and my community, I am so confident that things will be all right.” ■

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FRIDAY

The Winds of Change BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

wind. Literally. Wind Energy 101

ENERGY. WE all need it. We all demand it. We all tend to abuse it. In this day and age of climate crazies and environment woes, we all need to smarten up and realize that it is time for the beast of mindless consumerism and greedy consumption to tuck its tail between its legs and scamper. Its ugly head has been reared far too long now at the expense of the world in which we live. Indeed, we must now take a long, hard look at the error of our ways and adjust our mindset. Reduce our carbon footprint: The catchphrase of the times is which we live. A good way to do this would be to consider alternative, environment-friendly answers to the demand for energy. One such answer is blowing in the

and turn it into electricity, but wind power was used for this kind of work requiring energy. Today, given our state of technological advancement, modern wind turbines have taken the place of the windmill. These turbines generally have three blades on top

tricity. There is a whole, complex process – which involves internal shafts, gearboxes, converters, rotations, generators, power grids, etecetera – between harnessing the wind, to the actual end product of electricity made available to consumers, but this is where your energy to Google comes into play.

Wind energy is quickly becoming a viable means of alternative energy – especially here in the Philippines, which is naturally quite blustery – but what is it, really? For those of us who may be a tad unfamiliar with this Why wind? energy saver, Indeed, we must now take a For starters, wind power caplong, hard look at the error of wind is a renewtures the natuour ways and adjust our mindset. able source of ral wind in our energy. This atmosphere and means that we converts it first are not further into mechanical energy, and of a pole-shaped steel tower, depleting the earth’s already then into electricity. The con- and measure anywhere from depleted natural resources. cept of harnessing the wind’s 80-feet to 260-feet, depending This is good news for our very, power began many moons ago, on the scale of what is being very tired earth! with the advent of the first powered (anywhere from one Wind is a clean fuel source. windmills, which were used to home, to an entire subdivision Wind energy does not contribpump water, grind grain, and of homes.) ute to pollution, which is alother things of that nature. Of Wind turbines work by har- ready at dangerously high levcourse, back then there was no nessing wind's kinetic energy, els in many parts of the world. technology to harness wind and transforming it into elec- Traditional sources of energy

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– such as those that are dependent on the burning of fossil fuels – release atmospheric emissions and pollutants that create greenhouse gases and cause acid rain. Not so with wind energy. We all know the domino effect that pollution has on global warming and climate change, so anything we can do to lower levels of pollution is most certainly a step in the right direction. Wind is a domestic source of energy, which is also a definite advantage. It utilizes and maximizes a resource that is locally available. The windier the country, the easier to find wind hotspots which would be ideal for setting up wind power plants (which can, in reality, be set-up even on an existing farm or ranch land.). Lastly, wind energy is costefficient. Prices per kilowatt ❱❱ PAGE 34 The Winds

Immigration

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

PANGARAP : SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

So, How Long Should You Stay on a Part-time or on-Call Job? BY BOLET AREVALO GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR gets you a job (most often part-time, seasonal, or on-call), not necessarily a career. However, if you will not find your career in such a job, make sure you leave enough time to look for other opportunities while doing it. Okay, I understand. No matter how happy that store job has made you, you are still stuck with a job and not a career. This is particularly an issue for those of us who are skilled in an entirely different profession and academic background. But may I advise that the issue should be clear, that you simply want to go back to your career or own line of specialization. Why? Because if the issue is that you are ashamed of a job which you think is menial, then there is another problem that goes back to yourself. Even if you want to go back to your previous profession, starting from the bottom is more likely to happen than being able to get to your previous level at once. Meaning, you will start with menial tasks nevertheless. If you have not made up your mind whether to go back to your old career or not, or want to go back and spend time looking for an opportunity there, then it will be wise to do part time or get into a seasonal employment. Doing this part-time will allow you to have a window to continue looking for work that matches the skills you are bringing with you officially to your new country, and to upgrade these skills by enrolling in part-time courses. But you will also find yourself really needing time to attend to family errands, household chores and personal concerns, because house helps may not be around to do them for you. Oh, that should make us miss the days when back home, we had all the help we could get to do things we could not or did not want to do. A few weeks into your first

store job, for example, see if day can help you attend to er- to-day or weekly standard opyou can be accommodated for rands that require you to call or erating procedure is acceptmore convenient hours of work visit people or offices on regu- able in companies that take or a schedule that is more at- lar work days and hours is prac- on part-timers and seasonal tuned to your other concerns. tical, isn’t it? employees. It’s not that these I want you to do this very cauThen, there is another set companies do not care about tiously because you might end of people who may want just a your professional growth, but up losing the job. And when I job, and that’s it. There is little only because they also recogsay cautiously, I mean, study concern for any career to build nize your more pressing need whether your role is important up or prepare for. And I am not at that moment. Certainly, to the company, whether you saying that this is bad. This is some of these companies offer have exhibited part-time or seayour reliabilsonal employity, whether the ees full-time manager allows employment if that, whether If you have not made up your mind these workers some employwhether to go back to your old career had been able ees do that, or or not . . . then it will be wise to to exhibit their whether you can do part time or get into a seasonal reliability and state your case employment. skills very well. convincingly. This brings It depends us to the issue on each of our of being able to circumstances, but I think only a statement of fact. This give your best all the time, rethat having to work two days group may also want to take up gardless of the type or nature straight for eight hours is bet- two part-time jobs simultane- of your employment with any ter than working three days for ously, and certainly arrange- company. I have always besix hours. The amount of effort ments can be done to be able to lieved myself and this I tell my you exert preparing for work do both, and most employers fellow workers, “If you’re good, and making arrangements for understand and accede to that. you’re good.” It will show, and your family is definitely more This is the reason why in some you will shine. And it will be taxing if you have to do it three companies you are asked to your key to anything better in days a week than if you were to submit your availability hours the future. do it only twice that week. Plus, on a fairly regular basis. The other concern is the the fact that this one extra week Availability Hours as a day- danger of complacency in dowww.canadianinquirer.net

ing part-time jobs. It is not bad that we enjoy hopping from one job to another, or cycling from one part-time job to another. But it is always better to think long-term. There are disadvantages to this type of employment, and it is important that you recognize them. We will discuss that fully in subsequent columns. Temporary or seasonal jobs are mostly part-time. You can do two part-time jobs at the same time but make sure you do not foul up on making your availability clear and reliable. Think long-term, whether for the career that you still want to build or prepare for, or to this employer which you want to keep as your part-time source of bread and butter. ■ Bolet is a marketing communications practitioner and dabbles in writing as a personal passion. She is author-publisher of the book: The Most Practical Immigrating and Job Hunting Survival Guide, proven simple steps to success without the fears and the doubts. Please check out https://www.amazon.com/ author/boletarevalo.

Community News

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FRIDAY

Transit police ends agreement with border agents

ASEAN Consuls General in Vancouver (ACGV) Committee 2015: Philippine Consul General Neil Frank R. Ferrer, ACGV chairman (3rd from left); Indonesian Consul General Sri Wiludjeng (4th from left); Thailand Consul General Sutthiluck Sangarmangkang (5th from left); and Malaysian Consul General MohdAdli Bin Abdullah (3rd from right). Also in photo are Indonesian Vice Consul EsthyPutriMuryanti; Thailand Consul TayatatKanjanapipatkul, Malaysian Consul Wan Nor Haimi Bin Wan Mahmud and Philippine Deputy Consul General Anthony Achilles L. Mandap.

PH chairs Asean consuls general committee in Vancouver CONSUL GENERAL Neil Frank R. Ferrer of the Philippines has officially assumed the chairmanship of the ASEAN Consuls General in Vancouver (ACGV) Committee for 2015. The Philippines succeeded Malaysia which chaired for 2014. On Feb. 12, Consul General Ferrer chaired the first monthly meeting of the ACGV held at the Philippine Consulate General. In attendance were

the Consuls General plus one officer from the Consulates of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand. The meeting agreed on the various activities and projects of the ACGV lined up for 2015 among them, traditional events like ASEAN golf tournament (AGT) and ASEAN picnic. These two events, have over the years, helped to bring the ASEAN community in Vancouver closer and raised awareness

of ASEAN among the Canadian mainstream. They have also successfully raised funds to support local charities and provide assistance to victims of natural disasters in Southeast Asia. Also on the agenda were new initiatives to increase ASEAN awareness in Canada and promote economic cooperation, particularly in view of establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. ■

TRANSPORTATION NOT Deportation campaign leader Omar Chu announced that transit police will terminate their Memorandum of Understanding with Canada Border Services Agency. “Officers must receive permission from a watch commander to initiate contact with CBSA, and they will not detain people without warrants for items that are simply incontravention of immigration law,” Chu added. Every day in the Greater Vancouver area – Coast Salish territories, at various skytrain stations and bus stops, transit police racially profile people of colour and subsequently turn migrants over to CBSA. Transit Police reported 328 people to CBSA in 2013, one in five of whom faced a subsequent immigration investigation including deportation. Only 1.5% of all those referred to CBSA even had immigration warrants out. From November

Taduran gets distinguished service cross award BY ROMY ZETAZATE AND MANNY PAPA St. Jamestown News Service

SENATOR TOBIAS (Jun) Enverga, who represents the province of Ontario in Canada's Upper House, was sworn in as an honourary Calgarian during the Calgary leg of his visit to the

province of Alberta, on Feb. 21. During his Calgary visit, he joined the Filipino-Canadian community in recognizing the positive contributions of temporary foreign workers to Can-

ada. He was also scheduled to visit the cities of Edmonton and Red Deer on the same weekend. Fe Taduran, St. Jamestown News Service www.canadianinquirer.net

2012 to January 2013, transit police made had more referrals to CBSA than any other BC police force including the VPD and RCMP. One of these people was Mexican migrant and hotel worker Lucia Vega Jiménez, who later committed suicide while in CBSA custody. At the coroner’s inquest into her death, a transit police officer testified that he turned Lucia over to CBSA, in part, because Lucia had an accent and that he believed “she wasn’t originally from Canada.” “Public transit is not supposed to be a border checkpoint. This MOU should never have been in place but now as a direct result of grassroots community mobilizing including 40 organizations and over 1,500 people demanding an end to transit police and CBSA collaboration, transit police will not be enforcing federal immigration policy,” says Harsha Walia of Transportation not Deportation. ■

KNIGHTS OF Rizal Chancellor of the Scarborough Chapter Joaquin T. Taduran, Jr., received a “distinguished service cross” award from the Order of the Knights of Rizal (Okor) Supreme Council during its 20th international assembly held Feb. 20, at the Vigan Convention Center in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. The award was approved unanimously by the Okor supreme council. Taduran, a veteran print and broadcast journalist and

an active participant in Filipino events in other parts of Canada, has been promoting the ideals and missions of Dr. Jose P. Rizal not only among the adults, but especially to the youth. He has been supporting other Rizal chapter activities in Canada. The citation was signed by Jeremias (Jerry) C. Singson, Okor supreme commander and Maximo S. Slazar, supreme pursuivant. Taduran thanked his fellow members and officers of the Rizal Scarborough Chapter for appointing him flag-carrier of the chapter together with Placido Mineque. ■

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS Every week, the Philippine Canadian Inquirer celebrates the unwavering Filipino spirit through a feature called “Filipino-Canadian in Focus.” The feature recognizes the achievements of Filipinos living in Canada who have shown concern for the community, success in spite of trials, and the uniquely Pinoy practice of “bayanihan.” This year, we are welcoming nominations for the next subject of “Filipino-Canadian in Focus.”

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

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

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Immigration

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

FRIDAY

TANONG MO KAY KUYA BOY

So you got into a car accident KUYA BOY, I want to know what to do if I get into a car accident. - Jimmy from Surrey, B.C. JIMMY, last Saturday, on my Juan Radio program, I interviewed Atty. Jeffrey Witten, one of the top personal injury lawyers in Vancouver who specializes in car accidents. His firm, McComb & Witten, has helped several Filipino clients and they are very good at what they do. You may contact Atty. Jeffrey Witten at 604 255 9018. What to do after a car accident

• Get immediate medical help for your injuries. • Talk to a lawyer before you talk to ICBC. • Do not sign any statements prepared by ICBC. • Do not discuss who was at fault for the accident with anyone but your lawyer. • Don't delay. Start collecting information about the accident as soon as possible. • Make notes about the day of the accident (weather, road conditions, etc.). • Make notes about how the accident happened (rear-ended, left turn etc.) • Find people who witnessed the accident and get their names, addresses and telephone numbers. • Take photographs of the damage done to your car in the accident. • Take photographs of the accident location. • Get your car checked by a mechanic. • Visit your family doctor, let your doctor tell you what to do to care for your injuries and fol-

low your doctor’s advice. discussing the matter with your treatment schedule, dates on After an auto accident, make doctor first. which the pain was exceptionsure you’ve noted all the facts. • Apply for Employment In- ally bad, and how your life style • Keep all receipts for medi- surance (E.I.) “Sick” Benefits or is being affected. cal expenses relating to the disability benefits through your • Inform your lawyer about accident such as medication, employer if you are off work. any changes in your employphysiotherapy, crutches etc., Do not wait. (Note: ICBC may ment situation, such as time and forward them to your law- deduct any moneys you are en- off work due to the accident, yer at least once a month so titled to from these plans from change of jobs etc. they can submit them to ICBC your final award whether you • If, before and after the accifor reimbursement. Some ex- received them or not.) dent, you are unemployed you penses like “User Fees” for • Report any changes in ben- should keep a list of employers physiotherapy will not be re- efit to your lawyer, either from who you have contacted for a covered until your case is set- E.I., from your employer, or new job. Keep track of names, tled. addresses, con• Keep in contact people, tact with your when you spoke doctor and folto them and low his/her Almost all personal injury lawyers whether you instructions work on a contingency basis . . . So were replying to regarding treatif you get into a car accident, call a a newspaper ad ment of your lawyer right away. or other source. injuries. If you • If you are find that the involved in antreatments preother car acciscribed are not dent (or any type helping talk to your doctor monies received from ICBC. of accident) after this accident BEFORE stopping the treat• If you are self employed, you need to tell your lawyer imments. keep detailed records of lost mediately. Any future accidents • Keep in contact with your business opportunities (bids, can affect the outcome of your doctor about your employabil- contracts, contacts etc.,) and current case. ity or fitness to return to work. any expenses related to the hir• If you visit any medical or Follow their advice on whether ing of replacement workers. rehabilitation professionals you are well enough to work. • Record important dates on or attend practitioners of any Do not stop working without your calendar that set out your kind (e.g., acupuncturists, chi-

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ropractors, or alternative medicine practitioners) get their business cards and give them to your lawyer. Important fact you need to know

Do not worry if you cannot afford a lawyer. Almost all personal injury lawyers work on a contingency basis. That means you do not need to pay them anything upfront. They will only get paid if they are successful in getting you the financial settlement you deserve. The lawyers will usually get a share of the settlement which can vary from 20% to 33.3%. So if you get into a car accident, call a lawyer right away. ■ We invite you to tune in to our weekly legal advice program “Tanong Mo Kay Kuya Boy” every Saturday from 1:30 pm on JUAN RADIO 96.1 FM. Every week, we will feature various professional lawyers who will discuss and give advice about different legal topics.

If you have any legal questions, send an email to kuyaboycanada@gmail.com

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Entertainment

‘Birdman’ tops Oscars defined by advocacy, originality, and first timers BY TERESA CEROJANO The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — Hollywood is smarter than you thought. Whether by design or chance, the 87th Academy Awards elegantly and subtly shifted the tone of the season from a reductive fixation on snubs and fact-checking to a positive celebration of original filmmaking and purposeful advocacy for causes as diverse as immigration, suicide and equal rights. The self-obsessed industry might have given its best picture and director prizes to Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “Birdman,” a trenchant examination of actorly narcissism, but the vanity seemed to stop with the opening of the envelopes. Even in their moments of singular glory, most of the winners chose to talk about something other than themselves. The Mexican-born Inarritu, whose “Birdman” also won for cinematography and original screenplay, said he prays his native country finds “a government we deserve” and that immigrants to the U.S. “can be treated with the same dignity and the respect of the ones who came before and (built) this incredible immigrant nation.” Host Neil Patrick Harris set the tenor of the evening, toeing the line between reverent merriment and self-referential parody, with a biting joke about one of the season’s most criticized truths. “Tonight we honour Hollywood’s best and whitest — I

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s “Birdman" scored the best picture and director awards during this year's Oscars. SCREENSHOT FROM TRAILER

mean brightest,” he said in his opening, referencing the lack of diversity in the slate of nominees. Patricia Arquette, who won the supporting actress award for her portrayal of a mother finding herself in Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood,” also took a stand for equal rights and pay to the public delight of fellow nominee Meryl Streep. “It is time for women. Equal means equal. The truth is the older women get the less money they make,” she said backstage. Best actress winner Julianne Moore (“Still Alice”) and best actor Eddie Redmayne (“The

Theory of Everything”) followed suit, using their speeches to discuss the afflictions of their characters — Alzheimer’s and ALS, respectively. “This Oscar belongs to all of those people around the world battling ALS,” said Redmayne. “CitizenFour,” in which Laura Poitras captured Edward Snowden in the midst of leaking National Security Agency documents, won best documentary. “The disclosures that Edward Snowden reveals don’t only expose a threat to our privacy but to our democracy itself,” said Poitras, accepting the Oscar. “When the most important de-

cisions being made affecting all of us are made in secret, we lose our ability to check the powers that control.” John Legend and Common took their win for the song “Glory” to speak of the importance of “Selma,” the now infamously snubbed civil rights drama. “We say that ‘Selma’ is now, because the struggle for justice is right now,” Legend said. As the young Graham Moore, who talked about his depression and a suicide attempt during his acceptance speech for best adapted screenplay for “The Imitation Game,” put it

backstage: “I might as well use it to say something meaningful.” But in a season full of foregone conclusions, many of which came true at the Dolby Theatre, including a best supporting actor win for J.K. Simmons (“Whiplash”), the Oscars still had a few surprises up its tuxedo sleeves, including the fact that all of Sunday’s big winners were first-timers. Richard Linklater’s 12-yearsin-the-making “Boyhood,” a critical favourite of the year and one that was once considered a top contender for the evening’s top prizes left with only an award for Arquette. The formal ambitions of “Birdman” proved to be the more compelling — even if its lead Michael Keaton was passed over in the acting race. There was also clear regard for uniqueness in the evening’s other multiple prize winners. Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash,” a pulsating and vibrant independent film about a driven jazz student and his ruthless instructor, won three awards, for supporting actor, editing and sound mixing. Director Wes Anderson’s dark WWII-set fable, “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” meanwhile, won four. Anderson had been long overlooked by the Academy for his idiosyncratic features. This latest outing, one of the evening’s most nominated films, was recognized for production design, score, costume design and makeup and ❱❱ PAGE 34 ‘Birdman’ tops

Entertainment

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 FRIDAY

MISS B’S ENTERTAINMENT REVIEWS

HUM Canada’s MUSICARA Concert for the Beauty Night Society BY BABES NEWLAND

VANCOUVER, B.C. — When you get to be invited in an event that has the words Music & Beauty written all over its heading, this writer has already decided not missing it for the world. And it sure didn’t disappoint. So goes a hackneyed expression-- Oh, what a night! The seemingly inconspicuous venue on Granville Island called Performance Works became a virtual low droning beehive of people wanting to get entertained by Vancouver’s finest musicians. Amongst lineup of stellar performers for the night was 20-year old singer/songwriter Anna Toth who reminded me of Lana Del Rey and Kina Grannis with her soulful vocal style and vulnerability. Pretty impressive takes on those covers that she did. And equally dazzling acts followed suit without missing a heartbeat like accomplished singer/songwriter/music producer and Studio Cloud 30 impresario, Warren Flandez with Top Line Vocal Collective; the Simpson Brothers, Gio Levy, Angelica Poversky with Wishbone and Jeremy Lim. These young artists’ musicality was tight. Their song choices were effectively intertwined to one another. And as the audience were stitched on their seats, the clamor for more ensued. MUSICARA Concert is Healing Using Music or HUM Canada’s 3rd annual charity event for the benefit of Beauty Night Society. BNS builds self-esteem and changes the lives of women and youth living in poverty in Greater Vancouver area, mostly on the eastside. It offers wellness, life skills development and makeovers four nights each week. Work-in-action takes place at shelters, health care facilities, drop in centres, transition homes; even correctional facilities. It serves 300 impoverished women and youth each week. By end of 2014, BNS would have given over 50,000

Anna Toth.

Filipino artist performing.

Gio Levy.

Warren Flandez.

spirit-uplifting makeovers to these marginalized women of our society. Big kudos to HUM’s bighearted co-founding creators— Social Entrepreneur and Executive Director, Steven Ngo and Ms. Wendy He. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to using music as a way of bringing happiness into people’s lives. It houses a slew of fine musicianvolunteers who donate their talents performing at schools, hospices and care facilities or organizing concerts for charitable causes. Steven and Wendy embody what true compassion is all about. Two strokes of geniuses, I must declare. Steven

for one is a trained classical pianist and contemporary musician by profession. He started learning music at the age of 5 and has since won numerous global competitions and performed in Singapore, Taiwan, California and locally at the 2010 Winter Olympics. HUM definitely is “bringing happiness to the world, one note at a time”. ■ To find out more about HUM Canada, please visit their website: http://www.humcanada.com. Email:

babescastronewland@ gmail.com

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HUM Musicara organizers.

Entertainment

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Canadian director Chris Williams wins best animated feature for ‘Big Hero 6’

SAF movie starring ER Ejercito elicits mixed reactions from netizens

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES — Canuck director Chris Williams collected his first Oscar on Sunday night for the super-hero animated comedy “Big Hero 6,” beating out two fellow Canadians in a category stacked with compatriots. The Kitchener, Ont.-bred animator collected the trophy along with co-director Don Hall and producer Roy Conli, upsetting front-runner Dean DeBlois, the Aylmer, Que.-bred director of “How to Train Your Dragon 2.” DeBlois won the Golden Globe earlier this year and is a former Disney colleague of Williams. Before the bash, Williams described DeBlois as one of his best friends, and joked about red carpet fisticuffs as the two made the rounds on the awards circuit. “For both of us it’s very strange and surreal and kind of funny that we are competing in this category. I was just in his wedding party a few months

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Big Hero 6.

ago ... we watched the Super Bowl together,” Williams said last week. It was the second Oscar nomination for Williams, who also earned a nod for his directorial debut on the 2008 film “Bolt.” He also faced competition from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.-native Graham Annable, co-director of the intricate stop motion film “The Boxtrolls.” All three studied at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ont., at different times, and did not cross paths until later in their careers.

The other nominees in the animated feature category were “Song of the Sea” from Tomm Moore and Paul Young, and “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya,” from Isao Takahata and Yoshiaki Nishimura. Williams said his second run at Oscar was even more exciting than the first. “It seems even bigger this time — there are more events, there’s more press, seemingly more coverage this time around than even what I experienced five years ago, which even at the time was pretty overwhelming.” ■

MANILA — ER Ejercito, actor and former Laguna Governor, said on Monday that they are in the process of making a film about the 44 Special Action Forces (SAF) commandos massacred in the botched operation against the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) in Mamasapano, Maguindanao in January. Ejercito, also known as Jeorge Estregan, posted on his Facebook page a poster of the movie, which will be entitled “SAF Special Action Force”, with the subtitle Para sa Diyos, Para sa Bayan, Para sa Tao. Under the direction of Pedring Lopez, Ejercito said the film will give honour to the Fallen 44. “Bilang pagpupugay natin sa 44 bayani ng Elite PNP-SAF

officers na nagbuwis ng buhay sa Mamasapano clash, isasapelikula ng inyong lingkod ang makulay na buhay at kabayanihan ng ating mga magigiting na sundalo upang mabigyan ng tamang pagkilala at pagpupugay ang #Fallen44,” Estrada said in the caption accompanying the poster. (“In honour of the 44 heroes of the Elite PNP-SAF officers who gave their lives in the Mamasapano clash, I shall be enacting on film the colorful lives and the heroism of our brave soldiers in order to give proper recognition and honour to the #Fallen 44.”) The announcement, however, was met with mixed reactions from netizens; many of whom felt the movie was a mockery of the deaths of the commandos, and that the timing of the movie was too premature, given that the tragedy took place on last month. ■

HOROSCOPE ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

Extra tolerance will help you avoid any complications in work today. Try extending your patience a little more, Aries. The stars will reward you with greater opportunities if you make that leap.

Turn the arrow into the right direction. Now is the best time to re-calibrate your goals by assessing your passions. What do you really want to do? The stars will help you figure it out, just keep an open mind.

TAURUS

LEO

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)

Hold on, Libra. You’ve wanted to give up something great. Whether it is a feeling, an emotion or an opportunity, the stars are telling you to keep holding on. Something great will happen so just hold tight.

SCORPIO

A make-or-break situation will move you in the days to come. Your friends may try to influence your decision, but keep in mind that you are the writer of your own story. No one else but you holds the pen, so write it right!

AQUARIUS (JAN 20 - FEB 18)

(OCT 23 - NOV 21) Try to think before you act. It’s time to realize that your past mistakes may have been brought by the irrationality in your decisions. Always remember that the thinking part will help you balance your emotions.

You will be marching out of your comfort zone this week, Leo. Someone will dare you to do something different. The stars are advising you to take the challenge with extra care. You’ll never know life’s surprises until you get there.

GEMINI

VIRGO

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21)

(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)

Creating a sense of urgency in doing your tasks will make this week extra productive. Do what you can do now and your reward will be doubled.

SAGITTARIUS

Meeting new friends will work better this week. Go out and socialize with new people. This will help you build the kind of confidence you need in your work. It will also help expand your networks— something you really need to work on.

PISCES (FEB 19 - MAR 20)

(NOV 22 - DEC 21) You will keep growing not because you are destined to, but because you choose to grow. And today, you will make that once in a lifetime choice of choosing to step out of the box and breaking the boundaries.

Down the road is where you will find that much needed comfort. But you won’t be able to reach that corner if you don’t start walking today. You can only be the one to comfort yourself when no one else wants to, always keep that in mind.

Welcome the new circle of friends with an open arms and a careful heart. Preferring not to get too emotionally attached will do you best.

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Do not be moved by the negative notes you’ll be hearing from your family, friends and workmates in the coming days. Take their words as a challenge to improve on your work and your personality. You still hold the key for change, so change for the better.

Entertainment

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 FRIDAY

‘Birdman’ tops... styling. Several of this year’s biggest box-office hit nominees — Clint Eastwood’s Iraq war drama “American Sniper” and Christopher Nolan’s sci-fi epic “Interstellar” — had to settle for single wins in technical categories. “Interstellar” won for visual effects, while “American Sniper” — far and away the most widely seen of the best-picture nominees — took the best sound editing award. ❰❰ 31

The Winds... As Hollywood’s studios have increasingly focused on mounting global blockbusters, the Oscars have become largely the province of smaller indies and film festival fare. In the night’s opening routine, Jack Black, playing villain to the cheery Harris, lamented Hollywood releases “opening with lots of zeroes, all we get is superheroes.” The only film that came close to betraying that sensibility was Disney’s

“Big Hero 6,” which won best animated feature and is loosely based on an obscure Marvel comic. Superhero hostility aside, Harris and producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan made sure to bring as youthful a spirit as possible to the evening’s festivities, hoping to continue the recent ratings upswing for the Oscars, which last year drew 43 million viewers, making it the most-watched entertainment telecast in a decade. ■

hour of wind-generated energy of course vary from project to project (depending on the wind resource as well as on the financing of the project), but generally speaking, wind energy is one of the cheaper sources of renewable energy available today. ❰❰ 26

DOST in the wind

In the Philippines, there is a greater degree of focus being placed this year on wind energy and its potential. Science Secretary Mario Montejo said this year that the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is poised to carry out a nationwide wind measurement project in order to pinpoint spots for harnessing the wind’s energy. He detailed that the DOST, with the assistance of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD), the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and its Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), will take on the nationwide wind speed mapping project which will identify potential wind farm locations. “From the data we will generate, investors can make the decision and choose sites where they can build wind farms,” Montejo told reporters. Montejo cited estimates made by the Embassy of Denmark – which is assisting the Philippines in developing alternative energy source – as disclosed by Danish Ambassador Nicolai Ruge, that the Philippines can potentially generate up to 15,000 megawatts of wind energy. “That’s a huge amount of potential energy. We must find out these sites where we can harness that wind,” Montejo said. At present, local and foreign energy firms who are interested in setting up wind farms to harness wind energy for power generation must conduct their own wind measurement activities, in order to spot potential locations. Currently, there are three major wind plants in the Philippines: the Philippine Wind Farm (which is still under construction, with target completion in 2016) in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, which will have a capacity of 48 megawatts; the Bangui Wind Farm in Bangui, Ilocos Norte, which has a capacity of 24.75 megawatts; and the largest wind farm in the country and in Southeast Asia, Burgos Wind Farm in Burgos, Ilocos Norte, which has a capacity of 150 megawatts. ■ Windy solutions may be just what we need to blow our energy problems away. Pun most definitely intended, but the joke will be on us if we continue to disregard the winds of change.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Lifestyle

15 years later, tobacco giants fight legal battle over misleading claims on smoking’s effects BY PETE YOST The Associated Press

ready and willing to disseminate factual public health information about cigarettes. But they argue that these ads are designed to ensure that the public “does not believe anything the companies say on any topic.” The companies are asking the appeals court to set aside the corrective statements and craft new ones. The preamble to the ads says a “federal court has ruled that Altria, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard, and Philip Morris USA deliberately deceived the American public.” The companies say the state-

tive statements are not modified, the question of whether the companies deceived the public will be decided by jurors WASHINGTON — Never unexposed on countless occasions derestimate the staying power to the erroneous assertion that of big tobacco. the companies engaged in deIn 2006, U.S. District Judge ception. Gladys Kessler ordered AmerThe companies in the case ica’s largest cigarette makers include Richmond, Virginiato publicly admit that they had based Altria Group Inc., owner lied for decades about the danof the biggest U.S. tobacco comgers of smoking. pany, Philip Morris USA; No. 2 The basis for the punishment: cigarette maker, R.J. Reynolds Testimony from 162 witnesses, Tobacco Co., owned by Wina nine-month bench trial and ston-Salem, North Carolinathousands of findings by the based Reynolds American Inc.; judge that defendants engaged and No. 3 cigarette maker Lorilin what the larglard Inc., based est public health in Greensboro, organizations in North Carolina. the country have Kessler recalled a masThe preamble to the ads says a quired the comsive campaign of ‘federal court has ruled that Altria, panies to pubfraud. R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard, licly address Bloodied but and Philip Morris USA deliberately smoking’s adunbeaten, the todeceived the American public.’ verse health efbacco companies fects, nicotine have plunged manipulation into another and the health courtroom battle in an effort ment is overbroad and mislead- impact of secondhand smoke. to stave off the humiliation of ing. The judge also required that having to underwrite an ad camTheir reasoning is that the the companies address the paign in which they brand them- findings cited by the judge truth about “light” and low tar” selves as liars. Oral arguments pertain to the alleged inaccu- brands and the nature of cigaare scheduled this week before racy of the companies’ public rette addiction. the U.S. Court of Appeals for the statements about smoking and The judge said the corrective District of Columbia Circuit. health, not to whether anyone statements would be in all cigaThe ads would appear in in the public was actually de- rette packs sold for 12 weeks newspapers, on TV, websites ceived by the defendants. over the course of two years, and cigarette pack inserts. The The question of whether the in TV spots once per week for ads, called “corrective state- companies deceived the public a year, in a separate newspaper ments,” stem from a civil case is a disputed factual issue in ev- ad by each company, on comthe government brought in ery fraud case brought against pany websites indefinitely and 1999 under RICO, the Rack- the defendants by an individual at certain retail outlets. eteer Influenced and Corrupt smoker, the companies said in a In 2009, the appeals court Organizations Act. recent court filing. directed Kessler to craft corThe companies say they stand They say that if the correc- rective statements confined to

Tobacco companies have plunged into another courtroom battle in an effort to stave off the humiliation of having to underwrite an ad campaign in which they brand themselves as liars. The ads in question are called "corrective statements", and the tobacco companies say that they are designed to ensure that the public does not believe anything that the tobacco companies say.

purely factual and uncontroversial information that would reveal previously hidden truths about the tobacco industry’s products. But the companies said in a recent filing that Kessler went be-

yond those instructions and ordered inflammatory statements that require the defendants to denigrate themselves. ■ The case is 13-5028, U.S. versus Philip Morris USA.

Lifestyle

FEBRUARY 27, 2015 FRIDAY

Doctors tap fitness trackers, mobile apps to improve care, monitor patients between visits BY ANICK JESDANUN The Associated Press HACKENSACK, N.J. — That phone app keeping track of your exercise and meals might keep you out of the hospital one day. Why give your doctors permission to incorporate data from fitness trackers and health apps into electronic patient records? Well, they might spot signs of an ailment sooner and suggest behavioural changes or medication before you land in the emergency room. They also might be able to monitor how you’re healing from surgery or whether you’re following a treatment regimen. “Right now we only see our patients for about a 15-minute visit in the office, and it’s a very constricted view,” said Dr. Lauren Koniaris, a specialist in pulmonary critical care at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. “This really globalizes the view of their health status, so that we’re really in contact with them on a much more daily if not hour-to-hour basis. It’s almost like a virtual house call.” At Hackensack, a handful of patients at risk for heart failure are asked to use a fitness tracker to count steps walked and flights climbed. They are also asked to record what they eat — by photographing the product’s bar code, for instance — using a phone app that has a database containing nutrition information on thousands of food items. Using Apple’s new HealthKit technology, data from the various trackers and apps gets automatically transferred to the Epic MyChart app on the iPhone. From there, the information goes to the hospital’s records system, which also comes from Epic. Hackensack wants to expand to more patients and start tracking blood pressure and amount of sleep, too. But the hospital first needs to ensure that teams are in place to review the glut of data coming in. More broadly, there’s also a question of whether these trackers and app really improve patient care, and consumer privacy and security issues to

The Nike+ FuelBand, one of the many types of fitness trackers to have hit the market in the past couple of years. Doctors say that regular usage of a fitness tracker can help a doctor keep better track of their patient's health. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

address. The University of Cali- to show how exercise can help Beyond sleep and exercise data fornia, San Francisco, is study- lower blood pressure. coming from fitness trackers, ing which gadgets are reliable “If we’re going to succeed in doctors can eventually incorand whether that reliability ex- improving health, we have to porate devices that measure tends to patients with extreme get patients more engaged in glucose, blood pressure, respiconditions. Then they have to their care,” said Dr. Richard Mi- ratory rates and blood-oxygen figure out which data are really lani, a cardiologist at Ochsner. levels. The devices communimeaningful — not just noise. Heart-attack patients have cate with the iPhone wirelessly Many doctors and hospitals long been asked to weigh them- or through the headphone or see potential. The Mayo Clinic selves, while those with diabe- charging port. Google, Samin Rochester, sung and MicroMinnesota, uses soft have simiFitbit trackers lar ambitions to monitor hipthat will expand replacement Even if I did not do a single thing monitoring to patients for a with the information, just the patient users of Android month after knowing that I’m reviewing it will and Windows surgery. Health already have a positive effect. phones, though workers get data they aren’t as far on daily steps along. For now, and can tell when developers must patients have write separate trouble walking — a hundred or tes have had to check glucose code for each Android or Winmore miles away. The Ochsner levels. Smartphone technology dows app to integrate. Health System in New Orleans makes all that easier and gets Gary Wilhelm, 51, who works is turning to wireless scales measurements to doctors more at Hackensack on payroll and and blood-pressure devices to regularly and reliably. There’s finance technology, joined the help reduce readmissions for no forgetting to record a num- hospital’s app test after he sufchronic diseases such as heart ber or transposing digits. fered a heart attack in October. failure. Noticing a small weight With Apple’s HealthKit tools, He appeared animated during gain, for instance, might reveal disparate gadgets and records a check-up this month as he fluid buildup resulting from the systems can work together showed Dr. Sarah Timmapuri, heart failing to pump normally. more easily. Think of HealthKit his cardiologist, various charts Not only can doctors intervene as a common language, elimi- on flights climbed and cholessooner, they can use the data nating the need for translators. terol intake. There were a few www.canadianinquirer.net

bad days that Wilhelm blamed on the Super Bowl. Timmapuri instructed Wilhelm to monitor his pulse on his new Fitbit Surge. If it gets to about 155 beats per minute, he’s to end his workout. “Even if I did not do a single thing with the information, just the patient knowing that I’m reviewing it will already have a positive effect,” Timmapuri said. Mayo patient Randy Smothers, 62, of Chisago City, Minnesota, agrees. He said he was in pain after getting his right hip replaced and would have stayed on his couch without the knowledge that someone was checking on him. “This pedometer they gave me made me walk every day and move on and get going,” he said. Apps and trackers could ultimately reduce patient visits, though there’s a risk patients would practice self-care. “It may be an aid or a tool to help me deliver better care, but it is just a tool,” said Dr. Robert Wergin, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. “It shouldn’t substitute for a face-to-face visit.” ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Sex education for kids a necessity in the digital age, experts say BY LAUREN LA ROSE The Canadian Press TORONTO — With racy images and explicit content easily accessible online, it’s pivotal for parents to ensure kids are educated about sex and sexuality, experts say. “I think 50 years ago it was a lot easier for parents to hide the fact that their kids needed to learn about sex and sexuality because we didn’t face it in quite the same way. It was much more covert, and a lot of the messages were much more implicit,” said Vancouver-based sex educator Marnie Goldenberg, who is behind the blog Sexplainer, aimed at helping parents raise sexually intelligent kids. “Today, we live in a time when sexual messages are explicit and they reach our kids very early, whether it’s posters, advertisements, bus shelter ads for movies or sexting or the Internet, generally. Our kids have access and will see sexualized messages earlier than even when I was a kid, so parents can’t hide from it in quite the same way.” Goldenberg recalled a recent call from a tearful parent distressed that her nearly seven-year-old daughter, curious about kissing, keyed in a Google search and wound up finding porn. Goldenberg said she helped the parent realize the incident wouldn’t cause long-term damage. It also gave her the chance to help put what her daughter saw in context in understanding why the images were inappropriate for her. In a survey of 5,400 students in Grades 4-11 for its series “Young Canadians in a Wired World,” MediaSmarts found only one in 10 sought information about sexuality online, said Matthew Johnson, the organization’s director of education. “There’s going to be things kids don’t necessarily want to ask their parents or ask their teachers, so it’s good to have those skills to be able to find and recognize good information online,” Johnson said. “But as with anything, we can’t expect that kids are going to teach themselves; and so parents do have to prepare their kids for being exposed to sexual content when they go online.” Ontario’s revised sex-education curriculum will see children as young as six taught about consent, Grade 3 students learning about same-sex relationships and Grade 4 pupils learning about puberty. Goldenberg said by the time kids are “sitting up in the bath by themselves” parents can teach their kids proper names for genitalia. Educating kids about consent is laying a foundation about “autonomy and agency for their bodies,” she added.

“If you don’t want to hug you can give someone a high-five or you can wave and make eye contact,” Goldenberg said. “There’s lots of ways that we can show respect to other people without forcing people to touch or be touched in ways that are not comfortable for them.” Educating kids that they have some control will be beneficial as they age and become more attentive to sexual cues in their preteen and teen years, she noted.

“It’s all part of building that foundation for self-respect for feeling entitled to ask what you want, for saying ‘no’ to what you don’t want in really definitive ways.” Johnson said as kids get older they’re more likely to encounter inappropriate content online. He said it’s important for parents to start talking to youngsters and to encourage them to speak out if they stumble across material that makes them feel uncomfortable.

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“When young people have an idea of what healthy sexuality is, they’re less likely to get bad messages, to get unhealthy messages from media, whether it is openly sexual content or whether it’s just sexualized media. “That’s why we really recommend steering kids towards good reliable information and equipping them with the skills they need to find good information about sexual health.” ■

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Business

Vietnamese start-ups eye Indonesia, Philippines PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY HA NOI — Indonesia and the Philippines possess enormous development potential for Vietnamese start-ups, said guest speakers at the recent Start-ups 2015 conference held in Ha Noi. Do Tuan Anh, founder and CEO of mobile content platform distributor Appota, said Indonesia had characteristics similar to Viet Nam’s from a few years ago, but its market had seen strong growth in recent years. “Internet infrastructure there is less developed. Two years ago, its internet speeds were as slow as those provided by a dial-up connection. Digital content providers have to depend on infrastructure, so they cannot improve the quality of content,” he stated. Appota received a series B funding from Singapore-based and Japanese investors last year to expand its operations in the region. It currently has branches in Singapore and Indonesia, with about two million users in Indonesia. Anh said the company is yet to turn a profit from the Indonesian market, and its biggest difficulty has been its inability to allow its initial investment to reap returns of millions of dollars. He also listed three important factors that start-up firms should consider while enter-

ing the international market, which are its language and culture, laws, and finding local partners. “Start-up businesses should market their products outside Viet Nam. Who knows, maybe your business model is not appropriate for the local market, but is suitable for other countries”, Anh noted Nguyen Khanh Trinh, founder and CEO of CleverAds, said domestic firms should gather data from foreign markets before they take the decision to invest in them. He added that when entering Indonesia and the Philippines, online advertising provider CleverAds had used Google’s data to gather more knowledge about these markets. “Like Vietnamese, Indonesians and Filipinos are also

xenophiles. Therefore, when a good business model appears in their country, and is deemed appropriate by their national yardsticks, customers will be willing to pay for the product,” Trinh said. Big foreign competitors

The year 2014 has seen big foreign companies foraying into Viet Nam, such as GrabTaxi and Uber. Nguyen Tuan Anh, general manager of GrabTaxi VN, said there was fierce competition among taxi-booking applications (apps) last year, but in 2015, some new service apps will emerge. “Recently, we have seen the launch of household service apps, including Taske and viecnha.vn... There are a lot of niche markets,” he said, suggesting that start-ups also fol-

low the trend. Anh also emphasized on the importance of doing market research. “In order to dominate the market, conducting research is very important. However, Viet Nam is not good in this field. Failures are sometimes opportunities because if we do not try, we will not know if it is right or not,” he said. The guest speakers also agreed that big international companies, such as Uber, GrabTaxi and Lazada invest a lot in Viet Nam to dominate the market. However, not all investments are effective. Pham Anh Duc, the former country head of marketing at Lazada, said the e- commerce platform had tried many marketing strategies, such as asking attractive girls in Viet Nam to upload their photos of

shopping with Lazada, but it had proved unsuccessful. Dang Viet Dung, general manager of Uber Vietnam, also experienced the same issues. However, he said the company had continued to invest in the country. According to Tran Hai Linh, CEO of e-commerce firm Sendo, a strong point of big international companies is that they have lots of money. He pointed out that Lazada’s budget for one month equalled Sendo’s budget for a few years. “Companies often achieve success abroad. While entering Viet Nam, they know how to invest and they undertake a lot of tests, which Sendo has not done before,” he said. “However, it is easy for them to use money without worrying too much about the returns. Besides, foreign companies are subject to the management of its leaders based abroad, so the decisionmaking process takes time.” Duc also suggested that local firms and big enterprises needed to cooperate with each other for mutual development. He said the market was large enough, and these companies need to satisfy their customers, not their enemies. “A big company cannot do everything, so there is a need for an ecosystem. This means that all sorts of enterprises have the opportunity to earn money,” he said. ■

Battery maker A123 sues Apple for poaching staff amid reports of electric car development THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Battery maker A123 Systems is suing Apple, claiming it aggressively poached some key staff members in violation of their nondisclosure and noncompete agreements when they left A123. According to a lawsuit filed

in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, A123 is seeking a restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop former employee Mujeeb Ijaz to hire former A123 employees at Apple, where he now works. A123 makes lithium-ion batteries for electric cars and other products, The complaint says Apple is starting a battery division

nearly identical to A123. Apple did not immediately return a request for comment. “It appears that Apple, with the assistance of defendant Ijaz, is systematically hiring away A123’s high tech PhD and engineering employees, thereby effectively shutting down various projects/programs at A123,” A123 says in the complaint.

The suit comes amid unconfirmed reports that Apple may be developing an electric car as competition in that sector heats up. General Motors and Tesla Motors have electric cars in the works, and Nissan is already selling an electric car called the Leaf. The suit is the latest development in A123’s checkered

history. It received a $249 million grant from the Department of Energy in August 2009 to help it build U.S. factories, but it posted repeated losses and had struggled for several years as Americans were slow to embrace electric cars. It filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2012 and sold off some assets and reorganized. ■

Business

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Customs destroys over 150,000 pairs of fake footwear products worth Php50M PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

From Candy Crush to Tinder, BlackBerry rolls out Amazon app store partnership BY DAVID FRIEND The Canadian Press WATERLOO, ONT. — BlackBerry users whose smartphones wouldn’t let them book a date on Tinder or play Candy Crush will finally have a chance to join the crowd through a new software update. The Waterloo, Ont.-based company has released the latest version of the BlackBerry 10 operating system. BlackBerry (TSX:BB) announced the update last fall, but it was only made available to brand new BlackBerry models, the Classic and Passport. For the first time, other BlackBerry users with the company’s latest generation of phones will have access to the Amazon Appstore, which offers thousands of apps built for the Android operating system. Devices have already begun to receive the update in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the company said.

Canadians will have to wait a little bit longer, as the update rolls out across the country’s wireless carriers over the next week. All of them are expected to have it available by early March. Aside from the Amazon store, there are a number of other updates, including extra features for the phone’s camera and BlackBerry Assistant, a voiceactivated program that’s comparable to Apple’s Siri. The update also gives users access to BlackBerry Blend, a new feature that makes email, BlackBerry Messenger, text messages and other data from their BlackBerry smartphones accessible on other platforms like Apple’s Mac OS and Windows. BlackBerry has been criticized for the lack of popular applications available for its BlackBerry 10 smartphones, which some suggested has only given customers more reason to buy other devices like Apple’s iPhone and the Samsung Galaxy models. ■

MANILA — Over 150,000 pairs of smuggled counterfeit footwear products worth at least P50 million were destroyed on Tuesday, the Bureau of Customs said. Customs Commissioner John Sevilla said the fake shoes and slippers of various brands including Nike, Adidas, Converse, Sketchers, Northface, Leaveland, Merelle, Lacoste, Vans, Havaianas, and Ipanema, among others. He noted that condemnation was witnessed by representatives from the legitimate manufacturers of branded products. The items were seized from Warehouse 4 at Olivares Compound in Parañaque City last February 2014 based on a Warrant of Seizure and Detention

for violation of Section 2530 and Section 101 of the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines (TCCP), as amended in relation to the Intellectual Property Code or Republic Act 8293. “These counterfeit shoes and slippers were smuggled from China and were part of a big raid we had last year. We seized the warehouse to check the legality of the importation of goods but the owner failed to produce proof of payment of duties and taxes from Customs, consequently, the warehouse was padlocked and sealed for BOC custody,” Sevilla said in a statement. He explained that the almost one year gap between the seizure and actual condemnation could be attributed to a long process that included issuance of subpoenas to the concerned consignees

and brokers, the need to secure the involvement of brand owners, and the conduct of hearings in accordance with existing regulations. “The shipments were subjected to a series of hearing yet it was a no show for any representative of the claimant, so these fake items were forfeited and destroyed,” the BOC chief added. Sevilla said that the BOC’s Run-After-The- Smugglers (RATS) continues to build up cases against importers and brokers involved in counterfeit smuggling. With this, he urged the public not to buy counterfeit products. “Tigilan na po natin ito. Kapag wala pong tumatangkilik wala din pong bibili ng fake (Let us stop this. If no one patronizes, there will also be no buyers for fake goods),” Sevilla added. ■

A pair of fake Nike shoes. Philippines Customs agents seized and destroyed over 150,000 pairs of smuggled counterfeit footwear products worth at least P50 Million this week. WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

EXCHANGE RATES

As of February 25, 2015, from finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CND / USD

1.2460

-0.0036

-0.2841%

CND / PHP

35.4312

+0.0494

+0.1397%

CND / EUR

1.4136

-0.0035

-0.2468%

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Travel

Escaping winter on 2 Caribbean islands: Dominica for adventure, Barbados for relaxation BY KAVITHA SURANA The Associated Press ROSALIE, DOMINICA — “Are you sure this is the right way?” I asked, my leg flailing to find another crevice in the tree knots below me. Luca, my husband, responded with a grunt — not very reassuring. Luca and I are not exactly avid hikers or adrenaline junkies — no skiing, surfing or bungee-jumping for us on a typical vacation. But when the urge to escape the winter grind struck, we didn’t just want to relax on the beach. We also wanted some element of inspiration and adventure — however mild. Only question: Where to go? We decided to make our first trip to the Caribbean, to two islands, Dominica and Barbados, each with its own allure. And that’s how we ended up hanging over a cliff face in Dominica. Getting dirty in Dominica

A rugged, hard-to reach, selfproclaimed “nature island” dropped into the Lesser Antilles, Dominica is as far away from the all-inclusive Caribbean experience as you can get. Instead of bands of tranquil beaches crawling with tourists, it’s covered with lush rain forest and enough trails to keep you hiking for weeks. We were climbing down Wavine Cyrique on our first day, a vertical trail of tangled mangrove roots and improvised rope ladders. And we had, in fact, managed to lose our way. There was nothing to do but keep going. But as we learned throughout the trip, Dominica always rewards a struggle. Safely reaching the bottom, we found ourselves on a scene straight out of “Pirates of the Caribbean” with a secluded black sand beach, a waterfall shooting off the cliff into the rough sea and a coconut tree swaying lazily in the breeze.

Unlike the typical sandy beach Caribbean experience, Dominican is a rugged, hard-to-reach self-proclaimed "nature island" that features lush rain forests. KARTLASARN / FLICKR

Dominica was full of small of crickets and frogs. up next to our suitcase, reggae astonishments like that. After But sometimes, as they say, music making us want to dance. scrambling over muddy rocks you need a “vacation from the For one U.S. dollar, we were and wading through rivers for vacation.” Dominica’s isolated heading from the airport to the an hour, we’d suddenly find natural beauty enchanted us. home of our Airbnb hosts. ourselves faced We chose to with a powerful visit Barbawaterfall empdos because it tying into a bawas on Domisin of turquoise Instead of bands of tranquil beaches nica’s flight path water — perfect crawling with tourists, it’s covered (flights also pass for swimming. with lush rain forest and enough trails through AntiSnorkeling, we to keep you hiking for weeks. gua) but also benot only enjoyed cause we’d heard watching neon it was relatively fish and sea cueasy on the walcumbers, but let. Its postcardthanks to the island’s volcanic But after five days of explor- perfect beaches are free and activity, we were surrounded by ing, our muscles were tied up in public transportation is simple sparkling bubbles that give the knots and our legs were criss- to navigate. Almost every time spot its name: Champagne Reef. crossed with scratches. Before we stepped onto the street, a I couldn’t have felt farther we headed back to snow, we van pulled up next to us, ready from my usual busy schedule. were still dreaming of a perfect to whisk us away. In the morning, we’d start the beach day. Luckily, Barbados At first, we were a bit dazed day with a refreshing jump into was next on our itinerary. by the crowded beaches, overthe river. At night, we curled up flowing with families on vacain a comfortably furnished yurt Beach on a budget in Barbados tion. But thanks to the vans, at a property called Mermaid’s Soon, we were crammed into with a little legwork we found Secret, falling asleep to the calls a white van, Luca scrunched perfectly secluded beaches in

Barbados too. Juma’s Restaurant, in Speightstown, was an easy favourite. Pool-calm waters, an immaculate stretch of sand and free use of lounge chairs and umbrellas make it the island’s best-kept secret. On the Saturday we visited, the lounge chairs didn’t even fill up. For an inexpensive lunch you can buy a sandwich for $5. On the other side of the island, try Bottom Bay. With its dramatic cliffs and foamy waters, it was clear to see why it’s popular for fashion shoots. There are no restaurants nearby, so pack a picnic, but you can buy a pina colada in a fresh coconut onsite. Still, there’s a time and place for crowds in the Caribbean. On Friday nights, tourists and locals alike descend on Oistins Fish Fry, an outdoor bazaar of restaurant shacks that fix up overflowing plates of fish, plantains and macaroni for $15. As the night went on, the music turned up, more locals joined in, and the stage became a freewheeling dance scene where everybody showed off their moves. On our last morning, we woke up with the sunrise. As we took our final dip in the warm waters before heading home to face the rest of winter, I felt satisfied that we’d accomplished our goal: the perfect introduction to the Caribbean. “And we are definitely coming back,” Luca said. If You Go...

DOMINICA: Wavine Cyrique, located south of Rosalie. Mermaid’s Secret, in Rosalie, http:// www.mermaids-secret.co.uk/ , $89-$99 a night. Champagne Reef Dive & Snorkel: http:// www.champagnereef.com/. BARBADOS: Juma’s Restaurant, No. 2 West End, Queen Street, Speightstown, http:// www.jumasrestaurant.com/. Oistins Fish Fry: http://www. barbados.org/oistins-fish-fry. htm. ■

Travel

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Victoria’s Chinatown, a walk through history and even the bricks mean long life BY DIRK MEISSNER The Canadian Press VICTORIA — With its huge lion-and-dragon sculptured welcome gate, its hidden alleyway — once home to secret gambling and drug dens — and its red sidewalk bricks, Victoria’s Chinatown is a living, breathing slice of history. A trip through Chinatown — considered the oldest in Canada — is like a walk through an open-air museum. It barely covers two blocks today, but the smell of roasting spices, sound of languages and cultures mixing on the street and colourful neon signs illuminating turn-of-the-century buildings fill the atmosphere with a freshness that never gets old. Victoria’s Chinatown was designated a national historic site in 1995, primarily as an example of its preservation of a historic and culturally significant area despite urban pressures. “At first, some people say it’s not very big, how can we spend an hour and a half walking around Chinatown?” said Victoria historian and tour guide

John Adams. “But by the end of the tour — and we haven’t seen all of Chinatown — they are amazed because there’s so much there if you know what you are looking for. “There are a lot of beautiful buildings that have been restored or preserved in some way, but it’s the stories behind the buildings that amaze people.” Adams lists the historic significance of Victoria’s Chinatown, which is in the city’s downtown core. Victoria’s Chinatown dates to 1858 when Chinese migrants arrived in the city on their way to the Gold Rush. “Victoria’s Chinatown was here long before Vancouver’s Chinatown,” said Adams. “This was the only port of entry for people coming across the Pacific to what is now Canada. “By the time the (Canadian Pacific) Railway was finished in 1885, Victoria’s Chinatown had grown enormously. It covered about eight city blocks, and it’s said the Chinese population in the city was almost one-third of the city population.” Many of the buildings date to the late 1800s, he said. “Although they are not all occupied by Chinese anymore,

The gate into Chinatown in Victoria, B.C.

we have the largest number of 19th-century Chinatown buildings in North America,” said Adams. “It’s probably safe to say that Victoria has more old Chinatown buildings than any other city in North America.” He said many people are surprised by that statement because they immediately think about San Francisco’s Chinatown, but the California city’s Chinatown district was flattened by an earthquake in 1906. Adams said the City of Victoria enacted strict building guidelines to preserve the historic flavour of Chinatown after local Chinese-Canadian orga-

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

nizations and others expressed concerns the area could fall into disrepair and lose its cultural importance. At Fisgard and Government streets, the entrance to Victoria’s Chinatown, stands the Gates of Harmonious Interest, erected in 1981 to reflect the need to strive for harmony among all people. It follows the Chinese tradition of erecting gates to commemorate important places or events. The gate’s stone male and female lions and the bells in the corners keep away evil spirits, while dragons, phoenix birds and other symbols bring

WEATHER FORECAST VANCOUVER

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positive energy. The tall, thin Tam Kung Temple, with 52 steps to the top floor, is the oldest Chinese Temple in Canada, dating to the 1860s, and is still in use, Adams said. Fan Tan Alley, with its bricked walls and many rooms, was once a secret passageway to gambling rooms and drug dens, but now it’s home to trendy boutiques and shops. Victoria city Coun. Charlayne Thornton-Joe, the daughter of Chinese immigrants, said she can’t help but sense the history and emotion tied to Victoria’s Chinatown. “For me, all of the things that makes Chinatown so amazing, I can’t even put into words,” she said. “It’s a feeling. It’s a vibe. It’s a sense of history. For my family, it’s a sense of recognition of the struggles my ancestors went through to give me a better life. Because of that, I can sit in office today.” If You Go...

Chinatown Walks tours can be booked at discoverthepastbtelus.net, or call 250-3846698. Prices range between $15 for adults to $8 for children, ages six to 11. ■

Long term forecast taken from: www.weathernetwork.com

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

Sports

5 years late, yes, but Mayweather and Pacquiao finally deliver BY TIM DAHLBERG The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — Manny Pacquiao slept through the big announcement, secure in knowing that the fight was already made and the questions would finally stop. He campaigned for a shot with Floyd Mayweather Jr. with a tenacity befitting a congressman from the Sarangani Province, making him a winner long before the two step into the ring May 2. If Mayweather got most everything he wanted out of the deal, Pacquiao got the thing he wanted most — a chance to finally settle matters inside the squared circle that took him on an improbable path from the depths of poverty in the Philippines. “Finally! It’s been five years in the making,” Pacquiao told Manila’s GMA television last Saturday from his hometown of General Santos city. “I’m very excited about this fight. I will no longer be bothered by people who keep on asking if the fight will ever happen.” That it is happening is in large part due to a carefully orchestrated campaign that began in China in November to build pressure on Mayweather, and a serendipitous meeting at a basketball game in Miami that took place only because an ice storm blanketed the East Coast and delayed Pacquiao’s travel plans. It’s happening because trainer Freddie Roach ran into CBS chief honcho Les Moonves,

A chance encounter at a Miami Heat game last month helped bring the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps towards a resolution that helped make the mega-fight of the century come together at last.

which led to a sit down with promoter Bob Arum and kicked off the talks. Most of all, though, it’s happening because Mayweather himself finally deciding the time was right and the money was so big — he figures to pocket $120 million or so himself — that he would risk his unbeaten mark and his legacy against the speedy lefty who throws punches in seemingly random combinations that most of his opponents have found difficult to decipher. Mayweather believes he won’t have those difficulties, and oddsmakers in this gambling city agree with him. They make him a 2 1/2-1 favourite to pocket all the welterweight titles in a fight that will almost surely break all records when it comes to the thing that matters

most in boxing these days — how much money can be sucked out of the pockets of boxing fans starving for the bout. That means $5,000 tickets at ringside, and most likely $90100 to watch the fight at home on pay-per-view. It means rooms that were already jacked up to $1,231 for two nights at the MGM Grand jumped to $1,592 on the announcement, and it means a huge money drop in the casinos and the most money ever bet on a fight. It means more attention will be paid to a sport supposed to have long been dead than will be paid to sports that are very much alive. And it means the richest fight and the biggest purses ever paid boxers on a day that will be one of the biggest in sports history with the Kentucky Derby and

basketball and hockey playoffs preceding the main event. What it doesn’t mean is that this will be the fight that will save boxing. You might remember that was supposed to happen in Mayweather’s first megafight in 2007 when he won a decision over Oscar De La Hoya, but all that did was give Mayweather a persona he could sell for his own infrequent fights. Besides, boxing is beginning to do pretty well even without the fight everyone has wanted for so long. Say what you want about Mayweather adviser Al Haymon locking up almost every boxer who can lace up gloves, but he’s put boxing back on free television — and on two different networks, to boot. Deontay Wilder, an exciting big puncher and talker who is

also an Olympic medalist, has a piece of the heavyweight title. There are rising stars in almost every division, and more competitive fights are being made than any time in recent history. Strip it all away and this is a fight about legacies, a one-off bout that will end up defining both fighters. That’s increasingly important to Pacquiao at the age of 36 after 20 years in the ring, but it’s crucial for Mayweather — who turns 38 on Tuesday — and the way he believes he should be perceived by the world. Mayweather wants to be known as the best fighter ever, not just a guy who flashes wads of money and wins boring fights. It’s a notion that seems absurd when you consider his lack of fights, hand-picked opponents, and aversion to mixing it up in the ring. But he repeated it when he announced the fight last Friday, and it is what he believes. Give him credit for winning all 47 times he has stepped into the ring. Give him credit for mastering the art of pay-perview sales and turning himself into a larger-than-life character who commands attention wherever he goes. But most of all, give him credit for finally stepping up to the plate to make the one fight that fans have been demanding. Yes, it’s happening five years too late. It probably would have been a better fight when both were in their absolute prime. Somehow, though, that doesn’t make it any less intriguing. ■

Seen and Scenes

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

CALGARY Senator Enverga met with representatives of different Filipino associations in Calgary, AB. The organizations represented were the Council & Assembly of Filipino Federations & Associations (CAFFA); Calgary Filipino Lions; Pangasinan Society of Calgary; Cabletow Society of Calgary; Filipino Canadian Charity Foundation; ANCOP; Couples for Christ; and the Quezonian Association, among others (Photos by St. Jamestown News Service).

SASKATOON For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net.

Saskatoon Trip with A-Show Entertainment team during the launch of Singing Star Search Season 1.

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FEBRUARY 27, 2015

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It’s on... nally came together this fight will be another opin recent months with portunity to showcase my skills both fighters put- and do what I do best, which is ting aside past differences over win,” Mayweather said in his various issues — including drug announcement. “Manny is gotesting and television rights — ing to try to do what 47 before to reach agreement. him failed to do, but he won’t be Pacquiao was sleeping in the successful. He will be No. 48.” Philippines when the fight was Oddsmakers believe Mayannounced, but his camp issued weather will do just that, maka statement saying the fans de- ing him a 2 1/2-1 favourite in serve the long awaited fight. the scheduled 12-round bout. “It is an honour to be part of The fight is expected to do rethis historic event,” Pacquiao cord business in Nevada’s lesaid. “I dedicate this fight to all gal sports books, with tens of the fans who willed this fight to millions wagered on the outhappen and, as always, to bring come. glory to the Philippines and It will also do record busi- The fight between Manny Pacquiao (right) and Floyd Mayweather Jr., speculated to be the richest fight in the history of my fellow Filipinos around the ness at the box office — with the sport, will be about more than just title belts or money, but each fighter's legacy will be defined too depending on world.” the MGM expected to be scaled how they do. While the fight rivals the far higher than the $20 million 2002 heavyweight title bout be- live gate for Mayweather’s 2013 Pacquiao began pushing hard gloves are used, and a number Both fighters will bring tween Lennox Lewis and Mike fight with Canelo Alvarez. The for the fight after beating Al- of other issues, including a re- 147-pound titles into the ring, Tyson for interest, it comes pay-per-view revenue also is gieri in November in Macau, ported 60-40 split of the purse. but the fight is about far more more than five years after the expected to be a record, though and negotiations picked up last But it didn’t take long for than belts. Mayweather, who first real effort to put the fight- television executives said last month when the two fighters Pacquiao’s camp to start talk- is unbeaten in 47 fights, wants ers together met by chance ing, either. Promoter Bob Arum to stake his claim as one of the in their prime. at a Miami Heat expressed his elation in making greatest fighters ever, and reMost boxing obbasketball game the fight, while trainer Freddie move any doubts about his legservers believe and later talked Roach predicted a big win for acy by fighting the boxer who is both have lost ‘It’s one of those fortuitous with each other his fighter. thought to be the greatest chalsome of their circumstance we couldn’t have in Pacquiao’s ho“Floyd should enjoy being lenge of his career. skills, though planned,’ Showtime boxing chief tel room about the A-Side while he can because Pacquiao, meanwhile, will try Mayweather reStephen Espinoza said. ‘But we were making it hap- on May 2 Manny is going to put to show that a knockout loss to mains a master lucky that it happened.’ pen. him on his backside,” Roach Juan Manuel Marquez in 2012 defensive fighter “It’s one of said. and a disputed decision loss to and Pacquiao those fortuitous Arum, who has promoted Timothy Bradley should not showed in his circumstance we some of the biggest fights in define a remarkable career that last fight against Chris Algieri week they had yet to actually couldn’t have planned,” Show- history, said this one would be began 20 years ago in the Philthat he still has tremendous fix a price for people to buy the time boxing chief Stephen Es- bigger than them all. ippines quickness in his hands. fight at home. pinoza said. “But we were lucky “This boxing match will have Don’t tune in looking for a big Still, Pacquiao is 36 and has The fight will be televised as that it happened.” the interest in the U.S. of a Su- knockout, either. The last time been through many wars in the a joint venture between comAs part of the agreement, per Bowl,” Arum told The As- Pacquiao stopped anyone was ring. And while Mayweather peting networks Showtime Mayweather insisted on having sociated Press. “I think it will in 2009 when he finished off has been largely untouched in and HBO, which will share an- the right to announce the bout. set all kinds of pay-per-view Miguel Cotto in the 12th round, his career, he turns 38 on Tues- nouncers with Jim Lampley He also won concessions from records and gate records. It will while Mayweather has only day. and Al Bernstein reportedly the Pacquiao camp on who en- be the biggest boxing event of stopped one fighter (Victor Or“I am the best ever, TBE, and handling the task at ringside. ters the ring first, what type of all time.” tiz) in the last eight years. ■ ❰❰ 1

Mayweather certain of winning super fight BY ROY LUARCA Philippine Daily Inquirer HIS 0 becoming an X never crosses Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s mind. Even if he’s slated to face Manny Pacquiao, widely regarded as the one boxer capable of handing him his first defeat, on May 2 at MGM-Grand in Las Vegas. ‘‘The only thing I know is to win, so is losing in the back of his mind? Absolutely! Why? Because he probably lost 3 or 5 times before, so losing is in his

mind. Losing is not in my mind because the only thing I know how to do is win,” Mayweather told FightHype.com. Mayweather boasted that Pacquiao, despite being his closest pound-for-pound rival, brings nothing special to bother him in the ring. ‘‘Well I don’t feel that one fight defines my legacy. To me, it’s (May 2 bout) just another day. It’s just another fight. I mean, when you just look at the tale of the tape, I have a longer reach, I’m taller, I’m stronger, and I’m more accurate.” Mayweather at 5-foot-8 is

taller by two inches and owns a five-inch reach advantage (72”) over Pacquiao (67”). What’s disputable is whether he’s stronger than Pacquiao, who is really a bloated welterweight. Fact is, Pacquiao, who last scored a knockout against Miguel Cotto in 2009, has a better knockout percentage than Mayweather, whose last stoppage came against Victor Ortiz in 2011. Despite his diminished ‘‘killer instinct,” Pacquiao has 38 knockouts in 57 wins, five losses and two draws, for 59.38 www.canadianinquirer.net

percent. Mayweather only has 26 knockouts in 47 wins for 55.32 percent. While Pacquiao is used to fighting taller foes likes Antonio Margarito, who’s 5-foot11, and Chris Algieri (510), Mayweather said his height advantage will be a factor this time. ‘‘I don’t really think that height plays a key for him. I think with me it plays a key because I use a little bit of everything. I use my reach, I use my height, I use my movement; I use different techniques,

whereas he’s not as versatile as Floyd Mayweather.” Ultimately, Mayweather added it will spell the difference in the super fight. ‘‘I think that’s the difference between us two. I think he’s a very exciting fighter. I think he’s also strong, but I think that this is a different league. I mean, this is a guy that can box going forward, this is a guy that can box going backwards, a guy that can counterpunch, I can tie you up, I can slug if I have to, but my thing is always working smarter, not harder,” said Mayweather. ■

Events

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 27, 2015

New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre By WelcomePack Canada Inc. WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m., Mon, Tues, Thu & Fri at the Filipino Centre Bldg., 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, On. MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355 Tagalog Class By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto Homework/Tutorial Class By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Satur-

day, Filipino Centre Toronto MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-9289355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m. Acoustic Night with the Soloistas – Canada Tour WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., Feb. 27, at John Bassett Theatre, Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Bldg., 255 Front St. West, Toronto, On. 7:30 p.m., Feb. 28, at Century Casino, 1010 42 Ave. SE, Calgary, AB MORE INFO: Featuring DJ Mike (formerly of Akafellas), Jimmy Bondoc, Luke Mijares, Paolo Santos and Jinky Vidal

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Winter-Spring Training 2015 By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: 14 Saturdays till Apr. 18, at the Immigrant Services Society of B.C., Royal City Centre – Rm. 280 610 – 6th St., New Westminster, B.C. MORE INFO: Contact Liza at 604-395-8000 ext. 1706 or email: liza.delarosa@issbc.org Drop-in Conversation Circles for Work Permit Holders (Burnaby) By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: Saturdays, 1 to 3 p.m., till Mar. 21, at Brentwood Community Resource Centre, 2055 Rosser Ave., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-292-3907 for details. English Corner By Richmond Public Library WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 12 nn Fridays, up to to Feb. 27, and on Sundays, Jan. 11 to Mar. 1 at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, 2nd floor Community Place Rm., 7700 Minoru Gate. MORE INFO: To register, visit any branch of Richmond public Library, register online at www. yourlibrary.ca/events or call 604-231-6413

Victoria Filipino Canadian Caregivers Association 30th Anniversary Valentine Party By VFCCA WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Feb. 28, Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St., Victoria, B.C. MORE INFO: Tickets - $ 60/pax

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ISS of BC Hiring Fair By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 7 p.m., Feb. 27, at Douglas Recreation Centre, 20550 Douglas Crescent, Langley, B.C. MORE: Bring your questions and resumes. Be prepared to have on-site interviews. Now accepting online registration at http://goo.gl/forms/7BIW9P81lY or by phone 604-684-2504.

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West Coast Domestic Workers Association Post BRUNSWICK Canadian Citizenship Preparation Valentine Fundraising Dance Party By Mosaic By WCDWA WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mar. 4 & 5, at WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m. to 12 a.m., St. Mary New Westminster Public Library, 716 6th Ave Ukrainian Catholic Church, 550 W. 14th Ave., VanMORE INFO: Call 604-438-8214 for details. couver, B.C. MORE INFO: $20 (regular); $15 (caregiver). Ticket An Evening with Justin Trudeau includes sumptuous dinner. and the Filipino-Canadian Community By Liberal Burnaby Seniors’ Club Free Activities for ImmiWHEN/WHERE: 5 to 7 p.m., Mar. 4, Holiday Inn, grant Seniors Burnaby 4405 Central Blvd., Burnaby, B.C. By Mosaic Settlement Services MORE INFO: Contact Lara Honrado – 604-818WHEN/WHERE: (Burnaby North) 0181 Beginners’ English Practice – till Mar. 5, Wednesdays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m Introduction to Canadian Income Tax Taichi – Till Mar. 27, Fridays, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. for Newcomers (English, with Mandarin support) English Conversation Circle – Till Mar. 27, Fridays, By Mosaic 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Mar. 5, at Bob Brentwood Community Resource Centre, 2055 Prittie Metrotown Burnaby Public Library, 6100 Rosser Ave., Burnaby B.C. Willingdon Ave. Vancouver, B.C. (Burnaby South) MORE INFO: Call 604-438-8214. Upper Beginners’ English Practice – Till Mar. 23, Mondays, 9:30 to 11:30 How to Do Business with WorkSafeBC Beginners’ English Practice – till Mar. 27, Fridays, By SUCCESS B.C. 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 12 p.m., Mar. 6 at Success Knitting Club – till Mar. 27, Tuesdays, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Settlement and Business Centre 570-1333 W. Seniors’ Conversation Circle – till Feb. 12, Thur., Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. MORE INFO: Speakers – Michael Song, OccupaMosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 King- tional Hygiene Officer, WorkSafeBC. Registration sway St., Vancouver, B.C. – 604-558-4909/ businessinfo@success.bc.ca What About By PBJ Band WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m., Feb. 27, at Hippos Sports Bar & Grill, 725 SE Marine Dr. Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 778-918-1135 Physical & Mental Health for New Immigrants By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 3 p.m., March 3, at Burnaby Learning Centre, Burnaby B.C. MORE INFO: Call www.canadianinquirer.net 604-438-8214 for details.

Taxation System in Canada By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 3 p.m., Mar. 8, at Seminar Room School Gym, St. Mary’s Parish, 5239 Joyce St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: To register contact Lenn Castro – stmarysmigrant@gmail.com or Resochita Arma at resochita.arma@issbc.org. Or call – 604-684-7498 ext. 1666

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