Philippine Canadian Inquirer #226

IN THIS ISSUE ❱❱

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8,808 drug suspects surrender in 12 days

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Rody urged to study UN ruling carefully

8

Black Lives Matter supporters condemn Dallas violence

JULY 15, 2016 VOL. 7 NO. 226

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33 3 Philippine islands land in New York-based magazine’s World’s Best Islands

OOTD Blue denims, brown shoes and rolled-up barong sleeves is presidential outfit of the day.

JOAN BONDOC / PDI

Tribunal rejects China’s expansive South China Sea claims

BY MIKE CORDER AND JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS — An international tribunal rejected China’s extensive claims in the South China Sea in a landmark ruling Tuesday that also found the country had aggravated the seething regional dispute and violated the Philippines’ maritime rights by building up artificial islands that destroyed coral reefs and by disrupting fishing and oil ex-

ploration.

While the decision is seen as a major legal declaration regarding one of the world’s most contested regions, China immediately rejected it as a “farce” and the true impact is uncertain given the tribunal has no power of enforcement.

While the findings cannot reverse China’s actions, it still constitutes a rebuke, carrying with it the force of the international community’s opinion. It also gives heart to small coun-

Fil-Can in Focus: Trinity Wambolt

❱❱ PAGE 7 Tribunal rejects

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B.C. supports housing vacancy tax in Vancouver to assist with rental shortage READ MORE ON ❱❱ PAGE 17

2

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

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Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

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8,808 drug suspects surrender in 12 days of ‘Oplan Tokhang’ in Metro Manila — NCRPO

BY CHISTOPHER LLOYD T. CALIWAN Philippines News Agency MANILA — As a result of PNP Chief Director General Ronald M. Dela Rosa’s all-out war against illegal drugs and criminality through ‘Oplan Tokhang’, thousands of suspected drug pushers and dependents in Metro Manila surrendered to police authorities, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Acting Regional Director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde said on Wednesday.

Under ‘Oplan Tokhang’, station commanders will ask the barangay captains to submit a list of residents who are into illegal drugs, whether these pushers, dealers, users and couriers.

The police intelligence unit will then verify the report and check if these persons are indeed involved in drugs because there are instances that barangay captains themselves are behind the illegal drug trade and list down names of their rivals.

Albayalde noted from July 1-12, the NCRPO have knocked 12,037 houses of suspected drug personalities that resulted to the surrender of 8,808 illegal drug suspects, arrest of 362 including two Chinese Nationals, and neutalization of 43 drug suspects.

He noted the authorities also confiscated 298.301 kilograms, 571 sachets and six packs of shabu, 0.81 kilogram, four rolls and 33 sachets of marijuana with a total estimated value of PHP1,846,200,000, confiscated 20 assorted firearms, one hand grenade, and three bladed weapons.

He said that personalities include 4,898 illegal drug users

who are now referred to the Local Government Units (LGUs) and Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) for rehabilitation, while 3,547 illegal drug pushers including 348 illegal drug pushers surrendered with illegal drug paraphernalia.

Albayalde ensured that the NCRPO police operatives on their operations adhere to human rights law as the NCRPO established engagement with Human Rights Counselor and current Associate Dean, College of Law, University of the East, Atty. Wilhelm Dabu Soriano as Human Rights Counselor.

NCRPO has five districts are composed of Northern Police District (NPD), Southern Police District (SPD), Manila Police District (MPD), Eastern Police District (EPD) and Quezon City Police District (QCPD) “We have over 20,000 police officers on the ground, the need to keep abreast ourselves with laws like human rights is crucial in the performance of our job. Our human Rights Law Reorientation Program will start with our field operatives and the rest will follow.

We welcome the help from our stakeholder for extending us their expertise. Our illegal drug campaign should be and must be a whole government approach from LGUs to volunteer groups,” he said.

He added that NCRPO will lead the way in making Metro Manila the safest place to live, work and do business.

“Metro Manila will be the showcase of the change that the President promised to the Filipino people and NCRPO will be instrumental in translating that promise to reality.” Albayalde emphasized.

Earlier, Dela Rosa com-

Outside Metro Manila, a total of 52 drug users from various villages of Malasiqui, Pangasinan take their oath on July 12, 2016 before Mayor Noel Anthony Geslani, vowing to stop their illegal activities and to cooperate with the local police in weeding out illegal drugs in the town.

DAGUPAN BUREAU / PNA

mended the men and women the Philippine National Police (PNP) for adapting Oplan Tokhang nationwide to vowed in his campaign to end criminality in three to six months under administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Sa inyong masigasig na pakikibaka laban sa illegal na droga at sa tulong ninyo sa mga kababayan natin naging biktima nito (To everyone who is in cooperation in our rally against drugs and those who help the people recovering from drug addiction): I am also pleased that our police units have adopted Oplan Tokhang which emanated from my successful Davao experience and which I have introduce in Metro Manila and in the whole country to address the worsening problem of illegal drugs being a multi sectoral and whole government approach as we have seen this has brought together the PNP, LGUs and other organizations in a united stance against illegal drug menace,” Dela Rosa said.

He noted that when Presi-

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dent Duterte gave his marching orders to the PNP to eradicate crimes, illegal drugs and corruption in three to six months the PNP immediately hit the ground running.

“Wasting no time in the process these past days we have seen all sort of illegal drugs pushers and users surrender in different police units across the nation and we expect to see more in days ahead,” he added.

He also ordered the cops to continues to intensify the campaign to eradicate the illegal drugs as well as the crimes and expected to win this war.

“Kaya paigtingin pa natin lalo ang kampanya nito. Huwag muna tayo magpahinga dahil ang kalaban ay hindi nagpapahinga. This renewed war is just starting and we have a long way to go. I have accepted this challenge to eradicate the drug menace in 3 to 6 months because I knew that we have men and women in the PNP who have the courage and the heart to win to win this war. Huwag natin biguin ang ating pangulo, Huwag natin

biguin ang mga taumbayan (Let us be more vigilant in pushing for this campaign. Don’t stop yet for the enemy does not rest.

This renewed war is just starting and we have a long way to go. I have accepted this challenge to eradicate the drug menace in 3 to 6 months because I knew that we have men and women in the PNP who have the courage and the heart to win to win this war.

Let us not fail our president. Let us not fail the Filipino people),” said Dela Rosa.

The PNP Chief said that President Duterte gave his assurance that he will support the PNP the way as long the men and women of PNP will perform expect to required being servants and protectors of the people.

“We have a president who is hell bent on winning the war and he can only be successful if we give him our full support.

Huwag natin sayangin ang pagkakataon na ito para sa ating mga kabataan para sa ating bayan (Let us not waste this chance for the children of our country),” the PNP Chief said.

Dela Rosa also urged the public to support and help the PNP’s anti-drug drive.

“To our partners in the LGUss and the corporate community we need your help and support in this war now more than ever.

Your eyes and ears in the community helped us identify drug personalities, helped us raise the awareness of the citizenry on the evils of illegal drugs use and abuse help us makes our streets safer for the citizenry and extremely dangerous for criminals,” he said.

“This is our chance to rid our communities of the scourge of illegal drugs and ensure a better and brighter future for our youth,” said Dela Rosa. ■

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Philippine News

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

Rains, floods in ‘Butchoy’s’ wake

BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer TYPHOON “BUTCHOY” (international name: “Nepartak”) has already exited the Philippine area of responsibility (PAR), but parts of the country would continue to experience strong rains by Saturday, the state weather bureau said.

Butchoy enhanced the southwest monsoon and brought wet weather for most of Friday, forcing disaster officials to move some 200 people in three low-lying Zambales towns to safer ground. Up to 51 families in the towns of San Felipe, San Antonio and San Narciso were evacuated after three to four feet of water submerged their homes, provincial disaster officials said.

There were no immediate reports of any casualties, but the bad weather caused power interruptions and suspension of classes and work in the region, as was in Metro Manila, officials said. Parts of the city were flooded.

Flights grounded, diverted

Eighteen flights, including aircraft to and from Taiwan where Butchoy made landfall early Friday, were grounded, according to the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA). In addition, 10 Taiwan registered commercial planes sought shelter at the Clark International Airport, north of Manila.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) executive director Ricardo Jalad in Ma-

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nila warned officials to continue monitoring even as the storm has already exited. He said its effects would continue to be felt in the country.

In particular, strong rainfall is expected to continue until Saturday morning in central and southern Luzon. Butchoy has been enhancing the south-

west monsoon since it entered PAR three days ago, before veering upwards to Taiwan.

Though all storm signals have been lifted as of yesterday afternoon, red rainfall warning has been declared over Zambales and Bataan provinces.

In Manila, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea signed Memorandum Circular No. 2 suspending work in all government agencies. But agencies involved in disaster response, including health services, were told to stay put.

Flood warning

Residents in Cavite were also warned of possible flooding, with the orange rainfall warning declared over the province.

Yellow rainfall warning meanwhile was hoisted over Metro Manila, Rizal and Batangas provinces, where flooding was expected in low-lying areas

“traditionally flooded even with little rain,” Jalad said.

Strong current damaged the Gabor Dike in San Felipe town, while water in the Namatacan Dike was said to be in critical condition, according to Zambales officials.

In Pampanga province, 10 commercial planes were diverted to Clark International Airport, a former American base which has been designated as an emergency facility for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in the capital.

Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Zest Air also diverted 10 planes to Clark as heavy rains blanketed Manila, rendering poor visibility. Among the flights diverted were PAL Airbus 340 from San Francisco, Cebu Pacific flight 319 from Cebu, Air Asia Airbus 320 from Mactan, Cebu Pacific A320 from Bacolod, and Asiana Airlines from South Korea.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, in its bulletin before noon Friday, said Butchoy has weakened as it crossed southern Taiwan. As of 5 p.m., the typhoon was tracked packing maximum sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour near the center, and gustiness of up to 185 kph. Estimated rainfall is from moderate to heavy within the 600-kilometer diameter of the typhoon. ■

Gov’t has single standard vs illegal drugs — Abella PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — During the press briefing at Malacanang, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said President Rodrigo R. Duterte has only one standard when it comes to the campaign against illegal drugs.

Abella said the top to bottom instruction is that police operations must be with regularity in the performance of functions.

The statement came after www.canadianinquirer.net

Abella was asked regarding the Duterte administration’s stand on the rising death toll of suspected drug pushers.

It will be recalled that during the campaign, PRRD already had a firm stand on criminality and drugs.

In his campaign speeches, he waged war on drug lords and other criminal elements. Abella said the President’s stand remains the same.

The mass surrender of confessed drug pushers began even before President Duterte assumed office on June 30. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

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‘Nonexistent’ kids finally get an identity THANKS TO MANILA’S ‘OPERATION BIRTH RIGHT’

BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer

Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jinhua pays a courtesy call on President Rodrigo R. Duterte at Malacañang Palace.

PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS’ DIVISION / PNA

Rody to have own radio-TV program

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer ALTHOUGH PRESIDENT Duterte shuns media interviews, his communications team vowed to bring him closer to the public through a nationwide radio-TV program, a free weekly newspaper and the social media.

The team also plans to open pioneering TV channels for Muslims and the lumad, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar told INQUIRER editors and reporters in an interview on Thursday.

Mr. Duterte has big ideas for the government’s TV station PTV 4 as well, which includes changing its charter and giving it “editorial independence,” Andanar added.

For a start, the communications team will convert the former Davao City mayor’s weekly TV show, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” into a nationwide TV program renamed, “Mula sa Masa, Para sa Masa.”

The original Davao broadcast used to air on Sundays and offered Duterte’s take on pressing issues of the day.

“It’s not just a television program, it’s going to be on radio as well,” Andanar said of the show that will be broadcast in Filipino. Online and social media platforms will also be tapped, the communications official said.

Weekly tabloid

Lke former President Joseph Estrada, Mr. Duterte will have his own weekly newsletter, a

tabloid that will be distributed for free, Andanar added.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the team was putting up as well a website where the public can send in questions to the Chief Executive.

“We’ll sort out those questions and answer those we can ably respond to,” Abella said.

For complaints, the 24-hour 8888 number was expected to be up and running next month, along with the 911 emergency hotline, Andanar said.

To widen the reach of the government network, the communications chief bared plans to put up a Muslim channel and a lumad or indigenous peoples’ channel, which dovetail with the plan to establish a government broadcast hub in Mindanao.

Also being considered was a government FM station geared toward the youth, similar to that of the United States or the United Kingdom, Andanar added.

National conversation

There are also plans to initiate a “national conversation” with different sectors including the fisherfolk and women on a monthly basis, the communications official said, “as a way of keeping our ears to the ground.”

As for giving PTV 4 editorial independence, Andanar said the President had suggested giving it a new charter that would essentially be a mash-up of its current one and that of the British Broadcasting Corp.

(BBC), which gets income from license fees paid by TV owners.

Andanar said the communi-

cations office’s “lofty goals” has the support of the President.

“That’s what [President Duterte] said clearly. [He told] the Cabinet: ‘you guys don’t have to be afraid of anything. As long as you do your jobs right, then your government channel will report what is right. If you do something wrong, then the government will report what you did,’” the PCO official said.

But embarking on these endeavors will entail beefing up the technical capabilities of government- owned broadcast facilities, Andanar acknowledged, adding that the PCO will be tapping the government’s unused assets, including FM radio frequencies.

‘Noise’

President Duterte earlier said he would no longer conduct media interviews to avoid making mistakes, a reference to the boycott call made by the international media organization, Reporters Without Borders, after his controversial remarks that seemed to justify the killing of journalists.

Abella, who said the President tapped him to become official spokesperson after the latter found some “noise” in his relationship with the media, described Mr. Duterte as a man of action.

“He’s veering away from being misinterpreted, from his perception of being misinterpreted. His perspective is, he’d rather spend more energy acting than explaining,” Abella said, adding that the President however knows how to listen and that he responds effectively. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

FOUR-YEAR-OLD KRISTINE Mae Bultro, a resident of the City of Manila, had to be pulled out of daycare because she did not have a birth certificate.

Her mother, Maricris, told the INQUIRER on Saturday that she was forced to do so because officials of the daycare center her daughter was enrolled in had been asking her for the child’s birth certificate— a document she did not have.

“The midwife who gave birth to me was supposed to take care of the birth certificate but she went to the province and died there. I had no choice but to pull my daughter out,” the 23-yearold mother explained.

Another child in the same situation, 7-year-old Paul Benedict of Parola, Tondo, was luckier.

According to his mother, Macreen, she was able to enroll Paul in Almario Elementary School even without his birth certificate but only because his teacher agreed to give her enough time to produce the document.

“The teacher is already following up my son’s birth certificate so I need to work on getting it processed,” Macreen told the INQUIRER. The Manila City government has acknowledged that many of its residents—children and even some adults—are in the same situation. In fact, based on its estimates, “tens of thousands” of children remain undocumented citizens, putting them at risk of never landing a job or disqualifying them from receiving basic services.

To address the problem, the city government has launched “Operation Birth Right” in which personnel from the Manila Civil Registry Office will go to the barangays to register residents “regardless of age.”

The head of the agency, Joey Cabreza, said that his office would be working with the National Statistics Office and Philippine Statistics Authority to ensure that, upon registration and validation, people like

Kristine Mae and Paul Benedict would also be registered at the national level.

“We are going to do this for about two to three months. As instructed by Mayor Joseph Estrada, we’re bringing our services to the barangay instead of waiting for them to come to city hall,” he told the INQUIRER in an interview.

On Saturday, Cabreza’s team was in Parola, Tondo, where they were met by eager parents, including Macreen and Maricris.

The registration site in Barangay 20 was jam-packed but the young mothers did not seem to mind. “If I have to wait here all day, I’ll do just that.

That’s how badly I want my boy to exist,” Macreen said.

In a statement on Thursday, Estrada said that children without birth certificates officially do not exist, disqualifying them from receiving benefits from the government.

“This is very alarming…. If this problem is left unsolved, they would not be able to… have (a) meaningful life,” he added.

Macreen said this was one of the reasons why she had never cared to find out what benefits her son Paul could get from both the local and national governments. “It was hard enough enrolling him in school without a birth certificate,” she added.

Unlike Kristine Mae and Paul Benedict whose situation was brought about by unfortunate circumstances, Estrada said that some children end up without a birth certificate due to poverty or negligence on their parents’ part.

According to Cabreza, some parents in fact “prefer to go” to Recto to have fake documents made for their children, including birth certificates.

“Maybe they prefer to go there because they are scared of going to city hall, of securing the requirements,” Cabreza added.

But whatever their reasons, Estrada said he wanted “all the children of Manila to have legitimate birth certificates.”

According to him, “they will be needing it in the future and for them to finally have an identity.” ■

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Philippine News

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

Recto says Duterte’s anti-red tape campaign must be bureaucracy-wide to cover LGUs

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Senator Ralph Recto on Tuesday said the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to slash red tape should cover not only national government agencies but local governments where citizens pay for assorted permits and licenses every year.

“The reduction of requirements and the speeding up of the processing for governmentissued documents must be bureaucracy-wide to cover national agencies, LGUs and government corporations,” Recto said in a press statement.

Recto noted that red tape costs the country Php140 billion yearly in opportunity losses, “and that’s for businesses alone.”

The World Bank, which made the estimate in October last year, ranked the Philippines a low 95th among 189 economies in the field of overall ease of doing business.

Recto said “permits, licenses, documents, fines, fees and charges” have long been “a profit center” for the government. “It is a multi-billion peso industry.”

“If we incur heavy losses from vehicular traffic, ganoon din sa slow movement of papers,” he added.

National government income from “fees and charges” is expected to hit Php39 billion this year.

Overall, non-tax revenues, including remitted profits of some government corporations, is forecast to reach Php152 billion by year-end.

In addition, local govern-

ments are expected to collect Php112.4 billion in real property and other taxes plus Php45.23 billion in “regulatory and service” fees.

In business taxes alone, cities and towns are expected to rake in about Php47. 5 billion this year, Recto said.

These huge earnings, Recto stressed, should prompt government “to continuously innovate so that red tape is cut and the process is made shorter. That’s one dividend the paying public is entitled to.”

In requesting permits from government, “the rule should be ‘keep it simple’ and ‘less is more.’”

Recto said the Duterte administration should assign an “anti-red tape czar” who should “wield a big chainsaw in hacking away the thicket of regula-

tions that choke efficiency.”

While he lauded the appointment of Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Gil Beltran as the agency’s anti-red tape czar, “his mandate covers DOF agencies like BIR and BOC only.”

“We want someone with a bureaucracy-wide mandate.

Kasama national and local, pati ang government corporations,” Recto said in reaction to Beltran’s designation by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez.

“The first thing that this official should do is conduct an inventory of rules and then install benchmarks to be followed,” the senator said.

The lawmaker batted for a “singular national timetable” to be followed in government transactions. “The speed by which a business permit will come out in the NCR should be

the same in Mindanao.”

To be fed in the shredder, he said, were unnecessary and frivolous requirements.

A major blow against red tape was to lengthen validity of government licenses and lessen the frequency that these needed to be renewed, Recto said.

The administration’s policy pronouncement that the validity of driver’s licenses, passports be extended is a step in the right direction, said Recto, who for more than 10 years has been calling and proposing legislation lengthening the “shelf life” of government-issued permits.

Recto said Malacañang should also tap the newlyformed Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) in spearheading the practice of online government transactions. ■

Faster, free wi-fi access in key transport hubs coming soon Personnel of the Manila Police District civil disturbance management unit conduct practice maneuvers in preparation for possible deployment during the first State of the Nation Address.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

No fashion show on Duterte’s 1st Sona–Alvarez

BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer DRESS DOWN, don’t outshine the President because it’s his event.

This was the advice of House leaders who plan to adopt a strictly business attire dress code for President Duterte’s first State of the Nation Address (Sona) on July 25 to prevent lawmakers and their guests from making a fashion

circus out of what should be the Chief Executive’s time.

But in deference to Duterte’s sartorial tastes, Davao del Norte Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez said that the men could opt to pair the formal Barong Tagalog with the rugged look of a jeans just like what the Chief Executive wore at a recent Air Force event at the Clark. “Yes, maong Tagalog is allowed,” said Alvarez, who is expected to be elected Speaker of the 17th Congress.

Alvarez said that the lawmak-

ers and their guests should remember that they were going to a Sona and not a party or social event.

But Alvarez said there was no plan to remove the red carpet or coerce members to follow the dress code as he would rather leave it to their personal judgment.

“The red carpet will still be there but it will be strictly business attire. It’s fine if they are comfortable being overdressed,” said Alvarez. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency MANILA — Passengers in key transport hubs nationwide will soon be able to enjoy faster, free Wi-Fi access provided by telecommunications giant Smart Communications Inc. (Smart).

This comes after the Department of Transportation and Smart signed on Tuesday a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to provide Wi-Fi access ten times faster in transport hubs nationwide.

Transport Secretary Arthur Tugade said that Wi-Fi access, which is expected to be at par with international standards, will not be limited to airports, sea ports, train stations and bus terminals.

“Passengers will now enjoy free WiFi connections during their stay in various transport hubs. We aim to provide high standards and better services to

the public,” Tugade said.

The initiative demonstrates what can be accomplished with public-private sector cooperation, he added.

Under the MoU, Smart will operate and maintain the Wi-Fi facility at no cost to the government. The telecoms company has identified key transport hubs nationwide in which to implement the project.

Smart earlier announced that it has allotted some PHP1billion to expand the coverage of its Wi-Fi service not just in transport hubs but also in government offices and business establishments.

It is currently working on the upgrade of the Wi-Fi service in the country’s airports, bus terminals and other public areas such as city halls, schools, malls, restaurants and coffee shops.

The exact date for the rollout of the faster, free Wi-Fi service has yet to be announced. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

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Tribunal rejects... tries in Asia that have helpIt also found that China had interfered economic zone. lessly chafed at China’s expan- with Philippine petroleum exploration The tribunal said that any historisionism, backed by its military at Reed Bank, tried to stop fishing by cal resource rights China may have had and economic power.

Philippine vessels within the country’s were wiped out if they are incompatible “The Philippines strongly affirms its exclusive economic zone and failed to with exclusive economic zones estabrespect for this milestone decision as an prevent Chinese fishermen from fishing lished under the U.N. treaty, which both important contribution to ongoing ef- within the Philippines’ exclusive eco- countries have signed. forts in addressing disputes in the South nomic zone at Mischief Reef and Second It also criticized China for building a China Sea,” PhilippineForeign Secre- Thomas Shoal. large artificial island on Mischief Reef, tary Perfecto Yasay said in Manila, callChina, which boycotted the entire saying it caused “permanent irreparable ing on “all those concerned to exercise proceedings, reiterated that it does not harm” to the coral reef ecosystem and restraint and sobriety.” accept the panel’s jurisdiction. China permanently destroyed evidence of the Former Foreign Secretary Albert del “solemnly declares that the award is natural conditions of the feature.

Rosario, who helped Just before the oversee the filing of panel announced the case, said the rulits ruling, a busload ing underscored “our of Chinese tourists collective belief that arrived outside the right is might and It remains to be seen, however, how far Duterte court building in The that international can stray from Manila’s previously critical Hague and joined a law is the great equalstance, given his country’s growing nationalist handful of other proizer among states.” sentiment against China’s actions. testers in shouting Del Rosario down three people stressed that it was calling for China to important for the leave Philippine waruling to be accepted ters. In Manila, dozby all. null and void and has no binding force. ens of rallying Filipinos jumped for joy, “For the sake of maintaining inter- China neither accepts nor recognizes wept, embraced each other and waved national order, it is imperative that the it,” a statement from the foreign minis- Philippine flags after news of their vicAward and clarification of maritime en- try said. tory. One held up a poster that said: titlements be accepted by all relevant It added that “China’s territorial sov- “Philippine sovereignty, non-negotiacountries - without exception - so that ereignty and maritime rights and inter- ble.” we can work together on how remain- ests in the South China Sea shall under The aftermath of the ruling could be ing issues can be peacefully resolved,” no circumstances be affected by those he said. awards.” The ministry repeated China’s Six regional governments have over- often-expressed stance that the Philiplapping territorial claims in the South pines’ move to initiate arbitration withChina Sea, waters that are rich in fishing out China’s consent was in “bad faith” stocks and potential energy resources and in violation of international law. and where an estimated $5 trillion in A professor of Asian political econoglobal trade passes each year. my said the ruling could be a “transforThe disputes have also increased mative moment” in the region. friction between China and the United Speaking outside the Peace Palace in States, which has ramped up its military The Hague, Leiden University professor presence in the region as China has ex- Jonathan London said the decision will panded its navy’s reach farther offshore. “give countries with a common interU.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter est in international norms something to said the ruling is an opportunity for ev- point to and to rally around.” eryone in the region to act in a sensible He said they can say to China: “Look, way in accordance with the rule of law in here are the results of an international order to settle disputes. Carter spoke at organization that has found that your a news conference in Afghanistan where claims have zero historical basis.” he was meeting with U.S. commanders.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio The U.S. State Department called on Kishida said the tribunal’s decision is both parties to comply with their obli- “final and legally binding” and that the gations, according to a statement from two sides should comply with it. He said spokesman John Kirby. The United in a statement that “Japan strongly exStates has not taken sides in the South pects that the parties’ compliance with China Sea disputes but has worked to this award will eventually lead to the ensure freedom of navigation and over- peaceful settlement of disputes in the flight in the region are maintained.

South China Sea.” The Philippines, under a U.N. treaty China considers bilateral talks with governing the seas, asked in 2013 for the other claimants the only way to adarbitration on a number of issues it had dress the South China Sea disputes. with treaty co-signee China.

It has said vast areas of the South ChiThe five-member panel from the Per- na Sea have been Chinese territory since manent Court of Arbitration in The ancient times and demarcated its modHague, Netherlands, unanimously con- ern claims with the so-called nine-dash cluded China had violated its obliga- line, a map that was submitted under tions to refrain from aggravating the the U.N. treaty. Manila brought the case dispute while the settlement process to arbitration because China’s claims inwas ongoing. fringe upon its own 200-mile exclusive ❰❰ 1

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greatly influenced by new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, who took office late last month and inherited a case filed by his predecessor. Duterte has spoken of having friendlier relations with China and said last week his government stood ready to talk to Beijing if it got a favourable ruling. It remains to be seen, however, how far Duterte can stray from Manila’s previously critical stance, given his country’s growing nationalist sentiment against China’s actions.

Vietnam, meanwhile Tuesday, accused Chinese vessels of sinking a Vietnamese fishing boat in disputed waters.

Nguyen Thanh Hung, a local fisheries executive in the central province of Quang Ngai, said two Chinese vessels chased and sank the Vietnamese boat around midday Saturday as it was fishing near the Paracel islands. The five fishermen were rescued by another trawler around seven hours later.

Vietnam’s government welcomed the ruling in the Philippines’ case. ■ Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines. Associated Press writers Gillian Wong in Beijing, Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Vijay Joshi in Bangkok and Teresa Cerojano in Manila contributed to this report.

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BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO AND MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer CONFIDENT THAT the Philippines would get a favorable ruling from an international tribunal on its dispute with China over the South China Sea, Sen. Leila de Lima on Sunday said she hoped the Duterte administration would study the decision carefully before deciding what action to take so that Manila’s 20year effort to resolve the conflict would not go to waste.

The United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague will hand down a ruling in the increasingly bitter dispute between the Philippines and China, in a closely watched case that risks ratcheting up tensions in Southeast Asia.

Most legal experts expect the ruling to go in favor of the Philippines, but the Duterte administration is not aflutter about that prospect.

It is up to Solicitor General Jose Calida to decide what the government should do if the ruling comes out in favor of the Philippines, Malacañang said yesterday.

President Duterte said last week his administration was willing to talk with China about sharing natural resources in the West Philippine Sea—South China Sea waters within the Philippines’ 360-kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ)—if the arbitral tribunal found for the Philippines.

Advocate leaders and allies for Philippine sovereignty over the West Philippine Sea and for the rights of Filipino fishermen to earn their livelihood in their traditional fishing grounds gather at Roxas Blvd. in Manila to celebrate the decision of the United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

tice secretary to then President Benigno Aquino III and who supervised the Office of the Solicitor General, which represented the Philippines in the case against China.

Aware of Mr. Duterte’s openness to bilateral talks with China, De Lima said the administration should first wait for the ruling to come down then study it well “before determining its next actions.”

“The ruling will be put to waste if we just surrender what is supposed to be ours,” she said, adding that joint exploration means both the Philippines and China have the same rights to resources in the West Philippine Sea. National interest

Unclos case

Invoking the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (Unclos), Manila lodged the suit against Beijing in January 2013, saying after 17 years of negotiations it had exhausted all other political and diplomatic avenues.

Angered by the Philippine move, China refused to participate, saying it would not comply with the ruling by a tribunal with “no jurisdiction” over the dispute.

The Philippines asked the court to void China’s claims to almost all of the South China Sea, including waters within Manila’s EEZ and those close to the shores of other claimants in the strategic waterway—Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Manila also demanded respect for its right to fish and explore resources within its EEZ. The case does not involve questions of sovereignty, an issue handled only by the International Court of Justice.

Speaking in a radio interview, De Lima said she was confident the Philippines would get a favorable decision from the court.

“We have international law as support for our position and recognition of the rule of international law, which was pointed out by the previous administration,” said De Lima, who served as jus-

“The primordial consideration should always be national interest,” De Lima said.

Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay on Friday said the administration hoped to quickly begin direct talks with China after tomorrow’s ruling.

The President and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhou Jinhua met last week in Malacañang and discussed joint exploration.

Malacañang reiterated yesterday that it would wait for the ruling before making any move toward talks with China.

“Once we have the decision, what we will do is to study [ it]. Then that’s the time that we shall explore our next move,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar told public broadcaster dzRB. Andanar said the government would take all matters pertaining to the dispute with China “legally.”

Legal experts agree that after three years of deliberations, two hearings and nearly 4,000 pages of evidence, the arbitral court is likely to find in Manila’s favor—in a decision with farreaching ramifications.

“An award from the tribunal that rejects some of China’s more dubious claims would provide support for the mainstream views of other states in

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the region,” Cecily Rose, assistant law professor of public international law at Leiden University, told Agence FrancePresse (AFP).

“China is bound to comply with the award. But should it refuse to do so, the tribunal has no enforcement mechanism to which it can turn,” Rose said.

Regional tensions

The ruling comes against a backdrop of frequent military brushes between China and its rival claimants, whose EEZs ring the waters believed to hold untapped oil and gas reserves.

The tensions have also drawn in the United States, which has defense treaties with the Philippines and other regional allies.

In a show of strength last week, the US Navy sent warships to patrol close to some of the artificial islands that China built in the Spratly archipelago to bolster its claims to nearly all of the 3.5-million-square-kilometer South China Sea. The US destroyers Stethem, Spruance and Momsen have been patrolling near Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), a rich fishing ground in the West Philippine Sea near the coast of Zambales province, which China seized in 2012 after a twomonth standoff, forcing Manila to bring the law of the sea case against Beijing early the following year.

The aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan is currently patrolling the South China Sea. Manila and Washington have also concluded an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) that allows greater access by US troops to Philippine military bases, including one near Philippine islands in the Spratlys that China insists are parts of its territory, and to store weapons and equipment in those bases.

Comply with ruling

Washington on Friday urged the ❱❱ PAGE 12 Rody urged

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The ‘Fiscalizer’ to the No pork in House ‘Punisher’: I’m watching you under Alvarez’s watch

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer LOOK OUT, “Punisher.” Here comes the “Fiscalizer.”

She has long kept a watchful eye on the former Davao City mayor’s campaign against crime, and Sen. Leila de Lima is not about to let her guard down now that she is in the legislature and he has become President Duterte.

De Lima, former justice secretary and human rights chief, yesterday vowed to remain vigilant as the Duterte administration pursues what is shaping up to be a bloody war against crime and drugs, saying she will be the protector of civil liberties in case of law enforcement excesses.

“I see myself primarily as a fiscalizer when it comes to the anticrime thrust of this administration. I know that this campaign of the administration resonates among a lot of our people as it is truly laudable, but we must be constantly reminded that this should not be done at the expense of our civil liberties,” De Lima told the INQUIRER. She started the ball rolling on Thursday when she called for a congressional inquiry into the spate of drug killings and vigilante-style slayings amid Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs. The death toll has exceeded 100 since the President took office on June 30.

At least two senators—Antonio Trillanes IV and Francis Pangilinan— have expressed their intent to participate in the investigation.

Checks and balances

Yesterday, De Lima emphasized the need for checks and balances among the branches of government, saying this mechanism “assumes a pivotal role in this context, now more than ever.”

“If I see that our Bill of Rights is already being compromised in the course of this campaign, I will not sit idly by and stay silent. Somebody must speak out against any attack on our civil liberties,” De Lima said in a text message.

“We cannot allow any diminution of this constitutional precept because it remains to be the only guarantee against abuse of executive power,” she said.

It was with the same gusto that De Lima pursued an investigation into summary executions attributed to the Davao Death Squad, a vigilante purge team to which Mr. Duterte had been linked.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) was forced to end the investigation in May for lack of corroborating evidence, after the confessed hitman left state witness protection.

Such stance had earned for De Lima

Mr. Duterte’s sharp retorts, most notably during the campaign period.

In one instance, the tough-talking Mr. Duterte told her to “shut up,” and threatened to file charges against her for the unabated drug peddling at the national penitentiary—an agency under the DOJ—despite her consecutive raids.

Balancing act

Still unfazed now that she is a senator, De Lima said she would endeavor to “strike a healthy balance” between her support for the administration’s campaign against crime, drugs and corruption, and her fidelity to the Constitution.

“I will always assert the supremacy of the Constitution, especially the Bill of Rights, and the system of checks and balances in our government,” De Lima said. “I will be doing a lot of balancing act both as an anticrime and anticorruption crusader and a human rights advocate and defender.”

De Lima has not seen Mr. Duterte “for years.” She did not respond when asked what she might tell the President when they cross paths again.

But she will be one with her colleagues in the Liberal Party in joining the Senate majority, an alliance forged with Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), Mr. Duterte’s party.

De Lima said she would also support the bid of the President’s key ally, Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, for the Senate presidency.

Now in the process of putting together her staff, De Lima is inclined to join, if not lead, the Senate committees on justice and human rights, and electoral reforms.

On-the-job training

In an earlier interview, De Lima said she was “excited” to begin legislative work.

“Like in my previous positions at the Commission on Human Rights and the DOJ, you know, I just have to hit the ground running. It’s an on-the-job training for me always at the start,” she said on Thursday.

“You know, more than the lawmaking itself and the drafting of bills, I have to acquaint myself also with the inner workings here in the Senate, particularly the administrative aspects of things,” she said.

Looking fresh and not a hair out of place, De Lima declared she was “physically fit” to start her Senate stint.

“I was able to rest after the grueling campaign. I’ve been able to get good sleep and I have resumed my regular walking,” De Lima said. ■

BY SAMMY F. MARTIN Philippines News Agency

approved for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act would be given to the government project implementing agencies.

MANILA — Davao del Norte and incom“The Duterte administration has a ing speaker Rep. Pantaleon “Bebot” Al- strong anti-corruption program. Woe to varez on Tuesday said that there will be the lawmaker who will propose a project no pork barrel or lump sum allocations with the end-in-view of making money for members of Congress. out of it in the manner it was done in He said that lawmakers under his the past through under-the-table comleadership as incoming House speaker missions from implementors,” Alvarez will only be allowed to propose projects pointed out. needed in their districts.

According to Alvarez, misimpression “I never said that members of the may have arisen from the Php80 milHouse of Representatives ‘will be en- lion cap that had been proposed for each titled to their usual district allocations’. legislative district per year, divided beThe Supreme Court tween infra (roads, has already ruled bridges, school buildagainst such lump ings) and non-infra sum allocations,” expenditures like said Alvarez. medicines.

“What I said was “Putting a cap on that congressmen The Duterte project costs is realwill be allowed to administration istic because public propose projects has a strong funds are limited and needed in their disanti-corruption thus must be used tricts so they can be program. [...] judiciously. We want included in the line Corruption bang for the buck to budgeting of the has no place get the most benefit General Appropriaunder this for our people,” he tions Act (GAA),” he administration. explained. added.

He said there was The incoming no truth to the claim speaker said the functhat every congresstion of identifying man would be given priority projects was his ‘due.’ “We in govinherent in members ernment cannot take of the House of Representatives because or even consider a single centavo of tax“the people go directly to us to tell us payers’ money as our due. Corruption what projects are badly needed by their has no place under this administration.” communities.”

The Department of Budget and Man“This is the reason why the framers of agement will submit to the House a proour Constitution made sure that bud- posed Php 3.3-trillion national budget get-setting starts at the House,” he said. for 2017.

“We congressmen are at ground zero, so The SC ruling prohibits lawmakers to speak.” from intervening or participating in any The House leadership also reiter- of the post-budgeting stages of a projated that the budget for the projects ect’s execution. ■

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Philippine News

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Dominguez reiterates goal for efficient gov’t fund use

BY JOANN SANTIAGO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez on Thursday stressed the Duterte administration’s goal on the efficient use of government funds to improve delivery of basic services and infrastructure.

“To accomplish this, we will need to cut redundancy in our procedures,” he said in his speech during the 1st BusinessWorld Economic Forum held at Shangri-La at The Fort in Taguig City Tuesday.

Measures planned to achieve this goal include revision of the procurement law to simplify and streamline the process, simplifying permit requirements for infrastructure proj-

ects, creation of prioritization list and delineating delivery responsibilities between national and local projects, and improving absorptive capacity of government agencies through better planning and project execution.

The current government also targets to cut income and corporate taxes, which Dominguez said was not only political in nature but “makes economic sense” since it would make the country more competitive in Asia.

He said the high tax rates in the country was counter-productive since the government collected lesser the longer this system was in place, thus, the need for more rational, equitable and competitive tax system.

“No amount of public sham-

ing could reverse this. The higher the tax barrier, the more conducive it becomes to evade tax due,” he said.

The Finance chief said the current tax system in the Philippines “could hardly be called sustainable” and “not progressive” since “it relies on collective from less and less people.”

He noted that 98.47 percent of tax collections come from voluntary tax compliance and only about three to five percent come from audit and enforcement activities.

“This is not a very encouraging figure, especially when set against the actual number of taxpayers in this country,” he pointed out.

With these, the government plans to expand the electronic filing saturation of the Bureau

of Internal Revenue (BIR) from the current 62.5 percent, the large taxpayer service (LTS) and the taxpayer segmentation.

On the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Dominguez said they had realized the urgency to rationalize the import permit requirements since having too many requirements slowed the flow of trade and unnecessarily burden business operations.

“Must of what ails the Customs Bureau is self-inflicted.

The sooner we address the problem of a flawed corporate culture at the Bureau, the better off we will be,” he said.

Dominguez said he had proposed the conduct of new processes in ports other than the Port of Manila to address crowding in this particular port.

Also part of the reform program is the improvement of organizational capacity of both the BIR and the BOC through exemptions from the salary standardization law (SSL), increased fiscal autonomy, relaxing bank secrecy laws and making tax evasion as predicate crime to money laundering.

Dominguez said he would also appoint Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran as AntiRed Tape Czar to help in the government’s anti-corruption drive.

Beltran will be tasked to reduce the number of steps and documentary requirements in transacting business with the DOF and all attached bureaus and these include paying taxes, getting tax refunds, and acquiring tax exemption certificates. ■

Probe of media slays given to superbody Duterte to issue order creating task force before delivering Sona

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer

freedom of information (FOI), which would allow public access to documents of all agencies under the Office of the President.

As of yesterday, however, the Palace had yet to release the FOI order.

Andanar said the task force would include law enforcement agencies and representatives from different news organizations, such as the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines.

The body, he added, would determine the motives behind the attacks on journalists and host a regular media summit to discuss their concerns.

“It will let us ascertain the

‘Too broad’

Told about the existence of Task Force 211, which the Department of Justice (DOJ) had ALTHOUGH CONVINCED created to investigate journalist that corrupt journalists are lekillings, Andanar said the body gitimate targets of assassinawas also assigned to handle tion, President Duterte is keen murders of political activists. on forming a “superbody” that “It’s too broad,” he said. “In will look into the killings of the government, when somejournalists in the country. thing becomes too broad, you According to Presidential can’t accomplish anything.”

Communications Secretary “[Journalist killings] will now Martin Andanar, the President be under my office. We will fohas designated him to lead the cus on it with the help of differnew multiagency task force in ent media groups involved in response to mounting calls for it,” he said. the government to act on the The task force will also tap unsolved murders of journalcrack investigators from the ists.

DOJ, the Philippine National “The President will issue an Police and the National Bureau administrative of Investigation, order for it withAndanar said. in this month,” He said the Andanar told IN creation of the QUIRER reIn the government, when something task force was porters and edibecomes too broad, you can’t part of a comtors last Thursaccomplish anything. prehensive comday. munications Mr. Duterte plan that he will release the submitted to Mr. order before he Duterte when he addresses a joint session of reasons why reporters are be- invited him to head the PresiCongress on July 25, Andanar ing killed—if they’re crusaders dential Communications Ofsaid. or just extortionists,” he said. fice, formerly known as the Andanar disclosed the creAndanar said the task force Presidential Communications ation of the task force a day be- would also be a vehicle for pro- Operations Office. fore Mr. Duterte was supposed viding assistance to the families “We want to have a national to sign an executive order on of slain journalists. conversation. We will talk to www.canadianinquirer.net

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

the different sectors of society like the farmers, the [fishermen] as well as the media,” he said.

“It will be done monthly.

That’s our way of keeping our ears on the ground,” he added.

At odds with media

Mr. Duterte has been at odds with the media since he attacked reporters verbally in a nationally televised press briefing in Davao City on June 2.

He lashed out at the reporters after his remarks that appeared to justify the killings of journalists sparked international condemnation and was irked when an international

PCOO

correspondents’ group, Reporters Without Borders, called on their colleagues in the Philippines to boycott Mr. Duterte’s news conferences.

The President classified journalists into three classes—the “crusaders” who expose irregularities in the government; the “mouthpieces of vested interests,” and the “low-lives” who ask for favors and attack public officials who refuse to give in to their demands.

“Kill journalism in this country. Stop journalism in this country, if you are worth your salt. If not, then I will think lowly of you,” Mr. Duterte told the reporters. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

11

Drug war ‘spiraling out of control’ Noy faces charges over DAP

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT DUTERTE’S war on drugs is spiraling out of control, a top human rights lawyer and opposition lawmakers said yesterday as police confirmed killing more than 100 drug suspects and at least two senators expressed support for a proposed Senate investigation of the killings.

“President Duterte’s war on crime has spawned a nuclear explosion of violence that is spiraling out of control and creating a nation without judges, without law and without reason,” said Manuel Diokno, chair of the Free Legal Assistance Group.

Diokno, a prominent law professor, likened the killings to the actions of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, accused of killing thousands of dissidents during a 20-year rule that ended in 1986.

Rep. Teddy Baguilat said the President’s rhetoric “breeds a culture of violence and culture of retribution.

Baguilat and Sen. Leila de Lima have asked Congress to investigate the drug killings.

But the new chief of the Philippine National Police, Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, said police should not be cowed by the proposed congressional inquiry.

He said the PNP would solve the country’s illegal drugs problem in three to six months.

The PNP said 103 drug suspects who resisted arrest had been killed, but insisted the policemen operated within the boundaries of the law.

“They put in danger the lives of our police officers who then had to defend themselves,” PNP spokesperson Dionaldo Carlos said.

Senate inquiry

At least two senators yester-

day expressed support for De Lima’s proposed inquiry into the drug killings.

Saying the surge in the killings must be examined, Senators Antonio Trillanes IV and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said yesterday they would likely participate in the legislative investigation that De Lima proposed on Thursday.

De Lima, former justice secretary and human rights chief, said on Thursday that she would file a resolution for an inquiry into the deaths of drug suspects in police operations or even while already in custody, noting “telltale signs of summary executions” in a number cases.

“It is necessary before things get out of hand and such killings become the norm in law enforcement,” Trillanes said when sought for comment yesterday.

“I will definitely take part in the inquiry,” said Trillanes, among the senators expected to join the minority in the 17th Congress.

Pangilinan, a member of the Liberal Party ( LP) like De Lima, said he might also participate in the hearings, as undertaking investigations in aid of legislation is part of a senator’s duties.

He said he would focus on a specific case—the death of an elderly farmer linked to the drug trade in Zamboanga City.

“I am inclined to participate in the hearings and if I do, I will focus my attention on the killing of the 75-year-old corn farmer in Zamboanga City who allegedly was a drug pusher and was shot and killed while he and his grandson were on their way to buy seedlings in the public market,” Pangilinan said a text message.

The grandson of Efren Macalintal survived the attack and saw how two still unidentified men shot his grandfather twice in the head.

The gunmen reportedly fled

the scene shouting, “Selling drugs is prohibited in Zamboanga.”

Sen. Joel Villanueva, an independent who ran in the May 9 elections as a guest candidate of the LP, was tentative, saying he would participate in the De Lima-led investigation so long as it was clear it was geared toward useful legislation.

Police matter

Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said he believed the Senate should steer clear of police matters.

“The Napolcom (National Police Commission) and the DOJ (Department of Justice) should be the ones to investigate. The Senate? What legislation are we looking at to warrant an inquiry?” he said.

De Lima said the inquiry would aid the making of legislation that would institutionalize rules of engagement that law enforcement agencies such as the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency should follow in pursuit of crime suspects.

She expressed concern that the killings were not being investigated when, by procedure, each case should be examined by the PNP Internal Affairs Service or by an independent body to find out if the operating guidelines were observed.

De Lima has long maintained a fighting stance against extrajudicial killings, pursuing an investigation into deaths linked to the so-called death squads in Davao City during her time as justice chief.

President Duterte, who had been a longtime mayor of Davao, had been linked to the death squads, but the DOJ closed the investigation in May for lack of evidence.

Mr. Duterte was elected in a landslide in May on a platform that included a merciless war

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Neophyte Senator Leila de Lima defended her plan to seek Senate inquiry on allegations of extrajudicial killings in the ongoing campaign against illegal drugs in the country during a press conference at the Senate.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

against illegal drugs and crime.

He promised to kill tens of thousands of criminals to put an end to crime in the Philippines within six months of assuming office.

Bato not bothered

His chosen PNP chief, De la Rosa is not bothered by the proposed Senate inquiry into the drug killings.

“If you allow human rights investigations to scare you, nothing will improve,” De la Rosa said during the inauguration of a drug rehabilitation center in Camp Tolentino in Balanga City, Bataan province, yesterday.

“In three to six months, we will solve the illegal drugs problem in the country. We are just starting the campaign and we will not be intimidated by human rights advocates,” he said.

De la Rosa reiterated his position in the drug killings, saying he presumed regularity in the actions of policemen.

Some officials involved in programs that encourage drug abusers and dealers to surrender said fear was a good deterrent.

In Nueva Ecija province on Thursday, Gapan City Mayor Emerson Pascual told 434 people who had admitted to trading or using illegal drugs said that vigilantes had not killed any

drug dealer in the city “because we value your lives.”

Those who surrendered signed an agreement to give up drugs.

Pascual said he pleaded with the police to let him speak to the drug suspects first. He is a member of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption who lost two siblings in a 2009 attack.

“President Duterte and I have the same goal—to clean our city, to clean our country. We differ in our approaches. I want to do this peacefully. The President wants to achieve this quickly even if it leads to deaths,” Pascual said.

In the Cordillera region, police said 701 marijuana cultivators and dealers surrendered this week.

In Olongapo City, 19 drug users and dealers surrendered to police while 256 drug users turned themselves in for rehabilitation in Ilocos Sur province.

Quezon dead now 31

In Quezon province, Senior Supt. Eugenio Paquiquiran, provincial police chief, said the number of drug suspects killed since President Duterte came to power had risen from 13 to 31.

Lucena City police chief Supt.

Dennis de Leon said among those killed recently was Delson Nazareno Beringuela, 25, a ❱❱ PAGE 13 Drug war

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Rody urged...

Philippines and China “to comply with the ruling” and appealed to “all claimants to avoid provocative actions or statements.”

“Whatever the outcome, the case will not contribute to improved relations between China and other claimants in the South China Sea,” FransPaul van der Putten, a senior researcher at the Clingendael think tank, told AFP. China’s state-run media on Friday said that Beijing would not take “a single step back” if the United States and the Philippines “act on impulse and carry out flagrant provocation.”

Facing international pressure to comply with the arbitral court’s ruling, China, according to the state-run Global Times, will “fight back.”

China, the paper said, could turn Panatag Shoal “into a military outpost” and “tow away or sink” the BRP Sierra Madre, an old and rusting hospital ship that Manila grounded on Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) in ❰❰ 8

ACTOR AND TV host Arnell Ignacio, a vocal supporter of President Duterte, has been appointed assistant vice president of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor).

Ignacio is the new AVP for the Community Relations and Services Department of the gaming agency. He posted his appointment on his Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin An-

FRIDAY

Palace: Probe of killings welcome 1999 to mark Philippine territory in the Spratlys, to “resolve the standoff once and for all.”

Beijing insists it has “undisputed sovereignty” over almost all of the South China Sea, basing its arguments on Chinese maps dating back to the 1940s marked with a nine-dash line that encompasses waters within the EEZs of the other claimants.

Expert Joris Larik from The Hague Institute for Global Justice said “China’s position and credibility will be weakened if the arbitral panel finds against it.”

But Chinese President Xi Jinping said China was “not afraid of trouble” and state-run newspaper People’s Daily urged Beijing to prepare for a “military confrontation” in the South China Sea. China launched military drills in the South China Sea on Friday, with its Navy carrying out combat exercises with live missiles, according to the PLA Daily, the Chinese military’s official newspaper. ■

Pro-Duterte actor gets Pagcor job

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer

JULY 15, 2016

danar said Ignacio has been appointed to Pagcor, though he could not confirm the specific position.

A Pagcor executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authority to discuss the issue, also confirmed Ignacio’s new job at the agency yesterday.

On his Facebook account, Ignacio said that in his new position, he would be taking massive steps to improve health services and have comprehensive feeding programs. He also planned to focus on the completion of school buildings. ■

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer

that we are showing that the people serving in government are decent and they are people worthy of our trust,” he said.

MALACAÑANG WELCOMES Several government agencies an investigation of the adminishave already conducted surprise tration’s ongoing drive against drug tests on their officials, inthe illegal drug trade, but any cluding the Philippine National criticism of the government’s Police (PNP), the military and campaign should be based on the Bureau of Immigration. substantial evidence, according Meanwhile, Abella also reto the President’s spokesperson vealed that drug money could Ernesto Abella. have come into play during the As human rights advocates recent elections by funding polsound the alarm on the rising iticians’ campaigns. body count in the Duterte adAsked over dz-RB radio if the ministration’s war against drugs, President had any information Abella said complaints against about drug money being used it should not just be based on in the elections, Abella said that “speculation” or “reportage.” was part of the implications of “If there is proof, if there’s Mr. Duterte’s message that he substantive evidence and it’s doesn’t want the country to fall proven, the Palace, the governto narco-politics. ment, is also of “Apparently, course open to there are mayors any investigawho have already tion,” Abella said acted indepenin an interview If there is proof, if there’s substantive dently of their over state-run evidence and it’s proven, the Palace, parties, that they Radyo ng Bayan. the government, is also of course did not ask [for “However, it open to any investigation. money] from cannot just be them because, based on specuapparently, they lation, based on had their own opinion. It has to sources of funds be evidenced-based also, that “Anybody can complain. and most probably it was be there were really violations,” he [But] as long as it’s a legitimate coming from that,” he said. added. drug operation, and the person As this developed, the new Lawyer Jose Manuel Dio- fought back, what can you do?” chief of the Department of the kno of the Free Legal Assis- he said.

Interior and Local Governtance Group earlier said the Malacañang is also open to ment (DILG) has ordered a President’s war on crime had the idea of implementing man- lifestyle check on the entire “spawned a nuclear explosion datory drug tests for all govern- police force—starting with the of violence that is spiraling out ment employees to restore the five active and retired generals of control and creating a nation people’s trust in the govern- recently named by President without judges, without law ment, Abella said.

Duterte as coddlers of drug and without reason.”

He said the mandatory drug lords.

Lawmakers also urged a con- testing would be a welcome In a statement, Interior Secgressional inquiry into the kill- development and a “powerful retary Ismael Sueno said he has ings of drug suspects, whom po- symbolic act.” instructed PNP Director Genlice said were slain in legitimate It would prove to the public eral Ronald de la Rosa to proencounters with law enforcers. that the state’s employees are ceed with the lifestyle check. ■ Several of the suspects were decent people, Abella said in shot dead while supposedly try- the same interview.

With a report by Jaymee T. Gamil ing to grab the police officers’ “It’s not a question of exposguns while in custody. ing but it’s a question of exPresident Duterte has prom- pressing. It’s a symbolic act. It’s ised to wage a tough campaign a very powerful symbolic act,

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against crime, especially the illegal drug trade that he said was destroying the country and the lives of its citizens.

He had told the police that they should not hesitate to shoot suspects when their own lives were at risk as the suspects resisted arrest. He would stake his own life and his position for the law enforcers doing their duty, he had said.

Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, during a visit to the INQUIRER offices on Thursday, said it was a policeman’s job to shoot suspects if the latter fought back, as it was a choice between their lives or those of the suspects.

Those who have an issue with the operation could file a complaint, Andanar said.

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

13

Popcom, RH advocates appeal to SC to lift TRO on family planning commodities

BY LEILANI S. JUNIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Commission on Population (Popcom), together with other reproductive health advocates, appealed to the Supreme Court on Tuesday for the lifting of the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on the use of subdermal implants in the national family planning program.

According to Popcom Region IV-B Regional Director Lydio Español, they are awaiting for the lifting of the TRO to prevent possible wastage of the family planning commodities, including implanon, about to expire in the warehouses of the Department of Health (DOH).

Allowing such family planning commodities to expire will indicate a waste of government’s resources that are coming from the taxpayers’ money, Español said in a press briefing held at Dulcinea Restaurant in Quezon City.

He said that more than PHP400 mil-

lion allocated for the procurement of such FP commodities would be wasted if the SC would not let such contraceptives be accessed by the poor women who really need them and must be provided under the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law of 2012 or Republic Act No. 10354.

Implanon is an implant that stops the release of egg cells from a woman’s ovary. It has become popular among women because it gives them choice not to get pregnant within three years.

At the same time, it also gives them the choice if they will want to get pregnant again after that period, thus helping in planning of pregnancy and spacing of children.

Aside from that, the said family planning commodity is expensive if availed in private clinics.

Español said that aside from the cost of getting the said supplies, trainings that have been invested to providers will also be wasted if the SC TRO will not be lifted.

He noted that the TRO also stipulates that “re-certification” is not allowed With that, he expounded that once the certification of one brand expires, then the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not allowed to re-certify.

“With ‘non-recertification’ — there will come a time that we cannot buy the same brand, and we cannot also certify another brand as certification and recertification of new brands are not allowed,” he said.

He said that if that will happen, there are only two options that will be left — natural family planning and ligation/ vasectomy (permanent).

“But not all can use the natural family planning method... There are those (women) who are very busy with their work, for example, to the extent that they are not able to track down their fertility period, because natural family planning entails tracking of fertility period, of course, with the cooperation of the (sexual) partner,” he said.

Drug war... suspected drug pusher.

De Leon said Beringuela was shot dead when he tried to grab the gun of a police escort as he was being taken to a hospital for medical checkup after being arrested on Friday.

Chief Insp. Javier Baasis, Quezon provincial police information officer, identified the other slain suspects as Manolito Macalintal Centeno Jr., No. 10 on the list of suspects in Tiaong town, and Ramil Enriquez Mitra, who was also on the Tiaong drug suspects’ list.

Centeno was shot in the head by an unidentified assailant in his bedroom on Thursday.

Mitra was found dead in his backyard with multiple gunshot wounds.

In Sariaya town, Alejandro Sante Umbrete, another suspected pusher, was shot dead by an unidentified assailant in Barangay Talaan Aplaya early yesterday.

Umbrete, according to Sariaya police chief Supt. Alex Dimaculangan, was on the list of drug suspects in Lucena City.

Another drug suspect, Midelito Montealto Chumacera, was killed while he was driving a jeepney by a motorcycleriding assailant in Barangay Concepcion Uno in Sariaya.

In Infanta, Larry Agbayani, tagged as No. 1 drug suspect in the town, and an associate were gunned down in Barangay Libjoa past 8 p.m. on Thursday.

Chief Insp. Roberto Santos, Infanta police chief, said Agbayani had been in and out of jail. ❰❰ 11

2,913 surrender

In the Bicol region, 2,913 drug suspects and users have surrendered since the launch of the antinarcotics drive.

Police officials said 675 surrendered in Sorsogon province, 1,043 in Albay, 321 in Masbate, 535 in Camarines Sur, 303 in Camarines Norte and 36 in Catanduanes.

In Manila, a drug suspect was shot dead by police when he tried to grab the gun of one of the officers arresting him in Sampaloc district on Thursday night.

Police identified the suspect as Eduardo Bernardo, alias Doro.

Three drug suspects were killed by police in different parts of Quezon City early yesterday.

The first suspect, identified only as Ver, was shot dead when he tried to shoot it out with a policeman who was arresting him in Barangay Payatas.

Gilbert Rex, the second suspect, was killed in an exchange of fire with policemen in Project 8.

The third suspect, identified only as Johng, was shot dead when he drew a gun as policemen were approaching to arrest him.

In Pasig City, Allan Pula, a companion of a drug suspect accused in the killing of a Quezon City policeman last year, was killed when he traded shots with policemen in Pasig City early yesterday.

Senior Insp. Robert Garcia, Pasig police investigation chief, said Boratong was wanted for the killing of PO2 Jason Cueto of the Quezon City Police on Feb. 8 last year. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Ligation and vasectomy, once chosen by a couple, will be for life, he added.

The SC TRO on licensing subdermal implants was issued on June 17, 2015.

Meanwhile, Español said that the anti-reproductive health or pro-life groups petitioning the SC have somehow influenced the issuance of the TRO. He said that with that, they will also discuss the matter with the Church groups.

He said that as an initial effort, they sent correspondence to the Solicitor’s General Office as their attorney on June 24, 2016 through a letter with the motion to lift the TRO. “I think that is a very important move because the letter, which is addressed to the Solicitor’s General Office, tells about the consequences of not lifting the TRO. So hopefully, with these arguments presenting all the negative consequences, the Solicitor General will actually be giving in to our request (towards lifting of the TRO),” he said. ■

Opinion

14

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

ANALYSIS

Federalist shift is recipe for paralysis

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer CANBERRA—The first thing President Duterte did after his inauguration was to fly to Davao City to start dismantling the superstructure dominance of “Imperial Manila” as the national capital of the unitary Philippine state for more than 400 years.

He did so, believing that his election last month had given him the mandate to undertake the most ambitious overhaul of the Philippine political system since the first Republic was established by Gen. Emilio Aquinaldo in Kawit, Cavite province.

The former mayor of Davao City started his political reengineering by ruling by decree with nothing to back his initiative more solid than sheer gumption and the election campaign pledge to shift the political system from the highly centralized framework to the federal system, without having to go through a democratic process of constitutional revision.

Within days of his inauguration, Mr. Duterte declared he would govern the country from both Manila and Davao City. According to Mr. Duterte’s family, the President would

spend four days in Manila and three days in Davao City.

Weeks before his inauguration, Mr. Duterte said he wanted to commute between Davao and Manila daily. The flight between Manila and Davao City that the President would take would mean spending half of his six-year term on board an aircraft instead of working at his desk tackling the multifarious problems saddling the nation.

give them autonomy and provide them with revenue to fund their own economic development projects and make them less dependent on the generosity of the central government and internal revenue allocations for financing.

Supporters of devolution are riding the bandwagon of the shift to the federal system—an important plank of Duterte’s economic platform as a seductive panacea for economic growth.

administration whose networks extend down to the provinces, the chartered cities and the municipalities.

No matter how much commuting Mr. Duterte makes between Manila and Davao City, he cannot break the administrative control of Manila in the day-to-day running of the government.

He who controls this vast machinery can control the nation politically. He is not in control. He does not understand the dynamics of the bureaucracy.

Mission impossible His experience in this aspect of Silent on cost In confronting the supremacy governance is limited to the proMalacañang is silent about the cost of the central government based in vincial and parochial outlook of the involved in these Davao City governshuttles, which is not ment.

It is extremely expensive and disruptive to relocate the likely to be inconsidIn Mr. Duterte’s key ministries, for example, the executive offices, foreign affairs, erable, in transportsimplistic view, the interior, defense, finance, justice, or trade and industry. ing Cabinet memshift to federalism bers and their staff is the key to ending and entourages.

Metro Manila, the challengers close the domination of Imperial Manila of In meetings in these two widely their eyes to the huge reality that national life, as well as fighting povseparated centers of power and au- they are ramming their siege en- erty and ending the Moro separatist thority from the point of view of costs gines against the formidable walls of insurgency. and benefits, management experts Troy—a mission impossible until the may not find this the most cost-effi- Greeks used guile by sending a wood- Fragmentation cient way of deploying resources. en horse (filled with warriors) to the Mr. Duterte vowed during the The behemoth called Imperial Ma- Trojans, who towed it into their city. election campaign to revise the Connila has been a favorite bashing beast Metaphorically speaking, the pow- stitution to achieve his bold plan to of critics advocating devolution of er of Imperial Manila stands on a vast devolve power from the central govcentral powers to local governments to bureaucracy at the heart of a national ernment to federal states in this na-

tion with 81 provinces.

No matter how much Mr. Duterte rants against the oligarchy that has dominated national life over several generations, he cannot ignore questions such as the dispersal and fragmentation of the bureaucracy into small units to two rival seats of government established by him.

These questions demand coherent answers.

We have a centralized Cabinet holding regular meetings. Under the dispersal, it is not clear when and where it will meet—in Davao City or in Manila.

The bureaucracy is a massive institution. It cannot be broken up into small units and transplanted in either seat of government. It is extremely expensive and disruptive to relocate the key ministries, for example, the executive offices, foreign affairs, interior, defense, finance, justice, or trade and industry.

Mr. Duterte cannot relocate to Davao City the Armed Forces of the Philippines or the Philippine National Police, all centralized in Imperial Manila in their chain of command, without plunging his government into paralysis. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

The creeping normality of extrajudicial killings

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer THERE IS no question today about the rampant character of the drug menace in our country. The public perception that the problem has far exceeded the capacity of normal law enforcement has no doubt greatly contributed to the election of Rodrigo Duterte to the presidency. The tough-talking former mayor of Davao City ran on the solitary promise that he would not hesitate to kill in order to stop the drug problem in three to six months.

The killings have already begun.

In fact, they began soon after it became clear that Mayor Duterte, long known as “The Punisher,” had won the presidency. As though on cue, police agencies instantly took it upon themselves to raid the lairs of suspected drug pushers, killing their targets on the spot or on the way to the police precinct. The standard excuse is that the suspects were armed and had fired at them first, or had tried to grab their firearms.

Hardly anyone believes this yarn, but it’s amazing how police officers could tell it with a straight face. The mass media have reported at least 103 such killings under the present regime, including those done

vigilante-style. These reports have killed on sight if they dared even for ible and incapable of using this power swiftly sent a wave of panic across the a moment to leave their prison cells. to kill innocent people. country’s drug-infested communiThe President’s forceful actions It is this enabling mindset that I ties, where confessed drug users have and threatening pronouncements find truly alarming. It is just one step been shown surrendering en masse, have certainly amplified the reso- away from the notion that it is all ostensibly begging for rehabilitation. luteness of his crusade against drugs, right to set aside our free institutions But if there is any public outcry over criminality, and corruption. But, they to solve our most pressing problems. these evident summary executions, it have also justly alarmed human rights The Marcos dictatorship imposed a has been largely muted. advocates, who insist that the due pro- regime of intimidation on the FiliOn the contrary, the public’s thirst cess of law be followed in dealing with pino people by detaining and killfor decisive action could not be ap- even the most hardened criminals ing critics and dissenters. For this, it peased by these police operations that and corrupt public officials who have needed martial law. seemed to target only the low-ranking betrayed their oath of office.

The Duterte administration, in members of drug syndicates. Indeed, These apprehensions, however, contrast, seems to mobilize public many saw these deliberate killings have found little or no resonance in fear, resentment, and desperation in as no more than a convenient way to the public consciousness, judging order to build a consensus around a eliminate police asproject of national sets who could pocleansing and reThe Duterte administration, in contrast, seems to tentially implicate construction. This mobilize public fear, resentment, and desperation in order to their police protecproject does not build a consensus around a project of national cleansing and tors. The public kept require martial reconstruction. asking: Where are law; it only needs the big fish? manipulated mass Before cynicism over the serious- from the absence of a collective up- enthusiasm for it to succeed. How it ness of the antidrug campaign could roar over these recent killings. Ordi- is actually carried out appears to be set in, President Duterte himself took nary citizens seem to have accepted determined less by the logic of existthe unprecedented move of publicly the idea that they have nothing to ing institutions than by the trusted naming five top police generals, three fear from the police or the vigilantes leader’s instincts. Its most devoted of them still in active service, accus- if they are not themselves into drugs army, as we have seen, is to be found, ing them of being the protectors of or engaged in criminal activity. This not in the military camps, but in the notorious drug lords. He also named is all too ironic, for such implicit trust social media. two drug lords, both of them serving ultimately rests on the presumption Something that needs to be keenly time in prison, who, he said, contin- that our institutions are functional, watched in such developments is the ued to run their trade even while in and that the authorities that have easy resort to brutal means whose redetention. He vowed to have them power over our lives are incorrupt- demptive promise effectively shields

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them from legal or ethical scrutiny.

Confronted by these daily killings, we need to constantly search ourselves for explanations for our indifference and inability to be horrified by repeated violations of fundamental constitutional rights. We must resist the tendency to accept these killings as the new normal, the final solution to the overwhelming crisis of crime and corruption that has long gripped our society.

For it is foolish to suppose that the problems demanding this kind of extraordinary response will be confined to the drug menace or the corruption of government officials. I think it is just a matter of time before anyone or anything that could be described as a threat to the wellbeing of the nation becomes fair game.

Yet, after everything has been said and done, why am I left with the uneasy feeling that what we are being served may be no more than spectacles—images that stand for realities that are too complex to engage our sustained attention? The killings do have that mesmerizing and numbing effect.

There is an ominous passage in Guy Debord’s 1967 treatise “The Society of the Spectacle” that seems to sumup that condition: “The spectacle is the guardian of sleep.” We should be vigilant. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

15

AT LARGE

Snatched from the headlines

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer IT USED to be a common come-on for movies that tell gritty stories steeped in reality with no concession to Hollywood glamour or escapism: “snatched from the headlines.”

The term “cinema verite” is sometimes applied to such films, in which the story is told documentary-style, with no intervening conventions or stylistic flourishes. And to make the “reality” all the more real, the subject matter of many such movies is often currently in the news, the topic of the day, the headlines of newspapers.

Much of the production work on “Ma’ Rosa” was done last year (although the groundwork was laid years before then, says director Brillante “Dante” Mendoza), but the movie could not have been released locally at a better time. The story of Ma’ Rosa and her husband who own a sari-sari store from where they also engage in petty drugdealing hits headline territory when the couple are picked up in a police raid, coerced to rat on their supplier, and then forced to cough up an outrageous amount in unofficial “bail.”

All this plays out against current headlines about the mounting death

toll in the current “war” against drugs, with about 100 drug users and pushers killed by police in “shootouts” or else found abandoned in fields and street corners, the corpses often “adorned” with cardboard signs proclaiming their involvement in the drug trade.

In the early days of this deadly war, I often wondered why, if the police already knew where the users and pushers were holed out all these years, the first of the arrests and killings took place only just before and soon after President Duterte took office. Why was it so easy for the drug lords and their minions to escape police scrutiny? *** WELL, “Ma’ Rosa” tells us why. The police are, and have been, in on it all this time. Mr. Duterte’s headlinemaking announcement about the involvement of five police generals—three of them still in active service—in the drug trade would seem to validate this contention. The leader of the police gang shaking down Ma’ Rosa and her husband pockets bills taken from the collections of a pusher and walks a few meters to the office of the chief of police, who shuts the door behind them, there perhaps to take possession of the spoils. Later

in the movie, the same crooked cop is shown putting on his spiffy police uniform, walking out of the station the very picture of the upright law enforcer.

In the scheme of things, Ma’ Rosa, her husband and children are all bottom-dwellers in this feeding frenzy that drugs have engendered.

With the exception of their desperate customers, the shopkeepers lie at the bottom of the complex pyramid profiting from “bato,” the colloquial nickname for shabu and also, unfortunately, the nickname of the current director general of the Philippine National Police. They are the last in the chain of profit that leads not just to corrupt police officers but even to politicians. *** BUT in the movie, Ma’ Rosa and her family are more than just abject victims. “Dog-eat-dog” describes the arrangement where everyone feeds on the miseries of everyone else. And that is the operative term in the community where the family moves and transacts its business.

She may be stalwart and devoted to her family, but Ma’ Rosa knows full well what her sideline engenders. She is not above exploiting friendships and blood relations, and turns a blind

eye to the coping mechanisms of her grown children.

The younger son feeds off the devotion of an older male lover. The older son sells the family TV set (his only contribution to the collective effort to set his parents free) and in the process beats up the child snitch who turned them in. Ma’ Rosa’s husband feeds his own drug habit and looks on as his wife copes. The older daughter, meanwhile, excels in emotional blackmail, borrowing from relatives who, despite their reluctance, eventually give in.

The police personify exploitation, abusing even the gay preteen who serves them hand and foot, but even they are in turn used by higher-ups.

Everyone’s looking out for No. 1, but for Ma’ Rosa and her family, No. 1 is the tight circle they have woven around themselves, a safe habitat amid the squalor of their immediate community. *** MUCH has been said about the acting feats in the movie. And indeed, Jaclyn Jose as the title character fully deserves her Cannes Best Actress win. Many have parodied her stoic, often monotone, portrayals. But her style serves her well in this film, reining in the emotion that would have

been so easy to let spill like a dam breaking. Searing indeed is the final scene, where Ma’ Rosa finally lets loose her tears, while finding comfort in a stick of squid balls as she watches a street family calling it a day.

“Ma’ Rosa” has also been called a masterpiece of ensemble acting, and that it is. All the actors work together well, none more so than the corps of policemen: Mark Anthony Fernandez, Baron Geisler, and Mon Confiado among them, who are relentless in their portrayal of hardedged meanness but also brotherly camaraderie.

Mention must also be made of the atmospheric effects (“music” is a misnomer of sorts) of Teresa Barrozo, and the dynamic, antic camera work of director of photography Odyssey Flores, who takes viewers on a dizzying, disconcerting tour of Manila’s slums.

Mendoza told TV interviewer Boy Abunda that he takes months to plan and prepare the shots and setups, talks in-depth to his actors, and when the camera starts grinding, leaves it up to them to make up their dialogue. The result may be chaotic filmmaking, but it gives “Ma’ Rosa” an edge that is, as the come-on goes, “snatched from the headlines.” ■

LOOKING BACK

When men ‘try to look beautiful’

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer MILLENNIALS USED to the wide variety of cable television fare find it hard to imagine what a “martial law baby” like myself had to go through when I was their age. During martial law we had only a handful of television channels that were monitored closely and tightly censored. Reruns of vintage Sampaguita films like “Dance-O-Rama” formed part of our growing-up years. We were traumatized when the popular Japanese cartoon “Voltes V” was taken off the air for supposedly espousing violence but other equally violent American cartoons were allowed.

Worse, all programming stopped whenever Imelda Marcos left for or arrived from abroad; all channels aired the same live news feed from the airport.

As a boy, I knew no other president but Ferdinand Marcos. I grew up thinking he was part of Malacañang furniture.

TV programming during martial law came to mind this week when I came across Vice Ganda’s late-night TV show where she gamely flirted

with three handsome hunks, who were encouraged to flash their flesh and abs or demonstrate exercise routines. The routines included common pushups, which took on a different vibe when the camera focused on the pelvic thrusts.

I found the show exploitative, and mentioned it to a few friends who explained that this was a normal comedy bar routine. Was it me being prudish, or maybe the comedy bar routine did not translate the same way on TV? A friend then commented that I should let it go because it was a way to balance things out—that it is not only women who are exploited on TV and film but men as well.

Vice Ganda’s TV segment reminded me of the suggestion in the 1920s to have a male beauty contest.

The Philippines Free Press took this suggestion tongue-in-cheek and ran a photograph of the first proposed candidate—Arsenio Luz, director of the Manila Carnival. It was said that when Aurora Aragon Quezon gave birth to Manuel L. Quezon Jr., the press waited in the hotel corridor hoping for an interview with the mother or a photograph of her with her newborn son. Mrs. Quezon

rightly refused to subject her baby to the flash of cameras and the resulting glare of publicity. Fortunately, there were many hangers-on with her, and in a light moment with the press, Luz told the Free Press photographer that he was better off taking a snapshot of Manila Fiscal Baby Guevarra, who then said, “Why not get instead a photograph of Luz and submit him as a candidate for the Free Press beauty contest?”

This bit of banter resulted in Luz appearing on the pages of the Free Press with the caption: “The genial Director General of the Philippine Carnival and organizer of the First National Beauty Pageant is the first candidate in the proposed Free Press Beauty Contest for Men.” The reactions to this proposal were mixed. Gabina Carpio of Bacolor, Pampanga, wrote in to express her apprehension: “It will tend to make our men effeminate. It is not beauty or effeminacy that should make us proud of our men, but virile qualities of mind and body.” Antonio Franco, of Manila, agreed, saying: “I do not know what kind of civilization we will have when men do nothing but try to look beautiful and women seek none

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except handsome men. A beauty contest for men? Terrible, horrible!

In this age of hard go-getting, stern competition, and keen struggle for existence, one cannot play the role of the he-man and at the same time be nose-powdered, pampered, mollycoddled Adonis.”

Of course, a dissenter from the University of the Philippines, Delfino Santiago, made his voice heard in the conversation: “Certainly there must also be a beauty contest for men. If America is proud of her Valentinos (a reference to the film star Rudolph Valentino— ARO), undoubtedly we are also proud of our handsome men.

Bring them into the light, and give our young ladies an opportunity to submit pictures of their guapos.”

Hipolito Castillo of Silay chimed in, saying: “Beauty is not confined only to those of the fair sex, therefore it would be unjust and unfair if we were to deny our brothers the joy of being honored by public recognition as a handsome man.”

From those remarks, it seems that most were for equality between men and women only. There was a reference to the “fair sex,” but not yet of the “third sex.” One opinion that

stood out for sheer political incorrectness was from Josefina Sotto of the Ladies Club of Gasan, Marinduque, who wrote in to say: “When our countrymen set foot in America and Europe, they are seldom, if ever, taken as Filipinos. Usually they are thought of as Chinese or Japanese.

This because the real, typical Filipino is practically unknown in those countries. They think Filipinos are like the Negritos and other Philippine mountain people they often see in books and magazines and on postcards. I do not deny that Negritos are Filipinos but I will never, nor will you, admit they are typical Filipinos.

So in order to wipe this erroneous impression from the minds of foreigners, I advocate a beauty contest for men, so that with proper publicity the Filipinos may never again be mercilessly mistaken for Chinese or Japanese or taken as savages.”

We have come a long way since that prewar proposal to establish a beauty contest for men. Looking back helps us understand how we have come to acknowledge, if not accept, lesbian, gay, bi and transgender sexual preferences in addition to the traditional male and female. ■

16

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

Canada News Immigration detainees on hunger strike; want meeting with public safety minister THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — A group advocating for full immigration status for all migrants says more than 50 immigration detainees began refusing food Monday in two Ontario centres.

The End Immigration Detention Network says the detainees are protesting prison conditions that include increasing lockdowns and the use of solitary confinement, and are calling for an end to indefinite detentions in maximum security prisons.

The immigration detainees

are asking for a meeting with Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale to discuss their concerns. A spokesman for Goodale says the minister is working on issues related to detention and hopes to put forward proposals later this year.

Those taking part in the protest are housed at the maximum security Central East Correctional Centre in Lindsay, Ont., and the Toronto East Detention Centre.

The End Immigration Detention Network says immigration detainees previously went on a hunger strike that began on April 21, and met with officials

from Canada Border Services Agency.

But the group says CBSA has not followed through on promises it made and the detainees have begun the new hunger strike — this time calling for a meeting with elected officials.

“We would like to meet with MPs,” said Toby Clark, who has been in immigration detention since August 2014.

“To me, the way immigration detention is right now, it’s cruel and unusual punishment,” Clark said Monday in a release.

Sharmeen Khan of End Immigration Detention Network said detainees are often on long

lockdowns during the summer — sometimes kept in their cells for days in a row, unable to speak with their families, or get legal support.

“Goodale must meet with the detainees, and commit to upholding international norms and basic human rights by ending immigration detention,” Khan said.

“Many of these detainees are already sick, this hunger strike could put them in grave danger.”

Goodale spokesman Scott Bardsley said Monday in an email that CBSA is required to consider all reasonable alterna-

tives before detaining someone.

“Under Canadian law, detention is only allowed when: identity is not certain, there is a flight risk or a danger for the public,” Bardsley said.

Goodale has met with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the BC Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers and others to discuss detention issues, he said.

“Our goal is to ensure our Canadian approach is worldclass, including our methods of enforcement, with effective transparency and accountability.” ■

‘Quintessential image of Canada’ banned in Toronto, but encouraged in Calgary

BY NICOLE THOMPSON The Canadian Press TORONTO — An Ontario provincial cabinet minister is calling on the country’s most-populous city to reverse its ban on a classic Canadian pastime.

Street hockey is welcomed in other major cities like Calgary, but is banned by Toronto’s city bylaws for safety reasons. And as the city council is gearing up to vote on whether to uphold the ban, Ontario’s new minister of children and youth services sent an open letter to councillors Monday, asking that they vote to strike it down.

While Michael Coteau doesn’t have jurisdiction over the ban — street usage is governed by municipal bylaws rather than provincial legislation — he wrote that he hoped Toronto would set an example for other jurisdictions that prohibit street hockey.

“The health benefits of physical activity (like street hockey) are well-known and obvious,”

Coteau wrote, adding that social skills, compromise and teamwork can also be learned through sport.

In Calgary, there has never been a bylaw explicitly banning street hockey, but city officials recently decided to clarify an existing bylaw to make sure there’s no confusion: street hockey is allowed, even encouraged.

Mary Ann Houston said the city does have a bylaw prohibiting people from leaving sporting equipment in the street after they’re done using it, but that the city doesn’t want to keep kids from playing.

“It’s a Canadian tradition,” she said.

Houston added that police officers actively encourage kids to play street hockey, and some even keep hockey sticks in their police cars so they can join in.

Dr. Mark Tremblay said street hockey — more so than organized sport, recreation centres and increased time in gym class — could help stave off child obesity in Canada.

The director of the Healthy Ac-

Street hockey is welcomed in other major cities like Calgary, but is banned by Toronto’s city bylaws for safety reasons.

SERGEI BACHLAKOV / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

tive Living and Obesity Research Group at a children’s hospital in Ottawa said building “unorganized sport” like street hockey into kids’ lives will help their health far more than infrastructure and “palaces” for sports.

Plus, Tremblay said, street hockey is “the quintessential image of Canada.”

He said for that reason, street hockey shouldn’t be banned, it should be encouraged on residential streets with low speed limits.

But proponents of street hockey bans cite safety concerns. www.canadianinquirer.net

For instance, in late 2010, media reports said an 11-yearold boy was struck by a vehicle while playing street hockey in Halifax and sent to hospital.

Halifax’s bylaws on street hockey are a little more nuanced than those of Toronto and Calgary. A city spokeswoman wrote in an email that street hockey falls under the “nuisance bylaw,” which prohibits people from obstructing traffic.

She wrote, “As far as enforcement, the officer would look at a number of factors to de-

termine obstruction including traffic volume and whether the participants moved out of the way of oncoming vehicles.”

Even if the players didn’t move out of the way of oncoming traffic, officers would likely “use discretion” and talk to the people involved before issuing any fines, she said.

The same is true of Vancouver — when a car comes, players should move out of the way.

Once it’s gone, the game can resume, a city spokesman said.

That’s a policy that’s backed

by Coteau.

“I also believe that sometimes as government leaders we focus too much on the details of programs, policies, budgets and statistics, when the best thing we can do is just get out of the way,” he wrote.

Toronto council is to vote on the ban on Tuesday, but councilors are being urged by city staff to keep the prohibition in place, citing safety, and possible liability to the city if anyone gets hurt or if private property is damaged. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

B.C. supports housing vacancy tax in Vancouver to assist with rental shortage

BY LAURA KANE The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — The British Columbia government will support the city of Vancouver’s request for a tax on vacant housing, but questions remain about who will pay the costs of enforcement.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong has announced the legislature will meet July 25 to consider revisions to the Vancouver Charter that would allow the city to create and collect the tax.

De Jong said the levy is aimed at improving the supply of rental homes in the city’s superheated real estate market, while waiting for new construction to come online.

“There’s no question that, in addition to the conversations that we have been having about affordability with respect to the purchasing market, there are challenges for folks wanting to rent,” he said at a news conference Monday.

“It is ultimately about supply. It is about trying to increase the supply of rental accommodation.”

Mayor Gregor Robertson and de Jong met two weeks ago to discuss the city’s demand for a tax. At the time, the mayor said if the province wouldn’t help, the city would create the levy on its own using existing, but unwieldy mechanisms in the charter.

The finance minister said Monday that the province would share data, including electricity usage and information it gathers through a homeowners’ grant to help the city identify vacant homes and enforce the tax.

De Jong said the city would be responsible for day-to-day administration, but Robertson said at a separate news conference that those details hadn’t been worked out yet.

“We haven’t gotten to the point where we’ve made decisions around how this is

going to be administered,” Robertson said.

He said city and provincial staff will continue to work together and consult with the public and stakeholders to design how the tax works. The city is hoping for a “co-operative arrangement,” with a tax in place by next year, he said.

A recent city-commissioned study found that about 10,800 homes were left empty for a year or more, most of them condominiums. The city’s rental vacancy rate is 0.6 per cent.

Robertson said it was too early to say how much owners of vacant homes would be taxed. He acknowledged some are so rich that a tax won’t be a strong enough incentive to rent out their units.

“If people are wealthy enough to hold these houses empty 12 months of the year, then they should be paying a higher tax,” he said. “That money can be used for affordable housing.”

The tax wouldn’t target snowbirds or parttime residents, only people who are keeping homes vacant year-round, he added.

NDP Housing critic David Eby said the province has the tools to levy taxes on people who are using housing as an investment instead of a place to live, but it has refused to do so.

“The action they’re allegedly taking is, as always, the absolute least that they could do,” he said.

“They’re asking the city of Vancouver to do (the province’s) job of protecting the interests of Metro Vancouver residents who can’t afford to buy a place, simply because they’re unwilling to do it themselves.”

Eby said he will have to see what de Jong puts forward in the legislature before he decides whether to support it.

The province is also set to introduce legislative changes to end self-regulation of the real estate industry, fulfilling a promise Premier Christy Clark made last month after a damning report concluded Realtors had lost the public trust. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

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FRIDAY

World News

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

Family of student detained in Bangladesh asks for Trudeau’s help

BY DIANA MEHTA The Canadian Press THE FAMILY of a Toronto university student who was detained after surviving a deadly attack in Bangladesh has asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to intervene in the case of the young man, who is a permanent resident of Canada.

Tahmid Hasib Khan has been in custody in Dhaka since the July 1 attack, in which 20 hostages were killed, mostly foreigners.

The 22-year-old’s family doesn’t know why he’s being held, but they insist Khan has done nothing wrong.

His brother, Talha Khan, who is a Canadian citizen, sent a letter through a lawyer to Trudeau’s office on Monday, asking for Ottawa’s help in the case.

“It’s requesting that they reach out to the government of Bangladesh, to let the government of Bangladesh know that Canada is concerned,” said lawyer Marlys Edwardh.

“And (the letter asks) to seek access to this young man so that the conditions of his detention can be monitored and it can be ensured that he is not being held in circumstances that violate international norms.”

Global Affairs Canada has said it is monitoring the situation in Bangladesh closely, but a spokeswoman said Monday that “there are limits” to what any country can do for individuals who are not its citizens.

However, Edwardh said that although Khan is not a Canadian citizen, Ottawa does have “a clear discretion” to request consular access to him.

“Tahmid is a young man who has very real Canadian connections,” she said. “His goal is to become a citizen of Canada.”

Khan, an undergraduate student studying global health at the University of Toronto, had travelled to Dhaka to

visit family, with plans to go on to Nepal where he was to begin an internship this week.

He was meeting friends at an upscale restaurant in Dhaka’s diplomatic zone when he got caught up in the 10-hour hostage crisis.

A group of young Bangladeshi men held about 35 hostages over night, killing 20 of them, including 17 foreigners from Japan, Italy and India. Two police officers were also killed in the siege.

Khan was detained after the attack ended, and his family fears authorities may suspect him of being linked to the attackers, who have been identified as coming from well-off families.

“We want to know why he is being held, as a witness, or as a suspect,” said Khan’s brother. “He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. Nothing in his life points towards any sort of extremism.”

While Khan’s father was able to speak with his son twice in the early days of his detention, the family has not been able to reach him for a week, and isn’t even sure where he is being held, his brother said.

“We know he is in Dhaka but where exactly we don’t know,” Talha Khan said.

“We’ve done everything that can be done. We’ve reached out to the government in Canada, we have reached out to the government in Bangladesh, now it’s up to the authorities to make their decision.

We just want them to not take so much time, and be just in whatever they do.”

The entire situation has taken a tremendous toll on the parents, his brother said, noting that his mother has suffered an emotional breakdown and his father was hospitalized on Monday after a suspected heart attack.

“We understand that it’s a national security issue, but at least if my parents could go and see him, that would be some kind of solace,” he said. “At least communication to begin with.” ■

ART BABYCH / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

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World News

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

Black Lives Matter Decade after war with Israel, supporters condemn another war batters Hezbollah violence in Dallas THE ASSOCIATED PRESS DALLAS — Supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement on Friday condemned the slayings of police in Dallas but stressed the tragedy should not lessen concerns over the killings of black men and women by officers across the country.

“My heart goes out to the victims of all violence, when we think about what has happened over the past 48 hours,” activist DeRay McKesson said Friday morning during an appearance on C-SPAN. Authorities say snipers killed five Dallas officers and injured seven others Thursday night during a protest over fatal police shootings of black men this week in Louisiana and Minnesota.

The official Black Lives Matter group called the Dallas attack “the result of the actions of a lone gunman.”

“To assign the actions of one person to an entire movement is dangerous and irresponsible. We continue our efforts to bring about a better world for all of us,” the group said in a statement.

Police officials have identified one suspect whom they killed, but say they’re unsure how many people participated in the attack.

The shooting in Dallas came as protesters gathered in reaction to the deaths of Alton Ster-

ling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Philando Castile in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Castile was shot Wednesday while in a car with a woman and a child. The aftermath of the shooting was livestreamed in a Facebook video that has been widely shared on social media and broadcast on TV newscasts.

A day earlier, Alton Sterling was shot in Louisiana after being pinned to the pavement by two white officers. That, too, was captured on a cellphone video.

The Black Lives Matter movement traces its roots to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 and gained national ground after 18-year-old Michael Brown was fatally shot by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014. Since then, deaths of other unarmed black males at the hands of law enforcement officers have inspired protests under the “Black Lives Matter” moniker.

“The movement is bigger than any one person or organization,” McKesson said Friday.

“There are so many incredible activists and organizers pushing to make the world more equitable and just.”

The Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network appeared to strike a critical tone of the movement in a Friday morning media statement that said Sharpton “reaffirms his ❱❱ PAGE 25 Black Lives

Several thousand activists rallied & marched to protest recent police-involved shootings throughout the United States.

A KATZ / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

BY BASSEM MROUE AND ZEINA KARAM The Associated Press

2006 are on display in the sitting room of his parents’ house.

In another, the military uniform worn by a fighter killed in Syria lay on his bed, laid out AYNATA, LEBANON — In carefully by his grieving mothfront-line villages of south Leber. anon, the posters of Hezbollah “Khalil was my soul but I members killed fighting Israel won’t hide my son and say, let 10 years ago still stand, but have other people send their chilfaded. Now rising up around dren,” said Hanan Ibrahim, them is a new generation of whose son Khalil was killed posters, bearing the faces of near Damascus on Dec. 27, young fighters from the mili2013. “He should go (fight in tant group killed in Syria.

Syria), and my other son too and They reflect the Shiite group’s if I had a third son I would also radical shift from decades fightsend him,” she said, speaking in ing Israel, a cause that at one her living room, decorated with time earned it soaring popua giant picture of her son Khalil larity across the on a front line in Arab and Muslim Syria. world, to the far H e z b o l less popular role lah’s popularfighting fellow ity across the Arabs in defence Syria has been the worst imaginable Arab world and of Syria’s presipiece of news for Hezbollah. A in Lebanon had dent, Bashar challenge that has transformed the taken a major Assad. party into something it does not hit beginning in It is a venture want: the perception of a Sunni killer.

2005, when it that is proving was accused by costly. The war some of being bein neighbouring hind the assassiSyria is bleednation of former ing Hezbollah of Lebanese Prime fighters and experienced mili- extremists intent on wiping out Minister Rafik Hariri with a tary commanders, and has left Shiites, arguing it must fight massive bombing in Beirut. In the group more vulnerable to them in Syria to keep them 2008, the group briefly seized accusations of complete sub- away from Lebanon. It also several Sunni neighbourhoods servience to Iran, which ral- calls the war an extension of of west Beirut after the governlied Hezbollah to intervene its fight against Israel, saying ment closed down its secret in the war. So far, more than a that Syria is under attack from telecommunications network, thousand of the group’s fight- Western powers seeking to pointing its weapons internally ers, including several founding eliminate Assad as a “centre of for the first time since the end members, have been killed in resistance” to Israel. of Lebanon’s 1975-90 civil war.

Syria, a toll higher than the one “Syria has been the worst Hezbollah’s involvement in incurred by the group in nearly imaginable piece of news for the Syrian war has, according to two decades of fighting Israeli Hezbollah. A challenge that its critics, left the group looking occupation forces. has transformed the party into even more like an Iranian tool Hezbollah’s involvement in something it does not want: the fighting for its own self-interSyria has also changed the pub- perception of a Sunni killer,” est. lic discourse around the group said Bilal Saab, a senior fellow It is a far cry from back in in the Arab world in general for Middle East Security at the 2000, when Hezbollah was and at home in Lebanon, where Atlantic Council. celebrated across much of the it continues to dominate poliIt is difficult to measure sen- Arab world, including among tics but is much more publicly timent within Hezbollah, a Sunnis, for its guerrilla camcriticized. Public opinion is highly secretive and disciplined paign that eventually forced Issharply polarized among those organization. On the 10th an- raeli troops to pull out of a slice who see the group as dragging niversary of the 2006 war with of southern Lebanon they had Lebanon into the Syria morass, Israel, an Associated Press occupied for 18 years. And deand others who support it. team gained rare access into spite some criticism, the group “I think that we’re seeing the homes of slain fighters in was supported by the majority rumblings of discontent. I south Lebanon, where relatives of Lebanese during the 2006 mean some families obviously grieved but said they supported war with Israel, which began aren’t happy. We’ve heard a lot the group’s justifications for with a cross-border Hezbollah of stories about families saying fighting in Syria. raid that kidnapped two Israeli why are our kids dying in Syria, In one home, the socks and soldiers, triggering a massive we can understand them dying boots stained with the blood in the fight against Israel but of a Hezbollah fighter killed in ❱❱ PAGE 25 Decade after www.canadianinquirer.net

why are they dying in the fight in Syria,” said Maha Yahya, director of the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut.

But whatever criticism of Hezbollah exists among Lebanese Shiites, it tends to remain inside the Shiite community.

Public support for the group so far appears intact because the majority of Shiites still see supporting Assad, a member of the minority Alawite sect that is an offshoot of Shiite Islam, as crucial and vital to their interests.

That’s in part because of how Hezbollah frames the war to its supporters. The group has depicted itself as battling Sunni

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FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

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JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS:

Trinity Wambolt: Plunged into rockstar fame in Philippine soccer and loving the warm welcome of a second home

BY BOLET AREVALO

THEY ARE called second or third generation Filipinos in Canada or elsewhere in the world where Pinoy immigrants choose to settle. But what do children born of a migrant Filipino parent think of the Philippines? Or, do they even think of the Philippines at all?

Regardless of how much or how little these later generations think about their parents’ or grandparents’ home country, one thing is pure and certain — the Philippines never stop to welcome them anytime they choose to embrace Motherland. Fourteen-year old Trinity Wambolt just had a piece of that and loved it.

The only daughter of Canadian Durell Wambolt and Bernadette Tan who migrated in the 70s with brother, sister and parents, Trinity recently got her first-hand taste of the famous Filipino hospitality. More than the cheerful welcome, she was given the trust that she could bring honor to the country by becoming a member of the Philippine National women’s soccer team which recently competed in Laos. Of the official 18 members, all under 14 years old, 7 were girls from the US and 1 from Canada (Trinity) and the rest were recruited and trained from the best in the different regions of the Philippines.

The hastily-planned travel to Mom’s home country started when she was first spotted on You Tube by Mark Mangune, a recruiter for the Philippine National Team eyeing to compete in some international and regional football contests. Trinity was contacted and made to attend the ID camp in Corona, California in November 2015.

The camp was led by the head of the Philippine Football Federation, women’s department, Ernie Nierras. In this camp, Trinity must have been able to exhibit some winning soccer

form, and thus, got invited for a try-out with the Philippine National Team in Manila.

Manila Heat, Homesickness and Tragedy

But what was to be a fun and adventurous trip to Manila with Lola Cecil Tan turned out to be sad and heartbreaking when Grandmom’s Manila-based sister Alice suffered a series of strokes and succumbed just as Trinity passed the try-out and was merely on her first week in the Los Banos Training camp.

The most painful part was when she failed to break camp and make it to the funeral. Yet, she knew that Tita Alice would have preferred that she finished her training as the grand-aunt was a big fan. She wanted her to get one of the 18 up-for-grab slots in the national team, which of course, she did. The heat, homesickness and family tragedy failed to discourage Trinity.

As it happened, the 18 girls selected, who later called themselves U14 Malditas, represented the Philippines in the Asian Football Confederation Regional championship held in Laos last May 31 — June 5, 2016. They faced tough teams from Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and then Thailand again for the championship where they ended up with a silver medal, actually giving the Philippines its best ever showing in the same competition. Trinity kicked to her first 2 international goals in games with Cambodia and Myanmar.

Those power kicks did not come as easy as they looked.

The confidence comes from the passion to excel and the discipline Trinity imposes upon herself.

“Every day after school, I would practice from 4:00 pm up to 9 or 10:00 pm, stopping a while only when my Mom calls me for dinner,” Trinity said. She added that she trains 3 times a week and would compete every weekend all year round since she got into the sports.

As one sportswriter calculated, if there were 40 weeks in a

Trinity Wambolt.

year with some breaks, Trinity would be a veteran of 120 competitions at age 13. She turned 14 shortly before she flew out of Canada for the Manila tryout in April this year.

The Athlete Raised Herself

How does a father or a mother raise an athlete?

Dad Durell actually said he has to give credit to Trinity herself. As soon as she picked up the sport, she “raised” herself to make sure she does well in it.

The discipline, the focus and the desire to excel are all of Trinity’s initiatives. Dad Durell was quick to admit that it was not really their idea to get her into soccer or football. Both parents do not even know anything about the sports until introduced by Trinity herself. They did not even watch soccer games. Trinity is in fact the one teaching them now a lot about soccer.

“I was 10 years old when I was asked by a friend to join them in a home league soccer club in North Mississauga,” she related. Before that, she revealed that she also did not know soccer. But as soon as she got into it, she knew right away she liked it and pushed herself to be good at it. And her parents, now starting to learn and to love the sport, can only give their 100% support. www.canadianinquirer.net

Support can also be very challenging especially when they have to dig deeper down their pockets to be able to send her to training camps or to fly out of Canada for try-outs or to compete. Being an only child might be an advantage but just like any other sports, an athlete can only be as good as how hard he or she has trained and exposed him or herself to games and competitions to get the valuable experience needed. Hopefully, sponsors can come in at some opportune time.

Getting intense about something, especially competitive sports and more so at a very young age does present the idea that the child could be missing out on some normal growingup things. Some girly stuffs may be for budding teenagers. Not for her, says Trinity.

No Girly Stuffs for Her

“I never liked girly stuffs,” says Trinity. She would rather practice or train than go shopping, experiment with makeup, play video games or spend time on the computer. She prefers going to the park or playground or any open spaces where she can kick the ball.

If she were not into soccer, it would be hockey, she said.

With the making of a varsity player or even a professional

one, Trinity’s academics are well attended, too. According to the proud father, “Trinity recently graduated with honours from St Gregory Elementary school and is looking forward to starting high school in the fall at St. Aloysius Gonzaga.” In this school, she intends to try out for the Gonzaga Bulldogs girls’ soccer team.

Trinity currently plays club soccer for Epic FC Toronto (based out of Mississauga ) with their home field being Huron Park recreation centre. Head Coach is Giorgio Iannizzi, informed Dad Durell. Trinity is bullish about making it again in the national team next year and being the best in this sport. She sees herself one day as a topnotch football player.

Aside from successfully earning a slot as lone Fil-Canadian in the National Team, what imprints did her stay of 54 days in the Philippines leave her with?

“It was to me a great experience,” says Trinity, explaining that the trip drew her closer to the very different culture that her Mom’s country of birth represented. Encounter with Philippine culture used to be confined to what Lola Cecil would try hard to introduce to her.

That includes relishing sinigang, adobo and lumpia.

As Dad is pure Canadian whose family hails from Nova Scotia, and Mom having come to Canada at age 3, the only possible fervent link in the household to the Philippines is indeed her grandmother, a FilipinoSpanish even and who married a Filipino-Chinese. Trinity said she does not even know how to speak Tagalog. But after the 54day sojourn, she looks forward to learning how to speak the language of her Lola.

May be not because it is simply cool to have another language tucked under one’s tongue, but more so because having come and tasted honestto-goodness Pinoy warmth, Trinity will always feel it in her heart that she is welcomed anytime to a beautiful second home that is the Philippines. ■

Community News

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

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BC gov't continues Multicultural Helping House to ignore affordable Society celebrates 20 years housing crisis THE CHRISTY Clark government has no plans to get serious about addressing the housing crisis in this province, say New Democrats.

“It took the finance minister almost as long to announce his so-called data as it did to collect it in the first place,” said New Democrat Leader John Horgan.

“The Christy Clark government dismissed every serious academic study on the housing crisis facing our province. But today, they announced results from 19 days of self-reporting data and tried to suggest that it is definitive.

“For years the B.C. Liberals stood by while a problem turned into a crisis.

“Today, young people are being priced out of the market, renters are losing their homes and companies are struggling to attract workers. But according to Christy Clark and her government, all that these people deserve is a vague YouTube video and 19 days of half-hearted data collection. That’s shameful.”

Just one year ago, Housing Minister Rich Coleman was trying to suggest that the government had all of the data it needed to know what was happening to housing prices. “We’ve worked with the real estate guys for years and have got data on sales,” Coleman told a reporter.

New Democrat housing spokesperson David Eby says it shows again that the Christy Clark government is complete-

ly out of touch with what’s happening in this province’s overheated housing markets.

“A year ago, the Christy Clark government thought their real estate friends could tell them everything that they needed to know about housing affordability,” said Eby. “Today, they’re content to ignore warnings from our national banks, from FINTRAC, and from academics, because they’ve collected 19 days of self-reporting data on citizenship status. It’s incredible.”

Horgan and the New Democrats have called for real action to address housing affordability in B.C. “I proposed a bill that would discourage speculators from using B.C. homes as safety deposit boxes for wealth, and a tax on speculators that would raise money for affordable housing initiatives,” said Horgan. “The Christy Clark government killed the bill, and failed to propose one of their own. Today, they still haven’t taken any action to deter he speculative activities that are driving up prices.

“Just last week, I proposed a task force to fight fraud and money laundering in the real estate industry, and this past spring, New Democrats proposed a bill that would give more protections to renters facing renoviction.

“While we’re proposing real action, the Christy Clark government continues to tinker around the edges.” – National Democrat Party ■

At the recent Circulo Cagayeno dinner with City Councillor Anne Kang, New Democrat MLAs Mable Elmore, Raj Chouhan, and NDP MP Kennedy Stewart.

THE MULTICULTURAL Helping House Society (MHHS) will celebrate its 20th anniversary with a month-long celebration that will culminate in a gala night on Sept. 2, at Continental Seafood Restaurant in Richmond, B.C. MHHS started from a humble beginning with a few dedicated and sincere Filipinos under the leadership of “Tatay” Tom Avendano. “They dared to dream what at that time was almost an impossible dream given the petty quarrels and bitter rivalries among the Filipinos. They worked with the members of the community who shared their goals and believed in their sincere desire to serve and lift the image and prestige of Filipinos in the community during that dark period of our history in Vancouver,” Demi Avendano, MHHS director said.

After 20 years of hard work and perseverance, that dream is now a reality. MHHS now has a building, the first of its kind that Filipinos can be proud of.

It has helped hundreds of

new Filipino immigrants who came to seek advice and guidance from MHHS settlement counsellors. With the help of new partners in the employment industry, immigrants can readily find jobs here in Canada in their respective fields of training and expertise.

With the help of government funding, MHHS now has an office in Manila. The Canadian Immigration, Refugees and citizenship approved of the Pre-departure Program and encourages all who want to come to Canada to attend the MHHS pre-departure services and ses-

sions in Manila. These sessions are offered every week for free.

“We are asking you to join us in celebrating our 20th year.

MHHS is proud of our achievement and we believe you should be proud, too. We will publish the schedule of our month-long celebration which will take place mostly during weekends.

These will include among others, a job fair and an open house with MHHS youth and seniors entertainment. There will likewise be volleyball and basketball tournaments on the weekends during the month of July,” Avendano added. ■

Team Usana wins Migrante hoops tourney

BY E MAESTRO THE THUD of the basketball on the court mixed with the running footsteps of the players, amid the cheers and shouts from the bleachers, marked the championship games of the First Ronald Ordinario Memorial Friendship Basketball League on July 3. Team Usana bested Team D’Hypers with a 70-59 victory, to emerge as champion with Team D’Hypers as first runner-up.

Team Budget played against Team Raptors, 88- 62 and won second runner-up.

Nie-ann Amante Ordinario, Migrante member and widow of Ron “Nonoy” Ordinario, handed out the championship trophy to the Usana team and medals to each of the Usana players. She was assisted by Migrante BC’s Leo Alejandria and www.canadianinquirer.net

the referees.

Jerwin Ibit of Team Usana took home several awards, starting with the league’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) trophy. Jerwin scored best in the Three Point Shooting contest, which came with a medal and cash prize. He also won the Best Point Guard Medal in the league.

Named as the Finals Most Valuable Player was Darwin Colita of Team Usana.

The Team’s Most Valuable Player trophy, given to a player in each team, was awarded to Kristian Asuncion of Usana, Sherwin Tenorio of D’Hypers, Rhenz Navalta of Budget, Jayson Velasquez of Raptors, Jerole Billedo of Black Riders, Jay-R Valdez of ShotFired and Ted Ferrer of Calibrators.

For the first time in the history of the Migrante Basketball league, Migrante awarded

the trophy for the Best Coach to Ben Lopez of Team Budget for his leadership and work in building excellent team spirit.

Migrante thanks the seven teams in the Friendship League: Team Budget with captain Mhark Santos, Team Black Riders with captain Jerole Billedo, Team Calibrators with captain Ted Ferrer, Team D’Hypers with coaches Eric Publico and Sherwin Tenorio, Team Raptors by Jayson Velasquez, Team Shotfired with captain Jay-R Valdez and Team Usana with captains Boyet Dumaliang and Kristian Asuncion.

The First Ronald Ordinario Memorial Friendship Basketball League honours the hard work of Migrante BC’s Ronald “Nonoy” Ordinario who served as the organizer, the playing coach and basketball commis❱❱ PAGE 29 Team Usana

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JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

Entertainment Transgender, transwoman, pansexual, transsexual, homosexual–which one are you?

Suddenly we wake up to a wide spectrum of sexualities

BY CHECHE V. MORAL Philippine Daily Inquirer

is transgender?”

When you scan the comments and namecalling online about Angie Mead King, you will find that while some of those asking are merely being glib or insolent, there are those who are genuinely confused and are asking the same questions—without being judgmental.

As one LGBT advocate says, their queries are quite valid.

“I know it can be very confusing, that’s why it’s good if we could educate people on gender

Expression) to explain the wide spectrum of sexualities.

“Sexual orientation refers to attraction, or explained simIN THE AFTERMATH of the ply, it’s about whom you want social media coming out of Anto sleep with,” says Dungca. gelina Mead King as a transYou can be a heterosexual or woman that sent kibitzers into straight, meaning you’re ata tizzy, came many questions tracted to the opposite sex; or a that we have heard at least once homosexual, one having samebefore—when BB Gandanghari sex attractions. came out, when Caitlyn Jenner There’s also the bisexual, debuted her new identity on which means the person is atthe Vanity Fair cover. tracted to both sexes.

Angelina Mead King, or AnPansexual means an attracgie as she now wishes to be tion to all gender identities; it’s known, was born polar opposite is Ian Angelo King, the asexual. a businessman“Gender idencar aficionado tity is how you who’s also a scion Sexual orientation refers to attraction, identify yourof the family that or explained simply, it’s about whom self, or who you owns the Victoyou want to sleep with. want to sleep ria Court motel as,” Dungca adds. chain. King is “Sex is simply married to celebwhat you were rity model Joey born as, your Mead. awareness and gender sensitiv- genitalia at birth or what’s in “So, what does that make ity,” says Janlee Dungca, a PR your birth certificate. GenAngie Mead now, since she’s a manager who is herself a trans- der, meanwhile, isn’t black transwoman who likes women? gender woman. and white; it’s a cross between Does that make her a lesbian?” sexual orientation and gender “What about Joey Mead? SOGIE identity.”

Does that also make her a lesGender educators, says Sexual orientation and genbian, since she’s sleeping with a Dungca, have been using the der identity are both internal, transwoman?” acronym SOGIE (Sexual Ori- she adds.

“What’s a transwoman? What entation, Gender Identity and Then there’s expression, or

Angelina Mead King and wife Joey Mead.

how you express yourself externally, whether masculine or feminine.

“I’ll use myself as an example,” says Dungca. “I was born with male genitalia, but I identify as a woman, that’s my gender identity. I’m attracted to men. I’m a heterosexual transgender woman. That’s different from someone who’s gay, which means a man attracted to another man.”

In contrast, she adds, “Angie Mead King, born male like me,

@HAILTOTHE_QUEEN_ / INSTAGRAM

would be a homosexual transgender woman because, as she has said, she’s attracted to women. She identifies herself as a woman attracted to women.”

Transgender

As for Angelina’s wife, Joey, “only she can say what she is,” says Dungca. “Gender is internal. You can’t dictate. That’s why always, the best and polite ❱❱ PAGE 33 Transgender,

‘Biyaya ng Lupa’ to open ToFarm film fest

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer “BIYAYA NG Lupa,” about a couple starting a life together by creating a lanzones orchard in the countryside, is a fitting opening film of the first ToFarm Film Festival on July 13, according to festival director Maryo J. de los Reyes.

The theme of the Manuel Silos cinematic gem fits perfectly with the festival’s goal, which is to celebrate and highlight the

many aspirations and ambitions, obstacles and opportunities, tribulations and triumphs of Filipino farmers, De los Reyes said.

Rosa Rosal, who played the lead role in the 1959 Filipino drama, is expected to attend the event that will be held at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City.

Costar Marita Zobel will also grace the gala night together with heirs and next of kin of the other cast members. Representatives from Balik Samahan, a group of movie actors from the 1940s, ’50s

and ’60s, have also expressed interest in joining the affair.

“We borrowed the film from LVN Pictures and made a DCP (digital cinema package) copy for the theatrical screening,” De los Reyes told the INQUIRER. The film, based on a story written by Celso Al. Carunungan, who cowrote the screenplay with Pablo Naval, also features Tony Santos Sr., Leroy Salvador, Carlos Padilla Jr. and Danilo Jurado. It was an entry in the 10th Berlin International Film Festival and was a Golden www.canadianinquirer.net

Bear best picture nominee.

The performance of Londonbased singer Christine Allado will be the highlight of the festival’s closing ceremony on July 20 at the Makati Shangri-La Manila.

Jaclyn Jose, 2016 Cannes Film Festival best actress, is a jury member, along with filmmaker Peque Gallaga, writer Ricky Lee, cinematographer Odyssey Flores and academician Gigi Alfonso.

“I will also serve as their moderator,” De los Reyes announced.

Competing for the top prize

are Dennis Marasigan’s “Free Range,” Paolo Villaluna’s “Pauwi Na,” Zig Dulay’s “Paglipay,” Maricel Cariaga’s “Pitong Kabang Palay,” Vic Acedillo Jr.’s “Kakampi,” and Jose Johnny Nadela’s “Pilapil.”

“It’s like giving birth to six babies,” said De los Reyes of his experience as festival director.

“They are now in the post-production stage. I’ve already seen two. With the budget that was given them, I can say that they came up with products that went beyond our expectations.” ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

25

Decade after...

Israeli air and ground campaign.

The 2006 fighting killed about 1,200 Lebanese, including hundreds of civilians, and about 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers. The war failed to neutralize the group’s rocket threat, and Israeli officials say Hezbollah’s improved missile arsenal is now capable of striking virtually anywhere in the country.

Israeli political and military leaders, however, say that the war succeeded in re-establishing Israeli deterrence and provided a decade of quiet on its northern front — and gleefully note that the group’s leader Hassan Nasrallah is still in hiding 10 years later.

Israeli officials also acknowledge that as a group, Hezbollah is amassing more combat experience and has more than replenished its arms via smuggling from Syria. That pipeline is one key reason why preserving the existing Syrian regime is seen as so existential for Hezbollah.

In the front-line village of Aynata, only few miles away from the Israeli border, residents vividly recall the 2006 war. The village was heavily damaged by Israeli airstrikes and ground fighting between Israeli soldiers and Hezbollah fighters. Fourteen Hezbollah fighters and 28 civilians were killed.

Since Hezbollah began sending fighters to Syria in 2012, six other fighters from the village have died.

“What is common between these two wars is that they are ❰❰ 20

Lin-Manuel Miranda.

DEBBY WONG / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of ‘Hamilton,’ says goodbye

BY KATY DAIGLE The Associated Press NEW YORK — Lin-Manuel Miranda, the creator and star of the Broadway smash “Hamilton,” made a subdued final bow Saturday alongside two other departing stars in the show that has become a cultural phenomenon.

The performance Saturday at the Richard Rodgers Theatre was also the last for Leslie Odom Jr., who won a Tony Award as Aaron Burr, and Phillipa Soo, a Tony nominee who portrayed Eliza Schuyler. The three — plus an ensemble member — took their bows together but none said anything.

Miranda made a solo bow, with his hand to his heart before actor Christopher Jackson pushed him to the lip of the stage to receive the full blessings from the audience. The cast left after a few minutes to the theme from the TV series “West Wing,” an apparently presidential choice.

Among those in attendance were U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, Jennifer Lopez, Jane Fonda, Rosie O’Donnell, Spike Lee, Charlie Rose and Mariska Hargitay.

Rose called it “a majestic moment in the history of theatre” and historian Ron Chernow, who supplied the Hamilton biography that Miranda transformed into a musical, seemed still stunned by the course of events.

“Well I think it’s safe to say

that when I was writing the book I never imagined that it would be turned into a musical, much less a hip-hop musical, much less this extraordinary hip-hop musical,” he said. “The show has such universal appeal, it really delights me how he’s taken the book and really amplified it and appealed to such a mass audience. It’s just astounding.”

Afterward, Miranda appeared waving on the balcony outside the theatre and also opened a window to say thank you to the crowds standing in the pouring rain outside.

The show, naturally, was interrupted numerous times by standing ovations, including ones for Miranda’s opening song, Odom’s “The Room Where It Happens” and Jackson’s “One Last Time.” Rory O’Malley, who plays King George III, broke character to blow a kiss to Odom during his last song. The 1,320-seat theatre was completely filled, with patrons sitting on the stairs and standing in the back to witness theatrical history.

Soo will next lead a musical stage version of the film “Amelie” that hopes to land on Broadway in 2017. Odom wants to focus on his music and has a four-CD deal with S-Curve Records. Miranda will next star opposite Emily Blunt in Disney’s sequel to “Mary Poppins” and he wrote music for the upcoming “Moana,” an animated film with a Polynesian princess at its heart.

Many long-running Broadway shows including “Jersey Boys,” “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Chicago” have gone through numerous cast changes without losing momentum and experts say “Hamilton” will manage the transition well because it’s never been a stardriven show.

“Hamilton” has already survived the loss of original cast member Jonathan Groff and other key actors are staying, including Tony-winners Daveed Diggs, who plays both the Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson, and Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica Schuyler, as well as Tony-nominee Jackson as George Washington.

“Hamilton,” which won 11 Tony Awards last month, has been praised by politicians and rap stars, influenced the debate over the nation’s currency and burst through the Broadway bubble like none other.

This year, it has won the Pulitzer Prize for drama, a Grammy, the Edward M. Kennedy Prize for Drama Inspired by American History and Miranda earned a MacArthur Foundation “genius” grant.

A Chicago production of “Hamilton” will open this fall and a touring production begins a 21-week run in San Francisco in 2017 before moving to Los Angeles. A London production is slated for 2017. ■ AP Entertainment reporter John Carucci contributed to this report. www.canadianinquirer.net

existential wars against Hezbollah, and to be more precise, it is a war against Shiites,” said Hisham Khanafer, whose two younger brothers, Moussa and Abbas, were killed — one fighting Israel in 2006 and one in Syria last year.

Abbas, who was 25, had planned to marry his fiancee as soon as he returned from Syria. Moussa was 29, his third daughter born on the day he was killed.

Khanafer wears a yellow shawl, the colour of the Hezbollah flag, with portraits of his slain brothers on each side.

“Every war has a price,” he says.

Hezbollah first began sending fighters in small numbers to Syria in 2012, to help protect Shiite shrines near the capital, Damascus, and has gradually escalated its involvement, dispatching fighters to ever more distant places to shore up the battered forces of Assad.

Nearly 30 Hezbollah fighters were killed in one single battle around the city of Aleppo near the Turkish border last month.

“For Israel, this is a dream scenario. All its enemies are killing each other in Syria... without them having to fire a bullet or place even one soldier in the line of fire,” said Yahya of the Carnegie Middle East Center.

She said although Hezbollah’s overall control is not as tight as it used to be, the group is nowhere near a breaking point yet. ■ Associated Press writer Aron Heller in Jerusalem contributed to this report.

Black Lives... commitment that the movement must continue but that it must be anti-police misconduct, not anti-police.”

The official group rejects the notion that Black Lives Matter is against police.

“This is a tragedy — both for those who have been impacted by yesterday’s attack and for our democracy,” the Black Lives Matter statement said. “There are some who would use these events to stifle a movement for change and quicken the demise of a vibrant discourse on the human rights of Black Americans. ❰❰ 20

We should reject all of this.”

The statement echoes comments from supporters who took to Twitter in the overnight hours to defend the movement. “#BlackLivesMatter advocates dignity, justice and freedom, not the murder of cops,” wrote Malkia A. Cyril, director of the Center for Media Justice.

“Anyone blaming this Dallas shooting on the #BlackLivesMatter movement is sick,” tweeted New York Daily News columnist Shaun King.

“Those protestors were peaceful. This terrorized them too.” ■

26

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

Lifestyle Canadians who don’t cook turning to convenience of delivery, including meal kits

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press TORONTO — Experts say Canadians are spending less time cooking meals from scratch at home and are increasingly turning to the convenience of food delivery services, including the burgeoning meal-kit market.

Research by marketing analysis company NPD Group suggests 75 per cent of all meals are now typically prepared in 15 minutes or less as Canadians rely on more shortcuts in the kitchen.

That’s given rise to more varieties of frozen food, prepared meals and side dishes at grocery stores and companies that deliver food right to consumers’ doors.

Meal-kit companies say they help harried home cooks by delivering customizable preportioned fresh ingredients in insulated packaging along with step-by-step recipes, removing the need to plan meals or shop for groceries.

“The delivery market in Canada seems to be really growing quite dramatically and a lot of that is being driven by the technology, so people ordering

through apps and websites and whatnot,” says Robert Carter, executive director of food service at NPD Group.

“Consumers equate fresh, not frozen, meals to being healthier and better for you, so I think meal kits are also speaking to that trend,” he adds.

The company is categorizing the trend as “digital-door spending,” including traditional delivery services for pizza and chicken, newer players such as Just Eat and UberEats that drop restaurant meals at customers’ doors, and meal-kit providers.

“Last year digital-door spending by consumers actually topped $1 billion in Canada, which is incredible,” says Carter, adding the trend is being driven by millennials, those in the 18- to 34-year-old age group.

“At the end of the day, convenience is the No. 1 driver of consumer behaviour as it relates to food,” adds Carter. “The easier you make it, consumers will respond.... Meal kits are also speaking to that convenience factor.”

Food marketing research company Technomic reported earlier this year that the global meal-kit market topped US$1

billion in 2015 and is projected to reach US$10 billion by 2020.

Canadian consumers have a range of meal-kit options to choose from. Chefs Plate launched in 2014 and says it’s now delivering more than 100,000 meals in Canada each month in Ontario, B.C., Alberta and Manitoba. Berlin-based HelloFresh, founded in 2011, moved into Canada last month and operates in eight other countries.

Home goods guru Martha Stewart is getting on the bandwagon, linking with existing kit company Marley Spoon. Other

celebs are also lending their names to meal kits, including TV chef Jamie Oliver who appears in ads for HelloFresh, and cookbook author Mark Bittman who joined vegan meal-kit company Purple Carrot last year.

The kits are convenient but are generally more expensive than cooking at home, points out registered dietitian Andrea D’Ambrosio, who does nutrition counselling in her Dietetic Directions company. A onemeal serving can cost between $5 to $12, an expensive alternative for a family of five.

Though some consider kits a

step up from takeout processed food, D’Ambrosio suggests taking a closer look.

“If you’re going to go for takeout versus coming home and assembling a meal kit you probably might be better going with your meal kit. But the nutritional value of the meal kit does vary in quite a range,” points out the Kitchener, Ont.-based spokeswoman for Dietitians of Canada, adding some have almost a day’s worth of saturated fat or half a day’s worth of sodium.

D’Ambrosio says research suggests home cooks “generally have healthier diets that are higher in fibre and vitamins and minerals” and are less likely to be obese, so “even if someone cooks one extra meal at home a week I think we would be making positive steps in the right direction.”

Is assembling a meal kit considered cooking?

“I would say that it is definitely a step in the right direction if it gets people who would not otherwise be in their kitchen and it gets them actually having some confidence with assembling and putting together a meal,” says D’Ambrosio. ■

Camps help females prep for firefighter jobs

BY MARK PRATT The Associated Press ASHLAND, MASS. — Firefighting is largely a man’s world, but one suburban Boston firefighter is among a few women trying to change that.

Ashland fire Lt. Lyn Moraghan founded Camp Bailout for girls in 2011 to give them a feel for what a firefighting career entails and to provide mentoring and guidance from other women, something she never really had early in her 22-year career.

Only about 7 per cent of U.S. firefighters were women as of

2014, the latest year for which data are available, according to a study published by the Quincy, Massachusetts-based National Fire Protection Association.

To change that, a small but growing number of girls’ firefighting camps have been cropping up, said Kim Cox, executive director of the International Association of Women in Fire and Emergency Services.

The organization lists eight all-girls camps on its website, though Cox estimates there are another half dozen or so more.

The girls at Camp Bailout don’t go running into burning buildings, but they do learn how

to use a fire extinguisher, how to handle a powerful fire hose and how to do water rescues, among other critical skills. They hear from other women — not just firefighters but also police officers, nurses and medical helicopter pilots. They even learn about a firefighter’s lifestyle, the 24-hour shifts, time away from family and the training.

Although Moraghan has had as many as 26 girls at the camp in the past, some still in middle school, she limited it to 10 high-schoolage girls this year. The day camp is free, funded by a grant from Ashland, a town of 16,500 about 20 miles west of Boston. www.canadianinquirer.net

Moraghan, 48, got into firefighting almost by accident. After earning her emergency medical technician license, she knocked on the door of the Ashland Fire Department one day and asked if there were any job openings. She was hired part time in 1994. In 1997, she was hired as the town’s first full-time female firefighter after graduating from the state firefighting academy.

All-girl camps are essential to build and maintain the number of women in firefighting, said Laura Baker, a past president of the International Association of Women in Firefighting and Emergency Services.

The first assistant chief in the history of the Tucson (Arizona) Fire Department helped start a firefighting camp for girls called Camp Fury, which has partnered with the Girl Scouts to promote leadership skills.

“Women bring a unique and different skill set to the fire service,” Baker said. “Ninety per cent of what we do is emergency medical services, which is a great fit for women and the natural motherly instincts and compassion women can provide.”

Falone, the Camp Bailout counsellor, said the most important lesson she has learned is teamwork. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

27

Canadian designers lose style showcase with demise of Toronto Fashion Week

BY LAUREN LA ROSE The Canadian Press

Losing Toronto Fashion Week will impact up-and-coming and newly established designers still trying to carve out their brands, said Susan Langdon, executive of the Toronto Fashion Incubator.

“Showing at Toronto Fashion Week gave them a stamp of credibility and it thrusted them into the media spotlight,” said Langdon, whose non-profit business centre has fostered numerous designers and style entrepreneurs.

“You have .... media from across the country and internationally attend this world-class event, and you have major retail buyers attend.

“If you’re just starting out, would you get that same kind of calibre of audience coming out to your show? Probably not. But because they’re there watching shows back-to-back will they put a little time aside to catch your show? Chances would have been pretty good.”

Canadian womenswear designer David Dixon made his Toronto Fashion Week debut in 1995 and lamented the loss of the showcase for other homegrown talents.

TORONTO — One of the biggest showcases for emerging and established Canadian designers was wiped from the calendar Thursday after organizers said they were pulling the plug on Toronto Fashion Week due to a lack of financial support.

With collections unveiled twice a year in March and October, Toronto had played host to buyers, media, and consumers — and countless others on social media — highlighting designers’ latest creations.

Now it appears Canadian deScenes from the 2015 World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto. signers will have to find new avenues to feature their work. creative in how we express it,” The Toronto event had un“We really felt that our CanaDixon said. dergone a mini-makeover eardian fashion footprint was not “Fashion people are fickle, lier this year following the end generating the local commerand the marketing budgets and of a six-season deal with World cial funding that we really responsorship dollars are being MasterCard as the title sponquired in order for us to contincut left, right and centre. And so sor. It was rebranded with a ue producing the event to the I think there’s a lot of rebuild- new website and social media highest standard that, really, ing of the industry.” handles prior to the unveilthe industry deserves and the Toronto Fashion Week was ing of fall-winter collections in designers in Toronto deserve,” part of a sizable roster of inter- March. said Catherine Bennett, senior national fashion weeks owned At the time, organizers said vice-president and managing or commercially represented that while they hoped to find director of IMG Fashion Events

by IMG, including those staged additional sponsor support, & Properties, in an interview in New York, London, Berlin, they didn’t foresee any impact with The CanaSydney and To- on staging the Toronto event. dian Press. kyo.

Fashion Ultimately, the shortfall “We’re sad to week events are proved too much to overcome. be moving on, also held in Van“I think in the market in Tobut think it’s the We really felt that our Canadian couver, Edmon- ronto we just weren’t seeing right decision fashion footprint was not generating ton and Halifax, the local support for the indusand the right the local commercial funding that but on a smaller try that we do see in some other time to make it.” we really required in order for us scale than To- markets,” said Bennett.

IMG Canada to continue producing the event to ronto’s marquee She expressed hope that anhad operated the highest standard that, really, the showcase. other group will stage a fashion Toronto Fashion industry deserves and the designers The end comes showcase in Toronto — a sentiWeek in collaboin Toronto deserve. three years after ment echoed by Canadian fashration with IMG Montreal had ion editors.

Fashion since its semi-annual Bernadette Morra, editor-in2012, after takevent retooled. chief of Fashion Magazine, said ing over from the Fashion De“(Designers) have a voice and In 2013, organizers announced there have already been several sign Council of Canada, a non- we have passion about what we plans to merge the winter edi- incarnations of fashion events profit organization that had do, and I don’t think people are tion of Montreal Fashion Week in Toronto, including the Fesowned and produced the event going to stop that voice. We’re with the city’s summer Fashion tival of Canadian Fashion, and for 13 years. just going to have to be more and Design Festival. showcases of ready-to-wear

www.canadianinquirer.net

BELLE BUNAG / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

collections in hotel ballrooms.

“The fact that IMG — this multinational which was putting a lot of muscle into this — wound up in this situation I think it’s too bad, but I don’t think it means we can’t have a fashion week. We just can’t have a fashion week that IMG envisioned. There’s definitely an appetite from consumers and the industry to have some kind of event.”

Noreen Flanagan, editor-inchief of Elle Canada, said she’s surprised by the end of Toronto Fashion Week, but added the move isn’t entirely unexpected given the changes being seen in how fashion is promoted and sold.

“Certainly, the Internet and social media have completely disrupted how we approach the business of fashion,” she said.

“Women and men still love fashion and they want to support designers.... But the thing is now they see the clothes and they want to buy it now. So I think the challenge will be — especially for smaller designers — to be able to produce that instant gratification that I think consumers are looking for.” ■

28

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

Business Benguet’s weaving firm tapping e-commerce to explore offshore markets

BY KRIS M. CRISMUNDO Philippines News Agency LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET — Narda’s, among the country’s top manufacturers of handwoven arts and crafts, will tap ecommerce to explore markets abroad, its Assistant Manager for Sales and Marketing Wilson Capuyan II said.

Capuyan, the grandchild of Narda’s founder Leonarda Capuyan, told reporters during a tour in Narda’s main workshop here that the company’s direction is to explore opportunities in the international market through the use of e-commerce.

Aside from its own website, Narda’s is now in discussion with online shopping platforms such as Zalora and Lazada to showcase its products.

“Through selling online, we can determine in which markets we are in demand then we will consider putting up showrooms in those markets,” he said.

E-commerce is projected to value at USD9.9 trillion in 2020.

Currently, Narda’s is receiving bulk of its orders abroad from Japan. It also exports to Paris and New York.

Narda’s has physical stores in La Trinidad and Baguio City in Benguet, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Clark International Airport, and a distribution office in Cubao.

The young Capuyan mentioned that the company is also partnering with the country’s top mall operators to expand its markets locally.

Narda’s sells all kinds of fashion accessories such as shawl and ponchos, barong, blouses as well as hand bags, clutch bags, and back packs among others. It also manufacturers home accessories and decors.

Narda’s is known for its Ikat creations, a very old tradition of tying and dyeing segments of threads before actual hand weaving.

It was founded by Leonarda Capuyan who was recognized last year by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) as one of the extraordinary women of the 21st century.

She is renowned for promoting Cordillera’s culture globally through the region’s weaving industry.

She passed away at 73 years old in March. ■

T&T Supermarket Now Accepts UnionPay Card On July 4, 2016, T&T Supermarket officially accept UnionPay Card as a method of payment.

The immigrants, students and travellers coming from China to Canada have increased rapidly in the past years, and this leads to the significant increase in the use of UnionPay Cards.

Being the largest Asian supermarket chain in Canada, T&T has a total of 23 stores located in different big cities across the country. T & T Supermarket is the embodiment of the taste of Asia. It differs from other supermarkets by featuring many uniquely Asian food products not available in other retail outlets. T&T offers wide range of fresh food and various choices of grocery products, and strives to provide the best and in store shopping experience to customers.

From now on, customers can use their UnionPay Cards to do their shopping at any T&T supermarket.

It is easy and convenient!

Local economy emerging winner on heels of Brexit, US polls drama

BY DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA Philippine Daily Inquirer A RESILIENT Philippine economy is seen to weather a volatile second semester even as the rest of the globe cowers from the effects of Brexit and the uncertainties of the US elections, according to a JP Morgan executive.

“There’s still a lot of liquidity there looking for a home and our macro story is still one of the best in the region,” said Carlos Ma. Mendoza, executive director at JP Morgan Philippines, in an interview with INQUIRER. “There’s a flight to quality. Everyone has their own definition of quality but people are looking for strong stories and I would argue that we have a strong story to convey,” he said, noting that one recent proof of this was the strong investors’ reception to Cemex Holdings Philippines Inc.’s P25.1-billion initial public offering.

The start of talks for the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union and the change in the policy landscape in the US have caused uncertainties in the past few months and are expected to continue in the months ahead.

Those were still “going to weigh on people’s sentiments,” Mendoza said.

But the US Federal Reserve was also expected to defer its next interest rate increases due to lingering concerns on job growth. That, in turn, should be good for emerging markets because it would give policymakers more room for flexibility, Mendoza said.

For companies that have already set their growth and spending plans, Mendoza said it would be best to just be ready in tapping the capital markets.

www.canadianinquirer.net

“I think for the Philippines, you’re going to see [in the next two, three, four months] the markets open,” he said.

“What most countries and companies can work on are their fundamentals. Whether the markets will be there or not is beyond your control ... Who knows how things are going to play out?

It could be better, it could be worse. If your plans are defined already, then go raise the capital now,” he said.

Mendoza believed the Philippine growth story was “intact.”

In the last six years, the Philippines has expanded its gross domestic product (GDP) by an average of 6.2 percent, one of the fastest in the region. In the first quarter of this year, the GDP growth of 6.9 percent even outpaced China’s growth rate.

Based on JP Morgan’s forecast, the Brexit would chop 1-1.5 percentage off the UK’s annual GDP and would trim growth in the rest of EU by half a percentage point.

“Is that a huge needle mover as it impacts the Philippines? I think our economy is more resilient than that,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza has more than 20 years of investment banking and capital markets experience. Since joining JP Morgan, he has completed more than 40 transactions, including landmark transactions in banking, energy, transportation, telecom and consumer sectors, the three largest ever Philippine IPOs, largest equity and bond offerings and largest merger and acquisition (M&A) transaction.

Prior to joining JP Morgan in 2008, Mendoza worked at GE Capital’s capital markets group in New York and prior to that, at PCI Capital Corp. ■

29

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

Sports Fans gather to watch Canadian Milos Raonic play in his first Grand Slam final THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — Tennis fans who couldn’t get to London will gather to watch Canadian Milos Raonic play in the Wimbledon final at a viewing party in downtown Toronto this morning.

Raonic, originally from Thornhill, Ont., is headed to his first career Grand Slam final

after defeating Swiss star Roger Federer in a breakthrough semifinal performance.

The only other Canadian to get this far was Eugenie Bouchard, the women’s runnerup at Wimbledon in 2014.

Sunday’s viewing party is being held at a restaurant in west Toronto by Tennis Canada, the organization that operates the annual Rogers Cup in Toronto and Montreal.

Tennis Canada also has a hand in shaping Canadian players — the organization has helped arrange for high-profile former tour players to coach promising young Canadians like Raonic and Bouchard.

And on Sunday morning, members of the organization and fans of the game will watch the homegrown Raonic play against British favourite Andy Murray.

Olympian boxer to make pro debut in Cebu’s ‘Who’s Next?’

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

“We have full trust and confidence in OMEGA Pro Sports International in promoting Mark,” said Soong.

“If all goes well, we will be doing more of this in the future with OPSI not just with Barriga but with our other fighters as well,” he added.

The 23-year old Barriga, a native of Panabo City, Davao del Norte, was supposed to make his pro debut in Manila last month. But the bout was can-

not only help their promotion but also the sport as well.”

Canares, on the other hand, thanked Team Barriga for givDAVAO CITY — Olympian ing their confidence in OPSI. boxer Mark Anthony Barriga, “We will do our best to make the country’s lone representathis an encouraging experience tive in the 2012 London Olymto remember not just for Team pics, will now be making his pro Barriga but to the fight fans debut in Cebu City and not in who support OPSI and its fightManila in the coming “Who’s ers.” said Canares.

Next?” 2 Pro Boxing Series on Barriga has brought honor July 30 at the Robinsons Galleto the Philippines in winning ria Cebu Atrium. in international competiBarriga’s tions including young manager a gold medal at Jason Soong of the 2013 SEA Manila has now Games in Nepypartnered with We at OPSI are always working to idaw, Myanmar the rising boximprove and make the best possible and a bronze ing promotional shows we can give the fans of boxing in the 2014 organization in the country.

Asian Games in OMEGA Pro Incheon, South Sports InternaKorea. tional (OPSI) of The Who’s the InternationNext? Pro Boxal Pharmaceuticals Inc. celled after his opponent was ing Series Event 2 powered “Mr. Soong has partnered found to have a hepatitis. by the All New 2016 Tuson of with Cebu’s Omega Pro Sports OPSI President Pio Paulo Hyundai is presented by OPSI International for Barriga’s first Castillo said that they are and its partners Robinsons Galpro appearance,” said OPSI thrilled to have a boxer of Bar- leria Cebu, Robinsons Fuente, Vice President for Promotions riga’s caliber.

OMEGA Pro Liniment, Yobab, Chad Canares.

“We at OPSI are always work- LecitE, Plaza Pino Filipino CuiTeam Barriga also composed ing to improve and make the sine, Casino Rubbing Alcohol, of chief trainer Joven Jimenez best possible shows we can give One Mango Avenue, Manggais excited to fly to Cebu for the fans of boxing in the coun- han Bar and Grill, SunPride, Mark’s debut as a professional. try,” said Castillo.

Ford’s Inn, Efficacent Oil, Wild His opponent will soon be anHe said that having fighters Wild West Recreation Center nounced. like Barriga in their shows “will and Philippine Inter Ads. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

LEV RADIN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

While it’s Raonic’s first Grand Slam final, it’ll be the

11th of 29-year-old Murray’s career. ■

Team Usana... ❰❰ 23

sioner of the Migrante Basketball League since its beginnings in

2009.

“All the coaches and basketball players know Ron. Having the friendship basketball league named in Ron’s honour is a wonderful tribute to his work in Migrante’s sports and recreation activities. Before his tragic accident, we were planning on the next round of basketball games, so I know that Ronald will be happy to know that the basketball games are

on and that we are all here,” said Jon Carolino, coach, good friend and fellow Migrante member.

The league acknowledges the work of referees: Jon Carolino, Mel Sumang, Hermie de Guzman, and Fred Caacbay who have refereed the games since the basketball games. Migrante thanks its volunteers and their families for making sure the games happened every Sunday at the New Westminster Glenbrook Middle School Gym since it started in mid-April. ■

Champion Team Usana (top), first runner-up Team D’Hypers (middle) and second runner-up Team Budget (bottom) during the first Ron Ordinario Memorial Friendship Basketball League.

30

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

Technology Canadian gamers embrace Pokemon Go once figuring out how to get the mobile hit

BY CASSANDRA SZKARSKI The Canadian Press TORONTO — Canadians unwilling to wait for access to the mobile gaming sensation Pokemon Go seem to be having no trouble figuring out ways to join the fun now.

Officially, the augmented-reality game has only been available in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Japan since last week, but it quickly became an overnight smash hit generating headlines around the world.

The game sends players into the real world to search for the mythical digital pocket monsters known as Pokemon, who appear onscreen when users hold up their iPhones or Android devices in various locations at various times of the day.

Most Canadians have been forced to watch from the sidelines, but a significant number appear to have found workarounds.

Tanya Barrett says she and three of her kids were playing the game all weekend, exploring their east-end Toronto neighbourhood for hours despite restrictive measures meant to stagger the game’s global rollout.

“It’s different than the gaming consoles where you’re staring at the TV,” says 41-year-old Barrett, who adds it forces her eight-year-old and 10-year-old twins to get out of the house.

“It’s summer, they’re looking for something to do.... They’ve actually been getting out. Yes,

Most Canadians have been forced to watch from the sidelines, but a significant number appear to have found workarounds.

MATTHEW CORLEY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

they’re still attached to a device stopped the 39-year-old from each other. but they’ve been getting out. In downloading the game from his The game comes from Ninthe summer, sometimes that’s U.S. iTunes account. tendo, the Pokemon Company hard to do.”

“It’s insanely fun,” says Casi- and Niantic, and has shot to the Getting the game was rela- no, who plays with his six-year- top of the charts on Apple’s App tively easy, she adds. old son. He adds the appeal for Store and on Google’s Play marShe was able to download it him involves a fair bit of nostal- ketplace. for her iPhone through a U.S. gia.

Toronto’s Gregory Brown adiTunes account, mits to being so while her husenamoured with band figured Pokemon Go that out how to put it he played while on his Android It’s addictive and you’re so interested cycling to work. phone thanks to in the game you kind of forget that Luckily, he mana YouTube video. you’re in real life. aged to avoid any But eager scrapes. downloaders do Even walking so at their own while playing risk, says fellow can lead to inadToronto-based Pokemon Go “For a lot of us anyway, it’s vertent collisions and falls, he fan JP Casino, who pointed to touched on a lot of our child- admits. reports of malware embedded hoods and earlier years.”

“It’s addictive and you’re so in unofficial Android downLike the Pokemon franchise interested in the game you kind loads, as well as possible blow- that hit in the late 1990s, the of forget that you’re in real life,” back from game developer Ni- goal is to find and capture the he says. antic. cartoon creatures, which can “I do understand that there’s Nevertheless, that hasn’t be upgraded and pitted against going to be risks.”

www.canadianinquirer.net

Brown, 27, says he’s fascinated with the game, which has also encouraged him to change his morning running routine.

“It rewards you if you go to different places and find different Pokemon in different specific spots,” says Brown, who adds he was never into video games before.

“And then yesterday I just went on a bike ride around the city and went to different places and got different Pokemon.”

Reports are already emerging of Pokemon Go-related injuries — one online poster said they slipped into a ditch while playing and ended up in hospital with a fractured foot.

Ontario’s Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca tweeted a photo of a Pokemon Go player with the warning: “Don’t be a pidgeot. Look where you’re walking and keep your head up when crossing the street.”

A spokesman for Niantic didn’t respond to a request for comment about an official Canadian launch.

But CEO John Hanke told Business Insider that the international rollout would be on hold while they deal with overloaded servers.

Barrett says the game has been a great experience for her family so far, and she expects it will even help her twins navigate public transit with more confidence when they return to school in the fall.

“It reminds me of when I was young and you’d just go out with a group of kids. You don’t see that very often nowadays.” ■

Technology

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

31

Ontario eyeing U.S. investigation as it moves to test driverless cars

BY TERRY PEDWELL The Canadian Press OTTAWA — A recent fatal crash involving a semi-autonomous car has transport authorities in Ontario thinking twice about how to regulate so-called driverless cars — and experts are questioning whether auto makers should better educate their customers about the pitfalls of new driving technologies.

Ontario’s ministry of transportation says it’s keeping a close eye on an investigation launched last week by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration into a Florida collision between a Tesla Model S and a transport truck.

Tesla said sensors connected to its autopilot system failed to detect the white truck as it turned into the path of the car in May, killing the driver.

While investigators have revealed few details about the exact circumstances of the crash, there have been reports that the driver, 40-year-old Joshua Brown, may have been distracted by a movie playing in his car.

Still, as the Ontario government moves toward testing of driverless cars on the province’s roadways, officials want to know how the Tesla’s driverassist functions operated in the seconds before the crash.

“The Ministry of Transportation takes the safety of all road users very seriously and will closely follow the results of the

U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s investigation into the collision and the role automated technology may have played,” said a statement provided by spokesman Bob Nichols.

Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for an interview.

But experts closely involved in the evolution of driverless technologies in Canada say the crash revealed some clear gaps in the regulation of vehicles as they evolve from semi-autonomous systems to vehicles that truly drive themselves.

The onus is on governments and automotive manufacturers to ensure that drivers know how to use the new technologies, but also to know their limitations, said Jeremy Laliberte, a professor at Carleton University’s mechanical and aerospace engineering department.

“Those kind of technologies should be worked into things like driver training curriculum,” said Laliberte.

Transport Canada is proposing stringent training and testing of another blossoming technology: drones that can be operated remotely or on autopilot. But there are no such regulations in the works for automated ground vehicles.

“With things like (unmanned aerial vehicles) the proposal is that every couple of years you’ll have to do an updated test to show that you’re aware of the latest rules and regulations and technologies,” Laliberte ex-

plained.

“We have nothing like that for automobiles. You get your license and off you go.”

Auto makers should also be required to offer some basic amount of supplemental training on new driving gadgets to their customers, he added.

Ontario officials say the province doesn’t plan to retrain or retest drivers based on new semi-autonomous features on vehicles, and won’t mandate driver education by manufacturers.

But provincial authorities should do just that, said Barrie Kirk of the Canadian Automated Vehicles Centre of Excellence supports, who voiced concerns about companies such as Volvo, which has pledged to have a “crash proof” car on the market by 2020.

“The long term vision is that cars shouldn’t crash,” Volvo spokesman Jim Trainor told CNN earlier this year.

Statements like that give drivers a false sense of what cars that are hitting the market today are capable of doing, and that can put others in danger, said Kirk.

“It sets up public expectations that the technology is perfect,” he said.

Over the past decade there have been dramatic developments by various automakers of new collision-avoidance mechanisms.

Adaptive cruise control can slow a car down to match the speed of vehicles ahead, blind-

“The long term vision is that cars shouldn’t crash,” Volvo spokesman Jim Trainor told CNN earlier this year.

spot detectors now watch for oncoming vehicles and camera systems warn drivers when they drift out of their lane or appear to be nodding off. Tesla’s autopilot function goes further, assisting the driver in controlling the vehicle’s movement within lane markers.

But until the technology is improved to the point where a steering wheel is no longer needed, drivers must continue to be fully alert, said Kirk.

“The long-term solution is to move as quickly as we can from using humans as ‘plan B’ to a (fully autonomous) vehicle where the technology has enough artificial intelligence to handle all situations.”

Driverless cars are being test-

ed, largely in the United States and Britain, by the big car manufacturers and high-tech companies, although most jurisdictions require that a driver sit behind the wheel at all times.

But Google, Zoox and other firms developing software for the vehicles say drivers get lulled into a false sense of security after a few minutes of the car doing most of the work, so relying on them to suddenly brake when their cars fail to spot a hazard poses a real danger.

Ontario launched a pilot project Jan. 1 to allow for the testing of driverless cars vehicles on the province’s roads under certain conditions, but not a single firm has taken up the offer. ■

Get Started: Small businesses at risk for cyberattacks

BY JOYCE M. ROSENBERG The Associated Press SMALL BUSINESSES’ inability or failure to deal with their vulnerability to cyber criminals puts them increasingly at risk for online attacks, witnesses told a congressional hearing last week. Part of the problem is innocence or ignorance, and part is small businesses’ overall lack of financial and other resources, the witnesses said.

Fewer small and mid-sized

businesses used software programs last year to make their internet and mobile sites more secure than in 2014, Jamil Jaffer, an adjunct law professor at George Mason University, told the House Small Business Committee on Thursday, citing an annual Cisco Systems Inc. study. Although cyberattacks have been in the news more often, nearly a quarter of small and mid-sized companies don’t believe they’re significant targets for cybercriminals, Jaffer said.

Small businesses’ tendency to underestimate their vulnerability puts not only their operations at risk, but also those of larger companies to whom they supply goods or services, said Justin Zeefe, co-founder of Nisos Group, a cybersecurity company based in Washington, D.C. Many are also leaving themselves open to cyberattack tools known as ransomware, computer software that in effect seizes a computer’s files. To get their files back, computer users must pay a ransom. Howwww.canadianinquirer.net

ever, if users have taken security steps like backing files up with an online security company, they can avoid dealing with the criminals.

Larger companies make cybersecurity a priority, but smaller businesses don’t, Zeefe said.

“Malicious hackers follow the path of least resistance,” he said.

But small companies are also at risk because they’re at an economic and size disadvantage, said Nova Daly, a public policy adviser with the law firm

Wiley Rein in Washington, D.C. Large enterprises have more money to spend on protecting their systems than smaller ones, he said. And small businesses may be out of the loop when information about potential attackers is disseminated.

“Often, larger companies have the resources to continually monitor and review threats that may arise from certain technology and supply chains, and at times are contacted by the U.S. government when breaches occur,” Daly said. ■

32

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

Travel Crossing Spain on an ancient pilgrimage route

BY GIOVANNA DELL’ORTO The Associated Press EL ACEBO, Spain — About three hours into the day’s hike, having just cleared the highest mountain point of the Camino de Santiago, I looked down into the valleys pockmarked with yellow and purple spring blossoms, and froze.

Surely that faraway black office tower, seemingly no bigger than the trail stones making my scarred feet scream, could not be where I was planning to arrive that same night. Guidebook check: It was.

Dejected, I struggled downhill into the next hamlet, El Acebo. I was barely past the first of its slate-roofed stone houses when my name — “Giovanna!”

— rang out in the lilting Rio de Janeiro accent of a fellow pilgrim.

And that was my camino experience: 31 days of physical endurance through awe-inspiring landscapes, of contemplation punctuated by deep connections. It was a combination that reset my Type-A internal clock so that stopping to pick a poppy or a bunch of grapes, or to compare blisters with hikers from Seoul or Hawaii or Naples, became not only permissible but also imperative.

The “camino frances,” or French way, is an 800-kilometre (500 miles) medieval pilgrimage route that crosses Spain from the Pyrenees at the French border to the purported burial site of the Apostle James in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Of several historical routes to Santiago, this is the most popular.

It’s no wilderness hike: The longest stretch without crossing a village is 10 miles (17 kilometres) through farmland.

How much solitude you get depends on when and where you start.

In 2015, 172,243 people walked or rode bikes or horses along the camino frances, according to the Pilgrims’ Office in Santiago. More than 67,000 started in Sarria, about four

A street in the village of El Acebo, Leon, Castile-Leon, Spain.

days from Santiago, the end of the trail. The busiest months are May-September, with more than 20,000 pilgrims each, dropping to fewer than 900 in January. Over the last decade, yearly numbers have mostly risen, but 2010 saw the most pilgrims, likely because it was a Catholic “holy year.”

I walked the entire camino twice, in May-June 2014 and September-October 2015, averaging 26 kilometres (16 miles) daily, often for hours without seeing another pilgrim — though I got stuck for a day among hundreds of yellowhatted German confirmation students.

With the universal greeting of “buen camino,” I met bikers from Taiwan, retirees from New Zealand, school groups from Minnesota and southern Spain, couples who started at 4 a.m. to ensure solitude and singles who got a lively party scene going most nights. The only kind of person I did not meet was one not deeply affected by the experience.

Not everyone can devote four to five weeks to go the full way, however. Here are my favourite four-day stretches:

ing in half-a-dozen languages at the ancient stone church in Roncesvalles, a two-day downhill trek through mountain woods where Charlemagne fought and Hemingway fished takes you to Pamplona, one of four major cities the camino crosses. Refuelled with Basque txistorra sausage, you’re off through rolling hills carpeted in wheat and vines, topped by castles and crisscrossed by Roman roads and medieval bridges until Estella, whose fortress-like medieval churches and palaces huddle in a gorge.

Rocenvalles to Estrella

Astorga to O Cebreiro

After the first pilgrims’ bless-

Burgos to Carrion de los Condes

Burgos is the kind of city where, after plodding for half a day through suburbs, you still take 1.5-hour walking tours of the 13th-century cathedral or the main monastery, then limber along the river promenade to restaurants specializing in lechazo, roasted lamb. Beyond is the emptiness of the meseta (plains). Its shades of green and gold are interrupted by jewels like Castrojeriz, Fromista and Carrion de los Condes, with intact Romanesque churches.

The camino’s longest climbs www.canadianinquirer.net

start just past the Gaudi-designed bishop’s palace and buzzing main square of Astorga. Through fragrant brush and below snow-covered peaks, you clamber up hamlets like Rabanal, with its mesmerizing chanted vesper prayers, then down into vineyards around pretty, riverside Villafranca del Bierzo. From there it’s uphill to O Cebreiro’s thatchedroof stone houses and Galicia’s moss-draped, cow-clogged paths.

After two more bucolic days, the last 100 kilometres (62 miles) are crowded with the “clean-shod,” as we pilgrims hobbling on muddy boots called those who start here.

That takes nothing away, however, from arriving in Santiago, with its incense-filled cathedral covered with stern medieval statues and swirling Baroque cherubs standing tall among homes, monasteries and student pubs.

Before going back to email and schedules, there’s a stairway to climb to embrace the statue of St. James at the cathedral’s altar, and one last chance to hug fellow pilgrims.

Perhaps you exchange Facebook connections, perhaps nothing but a whispered “good luck,” because you both know

that the real tough “camino” starts now.

If You Go...

Getting there: From Madrid, take trains to any larger city along the camino; buses and taxis connect smaller ones.

Lodging: Buy a “credencial,” which gets you in most public hostels. The credencial, stamped and dated along the way, earns you the compostella when you turn it in at Santiago’s Pilgrims’ Office, https:// oficinadelperegrino.com. Hostels (albergues) charge about 5 euros for a bed, first come, first served. Most towns also have hotels; private rooms with bathrooms average 30 euros.

Services transport backpacks for 3-5 euros daily. Most restaurants have three-course pilgrims’ menus with wine, 8-10 euros.

Tips: Train before you go; it’s strenuous. The camino frances is so well-marked with yellow arrows and its shell symbol that you never need maps. If you read Spanish, the best guide is free at http://caminodesantiago.consumer.es/los-caminosde-santiago/frances/ Take precautions, especially for female solo travellers. An American woman walking the trail was murdered in 2015. ■

Travel

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

33

Peterborough plans novel fine dining experience under famous lift lock

BY MIKE FUHRMANN The Canadian Press

PNA PHOTO

3 Philippine islands land in New York-based magazine’s World’s Best Islands

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency MANILA — Three Philippine islands — Palawan, Boracay and Cebu — have taken the world by storm by making it to New York-based magazine Travel + Leisure (T+L) magazine’s World’s Best Islands list this year.

In an annual survey conducted by T+L, readers were asked to rate destinations all over the world according to their activities, sights, natural attractions, beaches, food, friendliness and overall value.

Results this week revealed that Palawan clinched the top rank after receiving the highest score among readers at 93.71. This is the second time that Palawan topped the list since it first reached the top spot in 2013.

T+L writer Melanie Lieberman described Palawan as a place where “visitors are greeted with mountains rising out of impossibly turquoise waters, where shipwrecks and reefs make for prime scuba diving and snorkeling.”

“Palawan is every beach lover’s dream destination,” said one T+L reader, who regarded it as a “wonderful and magical place.”

Lieberman also cited Palawan for being home to a five-mile-long under-

ground river considered one of the world’s wonders of nature that visitors shouldn’t miss the chance to boat through its limestone caverns.

Boracay ranked second on the list receiving a score of 90.47 while Cebu ranked sixth with a score of 88.65.

One reader deemed Boracay as “a natural treasure” while Lieberman praised it for one of its top resorts, the Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort, which ranked eighth among this year’s Top Resort Hotels in Southeast Asia.

Another reader said, “There is never a dull moment in Cebu,” claiming that the island was “perfect for travelers who don’t want to spend a lot of money on recreational activities.”

Lieberman named hiking through canyons, swimming with whale sharks, and diving from the top of a waterfall as among the many activities visitors can try in Cebu.

“The Philippines’ predominance shows that discerning travelers are willing to travel great distances for the rewards of clear waters and sugary white beaches,” Lieberman said.

T+L’s World’s Best Islands from lowest to highest rank are: Bali, Indonesia; Kauai, Hawaii; Hilton Head, South Carolina; Maui, Hawaii; Cebu, Philippines; Santorini, Greece; Waiheke Island, New Zealand; Ischia, Italy; Boracay, Philippines and Palawan, Philippines. ■

LOCK 21 on the Trent-Severn Waterway is an engineering marvel, its two waterfilled basins alternately rising and falling about 20 metres throughout the day.

Opened in 1904, it’s the world’s highest hydraulic lift lock. Starting this fall the national historic site in Peterborough, Ont., is also set to become the unusual locale for a fine-dining experience.

Tourism officials in the city are developing plans for what they’re calling “Under Water Dining at Lock 21.” The idea is for diners to sit at tables placed beneath a raised lock chamber after it has fin-

ished its up-and-down dance of the day.

Locally sourced food will be featured in the cavernous space, said Kelly Jessup of Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism.

“It’s literally the underbelly of the lock,” Jessup said.

“Nobody ever goes in there. It’s not a public space. They don’t tour inside the lock on a regular basis, so it will be a very exclusive experience.”

Participants will work up an appetite by paddling a voyageur canoe along the waterway and into the lock to learn about its history and how it works.

During a test run last month, a dozen ❱❱ PAGE 35 Peterborough plans

Transgender, transwoman... way to find out is to ask.”

Transgender, she explains, is the general umbrella term for persons who have a gender identity that is opposite of the sex they were born with.

A transvestite is simply a cross-dresser, and has nothing to do with sexual orientation and gender identity. “I can be a straight man and cross-dress. It doesn’t make me gay,” she says.

A transsexual is somebody who has undergone sex reassignment surgery (SRS). Not all transgender men or women go through SRS; they’re referred to as non-operated transgender man or woman.

Transitioning refers to transgender individuals going through the process of physical change to match their gender identity.

“It’s a lifetime process,” says Dungca, who began her own transition three ❰❰ 24

www.canadianinquirer.net

years ago. “There are two ways to do that. First is to undergo HRT, or hormone replacement therapy. The second is the way you dress.”

Outward expression of one’s gender identity is sometimes limited by circumstance, Dungca says.

“I express myself as a woman, I dress like one. But I have a friend, a heterosexual transgender woman, but she can’t dress like a woman because it’s not allowed in her medical school. Another friend can’t undergo HRT because of financial limitations.”

Gender is “very fluid,” says Dungca, who came out as a gay man in high school, before finally identifying as a woman in college.

“Sometimes I’m attracted to gay men,” she adds with a laugh, “so we coined another term: heteroflexible.”

Now that’s one more term that needs explaining. ■

Events

34

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

CANADA EVENTS

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

Bastille Day

By Alliance Francaise of Calgary WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., July 14, at Edworthy Park, Site #9, Calgary, AB MORE INFO: BBQ, potluck, games and joie de vivre

YUKON

NUNAVUT

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre

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

By Filipino Center Toronto WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, Toronto

BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

Temporary Foreign Workers Uncontested Divorce Clinic

By Law Courts Center WHEN/WHERE: Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m., at the Justice Education Society at the Provincial Court of BC Room 260 800 Hornby St., Vancouver B.C. MORE INFO: To book an appointment, call/text 778322-2839 or email: tfw.divorce@gmail.com Skills Now: Project-based Training for Immigrants in Retail and Administration

By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: Call or email at 604-684-2581 (ext 2193 Nanki) skillsnow@issbc.org MORE INFO: Receive a certificate or skills training in retail or administration; job search workshops; and strong employment opportunities.

Mentoring Programme for Immigrant High School Students: Breakfast & Baon 101

By Mentorship & Leadership for Youth Programme WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 nn at Corpus Christi College (near UBC) 5935 Iona Dr. Vancouver BC. Free pick up and drop off service.

MORE INFO: Meet young professionals plus learn to cook. Call/text Anna de Quito 604-763-2210.

Free Counselling Support Group

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., every last Monday of the month, at Mosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Darae (604)254-9626 Seniors Club Knitting Circle

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 1–3 p.m., Tuesdays at Mosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call (604)438-8214

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

Homework/Tutorial Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, ON MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416928-9355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

NEWFOUNDLAND

MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

ONTARIO

QUEBEC

Enchanted Evenings Concert Series

By Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Thursdays, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden, 578 Carrall St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Closed on Mondays, admission by donation Summer Sunset Series

By City of Richmond WHEN/WHERE: Every Sunday starting July 10 to Aug. 28, at the Olympic Riverside Plaza All Night – Beach Volleyball, 5:00 p.m. – Food Truck opens, 5:15 p.m. – FREE Yoga Class, 6:00 p.m. – LIVE Music, Dusk – Open Air Movie (July 10, 24, August 7 and 21) MORE INFO: Visit http://richmond.ca/sunsetseries University of the Philippines Alumni Association Annual Summer Picnic

By UPAABC WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 16, at Burnaby Fraser Foreshore Park @ Fraser River Dr. & Byrne Rd. MORE INFO: Potluck Caregivers’ Conference 2016

By Multicultural Helping House Society (MHHS) WHEN/WHERE: 1 p.m. onwards, July 16, at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Centre, 3150 Ash St., Vancouver, B.C. Asean Charity Golf Tournament By the Consulates General of Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam WHEN/WHERE: Registration: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Tee-off: 1 p.m., July 22, at Newlands Golf & Country Club 21025 – 48 Ave. Langley, B.C. Post-Arrival Orientation Seminar

By Philippine Consulate General-Vancouver and Philippine Overseas Labor Office WHEN/WHERE: 3 to 5 p.m., July 23m at Ernie’s Kitchen, 154 Asher Rd., Kelowna, B.C. www.canadianinquirer.net

MORE INFO: Contact POLO at 604-641-1234 Fiji Festival NOVA

By Bula! Fiji SCOTIA Association of BC Jai Fiji Television & Carter GM (BBy) WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., July 23, at Swangard Stadium cor of Kingsway & Boundary Burnaby, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Vincent Prakash at 604-434-3920 Elimination Round for Badminton, VolleyBall and Basketball Games

By MHHS WHEN/WHERE: 2 to 6:30 p.m., July 23 and 30, at Boys & Girls Club, MHHS 7595 Victoria Dr., Vancouver, B.C. Everytime We Say Goodbye: Classic Torch Songs

By ACAT “Anyone Can Act Theatre” WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m., July 29, at Kaya Malay Bistro, 1063 W. Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Featuring Armi Grano, torch singer extraordinaire and guest performers – Eleanor Campbell, Melissa Briones, Esmie McLaren, Michael McLaren, Clay Campbell, Mel Tobias and Kenson Ho. Ticket price: $20 cover charge with complimentary after dinner snacks. Cash bar Tim Pavino: An Evening at the Theatre

By Pavisonworldwide.com WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., July 30, at The Theatre at Meydenbauer MORE INFO: With special guest: Joey Albert Moments of Grace: A Concert By Peter’s Chord

By United Leytenos Society in BC Canada WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., July 30, St. Monica Church, 12011 Woodhead Rd., Richmond, B.C.

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

35

Food Kale chips, move over...

Try making baked BBQ zucchini

BY MELISSA D’ARABIAN The Associated Press IT ALL started with the kale chip.

I fell in love the texture of the thick, green leaf made thin and so delicately crisp by baking that it felt almost flaky, with just enough thickness to impart a satisfying little crunch before nearly dissolving into salty-grassy goodness on the tongue.

And I wasn’t alone: healthy-conscious eaters crowned the kale chip its unofficial sweetheart and suddenly they were available not just in health-food stores, but in mini-marts, airports and gas stations.

Which led me to ask: What else might we chip-up in a dehydrator or oven?

And what other flavours might we add?

My daughter’s all-time favourite potato chip is BBQ flavoured, so that became my mission — a baked veggie chip that mimicked the BBQ potato chip flavour, with all natural ingredients.

In mixing up various spice rubs, we were surprised by how much brown sugar we needed to emulate that characteristic flavour. And then we struck gold: what if we used a naturally sweet vegetable, which would allow us to reduce the added sugar down to nearly nothing?

And thus, the baked BBQ zucchini chip was born! It was a huge hit with the BBQ-potato-chip-lovers in my house.

And here’s the really good news: You don’t need any special equipment to make this happen.

If you have a dehydrator, great — you probably already have a strong veggiechip game going. For the rest of us: your

oven on low will work great for this recipe. And, you don’t even need a mandoline for slicing. I have one, but almost never use it ever since nipping off a bit of finger years ago on an episode of “Ten Dollar Dinners.”

Use a knife and slice relatively thin, and that’s fine. In fact, the slices are better and sturdier when they aren’t too thin anyway. I do recommend using a baking rack, only because the chips will dry out faster and more evenly. But, even this is optional equipment — just use parchment paper on a tray, cook a little longer, and flip the chips halfway through cook time if you don’t have a rack. Kale chip, move over.

Baked BBQ-flavored zucchini chips

Start to Finish: 2 1/2 hours Yield: serves 4

• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika • 1 teaspoon chipotle or ancho chili powder (or plain chili powder) • 1 teaspoon brown sugar • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 2 large zucchini • 2 teaspoons olive oil Preheat oven to 200 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together the smoked paprika, chili powder, brown sugar and salt and set aside. Slice the zucchini thinly, about 1/16th of an inch, but not paper thin.

You can use a mandolin, but slicing by hand is just fine. Don’t worry if you can’t quite get the slices super thin. Place the zucchini slices in a large bowl, and blot with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.

Drizzle with olive oil and toss the slices to coat. Sprinkle with the spice mixture and toss to coat. Line two or three

Peterborough plans... guests downed shots of maple syrup and feasted on trout, wild rice, duck eggs, asparagus, poached rhubarb and beef tartare. The diners then retired to the lock’s turbine chamber for dessert: terrines of fresh Ontario strawberries with coriander and chevre.

“Those people who did this experience were the first 12 people ever to dine under the lift lock,” Jessup said. “They were eating under 71,000 tonnes of water” — the contents of the basin above their heads.

Prices for the experience have not yet been determined. After its planned fall ❰❰ 33

launch, organizers are hoping to make it a permanent fixture in Peterborough by 2017, Jessup said.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Tourism is partnering with the Canadian Canoe Museum, the Trent-Severn Waterway and area food providers on the project. The museum, located in the city, already offers voyageur canoe tours on the waterway.

The lock is “definitely something that’s unique to Peterborough and the Kawarthas,” Jessup said. “What we’re trying to do is leverage those assets in our region that are special.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

large baking sheets with baking racks, and spray briefly with nonstick spray.

Spread out zucchini slices and bake until dry and slightly crispy, about two hours.

Allow to cool on rack before removing.

Best eaten the same day.

NOTE: Instead of a baking rack, you may instead line the baking trays with parchment paper, in which case flip the chips about one hour into cooking, and note that chips will require about 30 extra minutes of bake time.

Nutrition information per serving: 54 calories; 24 calories from fat; 3g fat (0 g saturated; 0g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 513mg sodium; 7g carbohydrate; 2g fiber; 5g sugar; 2g protein. ■ Food Network star Melissa d’Arabian is an expert on healthy eating on a budget.

She is the author of the cookbook “Supermarket Healthy.”

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Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FRIDAY JULY 15, 2016

SUMMER HIKE The pouring rain did not stop members of the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants-Vancouver to push through with their scheduled summer hike at Quarry Park, Deep Cove in North Vancouver on July 8.

CALGARY STAMPEDE Scenes from the Agahan, first all-Filipino breakfast at the Calgary Stampede (Photos

by Fiesta Filipino 2016).

NEW WESTMINSTER GALLERY Trudy Van Dop of Van Dop Gallery located at 421 Richmond St., New Westminster hosted the meet and greet with Minister of Advanced Education Andrew Wilkinson. The event was facilitated by the power couple Hector and Virginia Bremner. Minister Wilkinson briefly talked about enterprise, fairness and opportunity under the present BC government. The gallery can be rented for private functions.

Welcome greetings from Richmond Councillor Bill McNulty

HISTORAMA Pictures taken during the Canadian Heritage Multiculturalism Day at the International Summer Night Market on June 26, jointly hosted by Philippines Historama Society and Asian Heroes Canada Foundation.

Historama ladies doing Sister Act www.canadianinquirer.net

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Seen and Scenes

JULY 15, 2016

FRIDAY

QUEEN OF THE MANITOBA FILIPINO STREET FESTIVAL The 2016 Manitoba Filipino Street Festival search for the festival queen ended on July 10, with the coronation of Maeddah Limuaco at the Canada Inn Polo Park (Photos by Mark Godilano and Queen of the Manitoba Filipino Street Festival FB).

PISTAHAN NG BAYAN Melissa Reyes (3rd from R), first lady president of the Ateneo Alumni Association in the Philippines and Bernie Sychangco (2nd from R), press relations officer of the Ateneo Alumni Association of Ontario, explained the programs and projects of the Ateneo Alumni Association during their episode at “Kapatiran sa Kaunlaran� aired every Sunday, 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. hosted by the tandem of Manolo Arnaldo and Jojo Taduran. (St. Jamesstown News Service)

UMAC DELIVERY Photo shows Anna C. Eusebio, manager of Umac Forwarder Express, Inc. together with business associate Aloha Gregorio promoting Umac services in Filipino events in Toronto, On. Umac is located at Unit 9, 515 Milner Ave., Scarborough, On. (St. Jamestown News Service)

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

JULY 1, 2016

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CANADA

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