Philippine Canadian Inquirer #228

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER JULY 28, 2016

VOL. 7 NO. 228

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Commuters hopeful for better mass transport

OFWs pleased with gov’t plans prioritizing them

B.C.: 15 per cent additional real estate tax for foreigners

Video game addiction, distress on rise

Newfoundland

IS group claims attack that killed 85 year old French priest

BY SYLVIE CORBET AND LORI HINNANT The Associated Press

MINDANAO TRIUMVIRATE. President Duterte delivers his first State of the Nation Address. Mr. Duterte, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III (top

left) and Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez--the country's top three elected officials--are all from Mindanao, a first in the country's history.

JOAN BONDOC / PDI

President Duterte:

“The gates of Malacañang will be open for complaints against graft and corruption”

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Rodri-

go “Rody” Duterte laid out his plans for the next six years and vowed clean governance from his office down to the last barangay elect.

Fil-Can in Focus: Liza Silagan Ombao

SAINT-ETIENNE-DU-ROUVRAY, FRANCE — The Islamic State group crossed a new threshold Tuesday in its war against the West, as two of its followers targeted a church in Normandy, slitting the throat of an elderly priest celebrating Mass and using hostages as human shields before being shot by police.

It was the extremist group’s first attack against a church in the West, and fulfills longstanding threats against “crusaders” in what the militants paint as a centuries-old battle for power. One of the attackers, who grew up in the town, had tried twice to leave for Syria; the second was not identified.

“To attack a church, to kill a priest, is to profane the republic,” French President Francois Hollande told the nation after speaking with Pope Francis, who condemned the killing in the strongest terms.

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Philippine News

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

DENR, civic groups join forces anew to rehabilitate Marikina watershed PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has once again joined forces with two service-oriented organizations to rehabilitate the 26,125-hectare Upper Marikina River Basin Protected Landscape (UMRBPL), one of Metro Manila’s sources of water supply.

Around 120 volunteers from the Rotary Club of MakatiRockwell (RCMR) and the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) trooped to an upland barangay within the UMRBPL over the weekend to plant some 2,000 native tree seedlings.

The activity was part of the commitment of the RCMR and CESB to help the DENR address the loss of forest cover in UMRBPL due to illegal activities like slash-and-burn farming, charcoal making and timber poaching. The two service-oriented groups have been partners of the DENR since 2010.

This is the second time that the RCMR and CESB volunteers have conducted reforestation activities in Sitio San Ysiro in Barangay San Jose, Antipolo City to fulfill their commitment to reforest at least seven hectares of open and denuded forestland allotted by the DENR under the National Greening Program or NGP.

The tree-planting activity was led by DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones, RCMR president Kris Gorra Dancel and CESB executive director Ma. Anthonette Lllones.

The effort was an offshoot from the success the tripartite partnership had in the the roadside greening of the South Luzon Expressway which saw the planting of some 18,423 tree seedlings from 2010 to 2014, covering a combined distance of 40 kilometers. The effort posted a survival rate ranging from 70 to 95 percent based on the monitoring report of the DENR-Region IVA office in Calamba, Laguna.

Volunteers from the Region IV office of the Department of

Public Works and Highways (DPWH), led by Cavite District Engineer Arthur Pascual Jr., also took part in the event.

In October last year, the volunteers planted some 1,000 native fruit-bearing and forest trees in the area, covering two hectares of land and has an elevation of 350 meters above sea level.

Anchored on the theme “Preventing Disasters, Providing Livelihood,” the tree-planting project in UMRBPL has some 20 households beneficiaries, each consisting of as many as three families, who were hired to conduct maintenance and protection activities on the planted areas.

The beneficiaries are also entitled to harvest the fruits from the trees planted and grown at the site.

The UMRBPL is considered one of the most important protected areas being supervised by the DENR as the watershed is a major source of water for Metro Manila and nearby areas.

The river basin was placed under the administrative jurisdiction and control of the DENR by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 296 issued in 2011. The entire area covers the upper reaches of the Marikina watershed in the province of Rizal, straddling Antipolo City

and the towns of Baras, Rodriguez, San Mateo and Tanay.

The flooding in Metro Manila and other nearby low-lying areas during tropical storm ‘Ondoy’ (international name: Ketsana) in 2009 exposed extent of forest loss and degradation in UMRBPL, fueling public-private partnerships on rehabilitating the watershed to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Reforestation and alternative livelihood activities for communities are among the several measures the government and its partners have undertaken to help rehabilitate the UMRBPL. The area originally covered some 27,980 hectares when it was established as “Mariquina Reserve” by virtue of Executive Order (EO) 33 issued by US Civil Gov. Luke Edward Wright in 1904, banning the settlement, entry, sale or disposition of a vast tract of land to “protect the watershed of the Marikina River, the source of water supply of the city of Manila.”

Portions of the reservations were however excluded from the area by executive fiats issued from 1904 to 1996 and these were converted into residential, commercial and industrial areas, contrary to the intent of the EO 33 to protect and preserve the area. ■

Bam proposes food banks for hungry poor

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer WHY WASTE clean food when it could be given to the poor?

Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV on Friday proposed a law to establish “food banks” to collect surplus, but clean items for the poor rather than consigning them to the trash bin.

In Senate Bill NO. 357, or the Zero Food Waste Act, Aquino hopes to “ultimately end the cycle of having food end up in the trash instead of stomachs.”

“Given the high price of food these days, it is unjust that a lot www.canadianinquirer.net

of food goes to waste,” Aquino said in a statement.

His proposal comes on the heels of a Social Weather Stations report that said Filipino families who experienced involuntary hunger hit 3.1 million in the first quarter of the year, half a million higher than the number in the same period last year.

Aquino’s bill seeks to create a National Anti-Food Waste Scheme, appointing the Department of Social Welfare and Development to serve as a “coordinating agency between ❱❱ PAGE 9 Bam proposes

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

Cusi vows to lower power rates

BY AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer NEWLY INSTALLED Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi has vowed to bring down high electricity rates in the Philippines, which have remained the second most expensive in Asia.

Cusi has also committed to roll out initiatives that can attract more investors to build new power plants, warning that the lack of an adequate power supply will likely stunt the country’s economic growth and the government’s job creation efforts.

“We have to make (electricity) more affordable. But aside from that, we have to put it at the level that can be secure.

Now, our supply is still not as sufficient as we want it,” Cusi said at a roundtable discussion with the INQUIRER Business section on Wednesday night.

“We need to have good supply and we have to have affordable power so that we can encourage more businesses to establish in the country. We won’t be able to do this unless we can ensure our energy supply,” he added.

Just three weeks into his job, the energy chief has identified ways of bringing down power rates and boosting supply— goals that many of Cusi’s predecessors had sought. These include the following: Rebalancing the energy mix to ensure more affordable generation costs without sacrificing the reliability of supply.

Tapping unused Malampaya funds to strike off a portion of the stranded debts and stranded contract costs from consumers’ electricity bills.

Finding ways to reduce or lift the burden of systems loss charges on consumers.

Energy situation

In his first 100 days in office, Cusi will assess the energy situation, review the capacities of existing power plants and conduct a technical audit of all power assets from generation to distribution and even transmission.

“After 100 days, we would have already completed the technical audit and determined if our existing standards are still fit for future applications. Also, we will be able to identify the ideal energy mix (for a developing economy like the Philippines) ... and more or less, we will know how to reduce (electricity) prices,” he said.

He said he found the current situation very challenging partly because of differing views about the environment.

“Right now, our energy mix still includes coal. What’s difficult is that we want to bring down the rate of electricity but at same time we don’t like to use the source that is cheap, and the cheapest still is coal and nuclear,” Cusi said.

While the Department of Energy (DOE) will continue to develop the renewable energy industry, Cusi admitted to the need of

having coal in the power mix, as this would provide stable energy supply.

“We are [wide open to new coal projects] and we have such projects on the pipeline. These will be adequate to cover for the economic growth. Our energy growth must support our economic growth. As of now, there is that pressure on our energy supply because of the growing economy and so supply must grow faster. We are now studying the right balance in the power mix,” he added.

Cusi was quick to note, however, that this did not mean that the current administration was biased toward coal projects.

Environment standards

He said the Philippines “will still need coal as one of the main sources of our energy .... In other more developed countries, the coal plants coexist with the community in which they operate.

We can do this in the country.”

Short of a reconciliation with the thrust of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Cusi noted that to ensure that environmental standards were being met, all existing energy facilities would be subjected to a technical audit.

For pricing, Cusi said the focus was not on the “how much” but on the fairness of the rates by determining whether energy companies were pricing power supply correctly.

Stranded costs, debts

“Part of the bill we are paying now is for the debts of National Power Corp. (Napocor), which are called stranded contract costs and stranded debts. We’re studying how to take it out from the bill,” he said.

Currently, only the stranded contract costs are being charged to customers through the universal charge.

Stranded contract cost refers to the difference between the contractual payment obligations and the revenue earned from the sale of the contracted energy for eligible, government-managed independent power producers.

Stranded debt refers to any unpaid financial obligations of Napocor, which have not been covered by the proceeds from the sale of Napocor power assets.

It was earlier estimated that the stranded debts and stranded contract costs amounted to P140 billion.

Also being eyed, according to Cusi, was to spread the collection of this amount over a longer period to cushion the impact on customers.

Cusi said the DOE was also studying how to use the Malampaya Fund, the government’s share of revenues from the operation of oil and gas wells in Malampaya off Palawan province.

“The Malampaya (Fund) is barely being used but it’s just like the coconut levy—that should be used for the people.

This is now being studied by the legal team,” he said. ■

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Prosecutors seek suspension of JV Ejercito

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer GOVERNMENT PROSECUTORS have asked the Sandiganbayan to suspend Sen. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito from office while he’s on trial for graft for using San Juan’s calamity funds to purchase 20 submachine guns for the city police when he was mayor in 2008.

In a motion received by the antigraft tribunal’s Fifth Division on July 15, the prosecution sought the preventive suspension of Ejercito and three incumbent San Juan officials being tried on graft over alleged irregularities in the P2.1-million purchase.

Also named in the motion to suspend while awaiting litigation, were city administrator Ranulfo Dacalos, legal officer Romualdo De los Santos, and special assistant to the mayor, Lorenza Ching.

Ejercito yesterday vowed to oppose moves to suspend him while on graft trial, saying he ought to serve those who had given him mandate in the 2013 elections.

“I intend to vigorously oppose the motion of the prosecution to stop me from performing my duties as senator of the republic,” Ejercito said in a statement late Friday afternoon.

“I owe it to the more than 13.6 million Filipinos who voted for me in 2013 to continue with my legislative duties.

I intend to do my work in support of the new administration of President Duterte and in the service of our people,” he said.

He said his lawyers would counter the prosecution’s bid to suspend him, but promised to abide by how the Sandiganbayan would rule on the matter.

He said the 2008 procurement of weapons for the police force of San Juan City, where he had served as mayor, was

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aboveboard.

In April, Ejercito and the three officials pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Also charged were Rosalinda Marasigan and Danilo Mercado, who were part of the city’s bids and awards committee at the time of the acquisition.

In its motion, the prosecution cited Section 13 of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, which mandates the preventive suspension of any public official with a pending criminal case in court.

The same section states that the accused shall lose all retirement or gratuity benefits under any law, if convicted.

But if acquitted, they shall be reinstated and receive all the salaries and benefits they did not receive while under suspension.

Ejercito, who served three consecutive terms as mayor from 2001 to 2010, was accused of conspiring with other local officials to tap the city government’s calamity funds to buy the firearms in February 2008.

The city council passed a resolution authorizing the purchase of three Daewoo K2 submachine guns and 17 Daewoo K1 submachine guns even when San Juan was not facing a calamity at the time.

Prosecutors said the purchase of the firearms had been done with haste without “competitive bidding and without any post-qualification, bolstered by bid documents bearing dates earlier than the publication of the invitation to bid, showing that an unwarranted benefit, advantage and preference was accorded to the supplier.”

Ejercito, along with a different set of coaccused, including several city councilors, is also on trial for a separate technical malversation charge connected to the same P2.1-million purchase before the Sandiganbayan’s Sixth Division. ■

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Philippine News

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

“The gates...”

“I assure you, this will be a clean government,” the President said in his two-hour speech, adding that he would rather focus on the present rather than point fingers at his predecessors.

“We cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back. Finger-pointing is not the way. That is why I will not waste precious time dwelling on the sins of the past or blaming those who are perceived to be responsible for the mess that we are in and suffering from,” he continued.

Duterte, however, asserted that he would spare no mercy to corrupt government officials.

“For those who have valid reasons to complain about graft and corruption, the gates of Malacañang will be open…

Those who betrayed the people’s trust shall not go unpunished. They will have their day in court.” ❰❰ 1

Fight against illegal drugs, criminality

Still with a long-standing fight against criminality and illegal drugs, Duterte reiterated his commitment to ‘relentless’ and ‘sustained’ efforts, using the entire resources of the government to ‘fight this war.’

“I call on the Philippine National Police (PNP), the barangay chairman, the mayors, and governors, all those occupying seats of power and authority not to lower their guard… Double your efforts, triple if need be.”

The Chief Executive also sought to create an interagency committee that will be mobilized for information campaign against drug use and dissemination of information regarding drug rehabilitation program to be offered by the government.

“There will be no let-up in this campaign against illegal drugs. We will not stop until the last drug lord, the last financier, or the last pusher is put behind bars or below the ground, if they so wish,” he said.

“We will also prioritize the rehabilitation of abusers… We will increase the number of residential treatment and rehabilitation facilities in all regions of the country.”

With the Catholic Church expressing concerns over hundreds of suspected drug peddlers killed amid the administration’s anti-drug campaign, Duterte noted that he respect-

ed the separation of Church and State.

“To our religious bishops, leaders, priests, pastors, preachers, imam, let me assure you that while I’m a stickler for the principle of separation between the Church and State, I believe quite strongly that there should never be a separation between God and State.”

war against the other.

“We cannot talk peace while we load our guns and bullets…

Let me make this appeal to you, if we cannot as yet love one another, then in God’s name, let’s not hate each other too much.”

The Negotiating Panel of the NDF, for their part, welcomed Duterte’s order for a ceasefire.

They also called for the ‘release of all current political prisoners under the amnesty proclamation to be issued by President Duterte.’

sue tax reforms towards a simpler and more equitable tax system that can foster investments. We will lower personal and corporate income tax.”

Furthermore, he sought a review of the prevailing tax system, update on income tax brackets, and lower corporate and income tax rates.

crecy law.

“My administration will continue and maintain current macroeconomic policies and even do better… We will achieve this through prudent fiscal and monetary policies that can help translate high growth into more and better job creation and poverty reduction.”

Media killings

No more long queues

Calling the ‘bona fide’ media Speaking to lawmakers at the his partner for change, Duterte Batasang Pambansa, Duterte condemned extrajudicial killrestated the Philippines’ need ings of journalists and emphaof a federal form of govern- Erring police officers, gov’t sized that his administration officials ment. would not tolerate violation of “My advice to you is mainly To police officers and other media. a federal system parliamentary officials who abuse their au“This government does not but be sure to have a president… thority, Duterte gave a stern condone violation and represAnd by that time, I would no warning. sion of media… The bona fide longer be here. If you hurry up “Do your job and you will media has always been our the federal system of govern- have the unwavering support partners for change.” ment, you can submit to the of the Office of the President…

Faster Internet Filipino people [in the] fourth, Abuse your authority and there The Chief Executive also orfifth year… You call for a refer- will be a hell to pay for you dered the newly created DICT endum,” he said. would have become worse than (Department of Information “And after that, call for a criminality itself.” and Communication Technolpresidential ogy) to improve election.” the country’s Moreover, Internet speed the President by developing a national broadurged the ConWe cannot move forward if we allow the past to pull us back. Fingergress to pass the band plan and pointing is not the way.

Bangsamoro Baaccelerating the sic Law (BBL). deployment of “I ask you to fiber optics capass it minus the bles and wireless constitutional istechnologies. sues that are contentious… That’s For police officers involved in “WiFi access shall be prothe solution for Mindanao. Noth- illegal activities, he instructed vided at no charge in selected ing else will work. Please sleep on the National Police Commis- public places, including parks, it and ponder on it. That’s the sion (NAPOLCOM) to hasten buses, public libraries, schools, only way to proceed.” the conduct of investigation government hospitals, train and adjudication of administra- stations, airports, and seaPeace with rebels tive cases. ports.”

Wanting an end to the insurgency, Duterte declared a uni- RH Law Justice system lateral ceasefire with the comDespite the opposition of For speedy disposition of casmunist rebels. several pro-life groups, Duterte es, Duterte sought to provide “To stop violence on the stressed the need to assist the more access to counsels by inground, restore peace in the poor in family planning through creasing the number of lawyers communities and provide an the full implementation of the and support staff of the PAO enabling environment condu- Reproductive Health (RH) Law. (Public Assistance Office) in recive to the resumption of peace “The implementation of the gions and districts. talks, I am now announcing a Responsible Parenthood and “I was determined then as I unilateral ceasefire with the Reproductive Health Act must am now determined and better CPP-NPA-NDF (Communist be put in full force and effect positioned to wage war against Party of the Philippines-New so that couples, especially the those who make a mockery of People’s Army-National Demo- poor, will have freedom of in- our laws, including those who cratic Front) effective immedi- formed choice on the number make our lives miserable,” he ately,” he said. and spacing of children.” said.

“All of us want peace. Not the “Just like you and I, equal peace of the dead but the peace Lower tax rates treatment and equal protection of the living.”

Hearing the plight of thou- are what I ask for our people.”

The Chief Executive lament- sands of Filipino employees Better economic policies ed that it was ‘ironic’ and ‘tragic’ calling for tax reform, The PresPlanning to leave a ‘much that although the government ident disclosed plans for lower stronger’ economy by the end and the rebel groups expressed rates as he swore higher eco- of his presidency, The Duterte willingness to continue peace nomic growth for the country. will implement new monetary talks, both continued to wage “My administration will pur- policies and relax the bank seFederalism, BBL

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Along with his pledge to cut down red tape, the President wanted avoidance to backlogs and reduced processing time for requests for documents and services from the government.

“In my city (Davao), it is always three days for local governments. That will bind the Office of the President down to barangay level.”

He sought to lengthen the validity of issued licenses as well.

Transportation

To address the lack of road infrastructure and severe traffic congestion in Metro Manila, Duterte disclosed that usage of existing roads will be maximized, capacity of train systems will be increased, and revival of the operation of the Pasig River Ferry Service System will be considered.

“There is a need to cooperate and coordinate with LGUs to map out secondary routes and to consult various stakeholders, including the public transport operations.”

Rail projects will be pursued not just in Metro Manila but also in other major key points in the country, including Cebu, Davao, and Panay.

“It’s going to materialize: Rail projects, the Davao Transit System, the Cebu Transit System, the North and South Luzon Railways and the Panay Railways Project.”

To decongest NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport), transfer of general aviation has been considered for both domestic and international airlines.

“I’m offering Sangley Point.

But if not them, it’s going to be Clark on a condition that we will have a fast train. In the field of tourism, we shall construct more access roads and tourism gateways to service centers and tourist sites.” ■ For the full text of President Duterte’s first SONA, visit PCI’s website.

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

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21 Senate committee chairs named

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency

vironment and natural resources; and social justice, welfare and rural development.

“I’m satisfied with my committees. I can work with it. One of my advocacies also is environmental protection,” Villar said in a media interview.

Comebacking Senators Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan took the committee on agri-

MANILA — As expected, the Senate ‘supermajority’ bloc of 21 senators took the juicy chairmanships based on the first 21 committees that have been filled up during the Tuesday session.

The announcement of the committee chairmanships was made a day after the Senate elected The chairs of the remaining committees officially named next week. new Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon culture and food and Senator Richard and Minority Leader Ralph Recto dur- Gordon the influential committee on ing the opening of the first regular ses- accountability of public officers and investigations or Blue Ribbon. sion of the 17th Congress.

Drilon cornered the Senate commitAs reported earlier, comebacking Senator Richard Gordon took the influen- tee on Constitutional Amendments and tial Senate committee on Accountabil- Revision of Codes, promising to give priity of Public Officers and Investigation ority on the proposed Charter change that would give way to President Rodrior Blue Ribbon.

Senator Cynthia Villar did not get her go Duterte’s call for a shift of form govwish to retain the committee on agri- ernment to federalism.

Other members of the majority bloc culture but got two committees — en-

who got the committee chairmanships include: Senator Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ Aquino IV who got the education, arts and culture; neophyte Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, committee on energy; Senator Loren Legarda, finance; and neophyte senator Leila De Lima, justice and human rights.

Another neophyte Senators Risa Hontiveros and Joel Villanueva took the committees on health and demography, and labor, emwill be ployment and human resources, respectively.

Boxing superstar Senator Manny Pacquiao will chair the public works committee while Senator Grace Poe got the public services and comebacking Senator Panfilo Lacson the public order and dangerous drugs.

Veteran Senator Gregorio Honasan II has been named to head the committee on national defense and security while Senator Nancy Binay took the tourism panel.

Another comebacking Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri has been named chairman of the committee on trade, com-

Sen. Villar files bill to extend passport validity to 10 years

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — In response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to stretch the validity of passport, Senator Cynthia Villar on Wednesday filed a bill extending the passport expiration from five to 10 years.

“This amendment is a measure that will enable us to comply with President Duterte’s directive to avoid long queues for government services,” Villar said in filing Senate Bill No. 324.

The bill aims to amend Republic Act No. 8239 of the Philippine Passport Act of 1996 which established the guidelines for the application and issuance of passports.

“Increasing the passports’ validity will, in effect, lessen the frequency and volume of applications for renewal and will contribute in reducing, if not eliminating, the long queues at Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) offices,” Villar said.

In his first State of the Nation Address, Duterte asked the Congress to pass the law that would lengthen the validity of the passports even up to 30 years.

“You are the ones who will pass the law, even if you make it good for 30

years, that’s okay for me. That’s your call. Stretch a little bit because five years is just really simply on a regular basis,” the President said.

Villar said the President’s call was also timely amid the increasing number of Filipinos travelling abroad either to work or for vacation.

Under the proposal, regular passports issued to adult applicants will be valid for a period of ten years while those regular passports issued to minors shall be valid for a period of five years.

The bill also authorizes the DFA, in its discretion, to decrease the period of validity in both instances whenever national economic interest or political stability of the country warrants it.

Villar said the passports with longer validity will complement the measures adopted by the DFA to address the long queues and ease the backlogs in both application and release of passports such as additional frontline personnel, change in the layout of work stations and locations of service providers, and the institution of a dedicated OFW lane.

She noted that countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand issue passports with ten-year validity. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

merce and entrepreneurship while Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito got the urban planning, housing and resettlement.

Senator Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara got his wish to chair the ways and means committee while Sotto the committee on rules.

Senate minority bloc member Senator Antonio Trillanes IV retained the chairmanship of the committee on civil service, government reorganization and professional regulation.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, who initially aspired the Senate presidency, has yet to be given committee chairmanship but Pimentel announced earlier that the former Majority Leader will get the committee on foreign relations.

Pimentel announced that Cayetano has joined the supermajority bloc as the 21st senator.

The chairs of the remaining committees will be officially named next week.

The Senate President, Majority Leader and Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto are all ex-officio of all the committees.

Senator Francis ‘Chiz’ Escudero and Trillanes, being the only members of the minority bloc, have been named members of all the commitees. ■

Philippine News

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JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

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

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Staying out of the public eye most of the time, he sure can use a Boracay break–or even just a food trip around West Triangle

BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer WHO WOULD’VE thought that the first month of former President Benigno Aquino III as Citizen Noy would be a series of highs and lows?

It’s likely that Aquino himself expected that he would not be given some peace and quiet, even if that was what he wished for in the last months of his administration.

He often said, during his time as Chief Executive, that he disturbed a lot of rice bowls in trying to set things right for government and ultimately the people.

He knows many will not let him get away with his messing with their sumptuous meals.

The recent days saw a setback in his Former President Noynoy Aquino.

FACEBOOK six-year campaign against corruption, but Aquino was ready with a firm state- shadow the historic ruling of the Perma- his friend and favorite singer-songwritment: “By ordering the release and ex- nent Court of Arbitration at the Hague er, Noel Cabangon, on some songs. oneration of Mrs. [Gloria Macapagal] in affirming the Philippines’ position in “I don’t know what he was thinking, Arroyo, what is the Supreme Court the South China Sea maritime dispute. but my impression was, he is more resaying: That nothing anomalous transAquino and his lean staff waited for laxed now,” Cabangon said of Citizen pired? That no crime happened? That the verdict to be available for download. Noy. no one should be held to account? That He read the summary line by line, and, On July 2, Aquino surprised members the funds were used properly?” if we could hazard a guess, with a green of The Silent Majority (TSM)—an online He added: “What is the recourse now highlighter in hand. group that campaigned for Mar Roxas of the Filipino people, when it is clear Aquino and his team put together an and Leni Robredo—at their meet-up and that a substantial amount of public elegantly written statement, the kind of tribute for him at Club Filipino in San funds did not go to the intended servic- response a true statesman gives. Then, Juan. Most, if not all, except for those es, which would have alleviated the suf- true to form, he celebrated the country’s who invited the former President, did not know that Aquino would join them fering of many of our countrymen?” triumph quietly. that night.

Aquino maintained that the disburseIntimate interaction ments of the P365It was perhaps one million funds of the On the morning of his first full day as a private of the most intimate Philippine Charity citizen, Aquino had to issue a statement on interactions AquiSweepstakes Office the first court case filed against him. His critics no has had with his (PCSO), with the had threatened they would deluge him with “bosses,” ordinary approval of Arroyo, lawsuits.

Filipinos who volunwere anomalous. teered their time and “In total, P365 milpersonal resources lion was released by during the campaign.

PCSO over the course One of TSM’s founders, Jozy Acostaof three years, with P244.5 million, as Quality time He’s been out of the public eye for Nisperos, told the Inquirer that, poststated in the report of [the PCSO budget officer], transferred to the Office of the most of the first month that he’s become elections, the group “wants to be a leadPresident. The overwhelming bulk of a private citizen again. He’s had quality ing social media force in developing an the funds, at 66.9 percent, were used for time with his family as well, as his sister engaged, enlightened and empowered citizenry as it relates to selecting leaders activities not sanctioned by the Charter Kris Aquino posted on Instagram.

The former President joined them for who will bring our country forward, deof the PCSO,” Aquino said.

Mass and then for lunch. Then he drove fining our national identity, and leading Historic ruling a Porsche, with Kris and her sons Josh conversations on national issues, thus It’s safe to assume that Aquino, as he is and Bimby as his passengers. creating a mindset of country above wont to do, would be in deep thought— On the morning of his first full day as self.” reflecting, analyzing—about every sa- a private citizen, Aquino had to issue a As casual as a former commander-inlient point of the plunder case as against statement on the first court case filed chief could get, Aquino showed up in an the Supreme Court decision that exon- against him. His critics had threatened Adidas sports shirt, denims and sneakers. erated his predecessor. they would deluge him with lawsuits.

But the controversial decision of the In the evening, Aquino attended cousHigh Court undoubtedly will not over- in Rapa Lopa’s birthday party, joining ❱❱ PAGE 10 Busy Citizen www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

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Commuters hopeful Pacman can fight, for better mass transport; but only between ask admin not to forget PNR Senate rounds

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA — The promise of President Rodrirgo Duterte’s administration to prioritize the country’s mass transport system has renewed the hope of some commuters who seek empathy for their grueling commuting experience.

Aware that upgrades in rail systems will take time, Rommel Rio, 23, said Filipino commuters will have to “wait and see” if the Duterte administration will live up its promise.

“I think everything he said was promising. Perhaps we have to wait and see if his administration will deliver. However, I feel like they’re forgetting the PNR (Philippine National Railways),” Rio said.

Rio further said that the administration should also utilize alternative modes of mass transport such as the Point-toPoint (P2P) Bus Service which are meant to encourage private car owners to commute to alleviate traffic.

P2P buses allow shorter travel time, as buses depart on a fixed schedule and travel directly from the terminal to the drop-off point.

He said better railway systems will also help get more cars off the road since “people flock to train stations because they want to avoid traffic from taking the bus.”

The blogger behind the viral article ‘Date a girl who rides the MRT’ expressed confidence that the President, who has been described by Communications Secretary Martin Andanar as “a man of action”, will get

AS LONG as he could perform his duties as legislator, Sen. Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao may go back to the boxing ring.

Senate President Franklin Drilon yesterday expressed his support for Pacquiao’s reported plan to go back to boxing, confirming for the first time that the newly-elected senator had sought his permission to fight again.

“He asked me if he can box. I said ‘there’s nothing to prevent you, but you can do it in a manner that will not interfere with your job as a senator because you will be severely criticized.’

And so I said ‘you can box during the break,” said Drilon of the lawmaker in a Senate forum yesterday.

Pacquiao was notoriously absent during his stint as Sarangani representative in the last Congress.

The schedule of the 17th Congress has yet to be finalized, but the Senate usually takes a brief break between October and November. Pacquiao usually trains for eight weeks for his bouts.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum had said last week that the boxer-turned-politician, also an international product endorser, businessman, playing basketball coach and occasional actor and recording artist, was planning a return bout sometime in November.

The senator, who attended a

MARVIE A. LLOREN / PNA

things done quickly.

“When President Duterte said that the procurement of additional trains shall be addressed soonest, I considered it done,” 26-year-old Judy Santiago said.

“I am confident that the Duterte administration can do something to finally improve the transport system in Metro Manila because he understands the daily battles of a Filipino commuter,” she added.

Thirty-year-old Aerol Patena said he “appreciated” the President’s plans but wanted him to have elaborated more on the MRT-3 extension that will link North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan.

“I want to know more. I’m hoping that he pursues his plan to increase the number of trains since this will help us commuters arrive at work at the earliest possible time,” Patena said.

“More places to buy tickets

will also help reduce long lines.

I hope these innovations will happen to encourage the public to avail of our mass transport system,” he added.

Monica Castro, 25, meanwhile had a simple request for the President which was to assure that the rail systems’ maintenance providers are able to minimize glitches.

“We need more knowledgeable personnel for train maintenance,” Castro said. “We don’t want to have glitches every day anymore.”

In his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, President Duterte vowed that additional trains will be “addressed soonest” and that train speed will also be increased from 40 kph to 60 kph.

He also wants queuing time from ticketing stations reduced by providing more ticketing stations in public places such as malls and extend the trains’ operating hours. ■

ters to ensure that the surplus would remain safe for consumption.

The measure also seeks to create a Self-Sufficiency Program that provides the hungerprone with training on livelihood and on the management of food banks, so that they

would eventually no longer depend on dole outs.

Those who will “deliberately make food waste unfit for consumption” and anyone who will bar the transport of food to food banks may face the imprisonment from six months to six years, the bill said. ■

single session of Congress and had 16 absences “without notice” in the final session of the 16th Congress, then denied that he was planning to take a leave from the Senate just so he could fight.

In a statement, he said “my priority is my legislative work,” backing up his earlier vow to score a “perfect attendance” in his foray into the national legislature. He said he would time his future bout—if ever he decides to fight again —while Congress is on recess so he won’t have to disrupt his legislative work.

Drilon said he would hold Pacquiao to his promise, adding that a senator with any other profession may pursue his or her job while being a member of Congress.

“I am a lawyer, I can exercise my profession as a lawyer.

A businessman can continue running his or her business while being a member of the legislature. An entertainer can continue his or her profession while being a member of Congress. Why should we impose a different standard on a professional boxer?” he said.

However, he vowed to be the first one to call Pacquiao out if he fails to deliver on his promise.

“I hold him to his commitment that it will not be at the price of neglecting his duty as a senator. I’d be the first one to criticize him if he does that. But I will support his decision to exercise his profession,” Drilon said. ■

Bam proposes... food businesses, such as food manufacturers, supermarkets, restaurants, cafeterias and hotels, and food banks.”

Food businesses will be tasked to transport on their account their excess food to food banks or distribution cen❰❰ 4

www.canadianinquirer.net

Neophyte Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao (right) administers the oath of office of newly-elected Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III. AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

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Philippine News

JULY 28, 2016

Busy Citizen...

In a speech, he talked about his time in office, the challenges he faced and what his administration achieved for the Filipinos in the six years that he was given to lead the nation.

Aquino also spoke about how the recent elections appeared to have tested even the personal relationships of Filipinos.

“As there are people who have been celebrating the outcome and some are still coming to terms, one thing is clear, this is one country we share. One thing for sure—that we should all contribute to the product that we all want to achieve... Kung maganda ang ginagawa, tulungan natin (If what’s being done is good, we will contribute),” he said.

Aquino stayed for almost an hour and indulged his supporters with selfies and groufies.

The next day, he went to Tagaytay with his staff to attend the wake of the father of Francis Tolentino, who served as his Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair.

❰❰ 8

Downsized staff

Unpacking in his newly renovated Times Street home has also been keeping Aquino busy.

One can only imagine how much memorabilia a former head of state could accumulate throughout a six-year term.

Aquino’s own downsized staff and security are also getting the hang of reporting for duty at Times. They, too, have been fixing their office, which occupies a part of the remodeled Aquino family home.

Months before he stepped down from office, Aquino repeatedly said that he would want to be a tourist in his country.

He’d like to go to Boracay. While not exactly a beach person, he still wants to try to feel its famous sand. It’s also part nostalgia—Boracay was where one of the most memorable photos of his mother, former President Cory Aquino, was taken.

Food trip

Aquino has always wanted to go on a food trip around West

Triangle with his former executive assistant, Jun Delantar, and former Undersecretary for Communications Rey Marfil, on his first day as private citizen.

On the eve of Aquino’s departure from Malacañang, Marfil and Delantar actually had dinner together, inadvertently excluding their boss following some miscommunication.

The next day, he summoned Marfil and Delantar to sit with him at the table throughout lunch in Times, a punishment of sorts for having left him out in the cold the night before.

Marfil told the INQUIRER that their food trip is on hold until Delantar, who is now a prosecutor in his hometown, visits Manila.

“Boss said he will bring Jun and me first to Kowloon Restaurant. Maglalakad na lang kaming tatlo. Ang lapit lang sa Times eh (The three of us will just walk. It’s just near Times),” he said, laughing. ■

QC rehab facility grows due to demand New building to raise 150-bed capacity by 100%; 116 drug users wait-listed

BY MARICAR B. BRIZUELA Philippine Daily Inquirer WITH MORE and more admitted drug users in Quezon City giving themselves up to authorities and the government-run drug rehabilitation facility already operating at full capacity, city officials say they will soon open a new building to take in more patients.

Based on records of the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse Advisory Council (QCADAAC), 116 drug users are on the waitlist for admission to the Quezon City Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, also known as “Tahanan,” in Barangay Payatas Bwhich can house just 150 individuals.

Of the more than 4,000 confessed drug users in the city who have so far yielded to local officials, 200 have undergone drug dependency evaluation.

Of the number, 73 were re-

ferred for rehabilitation while the rest were advised to undergo counseling. An additional 43 drug users who yielded directly to the management at Tahanan are also waiting to be admitted.

According to the Quezon City government, it has requested permission for an additional 150 beds for the rehabilitation facility, with a new building awaiting accreditation from the Department of Health (DOH).

Dr. Alvin Vergara, head of the screening and intake section at Tahanan, told the INQUIRER that while the surrenderors were waiting for a vacancy at the center, the officials of the barangays where they live would be responsible for monitoring them.

“The QCADAAC provides counseling for those referred to the program,” Vergara said.

This is done by its social workers, psychologists and doctors who conduct daily visits to identified barangays.

QCADAAC head and Vice

Mayor Joy Belmonte expressed optimism that their request for a higher bed capacity would soon be approved by the DOH. According to her, the Bureau of Health Facilities and Services conducted an ocular inspection of the rehab facility last week.

Vergara also showed to the INQUIRER the new two-story building which could accommodate 78 double-deck beds.

“We are just waiting for a temporary permit from the DOH and additional staff to be able to use the building,” he said.

Introduced in 1993, Tahanan, through its DOH doctors, provides drug dependency evaluation to individuals who are either referred for rehabilitation or counseling. Once admitted to the facility, drug users undergo therapy to help them get back to their normal lives.

They are also given specific work roles like kitchen assignments to give them “a sense of responsibility.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

OFWs pleased with gov’t plans prioritizing their welfare

BY FERDINAND G. PATINIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) are pleased with the plans of President Rodrigo Duterte for them which prioritize their well-being.

According to Susan Ople of the Blas F. Ople Policy Center, a non-profit organization advocating Filipino workers abroad, the OFWs are happy with the importance being given to them by the present government.

“The response from our OFWs so far has been overwhelming.

They refer to the president, as “Tatay Digong.” They see him as someone on their side, a leader that they can turn to especially in times of need,” she said.

On the other hand, a worker from Saudi Arabia lauded the plan of the government to create a separate department to cater to their needs.

“Wala kaming sariling bahay sa gobyerno (We do not have an agency in the government that caters to us),” said Ronald dela Cruz, an OFW from Najran, Saudi Arabia said as he told how OFWs like him have to go through several agencies to complete their requirements or obtain assistance.

Another migrant worker, Paul Vincent Lacunal commended the proposal to establish a one-stop shop wherein the OFWs can secure and process documents before they are deployed overseas.

“That’s a good idea, it will be

good to OFWs since they only need to go to one place to process everything they need before deployment,” he said.

Earlier, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Sylvester Bello III noted that the creation of a one-stop shop for OFWs would make it easy and speedy completion of their requirements for their jobs abroad.

“The one-stop shop is part of the efforts of the Department to realise the directives of President Rodrigo R. Duterte to make the services of government agencies accessible to Filipinos who are currently working or planning to work overseas,” he said.

The one-stop-shop will include several facilitative services which aim to make the issuance and validation process of documentary requirements easier and more convenient for OFWs, especially for returning migrant workers.

Aside from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the one-stop shop will also include other government agencies, such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

Bello added that Filipino workers applying for work overseas should be able to get all the clearances they need, including those required by the Department of Foreign Affairs, the police authorities, and health services in just one place. ■

The one-stop-shop will include several facilitative services which aim to make the issuance and validation process of documentary requirements easier and more convenient for OFWs, especially for returning migrant workers.

OHCONFUCIUS / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

11

Church: Thou shall not kill Message to Duterte to coincide with Sona

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer THOU SHALL not kill.

The Sixth Commandment is the message for President Duterte that will emanate from a Mass which the Archdiocese of Manila will hold tomorrow afternoon as he delivers his first State of the Nation Address (Sona) to Congress.

The Mass will mark the launching of the “Huwag Kang Papatay” (Thou Shall Not Kill) campaign, which aims to bring together the families of the victims of extrajudicial killings that have come with the Duterte administration’s war on illegal drugs.

Those people—drug users, pushers and dealers—can no longer change their ways because they are already dead, according to an official of the Archdiocese of Manila.

“We believe, especially in the Year of Mercy, that we have a chance of showing our love of God. But because of this (the extrajudicial killings), there’s no more love because there’s no more life who will ask for forgiveness and mercy,” Fr. Atilano Fajardo said over Radio Veritas yesterday.

Fajardo is the director of the Manila archdiocese’s Public Affairs Ministry, which will

hold the Mass at St. Vincent de Paul Church on San Marcelino Street in Ermita district.

The Mass, which will start at 5 p.m., includes prayers for the victims of the extrajudicial killings and police operations and their families.

Churchgoers have been asked to wear black and bring candles for a program that will start at 4:30 p.m., by which time President Duterte will have begun to address Congress.

Since Mr. Duterte took office on June 30, more than 300 suspected drug users, pushers and dealers have been killed by police or vigilantes across the Philippines.

More than 10,000 drug dependents have turned themselves in to police out of fear for their lives.

During the campaign for the May 9 presidential election, Mr. Duterte promised to stamp out illegal drugs and wipe out crime within the first six months of his presidency.

Mr. Duterte, who has been linked to vigilante killings in Davao City, where he served as mayor for 23 years, gave the police the go-signal for a merciless campaign against drugs even before he took office.

Catholic Church officials have slammed the “lack of moral outcry” among the public over the killing of drug suspects.

Robbed of their rights

Fajardo said the killings were equivalent to robbing the suspects of their right to due process and a chance to change their lives.

“We will pray for the souls of our slain brothers. We invite the families of those slain to attend,” Fajardo said.

He said he would make a personal appeal to Mr. Duterte concerning the extrajudicial killings.

Masses will be held at St. Vincent de Paul Church every last Monday of the month as part of the campaign against extrajudicial killings, Fajardo said.

Campaigners will wear black shirts marked “Huwag kang Papatay” and posters will be put up in schools, churches and public vehicles to drum up support for the campaign “There will be talks and forums on the Sixth Commandment and how [extrajudicial killings are] becoming the new normal. We are consolidating all [opponents] of extrajudicial killings,” Fajardo said.

“We denounce the extrajudicial killings happening in the country, done by men in uniform, by vigilantes and other groups ... under the baton of the maestro. We uphold due process of law and the dignity of human life,” he said.

The latest to fall in the gov-

President Rodrigo R. Duterte.

ernment’s narcotics campaign was a suspected drug lord, Chinese national Meco Tan, who was killed by police in Valenzuela City early on Friday.

Mr. Duterte has said some local officials, including governors and mayors, are among the protectors of drug syndicates, although he has not named them.

Yesterday, Basilan Bishop Martin Jumoad urged Mr. Duterte to name those local officials in his address to Congress tomorrow.

“I want to hear in the [State of the Nation Address] the names of those governors and mayors allegedly coddling illegal drug syndicates,” Jumoad said in a statement.

KING RODRIGUEZ / PPD / PNA

Mr. Duterte has named five high-ranking police officials allegedly protecting drug syndicates.

The five officials—Chief Supt.

Bernardo Diaz, retired Deputy Director General Marcelo Garbo, retired Chief Supt. Vicente Loot, Chief Supt. Joel Pagdilao and Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio—have denied the President’s accusations.

Romblon Bishop Arturo Bastes also issued a statement, saying Mr. Duterte should respect the rule of law in his campaign against drugs.

“I hope he will respect human rights by not introducing the death penalty and by following the rule of law in punishing drug offenders,” Bastes said. ■

Task force on media killings formed PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Philippine National Police has announced it has formed Task Force “Usig” to probe the killings of journal-

ists.

PNP Spokesperson Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said the body will be headed by Chief Supt. Augusto Marquez, Jr., incumbent head of the PNP’s Director for Investigation and Detective Management.

“The PNP is committed in addressing cases involving media practitioners in the country, both local and foreign,” Carlos said.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his first State of the Nation Address on Monday, said the

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Presidential Communications Office, headed by Sec. Martin Andanar is drafting an Administrative Order to define the roles of the task force.

Pres. Duterte stressed that his administration does not condone violence and repres-

sion of media.

During the campaign season, Pres. Duterte stirred controversy and earned the ire of media groups after he remarked that some of the slain journalists were involved in illegal activities. ■

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Philippine News

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

Cops kill Chinese drug lord First big-time drug trader to fall in narcotics war

BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer FINALLY, law enforcers are starting to net the big fish.

A suspected Chinese drug lord wanted for operating “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride) laboratories in the Philippines for the past 13 years was killed in a shootout with narcotics agents in Valenzuela City early yesterday, police said.

Chinese national Meco Tan fought it out with Philippine National Police agents who raided Willex Compound on Pinagbayanan Street in Barangay Lingunan at dawn, a report from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said.

Ignoring warnings, Tan allegedly boarded his car and engaged police in a brief chase.

A firefight ensued after his car slammed into a curb, leading to his death, police said.

Found inside the vehicle was a bag loaded with packs of suspected shabu, according to police.

Five Chinese nationals who were inside the building were subsequently “invited for questioning.” Police, however, would not say whether they

were considered suspects.

A worker at the compound claimed that the chemical found by police inside the factory was titanium dioxide, which was used in cleaning plastics. The warehouse is owned by a certain Henry Co and has been in operation for the past two years.

Co, who was among those invited for questioning, apparently had just gone to the warehouse to pick up a vehicle, which he uses to take his children to school, police said.

Tan, however, was unknown to the warehouse workers, and it remained unclear what he was doing at the site. Police also confiscated closed- circuit television cameras they found in the warehouse, the worker said.

Wanted since 2003

Tan and a certain Jackson Dy were the suspected operators of a shabu laboratory in Naic, Cavite, where 600 kilograms of the substance were seized in 2003, said National Capital Region Police Office spokesperson Chief Insp.

Kimberly Molitas. Dy has been arrested and is now in jail.

Tan is also said to be involved in the operation of a shabu laboratory on Scout Chuatoco, Quezon City, where 70 kg of shabu

and 3,500 kg of ephedrine, a key ingredient in the manufacture of the drug, were confiscated.

Drug tally

Tan is believed to be the first high-profile suspect slain since President Duterte took office and launched a bloody war on drugs. As of July 18, the INQUIRER’s “Kill List” showed that 312 people have been killed since May 10, a day after the presidential election.

Thousands of small-time drug pushers and addicts have voluntarily given up, with the PNP placing the number at 114,833 since Mr. Duterte took office.

Malacañang said yesterday that 2,789 others had been arrested.

Duterte had also publicly named and shamed five police generals as drug protectors, and personally warned a highprofile Chinese businessman whom he had named as a drug lord of death unless he was cleared by the police.

The businessman, Peter Lim, who has denied he is a drug kingpin, voluntarily followed Duterte’s advise and submitted himself to the National Bureau of Investigation for questioning on Thursday.

PNP Director General Ronald

Thousands of small-time drug pushers and addicts have voluntarily given up, with the PNP placing the number at 114,833 since Mr. Duterte took office.

AVITO C.DALAN / PNA

“Bato” dela Rosa, who led the inspection of the compound, issued a warning to other “bigfish” Chinese drug traffickers.

More arrests

“Mag- isip isip na sila. Marami pang susunod niyan na mga Intsik,” Dela Rosa said in a radio interview. (“They should start thinking now. More Chinese will be arrested.”)

Dela Rosa said that since the “war” on narcotics was launched, only small-time drug dealers have been been arrested because “drug lords are hard to encounter.”

“Mga ito nakatambay sa mga high-end na casinos, high-end hotel at doon nag-eenjoy, so hindi mo palagi nasasalubong. Mga pulis natin bawal magtambay sa mga sugalan ... so hindi masyado maengkwentro. Ngayon naengkwentro na, namatay na,” Dela Rosa said. (“They hang out in high-end casinos, high-end ho-

tels that they patronize, so you can’t ordinarily see them. Our policemen are barred from hanging out in those places ... so they don’t easily encounter them.

Now that we’ve encountered them, they’re dead.”)

Dela Rosa said the drug lords, too, were “heavily covered” by alleged protectors in the government whom he did not name.

“Nakakapasok itong mga drug lords galing sa China dahil marami nagfa- facilitate either from the government, either sa community. Marami pong mga tao na ito sila mga facilitators kaya maganda cover nitong mga drug lords na makapasok dito,” Dela Rosa said. (“These drug lords from China can enter the country because there are people who facilitate their entry, either from the government or the community. There are many facilitators, that’s why these drug lords can easily enter.”) ■

Drilon welcomes SC’s final ruling on EDCA

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon has welcomed the Supreme Court (SC) final verdict affirming its ruling in January which upheld the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) between the Philippines and the

United States.

“I welcome the affirmation.

No doubt from the very start that it was an executive agreement which requires no ratification (of the Senate),” Drilon said in media interview.

On Tuesday, the SC voted 9-4 to deny a motion for reconsideration seeking to reverse the high court’s ruling last Jan. 12 in favor of the agreement that seeks to increase the rotational

presence of the US troops in the Philippines.

The SC’s ruling came out a day before the scheduled meeting of US State Secretary John Kerry with President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacanang on Wednesday.

Kerry and President Duterte are expected to discuss the territorial dispute in the West Philippine Sea following the Permanent Court of Arbitra-

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tion’s decision favoring the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China.

“Given our situation in the WPS, EDCA is a good instrument that can be the basis for the cooperation with the US,” Drilon said.

Drilon along with fellow Senate leaders — Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III, Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senate Minority Leader

Ralph Recto and Senate committee on national defense and security chairman Senator Gregorio ‘Gringo’ Honasan II will attend the National Security Council (NSC) meeting set Wednesday afternoon in Malacanang. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

FOI order covers executive branch

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer

Comelec wants Congress to decide early whether to postpone

mate targets of assassination.

Full disclosure

FULFILLING A campaign promise of transparency, President Duterte has signed an executive order (EO) allowing public access to documents and information in all government agencies under the Office of the President. Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Mr. Duterte signed on Saturday the executive order adopting the long-pending freedom of information (FOI) bill that would cover for a start the executive branch of government.

Senators vowed to reintroduce the FOI bill that they had failed to pass at the close of the Aquino administration.

Aquino had vowed to pass the bill— which had undergone various incarnations even before his term—but failed to get it done despite his much-ballyhooed “daang matuwid,” or righteous path, governance.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III, who is likely to be elected Senate President today, promised yesterday: “The FOI bill will push through. That’s what we will do.”

“The executive order is like a law in the executive department,” Pimentel said.

But for this to be applicable to the other government branches, a law is required.

Andanar said there was “substantive pushing and pulling” for two weeks before the President signed the order.

He said the President’s move would be welcomed by “champions of good governance who … fought tooth and nail for the last 29 years to strengthen the right to information as inscribed in our 1987 Constitution.”

“After 29 years and only (after) 25 days (into the presidency) of Rody Duterte, this is already a record-breaking speed of cornerstone or milestone or a landmark executive order being signed,” he added.

Media boycott

Journalists, however, should not expect Mr. Duterte to end his “cold war” with them anytime soon.

Neither should the public look forward to him certifying as urgent the passage of the FOI bill to include state offices under the judiciary and legislative branches.

According to Andanar, the President’s FOI order in the executive branch had nothing to do with his decision to shun media interviews.

The former Davao City mayor, known for his uncouth behavior and expletiveridden rants, verbally attacked the press on June 2 after an international media watchdog called for a boycott of his press briefings. This followed his statement that corrupt journalists are legiti-

13

The executive order, titled “Operationalizing in the Executive Branch the People’s Constitutional Right to Information and the State Policies of Full Public Disclosure and Transparency in the Public Service and Providing Guidelines Therefor,” said it was consistent with the Constitution.

“Every Filipino shall have access to information, official records, public records, and to documents and papers pertaining to official acts, transactions or decisions, as well as to government research data used as basis for publicdevelopment,” according to the directive.

Reading the order, Andanar said, information would refer to “any records, documents, papers, reports, letters, contracts, minutes and transcripts of official meetings, maps, books, photographs, data, research materials, films, sound and video recording, magnetic or other tapes, electronic data, computer stored data, or other like or similar data or materials recorded, stored or archived in whatever format.”

However, requests would be denied regarding information that “falls under any of the exceptions enshrined in the Constitution, existing law or jurisprudence.”

The President also instructed every agency in the executive branch to “formulate their respective implementing details” 120 days after the effectivity of the FOI order.

or not the Barangay and SK polls

BY FERDINAND G. PATINIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Congress has to decide by August 21 if it wants to push through or not with the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista said the commission would ask lawmakers to make a decision by middle of next month.

“We have to decide by August 21 if we will push through with the Barangay and SK elections. Or if ever Congress decides to postpone it, they also have to do it before August 21,” he said.

Bautista noted that the around that time, will be the start of the printing of the official ballots for the village and youth polls.

“We will start printing the ballots for Barangay and SK by that time. So, if we start printing already and they postpone it and have it changed to include the

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Milestone

Mr. Duterte said government agencies should not charge any fee for granting the requests, except for “reasonable fee to reimburse necessary costs.”

Sen. Grace Poe, while calling Mr. Duterte’s order “a milestone,” said the executive branch must be clear about exceptions to the open access and penalties to officials who would fail to comply.

“There are several exceptions that are mentioned I believe in the Constitution, especially when it comes to the right to privacy, which you will also have to trade off once you’re in government,” she said.

Sen. Francis Pangilinan said: “Transparency is key in a country with a history of corrupt government officials. We need transparency to hold our officials more accountable to their actions. Once we achieve that, public servants will always have the trust of the people.”

“There’s one important benchmark by which this FOI order should be measured, on how fast government permits can be secured. Clear, concise, cheaper way of getting government documents like passports and licenses,” Sen. Ralph Recto said in a statement. ■

Con-Con, that will mean additional expenses,” he said.

Bautista added that they would want to know by August 21 if there will be elections for them to intensify their preparations.

“Our preparations right now is not yet on full speed,” he said.

Meanwhile, Bautista revealed that the public bidding for the ballot boxes has been cancelled after learning through an accounting that they have enough boxes to be used in the forthcoming polls.

“The ballot boxes, we were able to find out that we have enough ballot boxes.

So we have cancelled the bidding for the ballot boxes,” he said.

It would be recalled that the Comelec opened the public bidding for the supply of 233,500 ballot boxes for an Approved Budget for the Contract of Php 642,125,000.

But, the number was eventually reduced to only 75,253, and amounting to Php 206,945,750. ■

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Opinion

14

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

ANALYSIS

Storm clouds loom over congressional independence

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer THE 17TH CONGRESS opens today, clearing the way for its total capitulation to President Duterte without a semblance of resistance to defend its independence from the all-powerful presidency.

But the way is full of landmines for turbulent showdowns.

One after the other, in rapid succession, the House and the Senate were ruthlessly crushed by Duterte’s juggernaut as the political parties in the legislature disintegrated from its onslaught that virtually reduced Congress to a rubber stamp of Malacañang, leaving no space for opposition parties to develop.

The disintegration began on the eve of the joint session of Congress that would hear the President’s first State of the Nation Address.

Former Speaker Feliciano Belmonte announced that he and the Liberal Party had scuttled their plan to lead the opposition in the 17th Congress and instead would join the allies of Mr. Duterte in the new majority, foreshadowing the President’s

confirmed that 16 to 17 senators are now backing the Senate presidency of Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III. According to Drilon, major political parties in the Senate have agreed ‘Butterfly coalition’ to an alliance, principally the LP and Belmonte confirmed the abdicaits allied parties. The coalition is tion of the LP’s opposition role under made up of six LP members, one Akthe Duterte administration. Ilocos bayan, the PDP-Laban plus the NPC Norte Rep. Rodolfo Fariñas earlier and other allied political groups. told the INQUIRER that he had reThe LP leads one of the two main ceived a phone call from Belmonte groupings, while Sen. Vicente Sotto requesting a meeting with incomIII leads the other. ing Rep. Pantaleon According to DriAlvarez to sign a ilon, he will be the majority coalition Describing the Senate as being in a bind, Drilon said Senate president between the LP that while the Senate would support the legislative agenda of pro tempore, while and the Partido DePresident Duterte, the chamber should remain independent.

Sotto will be the mokratikong Pilipimajority leader. no-Lakas ng Bayan Earlier, Pimentel, a party mate of the Nationalist People’s Coalition, (PDP-Laban).

The mass exodus of the LP came National Unity Party, Nacionalista President Duterte, told Rappler it was his “duty” as PDP-Laban presiafter the PDP-Laban had built up its Party and the party-list bloc.

There were also reports that Alva- dent to try to get the top leadership membership from three members elected in May to 100, in a “butterfly rez had met with former Vice Presi- in the Senate. coalition” just days before today’s dent Jejomar Binay and pledged to assist UNA’s candidate for minority Unity talks opening of Congress.

Sotto, a member of NPC, and PiThe LP has been reduced 30 mem- leader.

In the race for the Senate presi- mentel confirmed earlier that they bers and 10 allies from party-list groups led by Akbayan, a total that dency, matters were no less convo- were in unity talks.

The NPC earlier signed a coalition would have allowed Belmonte to win luted than in the House. Outgoing the minority leadership, illustrating Senate President Franklin Drilon has agreement with PDP-Laban. domination of Congress on scale not previously experienced in Philippine electoral democracy.

the zero-sum dynamic of political realignment at work, where the winning party in the election becomes the bandwagon into which the losers jump to return to Congress.

The emergence of Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) as a serious contender for minority leader appeared to have prompted Belmonte and the LP to junk their plan not to join the majority coalition, which includes

Senator-elect Panfilo Lacson has said the senators were looking at a supermajority composed of at least 20 senarors.

Pimentel is set to be next Senate president, despite being the only PDP-Laban senator—a situation that Drilon found unusual.

The senators, Drilon said, wanted to provide stability to the Senate leadership.

Describing the Senate as being in a bind, Drilon said that while the Senate would support the legislative agenda of President Duterte, the chamber should remain independent.

“While we maintain the independence of the Senate, we will support, in general, the legislative agenda of President Duterte,” he said.

How the Senate would reconcile this contradiction remains problematic. As far as the public is concerned, the more independent and troublesome Congress is, the more will the system of checks and balances benefit Philippine democracy.

We should expect fireworks between Malacañang and Congress in the coming weeks. ■

AT LARGE

A crisis of faith

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer “LET US not allow violence to rule us but in every circumstance be vigilant and zealous in upholding the dignity and rights of all as befit responsible citizens and followers of Christ” is the plea in a “pastoral letter” issued

by La Sallian Br. Jose Mari Jimenez FSC (no relation, as far as I know).

Jimenez, who is president of De La Salle Philippines and auxiliary visitor (a regional supervisory post) for the De La Salle Brothers, thus joined other voices raised in concern over the number of people killed as part of the Duterte administration’s deadly and bloody antidrug campaign.

True, these voices have been muted so far, largely ignored, drowned out by contrary views and official encouragement of extrajudicial killings (no formal charges, no trials). But while alarming, the 408 casualties counted in a mere five days (May 1015) so far, said Jimenez, are not the biggest reason for his concern. Rather, he says, “what troubles me even more as an educator is the absence of a significant public outcry against the blatant contempt for human life and the rule of law that these extrajudicial killings represent.”

Without naming names, Jimenez says he is “deeply disturbed” by the

killings, since this “disregard for the ards proclaiming their guilt, or else been operating in the country for inalienable value of human life and left to fester under the hot sun out almost eight years. “He was responthe public silence that gives tacit on the streets—belong to the poorest sible for putting up drug laboratories, support for such disregard does not sectors of society. I even saw a photo shabu laboratories here in Metro bode well for the vision of a just and on social media showing the body of Manila,” “Bato” dela Rosa told the humane society enshrined in our a suspect lying in a pool of blood in a media.

In an account that has become busy city street with children looking Constitution.” eerily familiar these days, the police What the killings demonstrate, he on passively, if not indifferently.

“These people,” said the President, were about to serve a search warrant adds, “is how desperate many people have become in the face of the issues referring to his critics, “keep on writ- on Tan when he fled his home and of drugs and criminality. The approv- ing [about the small-time haul]. They exchanged fire with the raiding party. al of so-called solutions that deny the think they know a lot. They keep ask- Seven other Chinese were arrested in sanctity of human life and respect for ing why only the small fish are being the same operation, caught inside a each person’s right to due process arrested.” The reason, he implied, is drug laboratory.

And of course the PNP chief was amounts to a crisis of faith in the pos- that “I have to invade a country to arready with the decsibility of governing laration that Tan’s our nation by reaWhat troubles me even more as an educator is the absence killing was “proof” son and the rule of of a significant public outcry against the blatant contempt that the police also law.” for human life and the rule of law that these extrajudicial go after high-value *** killings represent. targets, lamenting I M M E D I AT E LY, how the police were though it’s not clear if President Duterte had already read rest the drug lords,” without naming being criticized for going after the the letter when he spoke in Maguin- the country that allegedly coddles “low-hanging fruit” of the drug trade: danao, Jimenez’s and others’ criti- the drug dealers, though he added dealers, pushers and users. *** cisms of the deadly toll taken by the that “obviously, it is known to you.”

INSTEAD of showing remorse for *** antidrug campaign were met by offiAS if on cue, earlier Friday, PNP Di- the hundreds of deaths, or even caucial anger and ire.

Reacting to observations that so rector General Ronald dela Rosa an- tioning police against too reckless far no “big fish” had been hauled in nounced that a “big-time” drug lord use of firearms, the President seems by the campaign, Mr. Duterte asked and shabu laboratory operator had to have hardened his resolve.

“That’s the problem with Filipirhetorically: “Where will I get the been killed in a shoot-out with pobig fish?” Indeed, many had observed lice in Valenzuela City. The alleged nos,” he told his audience in Maguthat the great majority of the dead— “big fish” was identified as Meco Tan, indanao. “Many pretend to be bright some wrapped methodically with whowas said to be a “high-value” tar- when they are not.”

Two years ago, the President notpacking tape and even bearing plac- get of the police force and who had

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ed, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency placed the number of drug users and pushers in the country at 2 million. That number has since risen to 3.7 million, he said.

So what is the President’s message? That he and the law enforcement agencies under his command will not stop the bloodbath until all 3.7 million of these druggies are eliminated?

The PNP has even noted with pride that crime rates have gone down even during the antidrug campaign. But, sure, petty crimes may have been reduced. But matching the decline in thievery, bag snatchings and street fights has been an incredible rise in the number of murders, shootings and executions.

Dela Rosa has even suggested that many of the killings were part of “internal” rivalries among the drug networks, with bosses going after smalltime snitches. But if so, then why haven’t any hit men or goons been arrested or questioned? And will they get their day in court, or be simply executed on the streets, too?

Let me give Jimenez the final word: “We need to remind everyone that if we want a just and peaceful society, our means must partake of our ends. You cannot build a culture that respects life while relying principally on the instruments of death.” ■

Opinion

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

15

PUBLIC LIVES

Sona in a world out of kilter

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer AS WE go through the motions of another State of the Nation Address (Sona), it is important to remind ourselves that, although we live in a country bounded by the sea, everything that we do or fail to do takes place in the context of a bigger and more troubled world. No elected government directs the affairs of that world, certainly not the United Nations. But, somehow, there is order in it, which we have the duty to uphold.

It would be foolish to think we can ignore the imperatives of this global order just because there is no agency vested with the legitimate power to enforce its agreements and tacit understandings. That kind of thinking reflects the legalistic illusions of the insular state.

The theory of modernity says that as human affairs—such as trade and investment, science and technology, education and mass communications, travel and tourism, etc.—become specialized and autonomous, they also become global in scope.

Each domain develops its own order in response to its particular exigencies.

The key to understanding this is the differentiation of human activities according to function, rather than according to the social status or identity of their authors. By this

process is the modern world society the tensions generated by the Philip- make the world more transparent pines’ and China’s conflicting terri- and power wielders everywhere born.

National boundaries become ob- torial claims in the South China Sea. more accountable. At the same time, solete. Nation-states and their elites That is functional differentiation at however, the easy access to sensitive video footage on YouTube has genlose their ability to oversee and steer work.

The sphere of science and technol- erated reactions that are difficult to events occurring within their political and economic jurisdictions. ogy has long defied the restrictions contain.

Indeed, education and communiPublic consciousness becomes in- imposed by state elites and national creasingly cosmopolitan; values and cultures. Twitter, the social media cations have turned global in ways platform, sparked a revolution that never before imagined, breaking standards become universal.

No doubt, satellite communica- to this day continues to rage across down barriers erected by state agentions and internet-based technolo- the Arab world. A week ago, the Turk- cies. As the labor market becomes gies have greatly hastened this pro- ish ruler, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, nar- global, there is a corresponding decess, compressing time and space, rowly averted being overthrown by a mand to standardize employment and creating realities that are no less bloody military coup by using a Face- qualifications. A minimum number of years of formal consequential for education and a being virtual. If we corresponding set look outside of the National boundaries become obsolete. Nation-states and of skills are expectdomains of law and their elites lose their ability to oversee and steer events occurring ed, for example, of politics, which have within their political and economic jurisdictions. Public Filipino seafarers remained basically consciousness becomes increasingly cosmopolitan; values and abroad. This has nation-state-oristandards become universal. prompted a major ented, nearly everyadjustment in the thing that is haplength of the counpening in the world Time call initiated by a CNN reporter try’s basic education program. today seems to confirm this.

To be sure, we can bury our heads Economies and business ventures to rally and ask his civilian supportachieve their fullest potential when ers to pour into the streets and save in the sand and insist on what we they find and develop their links to the government. The smartphone consider right or appropriate to our the outside world. The global econ- has clearly changed the template for needs regardless of what the rest of the world might say. We can junk the omy is no longer a one-way street. successful coups.

In the United States, the camera K-to-12 program to please a segment It is a pleasant surprise to know, for instance, that Filipino-owned fast- that comes with every smartphone of the Filipino public that regards it food conglomerate Jollibee operates has permitted ordinary civilians to as an unnecessary and unjust impoa network of 400 stores in China. Ac- document some of the gruesome en- sition. But, we should not complain cording to a news report, the group counters between police officers and when international shipping compaplans to expand its China holdings by their victims in racially charged com- nies treat our seafarers shabbily.

By the same token, we risk losing 5 to 10 percent annually, unruffled by munities. Such devices have helped

our right to protest against the destructive practices that have brought the world’s climate to where it is today if we repudiate our obligations under agreements signed in the country’s name. Indeed, we may as well forget the arbitral award we recently won under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. For we have no right to cite international norms when they favor us, and to ignore them when we find them burdensome.

But the world is out of kilter. Reacting to complexity, nations turn inward in a vain effort to insulate themselves from the problems created by the destabilization and exclusion of a huge segment of humanity from the blessings of development. For every Angela Merkel who bravely embraces the victims of war, poverty and displacement, there are ten other world leaders who, like Donald Trump, invoke fear to keep them out. For every Pope Francis who teaches the universality of mercy, there are a hundred others who seek redemption by preaching resentment.

“Becoming a citizen of the world is often a lonely business,” wrote Martha Nussbaum. “It is … a kind of exile—from the comfort of local truths, from the warm nestling feeling of patriotism, from the absorbing drama of pride in oneself and one’s own.” ■

LOOKING BACK

Sukarno and Amelia de la Rama

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer JAKARTA—The central business district of the Indonesian capital was just as I remembered it from a two-month stay in 2011. There was a lot of construction going on, a road was being dug up for an MRT line, and buildings were being built that had yet to define the city skyline. My arrival was marked by a downpour that resulted in flooding in certain areas. It felt just like Edsa, except that this urban landscape had more trees and Indonesian motorists were more patient in traffic than Pinoys: They kept to their lanes instead of swerving left and right at every opportunity; they gave way, and kept intersections open; no one honked their horn although I noticed that they had more wang-wang, in vehicles of VIPs and people who think they are VIPs, than we did in Manila.

One fond memory I have of my 2011 visit was listening to a wellapplauded speech by then President Benigno Aquino III before the Filipino community at the Grand Hyatt. Afterwards, as we waited in the

driveway for a friend who was to take us to dinner, Mr. Aquino stepped out of the hotel and shook hands with Pinoys as he made his way to a waiting limousine. I found myself at the end of what turned out to be an impromptu reception line. He shook my hand and stopped, looked at me intently, and said: “You look familiar.”

Without anything prepared to say, I quickly replied: “You, too!” Then he was driven off to the state dinner.

Later, my journalist-friends said I had missed out on engaging him in an ambush interview.

On this trip I remembered past friendly relations between the Philippines and Indonesia, built on President Sukarno’s references to Jose Rizal in some of his speeches and the personal friendship he forged with President Diosdado Macapagal on visits to Manila. Sukarno (19011970), first president of Indonesia, was born Kusno Sosrodihardjo but signed his name “Soekarno.” He was more popularly known as Bung Karno or Pak Karno among his people.

He was married to a succession of women: Siti Oetari, Inggit Garnasih,

Fatmawati, Hartini, Kartini Manoppo, Ratna Sari Dewi, Haryati, Yurike Sanger, Heldy Djafar, and Amelia de la Rama. From this list the only (in) famous name is Dewi Sukarno, his Japanese wife, who had a much publicized encounter with Minnie Osmeña, granddaughter of President Sergio Osmeña, in Aspen, Colorado, that resulted in violence. Dewi smashed a wine glass on Minnie’s face; the resulting cut required 37 stitches. For this Dewi was detained for disorderly conduct.

What is not well-known in the Philippines is that Sukarno’s last wife was a Filipino named Amelia de la Rama.

They were introduced in August 1963 when Sukarno visited Manila to discuss the regional grouping Maphilindo (Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia) with Macapagal. It was love at first sight. Sukarno again visited Manila in January 1964, and they were married in a Jakarta mosque that same year.

All I have been able to find on the internet on Amelia is that she appeared in the 1961 film “The Steel Claw” and that after Sukarno’s death she married a former pilot of US President Dwight Eisenhower

www.canadianinquirer.net

named James Braly.

My friend Jafar Suryomenggolo has published an article in the Indonesian magazine Historia that provides some leads that need to be followed up from the Philippine side.

Unfortunately, I do not read Bahasa, and what I got in a stilted Google translation of the article was a passing reference to Amelia in the biography by Ninotchka Rosca’s “Jose Ma. Sison, At Home in the World: Portrait of a Revolutionary” (2004) that I tracked down. It reads: “After I came back from Indonesia in 1962, the most rabid anticommunist columnists in the Philippines Herald called me an agent of the Communist Party of Indonesia because I was the secretary general of the Philippine-Indonesian Friendship and Cultural Association.

“After Sukarno came to Manila for the Maphilindo conference in 1963, one yellow tabloid started to call me an agent of Sukarno and even accused me of fronting for him as buyer of a Forbes Park mansion for an alleged Filipino girl friend of his, the prominent socialite Amelia de

la Rama, whom I did not know from Eve. The only time I was in the company of Sukarno and a pretty woman was when I sat between him and the movie actress Josephine Estrada at a brunch tendered for him in 1963 by then Speaker Jose Laurel at his Shaw Boulevard residence.”

Suryomenggolo also references a Marcos document, in the custody of the Presidential Commission on Good Government, dated July 29, 1964, where it is claimed that: “Sukarno has recently bought a house in Forbes Park for 400 thousand pesos in cash on behalf of Amelia de la Rama, known as Amelia Amante.”

Aside from this there is a reference to a Filipino dummy of Harry Stonehill who wanted to connect with Amelia because she had acquired timber concessions in Indonesia for another Filipino businessman. So there is much more to the Sukarno-Amelia love story than meets the eye.

My present Jakarta trip makes me wonder if it is worthwhile to leave my 19th-century comfort zone to explore the more exciting yet unwritten history of 20th-century Philippines. ■

16

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

Canada News Vancouver mayor, police in talks with Black Lives Matters ahead of Pride parade

BY TAMSYN BURGMANN The Canadian Press VANCOUVER POLICE say they will take part in the city’s annual Pride parade, despite a call from the activist group Black Lives Matter for the force to stay away.

Ahead of Sunday’s march, Vancouver Police spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham indicated the force had not been dissuaded from participating by an open letter asking for them to voluntarily withdraw.

“We will have a visible police presence both walking in the parade, and securing the parade route,” he said in an email.

As the city launched Pride Week on Monday, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and the Vancouver Pride Society acknowledged the controversy.

“I just want to speak to an important development, certainly that we’ve seen across Canada and down south,” said Robertson, telling the crowd he has recently met with local members of Black Lives Matter.

“Everybody’s talking, which is wonderful. We all share common goals of working together toward inclusivity and safety and providing space for marginalized and racialized queer communities here in Vancouver. And solidarity between the communities is truly what we need.”

Ahead of Sunday’s march, Vancouver Police spokesman Sgt. Randy Fincham indicated the force had not been dissuaded from participating by an open letter asking for them to voluntarily withdraw.

ADAM MELNYK / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The Vancouver Police Department’s LGBTQ liaison officer stood near Robertson on the stage holding a rainbow flag during the opening ceremony.

The question of police involvement was raised by Black Lives Matter members in Vancouver who published an online letter to the Vancouver Pride Society and police department earlier this month.

It came after Toronto’s Black Lives Matter temporarily stopped the country’s largest Pride parade in early July. They issued a series of demands, including more funding and better representation for minor-

ity communities during Pride events, before allowing the parade to resume.

The Vancouver group has proposed that a public service float including police officers, firefighters and paramedics replace a police-only entry. Its letter said it was acting in solidarity with other Black Lives Matters chapters to express that some communities feel unsafe marching alongside the policing institution.

The Black Lives Matter movement dates back to anger generated by the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin in Florida in 2012 by a

neighbourhood watch volunteer who was later acquitted of second-degree murder and of manslaughter.

The movement picked up momentum amid subsequent police-related deaths of black men in the United States.

The group said on Monday its members are now in talks with the Vancouver Police Department and Pride organizers.

“We have asked them to withdraw or at least not use their armoured rescue vehicle because it makes us feel unsafe given the historic and ongoing relationship between the police and marginalized communities,” said the

group over Facebook messenger.

“Pride is meant to be a protest against institutions of authority and a celebration of minority groups, so to have them included does not make sense.”

The group elaborated on a Facebook post that Vancouver police have reached out to its members to discuss their perspectives. The post said the parties have tentatively begun a dialogue around “anti-oppression and anti-racism initiatives” on the police force.

“Although we may not fully agree about what should happen at this year’s Pride parade, they at least took the time to initiate a dialogue and listened to us express our concerns,” reads the posted dated July 22.

The Vancouver Police Department has participated in the parade for about two decades, Robertson said.

Pride organizers said they were hoping to have their own discussions with members of Black Lives Matter soon. But they were not taking any direct steps to exclude police, said vicepresident Charmaine de Silva.

She added that several members of the Pride board would also be joining an alternative march the day after the parade in the Downtown Eastside.

Representatives of Black Lives Matter have agreed to lead Vancouver’s Dyke March as Grand Marshall. ■

Muslim group demands open investigation into death of Ottawa man after arrest THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — A Canadian Muslim advocacy group is calling for a thorough and transparent investigation into the death of an Ottawa man who was involved in a confrontation with police.

The National Council of Canadian Muslims says an investigation must look into whether racism played a role in the death of 37-year-old Abdirahman Abdi, a Somali-Canadian.

On Sunday, Abdi had a confrontation with Ottawa police officers and was later rushed to hospital where he was pro-

nounced dead, according to a family spokesman.

The council’s executive director Ihsaan Gardee says a swift and open investigation must take place in order to ensure trust is rebuilt between police and the Muslim community.

Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit is probing Abdi’s death. www.canadianinquirer.net

The SIU investigates whenever there is a death, serious injury or allegation of sexual assault involving police in the province.

“Many members of the Ottawa Muslim and Somali communities have serious concerns about how this tragic incident unfolded, including whether

prejudice had something to do with Mr. Abdi’s treatment,” said Gardee.

“The protection and preservation of human rights and dignity, regardless of skin colour, religious belief, or any other characteristic, are integral to our collective and individual sense of safety and inclusion.” ■

Canada News

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

B.C. to bring in a 15 per cent additional real estate tax on foreign buyers

BY DIRK MEISSNER The Canadian Press

adding that revenue from the tax would be used to fund housing, rental and support programs.

The additional tax for foreign buyers VICTORIA — Foreign buyers in Vancou- takes effect Aug. 2. It means a foreign ver’s scorching real estate market will buyer would pay an additional $300,000 soon pay a new tax that Premier Christy in tax on a $2-million purchase.

Clark says is aimed at making housing All purchasers have to pay a one-permore affordable for British Columbia’s cent tax on the first $200,000 of their middle-class buyers. purchase, two per cent on the remainThe government took aim at foreign ing value up to $2 million, and three per buyers Monday, highlighting housing cent on the portion above that. data that indicates they spent more Last month, the Real Estate Board of than $1 billion on B.C. property in a Greater Vancouver said its benchmark five-week period starting June 10, with price for detached properties in Vancou86 per cent of that spending recorded ver had risen above $1.5 million. in the Lower MainA financial report land area. last week showed the Clark’s Liberals province collected have signalled for about $1.5 billion months that change from the property was coming for the transfer tax in the real estate industry, last fiscal year, up tackling unscrupuIf we are going almost $450 million to put British lous sales practises from the previous Columbians and offering tax inyear. first, and that centives to first-time The legislation inis what we home buyers, but it troduced Monday are intending was previously lukealso enables Vanto do, we warm to calls to act couver to amend its need to make on foreign investcommunity charter sure we do ment. to levy a vacancy tax, everything we Clark said recent satisfying a request can to try and housing data played a from Mayor Gregor keep housing large part in the govRobertson. affordable. ernment’s decision “Today’s legislato levy the additional tion is a major acproperty transfer tax knowledgment by on foreign buyers. the province that “There is evidence they have an impornow that suggests tant role to play in very wealthy foreign the housing market buyers have raised and affordability is the overall price of not simply an issue housing for people in B.C.,” she said for municipalities to deal with,” he said at a news held in front of a local com- in a statement. mercial and residential construction Opposition NDP Leader John Horgan project. said the government has waited too long “If we are going to put British Co- to act. lumbians first, and that is what we are “A day late and a dollar short from preintending to do, we need to make sure mier Clark and her crew,” he said. “Just we do everything we can to try and keep months ago, they were telling us there housing affordable,” said Clark. “Ulti- was no problem.” mately, the goal is to affect the demand The president of the Greater Vanby making sure it’s maybe a little tough- couver real estate board, meanwhile, er for foreign buyers to find their way accused the government of acting too into our market.” quickly.

Finance Minister Mike de Jong, who “Housing affordability concerns all of flanked Clark at the news conference, us who live in the region,” Dan Morrisaid recent housing data helped per- son said in a statement. “Implementing suade the government to impose the a new real estate tax, however, with just 15-per-cent tax on property transfers. eight days’ notice and no consultation “We have a better sense of the degree with the professionals who serve home of that today than we did even a month- buyers and sellers every day needlessly and-a-half or two months ago,” he said, injects uncertainty into the market.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

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World News

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

IS group...

The Rev. Jacques Hamel was celebrating Mass for three nuns and two parishioners on a quiet summer morning in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray when the attackers burst in and forced the 85-year-old priest to his knees before slicing his throat, according to authorities and a nun who escaped.

She described seeing the attackers film themselves and give a sermon in Arabic around the altar before she fled. Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said the other hostages were used as human shields to block police from entering. One elderly parishioner was wounded.

The two attackers were killed by police as they rushed from the building shouting “Allahu Akbar,” Molins said. One had three knives and a fake explosives belt; the other carried a kitchen timer wrapped in aluminum foil and had fake explosives in his backpack.

One of the assailants was identified as Adel Kermiche, a 19-year-old who tried to travel to Syria twice last year using family members’ identity documents, but was arrested outside France and handed preliminary terrorism charges. Kermiche had an electronic surveillance bracelet after a judge overruled prosecutors and agreed to free him, Molins said.

A statement published by the IS-affiliated Amaq news agency said Tuesday’s attack was carried out by ”two soldiers of the Islamic State” who acted in re❰❰ 1

sponse to calls to target nations in the U.S.-led coalition fighting the extremist group in Iraq and Syria.

Haras Rafiq, managing director of the Quilliam Foundation, described the attack as a turning point. “What these two people today have done is ... shifted the tactical attack to the attack on Rome ... an attack on Christianity,” he said.

He warned that it could “radicalize people from both sides of the communities. Muslim and non-Muslim.”

As Europe becomes painfully inured to a summer of repeated bloodshed, the extremists are looking for greater ways to shock, Rafiq said. “This is going into a house of God. This is attacking and killing a priest.”

“We’ve been talking about the danger of the global jihadist insurgency. This is what it looks like,” he said.

The increasing speed with which IS has claimed responsibility and the growing number of attacks this summer have left Europe alarmed and fearful.

Targeting a church in the rural Normandy heartland resonated with France’s leadership and Christians across Europe.

While France is officially secular and church attendance is low, the country has deep Catholic roots. Islamic State extremists have urged followers to attack French churches and the group is believed to have planned at least one earlier church attack that was foiled when the assailant shot himself in the leg.

The slain priest had been at the church for the past decade and “was always ready to help,” said Rouen diocese official Philippe Maheut.

“His desire was to spread a message for which he consecrated his life,” Mahut told The Associated Press. “And he certainly didn’t think that consecrating his life would mean for him to die while celebrating Mass, which is a message of love.”

A nun who escaped said the priest was forced to the ground before his throat was slit. “They forced him to his knees. He wanted to defend himself. And that’s when the tragedy happened,” said the woman, identified as Sister Danielle, speaking on BFM television.

She said the attackers filmed themselves. “They did a sort of sermon around the altar, in Arabic. It’s a horror.”

One person, a minor, was arrested in the investigation. Molins said he is believed to be the 16-year-old younger brother of someone wanted by authorities for trying to go to Syria or Iraq in 2015.

Hollande, visiting the scene of Tuesday’s slaying, denounced what he called “a vile terrorist attack” and one more sign that France is at war with the Islamic State group, which has claimed multiple attacks on France over the past year and a half, and two in Germany over the past week.

The pope condemned the attack in the strongest terms. The Vatican spokesman, the Rev.

Federico Lombardi, said in a statement that Pope Francis expressed his “pain and horror for this absurd violence, with the strongest condemnation for every form of hatred and prayer for those affected.”

The town’s mayor, Hubert Wulfranc, in tears, denounced the “barbarism” and, breaking down, pleaded, “Let us together be the last to cry.”

A sombre quiet surrounded Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray, a suburb of the medieval city of Rouen composed of genteel residential neighbourhoods and working-class quarters with massive apartment blocks.

The cluster of towns near Rouen had already been linked to the Islamic State group. A micro-cell of recruits from the area included a Frenchman seen cutting the throat of a Syrian soldier in a November 2014 video. Maxime Hauchard was among at least four people who met at a local mosque and later left to join the extremists.

The violence, currently pivoting between France and Germany, appears unlikely to slow soon because the IS reaps benefits even when attackers have no particular connection to the extremists fighting and losing territory in Iraq and Syria.

“ISIS seeks to recreate the same image that helped it attract thousands of foreign fighters to Syria and Iraq and elsewhere,” said Michael Horowitz, an analyst with the Levantine Group security firm. “The pace of these attacks is aimed at painting ISIS as an omniscient

group capable of humiliating the West, and defying expectations.”

The attack renewed fears of social and religious tensions in France. Support is rising for the anti-immigrant far right, and the country’s millions of moderate Muslims fear a backlash — fears IS has been feeding with a constant stream of propaganda.

“It’s a shot directly at Western Christianity,” said Daniel Shoenfeld, an analyst with the Soufan Group. “It’s this effort by the Islamic State and their supporters to drive a further wedge between broader Western society and Muslims.”

The Rev. Alexandre Joly, who knew the slain priest, said “If we are afraid, they have won.

They must not win. ... We must not enter in the game of fear, of rejection.”

It was unclear how the attacker who was under surveillance carried out the violence without attracting police attention.

France’s security services are stretched after eight months under a state of emergency imposed following attacks in November in Paris. They’ve been under new strain since an attack in the southern city of Nice on Bastille Day — July 14 — that killed 84 people and was claimed by IS. French authorities increased security at places of worship after attacks in Paris last year, but ensuring constant, blanket security is difficult in a country with a church in every town and village. ■

Calgary mayor apologizes for rant against Uber during ride in Boston THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY MAYOR Naheed Nenshi has again apologized for comments he made about the ride-hailing service Uber while hitching a lift with a competitor in Boston.

Nenshi says he’s thought a lot about what he said, concluding he’s “made a mistake and learned an important lesson.”

Nenshi has said he was unaware his comments were being livestreamed when he sug-

gested that Calgary city officials had sent registered sex offenders and people with convictions for violent crimes to see if they could get through Uber’s background checks.

On Monday, Nenshi said in his statement that those comments were “inaccurate,” adding that whether he thinks a conversation is private or not, he shouldn’t have said what he did.

The apology comes on the heels of Integrity Commissioner Allen Sulatycky’s report into the incident.

Sulatycky didn’t suggest sanctions against Nenshi, but did call for an apology for what he called “enthusiastically indulging in some extravagant hyberbole.”

“Specifically, I want to apologize for making comments that may have led citizens to become uneasy or suspicious of the conduct of city employees,” said Nenshi.

“My colleagues at The City of Calgary come to work every single day with a goal to make life better for the citizens of www.canadianinquirer.net

Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi.

this city. The people who work at The City are professionals

SERGEI ~ 5OF7 / FLICKR

who work with integrity and respect.” ■

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World News

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

Flight 370: With Letter foretold Japan rampage that killed 19 disabled people search suspended, a cold case file awaits

BY TED ANTHONY The Associated Press BANGKOK — For two years and more, it has been a lost ship, a metal container carrying 239 souls that simply disappeared one late Asian night never to be seen again. And now, the search for the remains of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 likely will become a thing of memory, too.

With Friday’s announcement that the meticulous ocean search for the missing jetliner will be suspended — in effect, called off — one of this decade’s most tantalizing unanswered questions is headed toward becoming, in effect, a cold case.

“I am not surprised it’s coming to an end without any answers,” Tony Wong, a businessman in Kuala Lumpur, said Monday.

“People are slowly forgetting the incident,” he said. “No one will ever know the truth.”

The truth may be out there.

The problem is, you have to know where to look. And that’s been precisely the problem all along.

The Boeing 777-200ER vanished on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014. Investigators believed it turned back west and then south before dropping into the Indian Ocean west of Australia, where the search has been concentrated.The Malaysian government has concluded that it was deliberately steered off course. Conspiracy theories, unsurprisingly, still abound in the vacuum of facts: Was it blown up? Steered into the sea? Diverted to a remote airstrip somewhere? Ab-

ducted by aliens?

For a long stretch, it seemed the world’s biggest loose end — a global obsession for weeks, a niggling unsolved riddle for years.

And behind the epic tale were the lost souls and the families they left behind, which expected maximum effort and, to hear many relatives tell it over the long months, a successful resolution.

They were not happy at the news that the search was being suspended. To varying degrees, they have accused investigators and searchers and the governments overseeing them of disingenuousness, incompetence and nefarious political agendas.

In China, relatives have roundly denounced the decision. They still don’t seem ready to think about the finality of it all.

“They are actually just playing with words,” Hu Xiufang, the mother of a Flight 370 passenger, said Monday. “‘Suspension’ means termination to us. We strongly demand a re-investigation into how the plane went missing, and there is no excuse for the suspension of the search.”

The decision to suspend the search, which has endured through damaged equipment and punishing weather, was made jointly by the three countries conducting the operation: Malaysia, Australia and China, which lost the most people in the aircraft’s disappearance.

Together, they already have spent $135 million searching a 46,300-square-mile area.

The governments were delicate in their language Friday — ❱❱ PAGE 22 Flight 370

Support messages and prayers for Malaysia Airlines MH370 in KLIA, Malaysia back in 2014. The case is still unsolved, more than two years after.

AHMAD FAIZAL YAHYA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

BY MARI YAMAGUCHI AND YURI KAGEYAMA The Associated Press

“It was so much fun today.

Thank you, all. Now I am 23, but please be friends forever,” a 2013 post says.

But somewhere along the way, things went terribly awry.

Uematsu began to tell people around him that disabled people needed to be killed. In February, he tried to hand deliver a letter he wrote to Parliament’s lower house speaker demanding all disabled people be put to death through “a world that allows for mercy killing,” Kyodo news agency and TBS TV reported.

Uematsu boasted in the letter that he had the ability to kill 470 disabled people in what he called was “a revolution,” and outlined an attack on two facilities, after which he said he will turn himself in. He also asked he be judged innocent on grounds of insanity, be given 500 million yen ($5 million) in aid and plastic surgery so he could lead a normal life afterward.

its association with criminal groups.

“He was just an ordinary young fellow,” he said.

Yasuyuki Deguchi, a crimiSAGAMIHARA, JAPAN — A nologist, said Uematsu’s alleged young Japanese man went on a actions were typical of someone stabbing rampage Tuesday at a who bears a grudge and seeks facility for the mentally disabled revenge, because it appeared he where he had been fired, police planned out the attack, and then said, killing 19 people months he turned himself into police. after he gave a letter to Parlia“Accomplishing his goal was ment outlining the bloody plan all he wanted,” Deguchi said on and saying all disabled people TV Asahi. should be put to death.

Michael Gillan Peckitt, a lecWhen he was done, Satoshi turer in clinical philosophy at Uematsu, 26, had left dead or Osaka University in central Jainjured nearly a third of the alpan, and an expert on disabled most 150 patients at the facility people’s issues in Japan, said in a matter of 40 minutes in the the attack speaks more about early Tuesday attack, the deadUematsu than the treatment of liest mass killing in Japan in dethe disabled in Japan. cades, authorities said. Twenty“It highlights the need for five were wounded, 20 of them an early-intervention system seriously. in the Japanese mental health Security camera footage played system. Someone doesn’t get to on TV news programs showed a that state without some sympman driving up in a black car and toms of mental illness,” he said. carrying several Mass killings knives to the Tsuare rare in Jakui Yamayuri-en pan. Because of facility in Sagthe country’s amihara, 50 kiloUematsu began to tell people around extremely strict him that disabled people needed to metres (30 miles) gun-control be killed. west of Tokyo. laws, any attackThe man broke er usually resorts in by shattering to stabbings. In a window at 2:10 2008, seven peoa.m., according to ple were killed a prefectural health official, and The letter was reprinted by by a man who slammed a truck then set about slashing the pa- Kyodo after the attack. into a crowd of people in central tients’ throats.

“My reasoning is that I may be Tokyo’s Akihabara electronics Details of how he did that, able to revitalize the world econ- district and then stabbed passand if the victims were asleep omy and I thought it may be pos- ers-by. or otherwise helpless, were not sible to prevent World War III,” In 2001, a man killed eight immediately known, although a the rambling letter says. children and injured 13 others in letter he sent to Japan’s ParliaThe letter, which the Tokyo a knife attack at an elementary ment in February gave a peek police got, included Uematsu’s school in the city of Osaka. The into Uematsu’s dark turmoil. name, address and telephone incident shocked Japan and led He calmly turned himself in number, and reports of his threats to increased security at schools. about two hours after the at- were relayed to local police where As recent as earlier this tack, police said.

Uematsu lived, Kyodo said. month, a man stabbed four Tsukui Yamayuri-en, which Kanagawa Gov. Yuji Kuroiwa people at a library in northeastmeans mountain lily garden, was apologized for having failed to ern Japan, allegedly over their a facility Uematsu knew well, act on the warning signs. improper handling of his queshaving worked there since 2012 From his time working at the tions, although no one died. until he was let go in February. facility, Uematsu was known to In 2010, 14 were injured by an He knew the staffing would people in the area, and some unemployed man who stabbed be down to just a handful in the said he was so polite and up- and beat up passengers on two wee hours of the morning, Jap- standing that they found the public buses outside a Japanese anese media reports said. news shocking. train station in Ibaraki PrefecNot much is known yet about Akihiro Hasegawa, who lived ture, about 25 miles (40 kilohis background, but Uematsu next door to Uematsu, said he metres) northeast of Tokyo. ■ once dreamed of becoming a heard Uematsu had gotten in teacher. In two group photos trouble with the facility, initial- Associated Press writers Satoshi posted on his Facebook, he ly over sporting a tattoo, often Sugiyama and Ken Moritsugu in looks happy, smiling widely frowned upon in mainstream Tokyo contributed to this story. with other young men.

Japanese society because of Kageyama reported from Tokyo. www.canadianinquirer.net

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JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS:

Liza Silagan Ombao: Fil-Core's Miss Caregiver 2016 1st Runner Up & Best In Creative Gown

BY LI ERON SHE LEARNED to fry at six.

The youngest of five, Liza Silagan Ombao (Candidate # 10) knew poverty at a very young age. Their father died when she was 4 years old and her mother, like many mothers in the past generations, including mine, did not finished elementary.

The siblings, 2 girls and three boys, find a means to live. They cooked various delicacies like “puto” and “kalamay” to sell for their fare and allowances.

Liza and her older sister will wake up at 4 AM, cooked their foods to sell and then they will come home to cook “Empanada” and sell them to school.

That was her childhood sacrifices along with her siblings and their mom. Like many families, sometimes they don’t have foods at the table. But instead of losing hope, the whole family worked together to live life as much as they could and survive without leaving school.

Raised in Davao City, Liza had a penchant for singing at their school programs. Like every Filipino, we all had that kind of calling in the classroom to sing until we felt like fainting. But Liza chewed music like a peanut. She had a remarkable voice. In high school, she has already started singing with the band named “The Black Naza-

rene.” And she already became Champion in both Divisional and Regional levels representing their school. Liza was the band’s lead singer and the Band traveled to Japan, Tai Wan and Australia to perform.

They were separated in their pursuit of education as some of the siblings became working students. All of them earned a degree. Liza earned a degree in Bachelor of Arts in Commerce Major in Business Management at the University of Mindanao.

Liza’s older sister, a teacher, is now in Australia. When Liza got married, she was off and on

with her singing as she bears children. But then fate made other plans for her that brought her to Tai Wan. From there her path led her to Canada. She came to Canada in 2006. Liza admitted the difficulties of adjusting to new life in Canada.

But like many, those who are smart in life knew where to go and who to lean on.

Fil-Core Support Group may have been one of those who embraced Liza and lessen the burdens attributed to working in Canada as a Caregiver. Joining Fil-Core’s Miss Caregiver Pageant is a manifestation of a hard-

core loyalty and gratefulness.

Liza Silagan Ombao is Candidate # 10 as she walked gracefully on stage at St. Michael’s College School Centre for the Arts in Bathurst Street last July 16, 2016 along with nine other Candidates. The competition was fierce. But the audience took notice of Liza because of her singing at her talent portion. Her voice was packed with power and her delivery a trademark of professionalism.

The Judges were incredibly having difficulties in choosing the winner in each category. But when Liza (Candidate # 10) came

out with her evening gown, the obviously colorful gown made of various color of plastics, the Judges hand her the Best in Creative Gown Award. The Judges also choose her the 1st Runner Up for Miss Caregiver 2016.

Liza quipped that she did it for three months in between her two jobs. She said she took guidance from a Fashion Designer in the Philippines named Roy Alcordo. Liza used a fishnet on the lower part and cacha cloth on top by using glue. The result was a classy creation that look like an expensive gown. It was elegant. ■

be prevented.

A critical mass of actual wreckage beyond the few confirmed pieces that have turned up would also convey a sense of competence that we humans can go out and find our lost stuff in the depths of our oceans. Which in many ways, despite complex oceanographic models, we still can’t.

“We can send spacecraft to Jupiter and Saturn and Mars to see their surface, but we can’t send a craft to the bottom of the ocean to look at our own surface,” Western Australia University oceanographer Charitha Pattiaratchi said.

The pressure on authorities, he said, suggests that a breather from the search might actually be the best approach.

“It’s probably good to pause and then take stock of things,” Pattiaratchi said. “They can try again if there’s some better data or better technology.”

In the meantime, the world goes on. The increased pace of the news cycle, the unremitting parade of minor violence and major cataclysm, pushes us away from this singular puzzle and into the more recent sad and lethal spectacles of Orlando and Nice, Dallas and Munich, Baghdad and Kabul.

It is so much, sometimes, that we might fail to remember one fundamental point in the story that was, and is, Flight 370: The world we call home swallowed a giant airplane and the people aboard it and, 871 days later, we have absolutely no idea what became of them.

There is an expectation, fueled by a modern world filled with technology and accomplishment, that if we want something enough, if we throw enough money and resources at it, there’s nothing we can’t do. And when that narrative of expectation is interrupted by something as strange and ter-

rible as the unresolved disappearance of a giant metal machine, it doesn’t go down easy.

“It’s all a big fabrication, a big coverup,” said Sakinab Shah, the eldest sister of senior pilot Capt. Zaharie Ahmad Shah.

“Things just don’t add up.”

Then she said something that echoed many people’s comments in the first days after the disappearance, when the modern world’s best machines and algorithms were brought to bear to find that plane and there were high hopes it would be found.

“With modern-day technology,” Shah said, “how can there be a mystery?” ■

Flight 370... they did not say outright that they were ending the search.

But there is a general sense that it is unlikely to continue unless specific new evidence is found to suggest a particular location.

And the search in its current incarnation will not end immediately; it could last into the winter months, officials have said.

Finding the plane would not just bring emotional closure to families. It also would hand investigators and the airline industry crucial information and tools to understand why Flight 370 might have gone down and how similar occurrences might ❰❰ 20

www.canadianinquirer.net

Community News

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

23

Superior Court found Balita publisher liable for defamation TORONTO SUPERIOR Court of Justice Judge Sidney Lederman recently ruled in favour of Sen. Tobias C. Enverga Jr., in his defamation lawsuit against Balita Media Inc. and publisher Tess Cusipag, in a damning verdict over false and defamatory remarks published about the Senator which alleged fraud related to fundraising efforts on behalf of the Kalayaan Cultural Community Centre (KCCC) in 2000.

The judge awarded Senator Enverga general and aggravated damages, in addition to punitive damages and a permanent injunction against the publisher and her company to publish/broadcast, or assist or encourage others to publish/broadcast, any statements about the issues related to the Senator’s role in KCCC fundraising, the charitable status of the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation (PCCF) and Senator Enverga being a biological and pathological liar.

In the judgement, Justice Lederman wrote in part: “In the end, the defendants have no reliable evidence to prove the truth of the $6,000 fraud allegation or the PCCF donation/

tax credit allegation. In fact, Cusipag admitted on discovery that it is not true that Senator Enverga committed a fraud in relation to fund raising activities and that the PCCF allegations are false.” “… an award of punitive damages is necessary in this case.

The defendants, and in particular Cusipag, has done virtually everything she could to destroy and discredit Senator Enverga in an unrelenting manner …

They engaged in absolutely no investigation whatsoever as to the truth of what they were publishing. They were recklessly indifferent to the truth of the Article … At no time has there been any retraction or apology given. Cusipag vows to continue to make defamatory statements against the plaintiff [Senator Enverga] and has shown no interest in stopping her efforts or refraining from misconduct. In 2010, after Senator Enverga was elected as a Catholic school board trustee, he arrived late to a press event held by Cusipag [Senator Enverga went to a wake for a good friend]. She published a warning to Senator Enverga. ‘First off is to respect the press who

can wield its power to make or break you.’ In the article and on her Facebook page, she is fulfilling the threat that she made against the plaintiff in 2010 that she would destroy him,” the judge continued.

The judgement is clear on the motivation of the Balita publisher, stating that: “Cusipag was motivated by malice. She obviously holds a deep seated resentment towards Senator Enverga. She used his comments to the Philippine press as a springboard to vent her unfounded allegations in the published article and her Facebook to intentionally besmirch Senator Enverga’s reputation in the Filipino-Canadian community.” After receiving the decision, Senator Enverga’s counsel, Howard W. Winkler, told the Senator: “The decision is a complete vindication of your reputation. The decision is a complete indictment of Ms. Cusipag.”

“I am relieved by the court’s decision on this matter,” said Senator Enverga in a statement. “This is a victory for the community,” Senator Enverga ended. ■ The Office of Senator Enverga

Cousins Culis and Sofronio split the lotto jackpot.

CHRISD.CA

FilCan cousins split lotto jackpot TWO FILCAN cousins from Winnipeg are sharing the $1 million jackpot prize in last week’s Lotto 6/49 draw.

The lucky day of roommates Arlene Culis and Vanessa Sofronio happened July 13, when they matched the numbers to the winning ticket.

Culis said she discovered the win online. “I was surprised, shocked really. I just sat there, gawking at the screen for a little

while,” she said.

“I couldn’t believe that we won a million dollars. It still hasn’t sunk in, to be honest,” Sofronio added. The two cousins have been playing the lottery together for the last couple of months. They purchased the winning ticket at City Place Lotto on St. Mary Ave. Culis said she plans to use the money for her children’s education while Sofronio plans to spend the money paying off her jeep. ■

Christy Clark still failing British Columbians with Vancouver Consulate cheers housing flip-flop PH women’s softball team THE PHILIPPINE Consulate General in Vancouver reported that the Philippine Women’s Softball Team or Philippine Blu Girls participated in the recent Surrey 2016 WBSC XV Women’s World Softball Championship held in Softball City, Surrey, British Columbia from July 15 to 24.

The Philippine delegation was composed of 18 players, six coaches and training staff.

The Blu Girls won their matches against Czech Republic and Pakistan but lost in the succeeding games when they were pitted against the powerhouse teams of the USA, Australia and China. The Philippines ranked 16th out of the 31 countries that participated in the tournament that was topped by

the USA followed by Japan and host country, Canada.

During a picnic hosted by the Consulate at the softball picnic grounds, Consul General Neil Frank Ferrer congratulated the Philippine Blu Girls for their valiant stand against the much tougher teams and for bringing honor to the country.

He encouraged them to continue training hard for the next world championship to be held in Japan in 2018. Consul General Ferrer also thanked the members of the Filipino community in Surrey and nearby cities for their support and generosity throughout the tournament. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

PREMIER CHRISTY Clark spent years denying that B.C.’s housing affordability crisis even exists, and now she’s introducing new legislation to get rid of her bad headlines, say New Democrats.

“People that I speak with in every part of B.C. are concerned about their ability to find affordable housing to rent or buy.

They know it’s a crisis, but Premier Christy Clark still doesn’t get it,” said New Democrat Leader John Horgan.

“After two years of denying that there was any problem in B.C.’s housing market, Premier Clark has taken steps that will do little to help the situation in the Lower Mainland, and will actually make things worse for people trying to find affordable housing in the rest of B.C.,” said Horgan.

Horgan said that the new B.C. Liberal tax on foreign nationals

will not focus on speculative investment — the activity that is distorting real estate prices in B.C. — but rather on the citizenship of home-buyers.

“We have the tools to tax people who are simply using homes as a safety deposit box for their wealth, but Premier Christy Clark is still refusing to use them,” said Horgan.

New Democrat housing spokesperson David Eby said it’s time that the Christy Clark government stopped just worrying about bad headlines and started taking the issue of affordable housing seriously.

“It’s a mistake to focus on citizenship status instead of foreign cash,” said Eby. “We need to link income tax data with real estate purchases to identify the international money at the root of the housing crisis.” ■

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JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

Entertainment Dabarkads meet with MTRCB Both sides find common ground

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer

FACEBOOK PHOTO

Coco Martin: Success has its drawbacks

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer

room, he told everyone: ‘Kunin n’yo ako ha (Please pick me, okay)?’ He surprised everyone.

Ang angas ng dating (He leaves FOR COCO Martin, star of the an impact)!” top-rating series “FPJ’s Ang Later, business unit head Probinsyano,” success has its Deo Endrinal opted to include drawbacks.

Simon in the cast as Coco’s di“What’s making me sad is minutive sidekick Onyok. “He’s that I no longer get to see my a natural. Now he’s so comfortfamily,” Coco said during a reable on the set that we let him cent ABS-CBN thanksgiving do his ad-lib. He would somedinner for show biz scribes. times complain when he was The actor is on the set of the given only short lines,” Coco action-drama program from said. “Makmak is amazing in Monday to Friday. On weekdramatic scenes. You can see ends, he goes on trips to the the emotion in his eyes. To provinces with think that these other cast memboys have never bers to promote had acting lesthe show. “It sons before.” came to a point I lead a boring life because I do On his love nothing but work. But then again, I’ve when I would allife, Coco said of prayed for this for a long time. ready question all the actresses myself if what I he had worked was doing was with Julia Monright,” he shared tes is the closwith reporters. est to his heart.

“I promise that when all of with, like the stunt men and “She’s younger than me so she this is over, I will try to rest fight choreographers. We got listens to my advice. She is also and spend time with my fam- to chat about a lot of things, in- very giving of her time. I can see ily… I lead a boring life because cluding concepts for possible that she respects me. We come I do nothing but work. But then projects together.” from similar backgrounds and again, I’ve prayed for this for a He further said that meet- so we have a lot in common,” he long time,” the actor said, then ing child stars Simon Pineda, pointed out. recalling the time when he was who plays Onyok, and McNeal Coco described his ideal merely a budding indie actor.

Briguela, also known as Mak- woman as “someone who is “Ang Probinsyano” is tenta- mak, was like striking gold. “Si- willing to wait for me—just like tively scheduled to run until mon auditioned for the role of I’d be willing to adjust for her if September 2016.

Junior (Ador’s son) but didn’t ever she’s not yet ready to comCoco said he was thrilled to get it. He was only 4 and had mit. She should also be somework with one of his idols, ac- no idea about acting. As he was one who will not just love me, tion star Cesar Montano, who about to step out of the audition but also my entire family.” ■ recently guested on the show as a hitman. “Before we started taping, I felt so nervous that I was really shaking. It was because while observing him, I realized that I still have a long way to go as an actor. I still have a lot to learn. What’s good about Kuya Buboy (Cesar’s nickname) is that he is very giving. He willingly shared his ideas with me,” Coco recalled.

He added: “From talking to him, I learned how much he loves his craft and the action genre. I also learned how much he cares for people he works

www.canadianinquirer.net

AS WAS previously scheduled, representatives of the noontime program, “Eat Bulaga,” met with officers of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) on July 21at the government agency’s office in Quezon City.

The “fact-finding” meeting was set because of the complaints the board had received concerning the July 9 episode of the long-running show, which is produced by Tape Inc. and aired on GMA 7.

In the July 9 edition of the “Juan for All, All for Juan” segment, host Tito Sotto scolded a female winner for “drinking” with men other than her husband—a pastime that eventually led to an incident of abuse.

In various social media posts, some netizens described Sotto’s comments as “gender insensitive,” bordering on “victim shaming.”

Eugenio Villareal, chair of the MTRCB, told the INQUIRER that the show’s representatives “presented their side with regard to the alleged ‘gender-insensitive’ remarks,” during the meeting.

“Dabarkads” (pet name of the “Eat Bulaga” team) were represented by Antonio Tuviera, Tape Inc. president and chief executive officer; Malou Choa-Fagar,

Tape Inc. senior vice president and chief operating officer; and Jenny Ferre, creative head, along with the company’s lawyers.

Although the board’s jurisdiction “pertains to programs and not to hosts and other show business personalities,” Sotto, who is also an incumbent senator, attended the inquiry, as well, Villareal related.

The MTRCB panel was chaired by board member Noel del Prado.

Villareal recounted that the show’s officials “answered the board’s questions … for a clear and accurate account of what transpired during the episode” mentioned in the complaints of various netizens.

Sotto told the INQUIRER that the probe “went well.”

He reported that the board “watched the entire episode.”

The show’s reps wanted the board to “realize that the allegations were false… or unfounded, to say the least,” said Sotto.

As a result of the meeting, the program’s officials promised to “submit a letter, providing further factual details… not later than July 28.”

In the letter, the show also committed to detail “any procedures that it has already instituted, as well as additional safeguards it may adopt to promote the objectives of the Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710) and the MTRCB Charter (PD 1986).” ■

SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE

Entertainment

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

25

Warner Bros. calms fans with fun ‘Justice League’ footage

BY LINDSEY BAHR The Associated Press SAN DIEGO — After “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” put the launch of the DC/Warner Bros. universe on shaky ground, the studio came back swinging at Comic-Con Saturday armed with movie stars, brand new footage and a sense of humour.

The 6,500-some fans in Hall H got a glimpse of never-before-seen footage from the superhero all-star film “Justice League” from director Zack Snyder, as well as the actionpacked first trailer for “Wonder Woman,” starring Gal Gadot.

Snyder and the cast flew in from London to tease “Justice League,” which is currently in production and not set to hit theatres until November 2017.

The lively “Justice League” footage highlights Bruce Wayne’s recruitment of what will be the Justice League team, including The Flash (Ezra Miller), Cyborg (Ray Fisher) and Aquaman (Jason Momoa).

Ben Affleck, who plays Bruce Wayne/Batman, hyped the film with his fellow cast mates, including Gadot and Superman actor Henry Cavill — putting

to bed any lingering suspicions that his character was actually killed off for good at the end of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

The lighter touch in the “Justice League” reel is likely a direct response to the widespread criticism of the self-seriousness of “Batman v Superman,” and will be a pivotal moment for the studio in bringing together all of the personalities that they hope will also stand on their own, much like Marvel and Disney have done with “The Avengers.” Warner Bros. has 10 films pegged to the interconnected universe over the next few years including “Suicide Squad,” which comes out next month, “Wonder Woman,” “Aquaman,” “The Flash,” and the stand alone “Batman” film, which Affleck is directing and starring in.

To kick things off, Affleck was joined on stage by all of his fellow directors David Ayer (“Suicide Squad”), Patty Jenkins (“Wonder Woman”), James Wan (“Aquaman”), Rick Famuyiwa (“The Flash”) and Snyder.

“DC is the foundation of what we all know about comic books and heroes. To have my voice be a part of that is really exciting,”

Legal fight over isoHunt and downloading of music files ends in settlement THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER — Music Canada says a settlement has ended a near decade-old legal fight with a now-defunct search engine, which was once one of the most popular websites for downloading songs and movies.

Gary Fung, founder of isoHunt Web Technologies, filed a petition with the British Columbia Supreme Court in 2008 seeking to have his BitTorrent search website declared legal under the federal Copyright Act. That kicked off several backand-forth legal skirmishes be-

tween Fung and Music Canada, including a lawsuit from two dozen Canadian and international music companies that alleged isoHunt and Fung committed copyright infringement.

Music Canada, a trade group that represents record companies including Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music, says under the agreement, isoHunt and Fung are liable for C$65 million in damages and punitive damages.

The settlement comes after Fung agreed in 2013 to shut down Vancouver-based isoHunt and was deemed liable by a U.S. court for US$110 million. ■

Famuyiwa said.

Wan, who made his name in horror films like the “Saw” and “Conjuring” films said that he’d be bringing some of that sensibility to “Aquaman” as well.

Neither Wan nor Famuyiwa had any footage to show, since “The Flash” and “Aquaman” don’t come out until 2018, but fans did get a first look at director Patty Jenkins’ “Wonder Woman,” which highlights the romance and World War I-era adventure of Diana Prince’s origins. The movie comes out in June of 2017 and will be the first time the iconic superhero has had her own film in her 75year history.

“Knowing how many people care so much for this character ... it was important to portray (her) in a way everyone can relate,” Gadot said, seated alongside co-stars Chris Pine and Connie Neilsen, who plays her mother. Audiences first met Gadot’s “Wonder Woman” in “Batman v Superman.”

The baddies of “Suicide Squad,” out Aug. 5, took the stage too, including stars Will Smith, Margot Robbie and Jared Leto.

“This is not a movie about good versus evil,” Smith said. “This is a movie about bad versus evil.”

Gal Gadot stars as Wonder Woman, one of the movies from the franchise to be released.

S_BUKLEY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

It wasn’t all comic books and superheroes in the studio presentation, though. Audiences saw the first trailer for “Kong: Skull Island,” a 1970s-set King Kong story starring Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, John Goodman and “Straight Outta Compton’s” Jason Mitchell and Corey Hawkins, from director Jordan Vogt-Roberts that comes out in March 2017.

“Kong is film history. Kong is where genre met mainstream,” Vogt-Roberts said of the classic character.

The studio also unveiled a trailer for “The Lego Batman Movie,” an irreverent, jokepacked spinoff of the breakout “Lego Movie” character voiced

by Will Arnett set for February 2017.

Charlie Hunam was also there to tease “King Arthur: The Legend of the Sword,” which looks as frenetic and deadpan as most of director Guy Ritchie’s films, as was the cast and director of “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” coming to theatres this November. ■

Film company guilty in ‘Star Wars’ accident that broke leg THE CANADIAN PRESS LONDON — A film production company on Tuesday admitted health and safety breaches over an accident on the set of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” that broke the leg of star Harrison Ford.

The actor was struck by a hydraulic door on the set of the Millennium Falcon — his character Han Solo’s spaceship — at Pinewood Studios near London in June 2014. He was airlifted to a hospital for surgery.

During a hearing at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court in Britain, prosecutor Andrew Marshall said the door “could www.canadianinquirer.net

have killed somebody” had an emergency stop button not been hit. Britain’s Health and Safety Executive said the metal-framed door struck Ford with a power comparable to the weight of a small car.

Foodles Production Ltd, which is owned by the Walt Dis-

ney Co., admitted two breaches of health and safety law, although its lawyer, Angus Withington, said Foodles would contest the level of risk involved.

The company will be sentenced next month.

Production on the film was suspended for two weeks after the accident to Ford, who was 71 at the time.

“The Force Awakens” is the seventh installment in the space saga and has taken more than $2 billion at the worldwide box office since its release last year.

Filming is underway on the eighth Star Wars film, directed

by Rian Johnson and due for release in 2017. ■

26

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

Lifestyle Summer camp for young Syrian refugees mixes fun, crash course on Canadian life

BY CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI The Canadian Press TORONTO — It’s a familiar chant belted out at summer camps across the continent, but the call-and-response uttered at one Toronto day camp on a sticky July day is hesitant, even shy.

“I don’t know what you’ve been told!” an eager counsellor bellows in sing-song fashion at a group of young Syrian refugees.

“H.appi Campers cheers the most,” her wary charges mumble back in broken English.

It takes a moment for the middle-schoolers to grasp this peculiar game, but three tries later, they gel into a more-orless unified chorus.

“Five! Six! Seven! Eight!

Weeeeeeee’re great!” they holler, letting loose with exuberant cheers.

The fun and games at this day camp are more than just a rite of passage for these new Canadians, they’re a key step in easing their transition into a strange country with unfamiliar customs.

H.appi Camper founder Mazen El-Baba says he tried to design a getaway that would offer the staples of any typical North American summer camp: drama, arts and crafts, and sports.

But it would also offer muchneeded lessons tailored to the specific needs of young Syrian refugees: intensive literacy classes, a crash course in Canadian cultural norms, and selfesteem exercises.

That last goal is possibly the most challenging, given the fact that most of these war-weary children — 75 in all, ranging in age from five to 15 — have been through horrific traumas.

El-Baba says it’s hard to know exactly how these kids are suffering because they have not been formally diagnosed with behavioural or mental-health issues. But they clearly bear the scars.

At H.appi Camp, there are classes on leadership, and how to speak confidently in a group. There are discussions about diversity and human rights, the environment, and volunteerism.

When confronted with something they’ve done wrong, it’s not uncommon to hear a frustrated camper say, “I should go kill myself” or “I should go stab myself or shoot myself,” says El-Baba.

“I’m not sure if they actually understand it because you’re hearing that from an eightyear-old, you’re hearing that from a nine-year-old,” he adds.

“An eight-year-old and nineyear-old saying that, ‘I want to stab myself,’ it’s really hard to hear that. It’s like, ‘Wow, OK, let’s talk more about it.’ That’s some of the things we see.”

Activities were designed with the help of mental-health professionals, family doctors, social workers and crisis-intervention professionals. Every week, each counsellor meets with three mental-health experts to discuss behavioural problems they’ve observed.

But this is not a counselling camp, stresses El-Baba. The biggest goal is to let these kids be kids, and have the opportunity to let loose and have fun.

Soft-spoken 11-year-old Hanin Jaamour says she’s learning a lot, and that’s easing some of her anxiety about attending school in the fall.

She and her family landed in Toronto in February, and she went to school for three months.

But she didn’t like it at all.

“Everything is different,” she says in Arabic, with El-Baba translating.

She’s excited about entering Grade 6, but she’s also scared.

“This year it’s going to be harder for English because we’re going to be learning more things,” she frets.

“Here it’s a very diverse culture, you have many people coming from various different countries and backgrounds and religions. Back home we don’t have the mixing of boys and girls and this is completely new, which is amazing.”

Camp supervisor Windemere Jarvis, the only counsellor who doesn’t speak Arabic, says she’s impressed by how eager the kids are to learn new customs.

They’ve opened their hearts and bared their souls everyday, she says, pointing to painful anecdotes about bombings, destroyed homes, and grief that can send her home “crying all night.”

“I was talking to a friend of mine and they said, ‘You know what, I think the most important thing is when you hear these stories is not to cry because that is their reality. Just let them talk and let them know that what happened to them was OK and that they’re here now and we want them to be suwww.canadianinquirer.net

per happy here and feel like this is safe,”‘ says Jarvis.

The athletic 21-year-old has taken a keen interest in boosting self-esteem among the girls, noting that a clear gender bias towards the boys “is very visible.”

“The other day we lined them up and immediately all the boys went to the front of the line and the girls went behind them,” she notes.

She worries about how the boys might be disciplined for such behaviour at a Toronto school unfamiliar with Syrian culture.

“It’s not their fault,” she says, envisioning repeated trips to the principal’s office for something they don’t understand.

Jarvis says she tries to introduce new ideas by showing them girls can do anything and by recognizing and praising female achievements.

“I think that’s something they’re a little hesitant toward but the’re not resistant,” she says.

“And I think that they definitely — the girls especially — want to be empowered and they want to change. Because (after) coming here (to Canada), that’s what’s going to happen to them.”

It hasn’t been easy. Teaching even basic classroom etiquette has been a challenge, admits ElBaba.

Kids at this camp will simply

slip out of the room if they need to use the bathroom. Or they’ll try to open the emergency exit while the school bus is moving.

“It’s not like they don’t want to obey the rules, it’s because they just don’t quite understand it,” says El-Baba.

“They haven’t had that same structure back home and now this is all new to them where they’re organized into groups and they have to follow a certain schedule, they have to go to the washroom at a certain time.”

At H.appi Camp, there are classes on leadership, and how to speak confidently in a group.

There are discussions about diversity and human rights, the environment, and volunteerism.

Other courses focus on how to resolve conflict, how to work in a team, and how to build friendships and trust.

Admission is free but the waiting list is 200-kids long.

El-Baba says the monthlong program is largely funded through a $36,000 federal grant. Private donations help pay for buses and transportation, a couple of food banks have supplied drinks and snacks, and Canadian Tire has donated sporting equipment.

But art supplies dwindled after just the first week, and ElBaba says they’re running out of cash.

He hopes to generate more money to fund a followup program once school starts. That project would see counsellors visit each family weekly to check up on how the kids are faring academically, socially, and psychologically.

El-Baba is optimistic about their futures.

“I was shocked and amazed by how resilient they are,” he says, rattling off the stories he’s heard that end with death or violence.

“Hopefully by the end of this month they’ll have an idea there’s other things in the world that they still haven’t learnt or experienced that are good.” ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

27

‘Disordered eating’ rates troubling among young lesbians, bisexuals, gays

BY CAMILLE BAINS The Canadian Press

bians girls.

In comparison, eight per cent of heterosexual girls reported purging in 1999, but the rate went down to five per cent in 2013.

Heterosexual boys had the lowest rates of the behaviour, and it declined further over the years.

Watson said it’s not known why there’s such a disparity among the different groups of youth, but it’s clear that sexual minority kids need targeted programs.

He said the research suggests healthy eating and body-image programs that seem to be working for straight youth haven’t reached lesbian, gay and bisexual kids.

program at BC Children’s Hospital, said the study creates more awareness about the impact of sexual identity on eating VANCOUVER — Gay, lesbian disorders. and bisexual youth are continu“Kids who are lesbian, gay or ing to purge, fast or take diet bisexual or transgender are at pills to lose weight while rates risk of various conditions, parfor such behaviour among hetticularly mental health condierosexuals have decreased, a tions such as depression and University of British Columbia anxiety. There also tend to be study says. more risk-taking behaviours in “Our study has found that it’s this population and it really is only getting worse for lesbian about the support that they reand bisexual girls,” said lead receive in the community.” searcher Ryan Watson, a postShe said bullying and rejecdoctoral fellow at the univertion over sexual identity has sity’s school of nursing. an impact on various mental The research involved 26,000 health conditions, including students in Massachusetts, but eating disorders among chilthe results for the Grades 9 to dren.

12 students are the same as an Dr. Laird Birmingham, who even larger and has specialized yet-to-be pubin treating eatlished British ing disorders for Columbia survey more than 40 among students years and now Kids who are lesbian, gay or bisexual or transgender are at risk of various in Grades 7 to 12. runs a private conditions, particularly mental health The Massaclinic after workconditions such as depression and chusetts study, ing at St. Paul’s anxiety. based on data Hospital in Vancollected becouver, said spetween 1999 and cialized services 2013, was pubare needed for lished this week in the InternaThe students were asked sexual minorities. tional Journal of Eating Disor- about their weight loss behav“The government has no speders. iour over the last 30 days, and cific programs for individuals Watson said Massachusetts is their “disordered eating” did in those categories,” he said. one of the few states that since not suggest they had an eating “They have to be allowed to 1991 has asked youth about disorder but they could be at hear things in the context of sexual orientation as part of its a high risk in the future, said their beliefs, of their life, how regular surveys on adolescents. University of B.C. nursing Prof. it’s developing, and the chalThe study said that in 2013, Elizabeth Saewyc, the study’s lenges they have sexually,” he lesbians were twice as likely senior author. said, adding that it’s all the to report purging and fasting She said better supports are more important in small-group than they were in 1999. For that needed for sexual minority therapy. year, the prevalence of purging youth, especially lesbians and “The messaging has to be speamong bisexual girls, at 33 per bisexual girls when it comes to cific, just the same as it has to be cent, was higher than for lesbi- developing positive body image for males and females. In fact, ans, at 22 per cent, but stayed and healthy eating choices. even the tests that diagnose eatnearly the same in 2013, when Dr. Pei-Yoong Lam, a pedia- ing disorders are different based it jumped to 36 per cent for les- trician in the eating disorders on different ethnicities.” ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

Video game addiction, psychological distress on rise among Ont. students

BY PAOLA LORIGGIO The Canadian Press TORONTO — A new survey suggests video game addiction and psychological distress are on the rise among Ontario middle and high school students.

A study by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto says more than one in three students in Grades 7 to 12 reported experiencing high levels of psychological distress, which is defined as symptoms of depression and anxiety, last year.

Dr. Robert Mann, who co-led the Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, says that represents a 10-per-cent jump since the last study two years earlier.

The study also found that 13 per cent of participating students reported symptoms of a video gaming problem, including preoccupation, loss of con-

trol, withdrawal and disregard for consequences.

That’s up from nine per cent in 2007, the first year that problem video gaming was monitored.

The centre says problem video gaming is especially prevalent among boys, with 20 per cent reporting symptoms, compared with five per cent of girls.

More than 10,400 students from 220 Ontario schools participated in last year’s Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, which is the longestrunning school survey of teens in Canada.

Levels of psychological distress were measured using a six-item screening tool. Students were asked how often they felt nervous, hopeless or worthless, among other things, in the last four weeks.

Teenage girls were twice as likely to express high levels of ❱❱ PAGE 29 Video game

28

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

Business Alberta NDP challenge coal power buying rule, say consumers left on the hook

BY JOHN COTTER The Canadian Press EDMONTON — The Alberta government is going to court to challenge a regulation it says will saddle consumers with billions of dollars in losses from coal-fired power agreements.

The NDP says last-minute changes to a regulation passed secretly by the Progressive Conservatives in 2000 allows power companies to hand back agreements to buy electricity from coal-fired plants if actions by the government make them more unprofitable.

Deputy premier Sarah Hoffman said the government estimates these power purchasing arrangements could end up costing consumers up to $2 billion by 2020.

“Today our government is taking legal action to protect everyday Albertans from

having to pay for the business losses of Alberta’s biggest and most profitable power companies,” Hoffman said Monday.

“We think this is not only unfair to Albertans, it is also unlawful.”

Hoffman said U.S.-based Enron lobbied the Alberta Tories for the change as part of the government’s plan to deregulate the province’s electricity market.

Enron declared bankruptcy in 2001 following an accounting fraud scandal.

Hoffman said the Tory government at the time told Albertans that the risks of a deregulated electricity system would be shared by power companies.

She said the “Enron clause” did the opposite — it set up a system where consumers bear all the risk.

“Our government believes that regular Albertans should not be on the hook for secret backroom deals between companies and the previous PC government.”

The Professional Business Accountants’ Society of British Columbia and Complete Accounting Solutions Inc. Celebrates the July 11th, 2016 BC Supreme Court Ruling on the BC CPA Act Organization of Chartered Professional Accountants’ of British Columbia v. Nordine

VANCOUVER, BC: The Professional Business Accountants’ Society of British Columbia (PBABC) has successfully defended PBA members from petitions for injunction filed Nov 27th by the Organization of Chartered Professional Accountants of British Columbia (CPABC). The application to the BC Supreme Court sought to prevent the use of the respondents Professional Business Accountant – PBA designations.

The petition relied on an expansive and monopolistic interpretation of the new CPA Act that was not consistent with the CA, CGA, CMA merger public consultation process nor the position of the Ministry of Advanced Education, which was responsible for introducing the new legislation.

The Honorable Mr. Justice Kelleher issued his Reasons for Judgment on July 11, 2016 and the petition was dismissed in full with costs to the respondents. In his reasoning, Justice Kelleher stated, “[48] In the present case, the respondents were clearly operating within the law prior to the enactment of the CPA Act. The issue I must determine is the extent to which the new legislation has restricted the respondents’ right to continue to use previously permitted designations.”

Justice Kelleher relied in part on the position of the Ministry of Advanced Education as follows: … “The Chartered Professional

Accountants Act does not attempt to take away the right of Registered Public Accountant’s Association of British Columbia (RPAABC) members to use their existing titles, to practice assurance services, or to issue opinions. It also does not interfere with RPAABC efforts to re-brand as the Professional Business Accountant’s (PBA) Society of British Columbia, or launch a PBA education program.”...

The PBABC protects the public by regulating PBA members through education, exam, entrance, ethics, experience, continuing professional education, errors and omissions insurance, and practice review requirements. In a competitive free market the public should have the right to choose what type of designated accountant they believe is the right fit for their career or business.

"We are pleased that the Court saw the merger legislation of the CA's, CGA's and CMA's the same way as the government and the PBABC. This will allow us to continue to develop our brand of professional accounting to the benefit of our clients, without further threats by the CPA's organization to limit our access to the public." says Solomon Nordine, President of the PBABC. The PBABC will continue to defend its right to practise public accountancy for businesses across BC and the Yukon.

Hoffman said the clause was not included in more than a year of public hearings and the government took steps to hide the clause by exempting it from standard public disclosure.

Enmax Corporation has used the regulation to terminate its power purchasing arrangement. Earlier this year Enmax said the government’s decision to charge companies a higher tax on carbon dioxide emissions this year and in 2017 made the agreement unprofitable.

The government contends the Tories had no legal right to create such a legal loophole and is seeking a court order declaring the regulation to be void.

The NDP also wants a judge to quash a decision by a government agency called the Balancing Pool to accept Enmax’s decision to hand back its agreement.

Other companies that have served notice they intend to terminate such arrangements include TransCanada Corp.

(TSX:TRP), Capital Power PPA Management (TSX:CPX) and the ASTC Power Partnership.

On Monday, Enmax issued a news release saying they have concerns with the accuracy of information in the filing.

“These legal agreements with the government have been in place and relied upon for 16 years, and were intended to be respected for a 20-year period by an industry that has invested billions of dollars in Alberta during this time,” said the release.

“We are very disappointed that the government is retroactively challenging fundamental aspects that have been in place in these agreements since their inception.”

Capital Power Corp. also issued a statement Monday.

“We will exercise every legal avenue at our disposal to ensure that the Government of Alberta honours the terms of the PPAs,” said Capital Power president and CEO Brian Vaasjo.

“We believe the legal claim is without merit, and we will look to the courts to ensure that the Government of Alberta cannot retroactively amend an arrangement for which Albertan companies paid and upon which they have been relying in good faith for 16 years.”

Capital Power also called into question some of the government’s assertions.

“Today’s announcement by the Government of Alberta claims that the PPA terminations will result in consumers bearing up to $2 billion in costs between now and 2020. This claim is misleading because it is incomplete. Based on avail-

www.canadianinquirer.net

able public information, the Balancing Pool can reduce its liability to an estimated $950-million by terminating the PPAs that were recently turned back to them, or to an estimated $635-million by terminating some PPAs, and retaining and managing others.”

Spokesman Mark Cooper said TransCanada has always operated in a fully open and transparent manner and will defend its right to terminate the arrangements.

“We properly exercised our termination rights under provisions in the Power Purchase Arrangements that were clear 16 years ago and that remain clear today,” he said in a statement.

“The Government of Alberta through its regulator the AUB clarified the intent of these provisions for all parties during a fully public process back in 2000. We relied on the termination provisions in the PPAs as fundamental to the commercial decision to participate in the PPA auction and would not have participated without them.”

In March, TransCanada and Capital Power both cited the increasing costs of CO2 emissions when serving notice of their intention to terminate their agreements.

Nigel Bankes, chairman of Natural Resources Law at the University of Calgary, said he is surprised by how the amendment was developed and handled by the then Tory government and regulators.

He wondered how officials at the time decided it was in the public interest.

“This amendment is not the sort of clause you would expect to see in any ordinary commercial arrangement because it really did provide an open-ended opportunity for companies to walk away from unprofitable arrangements having taking advantage for many years of very profitable arrangements,” he said.

“The transfer of risk that was going on here was just remarkable and it was just done with a sleight of hand.”

The Wildrose Opposition called the government’s court action “heavyhanded.”

“Today’s announcement to take private companies to court over agreements signed at the turn of the century is extremely short-sighted and will keep billions of dollars of necessary investment away from our province,” Wildrose critic Don MacIntyre said in a news release.

Hoffman said lower electricity prices are why power companies are losing money.

The court action is to be heard in November. ■

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FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

Sports Padres keep home run streak going but lose 4-2 in Toronto

BY IAN HARRISON The Associated Press

Alexander Dyachenko.

FANNY SCHERTZER / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

5 Russian canoeists, including Olympic champ, get Rio bans

BY JAMES ELLINGWORTH The Associated Press MOSCOW — Olympic champion Alexander Dyachenko and four other Russian canoeists have been barred from competing at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after being named in a recent report alleging a statesponsored doping coverup.

The International Canoe Federation said Tuesday that the five were mentioned in World Anti-Doping Agency investigator Richard McLaren’s report last week, which specifically detailed how Russian state officials allegedly intervened to cover up hundreds of failed drug tests.

“This is a bitter blow for the Olympic movement and we are saddened that our sport in implicated,” ICF general secretary Simon Toulson said in a statement. “The ICF will continue its strong zero-tolerance stance and remove all athletes that contravene its rules in anyway ... If you step out of line you won’t make the start line.”

Dyachenko won gold in the men’s double kayak 200 metres at the 2012 Olympics in London. The four other banned canoeists are Alexei Korovashkov — a 2012 bronze medallist in the C2 1,000 metres event — Andrei Kraitor, Elena Anyushi-

na and Nataliya Podolskaya.

The ICF also said that Russia would not be allowed to enter boats in four events in which the excluded athletes would have raced. Austria, Germany, Sweden and Iran are in line to receive places instead.

Three Russian rowers have also been excluded, taking to at least 15 the number of Russians barred from the Rio Games by various international federations since the International Olympic Committee ruled on Sunday that Russian athletes had to face tougher selection criteria in the wake of the country’s massive doping scandal.

World Rowing said earlier Tuesday that Ivan Podshivalov and Anastasia Karabelshchikova were excluded because they previously served doping bans, while Ivan Balandin from Russia’s men’s eight was implicated in the McLaren report.

On Monday, swimming’s world governing body FINA ruled out seven Russians including reigning world 100m breaststroke champion Yulia Efimova.

Russia’s track and field team is almost entirely banned from the games under an earlier decision from the IAAF, leaving long jumper Darya Klishina as the only athlete eligible to represent Russia out of 68 who were entered. ■

TORONTO — In their first visit to Toronto, the San Diego Padres hit yet another home run but didn’t manage much else against the Blue Jays.

Aaron Sanchez pitched seven shutout innings to win his 10th straight decision, Kevin Pillar had three hits and Toronto beat the Padres 4-2 on Monday night.

Playing their first interleague road game against Toronto, the Padres were held scoreless until Alex Dickerson hit a tworun homer off Bo Schultz in the ninth.

Dickerson’s drive into the fifth deck extended San Diego’s team-record streak of games with at least one home run to 23. The 2006 Atlanta Braves were the last National League team to homer in 23 straight games.

“Heck of a swing,” Padres manager Andy Green said. “If you’re ever privileged to stand close enough to the dugout to listen to him on deck, he literally whistles the bat. I’ve never heard anybody else swing a bat like that on deck.”

Dickerson acknowledged admiring his towering shot as he began to round the bases.

“I saw it the whole way,” he

said. “It was one of my slower trots to first, honestly. It felt good, it really did.”

Still, after losses in six of the past eight games for the Padres, Dickerson didn’t feel too much like celebrating.

“The streak is a fun thing to keep track of, but realistically, we’ll take a win with a bunch of singles,” he said.

Sanchez (11-1) became the first Blue Jays pitcher to win 10 straight since Roy Halladay won 15 decisions in a row in 2003.

Halladay and Roger Clemens (1998) hold the club record.

“It’s legit stuff. It’s top-ofthe-rotation stuff,” Green said about Sanchez. “It’s not surprising to see him do as well as he has this year.”

Sanchez has not lost since April 22 against Oakland, a span of 16 starts. An All-Star for the first time this season, he lowered his ERA from 2.87 to 2.72.

“Just a good night for me,” Sanchez said. “When you can command your fastball up and down, in and out, it’s a fun game. That’s kind of what it was tonight.”

Roberto Osuna replaced Schultz and got two outs for his 21st save.

Padres right-hander Colin Rea (5-5) allowed three runs and five hits in six innings. He is winless in three starts.

Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista was activated off the 15-day disabled list before the game. Batting leadoff and playing right field, he went 1 for 3 with a walk. Bautista had been out since injuring his left big toe when he jumped into the outfield wall June 16 at Philadelphia.

er teen years into the twenties is the peak period of stress for many people.”

Researchers also suggested that time spent in front of a screen may affect teens’ health.

The study showed that nearly two-thirds of students spent three or more hours each day in front of a television, tablet or computer, while less than a quarter met the recommended daily physical activity guidelines.

What’s more, 86 per cent of students said they visit social

media sites daily and about 16 per cent spend five hours or more on social media every day, the study found.

“We know that the more time spent on social media sites, the greater the risk of cyberbullying and related mental health issues,” said Dr. Hayley Hamilton, who co-led the study.

“Combined with low levels of physical activity across this age group, we are seeing clear priority areas where we can work with youth to improve health.” ■

Welcome to the club

Padres bench coach Mark McGwire hit the first fifth-deck homer in Toronto in 1996, and had a special greeting for Dickerson when he returned to the dugout. “He said I joined a very special club that he’s also a part of,” Dickerson said. “That was a special moment for me.”

Sitting down on the job

Padres RHP Jose Dominguez sat on first base to complete a 3-4-1 double play in the seventh. Umpire Dan Iassogna initially called the runner safe, but the Padres challenged and the call was overturned.

Bullpen boost

San Diego recalled LHP Keith Hessler from Triple-A El Paso and optioned RHP Kevin Quackenbush to its top farm club. The Padres needed help after four relievers combined to pitch six innings in Sunday’s victory at Washington. ■

Video game... distress — 46 per cent did, compared with 23 per cent of boys.

“This is a significant number of young people, especially girls, who are experiencing high levels of psychological distress,” Mann said in a statement.

“While we can’t say for certain what is causing this distress, it’s important for parents, schools and health-care providers to be aware of what young people are telling us about their mental health,” he said. “Our research indicates that the lat❰❰ 27

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Technology Verizon could boost Yahoo ad targeting, but challenges ahead

BY TALI ARBEL The Associated Press NEW YORK — Verizon’s deal for Yahoo could give the phone company a stronger foothold in digital advertising as it takes what it knows about its customers’ whereabouts and combines that with Yahoo’s popular destinations and AOL’s advertising expertise.

To boost traffic and revenue even more, Verizon could also ship some phones with Yahoo apps already installed.

Ultimately, Verizon could do what Yahoo alone could not: make money off its highly trafficked properties, such as Yahoo Sports and Yahoo Finance.

But Verizon also faces the same challenges a stand-alone Yahoo had: how to get better ad rates through personalization and targeting, when Google and Facebook are already adept at that.

Although the new Verizon would be No. 3 in the $60 billion U.S. market for digital advertising, “one shouldn’t delude themselves into thinking that it’s a close third place,” MoffettNathanson analyst Craig Moffett said. “They’re third place in a two-player market.

Ad dollars are going to Google and Facebook and they’re coming out of everyone else.”

According to eMarketer, Google and Facebook had a combined 55 per cent of the U.S. digital-ad market last year, while a combined Verizon and Yahoo would have had just 6 per cent.

Marketers could be drawn by properties, whether on a comVerizon’s ability to know where puter or phone. Forrester anaits phone users are, but that lyst Dan Bieler said Verizon and might apply only to Verizon’s AOL will be better than Yahoo customers — not to other Yahoo was at using Yahoo’s user data users around the world. Mean- and wide range of apps and mewhile, Facebook and Google dia properties to sell ads. already have a lot of that data Ultimately, AOL’s ad-sales — Facebook through its social technology could encourage network, and Google through brands to spend more money its Android phone system and across a range of Yahoo webpopular services like maps, sites and apps. email and search.

But some analysts aren’t sure Like many other major that a troubled Yahoo can make broadband providers, Verizon Verizon into an ad player that wants to be more than a “dumb rivals Facebook and Google. pipe” that just provides inter- Jefferies analyst Mike Mcnet access, Columbia Business Cormack said he’s doubtful an School professor Rita McGrath older internet brand like Yahoo said. will bring in the kinds of users Verizon wants to build a that Verizon has been trying to Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer.

MAX MORSE / TECHRUNCH / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS business that can make money lure with go90. off the ever-growing amount Yahoo is among the stodgier of time people spend on their internet brands, but comScore Yahoo’s mobile apps “in front of sumers. The Federal Commuphones. To that end, it has in- says the age breakdown of Ya- more users.” nications Commission fined it vested in digital-ad businesses hoo users in the U.S. is not subBut eMarketer analyst Mar- $1.4 million in March for how and mobile video, including the stantially different than Google tin Utreras said the company it followed phone users online creation of go90, a video service or Facebook users. would have to be careful not to for ad targeting with a “superaimed at millenannoy users by cookie” that was at first nearly nials. doing that. impossible to block. The comWith its $4.4 Instead, it’s pany changed some practices billion purchase more likely that that were criticized by privacy Google and Facebook had a of AOL last year, Verizon would advocates. combined 55 per cent of the U.S. Verizon got use location and Now, the FCC wants broaddigital-ad market last year, while a technology that other data it has band providers like Verizon to combined Verizon and Yahoo would matches ads about its users seek a customer’s permission have had just 6 per cent. with websites to help advertis- in most cases before sharing like Huffington ers target people data with advertisers. The rule Post and Techacross the inter- wouldn’t apply to Facebook and Crunch.

With net. For exam- Google as they don’t provide inYahoo, which Verizon is buying Verizon could drive more ple, on a hot day, Verizon could ternet access. for $4.8 billion, Verizon will get traffic by loading Yahoo apps show an ad for a nearby store If approved, the policy could websites, apps and other servic- on Android phones, although that sells barbecue equipment, make Verizon’s prospects for es used by more than a billion Apple forbids this on iPhones. Bieler said. That might be valu- Yahoo even more difficult. ■ people worldwide each month.

In a conference call, Yahoo able to the advertiser, and VeriAP Technology Writer Michael Verizon can use AOL’s ad CEO Marissa Mayer suggested zon could charge more. technology to sell ads and make that Verizon “and its distribuVerizon has in the past been Liedtke in San Francisco contributed to this story. more money off those Yahoo tion on mobile” could help get aggressive with tracking con-

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Technology

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

31

Bains responds after 8-year-old Quebec girl applies to astronaut program

BY MORGAN LOWRIE The Canadian Press MONTREAL — When she heard the Canadian Space Agency is looking to recruit new astronauts, eight-year-old Sahana Khatri figured she just might be what they’re looking for.

The Quebec girl spent a little more than a week working on her application before presenting it to her local representative, Vaudreuil-Soulanges MP Peter Schiefke.

In a video Schiefke posted to his Facebook page, Khatri can

be seen reading aloud from her letter, which was addressed to Innovation and Science Minister Navdeep Bains.

“For a long time, I’ve wanted to be an astronaut,” the she reads.

Khatri stresses her credentials, mentioning her math and science skills, natural curiosity, and space-themed eighth birthday party.

“I think the Canadian Space Agency should choose me now to prepare me, so I’ll be ready when I’m old enough to go into space,” she says.

As of July 6, the Canadian

Space Agency had already received over 3,300 applications for the two potential new spots in its program, but Khatri’s stood out enough to earn her a personal response from Bains.

“I was very inspired to see a young lady like yourself who wants to be an astronaut,” said Bains in a video response he posted to Facebook on Friday.

“As you know, you’re a bit too young now, but the future does look bright.”

At her family’s home in the Montreal suburb of Vaudreuil, Khatri said she was a little nervous when she saw Bains had

responded.

“I was a bit nervous because I was wondering if he would say yes or no,” she said.

Her mother, Jasmine Sharma, said it took her daughter between a week and 10 days to write the letter with a little parental help.

Sharma said she was “quite touched” that Bains took the time to respond personally to her daughter.

“I think it’s going to be great motivation for her,” she said.

“She took action, she took a leap, and she got a response.”

The Canadian Space Agency

is accepting applications on its website from would-be astronauts until Aug. 15.

Candidates must have an academic background in science and technology, excellent health, and “a wide range of outstanding qualities and skills,” according to the agency.

They should also be prepared to face some stiff competition down the line, since Khatri isn’t giving up on her dream.

“I’m going to try again when I’m older,” she said. Eventually, her goal is to visit another planet. ■

Banks and other industries embrace biometrics to boost security, convenience

BY ALEXANDRA POSADZKI The Canadian Press TORONTO — In the not-toodistant future, your bank will be able to prevent fraud by learning how you type, your car will unlock when it senses the electrical activity of your heart and the security system at your office will recognize your facial features.

That’s according to experts in the field of biometrics, which identifies a person by measuring unique characteristics such as their fingerprints, their retinas or their voice.

But these types of distinctive identification authentication processes offer more than the promise of a higher degree of security than traditional passwords.

Biometrics will also free consumers from the need to memorize a myriad of characters — a convenience that will appeal to anyone who needs to access a secure computer or network regularly.

“People are having to jump through more and more hoops to create a secure authentication,” says Karl Martin, founder of Nymi, a Toronto-based startup that created a wristband that can identify its wearer based on their electrocardiogram, or the electrical activity of their heart.

“How many times a day do you have to prove who you are, whether it be through a password or a biometric or other means?”

Banks — and the financial services industry, more broadly — have been one of the quickest adopters of biometrics technology, given their strong need for security and identity verification, says Bianca Lopes, director of strategy at BioConnect.

“They’re inherently wired and regulated to protect the customer with things like know-yourclient and anti-money laundering rules,” says Lopes, whose company helps businesses integrate biometrics technologies across various channels.

Royal Bank (TSX:RY) is currently testing out technologies such as iris scanning, face recognition, speech recognition and fingerprint scans — and is expecting to roll out the features to customers in 2017.

Martin says Nymi has completed successful pilot projects alongside RBC and TD Bank (TSX:TD) to test out how its wristband can be used to verify purchases, while MasterCard recently launched a service that allows users to verify their identities with their smartphones by taking a selfie or using a fingerprint scanner.

Notably, it’s the popularity of the fingerprint scanner on

Apple iPhones that’s made consumers more comfortable and familiar with biometrics, says Dennis Gamiello, vice-president of identity solutions at MasterCard.

“Fortunately, Apple and some of the other digital players that have introduced (biometric) capabilities are in some ways helping train the consumers for us.”

Biometrics can also identify users based on how they behave — for instance, their typing patterns or the way that they swipe across the screen on a mobile device.

“The way that you actually interact with the phone, the way that you swipe the phone ... it’s fairly unique to you,” explains Eddy Ortiz, RBC’s vicepresident of innovation and solution acceleration.

In the future, behavioural biometrics could even be used to detect if a fraudster has somehow gained access to your bank account, Lopes adds.

While identity verification is important, the capabilities of biometrics go beyond that function, notes Martin. The technology can also be used to create personalized environments — by setting the thermostat to your preferred temperature, for example — at your home, the office or a commercial space. www.canadianinquirer.net

Biometrics will also free consumers from the need to memorize a myriad of characters — a convenience that will appeal to anyone who needs to access a secure computer or network regularly.

“We’re looking at how can identity be used to create completely personalized experiences,” says Martin, pointing to cars as an example.

“You may have a shared vehicle but you have preferences in terms of the seat height and position and the steering wheel and entertainment and all of those things.”

Experts concede that while biometrics can beef up security, improve convenience and create personalized environments, for some users the technologies may evoke scenes from the popular science fiction film “Minority Report” — a Tom Cruise

mystery-thriller, which features a future of nearly boundless technological advancements designed to protect its citizenry.

“There will be consumers who get creeped out,” says Krista Jones, head of work and learning at the MaRS Discovery District.

Ultimately, though, the technology gives consumers a greater guarantee that their private information will be kept safe, she adds.

“We have an opportunity to craft this in such a way that the privacy of the consumer is at the heart of this.” ■

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FRIDAY

Travel Racism on Airbnb inspires new sites Innclusive and Noirbnb

BY BETH J. HARPAZ The Associated Press NEW YORK — Accusations that Airbnb has been ignoring complaints of racism have led several black entrepreneurs to create two new vacation rental websites where they say racism will not be tolerated.

The new sites, Innclusive. com and Noirbnb.com, say they are enrolling hosts around the country and the world and hope to open their platforms for bookings toward the end of this summer.

The sites are launching after months of allegations from travellers who say they’ve been rejected by Airbnb hosts because they are black. Many have posted their experiences on Twitter with the hashtag #AirbnbWhileBlack.

Among the stories that have made headlines was Gregory Selden’s. He was rejected for a stay in a property that later accepted him when he used a fake profile for a white man requesting the same dates. Selden has since filed suit against Airbnb.

Another case got attention in June when Airbnb removed a host in North Carolina who purportedly used a racial slur to reject a booking by a black woman.

Airbnb

Airbnb has a longstanding policy prohibiting discrimination, but back in January, a study by researchers from the Harvard Business School found that African-American guests

were less likely to be approved for Airbnb bookings than white guests.

This week, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement published on Airbnb’s blog that allegations of racism are “the greatest challenge we face as a company” and pledged to “create new tools” to prevent bias.

A review of company practices is underway, headed by Laura Murphy, former head of the American Civil Liberties Union’s legislative office. The company has also hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder as an adviser on the efforts.

Murphy said the company’s findings and new policies will be made public around Labor Day, and that they will focus on becoming more responsive to complaints, implementing anti-bias training and preventing discrimination in bookings.

She could not provide details on how many complaints of racism have been received or how many hosts have been removed, but said they would “monitor the behaviour of hosts to make sure that people acting in a discriminatory fashion aren’t allowed to participate in our platform.”

Asked why profile photos are required when so many people say they’re being rejected based on their race, Airbnb spokeswoman Courtney O’Donnell said the photos “have been an important tool to help connect hosts and guests,” as well as a security feature so users can recognize each other at checkin. But, she added, “we are reviewing every aspect of our

The sites are launching after months of allegations from travellers who say they’ve been rejected by Airbnb hosts because they are black. Many have posted their experiences on Twitter with the hashtag #AirbnbWhileBlack.

I AM NIKOM / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

platform, including the use of photos.”

Innclusive.com

Innclusive.com founder Rohan Gilkes’ experience with Airbnb began when his attempts to book a property in Idaho on several different dates kept being rejected. He had a white friend book for the same dates and she was approved.

The experience led Gilkes, an entrepreneur who has built more than a half-dozen companies, to found Innclusive.com with Zakiyyah Myers.

“It really grew out of the lack of response I got from Airbnb,” Gilkes said. “If their response had been a little more empathetic, or where I felt they were taking the problem seriously, I would be doing something else with my time.”

Among Innclusive.com’s innovations is a simple tech tool that prevents hosts from seeing pictures of guests until after the booking has been approved.

If the host cancels a booking after seeing the guest’s photo,

they will not be able to book the property for those dates with someone else.

Myers says all kinds of discrimination exist on sharingeconomy websites. She’s heard from gay travellers, Latinos, interracial couples and Muslims.

“It’s more than just an AfricanAmerican issue, it’s a human issue,” she said.

Gilkes said he’s been heartened by outreach from all races, including many white hosts and travellers. “They want to spend money and travel in ways that are aligned with their values,” he said.

NoirBNB.com

Stefan Grant and Ronnia Cherry were renting an Airbnb house in Atlanta, where Grant was playing at a music festival, when neighbours called the cops. Police showed up with their guns drawn.

“They saw black people in the house and assumed we were robbing the place,” Grant said.

Airbnb gave them a voucher “to smooth things over,” but Grant

felt the company’s response was “lackadaisical.”

Grant says they pitched a proposal to Airbnb for a program to ensure that black travellers “had people in the company who cared about what they were doing,” but nothing came of it. So Grant and Cherry started Noirbnb.com.

“We want to proactively create a culture where these things will not occur,” said Cherry. “As a black-owned company, we want to create something that everyone can use. If you’re coming to a place like Noirbnb, it’s such a multicultural platform, you’ll not only see people of colour but you’ll also see people that respect people of colour.”

Among those glad to be partnering with Noirbnb is Ashley Warmington, who owns Cozy Oasis in Brooklyn, New York, a short-term rental concierge company that caters to hosts, guests and landlords. “The energy and focus in entrepreneurship pushes all of us to be better,” she said. “I see that in Noirbnb.” ■

WestJet adding dozens of domestic and international flights for winter season THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — WestJet (TSE:WJA) has announced it will add dozens of new flights to its domestic and international networks as part of

its 2016-2017 winter schedule.

Scheduled to start in late October, highlights from the airline’s new flight roster include additional domestic routes from Toronto to Vancouver, Ottawa and Moncton, N.B.

New international destinations departing from Toronto include Myrtle Beach, S.C., Kingston, Jamaica, as well as cities in Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba and St. Martin. www.canadianinquirer.net

Out west, the company will add 41 new weekly domestic and international flights from Vancouver to Kelowna and Prince George, B.C., Toronto, Los Angeles, Honolulu and the Mexican cities of Cancun and

Cabo San Lucas.

There will also be a new nonstop weekly service between Regina and Orlando, Fla. Service from Halifax will increase with seven additional weekly flights to Sydney, N.S. ■

Travel

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

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Newfoundland

BY BRUCE GATES ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — There are two ways to tackle Signal Hill: You can do it the easy way and walk up the twisty road the cars use and get to the top in about 20 minutes. Or you can do what my wife, Nida, and I did and take the advice of a local woman out for her morning walk — and who said she does it practically every day — and trek along the side of the 470-foot-high hill. It’s much more scenic, she said.

And much more scary. The walk takes more than an hour and follows a pathway that the government warns can lead to injury and even death if you are not careful, as there are few barriers to separate you from a tumble down a steep embankment into the Atlantic Ocean.

An exhilarating hike indeed. No wonder that woman was in such good shape.

Once at the summit, we could see for miles out into the North Atlantic, a view made even more impressive by climbing to the top of Cabot Tower. Signal Hill is one of two dominant outcroppings of rock that form a natural entranceway to St. John’s harbor, protecting it from the raging Atlantic when storms are brewing. This is where the world’s first overseas wireless signal was received in 1901 — the precursor to the wireless communications we take for granted today — but Signal Hill’s name actually comes from the 18th century practice of using flags to signal ships coming in from across the ocean.

For centuries, Newfoundland has been a destination for seafarers from different nations seeking the plentiful codfish offshore, and this becomes apparent in the names throughout province’s island portion, which is roughly the size of the Philippines’ Luzon (but far less populous). The Portuguese, Spanish, French, Irish, Scottish and English, among others, have had outposts here, and we could see their influences in names like Port aux Basques, Bonavista, Portugal Cove, and Quidi Vidi, a picturesque little fishing village a short walk from Signal Hill.

The mixing of peoples has also given Newfoundlanders their distinctive brogue. We heard it when we asked a resident for directions, which he was only too pleased to oblige, or when a perfect stranger called out to us from her porch to greet us a good day as we walked to Quidi Vidi. Newfoundland is that kind of place. Even in its capital and largest city, St. John’s, with a metropolitan population of 214,000, the people are friendly and accommodating. The drivers are courteous too.

In some ways, Newfoundlanders are like Filipinos with their friendly and generous nature. Yet it can sometimes be a little daunting to be a visible minority on an island where by far the

ABOVE: View of St. John’s with Signal Hill in the background.

LEFT: New found friend: Isabelle Borja, left, with the author’s wife, Nida, outside a Saturday farmers’ market near Memorial University.

majority is white and English-speaking.

Visible minorities make up only 1.1% of Newfoundland’s population of 527,000 (compared with closer to 50% in Toronto and Vancouver) and Filipinos number only about 300.

“There were only two Filipino families in Clarenville when I was growing up,” says Isabelle Borja, 20, whom we met while staying at the Memorial University campus residences, where she is working for the summer. “Now there are four families, so we’ve doubled.”

The third-year linguistics and psychology student was born and raised in Clarenville, population 6,000, about 90 minutes northwest of St. John’s, and when she speaks, she has an ever-sosubtle Newfoundland accent.

Living between two cultures sometimes made it a challenge for Isabelle to fit in as a child and young adult, even though her teachers always went out of their way to acknowledge her cultural differences, one going so far as to enquire if all her family was OK after Typhoon Yolanda struck the Philippines in 2013.

“You don’t feel different, but people see you differently,” she says. She considers herself a Newfoundlander; yet when she tells people she’s from Newfoundland, they may say, “Where are you really from?” or “Clearly you’re not from here,” when, in fact, she is. “People are generally friendly and interested in knowing my roots, without it ever occurring to them that we share the same ones.”

This can sometimes lead to feelings of isolation, because while all of her closest friends, predominantly white, were

born in Newfoundland “and can 100% identify as Newfoundlanders, I feel [I’m in] this limbo zone from being raised in a combination of the two environments.”

Isabelle’s parents came to Newfoundland nearly 30 years ago and eventually moved to Clarenville, where her father is a pediatrician and her mother is a nurse.

They try to maintain some Filipino traditions, particularly around Christmas and New Year’s, when they string grapes along their doorways to bring good luck and prosperity.

“While being raised in such a small Filipino community, I have a very limited number of Filipino friends, I’ve yet to pick up Tagalog, and being on the island and in Clarenville makes Filipino grocery shopping an obstacle, and until this year, there’ve been no Filipino restaurants in Newfoundland.”

Now that she’s in St. John’s, she’s discovered a more cosmopolitan lifestyle

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and has now been there long enough she can recommend places to visitors, such as Yellow Belly Brewery & Public House, where the chef is Filipino and so is the hostess. It’s also easier in St. John’s to blend into the larger population. She’s no longer “Dr. Borja’s daughter” of Clarenville; she’s a Memorial University student mingling with other students of different cultural and racial backgrounds. Paradoxically, she says, a lot of them think she’s a foreign student.

Eventually, after she finishes her studies at Memorial, an attractive campus nestled among heavily forested hills, Isabelle may join her eldest brother in Toronto. (Another brother works in St. John’s.)

Even if she does move to Canada’s biggest city, where 200,000 Filipinos live, “I will always see Newfoundland as the friendly and welcoming place it is. This is where I consider home.” ■

Events

34

YUKON

NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

JULY 28, 2016

NUNAVUT

BRITISH COLUMBIA

CANADA ALBERTA MANITOBA SASKATCHEWAN

ONTARIO

NEWFOUNDLAND

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 778-3222839 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 604-7632210.

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.

EVENTS

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

QUEBEC

NOVA SCOTIA

VANCOUVER

FRIDAY

MORE INFO: Call Darae (604)2549626 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 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 up to 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

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.

To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

Place de Artes, Montreal, Quebec MORE INFO: Filipino Indigenous People’s Organization of Quebec cultural show at 4 p.m., Aug. 6 Tim Pavino: Good Vibes USACanada Tour

By Starmusic Stages WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Aug. 4, at Christian Centre 7200 Cariboo Road, Burnaby B.C. MORE INFO: Featuring the Rosario Strings Community Potluck Picnic By the New Westminster Philippine Festival Society WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Aug. 13, Westminster Pier Park, New Westminster, B.C. Cowboy Party By the Batangas Club of British Columbia WHEN/WHERE: 6 to 11:59 p.m., Aug. 13 at St. Patrick Parish Gym, 2881 Main St., Vancouver, B.C. 2016 Pinoy Fiesta Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m., Aug. 14, at Memorial South Park, E. 41ssst Ave., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: with special guest Ms. World 2014 Megan Young

Celebration of Light

By Honda WHEN/WHERE: 10 p.m. July 27th & 30th, English Bay, Vancouver, B.C.

Open House & BBQ

By MHHS WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aug. 6, at MHHS Office: 4802 Fraser Street corner of 32nd Ave. & Fraser St., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-879-3277

Nchu7mut Kaisa: One Heart One Mind One Spirit

By Kathara WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., July 28 at the Wise Hall, 1882 Adananc St., Vancouver, B.C.

PhotoLakad By the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in B.C. WHEN/WHERE: 9:30 a.m., Aug. 6, at Olympic Cauldron, Jack Poole Plaza, Vancouver, B.C.

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

Everytime We Say Goodbye: Classic Torch Songs

Nuestro Americana Parade WHEN/WHERE: 2 p.m., Aug. 6, at

Tagalog Class

By Filipino Center Toronto

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TORONTO

WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, Toronto Homework/Tutorial Class

By FCT WHEN/WHERE: 11a.m. to 12 nn, every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, ON MORE INFO: For registrations, call 416-928-9355. The office, at 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, is open on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 1 to 6 p.m.

Fiesta ng Kalayaan 2016

By Kalayaan WHEN/WHERE: July 30 and 31, starting at 12 noon, at Mississauga Celebration Square, 300 City Centre Drive, Mississauga, ON. MORE INFO: Featuring Kapamilya Star Gerald Anderson

OTTAWA Abakada Atbp By the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 14, at the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa, 30 Murray St., Ottawa, ON MORE INFO: Free Admission.

Call 613-233-1121 or email embassyofphilippines@rogers. com

SASKATOON 2016 Potash Corp. Folkfest Gala

By Potash Corp & Folkfest WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., July 28, at German Cultural Center, 160 Cartwright Ave., Saskatoon, SK

FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

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Food Zucchini flowers are perfect for stuffing

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press

TINSELTOWN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Chrissy Teigen offers a variation on the Caprese salad

BY ELIZABETH KARMEL The Associated Press THE CAPRESE salad of fresh mozzarella, basil and tomatoes is universally loved.

I personally make it all summer long and although I mix up the tomatoes based on what I can buy at the farmers’ market, it is virtually the same every time.

Since it is tomato season and we waited a long time for this moment, I looked for a new take on a summer favourite — and found it in “Cravings,” model Chrissy Teigen’s cookbook that she co-wrote with Gourmet magazine alumna Adeena Sussman.

Teigen adds a few new elements: She uses burrata — fresh mozzarella with a creamy centre — and cuts the tomatoes in different shapes and sizes, some slices, some wedges. She omits the traditional basil and adds arugula and delicious, crunchy prosciutto chips which take this Caprese from ordinary good to extraordinary great.

The prosciutto chips (she calls them crisps) are easy to prepare and make such a difference that I can’t believe that I never thought of baking thin slices of prosciutto into “chips.” You can substitute them in almost any recipe that calls for bacon. Once the prosciutto bakes and cools, it is crispy and crunchy, salty and addictive.

You’ll find this a welcome addition to an already popular summer recipe.

Caprese salad with crispy prosciutto

Adapted from “Cravings: Recipes for All the Food You Want to Eat,” by Chrissy Teigen Start to finish: 20 minutes

Serves 6 • 4 cups baby arugula • 1 (8-ounce) ball burrata or fresh mozzarella cheese • 2 pounds assorted ripe tomatoes cut in a variety of shapes (wedges, slices, chunks, etc.)

• 3 tablespoons best-quality olive oil • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar • 1-2 teaspoons kosher salt • 1?2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 6-12 prosciutto crisps (recipe follows) Scatter the arugula on a serving platter and place the cheese in the centre. Arrange the tomatoes around the cheese.

Cut a small opening in the burrata/ mozzarella ball so you can see the centre, and then drizzle olive oil all around the platter.

Drizzle balsamic vinegar on the tomatoes and arugula. Season the entire salad with the salt and pepper and top with the prosciutto crisps.

ZUCCHINI FLOWERS are perfect for stuffing. In the following recipe, the flowers are filled with cheese before frying. The result is a creamy, flavourful filling and a supercrisp crust.

You’ll want to mix the batter just before using it to prevent the bubbles from evaporating. Combine the dry ingredients and park them on the counter while you prep the blossoms and begin to heat the oil. When the oil is almost up to temperature, add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix the batter quickly. Take care not to rip the petals while stuffing the flower with cheese, then close the open end of the flower by twisting the petals like a New Year’s Eve party popper. The cheese should stay put and not leak into the oil.

Cheese-stuffed zucchini blossoms

Start to finish: 30 minutes Servings: 4

• 12 squash blossoms • 1/2 ounce coarsely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano • 1 ounce mozzarella, cut into 12 cubes • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour (2 3/8 ounces) • 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons cornstarch • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/2 cup ice-cold beer • 1/2 cup ice-cold seltzer • Vegetable oil for deep frying • 1 cup marinara sauce (homemade or your favourite store brand), heated

Prosciutto crips

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Arrange the prosciutto in a single layer on the baking sheet. Bake until wrinkled and slightly shrunken, 11 to 13 minutes. (It will crisp as it cools.) Cool, eat whole as a snack, or crumble and use as a garnish for salads, eggs, or anything that could use crispness and ham. (For me, that’s everything.)

Nutrition information per serving: 245 calories; 158 calories from fat; 18 g fat (7 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 42 mg cholesterol; 862 mg sodium; 8 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 14 g protein. www.canadianinquirer.net

• Basil sprigs for garnish Preheat oven to 200 F. Line a rimmed sheet pan with a double layer of paper towels.

Working with one blossom at a time, carefully separate the petals to expose the inside of the flower and the central stamen (on a male plant) or pistil (on a female plant). Using small sharp scissors cut out as much of the stamen or pistil as possible to make room for the cheese. Put about 1 teaspoon of the Parmigiano-Reggiano in the cavity; top with a chunk of mozzarella. Twist the petals gently to enclose the filling; set aside the stuffed blossoms.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, cornstarch, soda and salt. In a large, deep saucepan heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of oil over medium high heat to 365 F. When the oil is at around 325 F, combine the dry ingredients in the bowl with the beer and the seltzer; stir the mixture until it is combined well but with a few lumps remaining.

Working with three or four blossoms at a time, dip them in the batter, coating them well and letting the excess drip off.

Add them gently to the 365 F oil; let cook for 30 seconds. Using tongs, gently turn them over. Cook until they are golden, about 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, turning them once again. Transfer the blossoms to the rimmed sheet pan using a slotted spoon, sprinkle with kosher salt and keep warm in the oven while you batter and fry the remaining zucchini blossoms.

To serve: Spoon one-fourth of the marinara sauce into the bottom of each of four soup bowls, arrange three fried blossoms on top and garnish with a basil sprig. ■

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FRIDAY JULY 28, 2016

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

GREATWAY FINANCIAL Greatway Financial held its first national convention in Calgary from July 22 to 24, at the Ramada Plaza Hotel with over 400 participants. The “fastest growing MGA” according to Equitable Life, Greatway started with only 26 advisors in 2013, and now has 1,500 advisors in all of its locations across Canada: Toronto, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories and British Columbia. This is made possible with the leadership of its CEO and Lead Mentor Marlon Antonio who believed in the company’s policy, “think good, say good, and do good all the time.”

SURREY FUSION FESTIVAL The recent Surrey Fusion Festival at Holland Park saw the convergence of cultures from around the world. Awarded “Best Cultural Event” in Canada, the outdoor fest features over 70 acts on four stages, 35 different cultural pavilions. The Philippines took center stage with dance performances by Kathara and PhilCas among others, plus presentation of native cuisine like adobo and pancit at the Philippine booth.

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38

Seen and Scenes

JULY 28, 2016

FRIDAY

SSS OUTREACH IN MONTREAL SSS officials led by Foreign Representative Officer Roberto Roldan recently held an outreach mission in Montreal to extend social security protection to the Filipino community in the area (Photos by Roberto Roldan).

COMMANDER'S BALL Former Knights of Rizal Regional Commander George Poblete (2nd from L) hosted a meeting recently presided by the incumbent Canada Regional Commander Ed Prillo (3rd from L) in conjunction with the preparation of the forthcoming 16th Canada Regional Assembly and Commanders' Ball scheduled on Oct. 29, at the Rembrandt Banquet Hall located at 930 Progress Avenue, Scarborough, On. (Photo by Manuel Papa, St. Jamestown News Service)

FILCORE SUPPORT GROUP Judith Gonzales founded the Fil-Core Support Group 13 years ago, to help caregivers like her and to empower them. She launched the Miss Caregiver Beauty pageant to showcase the candidates’ talents and the leadership skills of the women behind Fil-Core (Photos by Jojo Taduran).

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

JULY 22, 2016

39

CANADA

RETAIL SALES SUPERVISOR

F ill Unused Capacity

for Cascade Gift Store - Banff, AB.

C ash Savings

Responsibilities: Supervise and Coordinate sales staff and cashiers, Assign duties, Authorize merchandise return, Sell Merchandise, Resolve customer complaints and supply shortages, Maintain specified inventory, Prepare reports on sales volumes,merchandising, personnel.

B ill More Hours E xtra Income

High School graduate, with 2 yrs Retail Supervisory experience.

F/T Permanent: $18.25/ hour. 40 hours/week.

If you want new customers, more sales and are looking for ways to save cash, call First Canadian Barter Exchange.

604.759.3223 / info@barterfirst.com

Subsidized staff accommodation and Extended health benefits.

Send resume to: Cascade Gifts, P.O. Box 2428, Banff, AB T1L 1C2 info@cascadegifts.com

WANTED: ELDERLY CAREGIVER Education: At least Secondary Education graduate.

Must have at least 1 to less than 2 yrs of experience.

Duties: Monitor the elderly on the needs of medication, Food preparation. Companionship,perform minor Household cleaning.

Full Time. Pays $14/hr., 40Hrs/wk.(Mon.To Fri) EMPLOYERS: Drexler Harry of 88 Wells St. TORONTO ON. drexlerharry@yahoo.ca (416-532-8016) Loriedella Addun of 4222 Bathurst St. TORONTO ON. A.loriedelle@yahoo.ca (647-995-1058) Aruna Lambotharan of 89 Red Ash Dr.MARKHAM ON. Arlam298@yahoo.ca (647-449-3547) Ric Abenoja of 205-44 Valley Woods Rd. TORONTO ON. raabenoja@yahoo.com Adriana De Luca.51 Dybal St.Woodbridge ON. (647-996-2273)

CAREGIVERS WANTED!

WANTED: NANNY (LIVE OUT)

Taking Care of 8 Elderly Dementia Residents.

Education: At least Secondary Education graduate.

Must have at least 1 to less than 2 yrs of experience.

Must be able to do Live In. Duties include: Assist with Bathing, Dressing, Feeding, Housekeeping, Cooking and medication management.

Must be willing to re-locate to the United States.

Duties: Take care of child/children.Feeding, meal &snack Preparation,indoor/outdoor companionship,Light housekeeping, reading,playing and organize games.

Education: At least Secondary Education graduate.

Full Time. Pays $11.25/hr., 40Hrs/wk.(Mon.To Fri)

Please call: (510)846-4289 Office (Alameda, CA) Maricel Tinio (Golden Age Senior Living)

EMPLOYERS: Marla Francos#707-900 Mt. Pleassant Rd. Toronto ON. marlafrancoz@yahoo.ca Fe De Guzman #514 Speedvale East Guelph ON. Fedeguzman791@yahoo.ca (1-519-760-4639) Mazar/Zahida.#33 Benson Ave. Richmondhill ON. imazaher74@yahoo.ca (647-920-2089) Ann Ha.Richmond Hill ON. phuha817@yahoo.ca (647-400-7862) Marina.#25 Diploma Dr.Brampton ON. mp694647@gmail.com (905-913-0624) Rodel.#206-141 Erskine Ave Toronto ON. rodelfernandez148@yahoo.ca (647-779-7292) Dinah G.#88 Ridgevale Dr.Toronto ON. dinahgrossman@yahoo.ca (416-781-8553) Racquel Miranda.#3 First Red Deer Alberta. mracquel67@yahoo.ca (1-403-245-4747) Liza Sotto#51 Hawkview Blvd.Woodbridge ON. lizavillanueva173@yahoo.ca (905-553-0681) Shahid Sattar Burlington. Shahidsattar007@gmail.com (905-220-5963) Davina #86 Northdale Rd.Willowdale ON. Davinalopez996@yahoo.com (416-879-7441) Alexia #31 Northbrook Rd.TORONTO ON. boualexia@yahoo.com (416-644-4270) Dhona#1102-25 By Mills Blvd. Scarborough ON. dhonarizaursua@yahoo.ca (647-937-2884) Aman 5304 Roanoke Crt Mississauga, ON. aman_sangha@hotmail.com (416-458-2375) Enrique Reyes 72 Ryder Cres Ajax ON. rechelreyes416@yahoo.ca (416-953-8558) Libya Gameng .172 Vauhhall Dr. Toronto ON. Libyagameng@yahoo.com (416-985-0616) Joanna Raoet124-42 Pinery Trl. Scarborough ON. joannaraoet@yahoo.com (416-779-7110) Maila Abenoja.9 Acores Ave.Toronto ON. mailaabenoja@yahoo.com (647-965-3235) Purvaiz/Sonia At 88 Attridge Dr. Aurora ON. visaprocesscanada@yahoo.com (647-996-2273)

Toronto Enquiries: salestoronto@canadianinquirer.net Philippine Enquiries: salesphilippines@canadianinquirer.net

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Tel: (1) 647-521-5155

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