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AUGUST 12, 2016

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VOL. 8 NO. 230

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Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos talks China ties

Enough of killings; let our humanity speak

Mud on her feet: Leni’s ‘laylayan’ days

Filipina lifter finishes silver in Rio Olympics

Off the grid in Negros Occidental’s Danjugan Island

DRESSING DOWN Local government officials and policemen linked by President Duterte to the illegal drug trade get a dressing down from PNP chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

Global growth outlook lowered about 7 times since Liberals took power: Morneau

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press

NINO JESUS ORBETA / PDI

Philippine leader links 150 judges, politicians to drugs

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte publicly linked more than 150 judges, mayors,

lawmakers, police and military personnel to illegal drugs Sunday, ordering them to surrender for investigation as he ratcheted up his bloody war against what he calls a “pandemic.”

B.C. government declares Aug. 14 as ‘Pinoy Fiesta Day’

OTTAWA — Facing dismal economic data at home, Canada’s finance minister is pointing out that the global growth outlook has been downgraded about seven times since the federal Liberals took office last year.

Speaking in Sudbury, Ont., on Tuesday, Bill Morneau made his first public comments since Statistics Canada released grim numbers last week about the country’s labour force and its international trade performance.

The federal agency said Canada lost 31,200 jobs in July, while its trade deficit with the world swelled to a record level of $3.6 billion in June.

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

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Senators call for due process in anti-drug war

BY TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer

killings that have come with the fight against narcotics.

“To be honest, it’s difficult to pass judgment on the style of the President, SENATORS YESTERDAY called on the especially that a great majority of our Duterte administration to observe due people seem to approve of this naming process in its war on drugs, saying the and shaming strategy. If the President rule of law should not be disregarded thinks it’s an effective strategy, then who in the campaign to crush the narcotics are we to dictate to him?” De Lima said. trade.

But she emphasized the constitutionPresident Duterte publicly linked 159 al requirement of due process. current and former local, military and “If there is evidence against these police officials, lawmakers and judges to people he has named and shamed, cases illegal drugs early yesterday and ordered should just be filed against them so that them to turn themselves in for investi- warrants for their arrest can be issued. If gation. there is no evidence, then this is a plain “Due process has nothing to do with and simple witch-hunt,” the senator told my mouth. There are no proceedings the INQUIRER. here, no lawyers,” Mr. Duterte said in De Lima warned that publicly naming a predawn speech just before he began the suspects prior to bringing charges naming the suspects. against them in court The President, who was tantamount to has led a bloody war “a death sentence,” on drugs, ordered given the President’s the security escorts shoot-to-kill order of the suspects withGuilt must be against narcopolitidrawn and canceled established cians. their firearm perthrough “We are already on mits. He said they evidence in the slippery slope towould face sanctions. a trial where ward tyranny, with“If you show the the accused out martial law, when slightest violence in can refute the we allow one man to the resistance, I will charges. be judge, jury and extell the police, ‘Shoot ecutioner. This is just them,’” Mr. Duterte the start,” De Lima told reporters and said. soldiers at Camp “The endgame is Panacan, headquarters of the military’s just too terrible to imagine, when anyEastern Mindanao Command, in Davao one can be accused and shot on sight City. based on a list that has the same legal The President, however, conceded value as a grocery list. I hope this is not that he “might be wrong” about the guilt what our situation is right now,” she of the suspects named on a list distrib- added. uted to reporters.

Senate President Pro Tempore FrankHe said the military and the police had lin Drilon, also a former justice secrecompiled the list, which he insisted was tary, echoed De Lima’s sentiment, saying not colored by politics or personal links, “due process and the rule of law must be adding that some of those named were dutifully upheld.” even his friends.

He said, however, that he strongly One of the judges on the list has been supported President Duterte’s camdead since 2008, an indication that the paign against illegal drugs. list is based on old information.

“I urge the President that if there is evidence that these officials are involved ‘Name and shame’ in the drug trade, he should immediCommenting on Mr. Duterte’s latest ately charge them administratively or controversial move in the drug war, Sen. in court. There should be no shortcuts,” Leila de Lima, chair of the Senate com- Drilon said. mittee on justice and human rights, yesSen. Grace Poe said the administraterday warned that the President’s ap- tion “must pursue” the drug suspects parent “name and shame” strategy could “with vigor [and] in accordance with the be seen as hollow if evidence against the rule of law, until their individual guilt suspects were not brought forth before is proven beyond reasonable doubt and the opening of legal proceedings. not let it just remain in the news.”

De Lima, however, commended Mr. “Everyone, the accuser and the acDuterte for having a “strong will and cused, deserves to be given the constitugreat determination to end the drug tional right to due process,” Poe said by problem.” phone.

The former justice secretary and huShe said speedy legal proceedings man rights chief has been following the would strongly show that the governdrug campaign and is set to lead later ment could deal with the drug scourge this month an inquiry into extrajudicial “in accordance with the rule of law.”

President cannot be judge

Sen. Risa Hontiveros likewise expressed concern about the naming of the suspects publicly, saying “democracy was never about the President’s absolute power to determine innocence or guilt.”

“The executive cannot blacken the reputation of people and judge them at will. The responsibility falls upon our judicial system. Sadly, the President’s list, while it may be motivated by good intentions, preempts the court’s judgment and tears at the very fabric of our democracy,” she said.

Hontiveros said the public should be given access to information that landed the officials’ names on the President’s list.

“The public deserves to know. The government’s war on drugs must be free from the influence of political bias, vendetta and rivalry. Information must be judiciously vetted and not violative of the rule of law,” she said.

Sen. Joel Villanueva also hopes to see the administration back up its claims with evidence.

“I am hoping and praying that these allegations will be substantiated in the next few days. I think it’s crucial and that cases will also be filed against them and equally important is that they be given

their day in court to defend themselves,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said the suspects should be accorded due process.

“It is not enough to name and shame them. Guilt must be established through evidence in a trial where the accused can refute the charges,” he said.

“The cases must be filed in court because it is the right forum for the government to prove its allegations and those named to present their defense,” he said.

Ready to investigate

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said it was ready to investigate the local officials named by Mr. Duterte.

“We assure you that the probe will be swift yet fair to the accused,” Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said in a statement.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines said all the military personnel named by Mr. Duterte were considered immediately relieved.

Col. Edgard Arevalo, chief of the AFP public affairs office, said the suspects would be charged, heard, and judged under “applicable military, criminal and civil laws.” ■

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Philippine News

AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

POEA to enforce online registration of seafarers next month

BY FERDINAND G. PATINIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) will be implementing the online seafarer registry next month that would replace Seafarers Registration Certificates (SRC).

According to the Governing Board Resolution No. 13, issued on Aug. 5, the online registration system will be implemented starting Sept. 15, 2016.

Labor and Employment Secretary Sylvester Bello III, who is also the chairperson of the board, said the online registry would benefit around 50,000 SRC applicants per year, and

remove long lines at POEA offices.

The POEA issues SRCs to seafarers with their perpetual ID number, for easy access of personal records and efficient processing of employment documents.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) chief noted the online seafarer registry shall likewise pave the way for the development and implementation of a universal identification system for Filipino seafarers.

He explained that having a universal ID system for seafarers that is acceptable to all government agencies and Port States, in compliance with ILO Convention No. 185 or the

Seafarers’ Identity Document (SID) Convention.

The Board directed the POEA to link up with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) to look into the possibility of data sharing and development of a universal ID system for seafarers.

Bello said the online SRC system was aligned with President Rodrigo Détente’s directive for government offices to review all systems and requirements to avoid duplication of functions, eliminate queueing, and facilitate delivery of services to OFWs. The POEA will conduct an extensive information dissemination campaign before the implementation of the online registration system. ■

Former President and Special Philippine envoy to China Fidel V. Ramos asserts his desire to "rekindle" relations between the Philippines and China in a press conference before his departure for Hong Kong.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos talks China ties THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HONG KONG — Former Philippine President Fidel Ramos said Tuesday that he wants to focus on points of common interest with China such as tourism and commercial fishing as part of efforts to smooth relations with Beijing roiled by the South China Sea dispute.

Current Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has asked the 88-year-old Ramos to act as his special envoy to pave the way for talks with Beijing after an international arbitration tribunal last month invalidated China’s expansive territorial claims in a case put forward by the Philippines.

Ramos spoke with reporters Tuesday in Hong Kong, where he said he plans to meet old friends with links to officials in Beijing as a prelude to further contacts.

“That’s why we’re standing by, and if there’s any development, the general consul will be the first one to know and she will inform us,” Ramos said.

China has denied Philippine fishermen access to traditional grounds lying within the Philippines’ 200-nautical-mile (370-kilometre) exclusive economic zone, an area Ramos implied the countries could share.

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Discussing an agenda for talks, Ramos pointed to “some irritations that we would like to eliminate or at least remedy so that we can have common points of interest.”

“One of them is more tourism, more fishing in the common fishing ground, which is within the Philippine (exclusive economic zone), but where the Chinese fishermen have also identified as being part of their traditional fishing grounds,” Ramos said.

China refused to participate in the arbitration case or recognize the ruling, and insists bilateral negotiations are the only appropriate forum to discuss such issues. The Philippines has complained it was forced to go to the body in the Hague, Netherlands, because bilateral talks had gone nowhere.

While the government has yet to formally comment on Ramos’ mission, the official Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday said in an editorial that it “brings a whiff of hope that the two countries will return to bilateral negotiations over the issue.”

“Ramos’ visit, which represents the first concrete step on the Philippine side to engage in bilateral talks with China on the South China Sea, could open a new chapter in settling disputes,” Xinhua said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

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7 ‘salvaging’ victims found in Pasay

BY ERIKA SAULER Philippine Daily Inquirer SEVEN VICTIMS of summary executions were reported in Pasay City for the first week of August, including a woman whose body was found stuffed into a sack and a man who was shot while standing in front of a known drug pusher’s house.

Most of the victims were killed by still unidentified motorcycle-riding men and five of them were left with placards claiming they were drug pushers or thieves.

The woman inside the sack was identified only as “Bechay,” said to be an ex-convict. The police said a hospital employee found the sack around 2 a.m.

on Aug. 5, near the Philippine Trading Center on Roxas Boulevard.

The victim’s head waswrapped in plastic, her hands tied behind her back.

There was a wound on the head which indicated that she may have been hit by a blunt object, investigators said. Inside the sack was a cardboard sign claiming she was a drug addict-pickpocket and a pest to society.

Another woman identified as Maria Perla Bulaquena or Kimberly, 33, jobless, was killed on Aug. 5 around 9 p.m.

A witness told the police that two men wearing bonnets barged into the victim’s house on Higgins Street, Maricaban, shot her and left a sign saying “tulak ako wag tularan (I’m a drug pusher, don’t be

like me).”

Mistaken identity?

Around two hours earlier, Dante de Paz, 27, a lender and resident of Apelo Cruz Street, Malibay, was shot in front of a house on C. Jose Street in Malibay.

Barangay officials said the house owner, Michael Florence Cornejo, was listed as a drug personality in their watch list although he has yet to surrender.

Around midnight of Aug. 4, a watchman found the bullet-riddled body of Jefrey Anacio/Jefrey Panga on Kalayaan Road in Barangay 201. A police report said residents “expressed joy” because the victim was a known drug pusher in the area.

On Aug. 3, around 10 p.m., a yet to

be identified victim dressed in a yellow shirt and jogging pants was gunned down on FB Harrison Street.

A witness said the man was shot by one of six men on board four motorcycles. They left a sign which accused him of being a thief and drug addict.

On Aug. 2, around 7 p.m., two men on a motorcycle shot Arthuro Custodio, 35, inside his house on Cinco de Junio Street, Sun Valley. A sign claimed that Custodio, said to be included in the barangay drug watch list, was a pusher.

Policemen also found a still unidentified man shot dead on Aug. 1 on Bac 1-11 Drive in Don Carlos Village. He had a tattoo which read “Neneng Bindoy” and a sign saying he was a snatcher. ■

‘Oligarch’ on Rody hit list quits as firm’s boss Digong vows to break new enemy’s clout

BY DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA AND LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer BUSINESSMAN Roberto V. Ongpin yesterday stepped down as chair and director of gaming firm Philweb Corp. following President Duterte’s threat to bring down “oligarchs” while pinpointing him as a prime example.

Ongpin quit his posts in Philweb and all subsidiaries effective immediately, based on his brief resignation letter submitted to the Philweb board yesterday, a copy of which was disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

Mr. Duterte earlier identified Ongpin as a prime example of an oligarch, which refers to a member of a small group of people who wield economic and political power.

Oligarchs are the latest addition to a growing list of targets that Mr. Duterte is pursuing. The firebrand former prosecutor has said he will crack down on drug dealers, crime bosses, corrupt generals, business monopolies, online gambling and even Catholic priests. “I am fighting a monster... Believe me, I will destroy their clutches in our nation,” Mr. Duterte said at an environment summit in Davao City yesterday, without identifying anyone.

On Wednesday night, the President threatened to take on the oligarchs, naming Ongpin as an example. “My plan, my order ... is: ‘Destroy the oligarchs [who] are embedded in government now,’” he said in Malacañang.

Shares plunge

On Thursday, shares of Philweb slid by 36.88 percent following the President’s pronouncement.

Philweb operates e-Games stations, or internet cafés dedicated to casino games, including baccarat, blackjack, various slot machine games and video poker. Most e-Games cafés operate on a 24/7 basis.

Philweb’s key subsidiaries include BigGame Inc., Premyo sa Resibo Inc., eMagine Gaming Corp., PhilWeb Convergence Corp. and PhilWeb Asia-Pacific Corp.

Philweb netted P869.63 million in 2015, down 3.8 percent from P903.86 million in 2014.

According to its website, Philweb generated P531 billion in gross bets in the last five years.

In Davao City, the President said he would “destroy the clutches” of the oligarchs even as he vowed to pursue federalism.

Duterte said that for a long time, people in Mindanao and other parts of the country had been at the mercy of the policies and decisions that emanated from Manila.

He said the oligarchs, who benefited from the system, would continue to resist change.

“They will say, ‘It’s not viable.’ They will distribute the power and the goodies only to the rich. That’s why they are resisting. They really do not want it because it will destroy the power vortex,” the President said.

License in jeopardy

The license it obtained in 2003 from state-controlled Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) to operate eGames is at risk given Mr. Duterte’s strong stance against e-gaming.

Philweb’s intellectual property license agreement with Pagcor is expiring on Aug. 10.

Ongpin has stepped down to focus on real estate projects developed by Alphaland Corp., where Ongpin has a majority stake, Philweb said yesterday.

Mr. Duterte noted that Ongpin kept his influence and hold on power throughout several administrations.

Ongpin was a trade minister during the Marcos regime and a “hanger on” during the Ramos, Arroyo and Aquino administrations, Mr. Duterte said.

Imperial Manila

“That is why I am so passionate about getting into a new setup, because ‘imperial Manila’ controls everything,” he said. “Under the unitary type of government, all permits are released by Ma-

Raking in money

“These are the guys, who, while sitting inside their planes or their mansions everywhere, are raking in money like taxi meters,” Mr. Duterte said of the oligarchs on Wednesday. www.canadianinquirer.net

nila.”

Even the mines go to the oligarchs, who are good at influence-peddling, Mr. Duterte said.

The President said mining operations had destroyed some areas in Mindanao, citing Tubay, Agusan del Norte province, while other mines had left big holes.

“They are not into planting. They are into open pit mining. Others left behind big holes,” Duterte said.

But Duterte said not all the rich were bad. “Look at Gina, she is a billionaire but look at how she brings herself,” he said, referring to Environment Secretary Gina Lopez. “She is an advocate.”

He said logging like mining was a sunset industry. “Logging is already too late; if there’s 24 hours in a day, logging is already in the 25th hour. We cannot back (the two industries) anymore,” he said.

“Many will get angry. Many will like the status quo to remain, but we will open opportunities to all Filipinos,” he said. ■

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Philippine News

AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

Recto wants hike Grieving Bishop Soc: in gov’t fees stopped Enough of killings;

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer MINORITY LEADER Ralph Recto proposed yesterday the imposition of a six-year moratorium on increases in fees for permits, passports, driver’s licenses and other government documents.

Recto, who has filed a bill to put the moratorium in effect, said it was intended to spare Filipinos from paying for inefficient service and to “provide relief for our countrymen who can barely afford to avail of these services.”

The halt in the fee increases should be made as the government works on improving systems and procedures for better and more efficient delivery of government services, he said.

“There have been numerous reports on the delays in the processing of clearances and in the release of documents and licenses. In the light of these criticisms regarding inadequate gov-

ernment services and coupled with the escalating increases in the cost of living, increasing the current rates for these fees and charges is not justifiable,” he said in a statement.

He noted that the national government and local government units have been collecting more than P53 billion annually from fees derived from the issuance of various licenses and permits, the regulation of the different professions and the issuance of passports, among others.

“The efficiency of our government employees in the collection of these fees and charges is truly admirable. It is our sincerest hope that they also show the same level of zealous efficiency in the delivery of these services,” he said.

Recto said his call for a moratorium does not mean that government agencies should no longer grant refunds when warranted, such as in the case of car registration stickers which have not been delivered. ■

Comelec promises to conduct better Barangay and SK polls PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Inspired by the positive assessment of the public on the May 9 national and local polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has promised to conduct better conduct of the Oct. 31 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls.

“We will build on this success for the upcoming 2016 Barangay and SK elections. And we look for more ways in order to make our elections more orderly, peaceful, credible, and inclusive,” said Comelec Chairman Juan Andres Bautista.

He added that they will particularly focus in making the elections more transparent and more credible.

“Credibility has always been an issue with the Comelec in

the past. And we are trying to address that head on,” Bautista added.

With this, the poll body chief said that they will try their best to maintain the good figures given to them by the public.

“Since our grade is already in the 90s, it will be difficult to top that. But we will still try our best to maintain these numbers,” he said.

The latest Pulse Asia survey revealed that most Filipinos observed that the conduct of the recent elections was fast, orderly, and there were no cases of electoral violence.

It also showed that 92 percent of Filipinos opined that the release of the results of the May 2016 elections was fast, 93 percent believed that the elections were orderly and 95 percent did not observe any incidence of electoral violence. ■

let our humanity speak

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer ENOUGH. Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas has appealed to the Filipinos’ sense of humanity amid a spate of drug killings across the country.

“There is a little voice of humanity in us that I believe is disturbed by the killings; but that voice of disturbed humanity is drowned out by the louder voice of revenge or silenced by the sweet privileges of political President Rodrigo R. Duterte meets with Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible clout,” Villegas, president of the Voting (PPCRV) Chairperson Henrietta De Villa during a courtesy call.

Catholic Bishops’ Conference QUIEL SUPERA / PPD / PNA of the Philippines (CBCP), said in a statement posted on the in the belief that their murders icate crime.” website of the Archdiocese of will lessen evil in the world.”

“From a generation of drug Lingayen-Dagupan late on Fri“I am a human being. That is addicts, shall we become a genday. all it takes for me to stand up eration of street murderers?

The statement, titled “Let and say, ‘Enough.’ The human- [Can] the do-it-yourself justice Humanity in Us Speak,” will ity in me is hurting each time a system assure us of a safer and be read in place of the Sunday fellow human is hurt. [Part] of better future?” he asked. homily in all churches in the my humanity dies when a felVillegas warned that the archdiocese today. low human dies,” he said.

Philippines may become a safer In an interview with the INVillegas stressed that he does place, but children might learn QUIRER, Villegas said he is- not have to be a bishop or a to tolerate murder. sued the statement in his ca- Catholic to be disturbed by al“Is not humanity going down pacity as Lingayen-Dagupan most daily news about the kill- to the dregs when bloodthirsty archbishop and not as CBCP ings. humans encourage the killers president. He said he wanted to “Lay aside the bishop’s robes and ask for more blood? When “address the people of God dur- and the CBCP position. I am tears are replaced by wide ing these trying times.” only a human being. My hu- smiles each time a human is The message marks the first manity is in grief. I am in utter killed, I shake my head and ask, time a high-ranking Catho- disbelief. If this is just a night- ‘What has happened to humanlic Church official has spoken mare, wake me up and assure ity?” Can we still cry with those about the unwho cry?’” Villeabated killing of gas said. drug suspects in President Blood Duterte’s war on Is not humanity going down to the everywhere drugs. dregs when bloodthirsty humans Villegas said Villegas laencourage the killers and ask for he hoped humented the killmore blood? manity would be ings, which have restored and renumbered more gained, so “that than 600 in the the killers may five weeks that Mr. Duterte has me it is not true. This is too listen to the voice of conscience been in office. much to swallow,” he said. that has been dulled by the sight Mourning the deaths, VilleNoting that only a few Filipi- of too much blood everywhere.” gas said every human being was nos seem to be disturbed by the He said he was ready to be a brother or sister to him. killings, Villegas asked whether “killed again and again on social “For the killer and the killed the Philippines is becoming a media” for his beliefs.

I grieve. We become less human “killing fields nation” as it seeks Lamenting that a part of him when we kill our brethren,” he to stamp out illegal drugs. dies a hundred times with evsaid.

He said he shared the dream ery killing, Villegas said: “In of a Philippines without the this valley of death, I grieve. In ‘I’m only human’ drug menace, but questioned the life after, I will rejoice. BarHe said he was overcome with whether killing crime suspects barism will not have the last grief at the thought that people without due process was “a laugh. Reason will prevail. Hu“do not mind killing criminals morally acceptable way to erad- manity will win in the end.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

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Philippine leader...

Duterte promptly relieved members of the military and police he named from their current posts and ordered government security personnel to be withdrawn from politicians he identified in a nationally televised speech. He also ordered gun licenses of those named revoked.

“All military and police who are attached to these people, I’m giving you 24 hours to report to your mother unit or I will whack you. I’ll dismiss you from the service,” Duterte said in the speech at a military camp in southern Davao city.

He said that the list of politicians, judges and law enforcers given to him by the military and police might or might not be true, but that he had a duty to disclose to the public how the drug problem had become so pervasive.

“There is no due process in my mouth,” Duterte said. “You can’t stop me and I’m not afraid even if you say that I can end up in jail.”

The list of names, which Duterte said included some friends, has been validated by authorities but did not contain details of the officials’ alleged involvement to the drug trade or offer any evidence. Some names were incomplete, while others had no rank or government position.

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President Rodrigo R. Duterte consoles the bereaved family members of the four soldiers who died in a clash against the New People’s Army.

KIWI BULCLAC / PPD / PNA

They included eight judges, one of whom was reported to have been killed by a gunman in 2008, as well as five retired and current generals. The rest were mostly town mayors and police officers. One retired general, Vicente Loot, has been previously named in public by Duterte and has denied any wrongdoing.

“It’s a pandemic,” said Duterte, a former mayor of Davao, where he built a reputation for his crime-busting style that allegedly involved extrajudicial killings.

Duterte’s latest salvo ups the ante in his war on drugs, which has already left more than 400 suspected dealers and pushers dead and more than 4,400 ar-

rested in more than a month since he took office. Nearly 600,000 people have surrendered to authorities, hoping to avoid getting killed.

The crackdown has been one of the biggest and bloodiest in the Philippines’ recent history and has alarmed human rights groups and the dominant Roman Catholic Church. But Duterte has dismissed their concerns and has openly threatened to kill crime suspects, assuring law enforcers that he would defend them if they face lawsuits while battling criminality.

Church leader Archbishop Socrates Villegas issued a statement, read in churches Sunday in his northern dis-

Sex education to erase stigma of pregnant student–Briones

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SEX education curriculum will be taught not only as part of science but based on human rights principles, according to Education Secretary Leonor Briones.

Briones during a recent press briefing identified among the Department of Education’s priorities the strengthening of the gender and equity components of the school curricula, especially in relation to sex education.

She raised the need to enrich sex education in school by introducing the “human rights component” which would allow young girls who get pregnant “under very unusual circumstances” to return to school.

“In public schools, it may not be a policy to kick out students but there are schools that automatically kick out girls who get pregnant, which destroys their lives,” Briones said.

“This is where the enrichment comes in, the treatment [of students who get pregnant] who have the right to go back to school [and] to be treated humanely. After all, this thing is not a do-it-yourself job of one girl.

It’s a partnership enterprise,” she said.

Briones said the existing curriculum on reproductive health must also correct the stigma attached to teenage pregnancy.

“You can teach all the mechanisms and so on and so forth. But how do you treat a child who gets pregnant? It’s more in understanding, it’s more in helping these children rebuild their lives with the support of their families,” she said.

Married off early

From the rounds she had earlier made of various schools as a convenor of Social Watch Philippines, Briones observed that fewer girls made it to Grade 6 because many parents married them off at a young age, which she said contributed to the high incidence of teenage pregnancy in the country.

Citing the 2013 Functional Literacy, Education and Mass Media Survey, Briones’ chief of staff Nepomuceno Malaluan said 22.9 percent of the four million out-of-school children and youth drop out to get married.

The survey also showed that nonattendance in school was “disproportionately higher” among girls at 36.2 percent than boys at 1.7 percent. “This is highly correlated with sex education and teenage pregnancy,” Malaluan said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

trict, expressing deep concerns over the killings of drugs suspects and lamenting a lack of widespread outrage over the deaths.

“Is not humanity going down to the dregs when bloodthirsty humans encourage the killers and ask for more blood?” Villegas said. “Will you kill me again and again on social media for saying this?”

Vice-President Leni Robredo, who is on a trip to the U.S., said media can do a lot to help raise awareness on the need to stop the killings.

“There have been a few voices already out there against extrajudicial killings, but I think that public outcry is not there yet,” Robredo said. “I think all of us should do our share in making sure that this has to stop.”

Duterte also attended the wake of four soldiers who were killed in two clashes with communist rebels last week in the gold-mining town of Monkayo in southern Compostela Valley. Three of the soldiers were killed by a land mine blast, the military said.

Duterte criticized the rebels for using land mines, which have also killed civilians. He warned that if anyone else dies from a rebel land mine attack, he would call off peace talks that are scheduled to start Aug. 20 in Norway. ■

Philippine News

8

AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

Bato ordered: Probe killings

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Member

DILG HEAD directs PNP chief to look into vigilante attacks INTERIOR Secretary Ismael Sueno yesterday ordered Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, chief of the Philippine National Police, to investigate the extrajudicial killings in President Duterte’ Sueno, who has supervision over the PNP, directed Dela Rosa to look immediately into the deaths of hundreds of drug suspects during law-enforcement operations and in almost nightly attacks in slums across the country that have been blamed on so-called vigilantes.

“This administration will not allow vigilante killings of illegal drug or crime suspects, and their unjust killing during police operations,” Sueno said in a statement.

“All recorded vigilante killings of narcotics and crime suspects should immediately be investigated,” he said.

Sueno said administrative charges should be immediately brought against “all police officers proven to have been involved in unjust killings” of drug suspects.

He also directed Dela Rosa to remind all policemen to observe proper procedures in carrying out arrests or raids and searches.

Sueno also ordered the PNP Internal Affairs Service to investigate police operations that had led to violations of human rights.

He directed Dela Rosa to submit a report to the Office of the Interior Undersecretary for Peace and Order.

There was no immediate comment from Dela Rosa yesterday.

PNP Chief Police Director General Ronald Dela Rosa on Monday (August 8) tests the new mobile game application, "Tsip Bato: Ang Bumangga Giba" during its official launch in Camp Crame. The game app is part of the PNP's strengthened campaign against illegal drugs.

PNP-PIO / PNA

But Mr. Duterte has refused to heed such calls, warning drug dealers instead that seeking human rights protection will not save them from death.

Shoot-to-kill order

On Friday, the President gave shoottokill orders against drug dealers, including politicians involved in the narcotics trade.

Angered by the shooting of a police officer during a law-enforcement operation against drugs in Magsaysay, Davao del Sur province, on Wednesday, Mr. Duterte vowed to maintain the shootto-kill order throughout his six years in office.

men are involved in encounters [with drug suspects], don’t investigate it,” he added.

The presidential guarantee puts into doubt Sueno’s order to Dela Rosa to bring charges against policemen who will be proven to have violated the rights of drug suspects, although the police overseer may have issued the directive on instructions from the President.

Probe promised

In a speech in Davao City late on Thursday, Mr. Duterte acknowledged abuses in his war on drugs and promised an investigation.

He said most drug dealers and users slain by police had put up a fight, but added that he was sure some were “salvaged,” a local slang More than 600 killed This campaign [of] shoot to kill will remain until for extrajudicial killINQUIRER monithe last day of my term, if I’m still alive by then. ings usually by law toring showed that enforcers.

660 drug suspects In the case of ilhave been killed belegal killings, Mr. tween July 1 and Aug. Duterte said the gov4. Of the killings, 436 ernment would inwere by police and 224 by vigilantes.

“This campaign [of ] shoot to kill will vestigate.

In July alone, 596 were killed, 196 of remain until the last day of my term, if Sueno’s order came two days after the them by vigilantes. The other 400 were I’m still alive by then,” the 71-year-old President promised an investigation. killed by police.

President said at a news conference in Mr. Duterte, who was elected on an July 9 was the deadliest day in Mr. Davao City. anticrime platform that included wipDuterte’s war on drugs, with 23 suspects “I don’t care about human rights, be- ing out illegal drugs in six months, said killed. lieve me,” he said. international organizations had no busiDuring the first four days of August, Mr. Duterte also offered soldiers and ness complaining about his campaign 64 drug suspects were killed—34 by po- police his “official and personal guaran- against the narcotics trade. lice and 30 by unknown assailants. tee” of immunity from prosecution for “I’m waging a war. I amnow invoking The unprecedented killings have killings undertaken in the performance the articles of war,” he said. drawn the attention of international of their duties.

Mr. Duterte said he had no fear the rights groups and the United Nations “For as long as it is done in the perfor- campaign would cause his impeachment Office on Drugs and Crime, which have mance of duty of soldiers and police, I’ll and removal from office. called for a halt to the slayings and com- answer for it. That is my official and per“The Filipino is crying for justice” pliance with international norms in the sonal guarantee,” he said. from crimes committed by drug depenPhilippine campaign against drugs.

“I will answer for the deed. If police- dents, he said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

9

Philippine groups oppose Marcos Probe of power burial at heroes’ cemetery producers ordered

BY TERESA CEROJANO The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A Philippine historical commission, former human rights victims and left-wing groups on Tuesday opposed President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval of a plan to bury late dictator Ferdinand Marcos in a heroes’ cemetery, reigniting a politically divisive and emotional debate.

A coalition of groups opposed to the plan said Marcos was “a plunderer” who “treated the national coffers as his personal piggy bank” and “a dictator who ordered the torture, detention and deaths of thousands who dared question his rule.”

They announced plans to hold a protest rally on Sunday.

Rep. Edcel Lagman, a member of the coalition, said they will study the possibility of seeking an injunction blocking the burial from the Supreme Court.

Duterte gave the go-ahead Sunday for the burial, which is expected next month. He said Marcos, who was ousted in a

1986 “people power” revolt, is qualified to be buried at the military-run cemetery as a former soldier and president.

Maria Serena Diokno, head of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, said Tuesday the commission sent a letter to Duterte last month objecting to the plan. She said a study by the commission showed that Marcos’ military record “is fraught with myths, factual inconsistencies and lies.” She said the commission had not received a response.

The study found that Marcos lied about receiving U.S. medals which he claimed as early as about 1945; that his guerrilla unit, the Ang Mga Maharlika, and his leadership of it were never officially recognized, and that U.S. officials did not recognize Marcos’ promotion from major in 1944 to lieutenant colonel by 1947.

It said some of Marcos’ actions as a soldier were officially called into question by senior officials in the U.S. military, who it said described Marcos’ command over the Allas Intelligence

Unit as usurpation, his commissioning of officers as without authority, his collection of money for an airfield as illegal, and his listing of his name on rosters of different units as a malicious criminal act.

The commission said Philippine military rules bar the burial at the cemetery of personnel who have been dishonourably discharged from service, or who were convicted of an offence involving moral turpitude. While Marcos was not dishonourably separated from the service, it said he suffered a worse and more dishonourable fate: he was removed by the collective action of the Filipinopeople in 1986.

Being an ex-president also does not automatically mean burial at the cemetery, with seven out of 11 deceased former presidents not buried there, it added.

Boni Ilagan, an activist who was tortured during Marcos’ presidency, said, “If we bury the dictator at the cemetery we are sending a signal to the whole world that in the Philippines, crime pays.” ■

Palace to Trump: Fil-Ams an asset

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES protested on Saturday US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s characterization of Filipinos as a threat to the security of the superpower, pointing out that they had made “deep and varied” contributions to America.

Trump earlier said immigrants from “terrorist nations” should be barred entry to the US, mentioning Filipinos among those arrested for conducting or threatening to carry out violent attacks.

While the candidate was entitled to his opinion, Philippine presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Trump should look at the contributions of Filipinos who had moved to the US. “We’d also like to encourage him to look into the contribution Filipino Americans have

made and given to the United States. They have been very productive and have made great contributions,” Abella said over state-owned Radyo ng Bayan.

He cited as an example businesswoman and philanthropist Loida Nicolas-Lewis, who served as an attorney general in the US before heading a billiondollar conglomerate.

‘Broad strokes’

Even less known Filipinos living in the United States have been an asset to that country, he said.

Abella said Trump may have been speaking in “broad strokes” when he made his statements against immigrants, including Filipinos, and may not know what he was talking about.

“But it would help him, if he’s going to be the president, to really understand… his constituents, and the contributions of Filipinos to America have been deep and varied,” he said.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said the Philippines was a peaceloving country, as attested to by Trump himself, having launched a 57-story luxury apartment building in Makati City.

“Let it be known that the Philippines and the Filipino people stand in solidarity with other peace-loving countries and individuals in fighting and opposing terrorism in all its forms,” he said.

Trump, a reality TV star and businessman who has never held public office but has emerged as the Republican Party nominee, has been known for making outrageous statements.

President Dutere was earlier compared to Trump because of his brash personality and penchant for expletives. But the Filipino leader, a longtime city mayor and former government prosecutor, rejected the comparison, saying he was not a bigot like Trump. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

BY AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer

brought about by insufficient power supply from generating plants.”

According to the NGCP, there ENERGY SECRETARY Alfonso were seven facilities that had G. Cusi has ordered a probe into unplanned outages, collectively the possible violations that may reducing the available capachave been committed by power ity by 1,225 MW. These were producers as electricity supply Calaca 2 (300 MW), Pagbilao 2 in Luzon remained unstable on (382 MW), Malaya 1 (300 MW), Friday.

South Luzon Thermal Energy “In view of the recurring Corp. or SLTEC (122 MW), yellow and red alert status an- Makban Unit 1 (55 MW), Limay nounced by the system opera- 5 (60 MW), Lafarge (6 MW). tor National Grid Corp. of the The planned outages had cut Philippines (NGCP) the past the supply by 1,850 MW. These few days, the Department of were from the Ilijan Block B Energy (DOE) is closely look- (600 MW), Southwest Luzon ing at the possible violations by Power Generation Corp. or these power utilities given the SLPGC (150 MW), Kalayaan current energy situation,” Cusi 1 (180 MW), Kalayaan 2 (180 said in a statement.

MW), Bacman 2 (55 MW), San “These debilitating power Gabriel (430 MW), and Sta. interruptions are in total vio- Rita module 20 (255 MW). lation of the As a result, Electric Power some parts of Industry Reform Batangas, Cavite, Act (Epira). We Laguna, Metro have already reManila, Quezon quested the Enand Rizal expeergy Regulatory It was rienced rotating Commission to forecast that brownouts lastinvestigate these total power ing two to three persistent power supply hours on Friday. outages and to would hit In North Lutake appropriate 8,833 MW zon, the NGCP actions, pursuwhile peak reported oneant to their mandemand hour power indate to regulate was seen to terruptions in industry playreach 8,649 areas serviced by ers. I have also MW. Ilocos Sur Elecinstructed the tric CooperaDOE Power Butive (Iseco), La reau to conduct Union Electric technical audits/ Coop (Luelco), plant inspecNueva Vizcaya tions prioritizing those that Electric Coop (Nuvelco), Cenhave forced outages,” Cusi said. tral Pangasinan Electric Coop Data from the NGCP showed (Cenpelco), Isabela I Electric that the Luzon grid was again Coop (Iselco I), and Cagayan II placed on a red alert status Electric Coop (Cagelco II). from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday In Central Luzon, power inas both the planned and forced terruptions lasting one to two outages of key energy facilities hours were monitored in areas have cut power supply by as covered by Pampanga Electric much as 3,075 megawatts.

Cooperative (Pelco I, Pelco II, It was forecast that total pow- Pelco III), Peninsula Electric er supply would hit 8,833 MW Coop-Balanga (Penelco-Balanwhile peak demand was seen to ga), Pampanga Rural Electric reach 8,649 MW. Luzon was lat- Coop (Presco), San Fernando er placed on yellow alert from 6 Light and Power Co. (Sfelapcop.m. onwards.

Floridablanca), and Nueva EciThe system operator ex- ja I Electric Coop (Neeco I). plained that Luzon grid was In South Luzon, two-hour on red alert on Friday due to power interruptions ocalmost “zero operating re- curred in Quezon Electric serves and yellow alert due to Coop (Quezelco I and Quezellower level operating reserves co II). ■

10

Philippine News

AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

US concerned about extrajudicial Sen. Aquino still killings in Philippines hoping Duterte

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The U.S. government has expressed concern over extrajudicial killings of suspected drug dealers and users in a bloody crackdown overseen by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and urged his government to ensure law enforcement efforts comply with human rights obligations.

U.S. State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau on Monday also criticized recent remarks by Villagers join a people's march against drug abuse, a barangay-wide activity Duterte about the U.S. ambas- organized by the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) of Barangay sador in Manila and said Philip- Malanday, Marikina City. pine officials have been asked JOEY O. RAZON / PNA to clarify them.

The president recently re- human rights. We believe, fun- the Philippine charge to come ferred to U.S. Ambassador Phil- damentally, that those aspects into the State Department to ip Goldberg with a profanity ensure and promote long-term clarify those remarks.” and accused him of meddling in security,” she said.

In a speech before army the Philippine elections.

Roman Catholic church lead- troops on Friday in the central Duterte has had an uneasy ers and human rights groups Philippines, Duterte narrated a relationship with America and in the Philippines have also lunch meeting with U.S. Secrehas said he would chart a for- expressed alarm over the wide- tary of State John Kerry at the eign policy that is not depen- spread killings in reported presidential palace in Manila dent on the U.S., his country’s gunbattles with police or still- last month. Duterte said Kerry, longtime treaty ally. Relatedly, unexplained deaths of drugs who offered more than $30 milDuterte has tried to repair rela- suspects, some of whom were lion in aid for law enforcement tions with China that have been abandoned with cardboard training, was “OK” but he critistrained over escalating dis- messages warning the public to cized Goldberg. putes in the South China Sea. stay away from illegal drugs or “I had a feud with his ambasThe drug crackdown has left they would die next. sador, his gay ambassador. Son more than 400 of a bitch, I’m ansuspected dealnoyed with the ers and pushers guy. He meddled dead and more in the elections, than 4,400 arWe strongly urge the Philippines giving staterested since to ensure its law enforcement ments here and Duterte took ofefforts comply with its human rights there. He wasn’t fice on June 30. obligations. supposed to do Nearly 600,000 that,” Duterte people have said without givsurrendered to ing details. authorities, hoping to avoid Several of the slain drugs During the presidential camgetting killed. The arrests suspects were killed by motor- paign, the Australian ambassahave further overwhelmed the cycle-riding gunmen in recent dor in Manila criticized a joke country’s mostly rundown and attacks similar to those car- by Duterte, who said he “should already-overcrowded jails. ried out by the so-called “death have been first” in line to rape “We are concerned by these squads,” which were blamed Australian missionary, who detentions, as well as the ex- for years of killings in southern was gang raped and killed durtra judicial killing of individu- Davao city while Duterte was ing a jail riot in 1989. Goldberg als suspected to be involved its longtime mayor. expressed support to the statein drug activity in the PhilTrudeau also criticized ment of his Australian counterippines,” Trudeau said. “We Duterte for “inappropriate part. strongly urge the Philippines comments” on Goldberg.

Duterte reacted by asking the to ensure its law enforcement “We’ve seen those inappro- two ambassadors to “shut up.” ■ efforts comply with its human priate comments made about rights obligations.”

Ambassador Goldberg. He’s a Associated Press writers Mat“We believe in rule of law. multi-time ambassador, one thew Lee in Washington and We believe in due process. We of our most senior U.S. diplo- Teresa Cerojano in Manila conbelieve in respect for universal mats,” she said. “We have asked tributed to this report. www.canadianinquirer.net

will reconsider Marcos burial at hero’s cemetery

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV remains hopeful that President Rodrigo Duterte will reconsider his decision to allow the burial of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“We are very hopeful that in the next couple of weeks the President will change his mind,” Aquino said in a media interview.

Aquino is the nephew of former Senator Benigno ‘Ninoy’ Aquino Jr., Marcos’ top critic who was assassinated upon his arrival at the Manila International Airport from a threeyear self-imposed exile in the United States on Aug. 21, 1983.

The lawmaker said 70,000 people were imprisoned, 30,000 were tortured and almost 3,000 died during martial law under Marcos’ regime.

“Perhaps that’s enough that he is not fit to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani,” Aqui-

no said.

Aquino said many of his colleagues, including President Duterte’s partymate Senate President Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel III and his running mate Alan Peter Cayetano, opposed hero’s burial for former dictator.

Meanwhile, neophyte Senator Risa Hontiveros has filed Senate Resolution No. 86 expressing the sense of the Senate that the crimes of Marcos to the country and the human rights violations committed under his regime, render him unfit to be buried at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.

“Allowing the former President to be buried at the Libingan will only cause further divisiveness, and will reopen old wounds, especially as the country is also in the process of providing reparations to martial law victims,” Hontiveros said.

President Duterte explained that Marcos, as a former soldier and former President, deserved to be buried at the hero’s cemetery.

The Marcos family set Marcos burial on Sept. 18. ■

Northern Samar local execs rapped with nepotism PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman has filed charges for nepotism against former Gamay, Northern Samar Mayor and now Vice Mayor Timoteo Capoquian Jr. and former Vice Mayor Enrique Gomba for appointing their close relatives as members of the Board of Directors of the Gamay Water District in 2008.

The Ombudsman said that as appointing authorities, Capo-

quian appointed his sister while Gomba appointed his wife in violation of the Revised Administrative Code of 1987.

Section 59, Chapter 7, Book V of the Administrative Code forbids the appointment to a government position of an individual whose relationship with the appointing or recommending authority, chief of the bureau or office or the person exercising immediate supervision over the appointee is within the third degree of consanguinity or affinity. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

11

Mud on her feet: Leni’s ‘laylayan’ days

BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer ONE OF the most enjoyable moments that Vice President Leni Robredo remembers since winning her post in the May elections was the long slippery trek up Mt. Isarog in Sitio Bongcao in Pili, Camarines Sur province, where her slippers gave up the ghost, forcing her to walk barefoot on the muddy trail.

She and her team had been told that it would be a 20-minute trek to the place where a new schoolbuilding had been constructed, thanks mainly to the social media efforts that her office began in 2015.

But it had rained so hard the night before that the hike became an hour-and-a-half toegripping battle against a muddy trail that kept everyone slip, sliding away. Her tsinelas— both symbolic of her late husband’s grounded and massbased leadership as well as a practical accoutrement of her no-frills laylayan trips—broke and left her wading through the muck on her bare feet.

“But we were all very happy because everyone we passed ended up joining us. It was such a novelty for them; their community was so rarely visited.

We were like the Pied Piper of Hamelin. When we finally reached the top of the village, we were so many! It was fun!”

Robredo recounted.

“Laylayan” activities

Despite the tight schedule she keeps at the Office of the Vice President (OVP), Robredo embarks every weekend on what her staff calls her “laylayan” (on the fringes) activities, visiting the country’s most impoverished areas to find out what they need and what her office can do.

More than a month since being sworn into office, Robredo

maintains the pace and stamina that saw her through a bruising campaign to win by a hairline over the only son of the late President Ferdinand Marcos.

Early on, even without a Cabinet portfolio, she hit the ground running and reinvented the OVP into a more advocacycentered office, with five core programs: hunger and food security, education, world development, empowerment, and universal health care.

When she was finally appointed to head the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), the work doubled almost overnight.

So far, Robredo has been averaging three speeches a week, most of them pushing for the need for a synchronized plan to provide housing for the poor while offering them the chance to improve their lives.

At a US Agency for International Development (USAID) event, she brought up the idea of developing secondary cities, not only to decongest urban areas like Metro Manila, Davao and Cebu, but also to promote people’s economic and social development as well.

Honorary Women

In Bangkok earlier this week, where she was recognized as one of the Honorary Women of Asia in 2016, Robredo grabbed the chance to learn more about Thailand’s housing and urban development program.

The Vice President wants to hold by September a series of summits that will involve informal settlers, property developers and other stakeholders “to listen to everyone and come up with a revolutionary policy.”

Like President Duterte, Robredo shuns protocol, the subject of daily wrangling with her staff, who, she acknowledges, makes sure “everything (becomes) easy for me.”

Despite her high office, the

blocked off for the laylayan events where we go to the most far-flung areas,” Robredo said.

So far, she has been to Lanao del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Quezon, Laguna and Camarines Sur, among other provinces.

These are trips where she feels most at home, having done this for decades as a pro bono lawyer for a private organization serving the marginalized sector in Bicol.

Finding her place

The Vice President wants to hold by September a series of summits that will involve informal settlers, property developers and other stakeholders “to listen to everyone and come up with a revolutionary policy.”

ROBREDO'S OFFICIAL TWITTER ACCOUNT

Vice President said she wanted to keep her feet on the ground and not lose the “essence” of what she had vowed to do as a public official.

“In our culture, when you’re in a high position, people want to serve you hand and foot. That is the scary portion of my assignment,” Robredo said, adding that it’s so easy for people to get hooked on the trappings of power.

When she took over at HUDCC, Robredo discovered the agency “has not been performing in a way expected to perform.” For one, the policies of the six shelter agencies under the council “have not been quite in sync with each other” mainly because of the lack of an effective law. HUDCC is merely a coordinating body “with no real powers.”

17-hour work day

Like most elected officials, Robredo has been beseeched by an endless stream of people wanting to tell her how they

www.canadianinquirer.net

want to help in any of her five core programs. This has meant a 17-hour work day for her, starting at 7 or 8 in the morning until late at night, the day punctuated by meetings every 30 minutes.

“There are so many people who are just too willing to help.

Many of those I’ve spoken to say they have been looking for a partner they can trust and they say they found that in me,” Robredo said.

But she and her staff always explain that the OVP cannot implement projects, accept donations, or be involved in anything where money will pass through her office.

“What we are doing now is offering ourselves as a sort of secretariat, a clearing house for both supply and demand for these advocacies. Now, Mondays to Thursdays are spent taking care of the supply side— talking to groups, individuals, and organizations that have programs that fit our advocacies. Fridays and Saturdays are

While initially an outcast because of her ties with the rival Liberal Party, Robredo is slowly but surely finding her place in the Duterte administration.

Mr. Duterte received her warmly when she finally got to speak with him at the change of command ceremonies of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on July 1.

That warm reception has not stopped her from showing her independent streak, though.

Robredo has been vocal against extrajudicial killings, reinstating the death penalty and lowering the age of criminal liability, the last two being unequivocal policies of the administration.

She has also expressed reservations about the federal form of government that the President has been pushing, saying, however, that she is open to the idea if it would advance local autonomy, an advocacy of her late husband, former Interior Secretary and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, who perished in a plane crash four years ago.

For all their differences, Robredo believes the President and the rest of his official family will respect her contrary stand on some of his policies. “I feel secure in the thought that the President himself trusts me.

That’s what is important,” she said. ❱❱ PAGE 13 Mud on

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FRIDAY

Recto welcomes Tugade’s assurance not to increase MRT, LRT fare with quality service

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto on Wednesday welcomed the assurance of Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade that no fare increase will be imposed both in the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) without “enhanced quality service.”

Tugade made the assurance in the first Senate public hearing on the bills and resolutions granting President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to solve the traffic problems in Metro Manila and other highlyurbanized cities for the period of two years.

Asked by Recto if his department is inclined to approve the reported petition by LRT 1’s private operators if they could raise fares by 10 percent, Tugade said “any increases must be predicated on enhanced quality service.”

“Sinabihan ko na ho ang aking management that any increases on the rates sa LRT is totally not acceptable to me. Magmumukha tayong katawa-tawa sa matinding problema tapos magtataas tayo ng pamasahe (I have already informed my management that any increases on the rates sa LRT is totally not acceptable to me. We will look like a laughing stock for hiking up prices when there are so many things not working),” he added.

Pressed by Recto if there are also plans to adjust fares in the MRT, Tugade replied, “Wala ho kaming planong ganyan (We do not have that in our plans).”

“Lalabas ho kaming katawatawa na magre-rate increase at yung serbisyo mo ay hindi naman maganda (We will look like

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade (center) leads transport officials during a public hearing by the Senate Committee on Public Services on the proposal to grant “emergency powers” to President Rodrigo R. Duterte so the government can address the chaotic traffic problem in Metro Manila and other urban areas.

PNP-PIO / PNA

a scam by increasing the rates that it is not being considered.

RFID. Ayala has their own and despite having lousy service),” “Sa toll roads hindi rin ho. Pangilinan as well).” the DOTr chief said.

Ayokong mag-increase (Toll “Meron kaming plano na iTugade said that while he has roads are also exempted from synchronize ito para isang elecnot received any formal request fare increases),” Tugade said, tronic systems monitoring na for any rate increase in any of adding that what he plans to lang at yun na lang ang maghathe three Metro elevated train do at the moment is to syn- hati kung kanino iyon napasok. lines, he has isPag ginawa nyo sued instrucyan, our tentative tions that he will pencil pushing not approve such [shows that] maapplication.

We will look like a scam by increasing babawasan yung “Nag-issue the rates despite having lousy waiting sa toll ng na ho ako ng inservice.

10 to 15 minutes struksyon na hin(We have plans di ko papayagan to synchronize ang increases ng this for a unipamasahe (I have fied electronic already issued instructions that chronize toll systems to reduce systems monitoring to simI will not approve fare increas- waiting time at toll gates. plify who takes care of what. If es),” Tugade told Recto.

He explained there are three that can be done, our tentative Also covered by the freeze in operating systems for toll col- pencil pushing [shows that] the user fees are toll roads. lection at present. “May siste- waiting time at our tolls will be Upon a questioning by Recto ma si Ramon Ang, ang RFID. lessened by 10 to 15 minutes),” if any toll adjustment in pay- May sistema ng Ayala, at yung Tugade said. per-use roads is in the offing, sistema ni Pangilinan (Ramon The Transportation chief Tugade made the assurance Ang has already established the said he will also prod toll road

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concessionaires to add collection booths at the exits.

Recto noted that while frequency and conditions of train fare and road toll increases are provided for in the contracts these operators entered into by the government, “there is room for negotiations on how to mitigate or delay or cancel or postpone the adjustments.”

Tugade said if operators will invoke the contract, “eh di reviewhin natin yung kontrata at gamitin natin yung pakiusap, lalo kung may special power ako (to do it) (we can then review their contracts and convince them, especially if I am granted special powers to do so).”

In agreeing with Tugade, Recto said train services must first be improved before the government can agree to any increase.

“There must be visible improvements in terms of the number of coaches, the frequency of train rides, passenger comfort before any fare increase is ratified by regulators,” Recto said.

He said the three lines are receiving billions in taxpayer subsidy for 2016 “so this can leverage the government’s position.”

Earlier, the DOTr announced it may request a delay in the implementation of a fare hike for the LRT 1 that private operator Light Rail Manila Corp. said was due this month.

LRT 1 operations were privatized in line with the PHP65billion LRT 1 Cavite extension public-private partnership project.

The last time a fare increase took effect for LRT 1 and MRT3 was in January 2015. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

13

Cayetano wants air traffic congestion covered by emergency powers

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Senator Alan Peter Cayetano has filed a bill seeking to grant President Rodrigo Duterte with emergency powers that would address not only road traffic woes but air traffic congestion being experienced at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).

In his Senate Bill No. 999 or the ‘Freedom from Traffic and Congestion Act of 2016,’ Cayetano proposed to a “more holistic and inclusive approach” to address the worsening traffic and congestion problem.

Cayetano said severe congestion at NAIA’s major runways has caused regular delays in flights, disrupting people’s productivity and work flow.

The air traffic congestion also affected the country’s image before the international community for having one of the world’s worst airports.

“The country’s traffic problem, both land-based and air-based, in Metro Manila and in other highly urbanized cities, has assumed the nature and magnitude of a public calamity,” said the senator.

“The situation has reached crisis levels and this requires no less than emergency powers for the President and concerned agencies if we are to provide urgent relief to our people’s suffering,” he added.

Under his bill, Cayetano proposes to cover not only Metro Manila but also other urbanized areas such as Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and Metro Cebu which experience traffic problem.

“Traffic does not plague Metro Manila alone. It also affects other highly urbanized cities with no relief in sight,” Cayetano said.

Citing a report by the Japan Inter-

national Cooperation Agency (JICA), Cayetano said the cost of traffic in Metro Manila could likely increase from Php2.4 billion to Php6 billion a day if left unresolved.

“This means that low-income households will have to allocate more of their income for higher transport costs,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Public Services, chaired by Senator Grace Poe, will begin on Wednesday its public hearing on the proposed “emergency powers” for President Duterte.

Poe said three bills and three resolutions on the transportation situation and the possibility of granting emergency powers to the President had been filed in the Senate and assigned to her committee.

“I am ready to do my share as chairman of the Senate Public Services Committee to collaborate with the executive in order to fast-track the process and assure that the law we will come up with is what we really need to effectively address the traffic mess that has paralyzed our economy and our people. We will uphold the best interest of the public first and foremost,” Poe said.

Aside from Cayetano, Senate President Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon and Joseph Victor Ejercito filed the two other bills, SB No. 11 and SB No. 154, respectively.

On the other hand, Senate Minority Floor Leader Ralph Recto had filed Senate Resolutions No. 33 and 59, while Ejercito filed Resolution No. 63, which directs the Committee on Public Services to conduct an inquiry on “granting special or emergency powers to the President.”

The officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), its attached agencies and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), will brief the committee on the state of land and air transport in the country during the hearing.

Mud on...

She added: “When President Duterte offered me the (HUDCC) position, he sincerely believed I should be part of the government … I don’t think (there) is a grand plan to silence me.” ❰❰ 11

In touch

In her New Manila, Quezon City, office, Robredo makes sure she remains in touch with the people, giving her staff strict instructions not to turn away anybody who comes to the OVP, “even if they only want to have their pictures” taken with her.

Apparently, she has taken her hus-

band’s leadership style to heart, just as she and their three daughters keep him next to their heart—literally.

All four wear a little gold and silver pendant around their neck, actually a small urn that holds some of the late official’s ashes.

“I always wear this, even when I sleep,” Robredo said, adding that being the country’s second-highest official is “a challenge in the sense that there are now so many responsibilities and privileges given.”

“You always have to remind yourself where you came from and why you are here,” she added. ■

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.

The committee will also extensively discuss the government’s plan to address the traffic problem, including the appropriate modes of procurement and safeguards that need to be instituted to promote transparency and eliminate opportunities for corruption.

Poe said the committee would “define the scope of the President’s emergency powers and ensure transparency, accountability and effectiveness.”

Invited to attend Wednesday’s hearing are officials from the MMDA, the

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agency tasked to manage traffic in Metro Manila, officials from the DOTr and its attached agencies including the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board, Light Rail Transit Authority, Philippine National Railways, Light Rail Transit Authority (including the Metro Rail Transit operations), Civil Aeronautics Board, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Manila International Airport Authority and the Office of Transportation Security. ■

Most Asked Mortgage Questions Answered (part 1) By: Mylene Lim, AMP Mortgage Specialist The common questions I get asked when I discuss mortgage with my clients are: 1) What’s the best rate I can get?

The rate you can get depends on a few factors such: a. Employment: how long have you been employed? Permanent or casual? Fulltime or part-time? Salaried, commission, or self-employed? b. Credit score: all other things considered, the higher your credit score, the lower your interest would be. In a nutshell, lenders look at the probability of you paying your mortgage and adjust the interest rate accordingly. If you consistently pay your bills on time, they would be comfortable lending to you at a lower interest rate.

However, would you expect a lender to loan you hundreds of thousands if you can’t even pay your cell phone bill on time? Yes they might, but at a higher rate. c. Loan to value: how much is your down payment and how much are you borrowing? If your down payment is less than 20%, the criteria for lending could be more stringent.

2) How much do I need for down payment?

The minimum down payment required is 5% of purchase price for the first 500,000, 10% for the next 500,000 and 20% for purchase above a million. Examples:

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minimum d.p. for 490,000 purchase is 24,500; for 790,000 purchase the d.p. is 54,000 [breakdown: 25,000 (5% of 500,000) + 29,000 (10% of 290,000) = 54,000]; for 1,200,000 purchase the d.p. is 240,000. The down payment requirement would also depend on purpose of the purchase such as if you are going to live in the property or renting it out, etc.

3) What’s the maximum mortgage amount I can qualify?

Generally, lenders would limit your: a. Housing cost (mortgage payments, taxes, heating cost, strata fee) to about 32-39% of your monthly income. For example, if your gross monthly income is 4,000, your housing cost should be in the range of 1,280-1,560 per month. b. Lenders also consider all your other debts alongside your housing cost. Your overall debt (housing + credit cards, car loans, line of credit, student loan, etc.) should be about 39-44% of your gross monthly income. Example, with a monthly pay of 4,000, your total debt payments should be in the range of 1,560-1,760.

For more information, please feel free to contact me at Cel: 604 783 9097 Email:mylene.mortgage@gmail.com Web: www.BestOptionMortgages.ca Fb: Mylene Lim, AMP

Opinion

14

AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

ANALYSIS

Duterte popularity starts to erode

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer CANBERRA—Barely two weeks after his inauguration on June 29, ominous signs have appeared, indicating that the popularity that fueled President Duterte’s landslide victory in last May’s elections is flagging and eroding.

The latest Pulse Asia survey, released on July 20, shows that more Filipinos are opposed today to constitutional change, a priority political reform being pushed by the new Duterte administration. According to the survey, 44 percent of respondents believe that the 1987 Constitution should not be amended—for now. On the other hand, 37 percent think it’s time to amend it, while 19 percent remain undecided.

The anti-Charter change plurality sentiment among Filipinos (44 percent) is shared by virtually the same percentages of people who are aware of the Cha-cha proposals and those with sufficient or a great deal of knowledge of the Constitution (both at 42 percent), said Pulse Asia.

The survey did not explain the reasons behind its findings. The impli-

cation seems to be that the proposal fourth, fifth year, proceso yan, e. You of Congress,” Drilon said in a statefor Cha-cha will face rough sailing in call for a referendum, and after that, ment. He issued the statement in Congress despite the “supermajor- call for a presidential election, I will response to attempts by the adminity” of the government deputies in go.” istration to fasttrack the shift to the the House of Representatives. And But you just have a new president. federal system. the way it looks, control of the Sen- Amending a constitution is not just a House Speaker Pantaleon Alvaate by the government’s allies appear simple process. That can be facilitat- rez had earlier said that President uncertain. ed by edicts issued from Malacañang Duterte now prefers Con-ass over In his State of the Nation Address by the highest officials of the Repub- Con-con as the mode of amending (Sona), President Duterte did not lic. Administration officials have the Charter. ram the Cha-cha proposal down the made a great leap forward: They are But Drilon pointed out that unthroat of Congress. Instead he dis- now considering whether we follow like ordinary bills, a resolution guised it behind the move to shift the British Westminster parliamen- calling for a review of the Constituthe political system from the present tary system or the French presiden- tion “does not need the approval of highly centralized the President and presidential form cannot be vetoed If you hurry up the federal system of government and of government to a by the President,” you can submit it to the Fiipino people by the fourth, fifth year, federalized one. In adding that the proceso yan, e. You call for a referendum, and after that, call for the Sona, the presiFilipino people a presidential election, I will go. dent was ambiguthemselves would ous and he presentultimately decide ed a muddled view of what he really tial model, this even before we have whether or not they would ratify wanted. He told the joint session of resolved the issue over the mode of the amendments. The amendments Congress: “You know my advice to amending the Constitution. themselves are not subject to the you is… maintain a federal system, The sticky issue of mode was approval of the President, and neia parliament, but be sure to have a raised by former Senate president ther can it be vetoed by him. Inpresident… but I’m disqualified… Franklin Drilon who said that Con- stead they are submitted in a plebiand by that time I would no longer gress has the sole authority to decide scite directly to the people, for their be here. (But) I can commit today to on the mode of amending the Consti- approval or rejection, he said. the Republic of the Philippines and tution. The mode of amendment, ” In the Sona, the President diits people: If you hurry up the federal whether by Constitutional Assembly rected legislators to copy the French system of government and you can [Con-ass] or Constitutional Conven- presidential system, not the British submit it to the Fiipino people by the tion [Concon], is the sole prerogative Westminster parliamentary system,

warning them that the latter is dangerous and takes time to work. This is understandable: President Duterte has no use for such a system.

Under the French model that President Charles de Gaulle chose for the Fifth Republic, the president of France was vested with strong executive powers to cope with crises. This model was adopted by the French constitution following the liberation of France from the Nazi occupation at the end of World War II. French critics slammed DeGaulle’s preferred system as an “elected monarchy.”

President Duterte is presuming too much if he imagines himself as a messianic Filipino version of De Gaulle or the incarnation of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Mr. Duterte does not have the moral or intellectual qualities of either of these two great men to claim he is the savior of the country from criminality and the drug menace. The big difference between Mr. Duterte and his role models is that they did not rule with a vow to kill people suspected of being criminals and drug lords.

Neither did De Gaulle nor Lee have vigilante death squads for cohorts. ■

LOOKING BACK

Making history ‘current’ to the young

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer IT HAS been over three decades since I entered a classroom for the first time to stand on the teacherside of the room, making people presume that lecturing comes easy for me. It is not. Stage fright is always lurking on the first day, and I am surprised none of my students have noticed. Every time I meet a new batch of students, I’m always nervous because I don’t know them and they know me, or have heard exaggerated stories about what goes on in what is often described in campus as “The Ambeth Ocampo Experience.” Living up to one’s reputation can be a difficult thing.

Some teachers use the rostrum, podium or teacher’s desk like a wall that separates and protects. I never use these and walk anxiously to and fro, feeling 80 pairs of eyes following me. Some teachers turn their back on the students to write on the board, or worse, read text on a screen that everyone else can. They may have their back to the students, but the gaze of 80 eyes can be felt burning on the small sensitive hairs behind their head. So I walk and talk and sense 80 pairs of ears clinging to every word

that spills from my lips. Some are attention span. They have no taste to remember Rizal was the 7th of 11 copying everything down in note- for the past, and feel no practical use children—7-11 is a convenience store. books, others are typing on laptops; for history. They should be enjoying There was a time when almost every a few have their phones in the air to the world, they should fall in love, newborn girl in the Philippines was photograph the board. First day of they should revel in their youth, yet christened Maria, and boys became school is always difficult for me, but society forced them into a classroom Jose or Jesus after any member of the I don’t show it. to listen to a historian talk about a Holy Family, thus giving us the term Three decades of teaching means I world that is no more. To learn about “Susmariosep” (from Jesus, Maria y cannot be mistaken as a student any- men and women who figure in the Jose) or a politician called Jejomar for more. When I was a young lecturer birth of the nation or a time that is Jesus, Joseph and Mary. in Diliman, I would sit in the back of as farfetched and irrelevant as diThe names of Rizal’s siblings have the classroom and wait for students nosaurs. They are supposed to learn no resonance anymore. How many to gather, and I would ask them what about the lives of heroes and hero- Joses do we find today? What child they heard of the professor and ban- ines; but in their world, the young today would be given the names ter a bit. Fifteen Trinidad, Narcisa, minutes into the Olympia, Paciano class, with the proor Saturnina? If I learned that the magic of history was not in stray data fessor nowhere in history looks and but in connections that make the trivial relevant. sight someone tells sounds so foreign, everyone that the how can it teach to teacher is absent and heads out the and beautiful are privileged over the 21st-century citizens love for, or even door. I stand up and before the rest old. Should they be old or old fash- an appreciation of, the 19th-century of the class can leave, I lock the door ioned to be heroes? Should they be beginnings of Filipino nationhood? behind the instigator of the revolt, dead to become heroes in their time?

Over the years I have learned that declare him absent, and introduce The past may very well be a foreign the history that was once taught to myself to the bewildered class as country, because to my students every- me was seen as an informative subtheir professor. thing is done differently there. Rattling ject. It was taught to sharpen the Some of my students happen to be off the names of Jose Rizal’s brother memory, and load up on facts—no children of my college classmates; and nine sisters a few years ago, I saw wonder many students were trauthey come from a different world, the eyes of the students glaze over and matized by history. In my class I try and have been described over time as remembered teachers who made them to find the connections between the Generation X, Y, and Z. They are now memorize these names and the order individual dates, names, places, and millennials, techsavy with a limited of their birth. In my class its so easy events because that is the only way to

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form a relevant narrative. Then this has to be delivered in the most engaging manner possible.

Informative history focused on who, what, where, and when? But then comes the important question—why?

As I matured as a teacher I began to teach history as a formative rather than an informative subject.

I learned that the magic of history was not in stray data but in connections that make the trivial relevant.

I’m thinking aloud in this column, wondering how history can be interrogated, turned inside out, so that by asking critical questions and by tracing the story of how a diverse people tried and constantly failed to become the nation they want to be, students will become better citizens and love their country a bit more.

Many schools and universities are scaling down on the humanities and social science subjects in their core curriculums because these seem out of date in a modern and globalizing world. Why do I continue to teach Philippine history? Because it is one of the subjects together with literature, art, anthropology, psychology, foreign languages—subjects that inform and form young people into the humans they can be. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

15

PUBLIC LIVES

Human rights and the poor

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer SCAN THE Constitution and you will find the concept of human rights at the center of that expansive document—a veritable fixed compass that orients citizens to the limits of governmental power. When it was ratified, no one asked if these rights are inherent in all human beings, or whether, for example, criminals can be considered human. As far as the Constitution’s framers were concerned, these rights have a rational basis and are unconditional.

It is not difficult to imagine, however, that not everyone would agree.

Some say belief in human rights is like belief in God, purely a matter of faith. But, isn’t faith invoked even more when a president says: Trust me, I know what I am doing?

Human rights, like the presidency, need not be defended primarily on metaphysical grounds. Indeed, we can and should ask whether human rights are useful to the community, as compared to, let us say, demanding unquestioning conformity as a basis for social cohesion. By the same token, we should ask whether an ad-

ministration’s preferred method of dealing with a social problem like illegal drugs is better than other available methods.

It would seem at first glance that President Duterte subscribes to a pragmatic view of human rights. At his recent State of the Nation Address, he said: “Human rights must work to uplift human dignity. But human rights cannot be used as a shield or an excuse to destroy the country—your country and my country.” This statement strikes me as fundamentally metaphysical, and far from being pragmatic in the philosophical sense.

The view it represents puts the assertion of the right to due process on the defensive. It privileges the security of the State over the security of the individual person. Whereas, human rights encompass a wide range of rights—legal, political, economic, and cultural, etc.—Mr Duterte puts first priority on the people’s right to security and material welfare. Why can’t a suspected offender’s basic constitutional right to presumption of innocence be considered as vital to his/her dignity as the material requirements for a dignified existence?

I think the most persuasive answer

that has been given to that question is: Because in a society like ours with a flawed justice system, criminal suspects tend to escape responsibility by exploiting the weaknesses of legal procedure. Other reasons—as commonsensical as the first—have been put forward. In defense, for instance, of a shoot-to-kill order on suspected drug offenders, it has been argued that this approach, as harsh as it may be, is more efficient and more expedient.

Despite the fact that the victims of summary killings have been mostly suspected drug users and pushers from poor communities—precisely the kind of people who do not have the connections and the means to hire good defense lawyers—the fiction is maintained that it is human rights rather than unequal power that has served as a shield to evade responsibility.

To understand how human rights in our society are unequally allocated and enjoyed, one need only revisit the comic irony of seeing Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. of Albuera town in Leyte, a suspected drug lord, take refuge at the official residence of the chief of the Philippine National Po-

lice for fear of being shot on sight if he dared go home. Not one of the pushers who had been shot in the slums in connection with the ongoing war against drugs would have imagined doing that.

The poor suffer from many disabilities, and not the least of these is precisely their lack of access to the kind of humane treatment routinely given to those at the top of the social hierarchy. It was for this very reason that President Ramon Magsaysay, that man of the masses, made it the abiding principle of his administration that those who have less in life must have more in law.

This is exactly what makes us proud as a nation—that, despite our poverty, we commit ourselves to look after the most vulnerable among us, those who are least able to protect or defend themselves against abuse. It is by this self-image that we measure our conduct as a community. We may not believe—as many constitutionalists do—that human rights override all considerations of national security or political necessity. But one thing is certain: We cannot remain unperturbed by daily reports of the vicious killings of impoverished Fili-

pinos who clearly occupy the lowest rungs of the drug trade, even as the more privileged suspected drug lords are given the chance to clear and defend themselves before a court of law.

Even if President Duterte has issued shoot-to-kill orders on suspected drug lords, and has not hesitated to publicly shame narco-politicians and police officers who are engaged in the drug trade, the reality is that such personalities can always find a way to submit to the authorities to avoid being killed. In contrast, most of those who have been killed in this war did not have that option because of their poverty.

All this makes one wonder if the absence of a loud public outcry over these rampant murders does not somehow mirror our own stereotyped images of the urban poor—i.e., of how twisted their values are, of how easily they trade hard work for the fleeting pleasures of drugs and intoxication, of how they cynically invoke joblessness to justify their forays into petty crime, etc. Is it a crime against humanity to wipe out such people from the face of the earth?

Our collective silence would seem to confirm the view that it is not. ■

AT LARGE

Malnutrition and the Olympics

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer THERE’S A whole constellation of issues surrounding the Summer Olympics unfolding in Rio de Janeiro.

Much of the heat of media coverage is trained on the “doping scandal” which has targeted more than 100 Russian athletes ensnared in charges of failing drug tests. This came amid allegations that the use of banned substances was “state-sponsored,” so that critics said a blanket ban should have been issued, instead of clearing 271 Russian athletes, about 70 percent of the Russian delegation.

Also controversial are claims of activists that even as Brazil is spending “billions” on hosting the Olympics, at home money for basic, vital services is unavailable. Already, even as the Olympic Torch makes its way to its final perch at the Olympics venue, crowds of protesters have met the delegations accompanying the Torch, resulting in violent dispersal operations.

This comes amid serious crises that Brazil faces, not least of which is the threat of Zika, a mosquito-borne disease that has targeted the fetuses of pregnant women who are bitten.

Although the virus itself leaves only minor health issues—mainly a mild

rash—on adults who are bitten, it has devastating effects on the fetuses, who are born with undersized brains that leave them physically and mentally weakened. Zika has itself become an Olympic mini-scandal, with many athletes from around the world expressing fears and reluctance to visit Brazil because of the menace of the deadly mosquitoes.

Above all these looms a political thunderstorm, with President Dilma Rousseff facing impeachment charges after a Senate committee recommended that she be removed from office in an impeachment trial. The decision, said an AFP report, comes at a sensitive time, on the eve of the Olympics opening ceremony. Presiding over the opening was apparently a dream of Rousseff, who wanted the event to “showcase Brazil’s growing economic power and political stability.” Oh, well, so much for political pipe dreams. *** BUT these controversies are not the focus of this column. Instead, it’s an issue that may be “tangential” to the Olympics or even to athleticism, but is in fact essential to good health and physical and mental ability.

We’re talking about malnutrition, and a gathering held on the eve of the Olympics headlined by the World

Health Organization’s Dr. Margaret Chan with Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, former president of Brazil.

The event, held last Thursday and hosted by the governments of Brazil, the United Kingdom and Japan, was called “Nutrition for Growth,” in which world leaders were urged “to increase financial investments in nutrition and scale up successful strategies.” The conference called for a high-level, head-of-state pledging session for nutrition next year, to bring an end to malnutrition by 2030.

Reports claim that the “threat of malnutrition—including undernutrition, stunting, overweight and obesity—has never been more urgent.”

It cites statistics showing that one in three people worldwide suffers from some form of malnutrition, and that nearly half of children who die before the age of five “do so because they are malnourished.”

Of those who do survive, the report adds, “nearly one in four—around 160 million children globally—suffers from lifelong effects of stunted growth and impaired development.”

And yet, in painful irony, nearly 41 million children worldwide are overweight or obese. *** TIMING a high-level summit to discuss malnutrition around the world

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with the holding of the Olympics seems to be deliberate. This year’s “Nutrition for Growth” follows the “Hunger Summit” held in 2012 coinciding with the London Olympics, where $23 billion was committed to combat undernutrition and improve millions of lives.

Brazil was a “natural choice” for this year’s gathering, said Dr. Chan, since it “has been the leader in reducing malnutrition.”

In recent years, said a report, Brazil has spent an average of $22 billion a year on food and nutrition policies, including innovative programs such as human breast milk banks, locally sourced school lunches and cash transfer programs. As a result, said speakers, “Brazil has seen tremendous progress in combating undernutrition, reducing child stunting by over 80 percent in a generation, and increasing exclusive breastfeeding rates from 2 percent to 39 percent.”

“Brazil’s achievement is an inspiration to lowand middle-income countries throughout the world,” said Shawn Baker, director of nutrition for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. “Because of Brazil, we know this is not an intractable issue.

Progress is possible.” *** JUST in time for the Olympics,

new and familiar champions “have emerged to lend their voices to the cause.”

Robson Caetano da Silva, a Brazilian sprinter and four-time Olympian, recalled that as “a child living in a slum in Rio, there was no food when I opened the fridge. Sports gave me an opportunity to overcome this and succeed. We should give this same opportunity to all children.”

Olympic distance runner and human rights activist Tegla Loroupe also remembered her childhood “growing up hungry in Kenya.” As an athlete “who did not have good nutrition, I had a challenge. Sports helped me to overcome it.”

And through video, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver spoke about his own “Food Revolution” and called on the world “to put an end to obesity and undernourishment.”

Of course, malnutrition, undernutrition and stunting are big problems in the Philippines, where the figures have changed little since maybe 40 years ago. How about putting all that official ire and effort from killing druggies to helping children live longer and healthier? Not as “sexy” maybe, but to my mind, more positive and much more necessary, not just for now but for the long term as well. ■

16

AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

Canada News RCMP charge Calgary man with importing deadly synthetic drug from China THE CANADIAN PRESS CALGARY — RCMP have charged a Calgary man with importing a dangerous synthetic drug that can be 100 times more powerful than deadly fentanyl.

Canada Border Services Agency staff seized a package containing one kilogram of carfentanil that came from China, enough for 50 million doses.

“It is very dangerous,” RCMP Insp. Allan Lai said Tuesday at a

news conference.

“This is serious enough that we do have to prevent this from coming into our country.”

The synthetic opioid is used to sedate elephants and other large animals but has been showing up in heroin around the world.

RCMP said it is hard to imagine what this drug would do if even a small amount made its way to Canadian streets.

The CBSA said the package containing the drug was intercepted in Vancouver on June

27. The package was marked as containing printer accessories.

The white powder was sent to a lab that confirmed the substance was carfentanil. Officials said the public was never at risk.

RCMP and Calgary police then began investigating.

Joshua Wrenn, 24, has been charged with importing a controlled substance and possession for the purpose of trafficking.

He is to appear in Calgary provincial court on Oct. 19.

Carfentanil is the latest synthetic opioid to cause concern in Canada.

Fentanyl has been linked to hundreds of deaths in Canada, including 443 in Alberta since 2014. The NDP government passed a law this year to ban machines that make pills of illegal drugs such as fentanyl.

Last month British Columbia asked the federal government to help it crack down on fentanyl overdoses that have been classified as a public health

emergency in the province.

Fentanyl has been linked to 371 deaths in B.C. this year.

RCMP warned that carfentanil is worse, calling it one of the most powerful opioids known.

“It has a quantitative potency 100 times that of fentanyl whereby a minute dose of as little as 20 micrograms could be fatal to an average human,” police said in a release.

“There is no known application where carfentanil would be safe for human use.” ■

DFO not in conflict of interest for promoting, safeguarding fishery: LeBlanc

BY GEORDON OMAND The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Canada’s fisheries minister is dismissing concerns from stakeholder groups over suggestions the government agency tasked with conserving wild fish stocks is in a conflict of interest by also being in charge of championing the salmon-farming industry.

Removing industry advocacy from the purview of Fisheries and Oceans Canada was one of the key recommendations from a 2012 report by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cohen into the 2009 collapse of sockeye salmon in British Columbia’s Fraser River.

The public mandate letter from the prime minister to the minister of fisheries and oceans, a portfolio Dominic LeBlanc took over in June, directed him to “act on recommendations of the Cohen commission on restoring sockeye salmon stocks in the Fraser River.”

However, LeBlanc said the ministry’s mandate to preserve fisheries is fundamental to its responsibility to promote a viable, long-term salmon-farming

industry.

“I think Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a responsibility to promote the sustainable use of fish resources in a way that’s good for the local economy,” LeBlanc said Tuesday at a news conference.

“If it’s a $2- or $3-billion piece of the Canadian economy, with $5 million in labour wages alone in that sector, I think Fisheries and Oceans Canada would be irresponsible not to.”

LeBlanc was in West Vancouver to provide a status update on the Cohen commission’s report.

He emphasized the government’s move to spend nearly $200 million to hire 135 new scientists, biologists, oceanographers and technicians countrywide, which LeBlanc said would contribute directly towards fulfilling 10 of Cohen’s 75 recommendations.

Chief Bob Chamberlin of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs applauded the government’s commitment to expand its focus beyond the commission’s narrow analysis of the Fraser River’s sockeye salmon run to the entire province.

But he also raised concerns

about the agency’s apparent conflict of interest between promoting industry and protecting fish, saying it raises the possibility of one being bolstered at the expense of the other.

“I’m completely in support of the Cohen commission’s recommendations,” Chamberlin said. “The (department’s) primary responsibility ... is looking after wild fish and the environment.”

He also described some of the government’s declared successes in making progress on Cohen’s recommendations as “disingenuous,” adding that more concise reporting is needed on which recommendations have been embraced. Chamberlin cited two of the report’s orders: freezing fish-farm licences on Discovery Channel, a stretch of water between mid-Vancouver Island and the mainland, as well as consultation with First Nations on where to locate open-net fish farms.

“They did a little bit of discussions with First Nations on siting criteria, but it was absolutely meaningless,” Chamberlin said.

“They tinkered around the www.canadianinquirer.net

“I think Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a responsibility to promote the sustainable use of fish resources in a way that’s good for the local economy,” LeBlanc said Tuesday at a news conference.

edges and only wanted comment on tinkering.”

And while the department has technically followed the recommendation not to issue any more permits in the Discovery Channel, Chamberlin said, it’s approved facilities a scant eight kilometres up the coast.

Ian Hinkle from Watershed Watch Salmon Society said there’s a pressing need to restore provisions to the Fisheries Act that protect not only salmon but their habitat as well.

“I think there’s an opportunity to put more pressure on the minister to act immediate-

ly,” he said. “Wild salmon can’t wait.”

The B.C. government thanked LeBlanc for his department’s contribution in managing the province’s fishery in a news release.

“We believe the collaborative approach outlined by the federal government, including the involvement of First Nations, stakeholders and the Province of British Columbia will lead to continued sustainable fisheries that help support coastal communities around British Columbia,” Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick said in the statement. ■

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Canada News

AUGUST 12, 2016

Funding cuts jeopardizing health, safety in federal buildings: Documents

BY JORDAN PRESS AND LEE BERTHIAUME The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Officials warned the government late last year that without a significant boost in repair funds, aging and crumbling federal buildings could soon become unfit for workers and jeopardize health and safety.

The situation outlined in briefings to Public Services Minister Judy Foote in November, shortly after the Liberals took office and Foote took up her ministerial posting, appeared dire.

The department was so cashstrapped that it could no longer pay for building inspections used to uncover health and safety risks and identify required repairs.

Utilities and services could stop without additional funding, say the documents, obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act. And service levels had fallen so far that they were “well below” what the government’s private service providers were giving their non-government clients. In the last fiscal year, officials calculated they needed at least $200 million to cover a budget shortfall and operate at minimal service levels.

Going forward, department officials estimated they would need at least $350 million a year to pay for badly needed repairs and maintenance work that had been scaled back for years under budget cuts instituted by the previous Conservative government. The money would cover what the documents describe as an annual shortfall in funding that meant the government “cannot repair its portfolio” of buildings.

The Liberals set aside $248 million for repairs and maintenance to federal buildings so far this fiscal year, which would be $100 million short of what officials estimated is needed.

A spokeswoman for Foote said the department didn’t recommend the Liberals spend

Father whose son drowned says seaweed a lurking hazard for swimmers THE CANADIAN PRESS

In the last fiscal year, officials calculated they needed at least $200 million to cover a budget shortfall and operate at minimal service levels.

$350 million in the 2016 budget and that the number was a “preliminary forecast” for possible requirements.

Jessica Turner said in an email that the government remained “committed to providing safe, healthy and productive work environments for federal employees and occupants of buildings it owns and manages.”

She said the government always prioritizes work related to health and safety issues.

Public Services and Procurement Canada acts as custodian for 7.3 million square metres of office space used by about 265,000 public servants spread across 98 federal departments and agencies. That is just over one-third of the total space spread through more than 30,500 federal buildings, which includes laboratories, police detachments, airports and prisons.

It is one of the largest and most diverse real estate portfolios in Canada, but it is aging and falling apart.

The briefing materials to Foote say that about one-third of federal buildings are rated as being in poor condition. The department said the rating doesn’t mean the building poses a risk to anyone inside, just that is shows signs of deterioration and could use some work.

Overall, federal buildings are

rated as “fair,” the government said.

Many large, federally owned buildings such as the Lester B. Pearson building, which houses Global Affairs Canada, were built in the 1970s and 1980s and are in need of complete rehabilitation, the documents say.

The capital budget for projects has not increased much since 1994, the documents say, nor was the fund designed to cover large-scale projects to preserve historically significant buildings like the Supreme Court.

The Liberals set aside $30 million this fiscal year for capital work on many of these aging buildings. The 2016 budget also earmarked $2.1 billion over the next five years for repairs and retrofits of federal buildings.

Money has also been set aside in the budget to upgrade federally owned bridges and dams, or so-called engineering assets.

The five-year cost of maintaining these assets is about $179 million and the Liberals set aside, but have yet to approve, $51 million for the cause.

Foote’s briefing notes say that without timely investments, parts of these bridges and dams could fail because of their age and that could mean “injury, death, property damage and expensive repairs.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

WINNIPEG — A Manitoba father whose teenage son drowned two years ago says seaweed looks harmless under water, but it should be labelled as a danger for swimmers.

Mervin Dueck says his 19-year-old son, Calvin, was swimming with friends at St. Malo beach but died after becoming tangled up in seaweed.

Dueck says his son’s death was ruled a drowning but there was no mention of seaweed as a contributing cause.

He says there should be a change in the way drownings are reported to highlight seaweed as a hazard in relevant cases.

The office of Manitoba’s chief

medical examiner says it won’t include contributing factors of a death unless the evidence is crystal clear.

Chris Love of the Manitoba Lifesaving Society says sometimes it’s hard to know when seaweed is the reason behind a drowning, as a body may have floated into seaweed by the time it’s found.

Dueck also wants mandatory education about the dangers of seaweed included in swim lessons.

Love says the lifesaving society agrees there should be more awareness among swimmers about the dangers of seaweed.

The society recommends that when swimmers encounter seaweed, they should go slow, relax, lay back, float to catch their breath and slowly untangle themselves. ■

Global growth...

The Canadian economy also contracted 0.6 per cent in May — the country’s worst onemonth performance since the depths of the Great Recession seven years ago.

Morneau did not mention any of these figures to his small audience of business people in Sudbury, but he did note that weak growth has been a serious challenge for the world economy and that it has fed into Canada’s economic issues.

“Global growth has been marked down a number of times — I think seven times — since we’ve come into office, believe it or not,” Morneau said during the event, which was also broadcast live on Facebook.

“We recognize that growth is a real challenge and something that we need to think about.”

The finance minister said the Liberals have made efforts to address economic concerns by boosting child benefits, enhancing the Canada Pension Plan and making income-tax ❰❰ 1

bracket changes to provide relief for middle earners.

“So, that really was the frame of reference for our (election) campaign,” said Morneau, who recently attended a meeting of G20 finance ministers and central bankers in China.

“It’s certainly the global frame of reference now.”

To generate growth, the Liberal government also hopes the economy will gradually get a lift from the tens of billions of dollars it has committed to spend on infrastructure.

Last Friday, Statistics Canada’s latest labour force survey said the country shed 71,400 net full-time jobs last month — the category’s biggest onemonth hit since it lost 80,300 positions in October 2011.

The national unemployment rate for July crept up to 6.9 per cent from 6.8 per cent the previous month.

On trade, Statistics Canada said exports slid 4.7 per cent in the second quarter to $124 billion, the steepest drop since the second quarter of 2009 during the Great Recession. ■

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FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

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World News

AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

Trump faces fresh GOP pushback despite bid to reset campaign

BY JOSH LEDERMAN AND CATHERINE LUCEY The Associated Press WILMINGTON, N.C. — Donald Trump is seeking to quell concerns he lacks the discipline or policy know-how to make a competent president, even as the list of fellow Republicans deeming him unfit for the Oval Office grows.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate long wary of Trump, became the latest Republican to announce her intent not to vote for her party’s nominee.

Days after rebuking Trump for insinuating Somali refugees in Maine were dangerous, Collins said late Monday she’d thought “long and hard” about whether she was obligated to support the GOP nominee and decided she could not.

“With the passage of time, I have become increasingly dismayed by his constant stream of cruel comments and his inability to admit error or apologize,” Collins wrote in a Washington Post op-ed.

Collins wrote that she supports neither party’s nominee, though previously she’s said she’s open to voting for Hillary Clinton.

The defection from a respected senator added to a chorus of GOP voices insisting they can’t back Trump. Some 50 Republican former national security officials signed an open letter calling Trump the most reckless candidate in history, prompting a counterattack from Trump, who said the signers share blame with Clinton for making the world “a mess” and fueling the Islamic State

group’s formation.

The renewed focus on GOP discord was not the theme Trump hoped to emphasize, especially as fresh polls appear to show Clinton widening her lead. But Trump suggested Tuesday there would be no dramatic change of strategy to regain control of the race.

“I think it’s just, you know, steadiness,” Trump told Fox Business. “And it’s just doing what I’m doing.”

A day earlier, Trump had tried in a major policy speech at the Detroit Economic Club to turn the page on a dreadful Republican 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump. stretch in his campaign by unveiling a revamped economic man announced she would Trump, too, had his eye on the plan centred on far-reaching take part in all three debates most competitive states. A day tax cuts. that the Commission on Presi- after campaigning in Michigan, Clinton quickly dismissed dential Debates is organizing. the real estate mogul planned a Trump’s proposal, which would Trump has said he wants to pair of rallies in North Carolina. reduce to three the number of debate Clinton but has comDebates and tax policy were income tax brackets and cut plained that two of the debates just a few areas where the corporate taxes to 15 per cent. are scheduled during NFL foot- White House hopefuls were She accused Trump of offering ball games, claiming Democrats trading accusations. On Mon“super big tax breaks” to huge “rigged” the schedule. day evening, Trump wrote on companies and rich people Clinton, working to shore up Twitter that “many people are and disputed his saying that the claim that she Iranians killed wanted the midthe scientist who dle class to pay helped the U.S. more.

Though Trump argues his “America because of Hill“I have said First” policies will return the economy ary Clinton’s throughout this to the boom era of a half-century hacked emails,” campaign I am ago, his vision sidesteps massive referring to an not going to raise changes that have since occurred in Iranian nuclear the taxes on the the global economy. scientist exemiddle class, but cuted for spying with your help for the U.S. Clinwe are going to ton’s spokesman raise it on the tweeted back wealthy,” Clinton said at a Mon- a path to victory in the Elec- that Trump was making it up. day rally in the battleground toral College, was focusing inIn his economic speech, state of Florida. tently on Florida. She planned Trump revised his previous tax The two candidates were to tour a Miami health clinic plan increasing the rate he said headed toward a trio of tele- Tuesday to discuss the Zika vi- the highest-earning Americans vised showdowns. Late Mon- rus before holding fundraisers should pay. He also unveiled a day, Clinton’s campaign chair- in the evening. new proposal to allow parents

JOSEPH SOHM / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

to fully deduct the average cost of child care from their taxable income, while insisting that when he’s president, “Americanism, not globalism, will be our new credo.”

Though Trump argues his “America First” policies will return the economy to the boom era of a half-century ago, his vision sidesteps massive changes that have since occurred in the global economy. The United States faces far more overseas competition now than after World War II, and manufacturing expenses for many goods are higher in the U.S. than in Asia, where wages are generally lower.

Characteristically short on details, Trump said little about how he would equip American workers to succeed, nor about how returning manufacturing to the U.S. could prove costly for American consumers. ■ Lucey reported from Miami. Associated Press writers Christopher S. Rugaber and Josh Boak contributed to this report.

Malaysian Airlines MH370 crashed into Ocean at high speed, possibly unmanned PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MOSCOW — The missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 that disappeared almost two years ago plunged into the Indian Ocean at

an extremely high speed, which may indicate that there was no pilot at the helm at the moment of the crash, the news outlet The Australian reported, citing analysis from the Australian Defense Ministry scientists.

An automated signal received

from the MH370 indicates that the Malaysian Airlines plane crashed into the ocean at a speed of up to 20,000 feet per minute (6,096 meters per minute), presumably on the morning of March 9, 2014, after the Boeing 777 ran out of fuel, causwww.canadianinquirer.net

ing its two engines to flame out.

According to Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Greg Hood, an analysis of the signal the plane emitted indicates a crash scenario where no pilot was controlling the aircraft.

Flight MH370, en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing, disappeared from radar screens on March 8, 2014, less than an hour after takeoff. There were 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board the Boeing 777 aircraft. ■

World News

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

Panda twins born on lovers’ day in SW China PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY CHENGDU — Panda twins were born at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding in southwest China’s Sichuan Province on Tuesday.

The mother, Chenggong, gave birth to a male and a female cub at about 1:34 a.m. on Tuesday, said base staff member Wu Kongju.

Chenggong’s labor lasted 14 hours, she said.

The twins weighed 195.5 grams and 152.8 grams at birth. Both are in good condition.

"This is Chenggong’s third birth. She

is a very good mother. After the cubs were born, she cuddled them and comforted them," Wu said.

The twins are the eighth pair of twins to be born at the Chengdu base this year, along with five single cubs.

July to September is the high season for panda births.

There are more than 1,300 wild pandas in Sichuan, 15 percent more than 10 years ago, with a further 360 in captivity.

Tuesday was Qixi, lover’s day, according to the Chinese lunar calendar. The holiday originates from a myth about the love between an ordinary herdsman and a fairy. ■

British boy posts pictures online from IS territory PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

Khadija Dawood, 31, who took their own children with them.

Iqbal’s uncle, 23-year-old Ahmed, had LONDON — A 15-year-old British reportedly been fighting for IS for about schoolboy believed to be fighting with a year. the Islamic State (IS) in Syria has posted Iqbal’s recent post made references to gun-toting pictures of himself on Face- his brother Junaid, 16, and uncle Ahmed book, alarming police and triggering Dawood, 23, with the words: “May Allah fears that the terror outfit may be using accept them,” a common Islamic prayer him to lure other western recruits. for the dead, indicating that they might Ibrahim Iqbal posted pictures of him- have been killed. self in full combat gear and holding an The Facebook page, which included AK-47 on the social media site. pictures of ammunition and grenades, The pictures trighas since been taken gered fears that the down.

IS may be using him Ishtiaq Ahmed, to lure other western a spokesperson for recruits.

Ibrahim was Bradford Council for “We are aware of reported Mosques, told Daily posts made on somissing by his Mirror: “We are very cial media. These are father from concerned. If it is currently being retheir home in confirmed that these viewed to establish Bradford in June pictures are real if any offenses have last year when then it will raise adbeen committed,” he disappeared ditional alarm bells the UK’s North East with his four that young people are Counter-Terrorism siblings, aged being used by the soUnit said in a statebetween 3 and called Islamic State ment.

15. to propagate their The unit is leading violent game and an investigation into entice other young the disappearance people from Britain of Iqbal, along with to join.” his family members from Bradford in It is believed that 10 members of northern England.

Iqbal’s family traveled to Istanbul on a Ibrahim was reported missing by his flight on June 9 last year and the group father from their home in Bradford in split into two groups to cross into Syria June last year when he disappeared with from Turkey, an IS smuggler had later his four siblings, aged between 3 and 15. revealed.

His mother, 35-year-old Sugra DaAfter they had disappeared, the womwood, is believed to have left to join en’s husbands made televised pleas for her two sisters, Zohra Dawood, 33, and them to return with the children. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

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World News

AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

US destroyer visit latest twist in China-US military ties THE ASSOCIATED PRESS QINGDAO, CHINA — The visit of the U.S. Navy guided missile destroyer USS Benfold to the northern Chinese port of Qingdao this week is the latest development in a long-term effort to build trust between the countries’ militaries amid tensions and a rivalry for dominance in Asia.

Though China resents the highly visible presence of the U.S. armed forces in Asia, especially the South China Sea, it has gradually overcome its reluctance and shown a willingness to engage that the sides hope will help avoid conflicts.

Below is a look at the Benfold’s visit and some of the steps the sides have taken to build their relationship: What’s the significance of the visit?

The Benfold’s visit is the first to China by an American warship since Beijing responded furiously to a Hague-based

international arbitration tribunal’s ruling that its expansive South China Sea maritime claims had no basis in law. The fact the visit went ahead appears to show that Beijing now values the military-to-military relationship too much to allow it to be derailed by other events as was once the case. Qingdao is the base of China’s northern fleet and is thus less sensitive than ports to the south closer to hotspots, such as Taiwan and the South China Sea. How have the sides responded to the arbitration ruling?

China was incensed by the ruling and declared it null and void. It renewed its commitment to defend its sovereignty claims and continue work on man-made islands in the Spratly island group that have been heavily criticized by the U.S. and others as adding to regional tensions. Beijing has also launched what it says will be regular aerial patrols over the South China Sea and says it will

clearly and avoiding rude body language. This year, China also took part in the world’s largest maritime drills, known as RimPac, hosted by the U.S. every two years near Hawaii.

What’s the outlook for the future?

consider whether to declare an air defence identification zone over all or part of the water body. The U.S. has called on China to respect the ruling, but has not staged another freedom of navigation mission in which its ships sail near China’s artificial islands, which draw warnings and rebukes from Beijing.

What have the sides done to build trust?

Apart from exchanging visits, China and the U.S. have sought

www.canadianinquirer.net

to reach agreements on the rules of the road and work with each other on non-combat oriented training missions. At a multilateral forum in Qingdao in 2014, the two navies agreed to a Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea that seems to have allowed them to avoid confrontations. Last year, they added a similar agreement on aerial encounters between their military pilots that calls for, among other things, maintaining a secure distance, communicating

China says it wants to turn a page on the arbitration ruling through bilateral talks with other claimants, although the U.S., Philippines and others resist that. The man-made islands will continue to be a source of tension, while the U.S. presence in the region will continue to grow. At the same time, China is narrowing the still-considerable gap with the U.S. Navy, adding to its fleet of high-tech destroyers similar to the Benfold and building homemade aircraft carriers to join the single, heavily refurbished Ukrainian one it has now. That will make it even more crucial that the sides build trust and relationships to help overcome future problems. ■

Community News

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

23

PH Embassy joins observance Winnipeg FilCan of World Day vs. Trafficking community mourns death of drowning victims

BY FLERIDA A.C.P. MAYO

THE PHILIPPINE Embassy in Ottawa recently joined Philippine foreign service posts around the world in marking World Day against Trafficking by way of a workshop to sensitize embassy personnel to the global scourge of Trafficking in Persons (TIP).

Based on the DFA Regional Workshop on Anti-Trafficking in Persons for Foreign Service Posts in the Americas held in Mexico City in September 2014, embassy personnel were briefed on basic definitions and key concepts on TIP. The workshop also looked at the incidence of TIP in Canada as well as local laws addressing human trafficking and related criminal offenses.

Actual and hypothetical Assistance-to-Nationals (ATN) cases were simulated to guide participants in spotting human trafficking situations as dif-

ferentiated from human smuggling and illegal recruitment.

The workshop ended with embassy personnel taking the DFA Pledge Against Trafficking in Persons.

“Our consular, cultural and administrative staff take away today new learnings important to our mandate to promote the welfare of Filipinos overseas.

After today’s workshop, members of the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa are more attuned to the issue of human trafficking and have vowed to keep a watchful eye on potential victims of TIP as well as render full assistance to those suffering from modern slavery,” Philippine Ambassador Petronila P. Garcia said. ■

B.C. government declares Aug. 14 as ‘Pinoy Fiesta Day’ THE PROVINCIAL government has declared Aug. 14 as, “Pinoy Fiesta Day,” in the province of British Columbia.

This was proudly announced

by Jojo Quimpo, founder of “Pinoy Fiesta: Unang Hirit sa TagInit,” which is now on its 7th year.

“This is another historic moment for our community. Just imagine there's now an official Proclamation of Filipino Fiesta Day in the city of Vancouver and in the province of British Columbia. This is something that the Filipino community should be proud of,” Quimpo said.

He added, “Personally I’m a bit emotional and so proud of this. My simple dream seven years ago, and desire to showcase and share our beautiful culture to all Canadians is now recognized with an official proclamation of "Filipino Fiesta Day" by the city and provincial government. In our own little way, we were able to uplift our community in the Canadian society.”

Quimpo is grateful for the support of the community and he hopes to see everyone at the Memorial South Park on 41st and Windsor Streets on Aug. 14.

This year’s special guest is Miss World 2013 and Kapuso

actress Megan Young. Other cultural groups like the AtiAtihan, Sinulog, Panagbenga, Masskara will perform as well.

Popular local artists and bands will be on hand to provide daylong entertainment. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

WINNIPEG’S FILIPINO community are in mourning following the death of two kids who recently drowned in West Beach, near the popular boardwalk area along Lake Winnipeg.

David Medina, 12, and Jhonalyn Javier 11, were in the water together with Medina’s father, according to RCMP, when he lost sight of them due to the setting sun.

The kids were pulled from the water around 7:30 p.m. last Monday evening, but emergency crews were unable to revive them.

Based on Facebook posts, the two kids had only recently moved to Winnipeg within the past few years. Medina came to Canada from the Philippines in November 2014, while Javier arrived in August 2015.

Before she came to Canada, Javier received a certificate of recognition from her elementary school in the Philippines.

Javier, according to her FB profile was a typical 11-year-old girl who loved Barbie, Disney princesses and was an avid fan of Selena Gomez and Ariana Grande, and the movie, Frozen.

Sustainable Development Minister Cathy Cox, responsible for Manitoba's parks and beaches, was on government business in the Norway House area when the incident happened. Her department said in a statement that only three beaches: Grand Beach, Winnipeg Beach, and Birds Hill have beach patrols.

There were 12 beach patrol members on duty at Grand Beach at the time of Monday's tragedy, two below the maximum. The last drowning at Grand Beach was in 1990, said provincial officials. They insist however, that parents are responsible for guarding the lives of children swimming. The government department responsible for the beach patrol wants it known that swimmers are responsible for their own safety at provincial beaches.

Drowning deaths in Canada happen most often in the summer months, with 34 per cent, or just over one-third, of all drownings from 2009 to 2013 happening in July and August, according to a report from the Lifesaving Society Canada. ■

Drowning victims Medina (L) and Javier (R) strike a pose at Grand Beach before tragedy struck.

COURTESY OF ELAINE TUMBOKON

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AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

Entertainment Barbie, superstar student La Aunor taught teen actress that ‘less is more’

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer IN THE Bucari mountains of Iloilo, GMA 7 teen star Barbie Forteza suddenly found herself enrolled in a master class in acting, with the Superstar herself, Nora Aunor, as her mentor.

In Derick Cabrido’s “Tuos,” an entry in this year’s Cinemalaya, La Aunor plays a binukot, epic chanter and keeper of the tribe’s traditions, who must grapple with the decision of her rebellious granddaughter, portrayed by Barbie, not to follow in her footsteps.

In their scenes together, Barbie said the internationally acclaimed actress was a consistently generous coworker.

“Although the theme was heavy, work was made easier because Ms Nora was very supportive,” Barbie recalled. “She helped me out. In one scene, she whispered to me: ‘Deliver your dialogue slowly, so you can feel it.’”

The Superstar wasn’t the type who would dish out acting tips indiscriminately, so Barbie had to listen closely and observe just as assiduously.

“She made me realize that less is more. The simpler, the better—the more effective your performance would be. In the movies, big movements are not necessary… which is different from television.”

On TV, she admitted, she often had to resort to loud and unrestrained acting. That was why indie films offer a refreshing change of pace for her, she explained.

Her latest indie film gave her the chance to learn from seasoned veterans like La Aunor, who likewise shared practical advice on longevity and surviving the business of show.

“She told me that I shouldn’t let success change who I am.

That I should always be professional. That I shouldn’t be the cause of delay at work,” Barbie related. “That I should do my

Maja Salvador, John Lloyd Cruz show support to Bea-Gerald movie

BY JANE MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Truly, all’s well and all’s in the past as Kapamilya celebrities Maja Salvador and John Lloyd Cruz showed support to the Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson starrer “How To Be Yours.”

In an Instagram post, the 27-year-old actress-performer shared a photo of her and the award-winning actor recreating the signature pose in the of-

Barbie Forteza.

homework.”

To prepare for “Tuos,” she watched the 2004 “I-Witness” documentary, “Ang Huling Prinsesa.” The docu was a big help because it gave us a peek into the life of a binukot,” she clarified.

She also had to learn the Kinaray-a language. “There were Tagalog translations on the margins of the script, and a dialogue coach was on the set to make sure our pronunciation was correct. Since we shot in live sound, we couldn’t afford to make a mistake.”

Her director was a perfectionist, as well, she noted.

“Even though he wanted everything to be flawless, the shoot went smoothly.”

Cabrido’s “enthusiasm” for his craft was “contagious,” she remarked. “He won’t settle for ‘OK lang.’ He pushed us to give our best.”

She is grateful that her home studio, GMA 7, permits her to act in independently produced films.

“GMA Artist Center isn’t really that strict,” she pointed out.

“I am happy that my handlers allow me to do what I want—es-

ficial poster of the Dan Villegas film. The two seemed to be off to watch the movie too.

Several netizens were then quick to speculate that a romance was blooming between the Star Magic artists. Others, however, believed that two were just really good friends.

As of posting, the photo already garnered over 30,000 likes.

It can be remembered that Salvador had a two-year-relationship with Anderson, while Cruz had repeatedly been romantically linked to Alonzo. ■

CHAREZE STAMATELAKY / FLICKR

pecially since we all know that indie films offer edgy roles.”

Her foray into the indie world has yielded twin honors—making her the first internationally awarded actress among her peers.

For Louie Ignacio’s indie drama, “Laut,” she won best actress in the Directors’ Week section of the Fantasporto or the 36th Oporto International Film Festival, held in Portugal last March. (She earlier won best supporting actress at the Cinemalaya for the 2014 entry, Milo Sogueco’s “Mariquina.”)

At first, she was incredulous when she heard about the Fantasporto win. “I knew that ‘Laut’ was shown in Portugal, but I didn’t know we were competing for awards,” she recounted. “I only learned about it on Twitter.”

Now, the Fantasporto trophy stands beside her Cinemalaya Balanghai at home. “It’s a great feeling,” she said of her two awards. “It motivates me to keep doing indie films.”

The Cinemalaya fest is currently ongoing at the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Ayala Cinemas. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Maja Salvador.

GLENN ORION / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Myrtle’s advice to current PBB housemates

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer MYRTLE SARROSA, “Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition 4” grand winner, gave this advice to “PBB Lucky Season 7” contestants: “Just enjoy your time inside the house. You can’t get a better deal than this—free food and accommodations, as well as free use of the swimming pool.

The only thing you need to focus on is fulfilling your tasks.”

On love, the singer-actress told newsmen at a recent press conference hosted by Sisters Sanitary Napkin, which she endorses: “I’m scared to entertain suitors. I used to be the type who would give everything when I’m in love. I’m scared to give the same kind of love to another person, especially if he is from show biz.” ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

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Kim Kardashian-West to BlogHer: I’m not a feminist THE CANADIAN PRESS LOS ANGELES — Kim Kardashian West is many things. It’s just, feminist isn’t one of them.

“I don’t think that I am,” she said Friday while speaking at the BlogHer conference of bloggers. “I don’t like labels. I just think I do what makes me happy and I want women to be confident and I’m so supportive of women.”

So, exactly, how would the reality star, queen of social media,

Kanye West wife, and mom of two define feminism?

“I love to support other women, but I’m not the free-thenipple type girl. ... Just, like, no hate. That’s my thing,” she said.

Elisa Camahort, co-founder of the annual confab, led the discussion and asked Kardashian West why she likes to post nude photos of herself on social media.

“Because I feel good about myself!” she replied. “I mean after you have a kid, now if you have two kids, there is a feeling

Aiza Seguerra defends wife, stands up against cyberbullying PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER MANILA — “When it’s my wife, it is a totally different thing.”

This was what singer-actor Aiza Seguerra said about bullies in social media targeting his wife Liza Diño. He also made a clear point: He won’t tolerate any form of bullying anymore.

“I think most of us na may asawa maintindihan nila. Ako tirahin nila, wala akong pakialam.

When it comes to my wife, siguro do’n lang ang ‘di ko ko na kaya,” he added.

(I think most of us who are married will understand. They can [bully] me, I don’t care.

When it comes to my wife, I guess it’s that I can’t stand.)

The 32-year-old singer-actor shared a series of Instagram posts regarding the issue. First, a screenshot of the Facebook account of a certain Bryan Harris Richard who bullied his wife. And another, a statement against bullying.

“I realized that if I don’t stand up and say something about it, parang hinahayaan ko na rin na magpatuloy ang ganito klaseng pambubully (it’s like I’m allowing this kind of bullying to con-

tinue),” he wrote.

Seguerra also called on his supporters and followers not to tolerate bullying.

“These people need to be held accountable sa kanilang mga aksyon at mga pananalita,” he continued. “Cyberbullying destroys people’s lives at kailangan natin labanan ito.”

(These people need to be held accountable for their actions and words… Cyberbullying destroys people’s lives and we need to fight it.)

In the end, the Kapamilya singer-actor reminded everyone that ‘freedom comes with responsibility and accountability.’

“If you don’t know how to be responsible and accountable [for] your actions, then I don’t think you deserve that freedom,” he said during a press conference. ■

that. ... I mean I lost 70 pounds!”

The “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” co-star shares her life freely on the show, her app and social media, but she said she does strive for some privacy when it comes to Kanye and her kids.

“He’s very private even though he’s in the business and I’m very open. And so he’s really taught me how to become a little bit more private and I’ve taught him how to be a little bit more open and it really works for us,” Kardashian West said. ■

Kim Kardashian-West.

Associated Press writers Marcela Isaza and Nicole Evatt in

BAKOUNINE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Los Angeles contributed to this report.

Will Smith showing different side of Mideast on promo tour

BY AYA BATRAWY AND MALAK HARB The Associated Press

other prominent black actors prompted the film academy to promise it would double the number of female and minority members and diversify its DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRleadership.

ATES — Will Smith was in the He said Sunday he believes Middle East on Sunday promotit’s his responsibility to creing the movie “Suicide Squad”, ate an impression with people but the Hollywood star said his “where when they see a black time in Dubai is also a chance man, the energy that we had to counter an increasingly antican be what they remember.”

Muslim climate surrounding “They have to know that your the U.S. presidential race. black skin won’t hurt them,” he Smith, who plays the sharpsaid, recalling advice he’d reshooter Deadshot in the film, ceived years ago from the late said he’s having South African fun and tweeting leader Nelson pictures of his Mandela. time in Dubai, Though the showing that The Middle East can’t allow Fox News movie “Suicide “Hey, it doesn’t to be the arbiter of the imagery, you Squad” is geared look like they know. So cinema is a huge way to be to become hate me, does able to deliver the truth of the soul of Smith’s highestit?” a place to a global audience. grossing film at “In terms of the box office, it Islamophobia in has been pumAmerica, for me meled by critics. that’s why it’s The film is the important to show up,” he said. can to hear him talk, I think it’s next step in the DC Comics and He encouraged local film good,” Smith said. “We get to Warner Bros. expanded unimakers and producers to find know who people are and now verse and cost around $175 milmore ways to tell the story of we get to cleanse it out of our lion to produce. the region to the world. country.”

Smith acknowledged that “The Middle East can’t allow Smith has similarly been some of his movies might be Fox News to be the arbiter of vocal about issues of race critically acclaimed and oththe imagery, you know. So cin- and discrimination in Holly- ers might be box-office hits, ema is a huge way to be able to wood. Smith and his wife Jada and some will just be flops like deliver the truth of the soul of a Pinkett Smith boycotted this the 1999 action-comedy “Wild place to a global audience,” he year’s Oscar ceremony in pro- Wild West.” said. test against two straight years “I feel like at this point in my Smith also spoke about the of all-white acting nominees. career I’ve earned the right to upcoming U.S. presidential The boycott by the couple and fail,” he said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

elections, saying he believes it’s important “to speak out about the insanity” surrounding the race.

Earlier in his campaign, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he would temporarily ban Muslims from entering the United States, sparking outcry particularly in Dubai, where Trump has lent his name to several high-profile real estate projects.

“As painful as it is to hear Donald Trump talk and as embarrassing as it is as an Ameri-

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AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

Lifestyle Hairless sphynx cat breed traces origin story to kitten born in Toronto

BY MADELINE SMITH The Canadian Press TORONTO — One of the most peculiar and polarizing pets — the hairless sphynx cat — can be traced back to Canada’s largest city.

The wrinkled cat with large, bat-like ears provokes strong reactions. To some, the sphynx is a grotesque, alien-like creature that barely deserves to be called a cat. To others, it’s an affectionate companion whose personality belies its looks.

The controversial cat dates back to the 1960s, when breeders say a hairless cat named Prune was born in Toronto in a litter of otherwise normal, furry kittens.

Riyadh Bawa, a University of Toronto student at the time,

has been credited by breeders as the first to identify the hairlessness as a result of a recessive gene. Bawa, in partnership with other breeders, bred Prune with his mother, producing several more hairless kittens.

A brief 1966 article by the Associated Press says Bawa hoped to “develop a hairless line” of cats for allergy sufferers.

While the lack of a full furry coat means sphynxes don’t shed, they aren’t a totally hypoallergenic breed, since people often react to a protein in cats’ saliva rather than the hair itself. And although the cats don’t need to be brushed, they have to be bathed every week or two to deal with the oil that builds up on their skin, experts and owners say.

The line of hairless cats de-

scended from Prune has since died out, but the cats Bawa bred represent the first attempts at establishing an official breed.

More hairless cats were later discovered in Toronto and Minnesota, and the sphynx has now been recognized as an official breed by the Cat Fanciers’ Association for almost 20 years.

Today, breeders sell sphynx kittens for up to $1,500.

Toronto isn’t the only place where these cats have been found, but the city has been credited by experts as the origin of the modern show breed.

Other breeds of hairless cats, unrelated to the sphynx, have also emerged from Russia.

Alex Latta, a sphynx owner in Toronto, has built an Instagram following of more than 7,000 fans for her one-year-old

hairless cat Peaches, who often sports sweaters to keep his furless skin warm.

“1/8 Sphynxes 3/8 are kind of like dogs. They recognize their name, they fetch, they like to be all over you, they like to eat your food,” Latta says. “It’s a nice middle ground, because you can still go off to work and leave your cat at home — it’s still a cat. But

they’re really friendly.”

Latta says she often deals with strange reactions to her cat, but she’s also seen him win people over.

“All my friends, they’ll see him in pictures and they’ll be like, ‘That’s so weird. Why would you want that?’ But then they meet him, and they get it,” Latta says. “It’s a fun cat.” ■

65% of couples avoid talking money prior to getting hitched, living common law

BY DAVID HODGES The Canadian Press TORONTO — A new CIBC survey suggests nearly all couples believe it’s important to have a serious joint discussion about finances before getting hitched or moving in together — but only about a third will actually do so.

The study found that 35 per cent of committed partners who plan to marry or live common law within the next two

years say they’ve talked about money in detail, with 40 per cent saying they’ve only discussed how to manage finances together as a couple “briefly.”

Despite those responses, 99 per cent of those surveyed indicated they felt it’s very — or at least somewhat — important to discuss how they’ll plan their finances as a couple before saying, “I do.”

The findings may in part explain why 46 per cent also said their top financial goal within

the first two years of living together was to save up for a vacation, despite the fact that twothirds of the respondents said they would be entering into marriage or a common-law relationship in debt.

Jamie Golombek, managing director of tax and estate planning for CIBC, said in a report about the survey results that financial disagreements are a strong predictor of divorce, particularly among younger couples who are more prone to

www.canadianinquirer.net

experience financial stress in their relationships.

He pointed to recent U.S. research showing that couples who argue over finances several times a week are 30 per cent more likely to divorce than those who only have money squabbles less than once a month.

Of those surveyed who admitted they haven’t talked about money before their wedding day or the move-in date, 83 per cent said they didn’t know

either how or when to address the topic or said they plan “to play it by ear.”

CIBC’s online survey was conducted from July 15-21 among 1,047 Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists.

The polling industry’s professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error because they do not randomly sample the population. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

27

Is an ‘art mafia’ behind the auction and the boom?

Or money launderers? ‘Art has become like the designer brands’ . . . Many are buying now for the wrong reasons

BY ERIC S. CARUNCHO Philippine Daily Inquirer THESE ARE boom times for the Philippine art market, and auctions are where the action is. At a recent auction, a painting by Carlos “Botong” Francisco fetched more than P30 million, and a BenCab went up to P37 million. No eyebrows were raised since both are National Artists with unassailable reputations, whose works routinely fetch seven or eight figures whenever they change hands.

But in the same auction, a painting by Andres Barrioquinto—an artist who only recently turned 40—was bought for more than P9 million.

Works by artists of roughly the same generation such as Ronald Ventura, Geraldine Javier and Rodel Tapaya, also fetched seven figures.

Good for them, one might think. Filipino contemporary artists are finally getting their due.

Wrong idea

But a specter is haunting the local art scene, and its name is “commodification.”

There’s a vague sense of unease underlying the apparently vibrant and thriving market, the nagging sense that the Philippine art scene is being driven by the buyers and sellers of art, not its makers. And that with the current obsession with local art’s price tag, something vital— call it the “soul” of Philippine art—is in danger of being lost.

“What does the auction do?

It gives you the wrong idea of what good art is,” says Didi Dee, a veteran art dealer and gallery owner who has run Hiraya Gallery for the last 36 years.

“Most people think that if an artwork fetches a high price, therefore, it must be good. I beg to disagree, because what’s happening now in the auction houses is that they are putting too much importance on the name, the signature. But when you look at the work, you wonder ‘how the hell did this fetch so many millions?’ If you remove the signature, would you even pay that much for that? It’s only because the name rang a bell.”

‘Flippers’

Too many people are buying

art for the wrong reasons, say a lot of knowledgeable people on the art scene, as a lifestyle accessory and status symbol, or as a means of turning money into more money.

A lot of his patrons are socalled “flippers”—speculators who buy art to resell at a profit—admits art collector turned gallery owner Manny de Castro.

De Castro opened Underground in Makati two years ago, one of the dozens of start-up galleries mushrooming in the metropolis. Underground focuses on younger, up-andcoming artists, although it also exhibits more established names ing artist’ ngayon (So is being cycle: The higher the price tag, such as Nilo Ilarde, Johnny Al- ‘starving artists’). When Ven- the higher the demand, and the cazaren, Lara de los Reyes and tura was starting he was in torn more media buzz generated.

Jigger Cruz. jeans—and not the fashionably “It gives you the wrong no“The first thing [clients] ask torn ones—and rubber slippers. tion of what is good value, and me is, ‘auction star ba ‘yan?,’” Now he’s on the cover of Town the wrong notion of what is he says. “Buyers base their de- & Country. I’m happy for him.” good,” says Dee. cisions on the auction results of But for every Ronald Ventura On the whole, she adds, artthe artist, instead of judging the there are scores of unknown or ists don’t really benefit from artwork based on its merits.” underappreciated Filipino art- the higher prices because most Some buyers will even buy ists who continue to labor in of the works are in the secondworks by “name” artists sight obscurity. ary market, and while current unseen, he laments, as long as “What the auctions did in the intellectual property laws allow it’s the right size, in the right me- last few years is, they marginal- for the possibility of creators dia, and the right subject matter. ized a lot of promising artists getting a piece of the profits “Art has become like the de- who are doing good work,” says from secondary sales, the imsigner brands,” says art collec- Hiraya’s Dee. plementing guidelines have yet tor and curator to be worked out.

Tats RejanteIn the meantime, Manahan. “The they get nada. most coveted— The auctions an Hermes bag— The same way that if you’re a also result in inis like a [Ronald] collector of a certain artist, you flated and unreVentura. If you would also want to protect his prices alistic prices that are dressed in because you want to protect your will eventually Hermes, all of a stock. harm the artist, sudden you are she says. fashionable and “There are stylish. If you groups that are own a Ventura, you’re a collec“But because there were no investing in art, meaning to say tor. You’re buying the brand.” parties interested in buying their they buy the works of an artwork and bringing them to the ist, then they drop them in an Poster/whipping boy auctions the way things are being auction and among themselves For better or worse, visual done, then they’re all in the pe- push the levels so at the end of artist Ronald Ventura has be- riphery. Nobody hears anything the day their collection increascome the poster—some say about a whole lot of artists, only es in value,” she adds. “You find whipping—boy for the current those that are performing well in a lot of artists who, out of noart boom. Arguably, the water- the auctions. And these are the where, suddenly their prices shed event was when one of his same names I hear from clients. jump to a higher level, but I call works set a record price of over ‘Do you have a Ventura? He’s do- that manipulated.” a million US dollars at Sotheby’s ing well in the auctions.’”

The existence of the so-called auction house in 2011. Since “art mafia,” a secret cabal of then, his works have fetched All about the buzz collectors, brokers and speculasignificantly higher prices at They say that attention, not tors who try to manipulate art foreign and local auction hous- information, is the new curren- prices the way insider traders es, and other Filipino artists cy. This is true for art as it is for play the stock market, has long have followed in his wake. brand advertising: It’s all about been talked about in the art “Hindi na uso yung ‘poor is the buzz, and the surest way to world, though no one has actupure,’ (Being ‘poor is pure’ has generate buzz is to sell for huge ally named names. gone out of style)” adds Mana- amounts in the auctions. Then “The relationship between han. “Hindi na uso yung ‘starv- it becomes a self-perpetuating auction houses, galleries and www.canadianinquirer.net

collectors is very symbiotic,” says Jaime Ponce de Leon, who runs Leon Gallery and auction house. “We are all players in the art world, and all of us make it go round.”

Regarding groups who hoard the works of certain artists and try to control their prices, he says: “These things happen, and it happens everywhere, and there’s no law against it. It’s like [Israeli art collector Jose] Mugrabi in New York, he owns hundreds of Andy Warhols, so he cannot afford to let an Andy Warhol sell for way less—he has to protect his inventory. The same way that if you’re a collector of a certain artist, you would also want to protect his prices because you want to protect your stock.”

Most transparent venue

Actually, says Ponce de Leon, an art auction offers the most transparent means of buying and selling art because everything is public. “Auction houses are indispensable components of the art world,” he says. “Every collector would always base his decision on acquiring art on auction results. For an artist, what would really establish his price is consistent showing in an auction. Hence, in an auction, galleries protect the prices of their artists because they want to justify why a collector is paying so much.”

For all its transparency, however, things can also get murky at auctions.

“In some countries with advanced economies, there are laws governing auctions,” says Richie Lerma of Salcedo Auctions, a Makati-based auction house.

Ideally, he says, the auction houses serve as a kind of exchange where market forces determine the price of a certain artwork.

“A lot of the pieces are coming out through the auction houses because if you’re the seller, you want to get the fair market price for it, rather than through a one-on-one private sale.”

Apart from supply and demand, other factors can weigh in, such as the length of an artist’s career, his prominence in the media, his inclusion in art ❱❱ PAGE 33 Is an

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AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

Business Tax tips: foreign asset reporting

BY FUNDATA CANADA INC. DID YOU know that as of May 16, 2016, corporations, like individuals, can file Form T1135 Foreign Income Verification Statement, electronically?

EFILE has otherwise been allowed for the 2014 and subsequent taxation years for individuals. CRA will also make electronic filing possible for partnerships in the future, but they haven’t released a date yet.

The filings have been the subject of concern for individual Canadian residents as well as shareholders who own assets abroad.

Individuals must disclose to CRA whether they had “specified foreign assets” during the year, if the total cost amount at any time exceeded C$100,000.

Values must be expressed in Canadian dollars at the time of transaction, or an average rate for the year, unless an election has been made to report in a “functional currency,” which can include the following codes on the form: AUD – for Australian dollar USD – for U.S. dollar GBP – for U.K. pound EUR – for Euro The types of assets to be reported on the form T1135 include funds held outside Canada and certain real property situated outside Canada. These can include intangible assets like patents and copyrights held outside of Canada, shares

of non-resident corporations held by you or a representative, and shares of Canadian resident corporations held outside the country for you.

Excluded from the foreign disclosure requirements are personal-use properties like a vacation home used primarily for personal use (that is, more than 50% of the time).

Also excluded are the following: property used exclusively in an active business; property in an RRSP, RRIF or a registered pension plan; mutual funds that include foreign investments; property of immigrants (those who file a return for the first time in Canada); and shares in a foreign affiliate.

Form T1135 must be filed even if you are not otherwise filing a tax return. A new simplified reporting system was introduced for tax year 2015 for those whose foreign assets are valued under $250,000.

The form must be filed annually by the due date of the tax return (T1 or T2), or partnership information return if the cost of all specified foreign property held at any time in the year exceeds $100,000 (Canadian).

Unsure if you filed correctly or worse, if you missed filing this form? It’s important to contact a specialist, such as a DFA-Tax Services Specialist, to correct errors and omissions or face penalties that are significant. ■

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604.759.3223 / info@barterfirst.com

Government needs to act in wake of lacklustre job numbers say Tories, NDP

BY DAVID PADDON The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Opposition parties are seizing on bad news on Canada’s employment front to urge the federal Liberal government to shift economic gears.

Statistics Canada says the economy shed 31,200 net jobs in July, a decline that included the biggest one-month drop in fulltime work in nearly five years.

The national unemployment rate inched up to 6.9 per cent in July from 6.8 per cent in June.

Conservatives and NDP members alike say the latest numbers have cast a pall over Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s prolonged political honeymoon and say it’s high time the Liberals took action.

Conservative finance critic Lisa Raitt says the Trudeau government has failed to deliver the jobs it promised during the last election campaign.

She says the government doesn’t have a back-up plan.

The NDP, meanwhile, wants

the government to bolster the employment insurance system and work to stimulate job growth.

New Democrat finance critic Guy Caron says the government has to cut taxes for small business, a promise that fell by the wayside in the first Liberal budget.

Raitt — said to be contemplating a run for the leadership of the federal Conservatives _cites a growing crisis of confidence as unemployment creeps up, along with bankruptcy numbers.

“Canadians have no reason to trust the Liberal government when it comes to Canada’s economy,” she said.

“The Liberal government claimed that if it borrowed tens of billions of dollars, it could grow the economy and create jobs. In reality, the Liberals have failed to deliver results for middle-class families and the Canadian taxpayer will be left to pay the bill.”

For his part, Caron said there must be easier access to EI benefits.

“In light of these significant job losses, creating a universal qualifying threshold of 360 hours and reinstating the extra five-weeks program for all seasonal workers is more critical than ever and would significantly help areas like Atlantic Canada.”

NDP jobs critic Niki Ashton urged the government to fulfil a campaign promise to offer EI premium breaks to employers who hire young people. That pledge also didn’t make it into the spring budget.

“The Liberals must immediately live up to their campaign promise to spur youth employment for millennials,” she said.

“Young Canadians can’t wait for them to do yet more consultations.”

Raitt said the Liberals promised that tax changes to help the middle class, an enhanced child-care benefit and promised infrastructure spending would spur the economy, but that hasn’t happened.

“They should stop consulting and start making decisions.” ■

Asean, trade partners projecting 3.1% global economic growth

BY AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer ECONOMIC MINISTERS of member-states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and its major trading partners expect a moderate global economic growth of 3.1 percent this year, despite the persistence of downside risks across markets.

This was more bullish than the projections of international financial institutions, including the World Bank which had www.canadianinquirer.net

projected a global economic growth of 2.4 percent, “unchanged from the disappointing pace in 2015.”

For next year, growth is expected to pick up pace at 3.4 percent, according to the economic ministers of the Asean, Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States, who met for the Fourth East Asia Summit (EAS) Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Lao PDR last Friday.

The ministers, in a joint statement issued on Friday,

however, noted that the slower-than-ex-recovery of the advanced economies, combined with tighter global financial conditions, might pose adverse challenges to regional growth.

Further, the outcome of the United Kingdom’s European Union Referendum—wherein 52 percent of Britain’s voting population had voted to leave the 28-member bloc—added to the “uncertainty in the global economy, and underscored the role of open trade ❱❱ PAGE 36 Asean, trade

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FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

Sports Filipina lifter finishes silver in Rio Olympics PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY RIO DE JANEIRO — Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz brought joy to the entire nation Sunday (Monday morning in Manila) when she bagged the silver medal in the women’s 53 kg division and ended a 20-year medal drought for the Philippines in the Olympics.

Diaz trained hard for this Olympics, her third straight after stints in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 in London. She said prior to the competition that this could be her last Olympics, and that if she was thinking of a medal then it’s a bronze in her weight class.

“That’s all I wanted — a bronze medal. But God gave me the silver medal,” said the 25-year-old pride of Zamboanga City, who became the first female athlete from the Philippines to win a medal, of any color, in the Summer Games.

The Philippines has won nine medals in the Olympics, all courtesy of male athletes, since it first participated in 1924. It’s the third silver for the country after boxers Anthony Villanueva and Onyok Velasco win in 1964 and 1996.

The Philippines has yet to win the gold. Diaz said she’s not sure if she would continue competing all the way to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“We cannot tell,” said Diaz, who is set to receive Php5 million from the Philippine government as her incentive in winning the silver in the Olympics. She is bound to receive more than that when other donors start showering her with gifts.

When Velasco won the silver in 1996, he received a brand new car and a house and lot from the private sector. Then he quit from boxing and became an actor.

Diaz said it hasn’t sunk in yet.

“Hindi ko pa sure. Artista?

Hindi ah (I am not yet sure. To become an artist? Probably not),” said Diaz.

“I would have been grateful with a bronze medal because that’s what we were targeting.

Masaya na sana ako sa bronze

medal (I would have been happy with just a bronze),” said Diaz, who joined the short elite list of athletes to win an Olympic medal for the Philippines.

Her victory also ended a long drought dating back in 1996 during the Atlanta Olympics where boxer Mansuete “Onyok” Velasco won the silver medal in the light-flyweight division.

No other Filipino athlete came close to a medal since then.

At the Riocentro Pavilion 2, the 25-year-old Diaz broke the spell.

The member of the Philippine Air Force bagged the silver with a total lift of 200 kilos.

She has a best lift of 88 kilos in the snatch and 112 kilos in the snatch and jerk.

Diaz failed in her first attempt at 88 kilos in the snatch and then in her last at 91 kilos. In the clean and jerk, she opened up with a good lift at 111 and then the 112 and failed in her last attempt at 117 kilos. By that time, she was already assured of the bronze.

China’s Li Yajun, who set a new Olympic record of 101 kilos in the snatch, looked assured of the gold. But she could not complete a lift in the snatch and jerk, failing at 123 kilos once and then twice at 126 kilos.

It was a grave tactical error on the part of the Chinese, who could have won the gold without trying to lift 123 or 126 kilos.

But they were too aggressive, going for the Olympic record without making sure they had won the medal first.

With three failed attempts in the clean and jerk, the Chinese did not win any medal.

Taipei’s Hsu Shu-Ching eventually won the gold with a total lift of 212 (100 in the snatch and 112 in the clean and jerk). South Korea’s Yoon Jin Hee benefitted from the Chinese blunder because instead of being fourth she won the bronze.

Yoon had a 199 total (88-111).

Diaz said she was already being congratulated for winning the bronze when the South Korean camp started rejoicing at the warm-up area, saying they won the bronze. Everybody did

not expect the Chinese to fail in all three attempts in the clean and jerk.

“I was surprised why the South Koreans were celebrating when everybody thought they were fourth. In turned out that they had won the bronze.

Taipei took the gold instead of the silver and us, the silver instead of the bronze,” said Diaz.

Diaz said she already contacted her mother in Zamboanga City, and thanked her conditioning coach in Manila, Jay Putalan.

She also thanked the doctors who are here with the Philippine delegation, Dr. Ferdinand Brawner and chiropractic expert Martin Camara.

Diaz dedicated the win to her mother, Emelita, who celebrated her 53rd birthday the other day. She said they spoke on the phone after the victory, and said she was told that her mother, based in Zamboanga City, cried watching her win a medal.

When she completed her lift at 112, Diaz and her coach, Alfonso Aldanete, started to celebrate. Diaz jumped into the arms of her coach. At that time, they knew they were assured of the bronze medal.

The Filipino sports officials at ringside, led by Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco and chefde-mission Jose Romasanta, started celebrating as well. The other officials who were there included International Olympic Committee representative to the Philippines Mikee Cojuangco Jaworski, her predecessor, Frank Elizalde, POC officers Steve Hontiveros and Julian Camacho, and former Philippine weightlifting head Monico Puentevella.

Diaz received her silver medal with a big smile on her face, joining the two other medalists at the podium. For the first time in 20 years in the Olympics, the Philippine flag was raised during an awarding ceremony.

“Pinanalo ni Hidilyn yung bronze yan. Yung silver regalo ng Diyos. Walang kapares ang Olympics (Hidilyn surely worked for the bronze… but the silver was God’s gift. The www.canadianinquirer.net

Hidilyn Diaz (second from left) in the 2015 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Phuket, Thailand.

Olympics is an entirely different league),” said Cojuangco, adding that he hoped that Diaz’ triumph would be the start of a new chapter in Philippine Sports.

“I hope this is the ice-breaker,” said Cojuangco, adding that the athletes have President Duterte to thank for.

It was an historic moment for not only for Philippine sports but for the country in general.

The long wait is over, and even before the Filipinos plunged into action here, others aired doubts if the country can win any medal here in Rio. The Filipinos launched its campaign the other day and sports officials watched as Ian Lariba of table tennis, Jessie Khing Lacuna of swimming and Charly Suarez of boxing fell out of contention one after the other Saturday.

The other Filipino weightlifter, Nestor Colonia in the men’s 56 kg class, could not duplicate Diaz’ heroic feat.

After a good lift of 120 kilos in the snatch, the 24-year-old Colonia bungled his next five lifts at 125 kg twice, and then 154 kg thrice in the clean and jerk.

Colonia almost collapsed on stage after his last attempt.

Then he complained of dizziness, and was taken to the clinic. He said he thought he was ready to collapse, and it took him some time to recover and get up in his feet.

“Akala ko talaga hihimatayin na ako (I really thought I will lose consciousness),” he said.

“He (President Rodrigo Duterte) was the inspiration.

In the many years I was POC president, it’s the first time we held a send-off for the athletes in Malacanang. We broke the ice,” said Cojuangco.

“But we’re not yet here in Rio,” he said.

Light-flyweight Rogen Ladon, another medal bet in boxing, will make his Olympic debut Monday against Colombia’s Yurberjen Martinez of Colombia, a 3-0 winner over Brazil’s Patrick Lourenco in last Saturday’s preliminary round.

Ladon drew a bye in the first round, and only needs to wins to make it to the semis, and also assure himself of a medal. He needs four wins to bring home the gold medal. His opening match is set at 11:3- a.m. Monday.

The others who are still waiting for their turn are judoka Kodo Nakano in the 81 kg on Aug. 9; swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi, who vies in the women’s 100m freestyle on Aug. 10; golfer Miguel Tabuena from Aug. 11 to 14; marathoner Mary Joy Tabal on Aug. 14; hurdler Eric Cray on Aug, 15; long jumper Marestella Torres on Aug. 16; and taekwondo’s Kirstie Elaine Alora in the +67 kg on Aug. 20.

“We are not going home empty-handed. We are all very happy about Hidilyn’s accomplishment. But we must remember that we have other athletes who are competing. Let us continue to cheer for them and who knows what might happen,” said Romasanta.

Diaz has arrived in Manila on Aug. 11. ■

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AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

Technology Study finds dozens Experiments point toward of Canadian firms memory chips 1,000 times have paid ransoms to faster than today’s devices regain control of data PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

BY DAVID PADDON The Canadian Press TORONTO — A new report has revealed dozens of Canadian organizations were forced to pay attackers over the past year to regain access to computer files and IT systems infected with ransomware.

The finding is part of an international study conducted on behalf of a Silicon Valley company that fights ransomware, which typically locks legitimate users out of a system and sends a message requiring a payment to get a software code or key.

The Osterman Research study published by Malwarebytes found 44 of the 125 Canadian respondents, all of whom were anonymous, reported having a ransomware attack on their organization in the previous 12 months.

A majority of the victims, 33 of the respondents, said they’d paid ransoms with costs ranging from $1,000 to $50,000.

They study also found 11 of the 44 organizations targeted by ransomware had to shut down their business for a time to deal with the attack and devote an average of nine personhours to recover.

Five of the victim respondents, all identified as working in the health-care industry, said they believed lives were at risk.

“The decision to pay, especially in Canada, is directly linked to the risk of businesses getting shutdown and lives being lost as a result of a ransomware attack,” Jerome Segura, a Malwarebytes analyst, said in an email exchange.

“Results from the survey show that health care is one of the most targeted industries among those affected by ransomware.

“Nowadays, most patients’ records are digital and access to those is required for treatment procedures. Obviously, the equipment used by medical facilities is also dependent on data stored on computers.”

The Canadian findings were part of an international study of a total of 540 people in four countries — Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany — who are employed as chief information officer, chief information security officer or information technology director. An advance copy was provided to The Canadian Press and released generally on Wednesday.

Surveys of such small samples aren’t considered statistically accurate enough to make precise comparison. However, Malwarebytes concludes that firms in Canada were the most likely to indicate they’d paid ransom demands once infected.

material with an electrical field comparable in strength to a lightning strike. Their instrumentation detected that the SAN FRANCISCO — A team of amorphous-on state — initiatresearchers has experimented ing the flip from zero to one — with an emerging memory techoccurred less than a picosecond nology that could store data perafter they applied the jolt. manently while allowing certain Showing that phase-change computer operations to occur materials can be transformed up to 1,000 times faster than tofrom zero to one by a picosecday’s memory devices. ond excitation suggests that The 19-member team, led by this emerging technology could Aaron Lindenberg, an associate store data many times faster professor of materials science than silicon computer RAM for and engineering at Stanford Unitasks that require memory and versity and of photon science at processors to work together to the SLAC National Accelerator perform computations.

Laboratory, has worked on a new In addition, the researchers class of semiconsaid the electriductor materical field that trigals and the result gered the phase suggest that the change was of new approach A new technology which demonstrate such a brief duramay be more ena thousandfold advantage over tion that it points ergy efficient. incumbent technologies is toward a storage “This work is compelling. process that could fundamental but become more effipromising,” said cient than today’s Lindenberg.

“A silicon-based thousandfold increase in speed The new research, detailed technologies. While much work coupled with lower energy use in Physical Review Letters, fo- remains to turn this discovery suggests a path toward future cused on the unimaginably brief into functioning memory sysmemory technologies that could interval when an amorphous tems, attaining such speed using far outperform anything previ- structure began to switch to a low-energy switching technique ously demonstrated.” crystalline, when a digital zero suggests that phase-change techWhile memory chips today became a digital one. The in- nology has the potential to revoare based on silicon technologies termediate phase — where the lutionize data storage. that switch electron flows on and charge flows through the amor“A new technology which off, representing the ones and ze- phous structure like in a crystal demonstrate a thousandfold roes that drive digital software, — is known as “amorphous on.” advantage over incumbent one possible next-generation In the presence of a sophis- technologies is compelling,” technology is based on phase- ticated detection system, the Lindenberg said. “I think we’ve change materials that can exist in Stanford researchers jolted a shown that phase change detwo different atomic structures, small sample of amorphous serves further attention.” ■

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each of which has a different electronic state. A crystalline, or ordered, atomic structure, permits the flow of electrons, while an amorphous, or disordered, structure inhibits electron flows.

By applying short bursts of heat, supplied electrically or optically, the structural and electronic states of these materials — changing their phase from one to zero and back again. They retain whichever electronic state conforms to their structure. Once their atoms flip or flop to form a one or a zero, the material stores that data until another energy jolt causes it to change.

Technology

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

31

Olympics offers showcase for tech such as VR, payments ring

BY MAE ANDERSON AND RYAN NAKASHIMA The Associated Press BESIDES DAZZLING feats of athleticism, dazzling new technologies will be on display at the Olympics.

About 217 million viewers in the U.S. alone tuned in to the London Olympics four years ago, making it the most watched TV event in history. The television audience is expected to increase for the Rio Olympics, which formally open Friday.

Others will tune in online or watch the games in person in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

That makes the Olympics an excellent showcase for new and emerging technologies. Such brands as Visa and Samsung are taking the opportunity to show off their wares.

Visa’s payment ring

Brazil.

Visa is giving payments rings to 59 athletes to wear. With a tap on an NFC payment terminal, they can charge their Visa accounts. Giving the ring to Olympic athletes like swimmer Missy Franklin and decathlete Ashton Eaton lets Visa test the technology, while garnering buzz as athletes tweet about them and wear them around the Olympic village.

Samsung’s special edition Galaxy

Samsung, another Olympic sponsor, is delivering a special Olympic Games edition of its Galaxy S7 Edge phone to 12,500 Olympians. The phone is branded with the Olympic rings and has Olympics-themed wallpapers loaded on the device.

The company also made 2,016 of the Olympic phones for the public to buy in selected countries, including Brazil, the U.S. and South Korea.

Opening and closing of 2016 Olympics will be held at Maracana Stadium (pictured).

“They can use the entire screen of the S7 to become a flag,” said Pio Schunker, Samsung’s global head of brand integrated marketing. “They will be waving the national flag through the S7.”

NBC gets into VR, Getty goes 360

Visa, a 30-year Olympics Expect to see virtual-reality sponsor, is runcontent, along ning the paywith 360-dement systems gree video and at the Olympics. images.

NBC, Visa is equipOthers will tune in online or watch which has televiping about 4,000 the games in person in Rio de sion and online payment termiJaneiro, Brazil. That makes the rights in the U.S., nals at souvenir Olympics an excellent showcase for plans 85 hours shops, concesnew and emerging technologies. of VR coverage sion stands and through the NBC other Olympic Sports app on venues with Samsung’s Gear a wireless technology called One feature Samsung expects VR headset. VR events will near-field-communication, or to make a splash: The phones include opening and closing NFC. It’s the technology that will come with a flag app, which ceremonies, men’s basketball, powers mobile-payment ser- athletes will be encouraged to gymnastics and track and field. vices such as Apple Pay, Google hold up as they walk togetther They will typically be shown on Pay and Samsung Pay, though by country during Friday’s a one-day delay. only Samsung’s has launched in opening ceremonies.

Getty, the Olympics’ official

photography agency, launched a virtual-reality division in June to focus on 360-degree images.

Getty shot some 360-degree images at the London Olympics in 2012 as the technology was emerging. This time in Rio, every Getty photographer will have a 360-degree camera.

“We are only on the cusp of what will be a tectonic plate shift in VR,” Getty CEO Dawn Airey said.

Meanwhile, Facebook’s Oculus VR business, which developed the technology behind Gear VR, plans to showcase more than 400 360-degree images from various photographers. It will be available through the Oculus 360 Photos app on Gear VR and Oculus’ own Rift headset.

High-tech coverage

NBC owner Comcast Corp. is showcasing its X1 set-top box, giving its customers a way to search for live coverage and replays by country, athlete and

MARCHELLO74 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

sport. It’s also integrating voice search into the system. Viewers, for instance, can get the latest medal count by speaking, “How is the USA doing?” The company is also offering a way to zip to gold-medal event highlights and restart events that have already begun.

The high-tech coverage makes use of the box’s connection to the internet and increasing presence in Comcast subscriber homes. Comcast says about 40 per cent of its 22.4 million video customers have X1. Comcast is aiming to reach 50 per cent by the end of the year.

The X1 innovation is one way Comcast is trying to help viewers sort through some 6,000 hours of Olympics coverage on television and online.

If it boosts audiences for the Olympics, it’ll also help Comcast recoup some of the $4.4 billion that NBC paid for the U.S. broadcast rights over six years. ■

Just a burp: Intriguing hints of physics particle evaporate

BY SETH BORENSTEIN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Eight months after raising hopes that they may have found an intriguing new particle that cannot be explained by the existing main physics theory, disappointed scientists are saying: Never mind.

It was just a statistical burp, not a breakthrough, research-

ers reported Friday.

“Basically we see nothing,” said Tiziano Camporesi, a chief scientific spokesman at the European Center for Nuclear Research.

Early unconfirmed readings of a new particle in December by physicists at the centre, called CERN, set the physics world abuzz. Scientists there had discovered the Higgs boson or “God particle” in 2012, and two new readings from the

Large Hadron Collider made it seem as though they may had found a revolutionary new particle.

In the months that followed, scientists pored over more data from high-speed atom crashes while theorists tried to figure out what it all means. But the new data ruled out any particle existing at the energy level they had been looking at.

At a Chicago physics conference, Dave Charlton, another www.canadianinquirer.net

CERN chief scientific spokesman, said the additional data showed that what they had seen earlier was just a random “statistical fluke.”

California Institute of Technology physicist Sean Carroll, who wasn’t part of the CERN team, said: “It’s a shame there wasn’t a particle there, but there aren’t any big ideas that would rise or fall on it being there.”

The Large Hadron Collider

is operating beyond expectations in its second extended run_ which is still going on — and is providing more data than expected, Charlton and Camporesi said. Physicists from CERN presented more than 50 new results, but none of them are breakthrough findings that would change current theory.

“Stay tuned, I don’t think we have lost hope yet,” Camporesi said. ■

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AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

Travel Visitors to Rio Olympics will Off the grid in find all 5 senses triggered Negros Occidental’s Danjugan Island

BY PETER PRENGAMAN The Associated Press

RIO DE JANEIRO — Right after getting off the plane, sweat beads will start to gather on your forehead. That’s just Rio de Janeiro’s ever-present humidity saying “hello.”

Look around and you will be enveloped by shades of green — lush tropical forests jammed between buildings of all sizes — and tones of blue along the miles of inviting coastlines.

Towering over the 2016 Summer Olympics host city is the Christ the Redeemer statue.

After a few days, you might chuckle when a hotel brochure or tour guide tries to sell you something by saying it “includes” a view of the statue.

Jesus is everywhere here, as is plenty of temptation and sin.

In Brazil, prostitution is legal, though that doesn’t mean that you will see women and men hawking their bodies all over the city. In fact, walking around, you are more likely to come upon churches, especially of growing evangelical denominations like Pentecostals.

Up in the hills, you can see small dwellings that look like stone huts jammed one after the other, in red and green and pink and orange and many other colours of the rainbow. The slums of Rio, known as favelas, are the most colorful places in the city, culturally vibrant and filled with interesting people.

They are also the city’s poorest areas, often controlled by drugtraffickers and plagued by violence.

No matter where you are in Rio, you might hear gunfire. It could be drug dealers battling it out for turf, or military police conducting an operation. Firefights mostly happen in favelas, but sometimes spill out into the “zona sul,” or southern part of the city, home to more wellheeled Brazilians and where tourists flock.

While you might be tempted

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency

Favelas of Rio.

to capture all the vibrancy of Rio on your smartphone, take a good look around before pulling it out. The “Cidade Maravilhosa” has long been plagued by violent muggings and robberies that can happen at any time of day and in any neighbourhood.

A walk along the famed beach in Copacabana reveals both luxury and seediness: Rio’s iconic area of yesteryear still shines but also has its share of hobos, panhandlers and hardluck cases.

Keep walking further west to get to Ipanema beaches. And if you are in the mood to see and be seen and spend more money, go a little further to get to Leblon, Rio’s most expensive neighbourhood.

It’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere, the equivalent of February up north. But the beaches still have plenty of people, both local and foreign, taking dips. And with good reason: Temperatures are frequently in the mid-80s and sometimes even low 90s.

Here you will see some of Rio’s stereotypes in real life: dental-floss bikinis for women, tight speedos for men and bodies that ooze fitness and sensuality. But the beaches have so much more than that. There are pickup soccer and volleyball games and capoeira martial arts. The beats of the drum circles will make you feel like you’re in movie.

Speaking of rhythms, in ca-

fes, food stands and bars, it’s common to hear the soothing sounds of Caetano Veloso or Gilberto Gil, just two of the country’s talented musicians known worldwide. The classics are embraced but there is so much more for the ears: pop, funk and everything in-between, especially in any of the thousands of yellow cabs circulating in the city.

At the beach or anywhere close to a waterway, you could something rank. Your sniffer is not off: most likely that’s sewage. How strong it is depends on where you are, how recently it rained and many other factors. Currently Rio only treats about 60 per cent of its sewage, which means the waste from millions of residents finds its way into the water. Olympic athletes competing on that water are taking a host of preventative measures to avoid getting sick.

If all this made you tired, just about any corner on the city offers the perfect pick-me-up: fruits. It would be impossible to exaggerate the variety or all-around scrumptiousness of what you are about to eat or drink.

If you don’t speak Portuguese (and most Rio people don’t speak English), just point at the reddish mangos, the green guavas (with pink insides) or fruits you may have never heard of like Jabuticaba, which look like oversized grapes.

Sit back and enjoy. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — Can you survive a vacation without electricity?

A marine and wildlife sanctuary within a 43-hectare island situated in the Sulu Sea is encouraging visitors to get as close to nature as they possibly can, minus modern conveniences.

Danjugan Island, which is four to five hours away from Bacolod or Dumaguete, is described by its executive director Dave Albao as a private conservation site and marine protected area. In other words, definitely “not a resort.”

It is managed by the Philippine Reef Rainforest Conservation Foundation Inc. (PRRCI),

Danjugan Island.

a non-government organization led by Gerry Ledesma who bought the island in 1994 for preservation. Ledesma saw how the reefs were slowly experiencing degradation and wanted to prevent further damage.

The island has five lagoons and is covered with limestone forests which is home to over 74 bird species, 10 bat species, 579 fish species and many other wildlife species such as corals, turtles, snakes and the rare coconut crabs.

Among the island’s star attractions is its lone Beach Stone-Curlew or Beach Thickknee, a grey-brown shorebird with a massive yellow-based bill and thick knees—thus the name. It can be found across ❱❱ PAGE 36 Off the

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Travel

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

33

Toronto wants Pokemon Go sites moved from ferry area THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO CITY officials are asking the developers of the popular mobile game Pokemon Go to remove locations from the city’s downtown ferry terminal that has been overwhelmed by thousands of players.

The game sends players into the real world to search for digital monsters known as Pokemon, which appear on screen when users hold up their devices.

A city spokesman said Wednesday nearly a dozen of the game’s digital bea-

cons — called Pokestops and Pokegyms — are located at the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal and have overrun the area.

Matthew Cutler of the parks department said the huge number of players has created “significant challenges” for ferry operations and they’ve asked game developer, Niantic Labs, to “remove or relocate” the stops and gyms near the terminal to “more suitable parks.”

Cutler wrote said that Pokemon Go players have made it “increasingly difficult” for passengers to exit the terminal, and added to the “existing confusion” in the arrivals area.

“There have also been incidences of players charging our gates and running through the crowds, presumably in search of something in the game,” he said.

He said the facility was designed to manage traffic for the ferry and not hundreds of additional users as well.

Hundreds of players camp out by the ferry terminal nightly and many go sprinting at a moment’s notice when word gets out that a certain rare digital monster is at another Pokemon stop nearby.

Niantic offers an online form to re-

quest exclusions, but changes to the game are not automatic.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response from the Pokemon GO community. That enthusiasm has led players to visit many real world locations and we have received requests to remove some locations. We are moving quickly to review all such requests,” a spokesman for the company said in an email.

The spokesman said he’s reached out to the team to see if they have any updates on the specific locations Toronto officials are asking to be removed. ■

collectors are willing to pay for a particular artist’s work at that given time.”

Consistent performance over time is what eventually sets an artist’s price level, but the machinations of certain players can throw the proverbial spanner in the works.

“We’re a venue, and if people want to keep on bidding up the prices of certain artists, that’s their problem,” says Salcedo Auction’s Lerma. “But if the results are not real, you’re creating a bubble.”

“The art market is booming now,” adds Karen Lerma, Richie’s wife and partner at Salcedo Auctions. “The worst thing that Filipinos can do is to let [the art market] destroy itself, for all of these things happening to implode.”

The Philippines isn’t quite there yet, but it may only be a matter of time.

“Collectors now are only looking to flip,” laments Dee. “Gone are the days when people bought art first because they loved the work, second to support the artist, and third for investment. Now it’s the other way around, they want to flip it and make money quickly, never mind if it is benefiting the artist directly, or if it is part of a process of developing art.”

losing bidders to receive calls informing them that the artwork they bid on and lost is now available at their price, fueling suspicions that the winning bid was made by a shill.

And what of the artists and their art?

“The ultimate freedom that artists speak of is when they are able to do their art without any pressure to do it in a certain manner for a market,” adds Dee. “It’s real freedom when an artist can say: This is my work, take it or leave it.”

“But when somebody dictates to the artist, ‘do it like this, this size,’ it kills everything. ‘The show is sold out, can you make another piece?’ You kill the spirit. You prostitute the muse. It makes [the artist] follow some kind of formula, and eventually it’s the same thing being bought over and over again.”

P46.7 million at an auction shortly afterward.

“I think all artists really aspire to paint for themselves but many times have to compromise and allow galleries, dealers and even collectors to dictate upon them,” he says.

“Some will do it out of necessity, although established artists should not discredit themselves by catering to the market. Auction houses will always attempt to ‘commission’ an artist to paint for the next auction, even the foreign auction houses have done it with local artists. Some consent to do it, but I have never felt right about it.”

“Things were much simpler during the time I started my artistic career. One just needed to be original, focused and consistent. Nowadays artists put too much emphasis on shock value, perhaps because it is what sells. There is also too much gimmickry to the point that one can no longer distinguish what is art and what is not.”

Unfortunately, this nostalgia for a simpler time when art was made for art’s sake may no longer be possible in the age of globalized hypercapitalism.

As the late art critic Robert Hughes concluded, “The new job of art is to sit on the wall and get more expensive.” ■

Is an... ❰❰ 27

books, and his previous performance in auctions.

Open to manipulation

But just like the stock market, the art market is open to price manipulation, price fixing and insider trading.

“In fact there are certain practices being done by certain galleries when it comes to their auctions which would be considered illegal,” says Lerma. “No. 1 is ‘shill’ bidding.”

Shill bidding is when someone—usually a stooge planted by the seller—bids on an item on auction to artificially inflate its price.

As a hypothetical example, Lerma says an artist and collector may collude to bloat that artist’s auction price, when in reality they may have already agreed on a much lower price.

“What happens next?,” he adds. “Buyer pays P1.5 million, the money is remitted to the artist who refunds the balance.

Buyer only effectively pays P200,000.

But in the public’s mind, the artist sold for P1.5 million, and the artwork is worth P1.5 million. The artist can now get commissions and sell his works at a higher price. That’s what’s going on.”

The winning bid is also what’s reported in the media. What isn’t usually reported is when works sold at auction reappear on the market at significantly lower prices.

“People have to be more circumspect when it comes to participating in the art market because they can fall victim to these kinds of manipulations by certain artists or collectors,” says Lerma.

Auctions can also go the other way.

If, by the vagaries of chance, a work by a certain artist goes up for auction and the collectors who are interested in him aren’t present, it might go for a lower price or not sell at all.

‘Right market value’

“I don’t believe that auctions determine the ‘right market value’ of an artist’s work,” says BenCab. “They simply determine what

Money launderers

Dee suspects, as do many observers of the local art market, that some of the auction action is being driven by money launderers.

“I’ve been in the business for almost four decades and I’ve never seen the prices of living artists go so high,” she says. “Somebody’s creating the supply and demand. Artist A is due to have an exhibit in gallery A. The day before, everything is sold out and they make sure everyone knows it. When, in fact, all the works were bought by one group. A few months later, you’ll see the works of artist A at auction being pushed to levels that are just not real. Now you understand why. Who profits at the end of the day, if not the ones who cornered the market in the first place?”

It is also not uncommon, she says, for

Much simpler time

Although his works currently fetch some of the highest prices at auction, National Artist BenCab once expressed frustration at the number of collectors pestering him for artwork, some of them even specifying that they want a “Sabel” or a “Larawan” piece, as if he could produce them on demand. “Tingin nila sa akin, pera,” he said. Ironically, one of his paintings, a “Sabel,” sold for a record

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Events

34

YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

AUGUST 12, 2016

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CANADA EVENTS

BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

FRIDAY

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

NEWFOUNDLAND MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

QUEBEC

ONTARIO NOVA SCOTIA To have your events featured on PCI, please email events@canadianinquirer.net

VANCOUVER 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 778-322-2839 or email: tfw.divorce@gmail.com Skills Now: Project-based Training for Immigrants in Retail and Administration

By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: Call or email at 604-684-2581 (ext 2193 Nanki) skillsnow@issbc.org MORE INFO: Receive a certificate or skills training in retail or administration; job search workshops; and strong employment opportunities.

Mentoring Programme for Immigrant High School Students: Breakfast & Baon 101

By Mentorship & Leadership for Youth Programme WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 nn at Corpus Christi College (near UBC) 5935 Iona Dr. Vancouver BC. Free pick up and drop off service.

MORE INFO: Meet young professionals plus learn to cook. Call/ text Anna de Quito 604-763-2210.

Free Counselling Support Group

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., every last Monday of the month, at Mosaic Burnaby Centre for Immigrants, 5902 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call Darae (604)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

Multicultural Helping House Society Volunteer Appreciation Night

By MHHS WHEN/WHERE: MHHS, 4804 Fraser St, Vancouver, B.C. 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. Appreciation Picnic By the United Filipino Canadian Associations in B.C. WHEN/WHERE: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 13, Trout Lake Park 3300 Victoria Dr. Vancouver, B.C. Cowboy Party – Last Ride of the Year 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 Bridging the Distance: Parenting from Afar

By ISS of BC and St. Mary’s Migrant Ministry WHEN/WHERE: 1to 3 p.m., Aug. 21,

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at the Seminar Room, School Gym, St. Mary’s Parish, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: To register, contact Resochita Arma at resochita. arma@issbc.org or 604-6847498 ext. 1666 or Lenn Castro at stmarysmigrant@gmail.com Throwback Sessions: Wency Cornejo & Introvoys in Vancouver

By Innovision Events & Marketing and Fortune Sound Club WHEN/WHERE: 6:30 p.m., Aug. 27, at Fortune Sound Club, 147 E. Pender St., Chinatown, Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: $30. Special guests include Raffy Swap One, Danger Blanket & Audrey Rose

TORONTO New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre

By WelcomePack Canada Inc. WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m., Mon, Tues, Thu & Fri at the Filipino Centre Bldg., 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, On. MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355 Tagalog Class

By Filipino Center Toronto WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 11 a.m., every Saturday, Filipino Centre Toronto, Toronto 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 Taste of Manila By the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto and Philippine Cultural Community Centre WHEN/WHERE: Aug. 20 & 21, Little Manila at Bathurst & Wilson Sts.,Toronto, Ont. MORE INFO: Special guests include Vina Morales and Xian Lim

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

WINNIPEG Manitoba Filipino Street Festival & Parade

By TFC WHEN/WHERE: 9 a.m., Aug. 20, at Downtown Winnipeg (Broadway and Memorial Streets)

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

35

Food COOKING ON DEADLINE:

A Brazilian casserole for the Olympics

BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press AS THE world turns its attention to the host country of the Olympic Games, I’m reminded of a trip I took to Brazil 20 years ago with my friend, chef and cookbook author Christopher Idone. He was so enamoured of Brazilian food that he wrote a wonderful cookbook, “Brazil: A Cook’s Tour” (Clarkson Potter), for which I was the editor.

We travelled through Sao Paulo, Rio and Bahia, and all the recipes over which we had pored on manuscript pages were suddenly there in real life, 3-D, red with dende oil, crunchy with manioc flour, aromatic with coconut milk. There were rich Feijoadas, creamy Tutu a Mineira, hot and cheesy Pao de Queijo.

Brazil’s combination of Indian, African and European (mainly Portuguese) cultures is visible in the ingredients, techniques and dishes of the country.

In more recent years, an influx of Japa- • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour nese, Lebanese, North American, Chi- • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil nese and other immigrants has contin- • 2 onions, chopped ued to enrich the culture and food with • 1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded and new influences. chopped One of my favourite dishes was Ca- • 1 teaspoon minced garlic maroes com Palmito, or Casserole of • 10 large ripe plum tomatoes, roughly Shrimp and Hearts of Palm, which we chopped ( juices reserved) encountered in Rio • 1 cup chicken de Janeiro. Two of broth the most appeal• 1/2 cup ing foods ever are chopped fresh parsnestled together in a ley, divided tomato-tinged, broBrazil’s • 4 scallions, thy, one-pot dish, fracombination white and most of the grant with scallions, of Indian, green, trimmed and cilantro and parsley.

African and chopped, divided Christopher and European (mainly • 2 pounds extraI continued to cook Portuguese) large or jumbo shrimp, and eat together after cultures is peeled and deveined our trip to Brazil. He visible in the • 2 (14-ounce) died just months ago, ingredients, cans hearts of palm, having introduced a techniques and drained and cut into whole lot of people dishes of the 1-inch pieces to a whole lot of cuicountry.

• Salt and freshly sines, including Braground pepper to taste zilian.

• 1/4 cup This recipe is chopped fresh cilantro adapted from his • Hot cooked classic book, and I can’t think of a betwhite rice to serve (about 6 cups) ter meal to tuck into during the opening ceremony.

Heat a large heavy stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. When the pan is Casserole of shrimp and hearts of palm hot, add the flour and stir until it starts to (Camaroes com palmito) turn light beige, about 2 minutes. Turn Start to finish: One hour the flour out of the pan onto a plate.

Servings: 8 In the same pot, heat the oil over me-

dium heat. Add the onions, and saute until slightly softened, about 4 minutes.

Add the bell pepper and garlic, and saute until the vegetables are all tender, about 4 more minutes. Add the tomatoes and their juices. Partially cover and bring to a simmer. Adjust the heat so the tomatoes keep at a simmer, and cook for another 10 minutes, partially covered, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes are soft and soupy.

Add the broth and return the mixture to a simmer. Stir in half of the parsley and half of the scallions.

Add the shrimp and hearts of palm to the pot with the tomato broth mixture, season with salt and pepper and stir.

Sprinkle the flour very gradually over the cooking shrimp and tomatoes, stir-

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ring constantly, until all of the flour is incorporated. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is thickened and the shrimp are almost cooked through, about 4 minutes.

Stir in the remaining parsley and scallions, and the cilantro, and cook for 1 more minute. Serve over white rice.

Nutrition information per serving: 362 calories; 80 calories from fat; 9 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 143 mg cholesterol; 1012 mg sodium; 47 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 22 g protein.

Katie Workman has written two cookbooks focused on easy, family-friendly cooking, “Dinner Solved!” and “The Mom 100 Cookbook.”

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Food

AUGUST 12, 2016

Get a taste of Brazil with recipes for codfish cakes and caipirinha cocktail THE CANADIAN PRESS A FAVOURITE appetizer found in Rio de Janeiro is bolinhos de bacalhau, or codfish cakes, with bars, street stalls and markets all offering their version.

The lightly fried cakes or croquettes are typically made from a mixture of bacalhau (the Portuguese word for dried salted codfish), potatoes, eggs, onion and parsley or cilantro. They’re crispy on the outside with a creamy interior and are delicious with caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail, or a cold beer.

You can also make them at home. This recipe must be started the day before as the dried salted codfish needs to be soaked overnight. Change the water several times. Depending on how much salt is eliminated through this process, you may not need to add any extra salt to the cod cake mixture, says chef Mario Cassini.

He notes that salted codfish is also available boneless.

Here is his recipe for the popular finger food along with one for caipirinha to drink with it.

“Saude” (cheers)!

Bolinhos de bacalhau (Codfish Cakes)

• 500 g (1 lb) salted codfish • 1 sweet or other type of onion, chopped • 30 ml (2 tbsp) olive oil, for sauteing onions • 2 large white potatoes, peeled and cubed (about 300 g/10 oz) • 1 bay leaf • 1 egg, separated • 125 ml (1/2 cup) chopped parsley or cilantro • Salt, to taste • 500 ml (2 cups) vegetable oil, for frying (approx) • Fresh limes and hot sauce, for serving Soak salted codfish overnight, changing the water at least 3 times. Drain, remove any bones and skin, and cut in small chunks.

In a skillet, heat olive oil; saute onion until soft and set aside.

(This can be done ahead.)

In a medium pot, place potatoes and cover with water.

Add bay leaf. Bring water to a simmer and cook potatoes until soft. Add codfish pieces and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand for 5 minutes. Strain potatoes and codfish, discarding water and bay leaf.

In a large bowl, mash together potatoes and codfish until well mixed. Mix in sauteed onion. Add egg yolk and continue to mix. Beat egg white until foamy and fold into mixture.

Add parsley and mix well. Taste and add salt, if needed.

Refrigerate codfish cake mixture for at least 30 minutes or overnight.

Just before frying, remove cod cake mixture from fridge. If mixture is too moist, cod cakes may fall apart or not brown properly when frying. Add a bit of flour to absorb excess moisture and mix well. Use 2 tablespoons to shape cod cake mixture into quenelles (egg shape with slightly rounded points) or croquettes: scoop some of the mixture onto a spoon, then gently press scooped mixture with bowl of second spoon to compress, and smooth edges.

Meanwhile, preheat vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a skillet or pot deep enough so that oil covers cod cakes.

Using a large spoon, carefully lower cod cakes into oil. Do not overcrowd pot. Fry until golden

brown, about 5 minutes (depending on the temperature of the oil). Using a slotted spoon, carefully remove cod cakes from oil, letting oil drip off.

Place on paper towel to absorb excess oil.

Serve with fresh limes and hot sauce.

Makes 12 to 15 cod cakes (depending on size).

Caipirinha

This drink is regarded as Brazil’s national cocktail. Its base is a clear spirit known as cachaca that is distilled from fresh sugarcane juice. Some imbibers equate the drink to a mojito without the mint.

• 1 lime • 10 ml (2 tsp) granulated sugar, or to taste • 60 ml (2 oz) cachaca • Crushed or chopped ice • Lime slices, for garnish Slice a couple of rounds from the lime to garnish the glass.

Chop remainder.

To a shaker, add chopped lime and sugar. Mash together with a muddler or wooden spoon.

Add cachaca and ice and shake until well mixed. Pour into an old-fashioned glass. Add more ice and garnish glass with lime rounds.

Makes 1 serving.

Source: Chef Mario Cassini, Global Culinary Concepts. www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

Off the... ❰❰ 32

Australia and a few other Asian countries including the Philip-

pines.

The Beach Stone-Curlew is a rare bird, so rare that been tagged as ‘near threatened’.

Albao said that Asian tourists would even fly to the Philippines on a weekend just to see the bird, take photos and fly back home.

Visitors that first set foot on the island will immediately feel peaceful as it only welcomes more or less 50 guests excluding its 10-member staff. It’s the perfect hideaway from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Modern conveniences such as cell service, television and running water will not be part of the Danjugan Island experience, Albao said stressing that people rely solely on natural entertainment and human interaction.

If by chance a part of the island does have cell service, visitors will have trouble charging their gadgets as the island uses solar power to run lights while water is usually brought from the mainland, he explained.

The island offers simple accommodations in either the Moray Lagoon Camp or Typhoon Beach Camp. Air-conditioning units are inexistent and visitors will also be given

just a bucket of water to bathe in.

Albao said that the island is heavily dependent on tourism as its source of income, which is used to further preserve its biodiversity. However, he said that the priority was still conservation and not the entertainment of visitors.

Of course, visitors will have enough activities to keep them preoccupied such as boat-trips, island tours, snorkeling, kayaking to name a few. It’s a favorite among yogis and quiet-loving individuals.

A number of marine and wildlife summer camps are also held to educate elementary and high school students of Southern Negros communities through its Danjugan Island Environmental Education Program (DEEP).

With seven different types of ecosystems— beach forest, mangroves, lagoons, bat caves, coral reefs, seagrass beds and an open sea— students who aspire to be future ecologists and biologists have the best classroom to learn in.

Those who have been to the island before would say that it receives far less attention than it ought to receive, but they also agree that it only adds to the mystique that surrounds this hidden gem in the Sulu Sea. ■

Asean, trade... policies and a strong and secure global trading system in promoting inclusive global economic growth.”

On the part of the EAS participating countries, the ministers disclosed that their combined gross domestic product (GDPs) stood at $41.67 trillion in 2015, a slight decline from $42.02 trillion in 2014.

Asean’s total trade with the other eight EAS countries similarly fell by about 5 percent to $1.05 trillion in 2015 compared to the $1.11 trillion reported in 2014. These eight EAS countries accounted for 46.3 percent of Asean’s total trade globally.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows from EAS countries stood at $52.1 billion in 2015, representing 43.4 percent of total FDI inflows to the Asean.

During the meeting, the ❰❰ 28

ministers noted the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and the continued progress in negotiations toward the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement. These formed part of efforts to further enhance regional economic integration in East Asia.

The ministers likewise commended the establishment of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 as a major milestone in regional economic integration. The ministers also welcomed the new AEC Blueprint 2025. By 2025, the AEC is expected to be “highly integrated and cohesive; competitive, innovative and dynamic; with enhanced connectivity and sectoral cooperation; a more resilient, inclusive, and people-oriented, people-centered community, and integrated with the global economy.” ■

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2016

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

ARTISTS EXHIBIT The Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver showcases the works of the Dimasalang Artists Group headed by its president, Leo Cunanan, a student of Dimasalang Founder Sofronio “Sym” Mendoza.

The exhibit runs till December 2016 (Photos by Laarni Liwanag de Paula).

20TH ANNIVERSARY The Multicultural Helping House Society (MHHS) led by Tomas Avendano Sr. celebrated its 20th anniversary with a month-long program of events. The Open House and Barbeque Party on Aug. 6, kicked off the celebrations, which include a Volunteer Appreciation night on Aug. 13, Fun Run party on the 20th, Multicultural Fiesta on the 27th, capped off by a Gala Night on Sept. 2. MHHS has grown over the years and now delivers a wide range of programs and services for newcomers and new immigrants of different ethnicities.

(Photos by Manny Noel Abuel).

PHOTOLAKAD The University of the Philippines Alumni Association in BC organized a nature photography walk dubbed, “Photolakad” at Stanley Park in Vancouver, B.C., with participants taking photographs of the gorgeous scenery while walking 12 kms. along the seawall. During the walk, photo enthusiasts picked up new tips on outdoor shooting as well (Photos by Charen Cusi and Raul Valles).

TIM PAVINO CONCERT Pop balladeer Tim Pavino had dedication concerts in Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. for the Dynamic Teen Company headed by Efren Penaflorida. Efren and his group pioneered the idea of pushcarts stocked with school materials such as books, pens, tables, and chairs to be used to recreate school settings in unconventional locations such as the cemetery or trash dump. Peñaflorida was named CNN Hero of the Year for 2009 (Photos by Christian Cunanan and Annette Beech). www.canadianinquirer.net

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Seen and Scenes

AUGUST 12, 2016

FRIDAY

SSS OUTREACH Scenes from the SSS Outreach in Midland, Ont. (Photos c/o Roberto Roldan’s FB).

CARRIBEAN CARNIVAL Miss Philippines Canada 2016 Krista Bella; Miss Teen Philippines Canada 2016 Chiara Silo; and Mrs. Philippines Canada 2016 Amelia Arcillo had a blast participating in the Toronto Caribbean Carnival 2016 (Photos by Cely Silo and Amelia Arcillo).

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

AUGUST 12, 2016

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CANADA

Retail Assistant Manager for Cascade Gift Store - Banff, AB.

Responsibilities: Plan, direct and evaluation the operations of the store; manage staff & assign duties; study market & determine consumer needs; determine merchandise & services to be sold; develop & implement marketing strategies; assist in planning budget & expenditures; resolve customer(s) complaints; determine staffing requirements & hiring, etc.

High School graduate, with 3 yrs of related retail experience at increasing levels of responsibility required.

F/T Permanent: $26.50/hour; 40 hours/week.

Subsidized staff accommodation & Extended health benefits.

Send resume to: Cascade Gifts, P.O. Box 2428, Banff, AB T1L 1C2

elaine@cascadegifts.com

I'm looking for a Filipino surrogate mother, who currently lives in Edmonton, or is willing to relocate to Edmonton, to carry my baby.

You will need to be between the ages of 21-35, and have given birth to at least 1 child. You also need to be in excellent physical, emotional and mental health. You have never had abuse of drugs/alcohol and you are a non-smoker.

If interested, please send a brief introduction of yourself, with your contact information, to

nathanlee6766@gmail.com

RETAIL SALES SUPERVISOR

CAREGIVER WANTED

for Cascade Gift Store - Banff, AB.

for Elderly lady who lives in Burnhamthorpe and Cawthra area in Mississauga

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.

Must have some experience with elderly people and be able to help with some cooking and personal assistance. Can live in or live out as there is a basement apartment. Can work flexible hours to start. Hourly wage can be about $12 per hour.

High School graduate, with 2 yrs Retail Supervisory experience.

F/T Permanent: $18.25/ hour. 40 hours/week.

Subsidized staff accommodation and Extended health benefits.

Send resume to: Cascade Gifts, P.O. Box 2428, Banff, AB T1L 1C2 info@cascadegifts.com

CONTACT Marisa Cerruti (mother) Marisacerruti@rogers.com Lou Cerruti (son) Lcerruti@claybar.ca

Toronto Enquiries: salestoronto@canadianinquirer.net Philippine Enquiries: salesphilippines@canadianinquirer.net

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Tel: (1) 647-521-5155

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AUGUST 12, 2016

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