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OCTOBER 7, 2016

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VOL. 10 NO. 238

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DOTr to pursue foreign investments in transport

Duterte tells Obama ‘you can go to hell’

Lawmaker doubts DOJ has the goods on De Lima

Brad Wall lashes out at Trudeau over carbon tax

Walking helped high-risk seniors stay mobile

McCallum grilled over law allowing citizenship to be revoked with no hearing

SISTERS, TOO Nuns visit the wake of former Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago at Immaculate Conception Cathedral Grottos in Cubao, Quezon City, on Friday.

Santiago died on Thursday after a long battle with lung cancer. She was 71.

BY JOAN BRYDEN The Canadian Press

JESUS NINO ORBETA / PDI

More lawmakers oppose showing of sex video

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer OPPOSITION IS mounting against the proposal to show a sex video purportedly involving Sen. Leila de Lima at the

House of Representatives, as part of its investigation of the senator’s alleged links to drug lords in New Bilibid Prison (NBP).

The chair of the House committee

So, will you or will you not take on a survival job?

OTTAWA — Immigration Minister John McCallum wants the Senate to come to the aid of Canadians who are being stripped of their citizenship without a hearing.

And, in the meantime, he says he’ll consider imposing a moratorium on the practice.

Independent Sen. Ratna Omidvar, who is sponsoring another citizenshiprelated bill in the upper house, is planning an amendment that would allow those deemed to have misrepresented themselves to appeal a decision to revoke their citizenship.

McCallum, who was grilled by senators Tuesday, says he’d welcome such

❱❱ PAGE 23 ❱❱ PAGE 4 More lawmakers

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS InFocus.canadianinquirer.net

❱❱ PAGE 20 Feds seek

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OCTOBER 7, 2016

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

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Transgender politician lauds House Speaker’s move to push for same-sex union bill

BY FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES Philippines News Agency MANILA — The country’s first transgender lawmaker, Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman, on Tuesday commended the plan of House of Representatives Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to file a bill legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples.

“As a member of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community, I want to congratulate the Speaker because he has been courageous enough to start the ball rolling and to start the discussions to deal with the reality that has existed since time immemorial,” Roman said in a news conference.

The lawmaker said that when she met Alvarez on Tuesday afternoon, the Speaker revealed that he is currently studying the “different formulae” to address the needs and recognize the rights of same-sex relationships.

Top-billing his proposed measure are the inheritance of properties, the right to decide the future of the spouse if that person falls ill, and the possibility of adopting children.

“The Speaker says he is open to all kinds of opinions so that he can reach a formula that is generally acceptable to all, especially among our colleagues here in Congress,” Roman said.

Bataan Rep. Geraldine Roman.

@GERALDINEBROMAN / FACEBOOK

Alvarez also told Roman that the measure only covers civil rights, which should not be subject to religious beliefs.

In a press conference on Monday, Alvarez disclosed that his staff has already begun drafting the proposed same-sex union legislation, noting that he will sponsor the bill himself.

“If you look at the Constitution, there is a provision guaranteeing happiness for the Filipinos. Why would we deprive them of that? If they are happy with that, shouldn’t we support them?” said Alvarez.

A provision of the 1987 Constitution stipulates that the “State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights”.

Roman also shared that he has known

Alvarez as a defender of equality, especially in protecting the rights of the LGBT community.

When asked about her personal stand on same sex unions, the Bataan lawmaker said she is in favor of the move.

“I cannot be a hypocrite and say I recognize equality of all citizens of our country, but at the same time tell two people who love each other that they cannot have their relationship recognized, simply on the basis of their sexual orientation,” said Roman.

PHL hosting of 2016 Miss U pageant pushes through amid cancellation rumors PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Philippines will definitely host the 2016 Miss Universe pageant, Department of Tourism Undersecretary Katherine de Castro assured on Tuesday.

The statement came after rumors surfaced last week that the Miss Universe competition will not push through in the Philippines.

According to de Castro, rumors broke out after she posted a status on her Facebook account on Thursday evening, which read, “Naiyak si Pia. Naiyak ako.

Sana nandito ka Jonas para 3 na tayong umiyak (Pia cried. I cried. I wish you

were here Jonas so the three of us could cry together).”

De Catro immediately demised the rumors through her Twitter account, but her status has spread quickly on social media.

“Meeting with the Miss Universe Organization is still ongoing and official announcements will be made in the next few days,” de Castro said.

Miss Universe officials arrived in the Philippines last week to conduct ocular inspections on the proposed venues for the competition including Manila, Vigan, and Cebu.

The much anticipated Miss Universe beauty pageant will be held at the Mall of Asia Arena on January 30,2017. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

She also clarified she would not want to look at it as a fight against the Catholic Church but a fight for civil rights.

Roman urged critics to have an open mind toward the measure, stressing that they should take a look at it first before passing judgment.

“Maintain an open attitude. Pag-aralan muna kung ano yung nakahain sa atin (Study first what this bill will present to us). Let us not be too quick to judge,” she said.

Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman from the independent minority bloc said that the same-sex union bill is not among the House’s priorities.

Lagman explained that other key measures must precede before legally allowing union between same-sex couples.

“If it (Congress) is ready for divorce, if it is ready for anti-discrimination against women, then most probably, subsequently it will be ready for that (same-sex union) legislation,” Lagman said.

“There is a prioritization of what we have to do. We have to prioritize bills which are already filed and refiled,” he added. ■

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Philippine News

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Duterte visits synagogue to apologize for Hitler remark

BY AARON FAVILA The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte visited a synagogue in the Manila metropolis Tuesday to personally apologize to the Jewish community for making a “terribly wrong” comparison between his anti-drug campaign and Hitler and the Holocaust in a recent speech.

Duterte had apologized to the Jewish world in a speech Sunday but he visited the Beit Yaacov synagogue in Makati city to press his expression of regret and assure that he was not racist, adding that his wife, now separated from him, has Jewish ties.

“I would like to apologize and it comes from the heart,” Duterte told members of the Jewish Association of the Philippines.

Deriding critics who had compared him to Hitler, Duterte acknowledged he erred in referencing what happened to Jewish people under the Nazi leader.

“I mentioned the word Jewish and that was what was terribly wrong and for that I apologize,” Duterte said, drawing an applause. “But I’m not one of the racist members of this republic.”

In his original remarks on Friday, Duterte raised the rhetoric over his anti-drug campaign to a new level by comparing it to Hitler and the Holocaust and saying he would be “happy to

slaughter” an estimated 3 million Filipino addicts.

In that speech, the brash president said without elaborating that he has been “portrayed or pictured to be a cousin of Hitler” by his critics.

Moments later, he said, “Hitler massacred 3 million Jews ... there’s 3 million drug addicts. There are. I’d be happy to slaughter them.”

His remarks drew shock and outrage across the world. In his apology Monday, he said he had never intended to derogate the memory of the 6 million Jews murdered under Hitler before and during World War II. Duterte recalled his modest political roots in his speech at the synagogue and what he said was his sincere desire to rid

Senate panel to reopen hearing on emergency powers

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency

decongestion, are included in their proposals,” Poe said at the European Union (EU)-Philippines Business Summit transport forum organized by the EU and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines.

Poe explained that the panel wants the transportation department to shed light on two proposed bus rapid transit (BRT) system projects, one

the DOTr to the Senate only included Manila ports but not the Subic and Batangas ports.

In a previous interview, Poe MANILA — A Senate panel desaid all that is left to do is to cided Tuesday to reopen the chart the remaining course so a public hearings on the procommittee report could be finposed emergency powers to ished on schedule and endorsed deal with the country’s traffic for plenary debate. woes that winded up last Sept.

She said there will be about 22, at the request of a senator. three technical working group Senator Grace Poe, who (TWG) meetings to draft a comchairs the committee report on mittee on public the emergency services, said the powers bill and hearing will respecify locations sume on Oct. 12 She said this is expected to cost of the projects. about PHP44.23 billion and will be to further clarShe also reimplemented in three years with the ify the governmained hopeextra powers. ment’s plan to ful that the law implement critibeing crafted cal transportato grant special tion projects. emergency pow“In the interest of trans- from Manila City Hall to Que- ers would be completed before parency, and as requested by zon City, and another from Christmas. the Minority Leader (Senator EDSA to Ayala and Ortigas to Expected to attend the fourth Ralph Recto), we will be con- NAIA. hearing are cabinet members ducting a fourth hearing to She said this is expected to led by Transportation Secregive the DOTr (Department of cost about PHP44.23 billion tary Arthur Tugade, Public Transportation) an opportu- and will be implemented in Works Secretary Mark Villar, nity to present in detail how three years with the extra pow- Information and Communithey plan to implement certain ers. cations Technology Secretary projects and an opportunity The senator said that the Rodolfo Salalima and Metroto explain why some of their panel will also seek clarifica- politan Manila Development projects, which apparently tion on why the proposed list Authority General Manager have nothing to do with traffic of port projects submitted by Thomas Orbos. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Beit Yaacov synagogue in Makati.

his country of corruption and crime, especially illegal drugs.

He sought understanding for his tough image.

JEWISHPHILIPPINES.NET

“You know it’s my character ... I am I and you are you,” he said. “God created me to be in this way.” ■

More lawmakers... on women and gender equality, and Diwa Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, described as “unacceptable and reprehensible” the idea of showing the video at the inquiry of the House justice committee.

Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat said showing the video—considering there was no proof of its authenticity—would serve no legislative end and had no clear purpose but “to humiliate Senator De Lima.”

“If the administration (was) so sure that De Lima (was) involved in drugs and the alleged drug trade at Bilibid, then the executive (branch) should just file the proper charges in court.

There, we have the mechanisms to make sure that her innocence is protected or her guilt proven,” Baguilat said. ❰❰ 1

Issue of privacy

A statement signed by a group of congresswomen also deplored the proposal and called for “circumspection and sobriety” on the part of the House leadership.

“As women, we take offense in any action that intends to shame and demean us, regardless of being citizens or senators. Let us not allow this to happen in our House, which has built a strong image as a protec-

tor of women’s rights and welfare,” the statement read.

Villar said “displaying an alleged sex tape during a congressional hearing is a sign of how far we have yet to go when it comes to the right of privacy and the rights of women in this country.”

She added: “(R)egardless of the identities of the people in the alleged tape, it is clear that the act was not meant to be public, and the recording of the event and its subsequent release were not made with the consent of all parties involved.”

Baguilat said there was danger that showing the video would be the current Congress’ “most infamous folly.”

He added: “We owe it to our people to conduct our public hearings according to the highest standards of proper behavior. We need to be bound by guidelines of decorum and decency, and showing the video will violate those standards.”

Baguilat reiterated his stand that the courts were the proper venue for trying De Lima on her alleged ties to drug lords.

“It is not Congress’ job to prosecute these cases, and Congress should not allow itself to be a venue for trial by publicity to cover up the executive’s inability to get a proper case to court,” he said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

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Filipino housewife is ‘ Vietnam Idol’

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer THEY TOLD her she couldn’t make it in “Vietnam Idol,” a popular singing tilt. But 28-year-old Janice Buco was destined to prove them all wrong.

On Friday night, Buco wowed even her fiercest detractors and was adjudged the winner of the seventh season of “Vietnam Idol.”

She is the first Filipino and foreigner to ever join and win the contest, which only opened its doors to non-Vietnamese singers this year.

Buco, who adopted the stage name of Janice Phuong, chalked up her victory to sheer determination and a lot of guts.

“I didn’t have an inkling that I would win. I thought I’d only end up in second place because I was a Filipino and not Vietnamese,” she said on Saturday.

On the night of the finals on Friday in Ho Chi Minh City, she could not believe her ears when the host called her name as the victor, defeating a 22-year-old local.

“Up to now, it still hasn’t sunk in. I couldn’t help crying when they announced that I won,” she said.

She won 54.25 percent of the audiences’ votes with her powerful alto, taking home a cash prize of 600 million Vietnamese dong ($28,600). “Vietnam Idol” is based on the show, “American Idol.”

From Bohol

Buco, a native of Bohol prov-

“Vietnam Idol” winner Janice Buco.

ince, has been staying in Hanoi for a couple of years with her Vietnamese husband, Minh Que. She was supposed to perform for President Duterte when he visited and met with overseas Filipino workers in Hanoi last week, but her busy training schedule got in the way.

“I really wanted to perform for him. It would be a once-inalifetime experience,” she said.

Before joining “Vietnam Idol” in March, she was making a living by singing in bars, while her husband was her band mate and a flamenco guitarist.

Her parents, Eutiquio and Honoreta, wanted to fly to Vietnam to see her perform but her father did not have a passport at the time.

“He told me, ‘You’ve reached your dreams. Don’t ever change.’ He even said ‘sorry’

SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE

because they were not here for me,” she said.

Joining the popular contest was unplanned. She and her Vietnamese husband were at the movies when they chanced upon the ongoing auditions for “Vietnam Idol” in March.

“I asked my husband to ask the organizers if I could join. He told me that I couldn’t since I was not Vietnamese. But it was open to foreigners, who could speak and sing in Vietnamese,” she said.

Impromptu audition

Their movie date had to give way for an impromptu audition as she rushed in, in unglamorous clothes and sans make up.

“If I went home to change, the organizers might change their mind,” she said.

For her audition, she sang a Vietnamese song, “Cam On

Tinh Yeu” (Thank you, my love), while her piece for the finals was “Hello Vietnam.”

She was the only foreigner who auditioned, competing against local singers who obviously had better grasp of their native language.

Buco never expected that she would eventually make it to the list of Top 12 finalists, with the organizers assuming that she only sang English songs.

For her audition, she was even asked to belt out Filipino tunes like Freddie Aguilar’s “Anak” and “Sa Ugoy ng Duyan.”

Buco trained intensively for three months, leaving behind her work, and had to catch up on her halting Vietnamese. She also had to learn more Vietnamese songs.

It hadn’t been a bed of roses for her at all. Aside from singing in a language she was not very fluent in, she had to contend with bashers on social media, who told her that she didn’t belong.

“They told me that I shouldn’t have joined the contest and that only Vietnamese singers could win this contest. They even told me to go back to the Philippines and sing there,” Buco said.

Unperturbed, she went on with her training as the criticism only pushed her to try even harder.

“I was even more inspired to practice singing in Vietnamese.

I wanted to show them that I can sing their songs as well,” she said.

Her husband, being a professional musician, also supported her by coaching her in Vietnam-

ese diction to make her performance as natural as possible.

Victory became within reach when she ranked second, just a spot behind her 22year-old Vietnamese rival, Viet Thang, from the northern province of Hai Duong.

On Friday night, triumph became officially hers when she was adjudged the best singer in the land.

‘Bahala na’

“I was quite nervous before the performance. But I didn’t feel any shyness at all. I told myself, ‘Bahala na (Come what may)’ It turned out to be a great night,” Buco said.

As the newest Vietnam Idol, she will be managed by the organizers for the next couple of years—a dream come true for this Filipino woman who was unable to finish college due to poverty.

Buco is looking forward to jumpstart her professional career in music, with her husband by her side and her family in the Philippines cheering her on.

Just last week, she launched her first single: “Love You in Silence,” a melody with lyrics that are a mixture of Vietnamese and English.

To Filipinos in Vietnam who dream of joining singing tilts but are apprehensive in doing so, she has this simple advice: Muster your guts and courage, and dream big.

“If you really want to sing, you can’t be fainthearted. You really have to go for it. Like I said, ‘pakapalan lang ng mukha,’” she said, chuckling. ■

SC justice takes to Twitter, blasts current events

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer A JUSTICE of the Supreme Court took to Twitter yesterday to air his sentiments on recent contentious issues that have divided the nation.

Breaking the high tribunal’s “dignified silence,” Associate Justice Marvic Leonen cited the Constitution in an apparent dig at President Duterte’s controversial approach to curbing the illegal drugs trade.

At 53, Leonen is the only justice on the 15-member court with an active social media account.

“Constitution, art III, sec 1 No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law,” he posted on his Twitter account @marvicleonen.

Leonen’s tweet was in apparent riposte to the spiraling number of killings of suspected pushers, users and drug lords since Mr. Duterte assumed office on June 30.

Police and media have tallied

over 3,000 killed in police operations and vigilante killings in just under 100 days of the Duterte administration.

Leonen also tweeted: “Kung hindi tayo kikilos, sino ang kikilos? Kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? #UP #IskolarngBayan.” (If we do not act, who will act? If not now, when?).

The phrase—the cry of activists during the martial law regime of strongman Ferdinand Marcos—was actually excerpted from an editorial written by student-activist Abraham Sarmiento Jr. in the Philippine www.canadianinquirer.net

Collegian, the student publication of the University of the Philippines.

Leonen, who served as chief government peace negotiator in the talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front during the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III, was appointed to the Supreme Court by the latter in 2012.

And, in an apparent reminder to the legislators who want to show Sen. Leila de Lima’s purported sex video in a House inquiry into the illegal drugs

trade, Leonen cited Republic Act No. 9995 or the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009.

He also used the hashtags #everywoman #everyman #everyone which De Lima’s supporters have adopted to counter the “slut shaming” being conducted by allies of the President.

Another tweet went: “Constitution, art II, sec 11 ‘The State values the dignity of every human person and guarantees full respect for human rights.’” ■

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Philippine News

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

DOTr to pursue Zika triggers travel alert foreign investments vs PH, SEA countries in transport projects PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is committed to promoting foreign investments for transportation infrastructure projects in the country.

With this, DOTr Undersecretary for Planning Rommel Gavieta stated that the department will be categorizing projects into market-driven — projects which will enable the participation of foreign investors and development-based — projects which may be funded through official development assistance (ODA).

“We intend to maximize foreign investments in the country,” Gavieta stated at the EU-Philippines Business Summit 2016 held in Makati City on Tuesday.

The DOTr aims to establish an intermodal transport system in the country that will enable efficient movement of people, goods and services.

For her part, Sen. Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public services, urged the government to ensure a safe, affordable and accessible transport system that will provide comfort and dignity to commuters.

“I envision this transport system to be a part of, and connect, a network of progressive, sustainable, and livable communities, that are well planned and immaculately executed. So in one community, you have in your community a hospital, a school and a place to work,” Poe

stated in her address.

The senator also called for the lifting of economic restrictions in the Constitution to encourage foreign ownership of businesses in the country.

“We must open our economy to foreign investments. Infusion of foreign capital is needed to create jobs,” she reiterated.

The government seeks to accelerate infrastructure spending to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) with Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) playing a key role as part of its 10-point socioeconomic agenda.

Meanwhile, the EU-Philippines Business Network (EPBN) urges the government to enact the PPP Law through BOT Law Amendments; amend the Government Procurement Reform Act to remove discrimination of foreign participation; and implement the Right of Way Act in line with the administration’s transportation policy as well as to entice European companies to set up their operations in the Philippines.

The EPBN seeks to support European companies, especially small and medium enterprises, to increase exports and investments in the Philippines by facilitating market access and ensuring a level playing field for all companies.

This year’s economic forum aims to tackle relevant trade topics including foreign participation in Philippine economic activities, eliminating trade barriers, EU-Philippine Free Trade Agreement negotiations and ASEAN economic integration. ■

BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE UNITED States’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised pregnant women to “consider postponing nonessential travel” to several southeast Asian countries—including the Philippines—because of the Zika virus.

In a recent advisory posted on its website, the CDC said that while travel notices had not been issued specifically for the Philippines, Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Maldives, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam, “special travel considerations” should be made for these “endemic countries in Southeast Asia.”

ACE MORANDANTE / PPD / PNA

It said those who have travelled recently to the Philippines and have symptoms of the Zika virus infection should consider undergoing the virus testing.

“Zika is endemic in the Philippines, and the risk to travelers is unknown but likely lower than in areas where Zika is newly introduced and spreading widely,” the CDC said.

Twelve Zika virus infection cases have so far been documented in the country this year, the Department of Health (DOH) said.

Of the 12 cases, the DOH said eight patients were female, including a 22-year-old woman from Cebu who is 19 weeks pregnant with her first child.

The DOH said patients affected by Zika range from 9 to 55 years old. ■

We were shut out of Bilibid–CHR

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE COMMISSION on Human Rights (CHR) said Thursday it had been denied entry to the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) by the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police since the latter took over security at the facility two months ago.

CHR Commissioner Chito Gascon said the current NBP administrators informed his office they were instituting changes at the facility and that was why commission officials were barred from entering.

“Part of the mandate of the CHR is to make regular visits to places of detention like the NBP,” Gascon told reporters after he presented the proposed CHR budget for next year to a Senate finance subcommittee chaired by Sen. Panfilo Lacson.

Families seeking help

Workers of D.M. Consunji Inc. uninstall parts of Robinson's footbridge in preparation for the expansion of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 along Marcos Highway, Pasig City

“These countries have either reported local Zika virus transmission or are next to countries with known Zika virus transmission. Because of this, CDC recommends pregnant women should consult with their healthcare provider and consider postponing nonessential travel to (these countries),” the CDC said.

It said the issuance of travel notices to these Southeast Asian countries “would be considered if the number of cases rises to the level of outbreak.”

The Zika virus has been linked to birth defects.

According to the CDC, those who do decide to travel to the Philippines in particular “should strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites and sexual exposure” to the Zika virus.

Gascon said some family members of NBP inmates had sought CHR help because they were barred from visiting their loved ones. He said the families had not returned to the CHR, and they had no updates on them.

Gascon said they last sought www.canadianinquirer.net

access to the NBP two months ago and were denied entry.

President Duterte has ordered the SAF to secure the NBP which houses the country’s more notrious convicts. One inmate was recently killed in a purported riot, which also wounded inmate Jaybee Sebastian, whom Sen. Leila de Lima had said was being forced to testify against her.

Lacson boosts budget

Meanwhile, Lacson said he would augment the CHR’s budget by taking out items from the proposed P3.35-trillion national budget for 2017 which he suspects are pork barrel funds, and re-aligning them to the human rights agency.

Speaking to reporters after the subcommittee on finance tackled the proposed P496-million budget of the CHR for next year, Lacson said it was clear the body would have “its hands full because of the war on drugs.”

He was referring to the government’s antidrug campaign that has become controversial over allegations drug suspects are summarily executed.

Lacson said he had identified pork barrel funds for congressmen in the listed items in the proposed national budget after seeing a pattern where “identi-

cal amounts” of money were allocated to items not identified.

“I already talked to my colleagues. I really intend to align, remove those items because it doesn’t make sense because the Supreme Court had already ruled very clearly that we do not have anymore the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF),” he said, referring to a 2013 high court decision deeming the PDAF, or pork barrel, unconstitutional.

“Why beat around the bush and still insist on parking some allocations in the different departments?” Lacson said.

Credentials questioned

He noted that congressmen had recently threatened to question Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo’s credentials at the Commission on Appointments after she questioned the funds parked in her department.

CHR’s Gascon meanwhile said they requested for more funding as the number of witnesses seeking to be included in the government’s Witness Protection Program (WPP) was also rising amid the drug war.

“This needs to be increased so we can meet the demand of the witnesses,” he told reporters. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

7

Duterte tells Obama ‘you can go to hell,’ warns of breakup

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press

would not abrogate a 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty with the U.S. and will maintain the long alliance with America, one of his country’s largest trading partners MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Philippine and provider of development and milileader Rodrigo Duterte told President tary aid and defence equipment.

Barack Obama “you can go to hell” in a The U.S. has expressed concern over speech Tuesday that was his strongest the extrajudicial killings and urged tirade so far against the U.S. over its crit- Duterte’s government to ensure law enicism of his deadly anti-drug campaign, forcement efforts comply with human adding that he may eventually decide to rights obligations. Last month, Obama “break up with America.” cancelled a planned first meeting with He also lashed out anew at the Euro- Duterte on the sidelines of an Asian pean Union, saying the bloc, which has summit in Laos after the Filipino leader also criticized his brutal crackdown, blurted “son of a bitch” in warning the “better choose purgatory, hell is filled U.S. leader not to lecture him on human up.” rights ahead of their meeting. Duterte Since becoming president in June, later expressed regrets over his remarks.

Deuterte has had an uneasy relationship Angered by U.S. criticism, Duterte has with the U.S. and with Obama and has made a series of public pronouncements declared intentions to bolster relations that he could scale back the activities with China and Russia as he revamp- and presence of visiting U.S. troops in sPhilippine foreign policy that has long the country. leaned on Washington.

Last week, Duterte said the joint U.S.The brash-speakPhilippine combat ing leader also has exercises to be held been hypersensitive this week, the first to criticism over his of his presidency, anti-drug crackdown, Instead of would also be the last helping us, the which has left more of his tenure. The exfirst to criticize than an estimated ercises, centring on is this State 3,000 suspected drug amphibious landing Department, so dealers and pushers drills, started Tuesyou can go to dead in just three day under some unhell, Mr. Obama, months, alarming certainty because of you can go to the United Nations, those remarks. hell. the EU, the U.S. and Marine commandhuman rights watchers from both sides dogs. said at the opening In a speech before ceremony that the a local convention exercises, involving attended by officials 1,100 American and and business executives, Duterte out- 400 Filipino military personnel, are lined his disappointments with the U.S., aimed at improving readiness by the two which has asked his government to stop countries to respond to a range of crises the widespread killings and has ques- while deepening their historic ties. tioned whether human rights are being U.S. Embassy officials said Washingviolated. He also described Washington ton has not been formally notified by the as an unreliable ally, saying Filipino Philippine government of any move to forces have not benefited from joint scrap other planned drills. Such a move combat exercises with U.S. troops. by the Philippines would impede Wash“Instead of helping us, the first to ington’s plans to expand the footprint of criticize is this State Department, so you U.S. forces in Southeast Asia to counter can go to hell, Mr. Obama, you can go to China. hell,” Duterte said. Then addressing the A Philippine military spokesman EU, he said: “Better choose purgatory, for the ongoing exercises, Capt. Ryan hell is filled up.”

Lacuesta, sidestepped the question of In a later speech at a synagogue in whether Duterte’s remarks have affectMakati city in the Manila metropolis, ed the troops and the atmosphere of the Duterte warned he may decide to “break drills. up with America” in his most serious U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. John Jansen threat so far to push relations back with said that aside from promoting regional Washington. security, the exercises have helped save “Eventually I might, in my time, I will lives in terms of fostering more rapid break up with America,” he said without and organized responses to disasters elaborating. “I would rather go to Russia like Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. and to China.”

“Our alliance remains a key source of Duterte has given assurances that he stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” Jan-

President Rodrigo R. Duterte is welcomed by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during a courtesy call in Hanoi.

ACE MORANDANTE / PPD / PNA

sen said, expressing confidence “that we will continue to build our partnership and capabilities together.”

While the Obama administration maintains that its alliance with the Philippines remains “ironclad,” a senior U.S. diplomat cautioned Duterte last week against more anti-U.S. posturing. Many of Duterte’s stunning pronouncements have typically been walked back by other Philippines officials.

“I think it would be a serious mistake

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in a democratic country like the Philippines to underestimate the power of the public’s affinity for the U.S. That’s people power,” Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel told The Associated Press.

Russel did not draw a direct comparison, but past Philippine presidents have been toppled by popular protests dubbed “people power,” including former dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who was ousted in 1986. ■

Philippine News

8

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Manila, Hanoi sign 6-year action plan

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer

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

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The views and opinions expressed in the articles (including opinions expressed in ads herein) are those of the authors named, and are not necessarily those of Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editorial Team.

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Member

HANOI — The Philippines and Vietnam have agreed to establish a six-year action plan to boost their relations, including fighting transnational crime and trade on illegal drugs.

In a joint statement issued at the end of President Duterte’s visit to Vietnam on Thursday, the two countries said they would step up people-to-people exchanges, high-level and other visits, uphold bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and implement agreements they have signed.

Mr. Duterte arrived home early on Friday and told reporters that he and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang had agreed to ensure security in the hotly disputed South China Sea. “We reaffirm[ed] commitment to maintaining and promoting peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, as well as unimpeded commerce in the region, particularly in the South China Sea,” Mr. Duterte said.

The President said he and Tran had also agreed to “strengthen existing maritime cooperation mechanisms” and “adopt measures to ensure the safety and security of fishermen from both countries.”

Mr. Duterte visited Vietnam on Wednesday and Thursday at the invitation of Tran.

In their joint statement, the two leaders recalled the strategic partnership signed in November 2015 on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in Manila.

The partnership was aimed at “elevating the level and intensity of bilateral exchanges” and to “harness advantages for common development and in pursuit of shared strategic interests.”

Both countries are members of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Both are claimants to disputed territories in the South China Sea, much of which is claimed by China.

Vietnam will play host to the next Apec meet, while the Philippines is the chair of Asean for 2017.

Resolution of disputes

Mr. Duterte and Tran urged peaceful resolution of disputes, including respect for legal and diplomatic processes, selfrestraint in the conduct of activities, without resorting to the threat or use of force, in accordance with the universally recognized principles of international law, said the joint statement.

It said they also vowed to “work expeditiously for the early adoption of a code of conduct in the South China Sea as well as their position on the award by [an international] tribunal [to the Phil-

President Rodrigo R. Duterte is welcomed by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during a courtesy call in Hanoi.

ACE MORANDANTE / PPD / PNA

ippines] in the South China Sea arbitration.”

“Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to upholding peace, stability and prosperity in the region, including advancing Asean community building efforts through the full and effective implementation of the Asean Community Vision 2025,” the statement said.

They agreed to intensify defense and law enforcement cooperation against transnational crime and the trade and trafficking of drugs in Southeast Asia, it said.

It said the two countries would be sharing expertise, experience and intelligence information in boosting law enforcement cooperation.

“On the various aspects of bilateral exchanges, the two presidents agreed to establish a six-year action plan (20172022) to guide the implementation of activities in the areas of common interest under this new level of relations,” the statement said.

Mr. Duterte and Tran acknowledged the value of the existing defense cooperation mechanisms, such as the policy dialogue between their defense ministries, it said.

They also “called on their defense officials to identify new avenues to deepen and intensify cooperation in line with the vision of the strategic partnership,” it said.

The two leaders also called for the establishment of a security dialogue between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the National Security Council of the Philippines.

They urged expedited negotiations for bilateral agreements on extradition,

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mutual legal assistance in criminal issues and transfer of sentenced criminals.

The statement said the two countries would bolster existing maritime cooperation mechanisms, such as the hotline between their coast guards.

It said Mr. Duterte and Tran agreed to “adopt other measures to ensure the safety and security of fishermen from both countries as well as to solve amicably the unexpected incidents at sea.”

Fisheries deal

They also agreed to form a joint working group and implement a memorandum on agreement on fisheries cooperation signed in 2010, it said.

China has been accused of bullying fishermen from its smaller neighbors, including the Philippines and Vietnam, who venture into disputed waters in the South China Sea. The Philippines and Vietnam will also “consider signing a mutual recognition agreement on quality control and management and safety of agricultural and fishery products, and a memorandum of understanding on education cooperation,” the statement said.

The two leaders called on businesses to further increase the volume of twoway trade and investment by making the business environment in both countries conducive to investment.

Areas of potential investment include agriculture, food processing, tourism services and infrastructure.

The two countries will also consider extending the memorandum of agreement on rice trade and convene the 2nd Joint Commission on Trade. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

9

Rody ‘Hitler’ talk DepEd to hire 13,200 personnel reaps int’l censure for nonteaching jobs in schools Israel seeks clarification of PH leader’s words

BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT DUTERTE yesterday faced a barrage of criticism from the United Nations, Israel, Western governments and international rights groups for drawing parallels with his brutal war on drugs and Adolf Hitler’s extermination of Jews before and during World War II. Even longtime ally the United States has hinted at impatience with Mr. Duterte over his latest inflammatory comments, with Pentagon chief Ashton Carter and the US Embassy in Manila both saying the Philippine leader’s remark about being “happy to slaughter” 3 million drug addicts is “deeply troubling.”

Early on Friday, Mr. Duterte, speaking to reporters at Davao International Airport after arriving from a two-day official visit to Vietnam, said his critics were threatening to bring him before an international court for the killing of thousands of people in his bloody war on drugs and complained that they were picturing him as “a cousin of Hitler” even if nothing had been proven against him.

Noting that Hitler had murdered millions of Jews, Mr. Duterte said he was also willing to kill the 3 million drug addicts in the Philippines if it were the only way to solve the country’s drug problem.

“There are 3 million drug addicts (in the Philippines). I’d be happy to slaughter them,” he said.

“If Germany had Hitler, the Philippines would have ...,” he said, pausing and pointing to himself.

“You know my victims. I would like (them) to be all criminals to finish the problem of my country and save the next generation from perdition,” he said.

Clarification sought

Israel’s foreign ministry yesterday said it was “unfortunate” that Mr. Duterte chose to invoke Hitler and the Holocaust in his bloody anticrime war.

Ministry spokesperson Emmanuel Nahshon said Israel was convinced Mr. Duterte would “find a way to clarify his words.”

World Jewish Congress president Ronald Lauder on Friday said Mr. Duterte’s remarks were “revolting” and demanded that he retract them and apologize.

“Drug abuse is a serious issue.

But what President Duterte said is not only profoundly inhumane, but it demonstrates an appalling disrespect for human life that is truly heartbreaking for the democratically elected leader of a great country,” Lauder said in a statement issued from Jerusalem, where he was attending the funeral of former Israeli leader Shimon Peres.

Yesterday, UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide, Adam Dieng, said Mr. Duterte’s remarks were “deeply disrespectful of the right to life of all human beings.”

In a statement issued from New York, Dieng stressed that the Holocaust was one of the darkest periods of the history of humankind, and that any glorification of the cruel and criminal acts committed by those responsible was unacceptable and offensive.

Dieng urged Mr. Duterte “to exercise restraint in the use of language that could exacerbate discrimination, hostility and violence, and encourage the commission of criminal acts which, if widespread or systematic, could amount to crimes against humanity.”

Dieng also exhorted Mr. Duterte to support instead the investigation of the reported killings in his war on drugs and crime.

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY NEXT year, public school teachers can expect lesser administrative workload with the hiring of more than 13,000 personnel to do non-teaching jobs in schools nationwide.

The Department of Education (DepEd) disclosed the good news yesterday to thousands of teachers who gathered at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City for the kick-off celebration of World Teachers’ Day on Oct. 5.

In his keynote speech, Education Undersecretary Jesus Mateo announced that the lower House has approved the agency’s proposed 2017 budget amounting to P567 billion, which is 34 percent bigger than this year’s allocation.

“The substantial part of the budget will not only address critical resources but also other requirements,” Mateo told the teachers. “You’ve been telling us that you lack support staff, so now the DepEd has started creating non-teaching staff for schools but this will be done gradually.”

In an interview, Mateo said P4 billion of the P567-billion budget has been earmarked for the hiring of 13,266 personnel

‘Deeply troubling’

Speaking on the sidelines of a regional security summit of Southeast Asian ally nations, Carter, the US defense chief, said he had not discussed Mr. Duterte’s comments with his Philippine counterpart, Delfin Lorenzana, who also attended ❱❱ PAGE 13 Rody ‘Hitler’

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Hiring enough support staff in schools was important to ease the burden of teachers in handling other tasks aside from teaching..

ZYNELL02 / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

to handle non-teaching jobs such as financial and administrative tasks. A big bulk of these non-teaching employees will be assigned to senior high schools, he said.

The number is a huge jump from the 2,500 non-teaching items the agency opened in 2015 and 11,000 this year, noted Mateo.

“The number was small in the previous years because our fiscal space was limited. But now that it is wider, the government now can afford these items,” he told the INQUIRER yesterday.

He said hiring enough support staff in schools was important to ease the burden

of teachers in handling other tasks aside from teaching.

In the previous years, teachers have been forced to juggle administrative jobs and their teaching duties due to lack of personnel, he said.

“In the past, they do bookkeeping. When they are not teaching, our teachers also do non-teaching functions. We are now trying to correct that situation,” said Mateo.

The DepEd has also apportioned P15.5 billion of its 2017 budget for the hiring of more than 53,800 teachers, mostly for the SHS program, and P65.4 billion for classrooms and school buildings, said Mateo. ■

10

Philippine News

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Lawmaker doubts DOJ has the goods on De Lima

BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer A MEMBER of the House committee on justice investigating the proliferation of drugs in the national penitentiary has raised doubts on whether the Department of Justice (DOJ) has evidence to prove the alleged links of Sen. Leila de Lima to the drug trade.

Dinagat Island Rep. Kaka Bag-ao yesterday said the DOJ had yet to credibly establish De Lima’s links to the drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) instead of resorting to threats such as showing a supposed sex video of the legislator.

“They still haven’t proven the issue of her connection to drugs, which is the fundamental issue. They are destroying the character of the person in public. We know the process in Congress is political. It’s not a legal prosecution. It hasn’t begun yet, you are already perse-

cuted. You are being painted as immoral or you can make mistakes, and that’s so much easier to do to a woman,” Bag-ao said in Filipino in an interview on dzBB radio.

Bag-ao was the second lawmaker to raise the question of whether or not the DOJ could prove De Lima’s link to the proliferation of drugs in the NBP and if she tolerated and profited from it.

tive statement they issued on Friday objecting to the showing of the supposed video at the continuation of the House investigation.

13 men signed

viated to stories about De Lima.

Bag-ao said the legislators war would continue to have their colleagues sign the collec-

As of yesterday, Bag-ao said 48 legislators had signed the statement, 13 of them men.

“My only message to Pantaleon Alvarez III… This is not between you and us. This is not about you. This is for every woman who is being accused, whoever she is. She cannot be the subject of persecution,” Bag-ao said in the interview.

Alvarez had said the video could be shown to establish the relationship between De Lima and her driver, Ronnie Dayan, her alleged conduit and bagman at the NBP. The congressional hearing has been moved to Oct. 6 due to the plenary deliberations on the 2017 national budget, according to House committee on justice chair Reynaldo Umali. ■

some may be eligible to be insured by the Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation, a federal Crown corporation that protects deposits held at its member financial institutions.

In case a CDIC member institution fails (it hasn’t happened for a long time, but it has happened), Canadian depositors are protected by insurance that covers eligible deposits up to $100,000 (principal and interest combined) per depositor.

You don’t need to apply – your deposits are automatically covered.

Eligible deposits include cash held in savings and chequing accounts and term deposits (e.g., GICs) of up to five years’ maturity and not exceeding $100,000. You can increase coverage, because the CDIC insures eligible deposits separately – savings in one name, joint savings, savings in trust, RRSPs, RRIFs, and TFSAs are all covered separately. And if you have eligible deposits at different institutions, you’re covered up to the maximum at each institution. And, of course, in the case of married couples, if each spouse holds eligible

deposits in their own name, each is also covered up to the $100,000 maximum per institution – something that may be of interest to high net worth individuals.

Here’s the kicker, and where many people are a little hazy on the rules. CDIC insurance coverage does not extend to any other assets that may be held in your RRSP, including stocks, options, ETFs, mutual funds, U.S. and foreign currency deposits, corporate and government bonds, notes and debentures, Treasury bills, Banker’s Acceptances, certain index-linked and traded principal protected notes, and mortgages. None of these is covered

by CDIC insurance.

The only other potential investment guarantees for assets held within an RRSP are those that have some type of internal insurance or guarantee specific to that product. For example, segregated funds and Principal Protected Notes may offer certain types of principal guarantees. But these have nothing to do with the RRSP or with any government agency like the CDIC. ■

Aid President’s war

Last week, Cebu City Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa, also a House justice committee member, raised concerns the investigation appeared to be aiding “President Duterte’s against De Lima.”

Abellanosa said Congress might miss the chance to truly get to the bottom of the illegal drugs trade because it was putting too much focus on De Lima’s alleged involvement.

Abellanosa said the affidavits of the convicts, tapped by the

Senator Leila de Lima, former Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights, questions retired Police Senior Supt. Dionisio Abude, one of the witnesses who appeared at the resumption of the Senate inquiry into the alleged extrajudicial killings.

JESS M. ESCAROS JR. / PNA

DOJ as witnesses, contained details about the drug trade in the NBP but instead of expounding on them, they all de-

RRSPs and deposit insurance

BY ROBYN K. THOMPSON, CFP, CIM, FCSI Fundata Canada Inc. THE TERM “registered” evokes all sorts of visions of guarantees and “official” protection against loss. Actually, investments held in your RRSP are no more or less protected or insured against bank defaults or swings in the market than any other kind of investment.

The “registration” part of the equation means only that the plan is registered with the government so that you will be eligible for certain tax benefits associated with contributions to RRSPs, and so the CRA can track your contribution limits and tax deductions. That’s it.

On the other hand, certain assets held within your RRSP may indeed be individually covered

by Canada Deposit Insurance or be otherwise guaranteed. To get an idea of what investments in your RRSP might be covered by certain types of insurance, you first need to know what qualifies as an RRSP investment.

Qualified RRSP investments

According to the Canada Revenue Agency the following are qualified RRSP investments.

Bonds. Federal, provincial, municipal government bonds are eligible. Bonds of publiclytraded companies are also qualified investments.

Exchange-listed securities.

This encompasses common and preferred shares, exchangetraded funds, closed-end funds and other securities that are traded on designated stock exchanges in Canada or other countries. This also includes limited partnership units and royalty units. Canadian and U.S. stock exchanges are listed as designated exchanges. However, “over-the-counter” trading systems are not eligible.

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs traded on designated stock exchanges are qualified RRSP investments.

Mutual funds. Canadian mutual funds are eligible – and there are thousands of these to choose from.

Options. Covered put and call options on qualified stocks are eligible as RRSP investments.

Note, though, that I wouldn’t

recommend options for everyone. These are specialized types of investment products, and can be quite risky if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing.

Money or cash deposits (including foreign currencies under certain circumstances).

GICs. Guaranteed Investment Certificates are, of course, qualified RRSP investments.

Other. Annuities, mortgages, certain shares of small business corporations and venture capital corporations can be put in an RRSP. You may also put money into investment grade gold and silver bullion, coins, and certificates. But again, I wouldn’t recommend rushing out and putting your RRSP retirement fund into precious metals or venture capital corporations, for example, without some pretty heavy-duty advice from a qualified adviser.

For more details, check the CRA website.

What’s covered by deposit insurance?

Of these qualified assets, www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

11

Duterte out to end war games with US Bilateral relations get more uncertain

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer HANOI — President Duterte on Wednesday plunged one of the United States’ most important Asian alliances deeper into uncertainty by declaring next month’s US-Philippine military exercises “the last,” and ruling out joint navy patrols in the heavily disputed South China Sea. Addressing the Filipino community here after arriving for a two-day official visit to Vietnam, Mr. Duterte said he was “serving notice to the Americans.”

“You are scheduled to hold war games, which China does not want. I will serve notice to you now that this will be the last military exercise,” he said.

Mr. Duterte pledged to honor a longstanding defense treaty with the United States, but said China opposed joint marine drills in the Philippines, which would start next week, and there would be no more war games with Washington after that.

“I will maintain the military alliance, the RP-US pact which our countries signed in the early ’50s. But I will establish new alliances for trade and commerce,” he said.

He also spoke about his plans to visit China and Russia “to open all doors of investment.”

Fissures in alliance

Mr. Duterte’s remarks gave one of the strongest signs yet of fissures in a historic alliance that Washington has relied upon as it tries to cement its influence in Asia to counterbalance China’s rapid rise.

The US state department spokesperson, John Kirby, said he was not aware of any official notification from the Philippines about ending joint mili-

tary exercises.

“Our focus is on the relationship today and moving it forward,” Kirby told a regular news briefing in Washington.

“We continue to believe that that’s possible … . [W]e have significant security commitments with the Philippines.

We’re committed to meeting those commitments and to furthering this relationship.”

The US Embassy in Manila said on Thursday that US-Philippine relations were “business as usual” until it receives official notice about Mr. Duterte’s foreign policy.

“We have not received any official communication from the [Philippine] government,” the embassy’s spokesperson, Molly Koscina, said in a text message to the INQUIRER. Koscina said the US side was expecting the marine drills to start next week as scheduled, noting this would be the 34th year the two allies would be undertaking the military exercises.

“The US government has not received any official communication on those statements so we continue to focus on the breadth of our relationship with the Philippines. It really is an amazing, longstanding relationship so we continue to do business as usual,” she told INQUIRER editors during a visit to the newspaper’s offices on Wednesday.

National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon Jr., who was traveling with Mr. Duterte, said on Wednesday that the President was referring to next week’s amphibious landing drills.

“You just heard the President. I cannot clarify. The way I understand it, it’s the last for the year. We will clarify,” Esperon told a scrum of reporters in Hanoi.

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, escorted by Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief-of-Staff Ricardo Visaya, walks past the honor guards upon his arrival at the Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City.

KARL NORMAN ALONZO / PPD / PNA

‘I did not hear that’

But Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay, who was also part of Mr. Duterte’s entourage, said he did not hear the President say he was putting an end to military exercises between the Philippines and the United States.

“No, no, no, no. I have not heard that so I cannot make any comment on that. I do not believe that he said that,” said Yasay, who sat on the stage as Mr. Duterte spoke.

The Philippine-US Amphibious Landing Exercises (Phiblex) are set to take place from Oct. 4 to 12 in the Philippines, which follow the larger annual Balikatan exercises in April involving more than 8,000 forces from both sides.

Military officials from both countries have also started preparing for a new set of exercises next year.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Yasay said Mr. Duterte’s remarks did not mean the cancellation of any agreement or treaty with the United States.

“It only means that when the

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Mutual Defense Board in the future will make that recommendation, he will most likely on the basis of what he said now, probably will not allow joint military exercises,” Yasay said.

Clarifying his statement on Wednesday, he said he might have been “too sleepy” because of jet lag, but maintained that he did not hear Mr. Duterte say he was ending joint military exercises with the United States.

Respect for treaties

On Wednesday, Yasay said Mr. Duterte promised to respect all existing treaties and commitments with the United States.

Besides the PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty, the Philippines has a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and an Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States.

Yasay said the VFA, under which the joint military exercises are held, would continue even beyond Mr. Duterte’s sixyear term, and that the cessation of any agreement would

have to be decided mutually by the two countries.

“He cannot abrogate the treaty. He said he would respect it,” Yasay said.

The only thing Mr. Duterte had ruled out were joint patrols beyond the Philippines’ 22-kilometer territorial waters, he said.

Briefing reporters in Manila on Thursday, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said Mr. Duterte was leaning toward an “inclusive” foreign policy, by reaching out to and strengthening relations with more countries and not just with the United States.

Abella said Mr. Duterte had vowed to honor the Philippines’ agreements with the United States.

“However, there are also certain modifications in their relationship and the relationship remains solid according to the agreements. But also there will be other activities that will be more open to other nations, too,” he said. ❱❱ PAGE 12 Duterte out

12

Philippine News

US Philippine drills open in uncertainty: Are they the last?

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — U.S. and Philippine forces opened joint combat exercises under some uncertainty on Tuesday, days after the Philippines’ new leader said they would be the last such drills of his six-year presidency.

Marine commanders from both sides said at the opening ceremony that the exercises, involving 1,100 American and 400 Filipino military personnel, are aimed at improving readiness by the two countries to respond to a range of crises while deepening their historic ties.

Angered by U.S. criticism of his deadly anti-drug campaign, President Rodrigo Duterte said last week that the manoeuvrs would be the last of his term, which began in June. His foreign secretary later said the decision was not final, sparking questions as to whether other annual U.S.-Philippine military exercises would proceed as planned.

U.S. Embassy officials said Washington has not been formally notified by the Philippine government of any move to scrap other planned drills. Such a move by the Philippines would impede Washington’s plans to expand the footprint of U.S. forces in Southeast Asia to counter China.

A Philippine military spokesman for the ongoing exercises, Capt. Ryan Lacuesta, sidestepped the question of whether Duterte’s remarks have affected the troops and the atmosphere of the drills, partly staged to improve camaraderie

between the two combat forces.

“As much as I would like to answer that question, I would leave that to higher authorities,” Lacuesta said Tuesday.

U.S. Marine Brig. Gen. John Jansen said that aside from promoting regional security, the exercises have helped save lives in terms of fostering more rapid and organized responses to disasters like the deadly 2013 devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan in the central Philippines.

Citing a much-awaited drill that involves American and Filipino marines wading ashore in an amphibious beach landing and in boat raids, Jansen said the exercise “is not just about projecting power from the sea, it is about growing a capability.”

Duterte, who describes himself as a leftist leader, has had an uneasy relationship with the United States, a key treaty ally. He has said he is charting a foreign policy not dependent on the U.S., and has taken steps to revive ties with China that had been strained under his predecessor over longstanding territorial conflicts.

Duterte has announced publicly that he will not allow the Philippine navy to conduct joint patrols with the U.S. military in the disputed South China Sea because it could spark an armed conflict inPhilippine territory.

He has also said he wants U.S. forces out of the southern Philippines, where he said minority Muslims resent the presence of American troops.

Still, Duterte has said he will not abrogate a 1951 Mutual Defence Treaty with the U.S. and will maintain the long alliance with America. ■

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Duterte out...

Abella said there tion brought by the Philip- will this have any sort of major was no definite date pines, found that China’s claim impact on the situation in the yet for the last war to nearly all of the South China South China Sea? Most likely games between the Philippines Sea had no basis in internation- not,” the official said, speaking and the United States. al law, and that Beijing had vio- on condition of anonymity.

He said the foreign policy lated Manila’s sovereign rights He added that, in a sign things shift that Mr. Duterte wanted by preventing it from fishing were continuing as usual, the was not “unfortunate,” as for- and exploring for resources in landing ship USS Germantown mer Foreign Secretary Albert waters within its 370-km exclu- would be making a port call in del Rosario had described it, sive economic zone (EEZ).

Manila from Wednesday. but was “part of the process Richard Jacobson, an Ameriwhich the President sees as set- Bilateral talks can security expert, said Mr. ting . . . our own independent Beijing has rejected the rul- Duterte’s posturing could emcourse.” ing, and Mr. Duterte has said bolden China to exploit a testy The shift may be “difficult he prefers bilateral talks with relationship between two old and challenging,” he said, but China to resolve the dispute. allies. the President sees it as someAsked if the cessation of joint “The US-Philippines rething that will “add to our well- military drills with the United lationship might become being and prosperity as a na- States was a condition set by strained and even shaken,” Jation.”

China for talks on the dispute cobson said.

What Mr. Duterte was saying, and improvement of relations, “The US geopolitical stake in he said, was that at this stage, Esperon said, “I don’t think so.” the region are much too high to the Philippines was moving He said, however, that the react to his hyperbole. The curfrom its “exclusive relation- Philippines would demilitarize rent attitude in Washington is ship” with the mature—more United States of patience than and going into feeling pro“a more open revoked,” he said. lationship with You know, when you watch Mr. Duterte proceedings that are obviously others.” paid courtesy worthless, you would no longer In his speech calls on top Vietcomment. The people watching will to the Filipinamese officials reach a conclusion that this witness nos here, Mr. on Thursday is a perjured witness so there is no Duterte said he night to cap his reason to make a comment. would not allow visit. the Philippine He and his Navy and the entourage met Philippine Coast first with Prime Guard to join joint patrols with the West Philippine Sea, a ref- Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the United States because they erence to waters in the South the premier’s office then with risked dragging the Philippines China Sea within the Philip- Nguyen Phu Trong, general pines’ EEZ. He gave no details, secretary of the central cominto conflict with China.

“I’m not ready to commit the though. mittee of the Communist Party soldiers of this country just to of Vietnam. be massacred, and besides, be- Uncertainty The hosts threw a state banMr. Duterte’s latest com- quet in honor of Mr. Duterte at sides—son of a bitch—the battleground is Palawan. Oh, no. ments add to uncertainty the International Convention Let’s bring it to San Francisco, about what his end game is and Center in Hanoi. that’s fine with me. Or China, whether Manila’s next moves Mr. Duterte was expected to you choose,” he said, drawing could complicate regional di- leave Hanoi on Thursday night, plomacy or alter the status quo arriving in Davao City early on laughter from his audience.

Friday. ■ “But if we quarrel and you in the South China Sea. A US official said he had not make the Philippines a battleground, oh, no, I’ll expel you, in- seen the Philippines make a cluding America. You get out,” formal request to stop sea patrols and added that the bar for he said.

In July, the UN-backed Per- a “joint patrol” with the Philipmanent Court of Arbitration pines was low.

“If the joint patrols stop, in The Hague, ruling in an ac-

❰❰ 11

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Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

13

3 Indonesian hostages released in southern PH

BY ALI KOTARUMALOS The Associated Press JAKARTA, INDONESIA — Three Indonesian hostages have been released in the southern Philippines after being held by their Abu Sayyaf captors for more than three months, Indonesia’s foreign minister said Sunday.

The men, who were freed just before midnight Saturday, were undergoing health

exams in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said at a news conference. She said they would be transferred to the city of Zamboanga before being handed over to Indonesian officials and flown back to Indonesia.

The three — Ferry Arifin, Muhammad Mabrur Dahri and Edy Suryono — were among seven crew members of a tugboat who were kidnapped in June. Two of the others were

released previously, and two are still being held.

It was not immediately clear whether the three released late Saturday had been ransomed off.

Three Indonesian fishermen who were also being held

by Abu Sayyaf militants were freed two weeks ago along with a Norwegian man and two Filipinos.

Marsudi said the government is working for the release of the two remaining Indonesian hos-

tages — the tugboat’s navigator, Robin Piter, and third engineer, Muhammad Nasir.

The seven were abducted June 20 in southern Philippine waters while returning from Cagayan De Oro port in the Philippines to Samarinda, the capital of East Kalimantan province on Borneo island.

The Abu Sayyaf has been blacklisted as a terrorist organization by the United States and the Philippines for deadly bombings, kidnappings and be-

headings.

Philippine forces launched a major offensive against the Abu Sayyaf after the beheadings of two Canadians early this year sparked condemnations from then-Philippine President Benigno Aquino III and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Canadian leader has called on other nations not to pay ransoms to discourage the militants from carrying out more kidnappings. ■

Rody ‘Hitler’... the meeting.

“Just speaking personally for myself, I find these comments deeply troubling,” Carter said.

The Pentagon chief noted that the Philippines is a longtime US treaty ally.

“Like all alliances, it depends on the continuation of a sense of shared interests,” he added.

“So far in US-Philippine history we have had that. We look forward to continuing that. But that’s something that we continue to discuss with the Philippine government.”

In Manila, the US Embassy issued a statement yesterday calling Mr. Duterte’s comments “deeply troubling.”

“America’s partnership with the Philippines has long been based on a foundation of shared values, including our shared belief in human rights and dignity,” US Embassy press attaché Molly Koscina said.

“President Duterte’s recent comments depart from that common tradition and are deeply troubling,” she said. ❰❰ 9

‘Unacceptable’

The German government on Friday said it called in Philippine Ambassador Melita S. Sta. Maria-Thomaczek and told her that Mr. Duterte’s likening his deadly war on drugs to Hitler’s effort to exterminate Jews were “unacceptable.”

“Any comparison of the singular atrocities of the Holocaust with anything else is totally unacceptable,” ministry spokesperson Martin Schaefer told reporters.

Germany, Europe’s top economy, has expressed serious concerns about Mr.

“President Duterte’s rhetoric has worsened from recklessness to culpability, from accusations to confession of guilt,” Lagman said.

KING RODRIGUEZ / PPD / PNA

Duterte’s crackdown on illegal President Duterte has sunk to killings across the Philippines. drugs, which has cost the lives new depths. Governments— Instead of stopping and conof more than 3,000 people in both in the region and around demning these human rights three months and threatened a the world—should speak out violations, and ensuring those breakdown of the rule of law in immediately and condemn responsible are held to account, these outrageous statements,” he has vowed to escalate them,” the Philippines.

“Those killings—and the gov- Josef Benedict, AI deputy di- Benedict said.

“Mass killings under Presiernment’s celebration of them rector for Southeast Asia and as evidence of a successful ‘war the Pacific, said in a statement dent Duterte must end,” he added. on drugs’—are nothing less issued on Friday.

“They serve no discernible The Commission on Huthan mass killings disguised as man Rights ‘crime control,’” (CHR) expressed Phelim Kine, alarm over Mr. deputy direcDuterte’s comtor for Asia of ments.

Human Rights His having compared himself to Hitler, who caused the slaughter of Watch, said in a 6 million Jews during World War statement.

Public admission II, is a virtual confession that the In an inter“[Mr. Duterte’s extrajudicial killings of thousands of view on CNN words are] suspected drug dealers and addicts on Friday night, something we since the start of his term almost Kine noted that are concerned 100 days ago, have been instigated, Mr. Duterte had about because encouraged and condoned by him. warned that [they create] the more people backdrop, the would be killed, bigger message and urged urgent arc. We’ll moniaction by the intor closely the purpose other than to put more possible implication and meanternational community.

Amnesty International (AI) lives at risk,” he said. ing of those words,” CHR chair “Since coming to power, there Jose Luis Gascon said by phone also slammed Mr. Duterte’s rehas been a surge of state- sanc- yesterday. marks.

“With this latest outburst, tioned violence and unlawful Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman www.canadianinquirer.net

said Mr. Duterte’s remarks were a public admission of being behind “Hitler-like killings” in the war on drugs.

“President Duterte’s rhetoric has worsened from recklessness to culpability, from accusations to confession of guilt,” Lagman said.

He said Mr. Duterte’s comments were an attempt to justify the killing of drug addicts without due process.

“His having compared himself to Hitler, who caused the slaughter of 6 million Jews during World War II, is a virtual confession that the extrajudicial killings of thousands of suspected drug dealers and addicts since the start of his term almost 100 days ago, have been instigated, encouraged and condoned by him,” Lagman said.

The left-leaning Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) also objected to Mr. Duterte’s reference to Hitler.

“We do not subscribe to the President’s referencing of Hitler in relation to the war on drugs and the killings of so- called drug addicts. Killings by state forces of unarmed civilians, even if they are suspected criminals, goes against the principle of due process,” Bayan said in a statement yesterday.

‘Height of insensitivity’

Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of Permanent Committee on Public Affairs of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines, said Mr. Duterte’s drawing parallels with his war on drugs and the Holocaust was the “height of insensitivity.” ■

Opinion

14

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

ANALYSIS

Military defies Duterte on war games

By Amando Doronila Philippine Daily Inquirer CANBERRA—Philippine military authorities announced last week the first large-scale combat exercises between US and Filipino forces under the Duterte administration, in a dramatic rebuff of its criticism of US security policies.

The announcement came on the heels of a speech by President Duterte that he would not allow Philippine forces to conduct joint patrols with the US military in the disputed South China Sea because he feared the exercises could spark an armed conflict on territory claimed by the Philippines.

Mr. Duterte has also alarmed Philippine allies in the Asia-Pacific (including Japan and Vietnam) for calling on the United States to withdraw its forces from Mindanao, where he said the minority Muslims resented the presence of US troops.

The participation of Philippine troops in the Oct. 4-12 combat exercises is not just an engagement in joint patrols in disputed waters. It is a major show of force involving 1,400 US military personnel and 500 Phil-

ippine Marines in amphibious land- and that it would be premature to with the United States.

Military authorities have noted ing and live-fire exercises at a north- respond to media reports on Mr. ern gunnery range in the Philippines. Duterte’s comments. “We remain that Mr. Duterte has described himThese exercises put military committed to our alliance with the self as a socialist, who has had an muscle to the PHUS Visiting Forces Philippines,” Kirby told reporters in uneasy relationship with the United Agreement (VFA), which the Philip- Washington. “It’s been a long, pro- States and who also has said that he is charting a foreign policy not depenpine Supreme Court upheld in Janu- ductive history.”

Presenting himself as a national- dent on the United States as a treaty ary. The VFA gives the US military the right to increase troops deployed ist by playing up the anti-American ally. He has taken steps to revive ties in the Philippines for the war games, line, Mr. Duterte put the entire coun- with China, which were strained unand to bring equipment into military try under a national emergency due der the Aquino administration. It areas, including Subic Bay, former to a “state of lawlessness” following was during the term of President Bea bomb attack in his home city of nigno Aquino III that a suit was filed site of a US naval base. by the Philippines This is the securiat the Permanent ty arrangement that I have never said, Get out of the Philippines. After all, we Court of Arbitration Mr. Duterte seeks need them there in the South China Sea. in The Hague conto dismantle in his cerning the territoreckless bid to end US military presence in the Philip- Davao early this month. The declara- rial disputes in the South China Sea. pines. He has claimed that he wants tion allows him to use the military to The arbitral court eventually ruled to pursue an independent security assist in fighting crime and violence. that China’s claim over almost the and foreign policy, but this stance On the presence of US forces, he said entire South China has no basis in inhas put the Philippine military on the it would inflame the situation and ternational law. China has refused to spot, and prompted the announce- suggested that they may be kidnap recognize the ruling.

Mr. Duterte’s conciliatory overment expanding the US participation or murder targets by local terrorist tures to China appear to be undergroups. in the joint exercises.

In announcing the Philippines’ mining the prospects of implementDespite the President’s provocative statements, US State Depart- participation in the expanded war ing the arbitral court’s ruling. He ment spokesperson John Kirby said games, military authorities appeared appears to be oblivious of the conthat the United States had not re- to be sending a message warning the tradictions posed by his friendly apceived any formal request to with- President against tampering with proaches to China vis-a-vis his decdraw its forces from Mindanao, longstanding security mechanisms laration of forging an independent

foreign policy. He has been sending mixed signals on his security and foreign policies, which seem to be mired in ambiguities.

For example, while Mr. Duterte steps up his attacks on the United States, he has said he will not abrogate the US-PH Mutual Defense Treaty and will maintain the longstanding alliance of the two countries. He has also said the Philippines needs the United States as a counterbalance in the South China Sea. He made the statement in the course of explaining his earlier remark that he might ask the US Special Forces to leave Mindanao to pave the way for talks with Moro rebels with historical grievances from abuses suffered at the hands of the US colonial administration.

“I have never said, Get out of the Philippines. After all, we need them there in the South China Sea. We don’t have armaments,” Mr. Duterte said. He added that the Philippines is not ready to go to war with China, and that he would not want it to because it would be a “massacre.”

What’s his clout—his foul mouth and insults to the United States and also to the United Nations? ■

AT LARGE

Slut (and stud) shaming

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer THEY CALL it “slut shaming.” That is, using a woman’s sexuality as an indicator of her—what?—morality (or lack of it), maturity, physicality, or even her choice of men (or women).

It used to work because the double standard on men’s and women’s sexual choices and behavior once kept women repressed and defensive about who they were having sex with, how often, why, and maybe even what time of day. This was because society’s views on a woman’s fitness for wifehood or motherhood very often turned on her “reputation,” on her public identity as a sexual creature.

In contrast, we don’t hear so often (if ever) of “stud shaming.” If at all, a man’s promiscuity was and still is considered an asset, something to brag about, behavior that enhances his manhood and his image before his barkada and the world. How many among the men now getting on Sen. Leila de Lima’s case, I wonder, would pass the standards to which women are expected to measure up?

President Do-dirty has in fact made much of the contrast between him and his nemesis in the Senate.

He has made no bones about his own checkered sexual history, and sees

no need to apologize for his failed HOR. It was me (or all of us) in the have come out with formal statements decrying the seemingly ormarriage, his many liaisons, and his sex video. #Everywoman.”

Far from being shamed or intimi- chestrated “slut shaming” of the wandering eye—not to say his dirty mouth. If he focuses on De Lima’s dated, women and men of goodwill senator that is, by extension, also tarbedroom behavior, he has said, it’s to are coming out and giving voice to geted against all other women.

Says one statement (still in draft expose her vulnerability to drug lords their indignation, their alarm, their who use her sexual cravings to fuel anger, that women’s sexuality is still, form, so I can’t cite the group yet): in this day and age, being used as a “Whether guilty or not, no woman her complicity and greed.

But the use of the “sex card” weapon to denigrate and demean. should be slut-shamed like what the against De Lima is also, I suppose, a And this, at a time when our Presi- government and its allies are doing tactic (they hope) to keep her quiet dent has his own eyebrow-raising to De Lima. We have mothers, wives, and complicit. In their antediluvian sexual and relationship history. This daughters and sisters. What if the paview of the world, no woman would includes, during his campaign for the triarch treats one of the womenfolk the way President allow her sexuality, Duterte is treating not to mention an Whether guilty or not, no woman should be slut-shamed De Lima? Howactual sex video of like what the government and its allies are doing to De Lima. wouldwe feel?” doubtful authenticWe have mothers, wives, daughters and sisters.

A broad coalition ity, to be paraded about. Thus, the mere threat of presidency, an uncouth reference to of feminist and civil society groups spreading the video through social wanting to be first in line in the gang asks pertinent questions: “Why is the media and even during a House com- rape of a slain Australian missionary President tossing due process aside? mittee hearing would be enough to who had the misfortune of reminding Why is he railroading the investigations?” In using his position as the silence her, to cow her, to stave off him of a Hollywood actress.

His rally audience—many women most powerful man in the country, any attempt to investigate the extrajudicial killings employed in the among them—laughed when he ex- the groups say, and while enjoying pressed this fromthe-gut reaction the immunity that comes with the course of the war on drugs. (though he recently made clear that office he occupies, “the President is *** BUT women and men of conscience he was angry and not making a joke violating Sen. De Lima. And it is a vioand dignity seem to have awakened when he mentioned it). But more and lation no less brutal than rape.”

The statement traces the vicious from a stupor and have declared their more women are not just not laughing, they are making a loud and angry attacks and sly innuendo against the support for the senator. senator to the investigation launched As a front-page news story puts noise.

by De Lima, who was then chair of the *** it, a “trending” post on social media platforms these days is the state- WOMEN’S groups across political, Commission on Human Rights, into ment: “I would like to testify in the ideological and even social strata the Davao Death Squad. These wan-

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dering assassins were being blamed for a wave of killings of suspected criminals in Davao, many of whom turned out to be innocent. It is no accident that Mr. Duterte at that time was Davao mayor and, by his own admission, complicit in the activities of the DDS. “Is the Lower House’s resolve to show [the] sex video part of the plan to destroy Senator De Lima—to discredit, shame, humiliate and punish her? Or is the exhibition of said sex video another desperate attempt of the President’s men to silence the senator and carry out a personal vendetta?” *** IT also happens that as this sex video scandal—the attempt to air it during a House hearing, not the video itself—gathers steam, the nation also marks the passing of former senator Miriam Defensor Santiago. Many have paid tribute to this woman, for whom the adjective “feisty” seemed to be created, and she deserves all the encomiums coming her way. But I wonder what she would have said— what salty terms she would have used beyond “fungus faced”—about the men and their allied women supporting the public shaming of the senator.

Senator Miriam, what would you have said and done? ■

Opinion

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

15

PUBLIC LIVES

Foreign policy under Duterte

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer THROWN INTO the larger social world outside the comfort zone of family, friends, and local community, we are torn, in Steven Pinker’s words, “between the desire to fit in and the desire to be unique” (Pinker, “The Stuff of Thought,” 2007). Nowhere is this more observable than when a new head of state enters the international stage for the first time as chief representative of his/her country.

Many leaders will try to “fit in,” presenting a sober and friendly persona befitting a statesman. Only a few might attempt to make a splash by issuing combative statements, or by doing something dramatic. Fewer still might be those who, at their international debut, would categorically declare where they are coming from and where they stand on sensitive issues.

There is always good reason to maintain “strategic ambiguity” especially in international affairs. A new leader might need more time to build support at home among the various state actors who may be pursuing disparate programs, before making any pronouncements abroad. Nothing is more disconcerting than to see a new administration project institutional incoherence. We have seen this a lit-

tle too often in the last three months, swearing, cursing, and coarse lan- is impossible to winnow the official when President Duterte’s men have guage, and in his penchant for mak- pronouncement from the harsh lantried to soften, explain, or even con- ing outrageous statements. (The lat- guage in which it is often couched.

His foreign policy utterances are a tradict their principal’s pronounce- est of such statements is his threat to “slaughter” three million drug ad- case in point. Mr. Duterte’s language ments on a range of issues.

There can be no doubt that Ro- dicts the way Hitler exterminated the is direct to the point and needs no interpretation. He seeks a foreign drigo Duterte is unique among all Jews in Germany.)

Next to his brutal campaign policy that is independent from our presidents. He is blunt, unrestrained, and provocative in his against drug users, traffickers, and America. He wants American troops language—whether in front of com- protectors, no other topic seems to and military contractors out of Minpatriots, the press, or the diplomatic bring out his darkest irascible moods danao. Clearly, he disapproves of the corps, or in the company of other than the Philippines’ relations with treatment of Mindanao as a theater heads of state. He is a nightmare to the United States. I don’t think any- in the US-led war against terrorism. any official spokesman or protocol one was ever aware of the depth of his He refuses to authorize the Philippine Navy to underofficer. take joint patrols of Some leaders A new leader might need more time to build support at the South China Sea might commuhome among the various state actors who may be pursuing with the US Navy as nicate with their disparate programs, before making any pronouncements these only exacerpeople by talking abroad. bate our relations the way they do with China. He and by resonating their frustrations and resent- feelings about US imperialism before seeks to terminate the joint military ments. It’s part of their charisma. he became president. He appears to exercises with US forces that have But, they would be guarded in their draw these from a distinctly nation- served as the cover for the prolonged speech and demeanor when dealing alist reading of Philippine history. stay of American troops on Philipwith foreign leaders. Not President Yet, one gets the impression that the pine soil.

Mr. Duterte has also said that while Duterte. He does not care about be- strident anti-Americanism seems to ing politically correct. Indeed, he spring less from ideological convic- he does not think highly of the US-PH seems allergic to the idea of being tion than from an abiding personal Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), he is prepared to honor it—even as Ameripolite and proper to people and in- anger.

Members of his official family ad- ca itself has not been forthcoming in stitutions he does not like.

In his desire to make a difference, monish his critics not to mind the acknowledging its obligations under Mr. Duterte acts and talks as if he is rough language and to focus instead this treaty. Still, he must know that, running short of time. This is pal- on the substance of the President’s even after the Philippines rejected pable in his explosive temperament, pronouncements. That seems fair. the renewal of the Military Bases his routine recourse to righteous But, in President Duterte’s case, it Agreement in 1991, the MDT and the

Military Assistance Agreement have continued to provide the rationale to send Filipino military and police officers for advance training in America.

These US-trained officers constitute the core of America’s continuing influence in our armed forces.

Their views and perceptions of the threats to the country’s security will likely differ from those of their commander in chief. I wonder if the President has a full appreciation of the Cold War ideology that continues to underpin the world view of the officer corps. I am sure he has heard of the grumbling in the camps triggered by his decision to release top leaders of the Philippine communist movement so they may participate in the peace talks. Most likely, he also knows that his friendly overtures to China are not exactly in sync with the strong pro-US sentiments of the Philippine military and the public in general. He will need to redouble those visits to the camps and conduct serious lecturing if he is to win over the nation’s security forces to his policy initiatives.

Under Mr. Duterte, foreign policy has acquired an emotional dimension and a sense of passionate obligation it did not have in previous administrations. But, any effective shift in policy would need the support of a committed constituency. ■

LOOKING BACK

Friars and karma

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer GROWING up with vivid images of lecherous Spanish friars and abusive Guardia Civil from grade school and high school courses in Philippine history and literature, I was surprised to see the flip side of the coin in college when we were required to go through the 55-volume compilation of Spanish-era documents on the Philippines known to scholars as the “Blair and Robertson.” Here I read about the work of early missionaries who established hospitals and schools, and erected churches in the heart of settlements that later developed into our towns, cities and provinces.

I was taught that Spanish friars destroyed the existing native culture and planted their own instead. Yet unlike many Spanish Americans who speak Spanish to this day, Filipinos still speak their regional languages because these were preserved in grammars and dictionaries compiled by the early missionaries. The Doctrina Cristiana, one of the two earliest books printed in the Philippines, in 1593, preserved the baybayin to

become the Rosetta Stone that enables us in the 21st century to read this ancient script. There is only one known copy of the Doctrina Tagala in the universe, preserved in the US Library of Congress that has made it available online for research and even downloading.

Our K-to-12 history curriculum should invite textbook writers to revisit friars in our history. It will come as a surprise to many that some towns during the Philippine Revolution were split over how to deal with or dispose of captured Spanish friars.

Contrary to popular belief, some people and some communities protected Spanish priests from the excesses of the Revolution. But not all were lucky: Some were either tortured or executed. In 1897 the people of Maragondon, Cavite, refused to have the blood of friars spilled in their town and moved a group of prisoners to Naic where they were maltreated and executed.

The story becomes significant because Maragondon was the site of the execution of the Bonifacio brothers, Andres and Procopio, on Mount Nagpatong, near Mount Buntis, on May 10, 1897. Some people believed that

the end of the Bonifacios in Maragondon was karma for the torture and killing of Spanish friars by one of Andres’ brothers and their execution on orders of Andres himself.

A contemporary account by Telesforo Canseco, an employee at the Dominican hacienda, was translated from the original Spanish by the Jesuit Fathers Pedro S. Achutegui and Miguel Bernad, who published it in a readable compilation of documents titled “Aguinaldo and the Revolution of 1896: A Documentary History” (Manila, Ateneo de Manila, 1972): “After the fall of Silang to the Spanish troops, several Spanish friars were brought prisoners to this town (Naic), namely Fathers Agapito Echegoyen, Recoleto and Parish priest of Amadeo; Domingo Candenas, Augustinian and parish priest of Talisay; Piernavieja, an Augustinian who was sick at Buenavista at the outbreak of the insurrection… I am told that Fr. Echegoyen and Fr. Candenas had been well treated when they were in the territory of E. Aguinaldo, but after they were transferred [from Magdalo to Magdiwang] territory of M. Alvarez, they were no longer

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treated with so much consideration.

On the day that the feast of [Soledad de Nuestra Señora] was celebrated at San Francisco in November, Fr. Echegoyen was made to swear to the flag of the insurrection because they did not trust him. But after the coming of Andres Bonifacio and of his brothers to this province (Cavite), the friars were sent to prison with the rest and were made to suffer much.

“When in the month of October I was brought a prisoner to San Francisco and from there to Buenavista, I spoke to the Fathers who were kept prisoners there, confined in the same shed where [I] was also kept prisoner, and I saw that they were not treated with proper consideration. Afterwards, although I do not know the exact day or month, it became public knowledge in this town, and they assured me of it in San Francisco when I was a prisoner there that a brother of Andres Bonifacio had beaten up the Fathers in Buenavista, and that on one occasion he had whipped them with thorns (aromas) and with reeds on the soles of their feet, in such a manner that the Fathers would have preferred to be shot to death. Learning of this from the

Minister of Finance, Diego Mojica was very angry against the brothers of A. Bonifacio and he forbade them to torture the Fathers again.”

Canseco attributed the maltreatment of the friars to Bonifacio and M. Alvarez who were “bad men in the matter of religion—especially Bonifacio [who was] a furious mason.”

Another reason for the beating was that Fr. Piernavieja who had served in Bulacan implicated many in the events of 1872 best remembered for the execution of Gomburza. Fearing rescue of the friars by the Spanish forces, Bonifacio verbally ordered their execution, but the people of Maragondon refused and returned the captives to Naic where they were shot before a curious crowd on the evening of Feb. 28, 1897, in a spot on the boundary of Naic and Maragondon. Canseco said Aguinaldo’s good treatment of prisoners earned him goodwill that led to his election in Tejeros later.

History should be taught with all its nuances and complications so that K-to-12 students will learn to read critically rather than memorize data by rote. ■

16

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Canada News Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall lashes out at Trudeau over ‘unilateral’ carbon tax

BY BRUCE CHEADLE The Canadian Press MONTREAL — Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall tore a strip off Justin Trudeau while frustrated environment ministers walked out on their federal counterpart Monday after the prime minister promised to unilaterally impose a carbon price in those provinces and territories that won’t do it themselves.

With provincial and territorial ministers gathered for a day of climate-change talks in Montreal, the prime minister kicked off a House of Commons debate on the Paris climate change accord with unexpected news: Ottawa will set — and enforce, if necessary — a minimum price for carbon pollution.

The federal plan sets a “floor price” of $10 a tonne starting in 2018 that increases to $50 a tonne by 2022.

Wall — a longtime opponent of pricing carbon — did not pull his punches.

“The level of disrespect shown by the prime minister and his government today is stunning,” he said, accusing Trudeau of reneging on his promises to collaborate with the provinces.

“This is a betrayal of the statements made by the prime minister in Vancouver this March. And this new tax will damage our economy.”

Wall said Saskatchewan will be one of the hardest hit by the carbon tax, which he esti-

mated would siphon more than $2.5 billion from the province’s economy once fully implemented, and cost the average family $1,250 a year. He called it “one of the largest national tax increases in Canadian history,” saying Saskatchewan would investigate “all options” to mitigate the impact.

Trudeau gave the provinces just two options for implementing the carbon price: either impose their own direct price on carbon that meets or exceeds the national floor price, as British Columbia has already done, or set up a cap and trade system, such as Ontario and Quebec are developing.

If any province or territory does not implement one of the two options by 2018, “the government of Canada will implement a price in that jurisdiction,” Trudeau warned, adding that all revenue would be given to the province or territory in which it is generated.

“There is no hiding from climate change,” he told the Commons on Monday. “It is real and it is everywhere.”

“We cannot undo the last 10 years of inaction. What we can do is make a real and honest effort — today and every day — to protect the health of our environment, and with it, the health of all Canadians.”

Trudeau’s pre-emptive announcement landed like a grenade in the midst of the environment ministers’ meeting in Montreal, where federal minister Catherine McKenna was supposed to be hashing out an

agreement on carbon pricing with her provincial counterparts.

“The air was sucked out of the room,” Yukon’s Currie Dixon said of Trudeau’s announcement, calling it an odd way to build collaborative policy.

And Scott Moe, Saskatchewan’s minister, said, “Many westerners will see this as ‘national energy program 2.0.”

Moe later echoed his boss’s words, suggesting Trudeau’s “betrayal” could have lingering effects.

“It’s not a good day for federal-provincial relations,” he said.

Nova Scotia’s Margaret Miller said her province feels let down and surprised, saying it is already on track to make deep emissions cuts and doesn’t understand Ottawa’s move.

While Alberta’s NDP government supports a common price on carbon across the country, Premier Rachel Notley served notice that she’ll oppose the federal plan until she sees “serious concurrent progress” on the pipelines that her province needs to get its oil sands crude to tidewater.

“Albertans have contributed very generously for many years to national initiatives to help other regions address economic challenges,” Notley said in a written statement.

“What we are asking for now is that our landlock be broken, in one direction or another, so that we can get back on our feet.”

Quebec’s David Heurtel, the chairman of the meeting, and

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Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.

Ontario’s Glen Murray both welcomed the new federal policy, saying it fully recognizes their provincial jurisdiction.

Trudeau argued that pricing carbon pollution will give Canada a “significant advantage” in building a cleaner economy, compel businesses to innovate to find ways to reduce their emissions and create potentially hundreds of thousands of “new and exciting” clean tech jobs.

Stephen Guilbeault of the environmental advocacy group Equiterre lauded the move, even if he feels the $10 starting point is too low.

“They knew from the get-go that carbon pricing would be controversial,” Guilbeault said.

“They knew they wouldn’t get a consensus. It had to be done.

Might as well get it out of the way now so we can talk about other things and stop arguing

DANIELPAQUET / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

— which some provinces would have done until the bitter end.”

Conservative environment critic Ed Fast accused Trudeau of taking a “sledgehammer” to the provinces after having promised to usher in a new era of federal-provincial collaboration.

NDP environment critic Linda Duncan and Green Party leader Elizabeth May said the plan falls short of what needs to be done, criticizing Trudeau for adopting the previous Harper government’s targets for reducing emissions which the Liberals used to call weak and inadequate.

“We have the Conservative party thinking we go too far, we have the NDP thinking we’re not going far enough,” Trudeau observed.

“I think — like most Canadians will think — that we have got the right balance.” ■

17

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

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18

Canada News

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Cameco and the CRA head to court over potential $2.2 billion tax dispute

BY IAN BICKIS The Canadian Press

Finance Minister Bill Morneau.

US EMBASSY CANADA / FLICKR

Federal gov’t announces new measures intended to reduce housing market risk THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO — The federal government has announced measures intended to stabilize the real estate sector amid concerns that pockets of risk have emerged in some housing markets, particularly those in Toronto and Vancouver.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the federal government will close a loophole so that only people who were living in their home as a principal residence before the home was sold are eligible to claim a capital gains exemption.

The federal government will also bring in a more rigorous mortgage rate stress test for all insured borrowers in an effort to make sure borrowers can sustain interest rate hikes or income losses, Morneau said.

“Exceptionally strong activ-

ity in certain markets, particularly in Toronto and in Vancouver, mean that people are concerned about the state of the housing market,” Morneau told a news conference Monday in Toronto.

“Across the country, many middle-class families looking to buy their first home see prices climbing often out of their reach. Some are taking on high levels of debt in a rush to buy before it’s too late.”

The changes come as concerns mount that housing costs in Toronto and Vancouver have become increasingly unaffordable for many Canadians while foreign investors purchase homes and turn them around for a quick profit.

A report released last week

by Swiss bank UBS singled out Vancouver as being at greatest risk of a housing bubble in the world. ■

CALGARY — The world’s largest publicly traded uranium company will clash in court this week with the Canadian Revenue Agency over a potential $2.2-billion tax bill.

At question is whether Saskatoon-based Cameco Corp. set up a subsidiary in low-tax Switzerland and sold it uranium at a low price simply to avoid tax, as the CRA contends. Cameco maintains it was a legal and sound business practice.

For the uranium producer the case presents a serious risk of impact to its bottom line, as the CRA looks to shift an estimated $7.4 billion in foreign earnings between 2003 and 2015 back to Canada.

Meanwhile, the government risks missing out on a significant direct tax windfall. It also risks losing out on setting an example for the growing number of companies trying to avoid taxes by shifting profits overseas.

“There’s so much at stake,” says David Hogan, a cross-border tax specialist at financial consultancy Richter. “They need to have an example of somebody who did something wrong, and that is actually a deterrent for many more tax payers to not even bother trying.”

He said many cases are resolved before court, in part because of the cost and length of time such cases takes, but says this case is different.

“Given the situation, and the amount, I can understand why litigation is pursued here,” said

Hogan.

The current case, dealing specifically with tax years 2003, 2005 and 2006 has been plodding through appeals and legal motions since 2009 when Cameco first challenged the CRA’s findings.

The company doesn’t expect the actual trial, which starts Wednesday, to wrap up until March 2017, with a ruling six to 18 months after that.

Dennis Howlett, executive director of Canadians for Tax Fairness, says the case is important because the government has a more clear-cut case compared with other tax disputes.

He said the issue of transferring profits internationally is a wide grey area. It’s often unclear what the subsidiaries should pay when, for example, companies like Google transfer profits by charging for intellectual property, or Starbucks transfers profits by charging for its trademark.

“The CRA has a much stronger case to make because they can say, ‘Look, there is a world market price for uranium and your price that you cooked up between your own subsidiary was an artificially low price,”’ said Howlett.

Cameco set up the subsidiary in 1999 and established a 17-year deal selling uranium at approximately US$10 a pound, which is what it was roughly trading at around the time.

The price, however, shot up to over US$130 a pound by 2007 and still trades at over US$30 a pound today, while the Swiss subsidiary still pays the fixed price.

“No unrelated company would have made that kind of a deal. It was a convenient thing and it was primarily done to avoid taxes,” Howlett said.

Hogan says that the case won’t be quite so simple though, and that it’s still complicated deciding how to price commodities as they go from the mine to the final buyer.

He said there is some value attached to the contract with the Swiss subsidiary, and the case can quickly get bogged down in what exact price would be deemed reasonable.

“The real question is: what was the value of the services and the contract in Swissco?” said Hogan.

Cameco spokesman Gord Struthers said in an email that the company maintains that the business structure made sense, and it has done nothing wrong.

“We followed all of the rules and paid all taxes owed under Canadian law. There is a sound business rationale for Cameco’s corporate structure and related transfer pricing arrangements and we remain confident that our position will be upheld by the court,” said Struthers.

The CRA declined to comment on the specifics of the case, but said it is committed to protecting Canada’s revenue base and takes issues of noncompliance seriously.

“International tax noncompliance and aggressive tax avoidance are complex global issues. The CRA is committed to combating the abusive use of offshore jurisdictions and protecting the integrity of the Canadian tax system.” ■

Winnipeg’s human rights museum wins prestigious international award THE CANADIAN PRESS WINNIPEG — The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has won a prestigious award at a ceremony in London, England.

The Winnipeg museum was given a top prize Friday at the 2016 Leading Culture Destina-

tion Awards.

It was chosen by a jury as best Soft Power Cultural Organization, beating out competitors including the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C., and museums in Poland, Afghanistan, the Philippines and Suriname.

CMHR president John

Young says Canadians should be proud of the museum for its recognition as a global cultural destination.

He says the award will encourage more visitors from around the world to make the trip to Winnipeg.

The award was created to recognize cultural organizations www.canadianinquirer.net

that have powerful influence and impact based on excellence, relevance, transparency, accountability and sustainability.

“The CMHR has had a profound effect on our city, both conceptually and architecturally,” said Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman.

“From the subject matter to

the effect on Winnipeg’s skyline, the CMHR commands the attention of the beholder. As a city, we’re thrilled to have such an important cultural icon that has the ability to inspire current and future generations.”

The museum has now won more than 30 international, national and regional awards. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

19

Slowmo video of royals on Canada tour has people creeped out, cracking jokes

BY CHRIS PURDY The Canadian Press A “CREEPY” video of the recent royal tour in Canada has left some viewers gobsmacked.

Kensington Palace tweeted out the short video on Saturday of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with Prince George and Princess Charlotte at an outdoor children’s party in Victoria.

The family moves around in slow motion, playing with bubbles and balloons, to the sound

of lagging, thumping music.

Many people posted comments describing the video as “creepy” and “morose,” while others compared it to a trailer for a horror movie.

One man urged everyone to “chill out” and suggested the video was probably uploaded at a slower speed by mistake.

The video ends with a Government of Canada logo, but Canadian Heritage was not immediately available to comment on whether it made the video and what may have gone wrong.

“We have created such happy memories for our children during this visit,” says the message on Twitter that accompanies the video titled “Thank you, Canada — Special moments from Thursday’s children’s party.”

The party was held last week for Prince William, his wife, Kate, their two children and two dozen military families at Government House.

The video shows three-yearold George squirting bubbles out of a fish-like gun while his sister Charlotte, 16 months old,

tries to hug a rabbit. There are also shots of a puppeteer and a man making balloon animals.

Not so scary _ until you see it in slow motion and slightly darkened.

“I feel like I just watched the trailer for the sequel to #TheShining,” responded one person.

“Reminds me of the Terminator movie when Linda Hamilton is pushing her baby in the swing before all hell breaks loose,” said another.

The jokes continued: “After watching this, I’m anxiously

awaiting the terrifying sequel: George and Charlotte Return! #budgetissues?”

Others said the video twisted a happy kids’ party into a Halloween montage. Another likened it to a memoriam tribute.

The video has already made news across the pond.

The Daily Mail published a story with the headline: ‘It’s totally creepy’: A ‘dark’ slow-motion video montage of George and Charlotte at a children’s party in Canada leaves royal fans confused.” ■

CBC documentary ‘Road to Mercy’ explores ethical frontiers of doctor-assisted death

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — Earlier this year, Canadians were given the legal right to seek a doctor-assisted death, but restrictions in the law governing who can access the act and under what circumstances have continued to fuel debate about this still-contentious issue.

“Road to Mercy,” a one-hour documentary airing Thursday on CBC-TV, explores the ethical questions surrounding physician-aided dying through the eyes of an Edmonton man with ALS, a young Belgium woman struggling with mental illness, and their families and doctors.

Under federal legislation passed in June, only patients in an advanced state of irreversible decline from an incurable condition and for whom natural death is “reasonably foreseeable” can seek doctorassisted death. Those suffering strictly from a psychiatric illness would not be eligible, nor does the law allow people diagnosed with dementia to arrange for euthanasia at a future date.

The law is already facing a constitutional challenge spearheaded by the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, which led the four-year legal battle that resulted in last year’s landmark Supreme Court of

Canada ruling that struck down the ban on medically assisted dying.

“I think the documentary is coming out at the perfect time,” said Nadine Pequeneza, writer-director of “Road to Mercy,” a condensed version of an 83-minute production she hopes to show at film festivals.

“We are going to be faced with rewriting this legislation,” she predicted, “and I’m hoping that the documentary encourages conversation that looks at these more complicated, nuanced cases that the Supreme Court has said have to be included.”

Among those conversations is whether the legal landscape in Canada should be expanded to include people with “grievous and intolerable” suffering due to psychiatric illness, a criterion accepted in Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, but not in the five U.S. states where medically assisted death is permitted.

That hot-button issue is examined in “Road to Mercy” through interviews with 30-year-old Amy De Schutter of Belgium, who after a long process was given approval to seek euthanasia at a time of her choosing, due to chronic psychological suffering that did not respond to treatment.

De Schutter, recently diagnosed with Asperger’s syn-

drome after being told years earlier she had borderline personality and generalized anxiety disorders along with clinical depression, has tried to take her own life almost a dozen times since age 13.

Unlike family members and friends, De Schutter said she doesn’t seem to have a “baseline” mood level.

“I never had a baseline, even when I was a kid,” De Schutter, who travelled to Toronto from her home in Antwerp for the documentary’s premiere, said in an interview.

“If I’m happy, I’m extremely happy. If I’m down, I’m extremely down. I just live in extremes all the time.

“And you get really tired of going up and down and up and down, because sometimes you have good days for a couple of good hours, and then something happens or sometimes it just comes unexpectedly — and boom, I’m down again.

“And you get exhausted by it.”

Pequeneza believes De Schutter’s story will make viewers think more deeply about assisted dying as it relates to those striving for some quality of life in the face of ongoing psychological anguish. “(This) is what I wanted the documentary to do, because the majority of Canadians are OK with terminal illness,” she said of attitudes towards aid in dying. www.canadianinquirer.net

“But when it comes to someone like Amy — she’s young, she’s smart, she appears perfectly normal — as they spend more time with her and they meet her mother and they hear from her psychiatrist, then they’ll have to start to appreciate that what she does have is a severe disability that she’s been struggling with for more than half of her life.”

“Road to Mercy” also documents John Tuckwell’s struggles as his health steadily deteriorates due to the ravages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, an incurable neurological disorder better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease.

Though in a wheelchair for the most part and unable to speak, Tuckwell is able to communicate through a computerized voice-generating device, which translates sentences he types with a finger on a keypad into audible speech.

As he loses more and more function — including the ability to bathe himself, leaving him reliant on caregivers — Tuckwell “moves the goalposts” of what he’d previously believed he could withstand before seeking help to die.

In the end, although he’d been given doctors’ approval for euthanasia when his suffering became intolerable, Tuckwell succumbed to ALS in July at age 54.

“By making an application (for assisted death), he wanted it to be public and he wanted to send a message to other people like him that asking for help to die was not a shameful thing,” said his sister Cathy Tuckwell, who lives in Toronto.

“Although he wasn’t at a point where he wanted to push the button, or have the button pushed for him, the fact that he did have that (approval) gave him comfort.”

As for De Schutter, she is working with an autism specialist to develop skills to better understand and cope with her Asperger’s.

Even so, she believes the balance is still tipping towards euthanasia.

“There will not be any type of miracle that at once I will have my life spirit back again,” she said of the therapy she has committed to, at least for the timebeing.

“And for most of the time, if not all the time, I’m still thinking that euthanasia is the way that I will end my life and that will be the decision I will make.

“But the biggest difference, I guess, is if I go, I really want to have the feeling that I tried everything I could.” ■ “Road to Mercy” airs on CBC’s “Firsthand” and will be available for streaming at cbc.ca/ firsthand/episodes/.

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Canada News

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Trudeau’s plan for escalating carbon price sparks battle over bottom line

BY BRUCE CHEADLE The Canadian Press OTTAWA — The Liberal government’s decision to impose a national floor price on carbon emissions dominated the House of Commons on Tuesday, with critics saying the plan punishes consumers while doing little to combat climate change.

All but lost in the immediate, breathless reaction was the reality that the plan announced a day earlier by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau won’t have much impact, if any, on 87 per cent of Canadians — or their carbon footprint — for the next four years.

That’s because the rising floor price on CO2 emissions laid out in the federal Liberal plan starts at $10 per tonne and takes until 2021 to catch up with and surpass existing carbon taxes already imposed by British Columbia and Alberta.

And the Trudeau model won’t affect Ontario and Quebec’s existing cap-and-trade carbon market until it can be established that carbon taxes are driving down emissions elsewhere in the country faster than their market caps are already doing. That tricky piece of equivalency has yet to be sorted out.

A group of 22 high-profile business and civil leaders

endorsed the plan Tuesday, saying Canada is simply pricing emissions “as most of the world’s biggest economies are doing.”

The Smart Prosperity group, which includes executives from Shell Canada, Unilever Canada, Loblaw and major insurance and banking companies, said the plan allows for “regionally tailored paths.”

“By starting slowly and ramping up over five years, it gives businesses and households time to adjust and plan for lowering their carbon footprints.”

The plan’s cautious approach, however, is being completely overshadowed by Trudeau’s audacious communications gambit.

The prime minister announced the national floor price Monday in the Commons just as federal, provincial and territorial ministers were meeting in Montreal to negotiate a pan-Canadian carbon plan.

Three provincial ministers left the Montreal meeting early to protest the high-handed federal move, and opposition parties remained in high dudgeon Tuesday.

Conservative critic Denis Lebel accused Trudeau of creating more federal-provincial tension in less than a year in power than the previous Conservatives did in a decade. Tory MP Ed Fast said the prime min-

ister had “pulled the rug out from under them by announcing a new, massive, billion-dollar carbon tax grab on Canadians.” Conservative MP Lisa Raitt painted a harrowing portrait of starving grannies freezing in the dark.

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair, meanwhile, lambasted the plan’s lack of ambition, asking what Trudeau will tell “the next generation when this betrayal has made climate change worse and jeopardized their future on this planet?”

Faced with such discordant assessments, the debate naturally landed on the bottom line: What’s it going to cost me?

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation and Brad Wall’s governing Saskatchewan Party each offered up estimates for the annual cost to an average family, starting at $1,250 a year and topping out at more than $2,500.

But such estimates are meaningless, since provincial governments have been repeatedly told by Ottawa that the carbon tax revenues are theirs to use as they see fit — including to cut income, sales or business taxes.

Federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said it is up to provincial premiers to decide how those revenues should be recycled.

“You determine the system that makes sense,” McKenna said outside the House.

“You determine how to deal with, for example, agriculture industry, and you determine what should happen with the revenues. You can return the revenues as a tax cut to small business and consumers. You can invest in innovation. You can invest in the agriculture sector. That’s not for the federal government (to decide).”

In an interview, Fast — a B.C. Conservative — lauded the way Christy Clark’s B.C. Liberal government has used carbon taxes to cut income and other taxes but said he’s not confident ev-

ery other province will follow suit.

“The problem is that not all of the provinces are committed to acting responsibly,” he said, pointing to Ontario’s Liberal government and its political problems over skyrocketing electricity prices.

“What I’m saying is the announcement that Justin Trudeau made (Monday) is going to give governments across the country — the provinces and territories — more disposable income to spend on their political priorities.” ■

ly ensnare Democratic Institutions Minister Maryam Monsef, who has revealed she was born in Iran, not Afghanistan, as she’d always believed McCallum faced some tough questioning on the matter Tuesday when he appeared in the Senate for the chamber’s question period.

“You, minister, have acknowledged that this process needs to be fixed, and yet your department officials continue to issue revocation notices to Canadians on these grounds,” said independent Liberal Sen. Art Eggleton.

He asked if McCallum would order his department to imme-

diately cease applying the law until those facing revocation of their citizenship are entitled to a hearing and an appeal process.

“The short answer to that question is no,” McCallum initially responded.

He agreed that everyone should have a “proper right to appeal” and professed hope that the Senate would amend Bill C-6 to provide for that.

“I would certainly welcome such an amendment,” he said.

But that prompted an angry response from Eggleton.

“You say you’d welcome this, you understand due process, that people should have the

right to appeal, the right to a hearing ... and yet you won’t stop your department from going under this old system, this system that came from the previous government which denies them all of those opportunities,” Eggleton said.

“I don’t understand. There’s a disconnect there. Why don’t you put a moratorium on that process which you agree is wrong?”

McCallum then shifted gears, saying: “I will consider that moratorium, I won’t rule it out unconditionally.”

The Liberal government chose not to deal with the provision in Bill C-6, which repeals

other aspects of the Conservatives’ citizenship regime, including a provision empowering the government to revoke the citizenship of dual nationals who are convicted of high treason or terrorism.

The NDP attempted to amend the bill in the House of Commons to repeal the power to revoke citizenship without a hearing but that was ruled outside the scope of the bill.

Omidvar, who is sponsoring C-6 in the upper chamber, has said Senate procedural rules are different and she’s hopeful the upper house will be able to do what the Commons could not. ■

ART BABYCH / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

McCallum grilled... an amendment.

Revocation without a hearing was part of a citizenship bill passed by the previous Conservative government. The provision was denounced by the Liberals when they were in opposition but lawyers say they’ve been aggressively enforcing it since forming government.

The British Columbia Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers last week launched a constitutional challenge to the law, which they argue violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

It’s a law that could potential❰❰ 1

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FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

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World News

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

After emerging from hideouts, Colombia’s rebels now in limbo

BY OSHUA GOODMAN AND ANDREA RODRIGUEZ The Associated Press BOGOTA — As peace talks in Colombia advanced over the past year, 7,000 rebel fighters began slowly emerging from their jungle hideouts hoping for, if not a hero’s welcome, at least an outstretched hand from fellow Colombians tired of a half century of bloody combat.

But with the peace deal’s stunning defeat in a referendum Sunday, the future of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia’s rebels is now in limbo just a few days after they unanimously ratified the accord and began planning a return to civilian life.

For now, a return to the battlefield in a war that has already killed 220,000 people and displaced 8 million seems unlikely.

Within hours of defeat, FARC leader Rodrigo Londono reaffirmed the group’s commitment to peace, saying its only weapon going forward would be the power of its word. On Monday, he said his troops would honour its commitments to the government and stick by a permanent cease-fire.

The government has vowed the same and President Juan Manuel Santos quickly dispatched his negotiators to Cuba to try to salvage the accord. He also extended an olive branch to arch-rival former President Alvaro Uribe, inviting the hardline conservative who led the opposition to the accord to join him in a bid to renegotiate and

strengthen it.

But the rebels’ ambition, enshrined in a 297-page document that would have allowed them to avoid jail time and form a political movement with seats in Congress, is now at risk. As part of the deal, rebels who confess their crimes to special peace tribunals were to be spared prison sentences and instead perform development work in areas hard-hit by the conflict.

Colombians overwhelmingly loathe the FARC, who they blame for dozens of crimes from drug-trafficking and the forced recruitment of child soldiers to kidnapping and attacks on civilians. That hatred was only reinforced by Sunday’s results. The FARC always opposed Santos’ idea of a referendum and instead favoured ratifying the accord in a constitutional convention.

“In all these years the guerrillas caused a lot of damage,” said Alcibiades Escue Musicue, the mayor of the mostly indigenous town of Toribio, where the FARC in 2011 carried out a bus bomb attack on a market, killing three people and injuring dozens. “At some point they must have calculated this could happen.”

That contrasts with widespread international support among foreign leaders who heralded the accord as a model for resolving disputes in a world beset by political violence and terrorism. Many heads of state, as well as U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, were present when Santos and the FARC leader signed the deal less than a week ago in an elab-

FARC guerrillas in 2002.

orate, emotion-filled ceremony in the historic city of Cartagena.

Noting that “democracy can be messy at times,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Sunday’s referendum “might be the latest example of that.”

“The good news is that all sides, including the voters, I think are still focused on trying to reach this negotiated peace,” he said.

But if the FARC was politically weakened by the referendum, it’s not clear how many concessions it is now willing to make. Nobody expects the rebels to turn in their weapons just to wind up in jail.

On Monday, Londono warned that the referendum’s results “don’t have any legal effect whatsoever” because the peace accord was signed and deposited for storage with the Swiss Federal Council as a special humanitarian agreement between warring parties under the Geneva Conventions.

“This confers it undeniable and irrevocable legal effects,” he said.

A FARC leader, who agreed to discuss the situation but only on condition of anonymity so

DEA PUBLIC AFFAIRS / FLICKR

as not to deepen divisions, said the rebels never had a Plan B for the accord losing in the referendum. Although the group’s commitment to demobilizing remains intact, the group isn’t willing to accept unilateral impositions by the government that go against its aim of building a political movement, the leader said.

In the absence of flexibility from the guerrillas, Santos’ options are few: He could ratify the accord in congress, taking the unpopular step of disavowing the referendum’s results, or call a constitutional convention, which might hand even more leverage to the guerrillas.

Bringing Santos and Uribe together might be harder than achieving peace with the FARC. Santos served as Uribe’s defence minister, when they worked together with the U.S. to drive the FARC to the edge of the jungles, but the two haven’t spoken for years and frequently trade insults.

In an encouraging sign, both leaders named three representatives each on Monday to initiate a dialogue seeking consensus on a way forward. Uribe

also proposed granting an immediate amnesty for rankand-file rebels who committed crimes, such as rebellion, that don’t constitute serious human rights violations.

“We’ll have to act quickly and put deadlines because the uncertainty and lack of clarity about what’s going to happen put at risk all that has been built so far,” Santos said in a televised address Monday night, in which he repeated his call for national unity.

A few dozen students marched outside congress Monday to cheer on Santos’ campaign to save the peace deal.

Despite the strong rhetoric, the FARC, having come this far in their transition to a political movement, may not want to scuttle the progress made during four years of grueling negotiations. There is a precedent in Colombia’s recent history: In 1989, another rebel group, the M-19, reached a peace agreement with the government only to see it derailed as it made its way through Congress.

Sen. Antonio Wolff, one of the leaders of the now-defunct M-19, said his rebel comrades decided to go ahead anyway and renegotiate the deal.

“It’s possible the FARC is in the same situation we were in and has already crossed a point of no return,” Wolff told The Associated Press.

“It’s not going to be easy, it’s not going to happen quickly, but it’s possible the FARC may accept a renegotiation,” he said.

“We all have to campaign hard so that the FARC allows the peace negotiations to continue.” ■

Weird science: 3 win Nobel for unusual states of matter

BY KARL RITTER The Associated Press STOCKHOLM — Three British-born scientists won the Nobel Prize in physics on Tuesday for discoveries about strange states of matter that could result in improved materials for electronics or quantum computers.

David Thouless, Duncan Haldane and Michael Kosterlitz,

who are now affiliated with universities in the United States, were honoured for breakthroughs they made in the 1970s and ‘80s.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said their work opened the door to a previously unknown world where matter can assume unusual states or phases.

“Their discoveries have brought about breakthroughs in the theoretical understand-

ing of matter’s mysteries and created new perspectives on the development of innovative materials,” the academy said.

The 8 million kronor ($930,000) award was divided with one half going to Thouless and the other to Haldane and Kosterlitz for “theoretical discoveries of topological phase transitions and topological phases of matter.”

Topology is a branch of mathematics that describes properwww.canadianinquirer.net

ties of objects.

The judges said there is now hope that “topological materials” could pave the way for new generations of electronics or quantum computers that are much more powerful than current computer systems.

Nobel judges often award discoveries made decades ago to make sure they withstand the test of time.

Thouless, 82, is a professor emeritus at the University of

Washington. Haldane, 65, is a physics professor at Princeton University in New Jersey.

Kosterlitz, 73, is a physics professor at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and currently a visiting lecturer at Aalto University in Helsinki.

Haldane said he found out about the prize through an early morning telephone call.

“My first thought was some❱❱ PAGE 39 Weird science

Community News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

23

Philippine team wins World Junior Girls Golf Championship

BY SAMMY GO

PANGARAP: SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

So, will you or will you not take on a survival job? vourites? Old hens who think they know everything? Bratty twelfth graders who grew up disrespectful?

Emotionless workers who have been hardened by the unsympathetic environment?

Cold-hearted fellow “survivalists” who may need this job more than you do?

It is tough, so tough, out here.

Do you know what will make you survive? Be with and talk to good, successful people. Hear their stories. Listen to how they came, how they stayed, and how they have kept their dreams alive.

The only way for you to understand where you are and appreciate the circumstances around

does not give you much choice.

But if you will, do not wait until you’re at the end of the rope to get that survival job. Do not put yourself into a situation when you have to beg for a job or get a THE BEST WAY TO NOT LOSE job that can turn your stomach HOPE IS TO LOOK UP TO upside down.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN Do not get a survival job beTHERE. THEY SUFFERED cause you already incurred BUT HAVE SUCCESSFULLY so much personal borrowings PULLED THROUGH. that all your little earnings will The account officer at my need toward paying these back. bank simply said, “Only pride When that happens, you will stops us from grabbing a surhate doing a survival job even vival job.” more.

And why not? You can always It may be true that only too test how far that pride will take much pride keeps you from getting you. Then you will realize that a survival job. As soon as you can, it can take you only as far as take on a survival job before you your savings can run out of money take the beating. or have to borrow To some, it may or beg for any job not even be that. at all. Even in a Some come with After all, who do you work with in a survival job envisurvival job? Insensitive bosses who very little, and ronment, things look at you as a desperate jobseeker? are simply pinare tough and you ning hopes on have to be strong being welcomed enough to believe by the new workthat one day you place, only to will get out of it. ■ find out that the hospitality in you is to learn that you are not a new country does not include alone in this.

Bolet is a marketing communithat.

They have been there, prob- cations practitioner and dabbles It is sad, really sad, to feel so ably even in worse conditions. in writing as a personal passion. unwelcomed in the workplace. Probably, they were in much She is author-publisher of the Even in a survival job, people more hopeless, more pathetic book: The Most Practical Imcan be so competitive that situations than what you’re in migrating and Job Hunting Suryou can only be so much or do now. Yet, they survived. They vival Guide, proven simple steps enough. managed to rise above the cir- to success without the fears and After all, who do you work cumstances to be where they the doubts. book is available in Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, with in a survival job? Insensi- are now. tive bosses who look at you as Will you, therefore, take on Chapters/Indigo, the Reading a desperate jobseeker? Preten- that survival job? If you have no Room and other online bookshops worldwide. tious supervisors who play fa- more savings to get you by, that

BY BOLET AREVALO

www.canadianinquirer.net

MISSISSAUGA, ON — Three young golfers from the Philippines were named champions at the World Junior Girls Golf Championship in Mississauga Golf and Country Club in Ontario following four days of championship rounds.

Fifteen year-old Yuka Saso, a young Filipino golfer from Sta. Rosa, Laguna, won the individual gold medal with three birdies and an overall score of 2-under 70 in the final round. Of the 48 competitors, Saso is the lone player to finish under-par. She sealed the 4-day championship with a total of 2-under, 286.

“Winning with this group is special because we have known each other since were kids, so it makes me really happy,” Saso said.

Saso and her teammates, Harmie Nicole Constantino of Taguig and Sofia Angela Legaspi of Quezon City, had a combined total of 2-over 578.

“This is the best feeling. It is unexplainable to me because

no one expected it. We played our games and it turned out really well. We never had any doubts, we came here to win and we did,” Constantino said.

“It really means a lot to win this big event. It gives us a lots of experience and confidence.

It also helps to get us college scholarships,” 15-year-old Legaspi said.

“The win could also inspire younger golfers in the Philippines to work hard and travel to events like this,” she added.

Korean golfers ranked second in the competition while Team USA, the 2014 champion, landed third. Canada, the championship’s host, fielded a second group in the competition.

Besides the 72-hole competition, the championship included skills competition, golf coaches’ summit as well as golf clinics.

“Well, overall we had a very exciting week and successful tournament despite some difficult weather.” said Mary Beth McKenna, Tournament Director. ■

CHAMPIONS. Harmie Nicole Constantino, Yuka Saso, Sofia Angela Legaspi (L-R)

The author with Team Canada.

24

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Entertainment Andi Eigenmann wants an end to daughter’s paternity issue PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER MANILA — Kapamilya actress Andi Eigenmann breaks her silence on daughter’s paternity issue, asking the public to respect their family’s privacy.

“Recent events have put my daughter Ellie into the limelight with the media, netizens, and strangers questioning who her father is. I made a conscious choice not to talk about the paternity of my daughter in order to protect the privacy of Ellie,” Eigenmann says in a statement.

“Although she was born into a showbiz family, as a mother, I would like to shield her from the intrigues and gossip that are part of the industry. Grow-

ing up, Ellie knew who her father was and he has been there for her, and that’s all that matters,” she continues.

Eigenmann’s daughter has been back in the limelight when her half-sister Max Eigenmann confirmed in the radio program “Good Times With Mo” that Jake Ejercito was indeed Ellie’s biological father.

“He (Ejercito) is the father of my niece… They did a (DNA) test… He’s the dad,” Max told disc jockey Mo Twister.

“They’re co-parenting.”

It can be recalled that it was in 2011 when Eigenmann got pregnant. Rumors then started whom between the 26-yearold actress’s former boyfriends Ejercito and actor Albie Casiño was the father of her child. ■

ANDI GUCK-EIGENMANN / FACEBOOK

Alden Richards still a Kapuso; renews exclusive contract with Kapuso Network ALDEN RICHARDS remains a loyal Kapuso as he renewed last September 27 his exclusive contract with GMA Network.

Present in the contract signing were GMA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Atty.

Felipe L. Gozon, GMA President and Chief Operating Officer Gilberto R. Duavit, Jr., GMA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, GMA Films President Annette Gozon, GMA Entertainment TV’s Senior Vice President Lilybeth G. Rasonable, GMA Consultant for Business Development Department II Marivin T. Arayata, GMA Vice President for Drama Productions Redgie Acuña-Magno, GMA Vice President for Corporate Affairs and Communications Angela Javier Cruz, GMA Senior Assistant Vice President for Alternative Productions Gigi Santiago-Lara, GMA Artist Center Assistant Vice President and Head for Talent Imaging and Marketing Unit Simoun Ferrer and Senior Program Manager for ETV Charles Koo. Alden was pleased to renew his contract with GMA which, he said, has been very helpful in fulfilling his dreams, “Masaya po talaga ako (I’m really happy) to be part of GMA and to be still part of GMA in the years to come. I remained loyal to the Network and GMA has been very good to me and very supportive; I can feel the support

SCREENSHOT FROM YOUTUBE

and love coming from them.

I really feel at home here. It’s where my heart is.”

Aside from being one of the mainstays of the hit noontime show Eat Bulaga, Alden is part of the iconic primetime series Encantadia airing worldwide on GMA’s flagship international channel GMA Pinoy TV, “My experience po with Encantadia has been very fun. it’s another dream of mine that came true now that I am part of the cast.

I am very thankful po kasi (because) the feedback is very positive.”

During the contract signing, Atty. Gozon said he is very proud of Alden’s achievements

since he is one of the Network’s successful home-grown artists for many years now, “Alden, not only is he one of the biggest stars of GMA, but also one of the biggest stars in the country. We are also proud of the humility he has shown throughout this journey; he is a living proof that one can reach the stars while keeping his feet firmly on the ground.

Kaya tayo ay lubos na nagagalak dahil napili niyang manatili sa GMA, kung saan siya nagsimula and where he belongs (That’s why we are very happy that he has chosen to remain in GMA, where his career began and where he belongs).” ■

will also be shown at the Viennale, now on its 54th edition, in Austria, Oct. 20 to Nov.2. Last stop for the month is the Tokyo International Film Festival, in Japan, from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3.

“Hele” will usher in the month of November at the 57th Thessaloniki International Film Fes-

tival in Greece, from Nov. 4 to 13.

With sales agent Films Boutique’s support, more festivals are in store for “Hele” next month, according to Epic Media producer Bianca Balbuena.

“Hele” won the Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize at the Berlinale last February. ■

‘Hele’ goes all over the world

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer IT HAS been a very busy last two months for Lav Diaz’s “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis,” which has been traveling all over the world of late. After its screen-

ings at the San Sebastian and Vladivostok fests in September, the eight-hour historical epic will be shown in five festivals in four continents this month (October).

“Hele” is part of the lineup of the 45th Festival du Nouveau Cinema Montreal, in Canada,

from Oct. 5 to 16. Then, Diaz’s film will proceed to the 21st Busan International Film Festival in South Korea, from Oct. 6 to 15.

Next stop for the Filipino film is the 40th Mostra Internacional de Cinema Sao Paulo in Brazil, from Oct. 20 to Nov 2. It www.canadianinquirer.net

Entertainment

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

25

Armed jewelry thieves target Kardashian-West in Paris

BY ANGELA CHARLTON The Associated Press PARIS — Armed robbers forced their way into a private Paris residence where Kim Kardashian West was staying, tied her up and locked her in a bathroom before making off with more than $10 million worth of jewelry, police officials said Monday.

A spokeswoman for Kardashian West said the reality TV star, who was in Paris attending fashion week shows, was badly shaken but physically unharmed.

She left Paris Monday morning a few hours after the incident, and flew to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey. From there she travelled in a motorcade to her apartment building in downtown Manhattan, where there was a heavy security presence.

Paris police are hunting for five suspected assailants after the robbery, which has raised new concerns about security in the French capital after a string of deadly extremist attacks.

But Johanna Primevert, chief spokeswoman for the Paris police department, said the attack on Kardashian West shouldn’t put off anyone thinking of coming to Paris.

“This kind of incident is extremely rare in Paris. This is a star who is famous worldwide.

Do not confuse what happened to Ms. Kardashian and probably was the result of an organized team who had planned their action with the assault of a tourist in front of Notre Dame (cathedral) or another tourist spot in Paris,” Primevert said in an interview with the AP at the Paris police headquarters Mon-

day night.

The police spokeswoman suggested possible imprudence from Kardashian West in showing her valuable jewels on social networks and a possible lack of security in that private residence.

“Clearly when you have a star like Kim Kardashian who has, I think, more than 48 million followers on Twitter ... I think this could have happened abroad just as easily as in Paris. It was really the celebrity who was targeted, with possessions that had been seen and noticed via social media, and it was these goods that the attackers targeted,” Primevert said.

“It’s not the safety in Paris that is involved, it’s maybe the security situation in that residence”, she insisted.

Primevert said the robbery was “the result of people who obviously posed as policemen.”

Police and authorities were not aware that Kardashian West was staying in that private location, Primevert said.

The thieves entered the 19thcentury luxury residence in Paris’ chic eighth district after the concierge let them in around 2:30 a.m. local time, according to two police officials.

Handcuffed and at gunpoint, the concierge led them to the starlet’s flat.

The robbers tied up Kardashian West and locked her in the bathroom before escaping on bikes, the officials said.

They were not authorized to be publicly named speaking about ongoing investigations.

The officials said the five stole a jewelry box containing valuables worth 6 million euros ($6.7 million) as well as a ring worth 4 million euros ($4.5 mil-

LIAM GOODNER / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

lion). In a message to The Associated Press, the Paris prosecutor’s office said that only two of the five suspects forced their way into the apartment.

Kardashian’s stylist was also in the residence at the time, and alerted police, but Kardashian’s bodyguard was not present, according to the prosecutor’s office.

The couple’s two children, 3-year-old daughter North and 10-month-old son Saint, were not with Kardashian West when the robbery happened.

It’s unclear if they accompanied her on the trip to France.

Police said the actress’ family was placed under police protection at the George V hotel after the incident. Her sister Kendall Jenner appeared with Kardashian at Paris fashion shows in recent days and often appears on the catwalk herself.

Kardashian’s husband, Kanye West, abruptly ended his performance at the Meadows Music and Arts Festival in New

York on Sunday night.

“I’m sorry, family emergency, I have to stop the show,” West told the audience.

Kardashian West has the habit of showing her jewels and whereabouts in her social media, including in recent days when she posted pictures of her attending fashion week shows.

A few days ago, she also flashed a big ring on Twitter and Instagram.

Kardashian West was ambushed last week by a serial celebrity accoster who attempted to assault her as she was entering a restaurant. She was also attacked outside of a Paris fashion week show in 2014. She wasn’t hurt in either incident.

Paris has been a special place for Kardashian West and her husband, who spent the weekend there before marrying in Florence in May 2014.

With France under a state of emergency following extremist attacks that left more than 200 people dead in the last 20

months, news of the robbery immediately sparked criticism from political opponents of the Socialist government.

Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, a right-wing member of Paris council and a potential candidate in next year’s presidential election, said the robbery was proof that “there is a general emergency on security” in the French capital.

“Regardless of all the very expensive advertising we do to promote ‘I Love Paris,’ tourism and the image of Paris, all these ads have been brutally cancelled by the Kim Kardashian case,” Kosciusko-Morizet told Europe 1 radio.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, a close ally of Socialist president Francois Hollande, condemned the assault and said Kardashian West will “always be welcome in Paris.”

Hidalgo said she is confident police will quickly identify and arrest the suspects and that the “very rare” incident “in no way calls into question police work or security of public space” in Paris.

Hidalgo also urged politicians across the spectrum not to exploit the incident for political gains in the lead-up to the presidential election.

“In a complicated context for tourism, in which boosting attendance must be the priority of all, using this incident for polemical purposes would amount to directly harming the tourism sector, which represents 500,000 jobs” in the Paris region, Hidalgo said. ■ AP entertainment writer Sandy Cohen in Los Angeles and Philippe Sotto in Paris contributed to this story.

Obama, DiCaprio team up against climate change

BY ANGELA CHARLTON The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and actor Leonardo DiCaprio teamed up on the White House South Lawn on Monday to sound a call for urgent action to combat cli-

mate change.

Obama told a crowd gathered for the “South by South Lawn” festival of technology and music that the world is in “a race against time” to combat climate change.

The president said the world gets an “incomplete” grade on its response to global warming

so far, but he added that “the good news is we can still pass the test.”

“I tend to be a cautious optimist about our ability to make change,” Obama said.

Neither Donald Trump nor Hillary Clinton was mentioned in the discussion, but their presence was nonetheless felt. www.canadianinquirer.net

DiCaprio, who recently completed a documentary film about climate change, told the White House crowd that he had timed the film to come out before the presidential election.

DeCaprio, who supports Hillary Clinton’s campaign, said the scientific consensus

about the dangers of climate change is in, and “the argument is now over.”

He added: “If you do not believe in climate change, you do not believe in facts or in science. And therefore, in my humble opinion, you should ❱❱ PAGE 33 Obama, DiCaprio

26

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Lifestyle Seniors join the "Walk for Life" organized by Department of Health during the nationwide "Elderly Filipino Week" celebration at SM Mall of Asia.

OLIVER MARQUEZ / PNA

Walking is medicine?

It helped high-risk seniors stay mobile

BY YURI KAGEYAMA The Associated Press WASHINGTON — It’s not too late to get moving: Simple physical activity — mostly walking — helped high-risk seniors stay mobile after disability-inducing ailments even if, at 70 and beyond, they’d long been couch potatoes.

One health policy specialist said the study released Monday suggests prescribing exercise may be just as important as prescribing medications.

“Once you lose that mobility piece of your life, then you really lose independence,” said Patricia Katz of the University of California, San Francisco, who wasn’t part of the new research but said physicians need to put the findings to use.

Katz called it striking that among the walkers, “if you start to have problems, you have a greater ability to recover and get your functioning back.”

Older adults often shift back and forth between indepen-

dence and conditions that can who potentially had the most more likely to recover if they be disabling at least temporar- to gain,” said Dr. Thomas Gill, did and less likely to suffer anily — a broken bone, an opera- a Yale University geriatrician other one, Gill said.

While the walking didn’t tion or a hospitalization from who led the work.

The study compared seniors replace any necessary physiillness that requires time and rehab if they’re to get back on assigned to a regular walking cal therapy, too often seniors program, plus a little strength “leave the hospital more debilitheir feet.

Monday’s research examined and balance exercise, with a tated than when they entered,” whether regular physical activ- control group given health edu- Gill said. The goal was to get them walking again as soon as ity could help even the oldest cation. possible. seniors stay moOnly half of bile for longer U.S. adults of despite other all ages get the health condiamount of physitions.

While the walking didn’t replace any necessary physical therapy, too often cal activity recThe study enseniors “leave the hospital more ommended for rolled more than debilitated than when they entered.” good health. And 1,600 adults beif they weren’t tween the ages active during of 70 and 89 conmiddle age, older sidered at high adults often are risk for disability because they were sedentary Over 3 1/2 years, the walking especially wary of getting startand had various chronic health program reduced the amount ed. Maybe they have arthritic problems, such as heart disease of time seniors spent suffering pain, or are worried if it’s safe or diabetes. More than 2 in 5 from a major mobility problem given other illnesses, or fear were 80 or older. To enrol, they by 25 per cent, the researchers they’ll fall.

Gill said the study shows had to be able to walk a quarter reported in Annals of Internal many sedentary seniors can of a mile in 15 minutes — a long Medicine.

The walkers were less likely start walking safely, no gym time, and some needed every to experience a mobility-rob- membership needed — just a minute.

“We were targeting folks bing condition in the first place, safe place such as a sidewalk

www.canadianinquirer.net

or shopping mall. Those who were physically active were less likely to be injured in a fall, he noted.

There were six more deaths among the walkers over the course of the study, a difference that wasn’t statistically significant, he said.

“A lot of people probably don’t know where to start,” said UCSF’s Katz, who co-authored an editorial in Monday’s Annals that said an actual prescription from the doctor could help, maybe more than a medication prescription.

No one expects a sedentary senior to suddenly speed-walk.

The goal is to build up gradually to meet federal health guidelines that say even older adults should get 2 1/2 hours a week of moderate-intensity exercise.

Essentially, that means enough to increase your heart rate — not breathless, but breathing a little hard.

Seniors “should be more scared of not doing something,” Katz said. “It’s not too late. It gives you some resilience.” ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

27

Menswear motifs give decor a dash of debonair

Drawn to the wild!

Canada’s growing love for exotic pets has experts worried

BY KIM COOK The Associated Press

BY LEE REICH The Associated Press

MANY OF this fall’s home decor collections are sporting a rather debonair look.

Tweeds, tartans and twills drape cushions and comforters; furniture is clad in supple leather; drapes are made of suiting fabric; and hardware takes style notes from the gentlemen’s accessory drawer.

“The classic good looks of menswear are popping up in subtle and unexpected ways,” says Jamie Drake of the luxury design firm Drake/Anderson Interiors in New York.

Drake and business partner Caleb Anderson are fans of woven horsehair textiles, and have produced a collection for Holland & Sherry. The sleek fabrics with subtle yet striking colorations are loomed from horse tails and cotton. Their durability makes them ideal for chair, bench and headboard upholstery. www. hollandandsherry.com Drake also has designed a collection of luxury bath accessories with a classic herringbone pattern on charcoal-grey, embossed Italian suede. Named Savile, after London’s famed street of haberdashery, the collection is trimmed with polished chrome for a crisp, tailored look. www.labrazel.com And for Stark, Drake’s Jakara pattern puts the elegant chevron in a soft wool rug, offered in urbane neutrals. www.starkcarpet.com Subtle, tonal hues and fabrics with a textural depth offer a handsome — often luxurious — masculine esthetic that transcends gender, says Shawn Sowers, principal design director at furniture company Sauder, in Archbold, Ohio.

“It incorporates several elements traditionally considered feminine, like softness and attention to detail,” he says.

“There’s still a masculine presence of mass, strong forms and bold simplicity, but these elements are paired with elegance and details that take into account multiple senses.”

Sowers and his team designed

their repurposed, naturally worn oak Cannery Bridge collection of living room, bedroom and home office pieces to have a hefty rusticity. Sowers cheekily calls the target demographic the “urban beardsman.”

His Conductor credenza blends a sexy mix of copper, marble and steel. The Boot Leg dining table pairs a charcoal-black finish with leather-wrapped legs.

“It’s like a V-neck shirt under a blazer or sport coat,” Sowers says. “It can live in a variety of environments and be relevant and stylish.” www.sauderboutique.com Taking the menswear look into lighting in a whimsical way, Houzz offers a collection of pendant fixtures inspired by haberdashery. The Jeeves fixture, in matte black metal with a warm gold interior, evokes a classic British bowler. Zuo Modern’s Aspiration pendant is a pashmina wool “top hat” lined in burnished gold. www.houzz.com Even light switches are picking up the theme: Legrand’s wall plates are available in black leather. www.legrand.us Brooklyn-based brothers Emil and Sandy Corsillo, who design menswear under their Hill-Side label, have partnered with CB2 on a collection of home goods. A brawny, striped throw pillow in navy and grey reflects the designers’ workwear roots, while deconstructed indigo floral prints on a comfy chair and big floor cushion echo shirt and tie patterns. www.cb2.com Or bring the masculine vibe home with room scents; many evoke men’s fragrances or toiletry items.

Blind Barber offers the midnight-blue, soy-wax Tompkins candle, a mix of aromas like honey, smoke, leather, lavender and “freshly laundered towels,” all ostensibly evoking that traditional male enclave: the barber shop. www.blindbarber.com Like a delicious men’s cologne, Molton Brown’s Black Peppercorn candle wafts coriander, vetiver and pepper notes from a maroon-colored glass tumbler. www.moltonbrown. com ■

KAWARTHA LAKES, Ont. — As the sun sets over the sprawling property in rural Ontario, the farmhouse party gets into full swing.

The host walks around chatting up the guests, two small monkeys perched on her shoulder. One is dressed in a collared jumpsuit, the other in a polkadot dress.

Up the hill, a pair of burlesque dancers perform as guests snap photographs of other animals — two miniature donkeys, a wallaroo named Wall-E, a few alpacas groomed like best-in-show poodles, two tiny marmosets, two ferrets and a skittish blackand-white fox.

This is Yasmin Nakhuda’s Xanadu where she presides over her menagerie at her home in Kawartha Lakes, where she moved in 2014 after losing her “son” Darwin — a Japanese macaque that escaped from her car and wandered into an Ikea store.

Images of the tiny monkey wearing a beige shearling coat triggered a social media frenzy and a legal battle that Nakhuda eventually lost to an animal sanctuary that Darwin now calls home.

Two other monkeys — Caesar and Diva — have taken Darwin’s place. Caesar, also a Japanese macaque, stays close to Nakhuda, shying away from the strangers.

“He fills my life, I love him a lot, but he’s not Darwin and will never be Darwin,” the 47-yearold real estate lawyer says through tears as she kisses the monkey on the lips before giving him a raisin.

“They are like us, they want to feel that touch, that love.

People should have the right to own these amazing animals and create these amazing bonds.”

Owning exotics — wild animals taken from their natural habitat or bred in captivity and not native to the country — is a growing trend in Canada, according to animal welfare activists, who blame a patchwork of outdated and inconsistent laws www.canadianinquirer.net

and bylaws.

Rob Laidlaw of Zoocheck, a wildlife protection charity based in Toronto, has been fighting for animals’ rights for decades. Reliable data on the number of exotic animals in Canada is difficult to come by, he says.

“There’s a vacuum when it comes to statistics and when you’re looking at actual numbers there is no central registry,” Laidlaw says.

Based on his research, Laidlaw believes there are hundreds of thousands of exotic animals in the country, the vast majority being reptiles.

“The number of animals like tigers and baboons are going down, anecdotal evidence tells us, but the number of reptiles and amphibians is on the rise in a big way.”

It doesn’t help that the laws vary wildly across Canada, he says.

“Ontario is probably the worst jurisdiction in the country for exotic animal laws and has been for quite a long time,” Laidlaw says.

Only two types of animals are banned by the provincial government: pit bulls and killer whales. It is up to municipalities to create their own bylaws, and many of them, such as Toronto and Ottawa, maintain a list of prohibited animals, or as Laidlaw calls it a “negative list.”

The problem with “negative lists,” he says, is that they must be constantly updated.

Instead, he says, Canada should adopt a “positive list” approach used in several European countries that allows ownership of only listed animals.

Laidlaw says two provinces, British Columbia and New Brunswick, have taken some action on exotic animal laws.

Both Saskatchewan and Quebec require permits for certain exotic animals, but none are banned outright. Many provinces in the country take a similar approach to Ontario’s and leave it to municipalities to decide.

The B.C. government brought in the Controlled Alien Species Regulation under the Wildlife Act after a captive tiger at

an exotic animal farm reached through its cage and sliced a woman’s leg in 2007. She bled to death as three children, including one of her own, watched.

In 2009, the province passed a law that listed 1,300 prohibited species. People who owned animals on the list, which ranged from hippopotamuses to monkeys to alligators — and, of course, tigers — were able to apply for a permit to keep the animals, but couldn’t breed them or display them to the public.

“There are challenges, but it’s still better than most jurisdictions,” says Sara Dubois, chief scientific officer with the B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The New Brunswick legislature, meanwhile, is expected to debate proposed changes to its exotic animal laws in November. The provincial government commissioned a wide-ranging review of its laws and regulations in the wake of a tragedy where an African rock python killed two young brothers in Campbellton, N.B. Autopsies showed the boys, Noah Barthe, 4, and his sixyear-old brother Connor, died by asphyxiation when the 45-kilogram snake escaped its enclosure inside an apartment, made its way through a pipe that collapsed under its weight, and fell into the room where the boys were sleeping.

The snake’s owner, Jean Claude Savoie, will go to trial in October to face a charge of criminal negligence causing death.

Laidlaw says the changes in B.C. and New Brunswick were a step in the right direction. However, laws must be enforced, Laidlaw says, pointing out that the African rock python involved in the young brothers’ death has been banned in New Brunswick since 1992.

“It’s great to have things on paper, but if nobody is out there doing the job, not much is going to change.”

The Ontario government said it’s reviewing the exotic animal laws and expects to propose new ❱❱ PAGE 28 Drawn to

Lifestyle

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OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’: Yes, it’s a play, not a novel What is all the Hogwarts hubbub about?

BY RUEL S. DE VERA Philippine Daily Inquirer WHAT FIRST felt like a Confundus spell cast on some Harry Potter fans seemed to turn into a Crucio spell instead.

July 31 was the biggest day on the Potterhead calendar for 2016 as it was the date the newest Potter book, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” was to appear on book shelves around the world.

Only problem? It wasn’t the book many fans were expecting.

Despite the book’s subtitle— “Parts One and Two: Special Rehearsal Edition Script”—many buyers were shocked the book was not a novel, but instead a script. While this seemed to be something the buyers had overlooked, the outrage was pretty palpable.

“I feel bad for people that read ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’ since it’s not a novel and more like a script,” a reader with the Twitter handle Sam Darwish tweeted. “It should’ve been a novel.”

Different medium

All Potterheads wanted an eighth Harry Potter novel (it’s been nine years since the seventh novel, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” was published in 2007). But, in fact, author J.K. Rowling had previ-

ously said that “Hallows” was the last Potter book.

In 2012, plans were hatched to do one more full-length Harry Potter work—but, this time, for the stage. Rowling was clear she wasn’t going to do another novel, so this project, which would later be named “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” presumably provided her a different medium to participate in another Potter creative venture.

“The Cursed Child” isn’t by Rowling alone. The plot itself, the “original new story” that runs through “The Cursed Child,” was created by Rowling, the veteran stage director John Tiffany and the dramatist Jack Thorne.

But the script is by Thorne alone. It’s his words buyers were actually reading in the book, not Rowling’s. As a result, some annoyed readers kept comparing how flat or unadorned Thorne’s lines were compared to Rowling’s.

But the thing is, “The Cursed Child” is a play, and unless it was going to feature long, dense voice-overs, the dialogue was pretty much going to stand alone.

played in the films by Emma Watson) in the production of “The Cursed Child” that opened in London drew unfortunate fire, which Rowling elegantly and definitively rejected with a tweet: “Canon: brown eyes, frizzy hair and very clever.

White skin was never specified.

Rowling loves black Hermione.”

While a good number of readers clearly enjoyed the scriptbook (the year’s biggest best seller), many others were left cold by this portrayal of the future of Harry Potter. The criticisms were similar to those leveled against the controversial epilogue of the second “Deathly Hallows” movie.

Some die-hard Potterheads described “The Cursed Child” as “bad fan fiction.” The future depicted by the book, 19 years after the events of the Battle of Hogwarts, is a sobering, grownup one, with Harry and friends dealing with everything from parenthood to daily adult life.

Readers can choose which parts of the Harry Potter saga they would want to read, but this is how Rowling chose to end it—it’s canon—and, like it or not, this really is how it ends.

Unlike a novel that provides an all-encompassing narrative text, scriptbooks instead provide only the actors’ lines and general stage directions. They don’t spell everything out.

This is because a stage play is a collaborative work that goes beyond the script or the direction; it involves the costume designer, the production designer, the music director and so on.

On the page, scriptbooks such as “The Cursed Child” would indeed seem on the spare side when it comes to the description.

There is an advantage to that, which is that readers can fill in the gaps using their imagination—though, apparently, that is not an option everyone wants. Scriptbooks being what they are, the only other way to experience “The Cursed Child” is to watch the actual play in person.

Grown-up world

Book format

Rapturous reviews

Good luck with that. “The Cursed Child,” a two-part play with four acts lasting five hours, debuted at the Palace Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue in Lon-

don’s West End on July 30 to rapturous reviews and sold-out shows.

The Independent’s Jack Shepherd gave the play a fivestar review: “Well, Harry Potter fans, you will be glad to know that J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany have created a theater production of immense wonder.”

The overwhelmingly positive reviews—and perhaps the continuing presence of Pottermania—led to all the 2016 shows being sold out. The production scheduled new shows up to December 2017, only to have these tickets sell out in days as well.

One can only imagine that tickets for the rumored Broadway version would be similarly elusive once that production is confirmed.

“Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” thus promises to enjoy a long, profitable life as a theatrical production, soon to be seen around the world. But it also reveals that all the wizarding world is a stage, and Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, lives again and may continue to do so in front of the footlights. ■

minister of community safety and correctional services, which is also responsible for animal welfare.

“Ontario needs to take action on regulation of exotic animals so that we’re not acting in response to a potential tragedy.”

Meanwhile, Darwin, the Ikea monkey, darts around in his enclosure at Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary in Sunderland, Ont., grabbing grapes from a volunteer.

The majority of the 19 primates at Story Book used to be part of the exotic pet trade, according to spokeswoman Daina Liepa. One, a squirrel monkey named Rudy, was found in a dark storage locker in eastern Toronto along with a Harris

hawk and several Bengal cats.

“He had overgroomed himself from stress,” says Rachelle Hansen, a longtime volunteer at the sanctuary.

She gets emotional when she tells the story of Lexy, a 10-year-old Japanese macaque with a penchant for baby dolls.

“She always carries that baby with her,” she says. “We heard Lexy lost a baby, the baby was taken away, likely to be sold as a pet....she’s still longing for her baby and carrying her baby around.”

Recently, Hansen says, a man came by to see how Lexy was doing. He told her he bought Lexy nine years ago for $1,000, but gave her up after nine days because he couldn’t handle a

monkey as a pet. After bouncing around for a bit at a few roadside zoos, the monkey ended up at Story Book, she says.

Hansen breaks down at one point, explaining why she’s volunteered for more than 10 years at Story Book.

“Because I see they really need our help,” she says through tears.

Back in Kawartha Lakes, where the only animal bylaws relate to dog licensing, Nakhuda also tears up when she talks about Darwin locked up in a cage like a “prisoner.”

“I don’t agree with that. He’s not happy where he is, he’s not where he should be,” she says as she pulls out another raisin and asks Caesar for a kiss. ■

There were other points of discussion aside from the format. The casting of the black actress Noma Dumezweni as Hermione (the role previous

Drawn to... regulations in the next two years.

“We have a patchwork of legislation at the munic❰❰ 27

ipal level and it’s important that we have consistency across the province and protection for all Ontarians,” said David Orazietti,

F ill Unused Capacity C ash Savings B ill More Hours E xtra Income If you want new customers, more sales and are looking for ways to save cash, call First Canadian Barter Exchange.

604.759.3223 / info@barterfirst.com

That brings us to the format of the book. Scriptbooks and books of plays have always been available, but they follow a decidedly different format.

www.canadianinquirer.net

WAN FAHMY REDZUAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

29

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

Sports Archers nail sweep, too good for Eagles

BY JASMINE W. PAYO Philippine Daily Inquirer SOME FANS came clad in black, but on the floor, green was the dominant color. “It was like a test for us of to show what we can do even if coach and our leader are not there,” said La Salle’s game hero Ben Mbala after the Green Archers completed a seven-game sweep of the UAAP first round yesterday. “I’m proud of the way the guys played—we always stick together and listen to coach to get the job done.” The Archers showed they’re just as strong and rolled past rival Ateneo, 97-81, despite heading into the match reeling from a double blow—losing head coach Aldin Ayo to suspension and team star Jeron Teng to injury—in men’s basketball at Mall of Asia Arena. “Right from the start, I told them to make life really hard [for our opponent] every possession,” La Salle assistant coach Louie Gonzales said after the blockbuster showdown that also turned out to be a venue for both universities to express their solidarity with the victims of extrajudicial killings in the country.

Officials from both schools encouraged their students and alumni to wear black instead of their traditional school colors.

Although not everyone heeded the call, a crowd of 16,212 still packed the arena and witnessed how the ruthless Archers pummelled the Eagles by as many as 26 points, 6236, in the second half.

In a performance replete of highlights, Mbala pumped in 28 points on an 11-of-13 shooting clip aside from collecting 13 rebounds, five steals and a block.

“We knew by the third quarter it’s payoff time,” said Gonzales. “During halftime, I told them to double the effort and get into the heads of our opponent. That’s mayhem basketball.”

Andrei Caracut chipped in 14 points for the Archers, whose onslaught started in the second period where they staged a 13-0 run to turn a 20-26 deficit into a 33-26 advantage.

“It was pretty intense,” said Mbala. “(The Eagles) came out strong, they were shooting well.

But we stuck to the game plan.”

It was sibling rivalry in the other match with University of the East coach Derrick Pumaren’s Warriors getting the better

of his brother Franz’s Adamson Falcons, 64-57.

“I feel bad about Franz, but we had to get our first win against him,” said Derrick after the Warriors closed out their first-round campaign. “It’s nothing personal. We need to win, we’re down there. We’re in a deep hole.”

The scores

First Game: UE 64— Pasaol 13, De Leon 12, Batiller 9, Manalang 7, Bartolome 5, Olayon 5, Varilla 5, Charcos 2, Derige 2, Palma 2, Penuela 2, Abanto 0.

ADAMSON 57— Sarr 13, Ahanmisi 10, Manganti 8, Espeleta 6, Manalang 5,Ochea 5, Tungcab 5, Bernardo 3, Camacho 2, Mustre 0, Ng 0, Pasturan 0.

Quarters: 7-14, 21-30, 40-45, 64-57 Second Game: LA SALLE 97— Mbala 28, Caracut 14, Tratter 10, R. Rivero 8, Montalbo 8, Torres 8, Perkins 5, Melecio 5, Dyke 4, Paraiso 2, Go 2, Baltazar 2, P. Rivero 1, Sargent 0.

ATENEO 81— Wong 15, Ma. Nieto 13, Asistio 11, Ravena 11, Mendoza 9, Ikeh 7, Porter 6, Go 5, Babilonia 2, Mi. Nieto 2, Tolentino 0, Verano 0.

Quarters: 20-20, 53-36, 8058, 97-81 ■

Filipino netter Pantino loses in China Juniors tournament

BY JEAN T. MALANUM Philippines News Agency MANILA — Filipino tennis player Arthur Craig Pantino bowed out of the China Juniors Tennis Championships on Sunday after losing to top seed Chinese Wu Yibing in the boys’ singles semifinal round at the National Tennis Centre in Beijing.

The 15-year-old Cebuano absorbed a 4-6, 0-6 defeat from Wu, who has played in the Wimbledon, French Open and Australian Open Juniors this year.

Pantino, the country’s No. 1 player in the 16-under category, marched into the semifinal after beating Chinese qualifier Yang Mingyuan, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the first round; Russian Egor Noskin, 6-4, 6-4 in the second round; and third-seeded Taiwanese Hsu Yu Hsiou, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (2) in the quarterfinal.

The China Juniors was the sixth international tournament this year for Pantino, who also played in Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia and Hong Kong.

Last week, Pantino competed in the Guangzhou leg of the China Juniors where he reached

the singles round of 16 and the doubles quarterfinal with Alester Magalit of Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, Filipino John Bryan Decasa Otico and Korean Sung Yohan also advanced to the boys’ doubles semifinal round but lost to second seeds Moerani Bouzige of Austria and Hsu Yu Hsiou of Chinese Taipei, 2-6, 1-6.

To reach the semifinal, Otico and Sung won over Chinese pair He Xiaoyu and Lu Pengyu, 7-5, 6-2 in the first round and Chinese tandem Fan Chong Yuan and Liu Yi Zhou, 2-6, 6-3 (10-3) in the quarterfinal. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

A look at rising costs for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics

BY JIM ARMSTRONG AND MARI YAMAGUCHI The Associated Press TOKYO — An expert panel set up by Tokyo’s newly elected governor says the price tag of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could exceed $30 billion unless drastic cost-cutting measures are taken. That’s more than a four-fold increase from the initial estimate at the time Tokyo was awarded the games in 2013.

Following is a breakdown of the panel’s projected costs by category. Original bid estimates have been included when available.

National Stadium

The building of the new national stadium, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies and track and field, has been plagued by a series of problems. An earlier design by the late Iraqi-British architect Zaha Hadid had risen to $2.65 billion, more than twice the original forecast. The Japanese government decided to scrap that plan and, on Friday, approved a new stadium project totalling nearly $1.5 billion.

Officials say construction will begin in December and be completed by November 2019.

Olympic Village

Located on reclaimed land in Tokyo Bay, the panel estimates the cost at $954 million.

The village is being built by a private consortium and will be rented during the games. The plan is to transform the village into a residential area after the games.

Temporary venues

Organizers plan to build seven temporary venues for sports such as beach volleyball, triathlon and gymnastics. In July, the organizing committee ac-

knowledged the cost of building those venues had surged to an estimated $2.6 billion, up from an initial estimate of $800 million.

Permanent venues

Tokyo plans to build seven new permanent venues to go along with 19 existing venues.

The panel estimates the cost of the seven new permanent facilities at $2.24 billion. However, it has proposed using existing facilities for three sports — volleyball, swimming, rowing and canoe sprint — instead of building new permanent venues. The canoeing venue could move to Tome City in Miyagi prefecture, about 440 kilometres (270 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

“Soft costs” (security, transportation, operating fees, etc.)

Based on estimates from the 2012 London Olympics, the panel suggests these costs could be as much as $16 billion, including $2 billion for transportation, $3 billion for security, $6 billion for energy and technology, and $5 billion for operating costs.

Other

The breakdown does not take into consideration unforeseen costs. The panel said these could arise from earthquake prevention measures and the possibility that additional venues may be moved outside of Tokyo, increasing transportation and security costs. Tokyo organizers are also looking at measures to counter the extreme heat in Tokyo and the panel took those potential costs into consideration when it came up with the estimate of $30 billion.

Total cost

Bid estimate: $7.3 billion.

Panel estimate: $30 billion. ■

30

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Business Peza locators seek to be placated Keep an eye on fees as Duterte continues to spook and exchange rates when sending money overseas: experts

BY AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer

MORE INVESTORS are raising concerns about what they perceive as a growing instability under the Duterte administration, which they believe may erode the country’s attractiveness as an investment destination and derail the gains achieved over the past several years.

J. Porfirio Ll. Yusingco, deputy director general of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (Peza), admitted many locators have been asking about recent developments concerning the rising number of alleged extra judicial killings and the tough-talking President’s remarks against strategic economic partners such as the United States and the European Union (EU).

“As far as these developments are concerned, we assured them that these are just birth pains. There were concerns specifically about the peace and order situation and the [alleged] extra judicial killings because a lot of our incentives (or the preferential trade deals) are connected to human rights protection,” he said.

Still, these were concerns that needed answering, he said.

“You can’t [turn] a blind eye to these developments but we continue to assure them that it’s business as usual,” Yusingco added.

Yusingco cited for example the EU generalized scheme of preferences (GSP+), which mandates a beneficiary country to comply with certain conventions that covers, among others, human and labor rights. Serious violations of these conventions may result in a temporary withdrawal from the EU GSP+, a preferential trade agreement that allows over 6,200 products manufactured locally to be exported to the EU at zero tariff.

A temporarily withdrawal, in case a beneficiary country fails

BY ALEXANDRA POSADZKI The Canadian Press

President Rodrigo R. Duterte meets with Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa in Malacañang.

KING RODRIGUEZ / PPD / PNA

to meet its obligations, should be seen as an “exceptional measure.”

Another concern raised by Peza locators was the two-year moratorium being imposed by the Department of Agrarian Reform on land conversion projects, including economic zone developments.

Yusingco said Peza would be asking for exemptions for ecozone projects to ensure that prospective investors would have adequate areas where they can set up their respective production facilities.

“We’re [threshing] this out closely through the Department of Trade and Industry ...

There should be some sort of consideration because if we don’t have new ecozones, we will have a problem as to where to bring investors whom we will be inviting,” Yusingco said.

He said Peza barely has enough land these days. He said there was a already a need to increase the number of economic zones to maximize the country’s growth momentum.

He said Peza did not see the moratorium coming, but expressed optimism this would be resolved so that ecozone developers will be allowed to proceed with their respective projects. During Peza’s recent board meeting, the agency approved proposed investments

for at least four new ecozones, one of which would be put up by the SMGroup.

Yusingco said the locators also questioned the supposed “win-win” solution the government suggested earlier to fight the abusive type of labor contractualization and end-ofcontract (endo) scheme.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier pointed out legitimate contractualization was different from the illegal endo schemes wherein workers were hired temporarily for five months and transferred again to another entity for another fivemonth contract. He said there were legitimate contractualization schemes accepted globally.

Under the proposal, workers would be hired on a regular and permanent status by a third party service provider. The latter would be mandated to provide these workers benefits befitting regular employees, including retirement and separation packages.

The proposal also provides that workers being deployed should not be co-terminus with the agency’s contract with the principal company. This would then assure workers of security of tenure.

Yusingco said Peza would seek to clarify the details of this plan, which has created confusion among locators. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

TORONTO — Several years ago, while studying abroad, Anton Malkin found himself facing an unexpected challenge.

Malkin, 30, was living in China while completing research for his graduate studies, but his income from teaching and scholarships was in Canada.

Every few months he found himself wiring anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 overseas through his bank.

“The thing I was surprised the most about is how cumbersome and confusing it is every single time,” Malkin says.

“You would think that it would get easier the more you do it, but unless you use the exact same two branches every single time, it doesn’t.”

Sending large sums of money overseas can be a complex and expensive process. Experts suggest keeping a close eye not only on service charges, but also on currency exchange rates, as some institutions can have better offerings than others.

“In one case I did a back-ofthe-envelope calculation ... and realized that if I used bank Z instead of bank X, I could have gotten $400 or $500 more dollars,” says Malkin.

A plethora of online-based financial technology startups have sprouted up in recent years, offering alternatives to the traditional banks and money transfer services like Western Union.

Some are able to offer more competitive rates because they don’t have a bricks-and-mortar presence, which means their costs are lower.

Online remittance company WorldRemit allows migrant

workers to send money back home to their families for as little as $2.99 per transaction, depending on how much money is being sent and where.

That makes it more cost effective to do more frequent, smaller transactions, rather than having to do send money in one big lump sum, says Richard Meseko, WorldRemit’s Canadian country director.

“They are able, for the first time, to do micro-remittances,” Meseko says.

“While $20 may not seem like a lot here, it can help friends and families in these developing countries get through the week or deal with an emergency.”

With so many online services now available, it’s vital to ensure that whichever one you pick is trustworthy and secure says Anay Shah, head of international partnerships at online remittance company Remitly.

It’s also important to consider how easy it will be for the person on the other end of the transaction to pick up the money says Darrell MacMullin, CEO of Goldmoney’s personal and business division. Goldmoney is an online service that allows users to buy gold and transfer it around the world.

“The last mile is very important — so how does someone on the other end actually receive the money?” says MacMullin.

“Do they have to go a bank?

Do they have to go to a physical cash location? Or can it go electronically into someone’s bank account?”

Finally, consider the length of time that the service will take to transfer the money. Some are faster than others, MacMullin says. ■

Business

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

31

Farm groups say they can’t get grain transport meeting with transport minister

BY JOHN COTTER The Canadian Press EDMONTON — The Canadian Federation of Agriculture says the federal government isn’t paying enough attention to concerns from farmers about a report that calls for major changes to grain rail transportation.

President Ron Bonnett says another bumper crop is on the way and farmers are worried about a repeat of a rail bottleneck in 2013-2014 that cost the economy billions of dollars.

The federation says it wants Transport Minister Marc Garneau to consider the input of farmers as he reviews the report that calls for overhauling the Canada Transportation Act. Bonnett says he has been asking for a meeting with Garneau since April that would include farm leaders from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, but nothing is in the works.

“We are just getting ‘not available.’

Frustration would be the mild word,” Bonnett said in an interview.

“He met with some grain companies, but the reality is, it is the farmers who pay the freight on that grain.”

Bonnett said farmers are worried about a recommendation in the report to eliminate a policy within seven years that limits the amount of money that can be earned by Canadian National (TSX:CNR)

Bonnett said farmers are worried about a recommendation in the report to eliminate a policy within seven years that limits the amount of money that can be earned by Canadian National (TSX:CNR) and Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX:CP) for shipping western grain.

and Canadian Pacific Railway (TSX:CP) for shipping western grain.

The federation wants the Liberal government to keep the program and update it, including the way that freight rates are calculated. The current rates were set almost 25 years ago.

Bonnett said western farmers who ship up to 40 million tonnes of grain a year rely on what is essentially a rail monopoly and last year paid $1.4 billion in freight charges to export their crops.

The federation would like Garneau to review the system to ensure that railways are not abusing their position — a promise the Liberals made during the

World Bank: Boosted spending can expand Philippine economy THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine economy may grow faster than expected if public infrastructure spending is increased as planned, the World Bank said Monday.

If that happened, the country’s economic growth may exceed the earlier forecasts of 6.4 per cent this year and 6.2 per cent in the next two years, the bank said.

It also noted some businesses might be cautious given uncertainty over the ultimate direction of macroeconomic policy under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.

“Many reforms are being unveiled, specifically on tax policy and administration, the tracking of government

spending, security of land tenure, ease of doing business and restrictions on foreign participation,” World Bank lead economist Brigit Hansl said.

“But as policy details are still being discussed, some businesses might remain cautious,” Hansl said, adding that the completion of a new Philippine development plan this year will provide more clarity on the Duterte administration’s development priorities.

A bank report said that next year, 40 per cent of planned government spending on infrastructure would be for roads, railways, seaports and airports — spending that can boost industrial activities, real estate, construction and tourism.

Domestic consumption will also continue to prop up the economy, according to Hansl. ■

2015 election campaign.

Bonnett said he has met with Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, but decisions on the Transportation Act rest with Garneau.

The minister and department officials were not available for comment.

Norm Hall, president of the Agriculture Producers Association of Sas-

katchewan, said his organization wrote Garneau’s office last winter asking for a meeting.

“It took until July to get a reply just saying, ‘Yes, we received your letter. Sorry we are too busy,’” Hall said.

“Our membership is concerned. What I’ve heard from them is, ‘Here we go again.

Another review and they are not listening to agriculture.’ We know that he has met with the railroads a number of times. Are they going to get their way again?”

Lynn Jacobson, president of the Alberta Federation of Agriculture, said the railways have the ear of Transport Canada. Farm groups want to meet with Garneau to ensure their concerns aren’t being filtered by officials.

“We want to have a face-to-face so we can clarify our position quite strongly,” he said.

“It is troubling. We thought we would have better access with this government and to the minister. It isn’t turning out that way at all.”

Dan Mazier, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers in Manitoba, also said a direct meeting with Garneau is a must. ■

Divorced… Now What?

BY MYLENE LIM, AMP Mortgage Specialist IN CONTINUATION to the article I wrote last week on what happens to a mortgage when a relationship ends, I will be discussing how to minimize the negative impact of the separation on your finances.

Divorce, while often times feel like a death or the very least a limb being cut off, it is also a beginning to a new life. A fork on your road that will lead you to a different path. It is a chance to go for that “should have been” you’ve been wanting for so long but haven’t had the opportunity. But just as the road you travelled from had its highways and byways, its share of ups and downs, so would the new one.

As a professional mortgage broker, here is my advice that you should take strongly consider - Take Charge of your Finances.

If you have always left the budgeting and monitoring of your finances to your partner, now is the time to square those shoulders and face this task head on. It’s not as daunting as you may think if you focus on the important issues: 1) Joint debts If you have joint debts like credit cards, lines of credit, car loans, phone bills, etc., you make sure you know who is paying what. Ideally, if you’re severing the relationship, you should be cutting off financial obligations you’ve gone into together. But if this isn’t an option right

www.canadianinquirer.net

now, then make sure you are on top of the payments. Remember that if these debts don’t get paid or are paid late, you are jointly responsible and would reflect on your credit record. No ifs or buts about it.

2) Mortgage If you have a mortgage and you are both equally responsible for the payments until you either reach a settlement or sell the house, make sure that you continue to make the payments from an account you can monitor. Depending on your arrangement, your ex could give his/her share of the mortgage and then you pay the full amount.

3) Treat the divorce/break-up as a business You need to get all the agreement in writing. The sooner you iron out all the details, the easier, quicker and cheaper it will be for everyone. Even if your negotiation is taking time, you have to ensure right away who is responsible for what.

Divorce is a not an easy matter. It can drain you emotionally and very possibly financially. You do not need to add creditors’ phone calls and juggling missed payments into the picture. You have to ensure your credit score do not take a beating during the transition. It is hard enough to start a new life without having to build up your credit score once it has been compromised.

Talk to a mortgage professional for help and guidance to avoid mistakes that may cost you years to recover.

For more information, please feel free to contact me: Cel: 604 783 9097

32

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Technology Diehard BlackBerry fans bemoan the end to Canadian-made smartphones

BY CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI The Canadian Press TORONTO — BlackBerry addicts are notoriously loyal, but even they will have a hard time sticking by their beloved device now that BlackBerry Ltd. is outsourcing production, say observers who admit to being diehard users themselves.

News that the Waterloo, Ont.-based company will stop making their own smartphones represented another nail in the coffin for the so-called CrackBerry, at least for enthusiasts who pride themselves on backing the homegrown product in the face of an iPhone revolution.

Toronto devotee Alex Davis feared that “outsourcing the heck out of it” would result in poor quality, but mostly complained about losing the ability to call it a Canadian phone. He stuck with BlackBerry even as friends and family picked up slicker, more versatile rivals from Apple and Samsung.

“I always felt like I’m going down with the ship. It’s like ‘Titanic,”’ joked Davis, who runs The Repair Store, which specializes in servicing the BlackBerry. “I have a lot of customers who come in and they go: ‘I’m going down with the ship!

I’m Canadian, I’m sticking with them and I don’t care if they go broke, it’s a Canadian product.”’

Tech analyst Carmi Levy called the shift to third-party manufacturers “the end of an era” for the device, considering its Canuck roots one of its big-

gest selling points.

“Now it removes the last thing that differentiated BlackBerry devices from other devices — it’s Canadianness,” said Levy, a CTV technology analyst based in London, Ont., who uses a BlackBerry Priv.

Still, he admitted that Team BlackBerry is alive and well, despite a prolonged tailspin that began with the iPhone’s debut.

“They’re a breed apart from any other smartphone user,” said Levy. “They love their phone at a level that not even the most ardent Apple fan can reach.

“It isn’t so much a statement about their style, which is what an iPhone is, it’s a statement about who they are and how they stand apart from the crowd. It’s a culture more than anything else and even after the company’s downfall, they don’t want to give that up. And for good reason — there aren’t that many Canadian icons to begin with.”

Levy credits the BlackBerry with igniting our modern-day obsession with mobile devices, noting they were the first to really become a ubiquitous accessory that demanded constant attention.

“Before BlackBerry came along, all we had were (cellphones),” said Levy.

“It didn’t bother us if we left them on the other side of the house, no one gave these phones a second thought. You replaced them every few years when a newer, better one came along but it really wasn’t an object of affection or desire.... We

HONOU / FLICKR

tend to think of the iPhone as a generator of mania, but really it was the BlackBerry that started it and if we owe a debt of gratitude to any one company for sealing the smartphone within our brain it is BlackBerry.”

BlackBerry aficionado Chris Parsons agrees, noting that the device has become an integral part of our personal and collective culture, and shaped a mobile etiquette that we take for granted today.

The Halifax tech guru, who runs the website CrackBerry. com, pointed to the phone’s flashing red light, which alerted users to a waiting message but also served as digital proof of productivity, or popularity.

“There’s the concept of the red blinking light that created

www.canadianinquirer.net

the sense of urgency,” Parsons said of the feature, reminiscent of the old-school landline answering machine.

“BlackBerry basically gave people the power to be able to go ahead and get excited over phones.”

Davis credits teenagers with being the first hardcore adopters, since BlackBerry’s messaging program BBM was free in an age when you had to pay for a text message.

The core user eventually became businessmen, real estate agents and lawyers — working professionals enamoured with the clickety-clack of a manual keyboard and hooked on the ability to send and receive immediate emails that could make or break a deal.

“IPhone (was like) as a toy to most people. They look and they say, ‘Yeah my daughter has one.’ ‘My son has one’,” said Davis, who swears by his BlackBerry Q10.

“A pragmatic user is not interested in sending selfies. It’s just not us. It’s not the crowd who has a BlackBerry.”

U.S. President Barack Obama and social media queen Kim Kardashian are among its most famous devotees because of BlackBerry’s top security features, although both have admitted to moving on to rival devices.

Kardashian’s effusive devotion was tempered by the fact she also owned an iPhone, her device of choice for the social media exploits that keep her in the limelight.

The implicit suggestion is that Kardashian’s BlackBerry was for boring work stuff, said Parsons.

“There’s definitely stigma around the brand itself that probably never is going to leave them unfortunately,” he said.

And at this point, BlackBerry can’t even ride an “underdog” wave that it enjoyed for a short time while the world went Apple crazy, said Levy.

“That retro/nostalgic cool that Blackberry has enjoyed for a while has been eroding over the past year or so since it made its initial move into the Android market,” he said. “And now that it’s announced that other companies are going to be building its phones for it, the very things that made BlackBerry cool will no longer exist.” ■

Technology

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

33

Toyota’s tiny robot sells for Researchers reveal under $400, talks, can’t drive first Mars rover made in Mexico

BY YURI KAGEYAMA The Associated Press

TOKYO — The new robot from Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. can’t do much but chatter in a high-pitched voice.

The 39,800-yen ($390), 10-centimetre (4-inch) -tall, doll-like Kirobo Mini — whose name comes from “kibo,” or “hope,” and “robot” — supposedly has the smarts of a 5-yearold.

Fuminori Kataoka, general manager in charge of the project, says its value is emotional, going from home to car to the outdoors as a faithful companion, although the owner must do all the walking and driving.

Preorders start later this year. Shipments are set for next year. No overseas sales are planned so far. The company said it planned a gradual rollout, initially limited to Tokyo and Aichi prefecture in central Japan, near company headquarters, to get feedback from consumers.

It comes equipped with a camera, microphone and Bluetooth, and connects to a smartphone, which needs to be installed with a special software application. It turns its head toward a voice, although sometimes that function fails as its voice recognition is far from perfect.

“Toyota has been making cars that have a lot of valuable uses.

But this time we’re just pushing emotional value,” Kataoka said.

During an interview with The Associated Press, the robot turned its head to the reporter and then to Kataoka when he replied. But the first time Kataoka asked the robot for its name, it replied by asking what kind of car he had. It got it right the second time. Kataoka just laughed.

The robot is not equipped with face recognition technology, and so it cannot recognize different people. The idea is one Kiribo Mini per person, according to Toyota.

More people in Japan are living alone, including the elderly and young singles. And they need someone, or in this case something, to talk to, Kataoka said.

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

TOYOTA-EUROPE.COM

But he was amazingly frank about how useless his robot is.

“This is not smart enough to be called artificial intelligence,” he said. “This is about the existence of something you can talk to. A stuffed animal might not answer back, but people do talk to it, like my daughter once did this. But if it talked back, wouldn’t that be better? And isn’t this better than talking to a box?”

Some may find depressing, if not disturbing, a vision of a society of lonely people turning to dialogue with machines. But proponents say that’s the reality, and that the technology can serve as a tool to help care for the sick or the elderly.

Naoki Mizushina, researcher at Tokyo-based MM Research Institute, which studies the robotics market, said the robot was too much like talking toys, on sale at cheaper prices, and it seemed to lack concrete functions to make it a big hit, such as linking to online shopping or furnishing convenient information.

“Will this take off? It might be tough,” he said.

But those who like gadgets — and there are quite a few in Japan — may want one. Toyota declined to say how many it planned to ready for preorder, or how many it planned to sell in the first year.

Toyota remains skeptical about how a partner robot would fare abroad, although it remained open to assessing such interest.

The idea of companion robots is already widely accepted in Japan.

Japanese technology and

telecom company Softbank Corp. began selling its 198,000yen ($1,960) Pepper humanoid last year. The first batch of 1,000 sold out immediately, and it has sold 10,000 in Japan so far.

Robo Garage, headed by robot designer Tomotaka Takahashi, has brought an array of Kirobo lookalikes, many with more sophisticated functions at higher prices, including Robi, which must be assembled.

Kataoka is hopeful Kirobo will be able to avoid the fate of the Aibo dog-shaped robot from Sony Corp., which was discontinued in 2006, despite outcries from fans. He cited advances in technology, such as cloud-based upgrades.

Robotics is widely used in auto-assembly plants. Toyota has shown other human-shaped robots before, although this is the first being offered to consumers.

Honda Motor Co., another Japanese automaker, makes Asimo, a humanoid, which can run, pick up objects and talk.

Artificial intelligence is increasingly a part of the auto industry in another critical way — self-driving vehicles. Vehicles are also increasingly connected online.

Toyota, which manufactures the Prius hybrid, Camry sedan and Lexus luxury models, remained vague about how Kiribo Mini might work with its autos, an obvious application.

The only examples it gave were that it might say, “Oh, oh, oh, oh. Be careful” when it detects sudden braking, or chirp, “Let’s take a break” when the drive gets long. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO — The first prototype of a Mars explorer robot designed in Mexico by a team of 10 university students has gained the recognition of NASA and the International Astronautical Federation.

“It is a completely Mexican design,” Bryan Perez, one of the members of the team, told Xinhua on Saturday.

The development team consists of nine engineering students from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and one from the National Polytechnic Institute.

“We are convinced that Mexico has the knowledge, the drive and the power to innovate in aerospace, which is just beginning here,” said Perez.

The robot is equipped with two stereoscopic cameras to chart terrain and a third camera, below its body, to monitor samples collected by a pincer.

The robot also includes artificial vision, terrain mapping and route selection abilities. It is capable of searching, collecting and storing samples from the surface of Mars.

The development team has been awarded at the Sample Return Robot Challenge in 2015 and 2016, a competition organized by NASA for universities and companies to develop Mars rovers, said Perez.

“We are as good as any of the major universities in the United States who use the same technology and methodology.

The only difference is that they have more resources to carry out their projects,” he said.

The team has been working together for two years, with the development of the second prototype taking nine months and costing around 180,000 pesos (USD9,285) provided by UNAM, a technology company and the students themselves.

In late September, the team took the prototype to the 67th International Astronautical Congress in the Mexican city of Guadalajara to exhibit it alongside the latest technology by giants in the field.

The prototype won the title of best team project, with the students receiving a trophy during the Congress’ closing ceremony on Sept. 30.

Their hope is now for NASA or another space agency to choose some of their components to be included on future missions to Mars. ■

Obama, DiCaprio... not be allowed to hold public office.”

Trump has repeatedly referred to climate change as a hoax.

DiCaprio’s film, “Before the Flood,” got its domestic premier on the White House lawn after his discussion with the president and climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe.

The “South by South Lawn” event was designed to replicate the vibe of the South by Southwest festival held annually in Austin, Texas.

It included panel discussions on topics such as “feeding the future” and “fixing real problems” as well as booths and vendors promoting everything ❰❰ 25

from virtual reality technology to fake tattoos.

Tech blogger and entrepreneur Anil Dash said the South Lawn festival was a way to connect the dots between Austin’s SXSW, with its ideas for changing the world, and the people who are “doing the actual work” to use technology to improve worker rights, civil rights and more.

The White House tech fest also featured a student film festival, a wall of art made of Post-Its, Lego statues, demonstrations on the science of food and using technology to help the disabled and lots of music.

Among those performing: the Lumineers, Gallant, Black Alley and DJ Bev Bond. ■

34

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Travel Surviving Universal Studios Singapore’s ‘Halloween Horror Nights 6’ We walked through 5 haunted houses and 2 scare zones and lived to tell the tale

BY PAM PASTOR Philippine Daily Inquirer YOU’RE LOOKING goth,” said Indonesian YouTuber and TV host Kevin Hendrawan as he looked at my allblack outfit.

“Yeah, I figured wearing black would make it easier to hide from the ghosts,” I said.

What I didn’t say: “Also, if I’m wearing black and I end up peeing my pants in fear, it wouldn’t be too obvious.”

We were in Resorts World Sentosa for a sneak peek at Universal Studios Singapore’s “Halloween Horror Nights 6” and the truth was, I was really scared.

“Say a prayer for me,” I posted online. “We’re still at dinner and I’m already terrified.”

Resorts World Sentosa was kicking off Halloween season and we were about to be the guinea pigs for its biggest Halloween Horror Nights yet.

“You’d be the first to get the full experience. Our scare actors are very excited,” we were told.

The horrors had started the day before, when I unwrapped an HHN6 “first aid kit” in my room at the Hard Rock Hotel and found, hiding under cobwebs and spiders, witch finger cookies, jello eyeballs and a brain cupcake.

But bigger horrors were to happen the next day—five haunted houses (a new record), two scare zones, two live shows, a procession of the dead, and other terrifying surprises.

“Last year, we had over 170,000 in attendance. This year we hope to do more. We have 16 nights this year, two more than last year’s. The demand from people was they want more ways to be scared.

They want more things to do,” said Jason Horkin, Resorts World Sentosa senior vice president of attractions. And they delivered. The houses are so

“Each house won’t take more than 15 minutes, but in there you’ll feel like it’s a century,” said Resorts World Sentosa regional marketing manager Celest Quek.

“Maybe I can just close my eyes,” I thought. “But what will I write?”

The night kicked off with a set from a skeleton DJ who started dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

“Look at that,” I told YouTuber Haley Dasovich, pointing to the Mel’s drive-in sign just beside the stage. The letters “R” and “V” had been switched off so that it now read “Mel’s d i e-in.” They were really serious about getting the spook on.

Suddenly things had gone wrong for our skeleton DJ friend who was engulfed in flames. Lady Death had taken over the stage along with her army of spectacular monsters.

They summoned us closer and we followed, crowding around the stage, mouths agape.

They were just a few of the 400 scare actors from 15 countries who will come together each night to scare the crap out of the theme park’s visitors.

“I’m so scared,” I texted my friend T. Rex. His reply was quick: “Your mom didn’t raise a weak bitch.”

I smiled. He was right. I’ve survived all kinds of craziness, a few haunted houses should be a breeze.

we entered the Salem Witch House, my hands were cold and clammy again. The warning from our guides didn’t help ease myfears. “There are witches inside. Assault them and they will take revenge,” they said. ABSCBN’s Jelai Salting and I clung to each other as we stepped into the old cabin, a musky smell hitting our noses. I stared at the vintage wallpaper and flickering candles, marveling at how we had been masterfully transported to a different world. I no longer felt like I was in Universal Studios Singapore. I was in a witch’s house in Massachusetts.

Two girls were on the floor, holding hands, their eyes rolling to the back of their skulls as they swayed, immersed in their Wiccan ritual. We stepped around them, slowly, gingerly, knowing more witches were waiting inside.

We stumbled from room to room, shrieking as we came face to face with witches of all kinds. Young witches, old witches, dark witches, white witches. A scary old lady sat on a rocking chair cradling a redeyed baby, while a man with a knife through his head reached out in a silent cry for help.

“He’s insane!” a pilloried girl screamed, as a cloaked figure tormented her with a scythe.

We walked through an eerily beautiful white forest before seeing a gorgeous witch about to be burned at the stake.

“Come with me,” she said, her slender fingers beckoning us.

For a hot second, I was tempted to follow. But instead I scrambled after my group, heaving a huge sigh of relief when I realized that we were outside again, away from all the witches.

“One down, four to go!” we shouted. My throat was already sore from screaming and my heart was still pounding.

Salem Witch House

Hawker Centre Massacre

scary that even the people who work behind the scenes still get a fright from them.

Andrea Teo, Resorts World Sentosa vice president of entertainment, said: “Every time we walk through the houses, most of us still go, “Who’s going first?

Who’s going first?” We still get scared. That’s pretty awesome.”

Lady Death

But just moments before

Our next stop was the Hawkwww.canadianinquirer.net

“Each house won’t take more than 15 minutes, but in there you’ll feel like it’s a century,” said Resorts World Sentosa regional marketing manager Celest Quek.

LIM ASHLEY / FLICKR

er Centre Massacre where diners had been poisoned with radioactive fish, turning them into flesh-eating monsters.

“Go! Go! Get out of here!” a bloody Singaporean teenager warned us.

“Help me, please!” a man crawled toward us, his hair singed, the flesh on his face looking like it had melted.

On the tables were half-eaten bowls of food, body parts strewn about. Bodies flailed, people cried for help and everyone looked so scary that it was hard to tell whowas friendly and whowas not.

We wandered through food booths, flower stalls, racks of clothing, getting shock after shock from old ladies with pusfilled faces, a man puking into a barrel and more dead bodies on the ground. The level of detail was amazing, it felt like we were in a real hawker center.

As we made our way to the next haunted house, medics arrived to tend to the little scratch Kevin got on his arm. “I don’t want to turn into a zombie!” he said and we all laughed.

Bodies of Work

Our next stop was an exhibit by artist Damien Shipman whose family had died in a fire.

His macabre works are his homage, a controversial and twisted tribute to the loved ones he lost too soon. It started innocently enough—with framed pictures, flowers and lit candles and a television that played news

clips of the tragic incident. But the further we walked into the house, the stranger it became.

A filthy long-haired man in a tuxedo, strips of flesh that you have to walk through, bloody grimacing heads on shelves, a crying girl chained inside a blood-splattered glass box, people coming out of walls, masked monsters creeping in the dark.

There were sinister clowns including a two-faced one with a big gun and another who chased me until I ended up stumbling onto a moving carousel of creepiness to get away from him. I had no idea I had been screaming so much until singer/actor Marlo Mortel stopped in his tracks to ask if I was okay.

“Yeah!” I said, snapping out of my clown-induced hysteria.

“That was the best one yet! I loved that carousel!”

Suicide Forest

The Suicide Forest—one of two outdoor scare zones also known as “selfie zones” because yes, you can pose for pictures with the scare actors if you’re brave enough—offers a walk through scenes of death and desperation. Bodies hung from trees and swung on swings, the undead wandered about, some seemingly lost, others determined to make contact. It was all so eerie but also strangely beautiful.

We emerged from the forest ❱❱ PAGE 39 Surviving Universal

Travel

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

35

Artesa and Domaine Carneros in Napa Valley.

RIGHT: WOLLERTZ / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

SCENIC SIPS:

Enjoy vino with a view at these scenic wineries

BY MICHELLE LOCKE The Associated Press NAPA, CALIF. — Tasting wine is fun and possibly educational. But tasting wine while gazing on a backdrop of vine-covered hills rippling toward a blue horizon? That’s a fairly unbeatable pairing.

Here are some California wineries with views that will have you pulling your nose out of that glass — the better to drink in the scenery.

Artesa

With its picturesque hilltop setting in the Carneros wine-growing region at the southern end of the Napa Valley, Artesa was one of the original wineries in the area, founded by the Spanish wine-making family Codorniu Raventos. Barcelona architect Domingo Triay designed the winery to blend into the highest hill of Artesa’s 350-acre estate. A protective covering of natural grasses conceals the winery rooftop, accented by fountains and contemporary sculpture. On a clear day, you can see not forever but as far as the San Francisco Bay. Reservations required for parties of eight or more; advance booking for tours and tastings in general is recommended. Tastings begin at $25.

CADE Estate Winery

Howell Mountain at the northern tip of the Napa Valley gives CADE its amazing vantage point. From the wide terrace, at an elevation of 1,800 feet (550 metres) that is well above the fog line, you can look out over acres of vineyards and tree-covered hills. The winery was founded in 2005 by John Conover, Gavin Newsom (currently California’s lieutenant governor) and billionaire Gordon Getty. It takes its name from Shakespeare, who used cade to refer to the wine casks used to ship wine from France to England in Elizabethan times.

This is a good winery to visit when temperatures start to dip; the terrace includes comfy couches set around a large fire pit. Reservations required; tastings start at $40 per person.

Castello di Amorosa

As the Napa Valley’s only 13th-century Tuscan castle (yes, it’s a replica, but a very faithful one), the Castello offers sweeping views from the ramparts. But there are some indoor sights to take in as well, such as the armoury, grand barrel room and a torture chamber (...though not currently in use). General admission starts at $25 and includes a tasting of five wines. Guided tours, which include tastings, start at $40. For $80, you can take a food-and-wine pairing that ends with a tasting in the elegantly decorated royal apartment. Reservations recommended for guided tours.

Cuvaison Estate

If rolling hills are what you’re looking for, Cuvaison’s got them. This winery in the Carneros region was completed in 2009 and features a wood-and-steel structure embedded into a hilltop with wraparound terraces. Native grass landscaping complements other sustainable practices including rainwater collection and solar energy. Reservations recommended. Tastings start at $20.

Mumm Napa

The terrace at Mumm Napa is on a hillside off the Silverado Trail, the valley’s lesser-travelled main thoroughfare, and has a commanding view of the Napa Valley. Open daily with three tasting experiences: outdoor patio, enclosed tasting salon or oak terrace. Tastings start at $20. Reservations required for terrace seating.

Silverado Vineyards

There’s something about drinking wine on a terrace. And the Napa Valley’s generally good weather makes the experience all the more enjoyable. The terrace at Silverado Vineyards features 180-degree views of the renowned Stags’ Leap Wine district, the better to taste by. Film buffs may be interested to know the winery was founded by Lillian Disney, widow of Walt, her daughter Diane Disney Miller and son-in-law Ron Miller. Open by appointment only. Tastings start at $30.

Stags’ Leap Winery

The newly renovated, Victorian-era Manor House at Stags’ Leap Winery has a grand wraparound porch for tastings with an expansive view of the vineyards.

Domaine Carneros

If you’ve ever wanted to make like Cinderella, this is the winery to pick. Domaine Carneros features graceful flights of stone steps leading up to a terrace overlooking vine-covered hills where you can enjoy table service and order small plates to accompany your tasting.

Wines may be tasted in flights or by the glass. Reservations are required for tastings and table service, and may be made up to 5 p.m. on the day of the visit, based on availability. Tours are available, must be booked in advance. Tastings start at $25. www.canadianinquirer.net

By appointment only; tastings start at $65.

Sterling Vineyards

There’s a reason Sterling Vineyards tends to make a lot of “best of” lists.

The view from this hilltop winery on the northern end of the Napa Valley is remarkable. The vineyard is set 300 feet (91 metres) above the town of Calistoga. An aerial tram takes you up to the winery, set in a white stucco building modeled after the architectural style of the Greek island of Mykonos. From the south terrace you look straight down the Napa Valley. Reservations not required, although a good idea at peak times such as weekends. General admission and tasting starts at $29.

Auberge du Soleil

Not a winery, but a resort, Auberge du Soleil has two dining options, both with breathtaking views. If you’re feeling flush, you can eat at the Michelinstarred restaurant with its terrace overlooking a green and verdant valley. Or, you can stop by the more casual bistro which has a wraparound deck, more than 40 wines by the glass and is a great spot for sunset watching. ■

36

OCTOBER 7, 2016

FRIDAY

Food Quesadillas for dinner on Halloween

BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press IF YOU have kids, then you know that thinking about dinner on Halloween is not easy.

Getting the kids out the door with a little something in their stomachs besides candy is one of the few things you can do to wrangle a bit of order into this free-for-all holiday.

My kids are too old to really rein in their candy consumption, so I just make something simple, think of some faraway yoga pose and look forward to rooting around in their bags when they get back.

Quesadillas fit the bill nicely for Halloween: Kids can pick up the cheesy wedges by hand and eat while they look around for the missing pieces of their costumes. After they are on their way, the quesadillas pair nicely with a glass of wine for the grownups left manning the door at home (and the friends who are willing to hang out with them).

This recipe’s particular combination of cheese, chicken and vegetables makes my family happy, but quesadillas are a wonderful springboard for

combining all kinds of ingredients, so feel free to use what you like and what’s in your fridge.

If you have left-over, simply cooked chicken, use it here.

If not, this is what rotisserie chickens were meant for. The olives are optional, but my kids love them.

These make fat quesadillas, which are so much more soulsatisfying that flat, under-filled ones. I’d much rather have two wedges of slightly overstuffed quesadillas than four wedges of skinny ones. If you prefer differently, use more tortillas and fill them with less stuff.

You can keep the quesadillas warm on a baking sheet in a 250-degree oven for 20 to 30 minutes. Cut them into wedges just before serving.

In addition to sour cream and salsa, guacamole or diced avocado makes fine toppings.

Spinach, mushroom and chicken quesadillas

Start to finish: Servings: 4 • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar • 1 cup shredded Monterey Jack • 2 tablespoons unsalted but-

ter, divided • 8 ounces sliced mushrooms, any kind, or a mix • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic • 1 cup roughly chopped spinach • Kosher or coarse salt and freshly ground pepper to taste • 8 8-inch flour tortillas • 1 cup shredded cooked chicken • 1/4 cup chopped pitted black olives (optional) • Sour cream and salsa to serve Combine the two cheeses in a small bowl.

Heat 2 teaspoons of the butter in a skillet with a cover over medium heat. When the butter has melted, add the mushrooms and saute for about 8 minutes.

The mushrooms will soften and probably release some liquid as they cook. Continue cooking until all of the liquid has been released, and evaporated, and the mushrooms start to brown a bit. Add the minced garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Add the spinach, season with salt and pepper, and saute for two minutes until the spinach has wilted. Turn the vegetables onto a plate and set aside.

Wipe out the skillet, then re-

turn it to medium heat and add a half teaspoon of butter. Place a tortilla in the pan and cook for 30 seconds, then flip the tortilla.

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture over half of the quesadilla, and distribute about 1/8 (a couple of tablespoons) of both the sauteed vegetable mixture and the shredded chicken over the cheese, as well as some of the chopped olives, if desired.

Top that with another 2 tablespoons of the shredded cheese.

Flip the bare half of the tortilla over the filling, cover the pan, and saute for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is golden and the cheese has started to melt, then use a spatula to flip the

half-moon quesadilla, and continue to cook, uncovered, until all of the cheese is melted and the underside is browned, 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove the quesadilla to a cutting board and let it sit for a minute before you slice into two or three wedges. Repeat until all of the quesadillas are cooked. Serve with salsa and sour cream. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 569 calories; 259 calories from fat; 29 g fat (16 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 87 mg cholesterol; 628 mg sodium; 48 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 31 g protein.

Onion corn bread leaves lasting memory

BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press OVER THE summer, I travelled to Wooster, Ohio, for a barbecue summit at the headquarters of Certified Angus Beef.

It was a trip filled with learning, camaraderie — and lots of smoked beef.

My fellow barbecue pit masters and I visited a black angus ranch, talked barbecue nonstop, cut a side of beef together — or rather watched as the “meat doctor” Phil Bass cut and explained.

I was introduced to several new cuts including beef belly — also known as beef bacon — which I immediately made when I got back home. But, the standout of the trip wasn’t barbecue at all. Instead, it was a Vidalia onion cornbread made by Ashley Pado, chef of the education and culinary centre at Certified Angus Beef headquarters.

Pado headed up a team of chefs preparing that day’s feast that included a table of smoked beef, numerous side dishes, home-baked breads, pickled vegetables and that memorable cornbread that sparkled with

a pave of caramelized Vidalia onion rings set in the bottom of the cornbread. When Pado served the cornbread, she inverted it in the cast-iron pan so you could see the concentric circles of onion baked into the bottom. Even before we took a bite, the group marveled at the presentation and wondered why more people don’t embellish cornbread.

The cornbread itself is light and cakey with a little tang and a little sweetness but the salty savory almost-fried onions take it over the top. Pado sauteed the onions in beef bacon since www.canadianinquirer.net

she had it in her pantry. When I made the recipe, I adapted it using pork bacon but you could use butter or any kind of bacon that you can get your hands on.

Ashley’s Vidalia onion cast-iron cornbread

Start to finish: One hour Servings: 8 • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour • 2/3 cup granulated white sugar • 1/2 cup yellow corn meal • 1 tablespoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 1/2 cup buttermilk • 3 whole eggs, beaten • 1/3 cup vegetable oil • 3 tablespoons melted butter • 1 large Vidalia onion, sliced thin and kept together as one piece in rounds • 4 slices bacon, diced • Equipment: 9 or 10-inch castiron skillet Heat oven to 375 F Saute bacon over low heat in skillet until crisp. Meanwhile slice thin rounds of onions, making sure you keep them intact ❱❱ PAGE 39 Onion corn

Food

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

37

Ditch the dairy to make the This Frozen most flavourful, creamy soup Bulletproof Coffee is creamy without the cream

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press

THIS TIME of year, with the weather getting colder, I love to serve soup for supper. It’s an easy sell at my house, where The Husband is a soup-aholic.

But with a soup this good, I firmly believe you can sell it to anyone. The trick is to amp up the flavour, vary the texture and make it substantial.

Here I started by roasting — not boiling — the cauliflower.

Roasting eliminates excess water, brings the natural sugars to the fore and concentrates the flavours (adding some nuttiness in the process). Next, I make sure not to obscure the cauliflower’s flavour with too many other ingredients. Yes, there is onion and garlic, but they play only supporting roles.

Likewise, the stock, diluted with water, is designed not to overwhelm. The greens — because they’re not pureed and not added until the very end — pack a satisfying little punch of their own without compromising the cauliflower taste.

You may notice there’s no dairy in this recipe. While it’s true that dairy adds luxuriousness to a soup’s texture, it also tends to blot out flavour, particularly delicate vegetable flavours. That’s why I almost always leave it out.

Similarly, there’s no flour or cornstarch here. This soup owes its rich thickness to the pureeing of some of the cauliflower, onion and garlic in the company of a lone Yukon Gold potato (for silkiness). I’d always rather thicken a soup by pureeing some of its ingredients than by adding flour or another starch. Starchy thickeners are distracting.

At the end of the recipe, to provide some crunchy contrast to the creamy base, I added roasted cauliflower florets. Finally, there are those garlicky cheese rye toasts — Yum! — that contribute yet more crunch as well as big flavour, whether you tear them up and toss the pieces into the soup or happily munch them on the side.

The finished product is a tasty, hearty, healthy and affordable soup for supper. And

BY MELISSA D’ARABIAN The Associated Press

if you use vegetable broth, it’s vegetarian, too. Either way, it’s fully capable of standing on its own, or with just a small salad.

Roasted cauliflower and greens soup with cheesy rye toasts

Start to finish: 1 hour (35 minutes active) Servings: 4 • 1 head cauliflower (about 2 1/2 pounds) • 3 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided • Kosher salt • 1 cup sliced yellow onion • 2 teaspoons minced garlic • 1 medium Yukon Gold potato (about 3 to 4 ounces), thinly sliced • 3 cups low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth • 2 cups water • 5 ounces baby greens (such as kale, spinach, arugula, mustard or a mix) • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • Ground black pepper • 4 slices rye bread • 1 ounce grated Parmesan cheese Heat the oven to 450 F. Cut off and discard the tough bottom of the cauliflower stem.

Separate 3 cups of small cauliflower florets (each about 1/2 inch in diameter) and set aside.

Cut the rest of the cauliflower into 1-inch pieces, then mound them on a rimmed baking sheet.

Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and sprinkle with about 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Toss well to coat, then spread in an even layer. Roast on the oven’s middle shelf, stirring once or

twice, until it is golden brown at the edges, 20 to 25 minutes.

In a large saucepan over medium, heat 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the potato, the roasted cauliflower, the broth and water. Simmer the mixture until the potato is tender, about 15 minutes.

While the soup is simmering, on the rimmed sheet pan, toss the reserved florets with 2 teaspoons of oil and about 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Roast until they are golden brown and tender, about 20 minutes.

Transfer the hot soup in small batches to a blender and blend until smooth. Return the soup to the saucepan, stir in the greens and simmer until they are wilted and tender, about 5 minutes.

Add the roasted florets and cook for 1 minute. Add the lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper. Adjust the consistency, as desired, with an additional splash or two of water.

Brush the rye bread with the remaining tablespoon of oil and toast on the oven’s middle shelf until golden, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the toasts and return to the oven and bake for another 2 minutes. Ladle the soup into serving bowls and serve each portion with a toast. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 300 calories; 140 calories from fat (47 per cent of total calories); 15 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 5 mg cholesterol; 770 mg sodium; 32 g carbohydrate; 6 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 10 g protein. www.canadianinquirer.net

I LOVE coffee. My standard order is simple: coffee with milk, no sugar. I don’t veer off into milkshake-land or over-sweetened hot-chocolate-type drinks with folds of fluffy whipped cream.

So when bulletproof coffee — usually a mug of joe blended with butter — became trendy a few years ago, it was a non-issue for me. Why mess with 30 years of simple coffee-drinking perfection?

Proponents claimed bulletproof coffee helped them lose weight (I was skeptical), and it gave them more energy (wasn’t that the point of caffeine?). And then I tried it: it was downright delicious; lusciously creamy.

Why didn’t the PR folks lead with that?

For those of you who have not tried bulletproof coffee, it is essentially hot coffee blended up with a spoonful of coconut oil or ghee (clarified butter) until the whole mixture becomes creamy pale brown, as the oil emulsifies into the coffee. Usually, a little vanilla or cinnamon is added.

Basically, it’s creamy coffee, without the cream, and a coconut flavour undertone. It appeals to the dairy-free and paleo crowd to be sure, but honestly, anyone who loves coffee should try it at least once. (Tip: be very careful when you blend up hot liquids in a blender.)

Now, imagine that your bulletproof coffee and your favourite smoothie had a child. That is my recipe today — Frozen Bulletproof Coffee — and it may become your new favourite coffee order.

I made this version with peanut butter, banana and cinnamon, but feel free to swap out ingredients and make it your own — add pumpkin pie spice and you’ll be super seasonal. Even if you are addicted to the fluffy frozen dessert concoctions that

are made in the name of coffee, you will love this frozen bulletproof coffee.

(Fluffy coffee drinkers note: there’s no added sugar in my recipe, but feel free to add a small spoonful of honey if you must.) Bulletproof coffee is like being on an exotic vacation — I love it, but I also crave the homey comfort of my standard cup of morning joe. When I feel like something special, though, this Frozen Bulletproof Coffee is my go-to.

Frozen bulletproof coffee

Start to finish: 5 minutes Servings: 1 • 3/4 cup brewed black coffee (hot) • 1 tablespoon coconut oil (not melted) • 1 cup ice cubes • 1 tablespoon peanut butter • 1/2 banana, frozen and sliced • 1 tablespoon plain protein powder, plant-based or whey (optional) • pinch cinnamon • dash vanilla • pinch salt Place the coffee in a blender and add the coconut oil. Cover, leaving the lid a little askew (so steam doesn’t build up), and cover with a kitchen towel.

Carefully blend on mediumhigh until coconut oil is emulsified into the coffee and it is creamy brown, about 30 seconds. Add the ice cubes and the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth, about 30 more seconds. Pour into a large glass and enjoy.

Note: It’s important to make the bulletproof coffee first before adding the other ingredients so that the coconut oil emulsifies properly. ■ Nutritional information per serving: 306 calories; 195 calories from fat; 22 g fat (14 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 20 mg cholesterol; 108 mg sodium; 19 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 9 g sugar; 11 g protein.

OCTOBER 7, 2016

38

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39

FRIDAY OCTOBER 7, 2016

Weird science... one had died,” he told The Associated Press.

“But then a lady with a Swedish accent was on the line. It was pretty unexpected.”

Kosterlitz, a dual U.K.-U.S. citizen, said he got the news in a parking garage while heading to lunch in Helsinki.

“I’m a little bit dazzled. I’m still trying to take it in,” he told AP. While most people are familiar with objects in three dimensions, the Nobel laureates analyzed materials so thin they have only two dimensions, or even one.

Scientists had once been skeptical that any interesting atomic-scale behaviour takes place in these settings, but the Nobel laureates proved them wrong, said Phillip Schewe, a physicist and writer at the University of Maryland in College Park.

For example, Kosterlitz and Thouless showed that, against expectations, two-dimensional materials could conduct electricity without any loss to resistance. That property is called superconductivity.

Kosterlitz said he was in his 20s at the time and that his “complete ignorance” was an advantage in challenging the established science.

“I didn’t have any preconceived ideas,” he said. “I was young and stupid enough to take it on.”

Their analysis relied on topology, which is the mathematical study of properties that don’t change when objects are distorted. A doughnut and a coffee cup are equivalent topologically because they each have exactly one hole. In topology, properties change only in whole steps; you can’t have half a hole.

Prize committee member Thors Hans Hansson explained the concept by holding up a cinnamon bun, a bagel and a pretzel with two holes in it to reporters in Stockholm.

Thouless explained an experiment conducted with a very thin layer of material. Its elec❰❰ 22

Onion corn... trical resistance varied in response to changes in a magnetic field, but while the strength of the field was changed smoothly, the resistance changed in sharply defined steps. This effect is so precise that it is now used to define the unit of electrical resistance, the ohm.

Nobel committee member David Haviland said this year’s prize was more about theoretical discoveries even though they may result in practical applications.

Haldane said the award-winning research is just starting to have practical applications.

“The big hope is that some of these new materials could lead to quantum computers and other new technology,” he said.

Kosterlitz was not so sure.

“I’ve been waiting for my desktop quantum computer for years, but it’s still showing no signs of appearing,” he said. “At the risk of making a bad mistake, I would say that this quantum computation stuff is a long way from being practical.”

This year’s Nobel Prize announcements started Monday with the medicine award going to Japanese biologist Yoshinori Ohsumi for discoveries on autophagy, the process by which a cell breaks down and recycles content.

The chemistry prize will be announced on Wednesday and the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday. The economics and literature awards will be announced next week.

Besides the prize money, the winners get a medal and a diploma at the award ceremonies on Dec. 10, the anniversary of prize founder Alfred Nobel’s death in 1896. ■ Associated Press writers Keith Moore in Stockholm, Malcolm Ritter in New York, Matti Huuhtanen in Helsinki and Shawn Marsh in Trenton, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

and in one piece.

Remove bacon from pan but leave the bacon grease for the onions to cook in. Carfully place the onion rounds inthe bottom of the pan to cover the surface. Let onions cook until the edges begin to brown. Be careful to keep onions in place — the bottom of the skillet will have a “polkadot” pattern. Season onions with a dusting of fresh ground black pepper. Turn off the heat and set aside until ready to bake the cornbread. If the pan cools down, warm the pan on low heat before pouring the cornbread batter in pan.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, corn meal, bak❰❰ 36

ing powder and salt. Set aside.

In a separate bowl, mix together the cream, buttermilk, oil, eggs and melted butter until combined — the mixture will emulsify. Set aside.

Add wet to dry ingredients and mix until combined. Don’t over mix. Batter should look slightly lumpy.

Just before baking, add the cooked bacon back to the pan and place in the areas around the onions, not on top of the onions or it will interfere with the onion pattern. Pour cornbread batter directly into hot pan.

Place in the centre rack of the oven and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for 20 minutes, run a blunt knife around the edges of the cast-iron skillet to make sure that it isn’t sticking on the sides. Carefully turn the skillet upside down and flip cornbread out of pan to expose onion rounds — you can invert the cornbread and place it upside down back into the skillet for serving.

Serve at room temperature or warm. ■

It was at the Old Changi Hospital where I realized that if you’re scared enough, you will grab whoever is nearest you and cling hard, no matter if he or she is a total stranger.

They weren’t kidding when they said it was the scariest.

YouTuber Wil Dasovich, who bravely stayed in front of the line at each house said, “When it’s misty and there are corners, you know you’re f*cked.”

I wish I can tell you everything I saw at the Old Changi Hospital but it’s a blur of blood and bodies and screams and pounding hearts. The morgue was especially horrifying with its rattling body freezers.

We screamed and jumped and ran. We couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

cheongsam sang and danced before transforming into an evil fanged monster.

We walked through a maze of mirrors and feathers, coming upon one awful scene after the other. A serpent lady attacking her prey. A half-spider halfwoman feasting on a man’s guts.

We exited Hu Lin’s Inn and started screaming, this time in jubilation. We had survived our evening of horrors.

And I was hit with the crazy realization that I didn’t just survive “Halloween Horror Nights 6,” I actually want to do it again. ■

Nutrition information per serving: 419 calories; 211 calories from fat; 24 g fat (9 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 117 mg cholesterol; 407 mg sodium; 46 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 20 g sugar; 7 g protein.

Surviving Universal... in time to catch The March of the Dead.

The truth is, just walking around the dark theme park was a thrill. ❰❰ 34

Old Changi Hospital

Then it was time for the house I was dreaded most—the Old Changi Hospital, inspired by Singapore’s most haunted site and one of the 10 scariest places in the world. Narciso Valeriano from Resorts World Sentosa’s communications team had done two walk-throughs and told me that I was right to be worried about it the most.

Even the people who worked on creating the house agree.

“The Changi hospital is the scariest house we’ve ever done,” said Jason Horkin.

Scott Peterson, Resorts World Sentosa director of events and production, agrees.

“The house freaks me out,” he said, recalling his visit to the real Changi Hospital when he was a young student and the amount of research it took their team to recreate the horrors at Universal Studios.

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Hu Li’s Inn

Our last stop was Hu Li’s Inn. Set in old Shanghai, it is home to evil shape-shifting seductresses who lure men to horrible deaths. We walked into the foyer and gasped at how pretty and opulent it was. Onstage, a beautiful lady in a red and gold

“Halloween Horror Nights” runs on select nights, Sept. 30Oct. 31. Tickets are available for S$65 and S$69. Big horror fans can avail of the Frequent Fear Pass for unlimited visits to all 16 event nights. A Behind The Screams behind-the-scenes tour is also available for people who have signed up for an R.I.P. tour or daytime VIP tour at Universal Studios Singapore.

Visit www.halloweenhorrornights.com.sg.

40

OCTOBER 7, 2016

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