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VOL. 11 NO. 242

HALLOWEEN CHOCOLATE Skulls made of dark chocolate are the Halloween centerpiece of a cake and dessert specialty shop in Makati taking advantage of the commercial hype offered by All Saints’ Day. The large one costs P1,000 and the smaller one P500.

LYN RILLON / PDI

US stops sale of assault rifles to PNP

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BY JEROME ANING AND TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer

$19B in deals from Japan

PRESIDENT DUTERTE’S right-hand man in the Senate on Tuesday said the administration should start paying attention to international concerns about the human rights situation in the Philippines after the US state department halted the planned sale of assault rifles to the Philippine National Police.

“The US is not the only maker of quality rifles. It’s time for us to get to know what’s available in the world market,” Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III told the Inquirer by text message.

“But it’s also time for us to listen to the human rights concerns that other people are repeatedly raising about us,” he added.

The US state department halted the planned sale of 26,000-27,000 M4 assault

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PH-US ties stronger despite Du30 attacks

BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer THE LONG-STANDING relations between the Philippines and the United States are “stronger” than anyone thinks despite President Duterte’s continued verbal attacks on the US government, according to an American security analyst.

While Mr. Duterte’s pronouncements that are “clearly at odds with the realities of the US-Philippine alliance … have caused confusion, hurt feelings and in some quarters, anger…,” the United Stats can look at the situation as an opportunity to articulate that it would defend Filipino troops or vessels that would come under attack as stated in the Mutual Defense Treaty, said Gregory Poling, head of the think tank Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative.

“The United States should also recognize that in the face of consistent Chinese threats, the Philippines has reason to want reassurances about the

US commitment to its defense.

Duterte has repeatedly questioned American willingness to defend the Philippines,” Poling said.

elected Barack Obama is much changed from the America of Taft and Roosevelt,” Poling said.

Complacency issue

In case of attacks

He noted that a 2015 Pew Research Center found that US allies—the Philippines, South Korea and Japan—expressed trust that Washington would come to their aid should China launch a military attack.

“Article V of the Mutual Defense Treaty is clear—the United States bears a legal and moral commitment to respond to attacks on Filipino troops or public vessels, whether in the Philippine archipelago or in the disputed waters and reefs of the South China Sea. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t hurt to say so aloud,” Poling said.

With Mr. Duterte and his Foreign Secretary Perfecto Yasay bringing up “historical animosities,” Poling said American officials “should take the opportunity to address the darker aspects of our colonial past, recognizing pain caused while refocusing on future coopera-

President Rodrigo R. Duterte talks to airport employees upon his arrival at Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao City.

ACE MORANDANTE / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / PNA

tion, much as President Obama did in recent speeches in Laos and Vietnam.”

“They can remind both our

countries of the obvious—that just as the Philippines has evolved dramatically in the last century, the America that

Poling also stressed that despite Mr. Duterte’s anti-American stance, “the US shouldn’t be complacent.”

“The Duterte government’s decision to cancel all joint exercises with the US military— roughly 30 a year—will weaken our ability to respond together to external threats and natural disasters in the Philippines.

But neither should the United States write off the Philippines by underestimating the strong commitment of its people to our alliance,” Poling said.

“Democracies are messy by design and leaders are elected on domestic, not foreign, policy. Rodrigo Duterte was duly elected with almost 39 percent of the vote. That is a lower vote share than will likely be cast on Nov. 8 for a US candidate deeply skeptical of our alliances. Neither result is in line with the deep-held commitments of our peoples,” he added.

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SSS head hailed for backing hike in pensions

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer AN ACTIVIST lawmaker welcomed the plan of the new leadership of the Social Security System (SSS) to raise the pensions of its retirees on its own, even while Congress is still deliberating on proposals for a P2,000 across-theboard increase.

But Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said Congress should still speed up the passage of the bill “to ensure that the full P2,000 pension hike will be given across the board to all SSS pensioners, without the imposition of a corresponding increase in the payment of SSS premium.”

“While this is a good development, we will continue to push for the immediate approval and enactment of the P2,000 SSS pension increase bill,” said Zarate, a member of the Makabayan bloc in the majority coalition in the House of Representatives.

Staggered grant

On Friday, newly appointed SSS chair Amado Valdez expressed support for proposed measures in the House and the Sen-

ate pursuing reforms in the pension system, including the P2,000 pension increase.

“We understand the need for higher SSS pensions. However, merely mandating an across-the-board pension increase without any mention of how exactly the system will sustain it over the long term may not suffice,” Valdez said.

He proposed a staggered grant of P500 in four consecutive years starting 2017 “until the P2,000 is provided by 2020.”

Yearly increase

Another option, he said, was to have the increase implemented yearly based on five age groups and with the first tranche going to the oldest pensioners.

Zarate, however, said an incremental grant of the pension hike would not be of much help to retirees.

On Nov.15, the House committee on government enterprises and privatization is set to approve its report on House Bill No. 475 or the P2,000 SSS pension hike increase.

“We hope that before the year ends President Duterte can sign it into law because SSS pensioners have long waited for their pension increase,” Zarate said.

Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) Chairperson Terry Ridon (right, standing) welcomes participants to the "Urban Poor Summit 2016: Partnerships for Change with the Urban Poor", held at the Sequioa Hotel.

JOEY O. RAZON / PNA

Robredo calls for ‘urban poor participation’ in gov’t housing projects

BY AIRA MAY DIZON Philippines News Agency MANILA — Vice president Leni Robredo has called on poor urban communities to participate in the government’s housing projects in line with President Duterte’s call for ‘no demolition, no relocation’ policy.

During the Partnership for Change of Urban Poor Summit 2016, Petronio Jude Esguerra, assistant secretary for Senior Policy and Program of Vice president Leni Robredo, said that the vice president was calling on the urban poor to build organizations in the community that will help their local government units (LGUs) and the shelter agencies to streamline government’s housing relocation projects.

“Ang papel ng community ay mag-decide silang maging community. Marami sa urban poor ay hindi miyembro ng organizations so importante na bumuo sila ng organization lalo kung mahirap sila.

Kung mahirap ka at wala kang collateral, dapat miyembro ka ng organization (The role of the community is to decide they will become a community. A lot of our urban poor do not belong to organizations so it is important that they form these, especially if they are low-income groups. If you belong to the poor and do not own collateral, it is important you become part of an organization),” he said during PNA interview.

The official also said that Vice President Leni Robredo, who sits as the chairwoman of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), recently raised discussions with the Board of Social Housing Fi-

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nance Corporation that both agreed to strengthen the organizing community.

Esguerra said that Robredo also talked to the National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino P. Escalada, Jr. to pursue the proposed community-based shelter approach where the community takes the important role in the housing relocations in their respective localities.

“Kinakausap niya din si Gen. Mngr.

Escalada ng NHA na ituloy na yung community-based shelter approach, sa ngayon kasi, mas more on contractor dahil they afford the equipment, profit and the immediate action. Kapag community based, madalas mas matagal pero ang benefit ng community level eh pag pumili sila ng lugar ay gusto nila iyon kaya aalagaan nila iyon, hindi sila babalik sa danger zone (He has also talked to Gen. Mngr. Escalada of NHA to continue the community-based shelter approach for right now, the pressure lies with the contractor for they can afford the equipment, profit and the immediate action.

If community-based, it may take more time, but the benefit in the community level is that they can take care of the housing and they will not go back to the danger zones),” he said.

He added that the vice president’s call for the community will benefit the future developments of their respective livelihoods.

“Mas importante ang tulong ng communities na mag-organize sila para tulungan ang housing agencies na makapagtrabaho ng mas malawak at mas mabilis (It is more important for communities to organize so that we housing agencies can help them work more efficiently and quickly). It is for their own benefit,” he added.

Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER NOVEMBER 4, 4, 2016 2016 FRIDAY

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Lost souls haunt Naia terminal Thin and frail-looking, they walk among passengers and staff at the airport’s public areas, a subject of curiosity among people who often avoid them for fear of what their unstable minds might compel them to do.

BY JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE Philippine Daily Inquirer LOST SOULS haunt the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia), where they wait for flights that never come and loved ones who never redeem their promises.

Thin and frail-looking, they walk among passengers and staff at the Naia terminal’s public areas, a subject of curiosity among people who often avoid them for fear of what their unstable minds might compel them to do.

Most of these “lost souls” have been turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) or their families, but for some reason they gravitate back to the country’s premier airport to resume their wait for non-existent flights and people.

Erlina, 48, has been waiting at the Naia terminal 1 for some five years now for her Japanese employer to keep his promise and return for her. Or so she says.

Waitress

Erlina said she worked as a waitress in Japan for a year, from 1994 to 1995, and in Palau from 1996 to 1999. When she returned to the country, she got married. Everything’s been a confused mess after that, she told the Inquirer.

“When we managed to reach her relatives in Meycauayan, Bulacan, they said that Erlina got depressed after her husband left her and took their three kids with him,” an airport cleaning woman told the Inquirer.

It was after that when Erlina started going to the airport, waiting for a “Mr. Sato” to take her back to Japan. The notes, which she asked the airport cleaners to send through text to “Mr. Sato,” grew in frequency and length through time, with some of them complaining about people who allegedly wanted her dead after they had deprived her of hardearned money.

The public affairs office of

the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA-PAO) assisted and turned over Erlina to the DSWD twice, first in 2014 and a second time last year, but she returned to the terminal shortly after, division chief Connie Bungag said.

Bungag said the lost and wandering souls at the Naia, “have some attachment to the airport. They were either former overseas workers or they have family members who were OFWs and left them.”

Notorious habit

Another lost soul is “Rosa,” who has the notorious habit of borrowing money with the promise of paying it back as soon as members of her family arrived. But they never did.

Rosa often stayed at the east wing of the departure area just outside the Terminal 1 gate.

She said she hails from Leyte and is waiting for her family, who now lives in Cavite, to fetch her. She claims her husband works as an OFW in the US. Asked how old she is, she claimed to be just 37, and said she looks about 20 years older because she was being hexed.

“I’m always here because I’m waiting for my family. We’re going some place where they are going to give us P5 million,” she explained, but would not say where they were going because it was a “secret.”

Another regular at the Naia Terminal 1 is “Beth,” a former teacher from Iloilo in her 60s who is fixated with actor Jake Cuenca who, she maintains, had promised to marry her.

No. 1 fan

Beth has been known to throw fits whenever people teased her about Cuenca. Her most precious possession is a jacket that he allegedly gave her.

She claimed that her husband, an engineer working in Singapore, left her because he found out about her “relationship” with the actor.

According to Bungag, Beth’s family had fetched her from the airport several times and brought her home to Iloilo. But

a week later, she was back and has since become a perennial sight at the airport.

Another lost soul is a Caucasian man, nationality unknown, who usually stays at a corner on the westside of the departure area. He is generally harmless but has been known to growl at anyone who approaches him.

Asked what he was doing at the airport, he growled that his Filipino girlfriend had robbed him of everything and that he wanted to go home. Offered something to eat, he dismissed it with a snort and slept in his corner.

Two other lost souls barely spoke to people. One frequently pushes a trolley piled with luggage and approaches persons randomly to ask when the President was coming because he had allegedly promised to take her with him abroad.

The other slept outside the Naia Terminal 1 complex, carrying plastic bags of her stuff.

She sleeps most of the time and hardly resists whenever airport security personnel shoo her www.canadianinquirer.net

away.

Let them be

Security guard Jeffrey Tapalla at Terminal 3 said that two other women roamed the arrival area of the airport and that they let them be because they never attacked anyone and mostly kept to themselves. “They would return empty pushcarts left haphazardly by passengers and often helped maintenance personnel keep the premises clean,” he said.

Tapalla added that he hardly sees these “lost souls” now, since those who roam the airport’s public areas and seem to be of unfit mind are immediately turned over to the social worker at Barangay 183 in Villamor, Pasay City.

The airport police department meanwhile assists “lost souls” and brings them home if the address is just within Metro Manila, according to the MI-

AAPAO chief. Those who live outside the city are referred to the DSWD, Bungag said.

“You have to pity them because for some reason or another, they are attached to the airport,” she added. “You want to help them return to their families instead of seeing them slowly wither.”

Almost skin and bones, Erlina would smile pleasantly and ask “Uwi ka na? (Are you going home?),” addressing homebound airport workers who have become familiar to her in all her years of staying at the airport. She would then return to her corner at Terminal 1 to patiently wait for her employer on the phantom plane that never comes. ■

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

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Rap Fernandez: Failure to legalize marijuana an injustice to Mark Anthony, other sick people Senator Leila de Lima at the Senate in Pasay City.

JESS ESCAROS JR. / PNA

Disbarment case a circus—Leila

BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer ANTI-CRIME CRUSADERS have filed a disbarment case against embattled Sen. Leila de Lima, accusing her of immorality over an alleged love affair with her driver fronting as her bagman in an illegal drug operation inside the national penitentiary. But De Lima branded the case as part of a “circus” made up of “clowns, shady persons” operating at the whim of President Duterte, her chief accuser. A coalition of anticrime crusaders has filed a disbarment case against embattled Senator Leila De Lima, accusing her of immorality over an alleged love affair with her driver fronting as her bagman in an illegal drugs operation inside the national penitentiary.

De Lima branded the case as part of a “circus” made up of “clowns, shady persons” operating at the whim of President Rodrigo Duterte, her chief accuser.

The case was filed by Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) founding chair Dante Jimenez, former National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) deputy directors Reynaldo Esmeralda and Ruel Lasala, and jueteng whistleblower Sandra Cam. They urged the Supreme Court to disbar De Lima for gross immorality for allegedly carrying on an affair with her bodyguard, Ronnie Dayan, who has been in hiding since he was tagged by convicted drug lords inside the New Bilibid Prison as

her bagman during her time as justice secretary.

“All these taken together leads to the inescapable conclusion that respondent (De Lima) was grossly imprudent in managing her personal affairs. The fact remains that her relationship with Ronnie Dayan, a married man, is grossly immoral.

Worse, she never denied such relationship,” the complainants said in their filing with the Office of the Bar Confidant.

They claimed that De Lima violated the Lawyers’ Oath, and Rule 1.01, Canon 7 and Rule 7.03 of the Code of Professional Responsibility and “failed in her duty as a lawyer to adhere unwaveringly to the highest standards of morality.”

The Bodyguard

The complainants mocked De Lima for allegedly trying to live the role of the late American singer, Whitney Houston, in the 1992 movie “The Bodyguard”, where her character fell in love with her security aide, portrayed by actor Kevin Costner.

“Unfortunately, the closest that she can relate to Whitney Houston is the death of her legal profession through illegal drugs,” said the complainants.

De Lima, however, is not laughing.

“This is all part of a circus, and just like in all circuses, clowns are part of the amusement,” she said in a text message.

She said she was dismayed at how Jimenez has brought down the integrity and credibility of the VACC. “Mr. Jimenez is a creepy

clown with a horrible dark mask, obsessed at being in the headlines instead of finding out the truth and justice for the thousands of victims of unresolved drug-related killings in our country,” she said.

Circus

She accused the two former NBI agents of getting back at her because she had fired them for “questionable practices” when she was the justice secretary.

She called Esmeralda, Lasala, and Cam as a “circus act of performing monkeys” under the “master puppeteer” that was the president.

“They are also using Duterte’s obsessions with my destruction to enable themselves, by currying favor with the President, and in doing so attempt to stay relevant despite the banality of their role in this circus,” De Lima said.

Jimenez, Esmeralda and Lasala had previously filed a separate case against de Lima for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act for allegedly leading a conspiracy to allow drug lords to run their illicit trade from inside the NBP. De Lima has denied these allegations. She said Dayan has remained in hiding for fear that he would be coerced by the “clowns” to testify against her, such as admit to the alleged sex video between them.

This is the third disbarment case against de Lima filed by the camps of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona and former President Gloria MacapagalArroyo. www.canadianinquirer.net

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer “I THINK there was an injustice in what happened to him (jailed actor Mark Anthony Fernandez).” Actor Rap Fernandez said this last Wednesday when asked about his thoughts on the incarceration of his half-brother Mark for alleged possession of a kilo of dried marijuana.

Although not allowed to talk about Mark’s case, Rap could not help express his thoughts on the issue as he discussed his views on the legalization of medical marijuana.

“On a larger scale, I think that failing to pass the law to legalize marijuana is an injustice to the sick people who need it. It is meant to heal,” he stressed.

Mark had claimed he was using marijuana only for “medicinal purposes.”

“It has already been legalized in California some 20 years ago.

It’s time we become open to that idea here,” Rap said during the launching of the 2016 Cinema One Originals, an annual film festival where his movie, “Every Room is a Planet” is one of the finalists. (The festival runs from Nov. 14 to 22 in selected Metro Manila theaters.)

“Even President Duterte, in two instances, mentioned that he was in favor of it,” Rap pointed out.

The President was quoted to have said he does not oppose the legalization of marijuana, but is against its use for recreational purposes.

House Bill No. 4477, which was filed in May 2014 by Isabela Rep. Rodolfo Albano III, aims to legalize the “compassionate use of marijuana.”

He also agreed with his Tito Robin’s (Padilla) opinion about medical marijuana, as expressed in the latter’s comment to his

Facebook post showing the two brothers together in a photo.

Robin’s comment: “It will be a long sacrifice for your brother, but [the legalization of ] medical marijuana will be his contribution to the future.”

Mark Anthony is the son of actress Alma Moreno and the late Rudy Fernandez—Robin’s first cousin. Rap is the son of Rudy and actress Lorna Tolentino.

“Legalizing marijuana use will actually help in the government’s effort to curb illegal drugs,” Rap pointed out.

He also noted the conflicting statements issued by the police and his brother, as follows: “There are so many stories coming out, including the talk that the kilo of marijuana has been planted. Mark admitted to having only an ounce, and that he bought it; that it could not have been a kilo, because that would be too heavy, since that included stems and branches.

“If Mark’s claims were true, then it’s a tragedy to get lifetime imprisonment for having a certain amount of grass. It’s not even a kilo of ‘shabu.’”

Rap said he recently paid Mark a visit at the Pampanga provincial jail. He recalled: “He was alone in the initial detention cell when I saw him. He got really disturbed when he was transferred the second time, because it was a cell with 100 other people. He is in a better jail cell now, because he shares it with only three other people.”

He continued: “I sent him food. I told him to share it with the others.”

Rap then appealed to people for compassion and kindness for his half brother. “Let’s do away with posting nasty comments [in social media]. Let’s not be mean. He’s a good person. I know him; he’s my brother. Don’t throw stones at him.

Nobody’s perfect.”

Philippine News

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FRIDAY

Manila cops countersue over rally violence 28 complainants include the van driver who ran over protesters 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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BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer THE MANILA Police District (MPD) has filed countecharges against the activists whose Oct. 19 demonstration outside the US Embassy ended in a bloody dispersal, stressing it was the protesters who started the violence.

The complainants included PO3 Franklin Kho, the officer who drove the police van that hit and ran over several protesters, and 27 other MPD personnel who said they were also wounded in the clash.

Chief Insp. Arsenio Riparip, head of the MPD’s General Assignment Investigation Section, appeared on Friday at the city prosecutor’s office to lodge Members of National Capital Region Police Office.

AVITO C.DALAN / PNA complaints for illegal assembly, direct assault on a person in authority, physi- onisio; PO1 Genalyn Dimaano; PO1 Naz- ladero; PO1 Arcelie Buenavente; PO1 cal injury, resisting arrest and malicious arene de la Pena; PO1 Jeffrey Perez; PO1 Joana Marie Basiuang; PO1 Catherine mischief.

Allan Reyes; PO1 Louther Payapaya; PO1 Acorda; PO1 Cathlyn Cauan; PO1 Arnold There were 34 named respondents, Jesus Claridad; PO1 Ma. Jeremy Balde- Regala; PO1 Roger Turaray; PO1 Nepry among them Renato Reyes, secretary mor; PO1 Shernale Von Abella; PO1 Gil- Labay, and PO1 Alvin Vinoya. general of Bagong Of the 28 comAlyansang Makabayplainants, only Astuan; Nathaniel Sancia and Kho were the tiago also of Bayan; named respondents Roberto de Castro Of the 28 complainants, only Astucia and Kho in the complaint filed of Kilusang Mayo were the named respondents in the complaint by the protesters on Uno; Piya Malayao of filed by the protesters on Wednesday in the Wednesday in the OfSandugo, and Nicole Office of the Ombudsman. fice of the OmbudsSoria of Kabataan man. They were acparty-list group. Macused of attempted layao and Soria were murder, grave abuse two of the three protesters ran over by bert Rellores; PO1 Marecel Remolazo; of authority, serious physical injuries, the van driven by Kho. PO1 Julie Fe Julio; PO1 Rhea Lourdes unlawful arrest, conduct unbecoming The 28 complainants were Kho; Chief Jao; PO1 Tonijeen Laureana; PO1 Eric of a public officer, gross misconduct and Insp. Joebie Astucia, then operations Gamueda; PO1 Ronald Abentew; PO1 violation of the Rights of the Accused chief of MPD Station 5; PO1 Jayford Di- Gerald Almoite; PO1 Eric Jay Despabi- and the Public Assembly Act.

Senator lauds PHL’s ranking in WEF’s Gender Gap Report 2016 PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Senator Loren Legarda on Monday lauded the country’s consistent high ranking in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Report.

The WEF’s Global Gender Gap Report 2016 showed that the Philippines ranked first in Asia and seventh worldwide among 144 countries after having closed nearly 79 percent of its gender gap.

“The country’s high gender gap ranking is proof of the significant efforts be-

ing undertaken by the government to address gender discrimination and inequality,” she said.

Legarda is the principal author of laws on women’s rights protection, such as the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act, the Magna Carta of Women, and the Anti-Trafficking Persons Act and its expanded version.

“We have proven once again that our laws are effective if we know how to make them work. We just have to sustain our gains by ensuring strict implementation of our laws,” she added.

The Philippines this year scored a per-

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fect 1 in terms of educational attainment and the health and survival indicators.

It scored 0.78 in the economic participation and opportunity indicator but garnered only 0.386 in the political empowerment indicator.

Legarda expressed hope that the Philippines would not be “lulled” into complacency.

“We should narrow the gender gap in most types of political and economic participation through public awareness campaigns and continuous coordination and collaboration with key stakeholders,” she said.

Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

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Consumption taxes to affect rich the most, not poor households, says DOF PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — It is a “fallacy” to believe that the proposed expansion of the value-added tax (VAT) base and adjustments to the excise tax on petroleum products under the proposed comprehensive tax reform program are anti-poor because being consumption taxes, these will impact the most on affluent Filipinos who make use of more goods and services, rather than the poor, low-income and even the middle-class households, the Department of Finance (DOF) said.

DOF Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua said the Duterte administration’s proposed Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, which contains these VAT and fuel excise tariff proposals, would even shield poor and low-income consumers from the effects of these tax adjustment proposals because the new government is committed to providing highly targeted direct transfer programs and indirect subsidies to them.

“Rather than being anti-poor, the tax reform plan will actually correct the injustice of only a few enjoying the benefits of growth. Our primary goal here is to give everyone a better chance of building a more stable future by equalizing opportunities for all through the adoption of a simpler, fairer and more efficient tax system,” Chua said.

Chua pointed out too that the imposition of an excise tax is always hinged on a two-pronged objective, which, in the case of petroleum products, is to raise revenues and the other equally important goal of addressing pollution and the other negative environmental effects of using fossil fuels.

“Given this, everybody should be responsible, both rich and poor. Equity considerations, therefore, should not figure in imposing the tax on petroleum products. What should be considered is how the tax will be adjusted to improve equity,” Chua said.

For instance, he noted that although diesel is widely used by both the rich and the poor, not doing anything to adjust its

excise tax and indexing it later to inflation benefits the rich far more than the poor because the top 10 percent of households in the country consume almost 60 percent of oil products and the top one percent consume 20 percent.

“Not adjusting the tax would mean continuing to subsidize the rich who can well afford to pay for fuel,” Chua said. “The use of highly targeted transfers that benefit the poor and other vulnerable sectors is the better and more effective option in addressing equity concerns.”

He also corrected the false assumption that the proposed adjustment on the diesel excise tax would be P10 per liter, as the DOF proposal is only P6, which represents the accumulated inflation since this tax was last adjusted 20 years ago.

“The paramount goal of the DOF tax reform plan is poverty reduction as it aims to help the government raise enough funds for accelerated spending on priority projects under President Duterte’s 10-point socioeconomic agenda, which aims to transform the Philippines into an upper middle-income country by 2022,” Chua said.

These priority investments are in the areas of infrastructure, human capital and social protection for the most vulnerable sectors so as to make growth truly inclusive and let the Duterte administration achieve its goal of drastically reducing poverty, he added.

An additional P1 trillion is needed per year, said Chua, to fund these priority projects, which, when sustained, would put flesh into the Duterte government’s vision of transforming the Philippines into a high-income country in one generation by 2040.

“The poor will benefit from better roads, both urban and farm-to-market roads, public schools, health centers, and improved social services. The accelerated spending on infrastructure, human capital and social protection will equalize opportunities and give better chance to the future generations of Filipinos,” Chua said.

As for the expansion of the VAT base, Chua assured the public that there would be no

A coconut juice vendor sells his "buko" for Php 50 a nut at the Baguio City Public Cemetery, a good 10-minute jeepney ride from the Central Business District (CBD). In contrast, "buko" can be bought between Php 25 and Php 30 at the Baguio public market.

JOJO LAMARIA / PNA

increase at all in the tax rate and that all seniors and persons with disabilities would continue to enjoy their VAT exemptions on essentials such as raw food, education and health services, including medicine.

The VAT threshold would also be raised for micro and small scale enterprises from the current limit of P1.9 million to the proposed P3 million, so that purchase from small businesses like sari-sari stores where the poor buy their needs will remain exempted from VAT payments.

“Again, it is a fallacy to believe that the revenues from expanding the VAT base would be mostly coming from the poor.

In fact, the principle of VAT lies on how much one consumes — meaning the more VATable items one consumes, of course, he/she would have to pay more tax,” Chua said.

For instance, better-off families who use air-conditioners would have to pay more taxes than their low-income counterparts who normally use electric fans to cool themselves at home, Chua said.

The same is true, he added, for people with two or more cars, or those who dine out, which are amenities that the poor cannot afford. www.canadianinquirer.net

“Even then, we should not forget that the income tax relief included in the proposed tax reform plan would be beneficial most especially to the lowand middle-income taxpayers with modest living conditions,” Chua said.

Earlier, President Duterte’s economic managers formally guaranteed highly targeted, direct and indirect transfer plus other social protection initiatives to shield the poor and low-income households from the impact of the proposed adjustments in excise fuel taxes under the initial comprehensive tax reform program that the government submitted last September to the Congress for its approval.

In a joint statement, Secretaries Carlos Dominguez III of the Department of Finance (DOF), Benjamin Diokno of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Ernesto Pernia, the director general of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said these “highly targeted transfer programs” would help cushion the impact of the proposed indexing to inflation of the excise taxes on oil products on “the poorest 50 percent of the population.”

A main feature of the first

reform package submitted by the DOF to the Congress last September is that personal income tax (PIT) rates would be cut from 32 percent to 25 percent that will in effect exempt 4.7 million taxpayers, which already include the current 1.7 million minimum wage earners, from paying income taxes.

An additional 3 million taxpayers with taxable incomes of P250,000 and below would be included in the batch that would pay zero taxes.

Another 450,000 taxpayers as gathered from the 2013 database of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) would pay only 20 percent of the excess of P250,000 of their net taxable income.

For those with a net taxable income of P400,000 but not over P800,000, the highest tax that they would pay under the new DOF tax reform plan is P130,000, compared to the current system where they are now shelling out a maximum of P221,000 for PIT. Based on the 2013 BIR database, this bracket consists of 357,875 taxpayers representing 4 percent of the total tax base for individuals, includes government workers under Salary Grades 18 to 25.

For individuals with net taxable income of P800,000 but not exceeding P2 million, which covers 114,856 individuals or 3 percent of the tax base, the maximum PIT paid under this bracket would only be paying P490,000 in the first year of implementation, compared to P605,000 under the current system.

Some 28,000 individuals earning P2 million to P5 million, representing 1 percent of the tax base would be taxed P490,000 plus 32 percent of their annual gross income in excess of P2 million.

The maximum PIT under this bracket is P1,450,000 compared to the current system where one has to cough up P1,565,000 for earning P5 million a year.

The last bracket of ultra-rich taxpayers comprising less than 6,000 individuals earning over P5 million would have to pay a tax of P1.45 million plus 35 percent of the amount in excess of P5 million.

10

Philippine News

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Food sufficiency? “Support our farmers” — PH Agri chief

BY ARTEMIO BORBA PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol aims for self-sufficiency in both rice production and fisheries to address poverty in the countryside.

“We must fast track the establishment of the foundations of good agriculture and fisheries,” said Piñol.

About 40 percent of the country’s total fish catch is lost to spoilage because of the lack of cold storage, ice-making and landing facilities while 16 percent suffer from posts-harvest losses, according to Piñol.

The Secretary requested from the President to do “exploratory talks” for Chinese aid, saying it could help finance the completion of farm-to-market roads and fishing facilities in the next five years.

He added in the previous administrations, the agriculture department was strayed from its mandate to focus on food production. Piñol said that when he assumed office the department will focus on the two main things that “the Filipino family need on their table: rice and fish.”

“How can you expect rice sufficiency when you don’t expand your irrigated areas? When you do not support our farmers with good seeds, fertilizer and sufficient irrigation water?” he remarked.

DA data show the Philippines is currently 97 percent selfsufficient in rice. But compared to neighbouring countries the national average of 3.9 metric tonnes per harvest would not suffice to the country’s growing population. Especially with the uncertainty brought by climate change, damage to crops are

not insured.

“There is actual physical to the crop of the farmers in determining how much will they receive in the form of insurance coverage,” said Piñol.

He said the government should review their crop insurance program to ensure that farmers should receive something ahead of time before the expected typhoon which later result to the damage of their crops.

As a recommendation, he said that index losses should be the basis in providing assistance instead of accounting the damage losses.

He also reported about the proposal to change the planting calendar to ensure that harvest season will not fall on the rainy months so grains will be kept dry.

In addition, Piñol expressed the government’s plan for

OFW advocacy group urges Duterte to name top PHL envoy to KSA PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — An overseas Filipino worker (OFW) advocacy group on Monday urged President Rodrigo Duterte to appoint a Philippine ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

In a statement, John Monterona, convenor of the United Overseas Filipinos Worldwide (U-OFW), said that there has been no Philippine ambassador to Saudi Arabia since June 2016 after Ambassador Ezzadin Tago effected his courtesy resignation.

Monterona said that since then, Consul general Iric Arribas is serving as Charges de’ Affairs.

“Pres. Duterte is in office for almost 4 months and he already named some of the PH envoys to other countries and international bodies. We are urging him to name our PH ambassador to KSA,” he said.

He added that the Philippines and Saudi Arabia relation is one of the most important and valuable in view of the Philippine foreign policy.

He also said that Pres.

Duterte’s envoy to KSA must have the necessary expertise and solid experience to concretize the government mandate based on the three main pillars of Philippine independent foreign policy such as preservation and enhancement of national security, promotion and attainment of economic security, and protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare and interest of Filipinos overseas.

“As far as our relation with the Saudi govt. is concerned, there are plenty of opportunities in the economic and labor fronts that are yet to be tapped.

There are also tough challenges such as the protection and promotion of OFWs rights and welfare that previous PH ambassadors faced difficulties and remains to be the main concerns of OFW advocacy groups

in Saudi Arabia,” Monterona opined.

He further said that monitoring the security issues, not just in Saudi Arabia but in the entire Middle East, is also a tough job of the Philippine envoy in Saudi Arabia noting the volatile peace and order situation in some of the countries in the Middle East.

According to Monterona, it’s quite interesting to know who will be Pres. Duterte’s top envoy to KSA noting that the latter is aligned and a ‘friend’ with the United States (US).

Pres. Duterte, during his public speeches while abroad and in the country, indicated that his administration would pursue an ‘independent foreign policy’ -that is no longer subservient to its former colonial master.

There are at least 900,000 OFWs legally working and living in Saudi Arabia, the top destination of OFWs, while a conservative estimate of 30,000 are rregular/undocumented. www.canadianinquirer.net

CFS National Chairperson Bilan Arte after a panel discussion at Ryerson University on October 25.

“communal farming system,” where big corporations may buy grains direct from the farmers to keep the price of unmilled rice.

“The President has already given his go-signal for the implementation of the corporate rice farming where we organize our rice farmers into coopera-

tive and associations,” Piñol said.

“In fact, next week when I come back from a trip abroad, we will already meet with the captains of industries because there are corporations now who would like to exercise their corporate social responsibility, CSR,” he added.

Observance of All Saints’ Day in NCR generally peaceful — Albayalde

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA — The observance of the All Saints Day in Metro Manila is “generally peaceful”.

This was the initial assessment made on Tuesday by National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Chief Supt. Oscar Albayalde.

Albayalde said that they have not been receiving any information regarding incidents recorded inside and outside of the cemeteries in Metro Manila.

“It’s generally peaceful.

Hopefully, hanggang matapos hanggang hatinggabi mamaya or hanggang bukas magtuloy -tuloy, magiging peaceful sa lahat ng sementeryo dito sa NCR, (until it ends until midnight or until tomorrow it would continue to be peaceful in all cem-

eteries here in NCR,” he said.

Albayalde said that they are not anymore expecting that the people in the cemeteries will be overcrowded.

The NCRPO chief said that based on their monitoring, the people have separately went to the cemeteries because the others would not want to squeeze themselves in overcrowded places.

He added that they are now continuously monitoring the situation in the cemeteries.

Among these cemeteries with strict security measures in place are the Loyola Memorial Park in Marikina City, Manila North Cemetery, Manila Memorial Park in Paranaque City and the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City.

The NCRPO has not recorded any untoward incidents as of Tuesday.

Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

$19B in deals from Japan Marubeni Corp. offers $17.2B for mass transport, road, water and power projects

BY AMY R. REMO AND LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES has received offers of investments and loans totaling $19 billion during President Rodrigo Duterte’s three-day official visit to Japan.

The bulk of the amount, $17.2 billion, was offered by Marubeni Corp., one of Japan’s major integrated trading and investment business conglomerates, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said in a text message to reporters in Manila on Thursday.

According to a document provided by Lopez, Marubeni will be “involved in $3.2 billion worth of projects (short term) and $14 billion (medium to long term) worth of projects in mass transport systems, roads and highways, water and power.”

The financial package includes a $157-million official development loan to provide the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) with two new large patrol vessels to improve the country’s maritime law enforcement.

The loan came after Mr. Duterte and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to continue working together to maintain peace and stability in the region beset by conflicting territorial claims.

Both Japan and the Philippines are locked in a maritime dispute with China.

The two patrol ships would be in addition to the 10 Coast Guard vessels under another official development assistance loan.

Maritime law enforcement

The $157-million loan, signed on Wednesday by Japanese and Philippine officials, is intended

‘It’s not right to kill, kill, kill’

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer

President Rodrigo R. Duterte, together with the members of his delegation, poses for a group photo while on board Philippine Airlines PR001 following a state visit to Japan.

ALBERT ALCAIN / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / PNA

to also improve the PCG’s capability for search and rescue operations, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Also signed following Mr. Duterte and Abe’s expanded meeting were agreements to provide the Philippines with TC-90 training aircraft, highspeed boats and other equipment to enhance the country’s antiterrorism capabilities.

Another loan, amounting to $47 million, would be used to construct plants, acquire equipment, and provide operating capital to agricultural cooperatives and private businesses to help generate more jobs in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

12 MOUs, LOIs

Apart from Marubeni’s offer, there were $1.85 billion in committed investments to the Philippines at the end of Mr. Duterte’s three-day visit.

These covered 12 memorandums of understanding (MOUs) and letters of intent (LOIs).

Lopez said the investment

deals forged in Japan, excluding the Marubeni commitment, were expected to generate some 250,000 jobs in the Philippines.

The agreements were signed after the Philippine Investment and Economic Forum on Thursday, which was attended by more than 1,000 Japanese businessmen and about 200 representatives from the Philippine business community, Lopez reported.

Gratitude

Japan has been a major source of official development assistance for the Philippines and Mr. Duterte conveyed his gratitude to Abe during their meeting.

“Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) for the Philippines is second to none in terms of real value and the positive impact on the lives of the Filipinos,” the President said.

The two countries agreed to harness the ODA as a tool for “positive economic and structural changes in the Philippines.”

www.canadianinquirer.net

11

FOR THE parents of Marvin “Balong” Columbino, a tricycle driver in Pasay City killed over a month ago by a bullet intended for his passenger, justice appears to be out of reach.

“It pains us that he was just making an honest living and all of a sudden he’s dead,” his mother Maria, 57, said in a recent interview with the Inquirer.

The gunman’s target was Balong’s passenger, a drug suspect who had just attended a court hearing for an illegal drug possession case and was on his way home.

The 28-year-old Balong, whose death was regarded as collateral damage, left two sons and a baby yet to be born.

Case investigator SPO2 Joel Landicho said Balong had no criminal record and was not on the drug watchlist. “He was at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he told the Inquirer.

According to Landicho, the recovered 9-mm bullet could be the key to identifying the perpetrator as the police await the results of the cross-matching test.

Balong was the vice president of the Pasay City Hall Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (PCHTODA) which had put up a tarpaulin calling for justice. It was taken down after two weeks upon the request of a relative, the association’s president told the Inquirer.

A month after the shooting incident, Balong’s parents, Maria and Benjamin, expressed doubts that justice would be served particularly since the gunman’s target, 18-year-old Brent Michael Bravo, a resident

of Facundo Street in Barangay 132, has apparently disappeared.

The incident happened just meters away from the Pasay City Hall and Balong’s residence around 9 a.m. on Sept. 19.

Police said a motorcycle-riding gunman wearing a ski mask and sunglasses fired at Bravo, who was seated behind the tricycle driver, on D. Galvez corner Figueroa Streets. However, the bullet went through Bravo’s left arm and body before hitting Balong in the back.

Bravo was brought to San Juan de Dios Hospital for treatment while Balong was pronounced dead on arrival at Pasay City General Hospital at 10:40 a.m.

“My son was shot like an animal,” Benjamin said, disheartened that the gunman was able to escape while the target, who could have provided a lead for policemen, had vanished.

In the backdrop of this unfortunate incident is President Duterte’s war on drugs which, according to critics, has given rise to vigilantestyle killings.

“It’s not right to just kill, kill, kill,” Maria said. “They bypass the courts while innocent people get affected.”

PCHTODA president Joseph Miranda described Balong as a good father and a kind person who had no vices.

Balong, who did not finish high school, served as a mechanic for his family’s tricycle units as his father and cousins also earned a living as drivers.

Balong’s nine-year-old son said he misses his father, particularly the way he took care of him and his younger brother at meal time.

He said he wanted to be a policeman someday, adding, “I want to help solve cases.”

12

Philippine News

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

US stops... rifles to the PNP after Sen. Ben Cardin said he would oppose it, US Senate aides told Reuters on Monday. ❰❰ 1

Human rights violations

Aides said Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate foreign relations committee, was reluctant for the United States to provide the weapons given concerns about human rights violations in the Philippines.

The relationship between the United States and the Philippines, a longtime US ally, has been complicated lately by President Duterte’s angry reaction to criticism from Washington of his violent battle to rid the country of illegal drugs.

More than 3,700 people have been killed in police operations or by suspected vigilantes in connection with the campaign against narcotics since Mr. Duterte took office on June 30.

The US state department informs Congress when international weapons sales are in the works.

Aides said foreign relations committee staff informed the state department that Cardin would oppose the deal during the department’s prenotification process for the sale of assault rifles to the PNP, stopping the deal.

State department officials did not comment.

Earlier this month, Mr. Duterte told US President Barack Obama to “go to hell” and said the United States had refused to sell some weapons to the Philippines, but he did not care because Russia and China were willing suppliers.

According to some US officials, Washington has been doing its best to ignore Mr. Duterte’s rhetoric and not provide him with a pretext for more outbursts.

An open break with the Philippines could create problems for the United States in a region

where China’s influence has grown.

Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto said both the United States and the European Union, which Mr. Duterte has called “stupid” over criticism of his brutal war on drugs, may be expected to “start turning the screw on the Philippines.”

Recto said the government should show resolve in investigating the use of excessive force by police in drug operations and bring to justice the vigilante killers.

Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano “With regard to human cites how efficient the foreign policy of President Rodrigo R. Duterte's rights, [the] government, administration is during a press briefing in Malacañang. through the Philippine NationKING RODRIGUEZ / PPD / PNA al Police, should capture and prosecute criminals involved gun store to choose from,” he quality US-made rifle. in vigilante killings and police said in a statement.

The M4 is a carbine, shorter rubouts,” he said.

“There are tens of other and lighter than the M16A2 asRecto said, however, that countries that manufacture sault rifle. the halted sale of assault rifles better and probably cheaper asChambered for the 5.56 milto the PNP should prompt the sault rifles than the US,” Lacson limeter Nato round, the M4 is Philippines to develop its own said. capable of firing semiautomatic weapons production capability.

“There is now more reason or three-round bursts—ideal “I have always said we can for our Department of Na- for close-quarter combat. and must produce our own [pis- tional Defense to revive our It is heavily used by the US tols] and [rifles]. Create jobs in self-reliance program so we can military and is fast replacing the process. We the M16 in most produce highUS Army and quality firearms Marine Corps domestically. We units as the prican also build An open break with the Philippines mary infantry ships for our could create problems for the United weapon.

Coast Guard and States in a region where China’s Senior Supt. the Navy,” he influence has grown.

Dionardo Carlos, said. spokesperson for Sen. Panfilo the PNP, said the Lacson, chair of PNP would look the Senate comfor other supmittee on public order and produce our own weapons and pliers of the M4 if the US deal dangerous drugs, urged the De- ammunition and other military would fall through. partment of National Defense hardware,” he added.

“If the purchase won’t push to develop the Philippines’ own Malacañang said the halted through, the PNP will look for weapons manufacturing capa- arms deal was an “issue be- other ways to buy M4 assault bility. tween the US state department rifles from other suppliers in and Sen. Ben Cardin.” other countries,” Carlos said in Other suppliers Presidential Communica- a text message to reporters.

Lacson also said the Philip- tions Secretary Martin Andanar He said the PNP would wait pines could look to gunmakers said the Palace was optimistic for the official notice from the in other countries to buy fire- that the PNP could acquire as- winning bidder, InTrade. arms. sault rifles from other sources.

Citing information from PNP “Since it’s a planned sale of Directorate for Logistics head assault rifles by the US to the PNP disappointed Director Jose Ma. Victor RaPhilippines, we do not stand to The PNP was disappointed mos, Carlos said the purchase lose anything except one less at the potential loss of a high- of the M4s was part of the ca-

www.canadianinquirer.net

pability enhancement procurement program of the PNP for 2013, 2014 and 2015.

The P88.1-billion PNP budget, approved under the previous administration, includes funds for purchase of 35,000 high-powered rifles.

In January, the logistics directorate announced that it would buy M4s through public bidding using leftover funds from the 2014 and 2015 PNP budget.

“The award was given to the winning bidder in July 2016 after the rigorous bidding process by the procurement service of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). A purchase contract has already been signed by the winning bidder and the Philippine government,” he said.

The DBM handled the bidding because the purchase would be financed from a prior fund, he said.

He said the winning bidder’s offer was for SIG Sauer M4 rifles made in the United States but were of a European brand.

In the United States, the M4 is made by several gunmakers, including Colt’s Manufacturing Co. for military sales and Bushmaster Firearms International for civilian sales.

The SIG Sauer M4 is made by SIG Sauer GmbH of Germany, which has a US operation based in Newington, New Hampshire.

The Philippine Army also issues M4s to its troops. In January, the Army said it bought 69,000 M4s from Remington Arms Co., another US maker of the assault rifle, to replace the old M16 rifles, which would be given to reservists and militiamen.

With reports from Marlon Ramos

Philippine News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

13

What the LGUs were told about the federal setup

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer INTERIOR SECRETARY Ismael Sueno has told local government executives in the country to prepare for the transition to a federal form of government, which President Duterte and his allies in Congress are pushing for.

In a speech on Thursday at the Local Government Congress in Manila, Sueno said local government units (LGUs) will be getting expanded powers in a federal setup, which would lead to further devolution and decentralization.

“Let us continue this journey of good local governance, of decentralization and local autonomy and look forward to new challenges under a federal system of government,” Sueno said at the congress marking the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991.

Sueno said the country’s provinces, cities and towns will have more power to govern their areas and more control over their resources and revenues under a federal form of government. He said the country’s LGUs would soon be engaged in competition with each other in terms of attracting investors to further enhance local development and expand social services.

Sueno said that once the federal system of government sets in, what will be left of the Department of the Interior and Local Government functions will be “homeland protection.”

Sueno recalled that before the enactment of the Local Government Code in 1991, “mayors and governors actually had to beg Malacañang for funds, and I experienced it,” said Sueno, who served as mayor of Koronadal City in South Cotabato during the last years of martial law.

During the Congress, League of Provinces of the Philippines president and Ilocos Sur governor Ryan Singson presented

“a roadmap to genuine local government autonomy through federalism,” including fiscal reforms and infrastructure development needed.

Sen. Loren Legarda, the congress’ guest speaker, reminded LGU executives and legislators about laws affecting local governments that have not been or are hardly being implemented or availed of.

One is a 1989 law, RA 6716, which requires the creation of rainwater collectors in barangays for reuse in irrigating or cleaning streets. She said another law, RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, would be successful in reducing the need for landfills if only LGUs lead in garbage segregation, recycling and composting of organic waste.

Legarda said that RA 9729 or the Climate Change Act of 2009 provides funding to local governments who would want to reduce disaster risks by undertaking mapping of resources and mapping of hazards.

The senator said RA 10174, which she authored and approved in 2012, created a People’s Survival Fund worth P1 billion a year that mandates LGUs and local organizations to implement climate change adaptation projects. She said the fund has accumulated to P2 billion but no LGU has availed itself of the fund yet.

She said other laws she authored, RA 9501, or the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, and RA 9509 or the Barangay Livelihood and Skills Training Act of 2008 could be invoked by poor towns in seeking national government assistance in developing their “one town, one product” enterprises and funding for their livelihood and training centers.

Sueno and Legarda led the awarding of 306 provincial, city and municipal governments with the 2016 Seal of Local Good Governance, which would entitle them to receive cash incentives for their local projects.

MannyNoel Abuel.

Philippine Canadian Inquirer launches PCI News Round-Up Canada’s first and only Filipino-Canadian newspaper proudly presents PCI Live News Round-Up, a daily digest of latest Philippine headlines, anchored by veteran broadcast journalist MannyNoel Abuel.

ABUEL WILL take on a new role as anchor of the Philippine Canadian Inquirer’s PCI Live News Round-Up, a daily review of today’s top stories, scheduled to air before the end of October.

He will also be covering some local community events. He will be supported by a team in the Philippines as well as in Canada.

Abuel is a graduate of Philippine Christian University with a degree in Bachelor of Arts in English. Immediately after his graduation in 1982, he went to obtain his training in Broadcasting and Announcing in

Makati’s Mass Com Center and received a certificate. Masccom Center was owned and operated by former Senator Eddie Ilarde and Bobby Ledesma.

Since then, MannyNoel has been actively working as a producer and videographer since 2013. He became an anchorreporter for Balitang Vancouver in the latter part of 2013.

After Ballitang Vancouver, Manny went on to produce his own shows at MLTV, focusing on community news within the Filipino community in Vancouver. He continues his on-line education in the area of broad-

casting and video production.

MannyNoel is also a passionate singer and voice-over actor. His love of the gospel music took him to different places of denominational churches around North America. His most recent notable musical participation was his invitation to sing in Hawaii during America’s Labor weekend convention of the annual AWESNA Convention.

Abuel will be covering major news stories out of Vancouver, the Philippines and from around the world.

Visaya wants momentum against ASG continued until bandit group eliminated PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — To keep the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) bandits off-balance and on the run, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief-of-staff Gen. Ricardo Visaya has ordered military units in Basilan and Sulu to keep up the pressure on the bandits until they are all neutralized.

He made this statement after www.canadianinquirer.net

he and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana were briefed on the ongoing operations against the ASG by Joint Task Force Sulu commander Brig. Gen. Arnel Dela Vega Monday.

While Visaya is satisfied with the results of the four month-long offensive, he has ordered all AFP units to keep up the momentum against the bandits.

The AFP chief said this can be easily done as they have sufficient men, air and sea assets

to keep up the offensive and the support of the local citizenry who have grown tired of the atrocities committed caused by the ASG. As of this posting, ASG bandits killed in Sulu during the July-October period has reached 60, with another 19 wounded, and 30 captured.

While in Basilan, military units have killed 10, wounded three, and captured two while 34 voluntarily surrendered to government troops.

Opinion

14

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Halloween Massacre: Masked men kill 6 drug users

BY JODEE A. AGONCILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer MASKED GUNMEN struck twice and killed six people—five of them allegedly engaged in a pot session—days after policemen wearing creepy costumes celebrated Halloween.

The killings followed Thursday’s event at the Eastern Police District (EPD), which was billed as “Zumballoween Win Win Win against illegal drugs.”

On Monday, the eve of All Saints’ Day, at 9:35 p.m., five people were shot dead by six unidentified men wearing masks in the house of one of the victims at Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City, according to Senior Supt. Joaquin Alva.

Alva, the city police chief, identified the victims as Man-

uel Evangelista, 37, John Paulo Tuboro, 24, Edmar Velarde, 31, Jennifer Discargar, 31, and a certain MacMac Albano, around 20-30 years old.

“Tama na po, susuko na po ako (Please stop, I’m giving up),” Tuboro, a jobless father of two, was quoted by a witness as saying to his attackers.

“We did not know he was a drug user,” said Tuboro’s sister, Bernadette. “Even if he was, they were not criminals.”

Barangay officer Jonathan Villaflores told the Inquirer that the five victims were engaged in a drug session that night in Evangelista’s house.

Senior Insp. Danilo Esguerra, chief of the city’s police investigation unit, said the gunmen entered Evangelista’s house and told the two children inside to go out.

The intruders then ordered

the victims to lie face down, riddled them with bullets and fled.

Rival drug group?

Esguerra said Evangelista could have been the target of the assailants, possibly a rival drug group. The police are also looking into the possibility that Evangelista’s house was being used a drug den, Esguerra said.

The police recovered from the house several drug paraphernalia, including foil and toother and five plastic sachets containing crystal meth, or “shabu.”

Of the five, two were verified to be on the barangay’s drug watch list, Esguerra said.

Villaflores said Discargar’s mother was earlier looking for the missing P200,000 her daughter reportedly received from the sale of their house.

The police did not recover any

money from Discargar.

In Pasig City, at 8:24 p.m. on Monday, two gunmen on a motorcycle shot and killed Billy Joe Avilles while he was sitting outside his house on Santos Street in Barangay Buting, said Chief Supt. Romulo Sapitula, the Eastern Police District director.

Decline in crime rate

On Thursday, around 200 members of the EPD command group wore their favorite costumes at headquarters to celebrate Halloween. For the two-hour Zumba session, some came as ghosts, zombies and bloodied men; others wore black masks.

“What we are doing is a manifestation of our victory in the drug war—that we are in the winning side in the drug campaign,” Sapitula said. “It

also aims to promote not only fitness but also camaraderie and bond among peers,” he added.

Sapitula said the incidence of common crimes in his district declined to 24 percent after continuous arrests and surrender of drug users and pushers.

Most of those killed in the drug war, he said, were users and pushers on the drug watch list.

Since July, there are already 130 deaths under investigation at EPD—72 in Pasig, 33 in Mandaluyong, nine in Marikina and 16 in San Juan.

Of the 130, only 14 cases have been cleared (suspects identified or cases filed) while five have been solved and attributed to the Boratong Drug Group in Pasig City that was also responsible for the shabu tiangge near the Pasig City Hall years ago.

PUBLIC LIVES

The magnetism of cemeteries

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer In the early 1990s, long before thoughts of mortality began to cast a shadow on our active lives, my wife and I bought a memorial plan.

It was cheap. We basically paid only for a wake and a cremation, instead of a whole package that typically includes a coffin and a patch of graveyard space in a private memorial park.

We thought then that a cremation plan was the most practical thing to have, for it didn’t make much sense to purchase a burial plot ahead of a home lot. I was also convinced that precious real estate belonged to the living rather than to the dead. It pricked my conscience to see homeless families in the metropolis living in shanties inside public cemeteries.

Farthest from my mind was the question of what to do or where to keep the ashes or cremains. I took it for granted that our children might want to keep the urns at home, or deposit them in the tombs of our parents, where they would occupy very little space.

Little did I know that with cremation would come the columbaria— vaulted structures where cinerary urns are kept. Like graveyard plots in cemeteries, they, too, can cost a fortune depending on the location.

Recognizing the growing popu- the doctrinal and pastoral reasons some lives have been short, and larity of cremation, the Vatican, for keeping the dead where they some long. But, on reflection, one through the Congregation for the should be—in cemeteries. “Through realizes that it is not the number of Doctrine of the Faith, recently is- the practice of burying the dead in years that impresses us, but what sued an “Instruction” concerning cemeteries, in churches or their en- people did during their lifetime, for the proper Christian handling of the virons, Christian tradition has up- which we remember them. ashes of the dead. The Church has held the relationship between the I grew up in a home located long lifted the prohibition on cre- living and the dead and has opposed along the street that led to the mation, but it continues to express any tendency to minimize, or rel- town cemetery. I was witness to a strong preference for the burial of egate to the purely private sphere, funeral processions that passed the dead. Where people opt for cre- the event of death and the meaning by our house on any given week. I mation for valid reasons, the rule is it has for Christians.” suppose this is part of the reason for them to bury or deposit the urn One need not be a Christian to death holds almost no terror for containing the ashes in a cemetery appreciate the value of cemeter- me. The cemetery was also my faor in a sacred place, vorite playground. keeping the ashes There, my friends intact instead of diand I flew our kites Through the practice of burying the dead in cemeteries, viding or scattering in the cool northin churches or their environs, Christian tradition has upheld the them. east wind atop the relationship between the living and the dead and has opposed These guideapartment tombs any tendency to minimize, or relegate to the purely private lines specifically of our departed sphere, the event of death and the meaning it has for Christians. discourage certain town mates. practices that have We would somegained popularity in recent times— ies to the human community. The times pause in front of some famillike parceling out cremains into writer Elias Canetti writes that iar names—a classmate who died little urns and lockets for distribu- cemeteries “induce a special state very young from an unknown distion to various family members, of mind.” I believe he’s right. For ease, an old lady who gave generous very much as if they were part of the me, cemeteries constitute one of gifts during Christmas, the famheirloom. As thoughtful and senti- the strongest bonds connecting ily dentist who pulled my first demental as they may be, the Church generations to one another. cayed tooth, the woodcarver who regards these as forms of appropriaWhen I visit cemeteries, it is made our furniture, the carpenter tion of something that belongs alone usually the dates written under who used to come to our house to to God. The Church also frowns the names that fascinate me. Gaz- do repairs, the barber who used to upon the ritualized scattering of the ing upon the dates of birth and cut my hair. Theywere simple folk ashes of the dead in the wind or over the dates of death on tablets and who all held a place in my memory. the vast ocean, in literal enactment crosses, I often marvel at the irony The Betis town cemetery, on of life’s return to Nature. of seeing a life reduced to a tiny whose concrete portal is emblaThe Church is emphatic about dash connecting two dates. Indeed, zoned the ominous reminder “Acu

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ngeni, ica bucas” (“Me today; you tomorrow”) held, for me, the closest equivalent to a theology of death.

But, more than this, our cemetery also served as the one most enduring place that linked me to the larger community beyond my family.

We have a modest burial plot near the main gate of this cemetery, which is now home not just to mygrand parents but also to a number of uncles and aunts, and cousins from my own generation.

When my father died, it seemed inconceivable not to bury his remains beside those of his parents.

But, after my mother’s death 20 years later, we decided to transfer his remains to Himlayang Pilipino in Quezon City, where we buried my mother, mainly because it was closest to where we lived. Years later, we moved their bones to a crypt behind the altar of a small chapel near a retreat house that my brother Bishop Ambo built on the slopes of Mount Malasimbo in Dinalupihan, Bataan.

It is a perfect place for solitude and reflection. I go there at least once a month to commune with the spirit of my late parents, to watch birds, and to read. But on All Souls Day, I would be inexplicably gripped by a sense of something missing if I failed to visit the cemetery of the old community of which I ama part. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

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LOOKING BACK

A receipt in copper

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer If we are to believe the story spun by antiques dealers, a crumpled piece of copper was fished out of the mouth of the Lumbang river in Lumban, Laguna, in 1989 by someone who then flattened it and saw ancient writing embossed on it. This unnamed person sent the artifact through the network of antiques runners who vainly tried to peddle it in Manila. It was offered to me but I did not give it a second look; I lectured my favorite antiquities dealer that it was probably of Indonesian origin because there were many, better, specimens in the Elephant Museum in Jakarta.

The rejected artifact was acquired in 1990 by the National Museum, where it is now preserved as a National Treasure— the first or the oldest specimen of writing or written record we have in the Philippines. Antoon Postma, who transcribed and translated the text in ancient Javanese and old Tagalog as the “Laguna

Copper Plate Inscription,” noted unique piece of copper will turn junks from Guangdong and Fujiits date that corresponds to 900 up to provide us with a written an to the Philippines and IndoneAD. history stretching back to the sia during the amihan, and sailed In the inscription we have 900 9th century or earlier. Till then, back with the habagat.

AD as the point where the Phil- one of the earliest records of the Chau Ju-kua said the tradippines’ written or recorded his- Philippines and Filipinos is the ers moored midstream and antory is to be reckoned, anything reference in the Chu fan-chi by nounced their arrival by beating before that becoming prehistory, Chau Ju-kua written in 1225 that drums—a signal for the natives or prehistoric. The inscription describes the barter trade with to come in small boats carrying documents the payment of a debt China. goods like cotton, yellow wax, nain gold, making tive cloth, and coour first writing conut-heart mats not a poem or a for barter. Any One wishes that more than this unique piece of copper will fragment of an disagreement in turn up to provide us with a written history stretching back to epic but a receipt. price was settled the 9th century or earlier.

If anything, it reby the local chief minds us of our or other officials ancestors’ pragor elders who matism. They did not rely on a All these bits of useless infor- are then offered presents of silk, verbal receipt, nor did they write mation emerge when you get me umbrellas, porcelain, and ratit on material that would disinte- started on early trade in the Phil- tan baskets. “The chiefs,” wrote grate in time. Remember the Ta- ippines. Ancient Chinese seafar- Chai Ju-kua, “are in the habit of galog sayings “Itaga mo sa bato” ers were familiar with the trade using white umbrellas, for which (Engrave it on stone) or “Isulat winds Filipinos know as the ami- reason the traders offer themas mo sa tubig” (Write it on water) han (northeast monsoon) that gifts.” that refer to permanence and im- brings cold to our shores from After three or four days the permanence? Our ancestors did the Christmas season to Febru- traders lift anchor and move to the best thing: They made out a ary, and the habagat (southwest another town on the coast. Aside receipt in copper that has sur- monsoon) that brings heavy rain- from the goods mentioned, they vived over 1,000 years. fall resulting in floods during the needed to stock up on fresh food One wishes that more than this wet season. They sailed in their and water paid for with: porce-

lain, black damask, silk, glass beads of many colors, tin, and lead sinkers for nets. The most striking part of the narrative reads: “The custom of the trade is for the savage traders to assemble in crowds and carry the goods with them in baskets; and, if one cannot at first know them, and can but surely distinguish the men who remove the goods, there will yet be no loss. The savage traders will after this carry these goods on to other islands for barter, and, as a rule, it takes them as much as eight or nine months till they return, when they repay the traders on shipboard with what they have obtained [for the goods]. Some, however, do not return within the proper term, for which reason vessels trading with Ma-I are the latest in reaching home.”

Why is it surprising for us in the 21st century to note that our ancestors were very honest? History records how much we have changed or stayed the same in a millennium. ■

AT LARGE

That lurid pink mosque

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer Our group of journalists from different parts of the country and different media networks was on our way back to Cotabato City when Carol Arguillas of Mindanews said we would bemaking a stop at the “Pink Mosque.” Carol was our de facto tour guide, not just because she is a very experienced and much respected Mindanao-based journalist, but also because she had helped organize the seminar on the “Post-Mamasapano” coverage by the national media.

Mamasapano was the site of that armed encounter in January 2015 between the Philippine National Police Special Action Force and members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Force and a breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters.

Some had dubbed the encounter an “ambush” or, worse, a “turkey shoot,” while others said it was nothing more than a misencounter, the result of miscommuni-

cation and bungled leadership. a famous tourist site didn’t seem eagerly gave way to our “touris(The situation was complicated, all that unusual. tic” impulses, posing for countso we were told, by an ongoing As we stepped out of our ve- less selfies and groufies with “rido” or clan war in the area.) hicles, our eyes literally ached at the bright, impossible-to-miss Whatever, the mission, which the site of a mosque, painted in mosque in the background. Little was launched to capture or kill lurid shades of pink and fuchsia, did we know that the structure Malaysian terrorist and bomb- sitting in the middle of an empty would pop up almost two years maker Zulkifli Abdhir aka Mar- lot beside the dusty highway. later, with the death—in either wan resulted not only in his killThis, said Carol, was the fa- a shootout with police or an aming but also in the death of 44 mous “Pink Mosque” in the town bush—of the mayor famous for SAF members, 18 loving the color members of the pink.

MILF and BIFF, The official exLittle did we know that the structure would pop up almost and five civilplanation for the two years later, with the death—in either a shootout with police ians (including a armed encounter or an ambush—of the mayor famous for loving the color pink. child). where Mayor DiWe had already maukom and nine visited Mamasasecurity escorts pano, where we prayed for the of Datu Saudi Ampatuan in Ma- were killed was that three vehisouls of the dead after cross- guindanao. Pink was the favorite cles “loaded with heavily armed ing the infamous rickety bridge color of the mayor, Samsudin Di- men … opened fire on law enforcleading to the cornfield where maukom, and his wife, Anida, ex- ers” as they passed a checkpoint most of the dead troopers were plained Carol, and the mayor had in the town of Makilala. trapped. We had also taken part declared that to them the color Unusually, while such a heavin a dialogue with MILF chair Al represented “love.” And so there ily armed group suffered 10 caHaj Murad Ebrahim in the MILF were touches of pink on traffic is- sualties, no one among the poheadquarters. So as we made our lands, directional signs, and even lice forces was killed or injured. way back to Cotabato City, we the facades of public buildings in Even more unusual, pointed were nearly reaching saturation the town. out some observers, was that point on the peace process and Coming from our depressing the three vehicles were found the Mindanao conflict. A stop at exposure at Mamasapano, we parked in a neat row on the

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shoulder of the highway, meaning the occupants had gotten out of the vehicles before exchanging fire. The police say they received information that the group was “to transport huge stocks of shabu to Maguindanao and Cotabato City from Davao” when it was intercepted.

Dimaukom was among five Maguindanao mayors in a list of drug lord officials that President Duterte presented early in his term. The day after the President aired the list, the mayor and his wife made a courtesy call on PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, saying they wanted to clear their names.

Other versions of the story, aside from the police report, have since surfaced, ranging from an ambush or an execution. Concerned citizens in Mindanao are now voicing out the need for a full, public investigation and disclosure.

I guess you don’t need a lurid pink mosque to draw the attention of authorities these days. ■

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FRIDAY

Canada News Focus on innovation, not more cash, to improve health care in Canada: doctor

BY CAMILLE BAINS The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Squabbling by provinces in the run-up to a new health accord points to the need for an agency that would share regional health-care innovations with the rest of the country, says an editorial in Canada’s premier medical journal.

Dr. Matthew Stanbrook, deputy editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ), made the case in an editorial published Monday, saying spats over money and self interest could end in failed negotiations with the federal government, which must fund the proposed agency.

“A temporary tinkering with the health system, without a wholesale system change, will not deliver the health-care improvements Canadians need,” he wrote.

Much of the friction at a meeting of federal, provincial and territorial health ministers in Toronto two weeks ago stemmed from the Liberal government’s plan to adopt the former Conservative government’s decision to slash funding in half as part of a new health accord starting next April.

Stanbrook said innovation is the key to changing a healthcare system that can’t be sus-

tained as costs soar without better outcomes, especially for groups including seniors, indigenous peoples and the mentally ill.

He noted there’s already a report, commissioned by the former Conservative government and released last year, that recommends the creation of a federal agency to fund

initiatives proposed by provinces, but which haven’t expanded beyond their boundaries.

The last health accord, brokered in 2004 at a cost of $41 billion, provided provinces and territories with an annual percapita-based increase of six per cent in Canada Health Transfers, though the Liberals have signalled the money will be cut to the rate of the country’s economic growth or a guaranteed

minimum of three per cent.

Ontario’s health minister has said that would result in a $1-billion decline in federal funding for 2017-2018 alone.

The federal government broke an election promise to immediately invest $3 billion over four years for home care.

Health Minister Jane Phil-

pott has said she will still provide the home care money separately from the accord, but provinces must account for the cash. That has not been the case for the health transfers, which flow into general revenue.

Stanbrook said provinces should focus on co-operating with each other and the federal government in transforming the health-care system.

“There needs to be an ongo-

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ing mechanism by which the federal and provincial governments are working together on this issue all the time (instead of ) every-10-years meetings and negotiations, and then we forget about things for a decade.”

He said regional “piecemeal innovations” that need to be scaled up include British Co-

lumbia’s tracking of medications that allow various doctors to electronically check a patient’s prescription history.

Health policy expert Michael Decter, who chairs the not-forprofit organization Patients Canada, said he agrees that innovation should be broadened to improve the system, but the existing Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement could take on the task.

He said an example of the foundation’s work included

partnering with Halifax respirologist Dr. Graeme Rocker to spread a program he developed for patients suffering from chronic obstructive lung disease so they wouldn’t regularly show in emergency departments when they couldn’t breathe.

Decter, a former deputy health minister in Ontario in the 1990s, echoed Philpott’s concerns that provinces must be accountable for the money they get because health transfers flow into general revenue.

Steve Morgan, a professor in the School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia, said challenges that have blocked better health outcomes in Canada include a lack of political leadership and opposition from some professionals, including doctors.

Ontario has been a leading province using multi-disciplinary teams including physicians, nurse practitioners, counsellors and other professionals as part of a primarycare model, he said.

“We know that funding some non-physician-provided community mental-health services is something that Canada ought to move forward on in a more concerted fashion,” he said, adding that like doctors, counsellors should be allowed to bill the public system.

“That’s a new service-provider group and it’s threatening in some sense to some of the current service providers.”

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

www.canadianinquirer.net F PhilippineCanadianInquirer

T PhilCanInquirer

m info@canadianinquirer.net sales@canadianinquirer.net

A (888) 668-6059

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Canada News

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Piñol visits Toronto, calls OFWs in Canada to invest in PH food sector

BY ARTEMIO BORBA

“Why don’t you organize yourselves into small corporations, small groupings. When you go home, you will be able to take a look at in which areas you will invest in, how would you be able to help your countrymen, your relatives,” Piñol said.

“We are coming up with a program where OFWs are being asked to invest in their own country. If you would invest in rice production, we will make arrangements for you. If you would invest in white shrimps production, because the Philippines is now gearing back in the

cess to financing compared to cooperatives even without initial capital. He said that he PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE will push for micro-lending Secretary Manny Piñol shared programs as he holds a board President Rodrigo Duterte’s of director position with the marching order to secure food state-owned Land Bank of the availability and affordability Philippines. He also suggested for Filipinos, and to stop corthat OFWs help in marketing ruption in his department.

Philippine produce to this part “My dear Filipinos in Canada of the world. because even if I know you are “Next week, a team from the 11,000 miles away, there’s this Philippines will inspect meat cringe that attach your heart processing facilities in Canada to your country. Alot of things as part of the sanitary protohave changed for our councol,” Piñol announced. try and you’ll be very proud of He mentioned that Canada this,” said Manny shoulders the Piñol during his expenses of this unofficial visit to process in the Canada on Octopast. But was ber 29.

When you go home, you will be quick to add that Speaking beable to take a look at in which areas the Philippine fore an audience you will invest in, how would you be government will of community able to help your countrymen, your then on shoulder members, ethnic relatives. everything to demedia in Torontermine whether to, Piñol encourthe meat proaged OFWs and duce meets qualtheir families to form corpo- production of white produc- ity standards for import. rations to be registered in the tion. You could invest in banana “We are not rich but we are Philippines and to venture in production,” he added. a people with dignity now,” he various agri-business investPiñol explained that corpo- added. ments. rations would have easier acPiñol, who holds a master in

Sec. Manny Piñol (second to the left) holds the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with John Myers (right) of Navcast, a Canadian company specializing in navigational equipment. The MOU was signed to to help track fishing vessels in the Philippines and to promote regulation and fishery conservation. It was witnessed by Ambassador Petronila Garcia and Rod Coutts at the Ontario Trade & Investment Center.

rural economic development, was the brain behind Duterte’s campaign program for farmers and fisherfolk including projects such as farm to market roads, water systems and free irrigation, livelihood development for agricultural crops and fish ports.

Other dignitaries who graced the occasion with their presence were Philippine Ambassador to

Canada Petronila Garcia, Toronto Consul General Rosalita Prospero, Vice Mayor Joselito Piñol of M’lang town in North Cotabato, Office of Participatory Governance undersecretary Peter Tiu Laviña and Andrei Natabio of the Duterte Campaign Communications team.

The town hall meeting was organized by Pinoy in Canada Patriotic Movement.

2017 Immigration Under fire, Liberals decide Plan — Setting the to support motion on First Foundation for Nations child welfare Economic Growth

BY MICHELLE MCQUIGGE The Canadian Press

OTTAWA, ON — The Government of Canada is committed to an immigration system that strengthens the Canadian middle class through economic growth and attracting investment, supports diversity and helps build vibrant, dynamic and inclusive communities.

The story of Canadian immigration is inseparable from the story of Canada itself.

Over the summer, Canadians from coast to coast to coast were asked to help write the next chapter of our immigration story. Through wide-ranging consultations we heard from Canadians on

what immigration means to them and how we can continue nation building. The 2017 levels plan is a thoughtful, responsible approach that takes into consideration Canada’s need for more immigrants while balancing our fiscal responsibilities.

In 2017, Canada will welcome 300,000 immigrants, announced Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister, John McCallum. Immigration levels in 2017 will support economic growth and innovation in Canada while helping to reunite more families and reduce processing times.

OTTAWA — The federal Liberals will vote to support an NDP motion Tuesday that calls for an immediate $155-million cash injection for First Nations child welfare services, says Indigenous Affairs Minister Carolyn Bennett.

The decision — governments don’t typically support opposition motions — followed political pressure brought to bear on the government by Sen. Murray Sinclair, the former chairman of the Truth and Reconcilation Commission.

“We are all on the same page in terms of, we want the kinds www.canadianinquirer.net

of changes that really will be the real reform,” Bennett said Monday outside the House of Commons.

In written comments obtained by The Canadian Press, Sinclair called it impossible to overstate the importance of the federal government complying with an order from the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal to properly fund child welfare services on reserve.

The tribunal’s original decision, delivered in January, concluded the government was discriminating against First Nations children in the way it delivers those services. Two subsequent compliance orders from the tribunal went unheeded, critics say.

“Canada’s discriminatory policies have led to greater failed and failing interventions into the lives of indigenous families than the residential schools and serious changes must be undertaken,” Sinclair said.

“Immediate action is required,” he said. “I encourage members of the House to support the motion proposed by member of Parliament Charlie Angus.”

Bennett also said Monday the government is willing to sit down with the parties in the case through a facilitated process with The Canadian Human Rights Commission. ❱❱ PAGE 33 Under fire

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Canada News

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

LGBTQ ‘purged’ from military, public service jobs file class action lawsuits

BY JOANNA SMITH The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Todd Ross, 47, came out as gay to a stranger.

It was no ordinary stranger, either, but a military interrogator grilling him about his sexual orientation, with Ross strapped to a polygraph machine, seated in a chair facing a two-way mirror, a recording device capturing his confession.

“I had not even come out to myself,” Ross, who became suicidal as a result of the incident, said Tuesday as he began to cry.

“I knew an injustice was done. I knew it was not right.”

The story of how Ross was given an honourable discharge — the result of an ultimatum — from the Canadian Armed Forces, where he had served as a naval officer aboard HMCS Saskatchewan in the late 1980s, is contained in the statement of claim for one of two classaction lawsuits being brought against the Liberal government on behalf of LGBTQ people who say they were persecuted and forced out of their military and civil servant jobs.

“We have been waiting patiently for the federal government to take action to address these grievances, but so far we have just had kind words and no action,” Doug Elliott, a Toronto-based lawyer and veteran gay rights activist, said Tuesday.

“Our clients are crying out for justice and we can wait no longer.”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to make a formal apology to people in the LGBTQ community for past discrimination sanctioned by the state, following a government-wide review of the related issues.

That is likely to include those who suffered after the military and federal government began pushing members of the LGBTQ community out of their jobs in the 1950s.

That “purge,” as Elliott called it, continued even after homosexual acts were decriminalized in 1969, following a Crimi-

Former prime minister Paul Martin welcomes signing of Canada THE CANADIAN PRESS

“Diversity is an operational necessity in the Canadian Armed Forces and we are looking at a wider departmental initiative as a government in terms of how to address this concern, but a lot more work that needs to be done.”

MEUNIERD / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

nal Code review that saw Pierre Trudeau, who was then justice minister, famously declare: “there’s no place for the state in the bedrooms of the nation.”

The military did not end its policy banning gay and lesbian people from service until 1992.

It remains to be seen, however, whether the apology will be accompanied by compensation, although the Liberal government has not closed the door on the possibility.

Elliott said the two lawsuits, filed Monday in Montreal and Toronto, are one way to push that conversation along should a negotiated settlement not arise.

The Ontario lawsuit is asking for $600 million in damages, while the Quebec statement of claim does not specify an amount.

Elliott said many of the people who would fall under the lawsuits, which have yet to be certified by a court, are getting older.

“I’m not going to have Mr. Trudeau apologize to a cemetery,” Elliott said. “We want people to get help now, and so we can do it in a nice way — in a negotiated settlement — or we can do it in a not-so-nice way, in court.”

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan did not directly address the compensation issue when asked about the lawsuit Tuesday.

“Diversity is an operational necessity in the Canadian Armed Forces and we are looking at a wider departmental initiative as a government in terms of how to address this concern, but a lot more work that needs to be done.”

Elliott had noted a 2015 report by retired Supreme Court justice Marie Deschamps on sexual misconduct in the Canadian military had said there are still “strains of homophobia” affecting the culture.

“That culture has not changed enough in the military today,” he said.

Asked whether he had ever witnessed homophobia or transphobia when he served in the military, Sajjan noted he joined a long time ago.

“I got to see the — let’s put it this way — the evolution of the Canadian Armed Forces that is this openly accepting forces.”

Martine Roy, 52, was relatively new to the army when she was interrogated for nearly five hours before she admitted, at 19, to being confused and experimenting. She later received a dishonourable discharge for homosexuality and being a “sexual deviant.”

Roy said she has spent years helping others through her role with the organization Pride at Work Canada, but has come to the point where she feels like she cannot move forward until her own case is resolved. www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

MONTREAL — Europe’s decision to sign the Canada-EU trade agreement shows it chose not to shut its borders despite the tumult caused by the Brexit vote, former prime minister Paul Martin said Monday.

“For Canada, it’s very important — and also for Europe too,” he told a news conference in Montreal.

“It’s a symbol that Europe isn’t closing its doors after (the British decision to leave the EU).”

The former Liberal prime minister said any other outcome would have sent a “very nega-

tive” message to the global community, although he pointed out the deal still needs to be ratified.

Canada and the European Union signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, or CETA, on Sunday.

When questioned on the concerns of some Quebec agricultural producers who fear the repercussions of the deal, Martin said some discord is normal when it comes to trade agreements.

“There are always consequences to these agreements and the government will act to compensate people,” he said.

Martin was attending a conference hosted by a Quebec oil and gas association.

JAMES A. KOST / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Scholars slam “HK independence,” calling it “a dead end” PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY BEIJING — Scholars have condemned the activities of a handful of Hong Kong legislatorselect for propagating the idea of “Hong Kong independence,” warning that such a notion will lead to nothing but “a dead end.”

The oath ceremony for the sixth Legislative Council (LegCo) of Hong Kong Special

Administrative Region (SAR) convened on Oct. 12, with the legislators-elect being sworn into office.

Some legislators-elect, however, not only publicly advocated for “Hong Kong independence” but also insulted the Chinese nation when reading their oaths.

The individuals in question later traveled to Taiwan, in what appeared to be an attempt to ❱❱ PAGE 22 Scholars slam

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World News

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Nun recounts roar of earth during morning prayers

BY BINAJ GURUBACHARYA The Associated Press TREVI, ITALY — Sister Caterina was praying with the eight nuns of her Benedictine order in the central Italian town of Norcia when the earth began to roar.

The abbey and the ground beneath the nuns’ feet shook and they were thrown around.

The ceiling cracked and crumbled. A cupboard crashed to the ground.

Stepping to the door, Sister Caterina caught a glimpse of how the Sunday-morning earthquake was being experienced in the town below.

“Smoke, and people’s cries of fear. If I close my eyes, I cannot help but relive it,” she recalled.

But once the 72-year-old nun saw that her fellow sisters were unharmed and the abbey’s prayer room was still standing, she turned to her safe haven — her faith — and led the nuns back to prayer, asking that God might “at least save some lives.”

Their prayers, it seems, were granted. No deaths have been reported so far from the quake that hit Norcia and the surrounding region — the third to shake the mountainous region some 100 kilometres northeast of Rome since August.

The latest earthquake — magnitude-6.6, the strongest to hit Italy in 36 years — caused no deaths or serious injuries largely because the most vulnerable city centres had already been closed due to previous damage and many homes had been vacated.

What it did not spare was the nuns’ own religious order, razing the basilica that had been built in 1200 on the ruins of a 1st-century Roman building, and remodeled several times over the centuries, including

the addition of a 14th-century bell tower. Only the facade remains.

“Seeing the basilica collapse was truly sad, like cutting a story: here it ends. But how do we start again?” said Sister Caterina.

After 30 to 45 minutes of prayer, police arrived at the abbey to bring the nuns to safety, along with eight other cloistered nuns who had no contact with the outside world.

Television pictures showed some of the nuns running into the town’s main piazza as the earth began to shake again, and later kneel in prayer.

Sister Caterina went back into the monastery only once, to get her cellphone, which was ringing with calls from worried relatives.

Caterina is not new to earthquakes. She was born in Norcia and has lived through vicious ones in the 1970s and 1990s.

But “this was the worst of them all.”

The repeated shocks — this week’s followed an initial earthquake in August that killed 300, and there were more tremors last week — are causing people to lose hope, she said.

The loss of the Benedictine basilica is a hit not only to her but also to the population of the town, for whom it was a proud symbol of their home and a draw for tourists.

Despite the proclamations of Premier Matteo Renzi that everything will be rebuilt, Caterina says she has seen enough of quakes to know that’s an empty promise. The reconstruction effort will drag on and on, she says, and people will lose hope.

“What the earthquake hasn’t destroyed, the bureaucracy will.”

For the foreseeable future, the nuns will live at the Santa Lucia di Trevi Benedictine

monastery with nine nuns already in residence, where they have found space to maintain their tradition of prayer, work and sleep in equal parts.

While the nuns found a relatively easy transition to temporary quarters, many other residents of the mountainous region of central Italy are resisting relocation, appealing for campervans and tents so they can remain close to their homes and businesses.

The latest quake complicated relief efforts in a fragile zone still coping with the previous quakes.

Civil protection officials said the number of people needing housing has risen by 15,000 since Wednesday, a figure that does not include the 2,000 who remained displaced from the August quake.

Although thousands already have been moved to coastal regions out of harm’s way, a growing number of quake-stricken communities are insisting on staying put. They say they have businesses to tend to, not infrequently involving livestock, or think that if their homes are still standing they remain the safest place to be.

On Monday, some 20 people remained in the hilltop town of Castelluccio, which aerial

video shot by Italian firefighters show was all but razed on Sunday. The town is famous for its lentils and its spectacular display of wildflowers, and the residents who stayed behind include farmers and shepherds sharing a camper and two containers they organized themselves, according to the news agency ANSA. “This town is dead and buried,” resident Adorno Pignatelli told Italian news agency ANSA. “But we will continue to grow flowers because we won’t let it die definitively.”

The head of the Coldiretti farm lobby in Macerata province, Francesco Fucilli, said many livestock owners had suffered both damaged barns and homes. They cannot relocate to shelters because they need to stay near their animals at night, Fucilli said, so are appealing for campers, containers or other temporary structures that would allow them to shelter in place.

“This is a very dramatic situation,” Fucilli told The Associated Press. “Our livestock breeders cannot move, especially at night. They need to be near their animals to sleep, to look after them and protect them from wild animals.”

Wolves in the area are a prob-

of the oath-taking ceremony, have challenged national sovereignty and security to advocate for “Hong Kong independence.”

“They have seriously violated `the Constitution of China and the Basic Law of Hong Kong SAR,” Guo said.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region of the Peo-

ple’s Republic of China. As a member of the LegCo, one must act in line with the national Constitution and the SAR’s Basic Law, Guo said.

“From their words and deeds, they give the impression that they neither love their country nor Hong Kong,” he said.

Qiang Shigong, executive di-

rector of the Hong Kong and Macao Studies Center under Peking University, said, “Any one with a bit of common sense knows that ‘Hong Kong independence’ will lead to nothing but ‘a dead end.’”

“Their wanton behavior is actually tearing apart the seams of Hong Kong’s society; threatening its harmony and stabil-

STARLIGHT / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

lem in particular for sheep. For now, cows remain at pasture, but will need to have their barns rebuilt before freezes begin in a few weeks, he said.

Civil protection officials said they expect the number of people needing assistance to continue to rise, as it doesn’t count the many people who were sleeping in vehicles or had made other arrangements before the latest earthquake. Temperatures overnight reached near freezing, and officials have expressed concern for the many elderly residents of the mountain communities.

“We cannot have tents for some months in the mountains, under the snow,” Premier Matteo Renzi wrote in a message on Monday. “There are enough hotels for everyone. But many of our compatriots don’t want to leave their lands, not even for some weeks.”

Civil protection authorities have urged people to move out of the quake zone, citing the difficulty of putting up tent cities in the mountainous region and the onset of winter. Many people have been moved to coastal areas, where summer resort hotels are mostly idle, and other zones away from the hardest-hit areas.

In the town of Norcia, which the nuns evacuated, the mayor was urging people to accept temporary housing at least for a couple of days to give authorities a chance to better assess damage. Mayor Nicola Alemanno said tents that can house a couple of thousand people had been erected, while 500 have moved to hotels.

“Norcia won’t die,” the mayor told ANSA. “It will be reborn on the house of St. Benedict, the basilica that came down in the earthquake yesterday.”

Colleen Barry contributed from Milan.

Scholars slam... collude with “Taiwan independence” supporters. These activities have filled many Hong Kong citizens with indignation.

Guo Tianwu, a law professor with Sun Yat-sen University, said the relevant legislatorselect, by capitalizing on the exposure afforded to them because ❰❰ 20

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ity, and intentionally provoking antagonism between the residents of Hong Kong and the mainland,” Qiang said.

Qiang called on all the citizens of Hong Kong to unite and oppose “Hong Kong independence” for the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and the nation as a whole.

Community News

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

23

Toronto Fil-Canadians meet two of the president’s men

BY BOLET S. AREVALO EAGER TO hear fresh news from home, Fil-Canadians gathered at the Canada Christian College Theatre in Toronto, Canada last October 29, 2016 for a townhall meeting with Cabinet Secretary Manny Pinol and Deputy Cabinet Secretary Peter Lavinia. Also present was Andrei Natabio, a social media expert.

The event, which was organized by the Pinoys in Canada Patriotic Movement (PICPM), was made festive with an AtiAtihan dance and music entrance ensemble and a group of beautiful ladies in ternos simulating a Flores de Mayo.

PICPM flew in the guests with the good intention of allowing Filipinos in Canada hear about what is really happening in the country today, minus the media color that some have viewed to be unsympathetic to the Philippine president but not without the promise of a political slant in favor of the current Administration as PICPM happens to be originally the vote-for Duterte-Cayetano Movement in Toronto.

Secretary Manny Pinol of the Department of Agriculture opened his talk with a presentation entitled “Knowing the Real Rodrigo R. Duterte.” As the title had tipped off, the slide series attempted to present a different President who Secretary Pinol described as “gum chewing, (with) unbuttoned shirt, a street toughie

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and who spews out expletives” and who “foreign media had pictured as a mentally unstable leader.”

Addressing the cursing and the expletives, the Secretary reminded the audience that as Filipinos we know that spewing out s.o.b. is a simple expression, most of the time out of exasperation or frustration, and not a direct insult.

“If you really want to know the real Duterte, stuff your ears, look at his face because in his face is the emotion for the Filipino people, “the Secretary said in trying to draw a picture of a compassionate President whose heart goes out for his countrymen.

He also brushed off election rumors that a whole drama was staged to present a picture of a reluctant candidate who decided to run only at the last minute. He said it was not a drama because it was the truth. His close-in supporters had to convince him badly and drag him to file his candidacy because they believe “he is the long-awaited leader who speaks the language of the poor.”

Secretary Pinol continued to present the accomplishments of the current Administration in its first 4 months in office in the areas of peace and order, anti-corruption, public service with 8888 and 911, and agriculture. In agriculture, the Secretary proudly announced that “for the first time in Philippine agriculture, irrigation is provided free of charge.” He believes it had been grossly un-

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fair to charge farmers access to something which is part of their national patrimony or national wealth such as water.

Meanwhile, Deputy Cabinet Secretary Peter Lavinia, a known Duterte ally who served as his spokesperson during the campaign, continued on to convince and rally the audience to work with the present government in achieving real change in the country. He also cited what this administration envisions in terms of “empowering the poor and freeing them from the stranglehold of certain sectors of the elites and oligarchs.”

“Level the playing field,” that is what President Duterte wants, Lavinia said. Giving the poor the power to change their lives by increasing opportunities and raising their

status through economic development, reforming society through national and cultural renewal, and reengineering government by eventually shifting it to a federal parliamentary form of government.

A known advocate of federalism, Lavinia presented the current Administration’s specific timeline as to when to effect the change to becoming a federal state. It certainly will happen before the term of the President ends in 2022, he said.

He presented the concept of federalism in very simple acronym that was coined to represent the initials of the President, P-R-R-D (President Rodrigo R. Duterte). P for power sharing, R for resources sharing, R for respect for all and D for development for all.

However, Deputy Secretary Lavinia emphasized the need for Pinoys all over the world “to speak up, connect and engage” in order to become part of the change that they envision. “We need patriotic Filipinos to become change agents,” he rallied.

Despite the fact that at some points during the session, some people in the audience must have felt like they were attending a miting de avance anew, there is one endearing message that the two (2) fine gentlemen delivered to which no one can disagree — “In the years to come, the world will know that there is such a thing as the dignity of the Filipino.” A promise and a hope that President Rodrigo Duterte wants to achieve in his lifetime as leader of his country.

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CANADA EVENTS

24

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Entertainment PHL bet Kylie Verzosa United colors of Filipinos Young director shares the Amerasian story with Japan and the rest crowned Miss of the world International 2016

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY JANICE CAVE Philippines News Agency MANILA — Miss Philippines Kylie Verzosa was crowned 2016 Miss International during the pageant held in Tokyo, Japan on Thursday.

Verzosa, 24, a kindergarten teacher and model, is the sixth Filipina to win the crown. She succeeded 2015 winner Edymar Martinez of Venezuela.

Rounding up the top winners include Miss Australia (1st runner up), Indonesia (2nd runner up) and Nicaragua (3rd runner up).

Beauty queens from the Phil-

ippines have been winning international pageants this year.

On Wednesday, Nicole Cordoves placed first runner up in the Miss Grand International held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Prior to the pageant day, Verzosa had the chance to meet President Rodrigo Duterte during his state visit to Japan. She has been a crowd favorite in the pageant.

The Philippines last won the Miss International crown in 2013 by Bea Rose Santiago.

Other Filipinas who won the prestigious pageant include Gemma Cruz Araneta, Aurora Pijuan, Melanie Marquez and Precious Lara Quigaman.

WHAT STRUCK young filmmaker Ivan Andrew Payawal about the Amerasians he had interviewed for his Cinemalaya 2016 entry, “I America,” was how diverse they were.

Despite their differences in skin, hair and eye color, they were somehow united by a common bond, he explained.

The Amerasians he had met in Olongapo had a strong sense of community, he observed.

“Although they grew up not knowing their fathers, they have a solid concept of family,” he pointed out. “Different faces and points of view, but when they’re all together, you get a sense of equality—that race and gender don’t separate them.”

He first stumbled upon the Amerasian issue in an online article and quickly realized that their story was a “journey of self-discovery.”

He wanted to show that everyone goes through the same problems. He remarked, “We are not alone in this struggle.

If we make peace with who we truly are, life would be so much easier to endure.”

“I America,” which recently had a commercial run in the Philippines, is competing in the Asian Future section of the 29th Tokyo International Film Festival, which is ongoing until Nov. 3. (It is vying

for top honors with another Filipino film, Mikhail Red’s “Birdshot.”)

“Being selected is such a big honor,” he told the Inquirer. “I admit that we all want to bring home an award for our country, but that’s just a bonus.”

Icing on the cake, so to speak. “We already feel like winners, just to be screened alongside other amazing films from all over Asia and the world.”

Blessed

He feels “blessed” that he gets to attend an A-list festival like Tokyo with his sophomore movie. (His directorial debut was “The Comeback,” an entry in the Cinema One Originals fest last year.)

Making the Tokyo fest more meaningful for Payawal is the fact that his teacher Jun Robles Lana has a film, “Die Beautiful,” in the main tilt, as well.

“He’s an inspiration to me,” Payawal said of Lana. “Sharing this experience with my mentor and friend is a full-circle moment for me.”

He feels certain that foreign audiences will be able to relate with “I America” because of its universal themes: “The search for identity, family and acceptance.”

“We may have different journeys in life, but our destination is the same. We all want the same thing in the end. We all want to be loved and accepted, but we should learn to love and accept our-

selves first,” he said. “I hope this message will resonate with foreigners, despite the differences in language and culture.”

He feels it’s important to share the Amerasians’ story not just in Japan but in other parts of the world.

Stories

“Every filmmaker dreams of sharing his or her story all over the world,” he noted. “I make movies to tell stories and hopefully connect with other people. Stories need to be told and shared.”

He is raring to join other international film festivals after Tokyo.

“We were lucky that we got to share our story with Filipinos before joining a festival abroad,” he quipped.

His film’s commercial run taught him the importance of “marketing.”

“It’s hard to make a film, but it’s even harder to market it,” he owned up. “You need to be financially prepared for it. It takes a lot of money to promote a movie.”

If you don’t have the budget for a massive promotional campaign, then you have to be “innovative,” he said.

Fortunately, his film topbills a mainstream star, Bela Padilla, who’s active in social media, and he had the support of a major firm, Viva Films, which distributed “I America” in local cinemas. “Wewere able to reach audiences outside of Cinemalaya.”

5 PH films in Hanoi

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer

COURTESY OF KYLIE VERZOSA / FACEBOOK

QUITE FITTINGLY, five Filipino films will be screened at the fifth Hanoi International Film Festival in Vietnam, from Nov. 1 to 5. www.canadianinquirer.net

Eduardo Roy Jr.’s “Pamilya Ordinaryo” is competing against 11 other entries in the feature film tilt.

Meanwhile, Mikee de la Cruz’s “Sibol” is vying for the top award, along with 29 other works, in the short film competition.

Two Filipino films are included in the World Panorama section: Lawrence Fajardo’s “Imbisibol” and King Palisoc’s “Tandem.” Lastly, Lemuel Lorca’s “Water Lemon” is part of the Selection of Asean Cinema program.

Entertainment

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

25

Short goodbyes: Canadian Vine stars pay tribute to fleeting life of video platform

BY DAVID FRIEND The Canadian Press TORONTO — When comedian Stewart Reynolds heard that Twitter was pulling the plug on Vine, he thought it best to give the video platform, which hosts short looping clips, a suitable moment of silence.

“It was only six-and-a-half seconds,” the Stratford, Ont.based family man jokes.

“It’s done now.”

Reynolds, known on Vine as “Brittlestar,” spent plenty of time playing around with the video tool over the past few years, amassing over a million followers along the way. He now makes a living off of brand sponsorships while producing videos starring his cast with family members.

“Vine changed my life and my family’s life tremendously,”

Reynolds says. “We’ve been songs. to life through the platform able to experience and do things Singer Shawn Mendes used nearly two years ago when she that we would never have been Vine while living in Pickering, posted a sample lyric on Vine. able to without it.”

Ont., playing covers of songs Fan reaction grew as she conAdmittedly, he heard the by Justin Bieber and other pop tinued to upload morsels of the death-knell of Vine coming artists. Over time he became track and built her breakout months ago. Its popularity one of Vine’s most popular us- debut single set in the world of seemed to be on a downward ers, which helped him launch a Peter Pan. spiral ever since She’s now Twitter acquired working on a full the technology album. company in 2013 “Especially if and became disyou’re from Alsatisfied with its Vine made it really accessible for berta, it’s not as growth. people like me who just had the easy to get your Some of Vine’s passion. voice out there,” most loyal creshe said. ators shifted “Vine made it their attention really accessible to other platforms, including chart-topping music career. for people like me who just had Facebook and Instagram.

Edmonton-raised songstress the passion.”

But Reynolds still can’t help Ruth B says Vine helped get the But like many of Vine’s most but feel a sense of loss for him- attention of the music industry successful users, Ruth B doesn’t self and many other Canadian while she was living outside the post as much as she used to. Her entertainers who used Vine to entertainment hubs of North last Vine went out in mid-Sepshare jokes, poke fun at celeb- America. tember. rity, and perform covers of pop Her ballad “Lost Boy” came Mendes appears to have sur-

rendered control of his account to his record label, which shares promotional samples of his music rather than the personalized videos he mostly stopped posting last fall.

Others like Toronto-born comedian Andrew Bachelor, better known as Vine star King Bach, used their popularity to jump into other media. Last week, Bachelor was pegged to “B Team,” a potential series that’s in development at Fox. And U.S. performer Cameron Dallas will launch a Netflix reality show on his Internet fame in December.

Reynolds is now spending most of his time on Facebook videos, which he says are popular with his older demographic of fans.

He still thinks he’ll miss Vine.

“It was a great platform and I think it was undervalued.”

Sum 41 singer Deryck Whibley on cheating death, coming back from alcoholism

BY DAVID FRIEND The Canadian Press TORONTO — Sum 41 lead singer Deryck Whibley knew exactly what happened only moments after he awoke tethered to wires in a hospital bed.

Seventeen years of hard drinking and wild nights of partying like a rock star finally took their toll on his liver and kidneys. He was sure they would eventually.

But it was this humbling moment, as he peered across the room at his worried mother — who had flown across the continent, from small town Ajax, Ont., to Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai hospital — that the severity of his alcoholism truly hit him.

“I knew instantly when I saw my mom’s face,” the 36-yearold musician recalls. “She’d come all the way from Ajax and was there standing over me.”

Whibley says that’s when he decided to quit drinking.

Life had spiralled out of control long before the Sum 41

singer wound up in hospital.

After years as chaperones of the pop-punk movement, the band was on the brink of destruction. Major hits like “Fat Lip” and “In Too Deep” had given way to extensive touring and a steady flow of album releases.

Coming off their gruelling “Screaming Bloody Murder” tour, which dragged on for about three years, Whibley says he was ready to call it quits in early 2013. The band’s drummer Steve Jocz had already thrown in the towel.

“We had burnt ourselves out so much,” he says.

But instead of making a rash decision about the band’s future, Whibley took a vacation in the bars of L.A. He partied and drank with friends and lived his life “with no rules or responsibilities whatsoever.”

About a year later he was laid up in hospital under sedation for a week. Doctors said another drink and he’d probably die.

Clawing back from liver and kidney failure seemed like an impossible task.

SCOTT PENNER / FLICKR

With muscular atrophy in both his legs, the fallout from being bedridden for a month, Whibley was starting from scratch. His motor skills were off kilter, he had trouble speaking, and he couldn’t play guitar.

“The nerve damage on the bottom of my feet was so bad that I couldn’t stand or walk,” he says.

“Even if nothing was touching my feet it felt like I was www.canadianinquirer.net

sticking them in a fire.”

Determined to beat his condition, Whibley started a gruelling combination of physio and mental therapy.

Meanwhile, he knocked out lyrics for new songs while watching Quentin Tarantino and Tim Burton movies with the volume down for inspiration.

Sum 41’s latest album “13 Voices” captures Whibley’s

struggle to reclaim his life. The songs are written in chronological order, starting with his early recovery days and tackling the personal hurdles he encountered along the way.

Opening track “A Murder of Crows” addresses some of the supposed friends who exploited or abandoned him in his most desperate hours, while lead single “War” is a pledge to soldier on through the hopelessness.

“I was at a tipping point,” he remembers.

“It had been over a year and I wasn’t getting any better. It just felt easier to go back to drinking, even though I knew that would probably kill me.”

Once he scribbled down the lyrics to “War” and read them back to himself, he says he regained confidence.

“So what am I fighting for? / Everything back and more.” It was a reminder to keep pushing ahead.

Instead of staying in a 12-step program, he found discussing ❱❱ PAGE 27 Sum 41

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NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Lifestyle Cremation nation Our random survey: Would you want your ashes kept in an urn, scattered—or ‘ilalagay sa paso at tataniman ng bonsai?’

BY ERIC S. CARUNCHO Philippine Daily Inquirer WHEN MY wife’s grandmother died in the early 1980s, her children decided that they wanted her remains cremated.

Back then, cremation was still fairly uncommon among Filipinos. There was only one functioning crematorium in Metro Manila at the time.

The San Lazaro Hospital crematorium was a turn-of-thecentury relic, intended mainly for the disposal of the remains of patients who had died of highly contagious diseases, such as the plague or leprosy.

Since the incidence of those diseases had waned, the crematorium was used for the ordinary dead, mainly from the Chinese-Filipino community, we were told by the custodian.

Basically, it was a brick oven fueled by diesel. Because of its inefficiency, it took more than eight hours to fully consume an adult corpse—longer if the body was kept in the coffin.

Because her children wanted only pure human remains, the body had to be taken out of the casket, laid on the slab, and the clothes stripped away at the last moment before it was pushed into the oven, making the procedure seem even more strange and outlandish.

We had to return the next day to collect the “cremains.” As the crematorium didn’t have a grinder, there were visible bone fragments mixed in with the ashes.

We brought a blue china por-

celain vase to hold the ashes.

Later they were divvied up among her children, kept on shelves in their respective homes.

The San Lazaro crematorium was finally closed in 2002, ironically just as cremation was taking off among the masses.

Standard service

Today it’s a standard service offered by most of the bigger funeral homes. Apart from the cremation itself, the package usually includes a wake, a memorial service, a choice of funerary urns or boxes, and the option of a niche in a columbarium.

Some families also opt to forego the traditional viewing, choosing immediate cremation instead, which also does away with the need for a casket, embalming services, and the risk of unnerving the guests with a bad makeup job.

Thanks to the advent of modern, high-temperature gasfired ovens, the cremation itself takes only a couple of hours or so. After they cool, the ashes are then ground to a fine white powder.

While waiting for the “cremains,” families can hire a “memorial host” to emcee the cremation, and even entertain the mourners with songs while waiting for the ashes to cool.

The playlist often includes requests for the dearly departed’s favorite tunes, as well as perennial classics such as “Oh My Papa” (for fathers), “Ugoy ng Duyan” (for mothers), and “Ikaw” (for everyone else).

Cremation isn’t just for humans, either. A number of veterinary hospitals offer cremation services for beloved pets who pass on.

Vatican guidelines

The new guidelines recently released by the Vatican acknowledge the growing popularity of the cremation option among Catholics.

Until fairly recently, the Church still frowned on cremation, while grudgingly admitting that it wasn’t strictly against the canons. The new Vatican guidelines, released last Oct. 25, take cremation out of this gray area. They explicitly allow cremation for Catholics, with some caveats.

To begin with, the pronouncement reiterates the Church’s preference for burial in hallowed ground.

If cremation is chosen, the Vatican emphasizes that “it is not permitted to scatter the ashes of the faithful departed in the air, on land, at sea or in some other way, nor may they be preserved in mementos, pieces of jewelry or other objects.”

Keeping them in an urn at home, or divvying them up between surviving family members, is also considered sacrilegious.

According to the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), those practices are “un-Christian.”

“The body is the temple of the Holy Spirit,” says Fr. Jerome Secillano of the CBCP. “It should be kept in a proper place and the Church believes its final

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resting place is the cemetery.”

If these guidelines aren’t met, the Church warns, the departed may be denied Christian funeral rites.

Some Filipinos might consider the Vatican pronouncement too little too late.

In the absence of clear guidelines, many Filipinos who choose cremation have made up their own minds about how to go about doing it, and what to do with the “cremains.”

Random survey

We took a random survey to gauge current attitudes of some modern Filipinos toward cremation and the disposal of the remains.

“I don’t think I have any big idea about where to dump my ashes. If my family wants to save money on an urn, they can scatter my ashes in the backyard as fertilizer.” –Bill Huang Writer/editor “Yes, cremation. My ashes scattered to the winds or on the sea, preferably from a cliff or a mountainside.” –Gerry Kaimo Security consultant/audiophile “Well, once my soul exits my physical body, then I will let nature take its course and have maggots, etc. feast on my decaying body, once my organs such as my eyes, etc. are extracted for possible future recipients.

My body will turn into dust anyway; I don’t want my surviving loved ones to shoulder the cremation expenses when they can use it elsewhere. Plus the thought of burning my body sounds like the fires of hell consuming a useless cadaver,

while my soul is enjoying the light and peace of heaven in oneness with God. Amen.” – Richie Quirino Musician “Cremation—either keep my ashes at home or throw them in the ocean.” –Rene Guidote Photographer/TV director “Scatter my ashes, definitely —I don’t want to burden anyone with having to remember me. Preferably in a forest, although I still have to ask permission from the lumad. The people of Sagada, by the way, do not want non-Sagadan ashes.

Second choice: the ocean. – Ning Encarnacion-Tan Architect “I want my ashes to be scattered in the Maragusan Valley in Mindanao. Originally, the place I wanted was Mt. Pulag, but we are getting old and we don’t have kids, and my wife might not be able to climb the mountain if I die ahead.” –Juju Tan Development worker “May nakita ako sa Facebook, pagkatapos ka i- cremate ilalagay ang abo mo sa paso at tataniman ng bonsai. Parang buhay ka pa rin. Mas gusto ko ’yon.”

–Romeo Lee Painter

Lifestyle

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

27

How much is too much? New guidelines stir debate over screen time for kids

BY CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI The Canadian Press TORONTO — Sometimes working mom Monica Urrutia just needs a break.

After a full day at work, the busy mom admits to putting her three-year-old in front of a television or handing him a tablet to keep him occupied while she races to pull together dinner.

It’s a daily habit that has made the boy an expert at navigating various apps on his own, and demanding additional screen time when it’s time to do other things.

“Sometimes it becomes that battle of wills,” admits the Vancouver mom, who would like to limit his screen exposure but says reality often gets in the way.

“If you can’t afford to have a babysitter come and you need to get something done in the house, it is kind of your helper, unfortunately.”

New guidelines recently released by the American Academy of Pediatrics seem to recognize that. The organization has loosened its view on how much time kids should spend in front of a screen, even allowing limited use for infants.

The overall goal is still to reduce screen time as much as possible, but more focus is shifting to what kids watch and how — especially younger viewers who should watch with a caregiver who can explain what they’re seeing.

“They are very similar to what our guidelines are shaping up to look like,” Dr. Michelle Ponti says of the Canadian Paediatric Society’s position, which is expected to rollout next year.

Ponti is chairwoman of the task force

refreshing Canadian guidelines that haven’t been updated since 2012. She says the U.S. guidelines are a good reference until Canadian-tailored data is made public, acknowledging that much has changed with technology.

While current Canadian guidelines discourage any screen time for babies younger than two, the new American recommendations allow those younger than 18 months to take part in video-chatting.

It also allows those aged 18 to 24 months to view “highquality programming” with their parents.

Both sets of guidelines agree toddlers aged two to five should watch no more than one hour per day of video, and it should be high-quality programming.

When it comes to kids older than five, Canadian guidelines cap recreational screen time at two hours a day, while the U.S. guidelines removed hourly limits for kids aged six and older. Instead, the American academy encourages parents to set their own limits on various types of media, as long as screen use doesn’t interfere with sleep and physical activity.

Sum 41... alcohol only reminded him of the parts of life he was trying to leave behind.

“I just felt so much better when I did my own thing,” he says.

“So I stopped listening to everybody and recovered in my own way, really.

That is what kept me going.”

Two years passed before Whibley felt any victory, he says, though he knows evading the bottle is a battle that will probably last a lifetime.

Sum 41 fans also gave him fuel with letters of encouragement that were deeper than the usual “Get Well” cards.

“They would send messages every day that were really heartfelt and emotional,” he says.

“That became something to look forward to.” ❰❰ 25

Whibley hopes to return the favour with “13 Voices,” an accompanying tour, and enough tracks to probably fill another album.

“I had a whole bunch of other songs I didn’t feel fit on this record,” he says, noting they’re in the vein of Sum 41’s earlier hits.

“They’re a little more pop-punk.”

Whibley also wants to stand with fellow recovered alcoholics, showing that not everyone fits the stereotype of middle-agers who have a problem with the drink. He says many people in their early 30s or younger face similar battles.

“I’m never going to tell anybody what they should or shouldn’t do,” he says.

“All I can tell you is what happened to me.”

Ponti agrees with that strategy, noting it can work against families to fixate on a hard number.

“We want to take the focus off exact numbers and months and rather focus on limiting the use (for) best, healthy practice. Less is more.

I think that’s going to be one of our main messages,” she says, noting escalating screen use comes as child obesity rates increase.

“The nature of media is so ubiquitous and we get parents and families and children in our offices now and invariably everyone walks in with a smartphone,” adds Ponti, who practises medicine in London, Ont.

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“It’s become a go-to strategy for all of us — the child is acting out, a parent whips out the smartphone and quickly the behaviour settles.”

She says family rules around screen time should start as early as possible, ideally before a baby is even born so parents can adjust their own usage and model good behaviour.

Tech guru and TV personality Amber MacArthur calls the U.S. guidelines “a lot more realistic” for better acknowledging how integrated screens have become in our lives. She wished the Canadian guidelines could keep better pace with the rapidly changing landscape.

“Right now we’re talking about screens but in the future there may be other products, especially with the rise of the Internet of Things,” says MacArthur, author of the book “Outsmarting Your Kids Online.”

“We have to keep these guidelines updated every single year.”

The Toronto mom would like to see guidelines specifically address the impact of different types of content — such as YouTube videos versus educational apps — and acknowledge that each fam❱❱ PAGE 28 How much

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28

Lifestyle

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Nepal storyteller uses photos and few lines to reveal lives

BY BINAJ GURUBACHARYA The Associated Press KATHMANDU, NEPAL — It started with a photograph of a smirking, young man wearing a heavy-metal band T-shirt and selling tea on the streets of Kathmandu. It has become a wildly popular blog chronicling street life in the Himalayan nation of Nepal.

Inspired by the similar project “Humans of New York,” Nepalese photographer Jay Poudyal has posted biographies and photographs for more than 800 Nepalis including villagers, bureaucrats, schoolchildren, housewives and students since launching his blog three years ago.

“Stories of Nepal,” with 270,000 followers and growing, has become a mission for the 37-year-old college dropout: to highlight the heroism of Nepal’s common men and women as they struggle against widespread poverty, natural disasters and a government widely seen as corrupt.

“I was searching for purpose of life,” Poudyal said in an interview with The Associated Press, admitting to past struggles with alcohol and drug abuse. “When I started doing this, it was like a calling for me.”

Each morning, Poudyal takes to the streets of his native Kathmandu to chat with people, share jokes or heart-wrenching memories, and snap their photos. Occasionally, he’ll drive his motorcycle to a nearby village, or take a bus to a community farther out along Nepal’s

mountain roads.

The blog has led to some freelance photography work, which he said gives him enough income to get by and still focus on the blog.

“I really love the freedom,” he said. “When you plan something, you are limiting the possibilities. But when you are just walking, when you are keeping yourself very open, there is so much that comes in which you are not expecting.”

Poudyal tries to make more than half of his stories about women. That’s in line with his goal of giving a voice to the most marginalized in Nepal, a mostly patriarchal society best known as the home of Mount Everest.

For one story, posted last week, Poudyal photographed a man he came upon sitting alone in a crowded Kathmandu square surrounded by old palaces and temples. They spoke for an hour, with the photographer recording the man’s tale of how he missed his wife, who had died three years earlier and left him to raise their four children.

Later, Poudyal met truck driver in a narrow stone-paved alley, and heard about how he had just been shopping for new clothes for his family. The man, smiling wide and holding up a bag of rice he had purchased, said he was heading home with the gifts before a Hindu festival celebration.

“When I am listening to the stories, I go into that emotional space, and the struggle, the pain, suffering or the happiness, hopes and aspirations, it sort of also becomes mine,” Poudyal said. “Sometimes I am

laughing with the person who is telling me a story, sometimes we are both crying.”

But hearing so many stories of woe sometimes takes its toll, even in a country that has endured a bloody communist insurgency, a massacre inside the royal palace, the abolition of a centuries-old monarchy, and most recently, a devastating set of earthquakes that killed thousands in 2015.

“I don’t think I have leant the art of detachment yet,” Poudyal said. “At times I don’t want to go out of the house, and I just want to draw the curtains and just do nothing.”

Then he watches the news and sees how it subverts individual people into the generalized narrative, and feels compelled to go out again and tell their stories.

“I feel like it is my responsibility to somehow bring out these stories of these individuals that failed to reach mainstream media,” he said.

The son of a jewelry trader, Poudyal and his two brothers and two sisters grew up in a middle-class neighbourhood of Kathmandu. His struggles with alcohol began when he was a teenager. He later spent four years attending a college in Thailand before dropping out without a degree.

He went to Australia, searching for something to do, but instead reached a low point in drug and alcohol abuse and depression. He recalled begging in the streets of Melbourne for money to buy cheap wine.

He returned to Nepal in 2009, got a job as a graphic artist for

not in use, designating mediafree times such as dinner or while in the car, and media-free locations at home, such as bedrooms.

Matthew Johnson of the Ottawa-based advocacy group MediaSmarts also disputes the common perception that interactive devices are less harmful than passive ones.

“Unfortunately with the youngest age group that really isn’t true,” says Johnson, also a

member of the Canadian Paediatric Society’s digital task force.

“There’s strong evidence that you get very similar deficits.”

And background screens have an impact, too.

“Even if they’re not watching it actively, it’s drawing some of their attention, it’s distracting them from interacting with other people or from creative play and in the long-term it’s teaching them bad habits around media.”

“Stories of Nepal,” with 270,000 followers and growing, has become a mission for the 37-year-old college dropout: to highlight the heroism of Nepal’s common men and women as they struggle against widespread poverty, natural disasters and a government widely seen as corrupt.

an advertising agency and got married to his girlfriend of many years. But his depression only got worse.

“I drove in my scooter and I wanted to jump off a cliff and end it all, but something stopped me,” he said. Instead, he rode home crying and told his wife he needed help, leading him to spend three months in drug rehabilitation at a clinic in the Nepalese capital.

A few months after finishing rehab, he started “Stories of Nepal” in October 2013.

As its popularity grew, he also used the blog to raise funds for some he had photographed.

He managed to raise $14,000 to help the eastern village of Ghumthang recover from the 2015 earthquake by buying food and medicine, building temporary shelters and a primary school. A year later, he raised about $700 in two hours for a girl’s mother who lost the family’s savings when the quake

started a fire that destroyed everything inside her stone hut.

The project has brought him praise from around the world.

One 73-year-old follower named Doug Hall, from Chichester, New Hampshire, said Poudyal’s work gave outsiders a sense “of life in the early 21st century in Nepal.”

“One is better able to understand the pain of women left behind when their husbands emigrate for jobs, of the pride in small accomplishments, of the emotional toll of caste discrimination, of the beauty of childhood friendships,” Hall said in an email to the AP. Another follower, airline pilot Pratistha Karki from Kathmandu, said the blog was inspiring.

“When the only people to have media space are celebrities and politicians ... ‘Stories of Nepal’ has let an everyday Nepali participate in the major Nepali discourse,” Karki said.

Urrutia says she and her wife don’t have strict time limits for their son, focusing more on content, especially the need to limit commercials.

Their preschooler generally watches 15 minutes in the morning while they shower and get dressed, and another hour in the evening after daycare, which he watches in short spurts while playing.

But she says it can be hard to keep track of all the time he

spends on various devices, especially between two working parents.

“Are you parenting or are you policing? That’s my main challenge,” says Urrutia, who fears a hard time limit would only lead to arguments.

“I don’t want to have a timer that goes, ‘Ding,’ and then I say, ‘OK, time to take it away,’ and he hasn’t finished. Maybe in a minute he would have been finished.”

How much... ily will have different struggles.

“I don’t think it’s realistic to set a goal of no screen time for children,” says MacArthur, who sets “flexible” limits for her seven-year-old.

“I want my child to understand how to use it and how to leverage it and I don’t think it’s something I would exclude him from.”

Both pediatrics groups suggest turning off screens when ❰❰ 27

www.canadianinquirer.net

29

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Sports Banal named top pick of regular draft; Gilas boys distributed in special draft

BY IVAN S. SALDEJENO Philippines News Agency MANILA — As expected, Blackwater selected Mac Belo in the special draft for the Gilas players while naming Raphy Banal the first overall pick of the regular PBA Draft at the Robinsons’ Place Manila Atrium on Sunday.

The drafting of the Gilas players was made in alphabetical order of the 12-member teams, although reports surfaced that the draft order in the first round of the regular draft was used during the actual draft that likewise reportedly took place already during the PBA board meeting on Thursday, enabling the Elite to get Belo.

On the other hand, Alaska

took Carl Cruz, Ginebra nabbed Kevin Ferrer, GlobalPort chose Von Pessimal, Mahindra took Russel Escoto, Meralco picked Ed Daquioag, NLEX selected Fonzo Gotladera, Phoenix drafted Matt Wright, Rain Or Shine took Mike Tolomia, San Miguel went for Arnold Van Opstal, Star picked Jio Jalalon, and TNT got RR Pogoy.

Meanwhile, Banal, the son of former player and champion coach Joel, joined Belo at Blackwater as the top pick of the regular draft, which was credited as the second round of the entire PBA Draft.

“Glory to God for giving me the opportunity to play in the professional level. I’m really excited. Blackwater is a young team. We have a lot of potentials and opportunities to grow.

I can’t wait to play with my teammates,” Raphy, who is also known as Ael, told the media after his selection was formalized.

Phoenix, on the other hand, went with its plan of going for a point guard and a big man by tabbing Gelo Alolino second overall and his fellow ex-NU Bulldog Jeoff Javillonar tenth overall.

Ginebra also had two picks in the first regular round that the club used for swingman Jammer Jamito (third overall) and towering center Jericho De Guzman (ninth overall).

Rounding the first round of the regular draft, Mahindra selected Joseph Eriobu, Star got Chris Javier, San Miguel chose Rashawn McCarthy, Meralco took Jonathan Grey,

SARA ABEND / FLICKR

and NLEX drafted Reden Celda.

Appeared to be satisfied already with Cruz and Tolomia, respectively, Rain Or Shine and

Alaska decided to pass in the regular draft.

In total, 37 of the 53 draft aspirants were selected on Sunday.

Golf’s landscape has new look as PGA Tour heads to Asia

BY DOUG FERGUSON The Associated Press SHANGHAI — To get a sense of how much the landscape in golf is changing, consider the PGA Tour schedule next year. The Asia swing in October will have as many tournaments as the Florida swing in March.

Perhaps this illustrates the suspicions seven years ago when PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem held a news conference on the final day of the HSBC Champions and whispers filled the room that it was the start of an “Asian invasion.”

That was the first year the HSBC Champions, billed as “Asia’s major,” became a World Golf Championship.

The PGA Tour added the CIMB Classic in Malaysia the following year. Justin Thomas won the seventh edition at Kuala Lumpur this year, and the next day the tour announced it had a 10-year deal with South Korean conglomerate CJ Corp.

to sponsor an event in South Korea starting in 2017 that offers $9.25 million in prize money. Only the four majors, The Players Championship and the World Golf Championships have higher purses.

Two days later, the PGA Tour celebrated the opening of a new Asian office in Tokyo.

The PGA Tour Champions is going to Japan next year, though any regular PGA Tour event is not on the immediate horizon. Japan is hosting the Olympics in 2020. Any tournament beyond that likely would start with the World Cup and the Presidents Cup, which next has an open date on the international calendar in 2013.

A week’s worth of Asian developments got the attention of the players. They now have the option of playing for $26 million over three straight weeks, although those tournaments are halfway around the world.

“It just seems like we should play at home, but I’m not sure where the tour is trying to go,”

said Kevin Kisner when asked about the new tournament in South Korea. “Obviously, they want to make it more of a world tour, which is great. We’re playing for $9.25 million, but not all of us want to get on a plane and fly over there and play for it.

“I’d rather have a $9.25 million purse in Aiken, South Carolina,” he said with a wry smile because he lives off the 17th hole at Palmetto Golf Club. “The economy is not growing fast enough in the U.S. to keep asking people to throw money at us.”

The LPGA Tour, ahead of the curve by necessity, is wrapping up a six-tournament swing through Asia this week.

The PGA Tour is not headed down that road, not yet and perhaps not ever. The tour showed its strength when it remained fully sponsored domestically through the 2008 recession.

The presence in Asia simply is recognizing where the growth is, and the tour would be foolish to ignore that.

Japan is the second-largest www.canadianinquirer.net

golf market in the world. Paul Johnson, who heads up international affairs for the PGA Tour, said it has 14 sponsors that have significant business in Japan, and so a Tokyo office makes sense.

Tournaments are one piece of the puzzle, and Johnson said events outside the country “energizes our fan base.”

“As sponsors globalize, we want to be in a position to work with them,” Johnson said. “There is a broader strategy that says we need to build our business outside the U.S. If you want to drive business, you have to be in the marketplace.”

No one is making players travel to Asia in October, especially after an Olympic year when three majors were crammed into a seven-week window ahead of the Rio Games.

Among those who chose to sit out the HSBC Champions without injury or illness were Jordan Spieth, Phil Mickelson, Jim Furyk and Zach Johnson.

All have a history of being will-

ing to travel except for Johnson, who hasn’t played overseas (excluding the British Open and a Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup) in a decade. Spieth, for example, is returning to the Australian Open in two weeks.

However, players might feel a need to go to Asia so they don’t fall too far behind at the start of the season. Having three events makes it easier to play in two of them, particularly if they aren’t eligible for the HSBC Champions.

“Over here is great,” Ryan Moore said. “It’s good exposure for golf, it’s good exposure for the PGA Tour. I’ve won twice in Asia (both times in Malaysia).

I’ve had success, so maybe I’m the wrong person to ask.”

Meanwhile, the Florida swing in March will have only three PGA Tour events next year because the World Golf Championship at Doral has moved to Mexico City. It will be the first time that two WGCs are held outside the United States since the series began in 1999.

Times are changing.

30

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Business Fear of foreclosure?

BY BEVERLY P. MENDOZA Foreclosure Paralegal, McLeod Law LLP ARE YOU delayed in your mortgage payments? Are you afraid that somebody from the Bank will knock on your door tomorrow to take your house and kick you out?

Losing one’s house is every homeowner’s nightmare. The reasons behind one’s default are countless: loss of a job, sudden disability, marital disintegration and many others. How do you cope when you know that the Bank is about to foreclose on your property?

What do you need to do? Here are 3 tips that I suggest you keep in mind.

Do not panic

When the Bank’s Lawyer sends you a Demand Letter, stay calm.

A Demand Letter is the first step which means two things: (1) that you’re about to go into foreclosure if you don’t pay what is owing by the time specified; and, (2) that you can no longer deal directly with the Bank (Branch) but only with the Lawyer.

Again, it is only the first step and it only tells you that you are in default of payments.

Foreclosure is a process and well guarded by Laws and the Courts. It does not happen overnight.

Act quickly

You probably have a reason why you weren’t able to pay your mortgage for the past months. Valid or not, the Bank won’t likely bend its policies to allow you to be in default for a long time. You need to find ways to pay immediately. Make a summary of your assets, investments and sources of income. You’re too sick to work, but have you already applied for disability? You lost your job and your EI has expired, but have you thought of selling

your house or asking relatives for loans? Consider looking for a financial advisor who can advise you. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. Communicate with the bank’s lawyer and your lawyer

Even though foreclosure is litigious; it will not hurt if you communicate with the Bank’s Lawyer as early as you can.

The worst thing you can do is read the Demand Letter and do nothing. The next thing you’ll know — you are being served with a Statement of Claim — a document that gets the foreclosure rolling.

What should you have done when you received the Demand Letter?

You should have called the Lawyer, asked for a payment arrangement or extension and requested that you be notified of all the proceedings.

Avoiding any communication with the Lawyer, or delivery of any documents to you in regards to your default, or leaving no information to the Branch if you decide to walk away, only adds costs to the foreclosure. The Lawyer will hire a process server after the Statement of Claim is filed and make attempts to serve the document on you. Every attempt means more money spent. Remember that legal costs form a part of your mortgage. The more open you are to channels of communication with the Lawyer, the better you know what will happen next in the foreclosure and minimize legal costs.

Always try your best to get some legal advice. Yes, you may not have the funds to hire a Lawyer. Try Legal Aid. Try calling the Courts. Some Law Firms do pro bono. Go to a mortgage broker. Usually a mortgage broker is knowledgeable of the foreclosure procedure. Get some help.

The earlier you are advised, the better you can ascertain where you stand in the foreclosure.

Ask Brianna:

How can I save money on my car?

BY BRIANNA MCGURRAN The Associated Press “ASK BRIANNA” is a Q&A column from NerdWallet for 20-somethings or anyone else starting out. I’m here to help you manage your money, find a job and pay off student loans — all the real-world stuff no one taught us how to do in college.

Send your questions about postgrad life to askbrianna@nerdwallet.com.

Q: I need a car to get around, but I’m trying to save money.

How can I keep my driving costs in check?

A: We millennials have been accused of taking on too much debt, not properly valuing home ownership, eschewing marriage and waiting too long to have kids. Add to that list car manufacturers’ fears that we don’t want cars, either, thanks to Uber, public transportation and the lingering effects of the recession.

The truth is, we need cars just like the generations before us did, and recession-era grads are, in fact, showing up at the car dealership. Auto sales reached an all-time high in 2015, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

Of customers who bought or leased new cars, the share who were ages 21 to 38 rose from 17 per cent in 2010, to 28 per cent in 2015, according to data from the Power Information Network at J.D. Power.

In places where public transportation and ride-hailing are available, combining the two can be enough to get you around town, along with the occasional rental car for adventures. But many of us can’t get to work without a car or find ourselves renting one nearly every weekend. If you need your own set of wheels, these tips can keep you from getting mired in debt. www.canadianinquirer.net

Buy used

Straight from Captain Obvious herself comes this piece of advice: Buy a used car. That doesn’t mean giving your neighbours a few hundred bucks for a rusty 1970s clunker like my sister did when she was in her 20s.

Instead, go for a 2, 3 or 4-yearold model. You’ll save almost $8,000 when you buy a 3-yearold midsized sedan instead of the latest model, according to data from car-advice website Edmunds.

Buying a used car protects you from the immediate depreciation hit of a new car, which loses almost a third of its value in the first year, according to Consumer Reports . And a used car is likely to last a long while.

The average age of a passenger car on the road in 2015 hit a record 11.5 years, research firm IHS Automotive reported last year, due in part to cars’ increasing reliability.

Try one of the growing number of trusted websites and apps to search used cars in your area. Ask the dealership, or the private seller if you’re buying from someone else, for a Carfax vehicle history report for the car you’re interested in. Make sure the car has had as few owners as possible, that it hasn’t been in any major accidents, and that the owner has kept up with scheduled maintenance.

Consumer Reports publishes lists of the best used cars for various budgets, starting at less than $10,000.

Compare more than sticker prices

Before you buy, compare cars based on how much they’ll cost you over time using the fiveyear cost calculators on the Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book websites. When you look up the total cost of owning a car, you’ll see how much you can expect to pay in interest on your car loan, gas and maintenance.

“You’ll find some cars are

more expensive to maintain, and you don’t realize that until you’ve already bought the car in some cases,” says David Bennett, manager of automotive programs at AAA. If you need to finance your car, a higher credit score will save you money. In most cases, good credit will get you a lower interest rate, potentially as much as several percentage points lower, a lower monthly payment and a shorter loan term. Keep your credit score in top shape by paying your bills on time, maintaining low credit card balances, and avoiding applying for additional lines of credit in the months before you get a car loan.

Most importantly, get preapproved for a loan before you enter a dealership. Shop around with your bank, credit union or a trusted online lender to get a quote. If your bank offers you an interest rate of 3.9 per cent, for instance, the dealer will likely try to offer you a lower rate, Bennett says.

Minimize ongoing costs

Your new wheels will come with extra expenses beyond the cost of the car itself, like insurance. Compare auto insurance rates and look for discounts, including going to traffic school to remove points from your license, which lead to higher monthly premiums. Check insurance rates before you buy your car, too, because some models might cost more to insure.

There are even ways to save on gas. Use an app like GasBuddy to compare gas prices on your route, and consider using a credit card that gets you cash back on gas purchases. But take that step only if you’re prepared to pay the balance in full every month. Rewards are a lot juicier when interest charges don’t eat away at them.

Business

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

31

Sweet delight from Nipa Palm

BY MA. ELOISA H. AQUINO AND EPHRAIM JOHN J. GESTUPA NIPA PALM (Nypa fruticans), a species of palm that grows along the coastlines and estuarine habitats, is commonly used in the Philippines as roofing material for bahay kubo or is processed as vinegar (sukang paombong) or wine (laksoy).

A group of enterprising farmers in Surigao del Sur are now engaged in producing another product - natural sweetener from Nipa Palm.

Nipa palm sugar, with lower glycemic index, looks almost like coco sap sugar, being granulated from the sap of the Nipa Palm. Given its promising potential amid the increasing demand for organic products, the Foundation for Rural Enterprise and Ecology Development of Mindanao (FREEDOM), Inc. is implementing a project that aims to provide livelihood opportunities to coastal communities and increase the income of tappers and wine processors in Barangay Agsam in Lanuza, Surigao del Sur. The growing consumer preference towards natural sweeteners is manifested by the increasing market share of different natural sweeteners such as coco sugar, Stevia, and nipa palm sugar. There is a large demand for natural sweeteners in the foreign market including United States and Europe.

Considering the strategic position of the Philippines, being the country with the third largest area of Nipa palm plantations in southeast Asia, a team led by Mr. Antonio S. Peralta of

FREEDOM, Inc. set out to take greater strides in expanding the selection of locally made, world-class, nipa palm-based products. Peralta and his team drafted a research proposal that was eventually funded by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research which is entitled, “Adoption and Utilization of Nipa Palm Sugar Processing Technology in Lanuza, Surigao Del Sur.” Partnering with DABAR and FREEDOM would be the Sitio Ipil Wine Makers Association (SIWA) and the Municipality of Lanuza wherein the latter will have the full marketing contract to purchase the Nipa Palm sugar produced by SIWA members for resale to interested buyers.

The said project is funded under the National Organic Agriculture Program and coordinated by the bureau, through its National Technology Commercialization Program (NTCP).

The project seeks to improve the Nipa Palm sugar product of the community, contribute to mangrove rehabilitation and protection, and strengthen local people’s organizations.

Components of the project include organizing innovative sap processing technology training, product packaging and labeling, and market linking.

Before FREEDOM’s research project, the farmers in Barangay Agsam, Lanuza had depended on Nipa wine making, and rice and corn farming as their sources of income.

With the help of the BARfunded project, their income opportunities significantly increased. SIWA, the chosen project beneficiary, in partnership with FREEDOM, Inc., is now

managing the common service processing facility and is responsible for producing high quality Nipa Palm sugar. The facility that produces the sugar on a weekly basis, houses a mechanical dryer that can process 40 kilograms of sugar per batch.

Members of SIWA were trained in, not only on the proper methods of tapping nipa sap and processing nipa palm sugar, but also the basics of organizational and financial management. SIWA was also equipped with the machinery and equipment needed to properly harvest and process the tree sap for sugar production. According to Fritz Escudero of FREEDOM, prior to the project, farmers were not particular with the sanitation required in making sugar out of nipa sap, but thanks to the training and field trips to accredited processing facilities, the SIWA members were made aware of these concerns which ultimately expedited their efforts to develop the quality of the Nipa Palm Sugar taste.

To date, the Nipa Palm products were able to penetrate the Eco Stores, a national chain of stores operating in Davao City and Cagayan de Oro. “Local coffee shops have also shown interest in using Nipa Palm sugar for different varieties of specialty coffee that they sell,” Mr. Peralta added.

Presently, nipa palm sugar is packed in 150-gram stand up pouches. These are sold at PhP 150.00 per pouch. The product was favorably received during the Davao Agri Trade Expo held at SMX Global in Lanang, Davao City, one of the major agri trade fairs in the country drawing both local and foreign

buyers. Also, the Nipa Palm sugar was awarded as the “Best New Product” in the 11th Agriculture and Fisheries Technology Forum and Product Exhibition held by BAR in August 2015 at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. “The award served as fuel to SIWA members to cooperate more for the project,” Mr. Peralta shared.

SIWA members highly appreciate the series of training activities as well as capacity building seminars facilitated by FREEDOM, Inc. to further improve their skills on Nipa Palm sugar processing and farm production management. Terrencio Orillaneda, a member of SIWA, commented that the training has helped them develop their production of Nipa Palm sugar into a viable micro enterprise. Other members have also come to recognize the value of the training provided to them as it has helped them manage their association in a professional manner.

“We have established a ‘Farmer Climate Field School’ to support the good agricultural practices that we are introducing in the project. Production standards and proper training for farmers which were introduced under the project will improve the quality of Nipa

QAALVIN / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Palm sugar,” Mr. Peralta said.

According to John Largo, Officer-in-charge of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, not only has the project helped in increasing the farmer’s source of income but it has also elevated their awareness of climate change.

Ever since becoming beneficiaries of FREEDOM’s project, members of SIWA have become more involved in the LGU’s activities aimed at protecting the environment such as tree planting projects and awareness campaigns during town festivals. This level of enthusiasm is significant for Largo’s municipality since the town is in close proximity to large-scale mining sites.

Today, FREEDOM and SIWA are in the next phase of the project which involves expanding nipa plantation areas and Nipa Palm sugar and wine processing facilities across Surigao del Sur while simultaneously securing the needed accreditations for both the Azucar de Lanuza enterprise and its processing facilities. Both Lanuza and FREEDOM look forward to day that Nipa Palm Sugar would soon penetrate, not only the larger local market, but also be exported internationally.

IC chief says infra-linked securities to provide higher yields for insurance industry investments

BY JOANN S. VILLANUEVA Philippines News Agency MANILA — With the increase in capital requirements for insurance companies in place by end-2016, industry players are looking for other investment options that will provide them higher yields outside of the usu-

al government securities (GS).

And as the government pushes for further strengthening of infrastructure investments securities related to this would be a plus, Insurance Commissioner Emmanuel Dooc said.

Insurance companies are required to have a minimum capital of PHP550 million by the end of this year, PHP300 mil-

lion higher than the PHP250 million requirement earlier.

Dooc is hopeful that the national treasury will be able to create an investment instrument that will fund infrastructure projects, for the industry to further aid in the sustained expansion of the domestic economy.

Insurance companies are rewww.canadianinquirer.net

quired to set aside one fourth of their investible funds with the Insurance Commission (IC) in the form of security deposits.

These deposits are placed in long-term government securities (GS) issued by the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) and has a tenor of maximum of 25 years, Dooc said the insurance industry plays an active role in

the capital market development, with the 2015 placement level at about PHP1 trillion, about 40 percent of which was placed in GS. “We contribute to the development of our economy because of the funds that we have,” he said. ❱❱ PAGE 37 IC chief

32

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Technology Apple adds keyboard touch functions to Mac in major refresh

BY BRANDON BAILEY The Associated Press CUPERTINO, CALIF. — Apple’s high-end Mac laptops are getting a touch control strip above the keyboard, part of a longawaited update aimed at reviving interest in a product often overshadowed by newer gadgets like the iPad and iPhone.

The new Touch Bar, which is both a narrow display and a control panel, replaces the old physical function keys on a traditional laptop. It will offer a variety of controls that change according to the app or website that’s open.

It also has functions that will be familiar to many iPhone users — showing word suggestions as you type, for example, or letting you scroll through a library of emojis.

New features, higher price

The company unveiled the laptops at its headquarters in Cupertino, California, where executives showed how the Touch Bar works with a variety of apps and software — providing playback and editing controls for videos or music, for example, and search functions for Apple’s maps and photos apps.

Apple is also opening the Touch Bar to work with outside software, including Adobe’s Photoshop editing program and Microsoft’s Word, PowerPoint and Skype.

Along with faster processors and brighter screens, two of Apple’s new laptops will also get a fingerprint sensor, similar to the one on iPhones. The sensor

can unlock the device, authorize software installations or recognize a different user and quickly switch to that person’s settings. It works with Apple Pay, so users can authorize an electronic payment for online purchases.

At least for now, the new Touch Bar and Touch ID features will be available only on higher-end models — a 13inch MacBook Pro that starts at about $1,800 and a 15-inch MacBook Pro at about $2,400.

Both ship in a few weeks. Starting Thursday, Apple is selling a 13-inch MacBook Pro without the Touch Bar or Touch ID, but with other improvements, for about $1,500.

Older versions sold for prices starting at about $1,300 for 13 inches and $2,000 for 15 inches.

Apple will still sell older MacBook Pros at those prices, along with less expensive MacBook and MacBook Air models. But its cheapest laptop, the 11-inch MacBook Air for about $900, will be sold only to education markets.

The company is also replacing some computer ports with new outlets compatible with USB-C standards, which can be used both for charging and transferring data. Connectors with USB-C technology can transmit data faster than older USB jacks. They are also smaller and have a symmetric shape, which means the USB-C jack can be inserted with either side facing up. But older USB printers and other devices will need adapters. The new Macs still have traditional headphone

jacks, unlike the latest iPhones.

Laptops vs tablets

Sales of the Mac have been in a slump this year, after a streak of growth in 2014 and 2015 that seemed to defy global trends.

Consumers generally are buying fewer PCs and using smartphones or tablets instead.

Apple itself has promoted its latest iPad tablet, the iPad Pro, as capable of replacing the laptop for many users. And in contrast with the Mac’s earlier years — when Apple marketed its computers to people who saw themselves as creative professionals or just independent thinkers — Apple also has begun promoting the Mac as a computer for businesses, which once mostly used competitors’ PCs running Microsoft’s Windows software.

Microsoft, meanwhile, has begun selling its own line of high-end Surface laptops and this week introduced its first Surface desktop PC. Analysts say the new Surface Studio has a premium price and features that will most likely appeal to visual designers and other creative professionals — an area that has been Apple’s strength.

Microsoft has boasted about modern controls with touch screens; the Touch Bar is Apple’s answer to that, placed near the keyboard where people’s fingers are already.

For Apple, the Mac line has been eclipsed financially by other products — first the iPod and now the iPhone — that have made far more money in recent years. But the Mac has been

www.canadianinquirer.net

Older versions sold for prices starting at about $1,300 for 13 inches and $2,000 for 15 inches. Apple will still sell older MacBook Pros at those prices, along with less expensive MacBook and MacBook Air models. But its cheapest laptop, the 11-inch MacBook Air for about $900, will be sold only to education markets.

DENYS PRYKHODOV / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

important for Apple since cofounder Steve Jobs introduced the first model in 1984. It commands intense loyalty from fans. “The Mac is more than a product to us. It’s a testament to everything we do and everything we create at Apple,” CEO Tim Cook said Thursday.

Baby steps in TV

Cook also used the event to promote a newer endeavour, Apple TV, and a new unified menu feature that shows recommendations and new episodes of recently watched shows, so viewers don’t have to search through different apps to find them. Amazon’s Fire TV is taking a similar approach with a software update, though the unified experience will be part of the home screen, not an app.

Apple’s app, though, is short of a full-fledged streaming-TV service, which reports say Apple has been pursuing. Rather,

it brings together TV shows and movies viewers already get through individual subscriptions. The TV app, coming in December, will be synced with iPhones and iPads, so viewers can catch the next episode regardless of device. Apple said its Siri voice assistant will also direct viewers to live events, such as streaming sports.

Apple said Apple TV already has 8,000 apps, including more than 2,000 games. The addictive building game “Minecraft” will come later this year.

In a minor setback, meanwhile, Apple said Wednesday that it’s delaying shipment of its new wireless earphones, called AirPods, which had been scheduled for late October. In a statement, the company said, “We don’t believe in shipping a product before it’s ready, and we need a little more time before AirPods are ready for our customers.” Apple didn’t elaborate.

Technology

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

Under fire...

“The reason we want to sit down with the Canadian Human Rights Commission is to be able to stop talking past one another.”

In September, the commission urged the parties to resolve their dispute without further legal action.

Cindy Blackstock, a First Nations child advocate who, along with the Assembly of First Nations, spent nine years fighting the government on the issue, said she welcomes the government’s openness to mediation.

“We have always been willing to try whatever route would make a difference in terms of the level of children,” Blackstock told a news conference.

“We will see them there and we will welcome that opportunity.”

MPs will vote on Angus’s motion — which calls for an immediate $155 million plus a funding blueprint for future years — following question period Tuesday.

“This is not a motion that is NDP versus Liberal,” Angus said.

“This is every single parliamentarian from every part of Canada standing up and calling on this government to stop fighting the children, to put in place the measures that are credible, to stop ridiculing and undermining the numbers that are needed.”

Angus’ motion also urges the government to adopt Jordan’s ❰❰ 18

Principle, which says no aboriginal child should suffer denial, delay or disruption of health services available to other children because of jurisdictional feuds.

It is named for Jordan River Anderson, a five-year-old boy with complex needs who died in hospital in 2005 after a twoyear battle between the federal and Manitoba governments over his home care costs.

“This Liberal government ... is fighting children in court to deny medical services,” Angus said.

“The question is: if they pass this motion, will they phone those families and say, ‘We will stop fighting you immediately.”‘ Prior to a debate on the motion last week, Bennett said a new special representative will lead national discussions on the reform of First Nations child welfare services.

Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux — a Lakehead University professor and a Liberal candidate in the 2011 election — is to advise the government as it works with provinces, territories and child welfare agencies on an overhaul of the system.

Officials at the Indigenous Affairs Department insist government funding is being phased in over time deliberately because it has heard from agencies about the challenges of hiring and retaining staff, as well as the need for time to roll out new programs.

DOST-PCIEERD to award up to PHP 10M fund for approved R&D proposals in 2017 MANILA — The Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) will award up to Php 10 million per approved research and development (R&D) project for 2017.

Researchers and other science and technology (S&T) experts are encouraged to send their proposals until Nov. 4, 2016.

DOST-PCIEERD said this funding opportunity also pro-

motes collaboration and applied research among S&T advocates who seek funding for their R&D initiatives.

Proposals must be aligned with DOST-PCIEERD's sectoral coverage: technologies for industry competitiveness; sustainable mass transport; sustainable energy; environment, climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction; biotechnology or genomics; photonics; space technology and nanotechnology.

33

UK-Uber drivers win case to get paid vacation, minimum wage

BY DANICA KIRKA The Associated Press

ees. The settlement would have given $100 million to about 380,000 drivers.

While companies argue that LONDON — Uber’s claim that the gig economy’s system of its drivers are contractors — self-employment provides lifeand not employees entitled to style benefits for people who vacations — was rejected Friday choose where to work, set their by a British tribunal, in a ruling own hours and take time off that may have implications for when they want to, they also a range of companies that rely avoid many expenses associon self-employed workers. ated with hiring full-time emThe employment tribunal ployees. ruled that the two drivers who Sean Nesbitt, a partner in the brought the action were ememployment team at the interployees of the ride-hailing sernational law firm Taylor Wessvice, and so were entitled to ing, estimated that the British paid time off and a guaranteed ruling could cost Uber millions minimum wage. Uber plans to a year in holiday pay and penappeal. sion contributions. It would While the ruling may evencost even more to guarantee tually affect as many as 30,000 a minimum wage or back pay, Uber drivers, it also has implisaid Nesbitt, whose firm is not cations for more than 100,000 involved in the case. independent contractors in “The Uber tribunal judgment Britain’s s-called gig economy, announced today is not the end where people work job-to-job — it is the end of the beginning,” with little seNesbitt said. “It curity and few will form a vital employment part of the derights. Such embate on the gig ployment, often Uber drivers often work very long economy and for app-based hours just to earn enough to cover almost certainly services for evtheir basic living costs. It is the work be appealed, for erything from carried out by these drivers that has three reasons: food delivery to allowed Uber to become the multiit’s economihealth care, has billion-dollar global corporation it is. cally significant, surged as the Init affects over ternet cuts the 100,000 U.K. link between workers in rejobs and the tralated industries, ditional workplace. said other Uber drivers could and policy makers are interest“The Uber ruling will de- use the action — a test case — to ed in the gig economy.” mystify much rhetoric on the press their claims that they are Prime Minister Theresa May gig economy being inherently also employees. has ordered a study on the imliberating,” said Guglielmo Attorney Nigel Mackay, who plications of the gig economy Meardi, director of the Indus- is representing the drivers, and tax authorities are beefing trial Relations Research Unit at said he was pleased the tribu- up their enforcement unit.

Warwick Business School. He nal recognized that his clients Matthew Taylor, who is consaid it will drive debate on how were entitled to basic workers’ ducting the inquiry at May’s beto regulate new forms of con- rights. hest, wrote in the Guardian this tracting work.

“Uber drivers often work month that one in five British The ruling could also encour- very long hours just to earn workers are in involved in what age Uber drivers in other coun- enough to cover their basic liv- he called “non-standard worktries to seek recognition as em- ing costs,” he said. “It is the ing arrangements.” ployees. Uber has fought those work carried out by these driv“There is, for example, a parefforts as the change would ers that has allowed Uber to be- ticular problem with job securaise its operating expenses come the multi-billion-dollar rity,” he wrote. “While 92 per significantly and go against its global corporation it is.” cent of people consider it to business model and identity.

A separate effort to identify be important, only 6 per cent The ability to provide cheaper Uber drivers as employees has of people think their job is serides has been integral to its fallen short in the U.S. In Au- cure, and 15 per cent think it is success and appeal. gust, a federal judge rejected insecure - that’s around 5 milBased in San Francisco, Cali- Uber’s attempt to settle claims lion people wondering if they fornia, Uber describes itself as a by drivers that the company will be able to pay the bills each technology company that links had been exploiting them by month, or what will happen to self-employed drivers with treating them as independent the mortgage if they’re suddenpeople who need rides. contractors instead of employ- ly out of work.” www.canadianinquirer.net

Jo Bertram, Uber’s regional general manager, argued that thousands of drivers want to be self-employed and their own bosses. The company in June released a survey showing that 68 per cent of Uber drivers don’t drive a set number of hours each week and 41 per cent set their hours based on what else they have going on in their lives.

“The overwhelming majority of drivers who use the Uber app want to keep the freedom and flexibility of being able to drive when and where they want,” Bertram said in a statement.

Uber said the ruling applies only to the two people who brought the action, though experts say that, if upheld, it could help shape future regulation of the company and industries that rely heavily on self-employed workers. Leigh Day, the law firm that brought the action

34

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Travel Rubbing the statue’s toe and other good times in Edinburgh

BY MICHELLE LOCKE The Associated Press EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND — Rain is pelting the black bulk of Edinburgh Castle brooding over the city, but inside Fingers Piano Bar on Frederick Street, it’s warm and dry as I dance with a throng of cheerful Scots, all of us lustily belting out the chorus of “Sweet Caroline.”

“Hands, touching hands,” roar the dancers, waving their arms about and casually slapping complete strangers on the back as the piano man valiantly covers Neil Diamond.

Which is when it occurs to me that this city’s reputation as a bastion of gentility might not be 100 per cent on point — certainly not at Fingers, which is known for a boisterous vibe.

In truth, Edinburgh has many faces. You might start your day researching the city’s (sometimes bloody) past, move on to a wind-swept hike of green hills and finish up with a plunge into the lively dining and bar-hopping scene.

Whether you choose one, two or all of Edinburgh’s incarnations, here are some guideposts for the journey.

What’s new

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, aka Holyrood Palace, is worth a visit for its stylishly decorated rooms as well as the chambers of the doomed Mary Queen of Scots, site of the brutal murder of her Italian secretary David Rizzio on the orders of her second husband, Lord Darnley. (Note the chambers are reachable by spiral staircase only.) Evening tours offered in December include a visit to the West Drawing Room, not normally open to the public. Also: Champagne and mince pies.

Evening tours, which cost about $43, must be booked in advance and have limited availability.

Regular tours available daily; admission about $16. Check the

The Palace of Holyroodhouse, aka Holyrood Palace.

various paths to the top, most relatively easy although it’s a bit of a scramble at the end. website before you go to make ing into its nooks and crannies The Royal Botanic Garden sure the palace isn’t closed due or just have a quick stroll and a covers about 70 acres and is to royal visits. nice cup of tea. This is actually about one mile from the city For a less aristocratic window a collection of buildings includ- centre. Highlights include a on the past, visit The Real Mary ing former military prisons and memorial garden to the late King’s Close, set on the Royal tiny St. Margaret’s Chapel, built Queen Mother. Admission free Mile that stretches between in the 12th century and the old- to the gardens, about $7 to the Edinburgh Castle and Holy- est building on site. Don’t miss glasshouses. rood Palace. This is a warren of the Stone of Destiny, displayed If jetlag has you up at sunrise steep alleys that once teemed alongside the Crown Jewels in and you’re somewhere near the with life but Royal Mile, conwere abandoned sider walking when construcup Calton Hill. tion at the top You’ll get outof the hill sealed In truth, Edinburgh has many faces. standing views off the area, You might start your day researching of the city that turning it into the city’s (sometimes bloody) past, are all the better an underground move on to a wind-swept hike of when gilded by relic. Costumed green hills and finish up with a plunge the rising sun. guides lead you into the lively dining and bar-hopping The hill is home through the parscene. to the National tially furnished Monument, houses which which looks like include interacan unfinished tive portraits that help paint the Royal Palace, which has a Parthenon and, in fact, is. The a picture of what life was like long history in British corona- plan was to construct a masin these once-crowded streets. tions. Admission about $21. sively ambitious war memorial Bonus: You will come away with Afternoon tea can be had at the to Scottish soldiers and sailors a new appreciation for modern Queen Anne Tearoom for about killed in the Napoleonic wars, plumbing. Open daily; admis- $37 (include castle admission), but money ran out and the sion around $18. Reservations a nice diversion, especially if it’s project stalled at a base and 12 strongly recommended. pouring, which is always a pos- columns. sibility.

Classic attractions At the opposite end of the Getting around Edinburgh Castle is a must- Royal Mile is Holyrood Park, Edinburgh is very walkable, see, although it’s up to you home to Arthur’s Seat, a hill but be prepared for lots of hills whether you spend hours pok- popular with hikers. There are and steps and a changeable Edinburgh Castle, Scotland, from Princes Street Gardens, with the Ross Fountain in the foreground.

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climate. A good place to catch your breath is Princes Street Gardens in front of the castle.

Dining options range from standard pub grub - try the haggis, you know you want it -- to innovative takes on Scottish classics. Recommended: The Bon Vivant, 55 Thistle St. The menu changes seasonally, but local oysters are worth a try if available. Also good for a drink and a bite is The Devil’s Advocate, 9 Advocate’s Close.

Tips

For modern, bright rooms in an excellent location, try the G&V Royal Mile Hotel, rooms start at around $280.

Part of the fun of Edinburgh is its many traditions. Note the shiny big toe of David Hume’s statue on the Royal Mile in front of the High Court Building. Philosophy students used to rub the toe for good luck in exams; now everyone does it, which might not sit too well with Hume, who abhorred superstition.

Another, slightly less charming, good luck custom is to spit on the Heart of Midlothian, a heart-shaped mosaic in the sidewalk near St. Giles’ Church on the Royal Mile. It marks the spot where executions were once conducted. Make of that what you will.

Travel

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

35

Star gazing preserve: Jasper’s dark backdrop setting for amazing celestial sights

BY DEAN BENNETT The Canadian Press IN JASPER, you can come for the snow sports and stay for the skywatching.

You may even spot a sasquatch.

At the Jasper Planetarium visitors can take in a digital light show of constellations amid local landmarks, then troop outside and marvel at celestial sights set against one of the darkest backdrops in the world.

“There are details in things that I’ve seen here that I’ve never seen before.

Details in galaxies and nebulas that I’ve strained to see in other places,” said Peter McMahon, Jasper’s astronomer-inresidence.

Looking through a bank of telescopes, including a 136-kilogram monster with a mirror 40 centimetres in diameter, would-be Galileos can spy the Northern Lights, clusters of galaxies, stars being born below the Orion Nebula, the cloud tops of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, and flames exploding off the surface of the sun.

If it’s cloudy, they can listen to the magnetic fields of Jupiter, the sun and Saturn.

“The views you get here are actually fairly close to the view you hope you’re going to get when you dream of seeing these things,” said McMahon.

The stars are the paint, but the art is in

Spirit Island in Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park

the canvas.

Jasper National Park was designated a star-gazing preserve by the Royal Astronomy Society in Canada in 2011.

Ninety-seven per cent of the park is wilderness, free of light pollution.

On the nine-point Bortle scale, Jasper is a one or a two, compared with, say, incandescent Toronto, which would be a nine.

The designation has led to the creation of the Jasper Dark Sky Festival, an annual celebration of things celestial, and then, last year, the Jasper Planetarium.

The planetarium itself is an inflatable dome that seats 35 for a digital-projection show of constellations set against local landmarks, like Maligne Lake and the Jasper SkyTram.

“This is the story of Jasper in a planetarium,” said McMahon.

The show includes the constellations identified and named by Canada’s First Nations, with names like Beaver, Star Chief, Loon, Goose, Wolf, Turtle, Spirit World and even one named Bigfoot.

“As far as we know we’re the only planetarium in the world that has not only

the constellations of the First Nations that would have been in this area since before recorded history, we have the only set of aboriginal constellations that fills the entire sky, where you can say this is the Ojibwa version of Cassiopeia, or this is the Cree version of Orion, for example,” said McMahon.

McMahon found his life’s calling when he got his first telescope in his teens, spied Saturn and marvelled at the trillion bits of ice circling the gas giant.

“I think it’s just so mind-boggling that you can look at those little points of light out there and know this is a part of the larger existence that we are a part of,” he said.

He said the experience will only get better as skywatching technology expands and improves.

“We cannot quite touch it but see it in such detail that it almost feels like you’re out there in a spaceship exploring. I think that’s really exciting.”

If You Go...

Jasper Planetarium, Marmot Lodge, 86 Connaught Dr., Jasper, Alta., 1-888786-3641, email info@jasperplanetarium.com, www.jasperplanetarium.com Jasper National Park Official Guide, Tourism Jasper, www.jasper.travel. Includes information for trip planning on hotels, restaurants, attractions and deals.

Jasper SkyTram, www.jasperskytram. com

Foreign visitors to Japan already at 20 million, surpasses 2015 full year record THE CANADIAN PRESS TOKYO — The number of foreign visitors coming to Japan in the first nine months of the year leapt compared to a year earlier with the number likely already hitting a record 20 million visitors and eclipsing the total visitors for the whole of 2015, the Japan Tourism Agency said Monday.

According to the agency, for the first nine months of the year the number of visitors jumped 24.1 percent from the same period a year earlier totaling 17.98 million, with numerous estimated to have already exceeded 20 million.

The previous record for the entire year was 19.74 million logged in 2015 the agency said.

The number of visitors could have been higher, the agency said, but were impacted by powerful earthquakes in Ku-

mamoto Prefecture in April, as well as a firm yen which dissuaded some travelers.

The agency said however that owing to eased visa restrictions for some countries and a growing number of new routes from major hubs, including both air and sea ports, a significant uptick in visitors, particularly from Southeast Asian countries, was seen.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the government’s top spokesperson, said more needed to be done however to ease visa restrictions and attract more visitors ahead of Tokyo hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2020.

“We have set a goal of 40 million foreign visitors annually in 2020 so there are still many more things for us to do,” Suga told a press briefing Monday, adding that the government currently needs to consider further relaxing visa requirements, including those for visitors

from China, Russia and India.

Suga also said better provisions need to be made to accommodate Japan’s overseas visitors. He also noted that

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while shopping sprees here have already passed their peak, owing to a firm yen, the increase in visitors will continue to be a boon for the country.

36

NOVEMBER 4, 2016

FRIDAY

Food When planning for Thanksgiving, don’t forget the pecan pie THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA LEAVES ARE changing, the weather is cooling, and the smell of fall lingers in the air.

Pumpkins are appearing on doorsteps and families are beginning to plan their Thanksgiving menus. Pecan pie should always be on the list.

Pecan pie can be difficult to describe. It’s not a fruit pie or a cream pie, and it’s not a traditional custard. It falls into a loosely defined category most familiar to our Southern friends — the sugar pie. Sugar pies can be found in many styles and variations, but at its roots, a sugar pie is a single-crust pie with a baked filling of sugar, eggs and flavourings.

The sugar used can be granulated sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup, honey or molasses, depending on what you want your standout flavours to be. Pecan pies are commonly made with corn syrup, which lends a neutral flavour that helps the nuttiness of the pecans shine through, but substituting maple syrup can give richness and complexity without altering the texture.

Because the filling of sugar pies can be very soft, the pecans play an important textural role.

These nuts can be added whole, chopped or a combination of both. They will soak up some of the filling, which will make them tender enough to cut with a fork, but with enough bite to contrast the soft, creamy filling. And what are rich pecans and a sweet filling without a flaky, buttery pie crust? Our allbutter crust is partially baked before filling, which helps keep it crisp despite the wet interior.

Experiment with decorative borders and crimping to make your pie stand out on a crowded table.

Pecan pies are simple to prepare (easy as pie!), but it can be tough to determine when your pie is done. Sugar pie fill-

ings won’t always look perfectly firm when they are still hot in the oven. You will notice that the edges of the filling, just along the crust, will be a little bit puffy — like a souffle — even when the interior still appears slightly wet and jiggly. This is a good indicator that your pie is ready.

Pecan pie

Makes one single-crusted 9-inch pie Active time: 40 minutes. Inactive time: 1 1/2 hours to overnight.

• 1 recipe single-crust pie dough • 1 1/2 cups toasted pecan halves • 1/2 cup tightly packed light brown sugar • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour • 3/4 cup light corn syrup • 3 large eggs, lightly beaten • 4 tablespoons (1?2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 1/4 teaspoon salt Preheat the oven to 400 F. Roll out the pie dough and use it to line a 9-inch pie. Partially blind bake the crust. Let cool to room temperature in the pan on a rack before filling. Keep the oven temperature at 400 F. Spread the nuts in an even layer over the bottom of the partially baked pie shell. Stir the brown sugar and flour together in a mixing bowl until well blended. Add the corn syrup, eggs, butter, vanilla extract and salt and blend well.

Pour the mixture over the nuts, disturbing the nuts as little as possible.

Place the pie on a baking sheet and bake until the centre is softly set, 30-35 minutes. Let the pie rest for at least 20 minutes before slicing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

All Butter Pie Crust

An all-purpose buttery and flaky

pie pastry made with all butter. The key to the flakiness is threefold — the size of the butter pieces; the proper mixing of the dough, which prevents the fat from completely blending into the flour; and keeping the butter cold throughout mixing. Makes two 11-inch rounds.

• 3 cups all-purpose flour • 1 teaspoon salt • 1 teaspoon granulated sugar • 11 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold, cut into 3/4-inch cubes • 1/2 cup water, ice cold, more as needed To make by hand: Combine the flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl and scatter the butter pieces over the dry ingredients.

Using a pastry blender, or, rubbing the mixture between your fingers, work quickly to cut or rub the butter into the dry ingredients until it is in pieces the size of small hazelnuts.

Sprinkle half the ice-cold water over the butter mixture. Using your hands or a rubber spatula, lightly toss the dry mixture until the dough just begins to hold together. Continue to add water in small amounts until it becomes a rough but pliable dough. The dough should just hold together when pressed to the side of the bowl.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and divide into two portions.

Shape the dough into 5- to 6-inch diameter flat, round disks and wrap them tightly in plastic wrap. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes to two hours or preferably overnight.

To make using a food processor: Combine the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of the food processor fitted with the steel cutting blade and process for a few seconds to combine.

Place the bowl in the freezer for 30 minutes, or until the www.canadianinquirer.net

ingredients and the bowl are well chilled. With the food processor off, add half of the cold butter and pulse 3-5 seconds, or until rough and pebbly. Add the remaining cold butter and pulse 4-5 seconds, or until the mixture appears rough, with irregular pieces of butter approximately the size of small walnuts.

Sprinkle approximately half of the ice-cold water over the dry mixture with the food processor off. Pulse the processor for 3-5 seconds, or until just combined. Check the dough by pressing it to the side of the bowl; if it does not hold together, add a small amount of the water and check again. When the mixture is pressed to the side of the bowl and it presses together and stays together, remove it from the bowl and turn it out onto a lightly floured work surface.

Do not allow the mixture to form a ball or mass of dough in the bowl; if you allow this to occur, you have overmixed the dough and it will be tough.

Divide the dough into two portions and shape it into 5to 6-inch diameter flat, round disks. Wrap the disks tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes to two hours or preferably overnight, or until firm.

To make using a stand mixer: Combine the flour, salt, and sugar in the bowl of the mixer and place in the freezer for 30 minutes, or until the bowl and ingredients are well chilled.

Remove the bowl from the freezer and place on the mixer.

Using the paddle attachment, blend the dry ingredients on low speed for 15 seconds, or until combined. With the mixer off, add the butter pieces to the mixing bowl and then combine on medium speed for 1-2 minutes, or until the butter is in pieces no larger than small walnuts, but no smaller than peas.

Sprinkle approximately half of the ice-cold water over the dry mixture and blend on low speed for 30-60 seconds, or until just combined. Continue to add the liquid in small amounts until the mixture transitions from a slightly powdery appearance with chunks of butter, to a gravelly rough dough. When the dough just holds together when pressed to the side of the bowl, remove from the bowl and turn out onto a lightly floured work surface. At this stage, do not add too much liquid or overwork the dough, as it will cause your crust to become tough.

Divide the dough into two portions and shape it into 5to 6-inch diameter flat, round disks. Wrap the disks tightly in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 45 minutes to two hours or preferably overnight, or until firm.

Nutrition information per serving: 703 calories; 353 calories from fat; 40 g fat (6 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 138 mg cholesterol; 416 mg sodium; 80 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 40 g sugar; 10 g protein.

Food

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 4, 2016

37

Sophisticated sweet potatoes Make a low-calorie get a kick from chipotles whipped cream from an unlikely source

BY ELIZABETH KARMEL The Associated Press MANY YEARS ago, I made this chipotle sweet potato puree for my good friend, pie and cake expert Rose Levy Beranbaum.

Since that day, we have each made it again and again as a great fall and winter side dish.

Rose likes to add Aleppo pepper_a Turkish crushed chili pepper that has an ancho-like flavour but is slightly sweeter and tart. And, for Thanksgiving, I like to add a crust of mini marshmallows as a nod to everyone’s’ favourite, candied yams with marshmallows. In this dish, the marshmallows add a nice counter-balance to the smoky heat of the chipotles in adobo sauce and a beautiful crust. And, unlike candied yams, the dish isn’t cloyingly sweet.

This dish can be made the day before and re-heated before serving, making it ideal to bring to a Thanksgiving feast or to make in advance if you are hosting the holiday. The recipe has just a few ingredients so it is essential to buy the best quality ingredients that you can find.

Make sure to purchase Garnet sweet potatoes which have a deep orange colour, and have a silkier texture than other sweet potatoes.

Chipotle sweet potato and maple syrup puree

When choosing the potatoes, pick about 5 large or 10 mediumsized potatoes. Make sure the skin is tight, no wrinkles and almost shiny.

Start to finish: One hour and 40 minutes (20 minutes active) Servings: About 8

BY MELISSA D’ARABIAN The Associated Press

• 5-10 Garnet sweet potatoes about 5 pounds total • 1 overflowing cup real maple syrup: • 1 cup sour cream • 1 stick unsalted butter, softened • 2 to 3 canned chipotles in adobo sauce • 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon • Fine sea salt to taste • Mini marshmallows for topping • Preheat oven to 400 F. Clean any dirt and bad spots off potatoes with a rough brush.

Dry well. Coat all over with a little Crisco or olive oil and prick the tops with a fork about three times.

Set the potatoes on a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or aluminum foil. Place in the centre of the oven and bake until you can see the sugars oozing out of the fork holes, about 1 hour, or more for larger potatoes. You can also test for doneness by inserting a small sharp knife in the potatoes — if it slips in easily, they are done. Turn off the heat and let sit in the oven for 30-60 minutes to finish baking.

They will be silky soft.

Meanwhile, combine maple syrup, sour cream, butter, chipotles in adobo, cinnamon and

salt in a small bowl. Scrape the mixture into a food processor and puree until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.

Peel the potatoes, and add the warm peeled potatoes to the food processor. Process until silky smooth, scraping down the sides as needed.

Taste for seasoning, adding more salt, or maple syrup if needed. If the mixture is too stiff, add a bit more butter and/ or sour cream. Transfer to an oven-safe casserole dish.

Just before serving, sprinkle top with mini marshmallows and set in a 400 F oven for 5-7 minutes until browned and puffy. Be sure to watch as the marshmallows can go from brown to black quickly.

If making in advance: Store covered in the refrigerator. Remove and place in a preheated 350 F oven for 45 minutes or until hot throughout. Just before serving, sprinkle top with mini marshmallows and bake at 400 F until browned and puffy.

Nutrition information per serving: 406 calories; 147 calories from fat; 17 g fat (11 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 50 mg cholesterol; 250 mg sodium; 61 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 34 g sugar; 3 g protein.

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He said there are about 94 insurance companies to date ❰❰ 31

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I REMEMBER the first time my daughter tried lasagna. She loved pasta, yet it took some serious “trust me” coaxing. Today, I’m going to ask you to have the same faith when I share an amazing little recipe for a lower calorie whipped cream, whose main ingredient is garbanzo bean juice.

Still with me? Awesome.

The liquid leftover from the slow cooking of beans and legumes is called “aquafaba” (“bean water” in Latin), and it’s a scientific miracle if you ask me because it whips up into a pillowy fluff in minutes. You probably have some sitting on your pantry shelf this very minute, and you’ve probably been throwing it away all these years.

No longer.

Whipped aquafaba has gazillion uses, particularly in the vegan world, where it’s used as an egg substitute in baked goods and meringues. In fact, if you are vegan, you probably consider this to be old news.

My personal favourite way to use aquafaba is as a low-cal whipped topping, which can dress up a dessert, or serve as a base for a fluffy mousse (think pumpkin mousse for the holidays).

Dollop today’s recipe, a pumpkin pie spice version, onto a latte, or onto apple or pumpkin pie. A half cup of aquafaba has approximately 50 calories, and it whips up into about 8 cups of topping. Yes, you will want to add some sugar in there so you don’t top your holiday pies with bean-whip, but still, you come out way ahead over whipped cream’s calorie count.

If you are like me, you already have grabbed a can of beans from your pantry to strain and try this out. Here are a few tips from the trenches. Light-colored beans work better than dark beans (like black beans).

White beans such cannellini or great northern beans have a milder, less tangy taste than garbanzo beans. But garbanzo beans usually have more liquid

in the can, which means one can will feed a crowd.

Aquafaba whipped topping will not be as stable as whipped cream, so add a stabilizer, such as powdered sugar or cream of tartar, and serve it within 3060 minutes of whipping. You’ll need to whip for a full 10 minutes so a stand mixer is really the way to go. (If the cream does break, however, you can whip it right up again no problem.)

Finally, to address your main concern: you will want to cover the slight bean taste. A mixture of almond and vanilla extracts along with some maple syrup works well, even in small quantities. I think this might become one of your favourite holiday swaps.

Pumpkin spice lo-cal whipped topping

Start to finish: 10 minutes Amount: About 8 cups whipped topping • 1 can garbanzo or white beans • 1/4 cup powdered sugar • 2 tablespoons maple syrup • 1/4 teaspoon almond extract • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon Strain the can of beans, reserving all the canned liquid (called aquafaba, or “bean water”) and placing in a stand mixer bowl. (Use beans for another recipe.) Using the wire attachment, mix on high until very foamy, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining ingredients and whip on high speed until very silky, creamy and firm, about 10 minutes. Resist the urge to stop whipping earlier, as the mixture will be more stable with full whipping. Serve within 30 minutes, refrigerating if not serving right away.

Nutrition information per serving: 386 calories; 147 calories from fat; 17 g fat (11 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 50 mg cholesterol; 245 mg sodium; 56 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 31 g sugar; 3 g protein.

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