Philippine Canadian Inquirer #255

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER FEBRUARY 10, 2017

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VOL. 2 NO. 255

SOLIDARITY MASS

Relatives of victims of killings in the antidrug war condole with each other during a Mass held at the Our Lady of Victory Chapel in Malabon City.

NIÑO JESUS ORBETA / PDI

Pinoys still welcome in US, says exec

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BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer

Duterte angrily scolds 228 police officers on TV

WASHINGTON, DC — Amid lingering human rights concerns, the United States wants to continue to have a “productive, forward-looking relationship” with the Philippines, a “core ally in Asia,” US State Department spokesperson Mark Toner said on Wednesday.

Toner also allayed fears among Filipinos caused by President Donald

Trump’s controversial executive order that issued a temporary travel ban to seven Muslim-majority countries and suspended refugee admissions, saying Filipinos remain “welcome” in the United States.

Toner said Filipinos with valid visas could travel and live in America because the Philippines was not part of the executive order.

“This is a decision [President

10 Trudeau confers with European leaders on Trump, Freeland to meet Tillerson ❱❱ PAGE 16

❱❱ PAGE 10 Pinoys still

Robredo snubs critics; discusses Oplan Tokhang, electoral protest

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

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Mine firms fight back

BY RONNEL W. DOMINGO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINE mining industry challenged on Friday the planned closure of 23 mines, mostly nickle producers, and the suspension of at least five others, saying it would affect an estimated 1.3 million people.

Artemio Disini, chair of the Chamber of Mines of the Philippines, said miners to be affected by the order could appeal to President Duterte “before going to the courts.”

He said the closure and suspension placed 67,000 jobs at risk, with about P66.6 billion worth of annual production expected to be lost. The financial impact was also likely to be huge, with the government seen to lose P16.7 billion in taxes.

Disini said the environment department had not sent the chamber copies of the complete audit report despite repeated requests.

Complicated

“Wehave done this repeatedly—verbally and in writing—but we get no response,” Disini said, adding that Environment Secretary Gina Lopez had told them the report “is too complicated.”

Lopez in July last year ordered an immediate review of the operations of all 41 metallic mines in the country. Three months later, she announced that only 11 mining companies “passed” the audit and 30 firms were either ordered suspended or recommended for suspension for failing to meet environmental safety standards.

But on Thursday she said that of the total, 23 mines had been told to close after illegally encroaching on watersheds, leaking waste into rivers and destroying trees. A further five mines have been ordered to suspend their operations, while the decision on another mine has been deferred.

Most of the mines targeted for closure produce nickel, and account for half of the Philippines’ exports of the raw material used to make steel.

“There should be freedom of information here,” protested Enrique C. Fernandez, president of Eramen Minerals Inc., operator of a nickel mine in Zambales province. “We have never received any report. All we got was a set of questions that we should answer.”

Eramen’s mine has been idle for the past two and a half years, having been placed under suspension during the Aquino administration, which was maintained by Lopez.

Facing closure

The chamber was reaching out to the interagency Mining Industry Coordinating Council, chaired by Finance Sec-

retary Carlos Dominguez III, before the group would consider going to court, Disini said.

Of the mines facing closure, seven are operated by chamber members Eramen, Benguet Corp., LNL Archipelago Minerals Inc., Platinum Group Metals Corp., CTP Construction and Mining Corp., Marcventures Mining and Development Corp., and Hinatuan Mining Corp.

A subsidiary of Benguet Corp.—Benguetcorp Nickel Mines Inc.—is also facing a closure order.

Also, the operation of mines owned by members Oceanagold Philippines Inc. and Lepanto Consolidated Mining Corp. are facing suspension. A verdict on another member, Filminera Resources Corp., was “deferred” by the environment department.

Disini noted that none of the affected members received any communication from the department about the latest audit results.

Appeal to the President

But Lopez said notices were sent out to concerned companies earlier this week.

“They (mining companies) can make an appeal to the President,” Lopez said.

“Finality of the order would depend on the President.”

Disini said the results of the probe should have been communicated to the firms concerned rather than announced through the press.

It also came in trickles, with Lopez initially just listing 14 mines ordered closed and six others suspended. She added a 15th mine for shutdown as the briefing was ending. A further list of 21 mines for closure was later handed out to reporters.

It was only in the evening that the department submitted a final list that named 23 mines for closure and only five for suspension.

The list also misspelled company names and was inconsistent with Lopez’s presentation slides.

Disini said the report was also “compromised” because the audit teams included antimining activists.

The Philippines is the world’s top supplier of nickel ore and the main exporter to China, and the move is expected to fuel a rally in global prices. In 2015, the Philippines produced about 24 percent of the nickel consumed worldwide, according to Morgan Stanley.

The move risked “sending signals out to the market and to mining investors that they are not welcome here,” said Ronald Recidoro, the chamber’s vice president for legal and policy affairs.

Mining stocks fell on Lopez’s announcement, including Nickel Asia, one of the world’s largest nickel producers, which fell 0.58 percent to P6.81, up slightly from the day’s low of P6.61.

Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Gina Lopez.

FACEBOOK PHOTO

Wanton violation

“While the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is on track in policing mining companies found to have wantonly violated the Philippine Mining Act, affected companies, however, can make an appeal and ask for reconsideration from the DENR,” presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said.

The politically influential Catholic Church joined antimining advocates in praising the move, claiming min-

ing caused “irreversible” damage to the community and environment.

Josephine Ignacio, coordinator and convener of the Defender of the Environment for Genuine Development of Zambales, said that among those on the list were mines that were located in the Zambales watershed.

“We’ve been protesting the destructive mining activities in our province and we’re glad that our appeal did not fall on deaf ears,” Ignacio said. ■

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Philippine News

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10 out of 24 senators favor death penalty — Gordon PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Sen. Richard Gordon on Tuesday said at least 10 out of 24 senators are in favor of reviving death penalty in the Philippines.

In an interview with reporters, Gordon said he and Senate Pres. Aquilino Pimentel III have counted at least 10 senators who have so far expressed being in favor of restoring the capital punishment.

However, did did not name these senators.

To date, the four senators who have openly expressed being in favor of death penalty are Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Panfilo Lacson, and Manny Pacquiao.

Sotto, Gatchalian, Lacson and Pacquiao have all authored bills to revive the capital punishment.

Pimentel earlier said he is against death penalty but is keeping an “open mind” to support Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.

Death penalty is one of the priority measures of the President.

Three senators namely Juan

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

Edgardo Angara, Joseph Victor Ejercito, and Joel Villanueva are also “open” to reviving death penalty.

Six senators namely Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, Gringo Honasan II, Loren Legarda, Cynthia Villar, and Juan Miguel Zubiri have not yet openly voiced out their stands.

There are also at least 10 senators who are against death penalty including Gordon himself.

Sen. Grace Poe also shared the same position.

All five senators belonging to the Liberal Party namely Senate Pres. Pro-Tempore Franklin Drilon, Senators Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Leila de Lima, Risa Hontiveros, and Francis Pangilinan are against death penalty.

Also against death penalty are Senate Minority Leader Ralph Recto, Francis Escudero, and Antonio Trillanes IV, all members of the minority bloc. ■

Gov’t. terminates JASIG with Reds

BY SAMMY F. MARTIN Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Philippine government on Tuesday terminated the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG) with the Communist Party of the Philippines/ New People’s Army/National Democratic Front (CCP/NPA/ NDF).

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Jesus Dureza, in a statement, confirmed the termination of the JASIG. “We wish to announce that following the President’s pronouncement of the cancellation of the peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/ National Democratic Front (CPP/NPA/NDF) and, per his

Chamber of Mines cites FOI on release of DENR audit report

BY LILYBETH G. ISON Philippines News Agency

Senator Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate Committee on Justice and Human Rights.

instructions, the Government of the Philippines (GRP) Panel served to the NDF today the Government’s notice of termination of the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (JASIG),” Dureza said.

The termination of the JASIG paves the way for the arrest of National Democratic Front (NDF) consultants who were temporarily released from government detention to participate in the peace negotiations.

The Duterte government had earlier filed petitions before local courts for the temporary release of around 20 consultants, including NPA leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon, for the negotiations.

The government and the NDF signed in February 1995 the JASIG, which guarantees safety and immunity to nego-

tiators, consultants, and other personnel joining the peace talks.

Dureza further said that despite the cancellation of the peace talks, the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte “remains committed in its peace efforts by continuing with resolve to explore all opportunities to intensify implementation of genuine reforms for the benefit of the people.”

He made the assurance that the “government will continue its vigilance in the preservation of law and order and in protecting our people against insurgent activities and threats of terrorism, and pursue the enhancement of our democratic institutions. Let us be one in our call for a stop to armed violence and pursue just and lasting peace by ways of peace.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

5

Disini said the closure order would affect more than 1.2 million Filipinos and cripple local government units and commuMANILA — The Chamber nities that benefit from tax payof Mines of the Philippines ments of mining firms.

(COMP) on Tuesday cited it’s “She (Lopez) is creating an right-to-know under the free- unstable policy environment dom of information (FOI) to resulting in threatening the compel the Department of economic growth momentum Environment and Natural Re- under the Duterte adminissources (DENR) to make public tration and putting in limbo the audit report which was the USD 22 billion worth of investbasis for the closure of 23 min- ments,” he said. ing firms and suspension of opAccording to the MGB, the eration of five others. projected actual mining investIn a press conference held at ment for 2016 is USD 619.5 milthe Discovery Suites in Pasig lion.

City, former Mines and GeoBut with the closure, as essciences Bureau (MGB) chief timated Php 62.5 billion on Horacio Ramos investment and said there should Php 4.1 billion in be transparency taxes will be lost. in the report and “Lopez is slowthat it should be This is not the ly killing an inbased on scienway to ‘heal dustry that has tific process. the hurt.’ paid billions in “There should taxes and fees be transparency annually,” Disini in all the reports said. you prepare, esThe affected pecially if the reports would lead mining firms account for half to the suspension or closure of a of the nickel ore output by the mining company,” he said. world’s top supplier of the metFor his part, COMP Vice al.

President for Legal and Policy Dr. Carlos Arcilla, director Ronald Recidoro said it was the of the University of the Philduty of the DENR Secretary to ippines’ National Institute of make public the mining audit Geological Sciences, in a statereport. ment, has said while he agreed “If she refuses, clearly she’s with the DENR chief that irgoing against the Duterte ad- responsible mining operations ministration’s mandate on should be shut down, he was transparency,” he said. puzzled as to why Lopez had “Every person accused of an not furnished the mining firms offense must know the precise and even the media copies of details of the offense you are the mining audit, which should being charged with,” he added. have been the basis for ordering The DENR has ordered the their closure and suspension. closure of 23 mining firms and “We are in agreement that the suspension of five others the irresponsible mines should for breaching environmental be closed. No argument on that. standards.

That is the purpose of the auCOMP said while Lopez re- dit — technical people checking iterated her purpose to “heal” whether the mines are fulfillthe sector, the closure order ing the obligations under law had grave repercussions on the to protect the environment,” industry and the country as Arcilla said. well.

“We are interested to know “This is not the way to ‘heal what the bases are for closing the hurt’. This is not the way to mines — we have to teach fuharness the mineral industry’s ture geologists and engineers potential as a contributor to the the correct and scientific ways country’s progress,” said COMP to mine so as not to endanger chairman Artemio Disini. the environment,” he added. ■

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FEBRUARY 10, 2017

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Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

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Philippine leader angrily scolds 228 police officers on TV

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte berated more than 200 policemen accused of a variety of offences, threatening on national ttelevision Tuesday that he would send them to a southern island to fight militants dreaded for beheading captives.

Duterte’s expletive-filled outburst against the officers at Manila’s presidential palace was his latest tirade against a police force that he has called “rotten to the core.” He recently banned the national police from carrying out his anti-drug campaign after a group of officers used the crackdown as a cover to kidnap and kill a South Korean man in an extortion scandal.

The 228 policemen from metropolitan Manila are accused of a range of administrative and criminal offences,

including extortion and illegal arrests. Some have tested positive for drug use, regional police spokeswoman Inspector Kimberly Molitas said.

Duterte, a longtime crimebusting city mayor and government prosecutor who ran after erring policemen and soldiers before he rose to the presidency last June, said he had wanted to punish the policemen by ordering them to clear the murky Pasig River by the presidential palace of water lilies, but that the river was clear of lilies.

So he ordered them instead to prepare in two weeks for a two-year deployment to Basilan Island, the birthplace of the brutal Abu Sayyaf extremist group, where he said some police stations have been blown up by the terrorists.

“If you survive, come back here,” Duterte told the policemen, who were made to stand in the sun before him outside the Malacanang palace. “If you die there, I’ll tell the police not

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte dresses down 228 erring policemen who were presented to him. He gave them 15 days to “prepare to move out” for their eventual deployment to Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

MARCELINO PASCUA / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / PNA

to spend to bring you here and just bury you there.”

Duterte said the policemen can opt to resign but warned them about getting involved in criminal syndicates like some former police and military personnel.

“I will create a battalion just to keep track of your movements because it has been the sad experience of this country that the most vicious criminals are mostly ex-police or

sometimes, ex-military men,” he told the policemen, their heads bowed, threatening them with death if they venture into crime.

“Sorry, I won’t think twice, you would really be the ones to go down in extrajudicial killings,” said Duterte, who stood beside top police officials.

Some rogue policemen have mulcted street vendors and ordinary Filipinos, while others have killed drug dealers,

seized and sold their methamphetamine, a strongly addictive stimulant locally known as shabu, then pocketed the money, Duterte said.

“If you’re mad at me, wait until my presidency ends, then let’s go into a gunbattle,” said the president, who started his six-year term in June.

Duterte abruptly ended his talk to lead a Cabinet meeting, but asked the policemen to wait for him under the sun.

More than 7,000 suspected drug dealers and addicts had been killed in Duterte’s antidrug crackdown before he prohibited the 170,000-strong police force from serving as the main enforcer of the campaign last week amid the scandal over the South Korean businessman’s murder.

Troops will be tapped to temporarily replace the policemen, Duterte said, prompting human rights groups to express alarm due to what they say is the military’s equally notorious image. ■

Panelo sent to Seoul to apologize for slay

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA AND GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT DUTERTE is sending his chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, to convey his apology to South Korea for the killing of Jee Ick-joo.

Mr. Duterte spoke of his dismay at the killing by policemen, which prompted him to suspend the war on drugs. Jee was kidnapped and strangled, and his body cremated and flushed down a toilet. President Duterte is sending his chief legal counsel, Salvador Panelo, to personally convey the Philippine government’s apology to South Korea for the killing of its national, Jee Ick-joo, by police officers, who kidnapped him under the guise of an antidrug operation.

Panelo was scheduled to fly to Seoul on Wednesday.

“I told him to make a good apology. There’s nothing we can do. It happened,” Mr. Duterte said on Tuesday at the oathtak-

ing of newly promoted military officials.

Mr. Duterte spoke of his dismay at Jee’s killing by the police operatives, which prompted him to suspend the police’s participation in antidrug operations.

Jee was strangled the same day he was kidnapped in October last year, and his body cremated and flushed down a toilet.

What really hurts

The President said the brutal murder appalled Koreans.

“The most disrespectful gesture of all, which really hurt them, is flushing (the ashes) down the toilet bowl. They were hurt. We would feel the same if it was done to us,” he said.

Mr. Duterte asked the Armed Forces of the Philippines to join his campaign against illegal drugs and to arrest crooked police officers.

“If I do not bring you into the game, I will be in trouble. Nobody would go after the abusive police,” he said.

Senior Assistant Prosecutor

Juan Pedro Navera on Wednesday signed a subpoena summoning eight suspects in the Jee case to appear at the Department of Justice two days after the Angeles City Regional Trial Court ordered a reinvestigation of the Korean’s killing.

clarity in recent days since Sta. Isabel and his wife debunked Villegas’ testimony that Sta. Isabel masterminded the abduction, which was conducted under the pretext of “Oplan Tokhang,” and that Sta. Isabel himself killed Jee.

Summons

Mastermind

Subpoenaed were SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, SPO4 Roy Villegas and Ramon Yalung, who were already named in the previous case; Supt. Rafael Dumlao III; PO2 Christopher Baldovino; Jerry Omlang and Gerardo Santiago; Christopher Alan Gruenberg (owner of one of the vehicles used in snatching Jee), and Marisa Davis Morquicho (Jee’s maid who was a former witness).

Also invited to the hearing were Jee’s wife, Choi Kyungjin, Senior Supt. Glenn Dumlao, acting chief of the PNP Anti-Kidnapping Group, and AKG members SPO3 Reynaldo Curampez and Senior Insp.

Jonathan Rabanal.

The case has achieved more www.canadianinquirer.net

Sta. Isabel countered that it was Rafael Dumlao who was the brains of the operation.

The surrender of Santiago, owner of Gream Funeral Parlor in Caloocan City where Jee’s body was brought, and Omlang, an NBI “striker,” has made it imperative for a reinvestigation of the case.

Pampanga cops

The NBI-National Capital Region investigation team members Julio Cajigan, Eufemio Martinez, Emelito Santos, Mameto Tello, Nestor Gutierrez, and Allan Elepante were also invited.

In Angeles City on Wednesday, PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa confronted

the seven policemen who were charged with kidnapping and robbing three South Korean tourists last month.

He ordered them to do pushups in front of the flagpole at Camp Tomas Pepito while he berated them.

“You did not even have the decency to be ashamed. You became policemen and yet you end up acting like criminals,” Dela Rosa told the policemen when they were presented to him.

PO3 Jose Yumul, PO3 Roentjen Domingo, PO2 Ruben Rodriguez, PO2 Richard King Agapito, PO2 Rommel Malicdao, PO1 Jayson Ibe and PO1 Mark Joseph Pineda were charged in the Pampanga prosecutor’s office on Jan. 31.

The three Koreans—Min Hun-park, Lee Ki-khun and Lee Jun-hung—said the policemen took them after falsely accusing them of engaging in illegal online gambling.

Domingo admitted receiving P300,000 in exchange for the release of the Koreans they held last Dec. 30. ■

Philippine News

8

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Death penalty: PH told to honor int’l treaty

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO, GIL C. CABACUNGAN AND TARRA QUISMUNDO Philippine Daily Inquirer Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Inc. Correspondents Jane Moraleda Cheng Ilagan Katherine Padilla Deby Mangabat Phoebe Balubar Socorro Newland Bolet Arevalo Gerna Lane Sotana News Anchor Manny Noel Abuel Administration Head Victoria Yong Graphic Designer Shanice Garcia Photographers Angelo Siglos Vic Vargas For photo submissions, please email editor@canadianinquirer.net For General Inquiries, please email info@canadianinquirer.net For Sales Inquiries, please email sales@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

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Member

OPPOSITION SENATORS on Tuesday forced the suspension of discussions on President Duterte’s proposal to revive the death penalty, citing international treaty obligations.

Sen. Richard Gordon, chair of the Senate committee on justice and human rights, called off the panel discussions indefinitely until Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II issued an opinion on whether the Philippines could opt out of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the 2nd Optional Protocol that were ratified under the administrations of Ferdinand Marcos in 1986 and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2007, respectively.

Aguirre was absent during the first hearing on six bills that would restore the death penalty.

But Aguirre said in an interview with reporters: “A treaty is subservient or lower than a constitutional provision.

The Constitution allows us to reimpose the death penalty. The treaty cannot prevail over the Constitution.”

For Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon, however, the death penalty bill just “died” after the hearing.

“It is very clear that we cannot revive the death penalty because of our treaty commitment. A treaty is part of the law of the land and this had been ratified by the President, and concurred to by two-thirds of the Senate,” Drilon said, adding that he did “not know how the government could justify the passage of the death penalty bill in the face of this clear international treaty obligation that we cannot impose the death penalty domestically.”

The 1987 Constitution, Drilon said, “adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the law of the land.”

He pointed out that some lawyers during the hearing averred that the 2nd Optional Protocol “did not provide for any withdrawal or derogation mechanism, which means the party cannot reinstate the death penalty without violating the law.”

No withdrawal

Senior State Prosecutor Richard Fadullon told the hearing that while the country wanted to honor its international commitments, “there are certain needs that are peculiar to our country that we have to look into and address.”

Fadullon acknowledged that a treaty ratified by the Senate was a law and that President Duterte would violate the law if he did not honor that treaty.

This prompted Drilon to call for the suspension of the hearings so the gov-

Department of Justice Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Richard Anthony Fadullon who represented Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre II said that the Philippines could still withdraw from the treaty during the deliberations.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

ernment could repeal the treaty first.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson agreed.

Sen. Leila de Lima said: “Treaties which do not have provisions on withdrawal or denunciation cannot be denounced or be withdrawn from.”

After the hearing, Drilon said the country could face international repercussions if it failed to honor its treaty obligations, citing as example the possibility that the European Union could review the no-tariff benefit extended to Philippine products.

Gordon later told reporters, “There is no ironclad law, it can be changed.”

An opponent of the death penalty, Gordon said he and Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III had made a head count of senators and found that only 10 of the 24-member Senate favored its revival.

Good chance

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said there was a good chance the proposed measure would pass Congress if the lawmakers limited the imposition of the death penalty to high-level drug trafficking.

Six bills would restore the death penalty for heinous crimes, such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, child trafficking, exploitation, prostitution and rape.

While a similar proposal is undergoing plenary discussions in the House of Representatives, the Senate has still to muster a consensus on the key component of President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.

The revival of the death penalty was not among 39 priority bills tackled during the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council meeting last week.

Asked to comment, Sen. Manny Pacquio, a proponent of the death penalty, said treaty obligations should not get in the way of the measure, a key component of Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs.

“These international treaties cannot affect our Constitution, which makes an exemption to heinous crimes so that we can impose death penalty… . This death penalty we are pushing for is constitu-

www.canadianinquirer.net

tional,” Pacquiao said.

Impact on OFWs

Government security agencies favored the revival of the death penalty, saying this was necessary given the rate of heinous crimes in the Philippines.

But in a position paper, Human Rights Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit said: “To reimpose the death penalty is a breach of international obligation by virtue of our bounden commitments with international human rights and treaties and our adherence to the principle of pacta sunt servanda (agreements must be kept) rule.”

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) called the death penalty “cruel, degrading and inhuman” and that it “goes against the right of individuals to life.”

Undersecretary Maria Lourdes Turalde-Jarade, in presenting the DSWD position, said the measure was “antipoor” given the country’s “expensive and delayed justice system.”

“The reintroduction of death penalty would not only set the country against its international commitments, but would [also] seriously undermine its positive track record of advocating for the commutation of the death sentences imposed on Filipino nationals abroad,” Romeo Cabarde, vice chair of Amnesty International-Philippines, told the Senate.

He said 88 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) were on death row in different parts of the world as of April 2015, citing figures of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Other resource persons at the hearing pointed out that the Philippines would lose its moral standing in pleading for the lives of these OFWs if it reimposed the death penalty at home.

Ramon Casiple of the Institute of Political and Electoral Reform said the death penalty had not deterred the commission of heinous crimes.

“They will happen as they will happen… Whether or not death penalty is imposed, these crimes will happen,” Casiple said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

9

Give peace a chance, not “allout” war — solons

Philippines: US military can build barracks in local camps

BY FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES Philippines News Agency

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has given the go-ahead for the U.S. military to build barracks and fuel depots in designated local camps where American forces are allowed to temporarily station under a 2014 defence pact, Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said Tuesday.

Duterte last month threatened to abrogate the agreement if the United States stores weapons in local camps, saying his country may get entangled if fighting erupts between China and the U.S. He identified three areas where U.S. forces were supposedly bringing in their armaments, including the western Philippine province of Palawan, which faces the disputed South China Sea. He had said if the U.S. builds an arms depot “I will consider a review and maybe ultimately abrogate” the pact all together.

“I don’t know where the president got his information but I corrected it,” Lorenzana told reporters Tuesday. He said he also told Duterte that construction in the camps has not start-

er said.

De Jesus urged both panels to exhaust all options to go back to the negotiating table, saying what was most important at MANILA — Some lawmakers at this point was the discussion the House of Representatives of long-term solutions to the on Tuesday appealed to Presi- impoverishment of the Filipino dent Rodrigo Duterte to recon- people. sider his stance over the peace Bayan Muna Rep.Carlos talks with the National Demo- Isagani Zarate, for his part, decratic Front of the Philippines nounced the “all-out war” dec(NDFP) in the wake of the mili- laration, noting that the Philiptary’s declaration of an “all-out pine government-NDFP peace war” against the New People’s process is not yet officially Army (NPA). terminated in accordance with Defense Secretary Delfin Lo- signed and binding agreements. renzana made the pronounceZarate was referring to the ment following President Ro- Joint Agreement on Security drigo Duterte’s decision to lift and Immunity Guarantees, the government truce and sus- which states that the peace talks pend peace talks with the com- can only be terminated upon munist group. the issuance of a Gabriela Rep. written notice by Emmi De Jesus one party to the said an “all-out other. war” against It will not only The said notice communist rebabrogate the would take effect els would only peace process thirty days from bring the Duterte but would also its receipt. administration intensify the Zarate reiter“back to square determination ated his call for one”, thwartto declare the President to ing significant martial law “give the quest strides made in based on for peace anprevious agreethe all-out other chance” ments such as the war against by allowing both framework for supposed parties to iron the comprehenrebels. out agreements sive agenda on for a bilateral socioeconomic ceasefire as well reforms. as socioeconom“We express serious concern ic, political and constitutional over (Defense) Secretary Delfin reforms.

Lorenzana’s statement as it is Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Eda signal fire for a repeat of the cel Lagman warned against bloody counterinsurgency war the possibility of a martial law of past administrations,” said declaration, describing it as a De Jesus. “perilous aspect” of the recent “Going full-throttle against development after the collapse perceived communists will of peace talks. only worsen the militariza“It will not only abrogate the tion of communities across the peace process but would also country and escalate the hu- intensify the determination man rights violations on civil- to declare martial law based ians,” she added. on the all-out war against supDe Jesus said a militarist ap- posed rebels,” Lagman said. proach would further entrench The 1987 Constitution specithe root causes of armed con- fies that the president could flict. impose martial law for just 60 “It has brought unrest to days and only to stop an invacommunities, military occu- sion or a rebellion. Congress pation of Lumad schools, and can revoke the measure within displacement of thousands of 48 hours while the Supreme families,” the Gabriela lawmak- Court can review its legality. ■

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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CPL. HILDA M. BECERRA / U.S. MARINE CORPS PHOTO

ed and was scheduled later this year or next year.

“I actually asked his decision if we will continue with the EDCA construction or not,” Lorenzana added. “He said OK, let’s proceed, but make sure that there is no stockpiling of ammunition there.”

The defence chief said he explained to Duterte that the stockpiling of weapons is not allowed by the agreement. The pact allows the U.S. military to build big barracks that can be jointly used by American and Filipino troops, and to put up fuel tanks for their planes and vehicles.

Lorenzana said most of the

equipment that the Americans will be bringing to the country will be for humanitarian assistance and disaster response, including rubber boats.

When U.S. troops come to the Philippines for exercises, they will bring their rifles and their ammunition but will take the weapons back with them when they return to the United States, he added.

Duterte took office in June and has moved to rebuild oncefrosty relations with China while repeatedly threatening to scale back military exercises with American troops and stop agreements that allow U.S. forces to visit. ■

10

Philippine News

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Robredo snubs critics; discusses Oplan Tokhang, electoral protest

BY KATHERINE PADILLA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Vice President Leni Robredo on Friday refused to address her critics, calling them “a lost cause” and discussed issues that plague the nation and herself.

In a two-part interview by GMA News TV’s “News to Go” aired on Thursday and Friday, Robredo, when asked for a message to her critics, who, at the same time are supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte said, “I’m not going to give a message to them because I think it’s a lost cause. It’s a lost cause in the sense that though they don’t know me, they have already judged me and their judgments are not true. Those are not the judgment of the people who know me.”

Robredo said that she’d rather give a message to those who are have open minds.

“I’m thankful to those who are open-minded. Their comments matter to me, even negative ones. It allows us to look into ourselves if we are doing wrong. It’s not right to be praised when mistakes were committed,” the Vice President said.

‘Tokhang for Ransom’

In the first part of the interview aired on Thursday, Robredo said that she raised the ‘Tokhang for Ransom’ controversy to the media even before news of the the kidnap-slay case of South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo broke out but was chastised by the Philippine National Police.

She also expressed opposition to giving the PNP a ‘blanket authority’ in its anti-illegal drugs operation, Oplan Tokhang, rogue cops used as cover in their illegal activities.

“This is the danger of giving

a blanket authority to the PNP, an agency that we know needs fixing. There are many steps that has to be taken to cleanse the organization. When we give them blanket authority by saying, ‘You won’t face any repercussion. I will look out for you.’

It encourages them (to abuse power),” she said.

“I am all with the president in his war on drugs but I am not okay with his ‘tokhang’. I am not okay with extrajudicial killings. I think there has to be some other ways of doing this,” she added.

The Vice President suggested that the administration look at other countries for example.

“We have seen countries who tried the same route and have been successful. I always say, ‘Why don’t we study the countries who were successful on their war on drugs and derive lessons from their experiences?’”

Furthermore, Robredo called on the administration to take a different route on its approach in suppressing illegal drug trade.

“Until now there are still big drug laboratories being raided.

With all those killings in the past six months, it didn’t became a deterrent because the drug trade goes on,” she said.

“It has been six months (since the ‘war on drugs’ was launched) and nothing has happened yet. Maybe we have to rethink (the approach on illegal drugs). What are we doing wrong?” she added.

Following the involvement of some members of the police force in the kidnapping and killing of Jee, Duterte has ordered all government agencies to stop their anti-illegal drug operations.

March this year.

When asked if this can be accomplished, Robredo replied, “I think the deadline can be met as long as; one, the agencies involved decide to do away with the red tape; two, my suggestion before I left was to download the money to the local government already because the National Housing Authority can’t do it alone.”

PNP Chief Ronald dela Rosa (3rd from left) attends the Memorial Service of slain South Korean businessman Jee Ick-joo, who was slayed for ransom by some members of the PNP. Robredo called on the administration to take a different route on its approach in suppressing illegal drug trade.

Electoral protest

Hits and misses

President Rodrigo Duterte on January 14 said that he will declare martial law if the illegal drug woes in the country would

While Robredo criticized some of the Duterte administration’s policies, the Vice President pointed out some of the government projects that she supports.

“We’re on the right track with the peace process. In the sense that we again open the doors to listen to divergent views of not only the Muslims in Mindanao and many others,” she said.

Robredo also praised the

Robredo admitted in the second part of the interview that she misses her job as head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC), a position she resigned from on December 5 after Duterte banned her from attending cabinet meetings.

“Being head of HUDCC puts me in a position to really implement changes in the make-up of housing. I saw many problems.

I was there for seven months. I had a lot of plans that I wanted to implement but wasn’t able to,” she said “(Resigning from HUDCC) felt like giving birth to a child and leaving the baby in the hospital,” she added.

On January 25, Duterte gave a deadline to HUDCC, now headed by Secretary Leoncio Evasco, to finish all the housing projects for families affected

by Supertyphoon Yolanda by

On June 29 last year, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., Robredo’s rival in the 2016 VicePresidential election, filed an electoral protest to the Supreme Court, asking it to declare him the true winner of the election.

Marcos said that Robredo’s win is a product of electoral fraud, a claim Robredo denied.

The Vice President also accused Marcos of grandstanding.

“What saddens me is it’s being turn into a media issue. The camp of Bongbong Marcos are telling a lot of statement that aren’t true,” she said.

Robredo stressed that she’s confident the Supreme Court’s decision would be favorable to her and asked the public to have faith in the High Court.

“We have to trust (the Supreme Court). This is the institution that is the last bastion of democracy. It will decide what is fair and what is not, what is right and what is wrong. We need to trust the institution.

I believe that the (electoral fraud) case will be decided fair and square,” she said.

“We have nothing to be afraid of. We know that weren’t part of an electoral fraud. We believe that no such thing happened in the elections. We think that the elections was generally clean, fair, and honest. We really have the mandate of the Filipino people,” Robredo added.

The Supreme Court is yet to hand its verdict on Marcos’s electoral protest. ■

ority is to protect American lives and American citizens,’’ Toner said.

Toner spoke with 10 Filipino journalists, including the

Inquirer, who are part of the US State Department Foreign Press Centers reporting tour.

While Toner emphasized

that human rights remain a concern by the US government, an expert from the Washington-based think tank Center for Strategic and International

Studies took note that human rights issues appear to have taken a back seat in the twoweek old presidency of Donald Trump. ■

‘No to martial law’

SIMEON CELI JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / PNA

worsen.

Robredo vowed to be vigilant and not let it happen.

“Our 1987 Constitution has been very explicit. Martial law can be declared but only in extreme circumstances,” she said.

“I will actively oppose it (declaration of martial law) and be actively vigilant that this won’t happen until the circumstances require to,” she added.

“The problems brought about by the drug war, under the constitution, is not enough reason for the President to declare martial law,” Robredo said.

She also appealed to the public to be vigilant of the issue.

“We have to be vigilant. The lessons from history should be an enough warning to us that we can’t take the issue lightly,” Robredo said.

administration for retaining the effective macro-economic policies started by the previous administration and the continuation of social protection programs.

“I am open to hear the other proposals being made now. The tax reform package is worth looking into,” she added.

Missing her old job

Pinoys still...

Trump] took in the interest of national security interests of the United States. He has said very clearly that his first pri❰❰ 1

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Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

11

6 whistle-blowers seek full immunity

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer SIX WHISTLE-BLOWERS led

by Benhur Luy and Ruby Tuason are seeking full immunity from suit from the Ombudsman for their role in the P10billion pork barrel racket. The government has failed to give legal protection to the witnesses whose testimony served as the basis for the cases filed in court, notably against former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada. Nearly four years after uncovering an alleged P10-billion pork barrel racket involving some of the biggest names in politics, six whistle-blowers led by Benhur Luy and Ruby Tuason are still seeking full immunity from suit for their role in the diversion of government funds to bogus foundations.

Lawyers of Luy, Tuason, Marina Sula, Merlina Suñas, Mary Arlene Baltazar and Simonette Briones are asking Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales for “full immunity” instead of staggered protection, which has kept them open to inclusion in lawsuits in cases involving the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) scam they had exposed.

They also asked that charges of plunder filed by Morales against two of the witnesses— Sula and Tuason—be withdrawn even if these cases involved the plunder of nonpork funds, as these were scams likewise masterminded by businesswoman Janet LimNapoles.

Apparently, Morales and former Justice Secretary Leila de Lima had failed to give protection to the witnesses, whose testimony served as the basis for the PDAF cases filed in court, notably against former Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and

Unstable, inadequate

RYOMAANDRES / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Jinggoy Estrada.

Enrile is out on bail on humanitarian considerations, while Estrada and Revilla, along with Napoles, are under detention as their trial remained bogged down with technicalities.

nic Garen, lawyer of Suñas, said in a letter to Morales dated Jan. 29.

Garen reminded Morales that the witnesses’ lives had changed and that they had been under threat since they disclosed how some of the country’s most powerful people participated in the alleged diversion of PDAF funds, amounting to some P10 billion over a decade to dozens of fake nongovernment organizations (NGOs) that ended in ghost projects and kickbacks in schemes concocted by Napoles.

speak more candidly and truthfully about the PDAF scam and the people involved in the scam,” Benipayo said.

Benipayo reiterated her request in a letter to Morales on Jan. 31 in which she noted how her clients—Sula, Baltazar and Briones—had agreed to coopPublic outrage erate with authorities with the The case has sparked wideunderstanding that they would spread public outrage and has be given immunity from suit prompted the Supreme Court for all Napoles-related transacto declare the pork barrel systions whether it involved pork tem unlawful and those who barrel or other government illegally benefited from the funds.

PDAF alloca“Even at the tions meant to risk of prosuplift rural povecution of being erty through the made to execute past years be Their immunity from suit will allow incriminating prosecuted. Only them to be able to speak more sworn affidavits a handful, howcandidly and truthfully about the without prior ever, have been PDAF scam and the people involved grant of immucharged in court. in the scam. nity, our clients “The anxiety have continued and fear of beto fully coopering forced to face ate in the investiand defend our clients from fu- Full immunity gation and prosecution by your ture charges and cases emanatThe whistle-blowers had re- office the anomalies caused and ing from PDAF and Napoles-re- quested full immunity as early created by Napoles and her colated cases is something that is as June 8, 2016, or a week af- horts,” she said. clearly avoidable. And this can ter President Duterte took ofThe whistle-blowers’ fears be achieved by granting our cli- fice, “for all cases related to the of being charged in court for ents full immunity that should PDAF scam” after they had ful- a nonbailable offense were be properly channeled and dis- ly cooperated with authorities, prompted by the inclusion of pensed to the different judicial according to lawyer Lourdes Sula and Tuazon as defendants and quasi-judicial bodies so Benipayo. in the fertilizer and Malampaya that no further charges against “Their immunity from suit fund scams that also involved them will be instituted,” Domi- will allow them to be able to Napoles.

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“Their inclusion underscores the instability and inadequacy of the protection and immunity that our clients are currently receiving, especially now that the charges against Sula and Tuazon have come from no less than this honorable office,” Garen said.

Benipayo said Sula was charged in the fertilizer scam case “for the same NGO she has been testifying on for all other cases.”

The whistle-blowers also feared that the lawsuits could come from the politicians they had implicated in the scam.

Garen noted that former Sen. Aquilino Pimentel Jr. sought to remove her client from the Witness Protection Program (WPP) in the case that Pimentel had filed against Sunas.

Garen said Pimentel also moved to take Luy out of the WPP in another case. Pimentel has fought back in court accusations made by Suñas that he diverted part of his PDAF to bogus Napoles foundations in 2003 and his inclusion by Luy on Napoles’ list of PDAF partners.

Benipayo said the Ombudsman’s actions had “instilled deep-seated fear knowing that these are nonbailable offenses.”

She said it was “unfair and extremely prejudicial” for Morales to charge the whistleblowers who might join those they have accused in jail.

Garen asked Morales to grant a motu proprio recall or withdrawal of the charges against Sula and Tuason from the fertilizer and Malampaya fund scams “to erase the fear and anxiety not only of these two witnesses but also the other witnesses Arlene Baltazar, Merlina Suñas, and Benhur Luy who may also be charged by your office anytime despite their unwavering cooperation.” ■

12

Philippine News

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Perpetrators of violence vs children are those who should be protecting them, says UNICEF

BY LEILANI S. JUNIO Philippines News Agency MANILA — The most horrific crimes against children occur in their own homes, the country representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has said.

“It is not in the streets, it is not in school, it is not in Church — it is at home where they should be most secure, safe, loved and protected. And that is a shame,” Lotta Sylwander said during the launch of the Break the Silence (BtS) National Network, held at the auditorium of the Philippine Christian University on Monday.

Sylwander said the results of the National Baseline Study on Violence Against Children revealed that the perpetrators are actually the ones who should be protecting these children in their homes — parents, siblings and cousins.

The study, released last Dec. by the UNICEF and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), showed that one in five children below 18 years has experienced sexual violence while growing up, and that 60.4 percent of physical violence took place at home, followed by school (14.3 percent), commu-

nity (12.5 percent), workplace (7.1 percent), and during a date (6.2 percent).

It further stated that unknown to many, boys are also primary victims of sexual violence in the Philippines.

The study showed that more males were sexually abused in school (6.7 percent, compared to females, 4.5 percent), and the community (12.8 percent, compared to females, 6.4 percent).

However, the study showed no significant difference in the prevalence of severe sexual violence or forced consummated sex in the home, with females at 1.8 percent and males 1.4 percent.

On sexual violence during childhood in school, there were significantly more males (2.1 percent) who claimed to have experienced forced consummated sex in school than females (1.1 percent) for a total over-all prevalence of 1.6 percent.

The culture of silence is making matters worse, Sylwander said, pointing out that these children are prevented from speaking, and are often suspected of lying, are told that they deserved it, or threatened that something would happen to them if they break their silence.

PNA

“We need to make them feel that it is possible for them to speak out, that it is not their fault, or because that is what they are made to believe. We must break the silence to protect these children,” she said.

Sylwander emphasized the importance for the family to understand the life-long impact of physical and sexual abuse on children, preventing them from reaching their full potentials.

“It is something that has to be understood so that those who abuse children understand the damage they do to them,” she said, adding that everyone in the country can do a lot, from

the government to the NGOs, the communities and the teachers in school.

She said teachers can observe the children’s behavior and watch out for signs of sexual abuse.

She likewise debunked the idea that Internet sexual abuse does not hurt children since they are not touched physically.

“The child carries that for the rest of his or her life,” she said.

The Philippines for some reason has been a hub of child porn where children are made to perform sexual acts in front of web cameras and watched by men elsewhere in the world.

Nude photos of children uploaded in the Internet will continue to circulate and haunt them until they become adults, she said.

Meanwhile, Sylwander said the UNICEF is promoting responsible parenting to solve violence against children.

She also suggested that children be protected through legislation, citing the bill on responsible parenting that is pending in Congress.

The UNICEF is also working with various partners, among them embassies, the police, and Internet providers to block pornographic sites, as well as with the Ateneo Human Rights Center to raise awareness about the vulnerability of Filipino children.

One out of three children may suffer abuse in one way or another, and the only way to break this is to speak out, Sylwander said.

“Speak out when you hear something, when you see something, because it goes on everywhere, behind your neighbor’s door, behind your relative’s door. You must speak out and not protect those who do this to our children,” she said, emphasizing that the time to start protecting children from being damaged for life is now. ■

Leni: SC to make right decision on poll protest

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer VICE PRESIDENT Leni Robredo has asked the public to have faith in the Supreme Court as the “last bastion of democracy,” saying she believes it will make the right decision in the elec-

tion protest of her defeated rival, former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In a television interview aired Friday morning, the former Camarines Sur congresswoman said she would put trust in the fairness of the high tribunal in spite of concerns that they were partial to the family of the late

dictator Ferdinand Marcos following a controversial decision to allow the latter to be given a hero’s burial.

“You know, despite the fears of many of our people that the Supreme Court would not be fair, I think we need to trust [the court]. Because as the last bastion of democracy, it is the

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one that decides what is fair and what is not, what is right and what is wrong,” she told GMA News TV. “We need to trust the institution. I believe—although I cannot talk about the details of the case—that this case will be decided fair and square. We need not be scared,” she said.

Robredo won by a small margin of over 260,000 votes against the younger Marcos. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

13

Duterte asked to reconsider decision not to send envoy to US

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte holds 'heart-to-heart' talk with (from left to right) National AntiPoverty Commission (NAPC) Secretary Liza Maza, Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, and Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial prior to the start of the 12th Cabinet meeting.

SIMEON CELI JR. / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / PNA

So what really ails the President?

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer TRUST MARTIN on this. Or should we?

Malacañang on Tuesday maintained President Duterte was just making up stories about his health when he disclosed that a doctor went to see him in Malacañang after he felt pain in his heart.

But Ernesto Abella, Mr. Duterte’s spokesperson, gave a vague statement on the President’s real medical status, telling reporters to just “go by” the explanation of Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.

Andanar, whose office had been criticized for providing bum steer to the media, claimed the President just “made up a story” when he said in a speech on Monday that a certain Doctor Del Rosario had visited him to check on his health condition.

“Like I said, categorically, let’s go by what Secretary Martin said. OK?” Abella told a regular news conference at the Palace.

Medical checkup

Pressed if the President had a medical checkup, he said: “I will not say those things. All I’m saying is that let’s go by what Secretary Martin said. All right?

Thank you.”

He then echoed what Mr. Duterte had been saying repeatedly—that he has health problems like any other septuagenarian.

“So let’s go by that. Nothing dramatic…

He is generally aware of the interest that his statements make,” Abella said.

Addressing a gathering of some of the country’s biggest taxpayers, the President revealed that a certain Doctor Del Rosario from Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City checked him

up before he attended his two official events on Monday.

He said this was the reason he was late for the launch of the “Hardin ng Lunas” livelihood project at the Presidential Security Guard compound in Malacañang and for the program of the Bureau of Internal Revenue at the Philippine International Convention Center.

Pain in the heart

Mr. Duterte, who once lambasted a journalist for asking about his health during the campaign, said he had to undergo “EKG,” also called ECG, or electrocardiogram, a medical test to determine the electrical activity of the heart.

“I was late. Pardon me. I had an EKG because I was not feeling well. I told (the doctor), ‘I feel pain in my heart,’” he said.

“When Doctor Del Rosario from Cardinal Santos arrived, she brought with her the EKG (machine). She said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with your heart,’” the President said.

“It might just be EJK. Your ailment is extrajudicial (killings),” the President quoted the doctor as telling him in jest.

Mr. Duterte, 72, previously admitted that he was taking cancer pills to relieve unbearable pain in his spine despite a warning from his doctor that he could lose his cognitive ability and that he was already “abusing the drug.”

FORMER FOREIGN Secretary Albert del Rosario has urged President Duterte to reconsider his decision not to appoint a new ambassador to the United States because this could further upset relations with the country’s longtime ally.

Ties between the Philippines and the United States had turned icy after then President Barack Obama expressed concern over Mr. Duterte’s bloody war on drugs that had resulted in the deaths of thousands of drug offenders.

In response, Mr. Duterte called Obama a “son of a bitch” and announced his administration will pull the Philippines away from Washington’s decadeslong influence.

On Thursday, Mr. Duterte said he didn’t “feel” like sending a new ambassador to replace Jose Cuisia Jr., who had left Washington seven months ago.

“Our (Department of Foreign Affairs) may wish to respectfully advise our President that such a declared preference not to send an ambassador may be viewed as a very disturbing message in relations between states,” Del Rosario said in a statement on Friday.

Del Rosario said he agreed with the President’s position not to help illegal Filipino immigrants. He said Mr. Duterte was correct not to interfere with the internal affairs of another state.

“He is also correct in ensuring that the Department of Foreign Affairs provides all possible consular assistance to our undocumented Filipinos on a worldwide basis,” he said.

Ties between the Philippines and the United States could warm up with new US President Donald Trump’s support for the Duterte administration’s antiillegal drugs campaign.

Following a phone conversation with Trump early in December, Mr. Duterte said “he could sense a good rapport” with the new US leader. ■

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Barrett’s esophagus

He also said he was diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus, a serious complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease that involved changes in the tissue lining the esophagus.

In his speech, the President took lightly the claim of former Sen. Francisco Tatad that he had visited a hospital in China during the holiday break to seek treatment for his cancer. ■

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14

Philippine News

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

CBCP letter tipping point for opposition, says Leni

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer THE CATHOLIC bishops’ pastoral letter that chastised Filipinos for their “indifference” to President Duterte’s “reign of terror” could be the “tipping point” for the opposition to the government’s brutal war on drugs, Vice President Leni Robredo said on Tuesday.

Issued by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and read in churches on Sunday, the letter could make relatives of the victims of the antinarcotics campaign realize that the Church was on their side and encourage them to speak out, Robredo told priests and seminarians during a forum organized by the Tahanan ng Mabuting Pastol in Imus, Cavite province.

Robredo, an opponent of Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs, said most Filipinos had chosen to be silent because they were gripped by fear.

But with more than 7,000 people killed in the antinarcotics drive, “[i]t seems wrong to be silent,” she said.

Vigorous opposition

Robredo said the CBCP’s call for a stop to the “reign of terror” might help embolden Filipinos to break their silence and mount a vigorous opposition to Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs.

In her message to the priests, she said: “I found the Church’s pastoral letter this past week-

end to be highly enlightening. It spoke to my heart; and the feelings I have long harbored found solace in the affirmation of the Church.”

“That the life of every person comes from God, and it is God alone who can take it back. Taking drugs and pushing drugs show disrespect for the gift of life, and endanger the lives of others. But we must not lose faith in the ability of any person who has lost his way to change,” Robredo said.

In their pastoral letter, the bishops said bloodshed was not the answer to the drug menace.

“An additional cause of concern is the reign of terror in many places of the poor. Many are killed not because of drugs.

Those who kill them are not brought to account,” they said.

Amnesty Int’l report

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, a leader of an opposition bloc in the House of Representatives, said he saw a parallel between the CBCP pastoral letter and Amnesty International’s report alleging that policemen were behind most of the killings of drug suspects.

“Both are serious indictments of President Duterte’s deadly war on drugs, which violates human rights, the rule of law, and the sanctity of life. The drug campaign spawns extrajudicial killings, which are not the solution to the drug menace and victimize almost invariably the poor,” Lagman said.

Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice said criminal policemen extorting money from and killing innocent people were the natural creations of the war on drugs. ■

2 congressmen remain in narco list — Fariñas PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — One of the three alleged congressmen linked to illegal drugs has been scratched off from President Rodrigo Duterte’s narcotics list upon verification, House Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas said on Tuesday.

Fariñas revealed this during Tuesday’s plenary session

SUPPORT FOR PEACE TALKS

Leftist Cabinet members won’t resign

BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

when Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza raised this issue as an attempt to block the plenary debates on the death penalty bill.

Fariñas said he will meet with Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald Dela Rosa and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Isidro Lapeña on Wednesday to further verify the validity of the list.

The House leader said the

names of the incumbent congressmen with alleged drug links will be referred to the Committee on Ethics after verification.

Fariñas and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier revealed that there were three congressmen in the President’s latest list of drug personalities, hinting that two solons are from Luzon while the other one is from Mindanao. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

LEFTIST MEMBERS of President Duterte’s Cabinet said on Tuesday they would not resign and would instead work for the resumption of peace talks between the government and the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP).

“As heads of national government agencies tasked to address poverty and improve the quality of life of the Filipino, we believe that the (Government of the Republic of the Philippines) should move the peace negotiations with the NDFP forward,” Agrarian Reform Secretary Rafael Mariano, Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo and National Anti-Poverty Commission Secretary Liza Maza said in a joint statement.

They said they “will continue to engage within the Cabinet and the rest of the administration toward the resumption of the talks and strengthening the civilian voice in the peace process.”

Most substantive agenda

The proposed Comprehensive Agreement on Social and Economic Reforms, which was tabled in the third round of talks in Italy, was the “most substantive agenda in the negotiations and is key to lasting peace and long-term poverty eradication,” they said.

They said the two sides had already reached “a common understanding of the agrarian unrest in the country and have agreed in principle to the free distribution of land to farmers and farm workers.”

Their respective working groups on political and constitutional reforms also have exchanged views on a proposal to form a federal system as well as safeguards and constitutional guarantees.

The three Cabinet secretaries lamented that the peace talks had been stalled under Mr. Duterte but expressed continued support for the President.

They said Mr. Duterte had made a commitment “to lift 9

million Filipinos out of poverty by the end of his term.”

“The statement adds weight on the government’s work in implementing a genuine agrarian reform, building its industries and promoting social welfare and development as an integral part of poverty alleviation,” they said.

Passion for work

The Cabinet secretaries said while talks on socioeconomic reforms were ongoing, the agencies under the Cabinet’s Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster were working on direct, immediate and substantial benefits for the poor and the marginalized sectors of society.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, who announced on Tuesday an “all-out war” against communist rebels, said Taguiwalo, Mariano and Maza were “doing their job very well” and need not step down.

“They have passion [for] what they are doing and that’s what we need in the Cabinet—people who are passionate (about) what they do,” Lorenzana told reporters in Malacañang. “If they keep on delivering the services to the people and helping the government, I don’t see any reason why they cannot continue.”

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer and one of the strident critics of Mr. Duterte, said he agreed with the President’s all-out war against the rebels. “It’s about time,” he said.

“But to prove that this is not another bluster, President Duterte must immediately fire the CPP (Communist Party of the Philippines) officials whom he appointed to various high positions in government,” Trillanes said in a statement without identifying the officials.

Taguiwalo, Mariano and Maza were nominated to the Cabinet by the NDFP, but have not been acknowledged as officers of the CPP. ■ With reports from Leila B. Salaverria and Tarra Quismundo

Opinion

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

15

PUBLIC LIVES

How will Duterte face formidable challenge?

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer THE one thing, I think, President Duterte is learning in the seven months he has been in office is that the government will not instantaneously abide by everything he says whenever he speaks. His officials will increasingly insist that presidential instructions, particularly those that could be questioned on legal and constitutional grounds, be put in writing.

The national government is not only larger than the city government of Davao. It is also far more complex, and more functionally differentiated in its operations.

Unlike the comprehensive power and influence Mayor Duterte wielded as Davao City chief, state authority is not a monopoly of the president. It is, rather, disaggregated and assigned to various departments and agencies, all of which have mandates defined by law.

All this should be of common knowledge, especially to the President, who is a lawyer. But, he often seems unaware of the functional limits that define his role as the nation’s chief executive. Given his penchant to speak freely on a wide range of issues without the benefit of a script, it has not been easy for his Cabinet to tell when he is enun-

ciating a policy shift or merely ongoing peace negotiations in It is natural for departments of thinking aloud. limbo. Before this, the talks had government to view policy questions A few examples might illustrate been moving toward a firmer joint through the prism of their respecthis problem. Mr. Duterte recently ceasefire declaration. The com- tive mandates. It is not always easy instructed the chief of the Armed munist rebels demanded, as a con- to reconcile the resulting policy difForces to take the lead in arresting dition for the bilateral ceasefire ferences, reflecting as they do the rogue policemen who have com- agreement, the release of some reality of competing norms and primitted crimes under the cover of 400 of their comrades being held orities. A wise president would thus the campaign against illegal drugs. in government custody. Having be well advised to listen to his key ofThe AFP chief has correctly asked previously freed top leaders of the ficials before he speaks his mind. for a written order specifying its armed communist movement to We can cite further examples of parameters. Not only is this assign- enable them to participate in the the complexities of decision-makment not part of the usual function peace negotiations, the President ing at the level of the president. of the military, it could also trigger balked at the idea. He could not ig- Take the personal pivot to China a firefight between policemen and nore the military’s staunch objec- that Mr. Duterte has repeatedly soldiers. declared in the The other day, same breath he has the President told expressed his anA wise president would thus be well advised to listen to his an audience in tagonism toward key officials before he speaks his mind.

North Cotabato America. This selfthat he was recallindulgent rhetoric ing the government ceasefire he tion to this new demand. has, understandably, yielded little had unilaterally declared at the A third example is Environment by way of binding decisions. start of his term to jump-start the Secretary Gina Lopez’s order to Even a leader like Mr. Duterte peace talks with the CPP-NPA. close 23 mining companies that who is given to speaking forcefully He was reacting to the recent kill- have been found to have illegally will have a hard time selling this ing and abduction of soldiers by encroached on watersheds. To his idea to a nation that has known the New People’s Army. The NPA credit, the President has made China only as a threat, and that earlier announced the withdrawal known that he was supporting Lo- has long felt secure in the military of its own ceasefire, effective Feb. pez’s position on this issue. But embrace of the United States. A 10. “I tried my best,” Mr. Duterte another member of the Cabinet, quick look at the AFP as an orgasaid, “but I guess it wasn’t good Finance Secretary Carlos Domin- nization will show how much it has enough… There will be no peace in guez III, has expressed strong been molded in the image of the US this land vis-à-vis the Communist reservations about the wisdom of military. Moreover, it is not mere Party. Ipagpatuloy natin ang gi- this move, pointing to its negative coincidence that the biggest segyera.” (Let’s resume the war.) impact on jobs and government ment of the Filipino diaspora is to The announcement has left the revenues. be found in America. The heritage

of pro-Americanism in this country is so deep and durable that one cannot expect to erase it overnight.

But much can be done to loosen its grip on our institutions, even as we explore new friendships and enter into non-traditional alliances.

What a modern government cannot afford is to see its way through this complexity as though the issues were an either-or proposition.

For example, that we must alienate America in order to befriend China. That the preservation of the national sovereignty requires ignoring the voice of the international community. That we cannot win the war on drugs without violating human rights. That we cannot tap our mineral wealth without sacrificing our watersheds. That we must stop negotiating peace because active war has resumed.

Decision-making at the level of the national government has never been more complex. Modernity has brought about a sharp differentiation of functional spheres, testing the government’s capacity to integrate at the level of the nation-state. But, more than this, the government finds itself groping for solutions in the context of a global environment it does not control.

This is the formidable challenge facing the former Davao City mayor who now sits in Malacañang. ■

LOOKING BACK

The Philippines’ first beauty queen

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer THE FILIPINO obsession with beauty contests is older than the Miss Universe, Miss World, Miss International and Mutya ng Pilipinas pageants. Our first beauty contests were religious pageants, introduced during the Spanish colonial period: the “Flores de Mayo” that celebrates the Virgin Mary under her numerous titles as lifted from the Litany of Loreto, and the “Santacruzan,” a commemoration of the finding of the True Cross by St. Helena.

Starting as a religious tradition, these evolved into the earliest form of beauty contests in the Philippines. Selected women in a community were ranked according to beauty into “zagalas” or ladies in waiting to an array of queens, each heralded in a procession and building expectation for “Reyna Elena,” considered the most beautiful of

the mall.

In 1908 the US colonial government established the Manila Carnival to attract foreign tourists and provide the various provinces that participated in it with a venue to promote their agricultural products, arts and crafts. From 1908 to 1925 the Carnival’s highlight was the selection of a Carnival Queen; beginning in 1926 the winner’s title became “Miss Philippines.”

The annual selection of a beauty queen ran until 1939 and was temporarily discontinued during World War II and the Japanese Occupation. The chronology of Philippine beauty queens starts with either Pura Villanueva (Mrs. T.M. Kalaw), the Carnival Queen of 1908, or Anita Noble (Mrs. Juan Nakpil), Miss Philippines of 1926.

Even in terms of beauty queens, nationalist Philippine history records only Villanueva as the first Carnival Queen when actually they

were two: the Queen of the Occident, Marjorie Colton, a sister of the customs collector; and the Queen of the Orient, Villanueva.

The queens were nominated by the Spanish, American and Filipino communities and the winners were chosen based on coupons printed in and clipped from newspapers and dropped into ballot boxes at: Clarke’s the Olsen Cigar Store, Libreria Colon on Escolta, Agencia Editorial on Carriedo, McCulough’s on Plaza Goiti, or the Manila Carnival offices.

In the canvassing of Dec. 23, 1907, the leading American candidate, a certain Mrs. Jones, garnered 4,169 votes. The leading Filipino candidate, Leonarda Limjap, fourth in the tally, trailed with only 779 votes. To complicate matters, Filipinos gathered at the Teatro de la Comedia and cast their ballots for a Filipino Carnival Queen, Carmen Francia. In the canvassing of Dec. 28, 1907, one Miss Beck

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took the top spot with 6,647 votes.

Filipino candidate Francia, fourth in the list, straggled in with 4,352 votes.

On Jan. 13, 1908, the Carnival committee suspended the election of the Carnival Queen on allegations of an early form of dagdag bawas on the part of some American newspapers, which published four coupons in their issues against only one in the Philippine newspapers. Some coupons came from the newspaper Sentinel, unknown to the established dailies. Despite a 3-hour meeting called by the Carnival committee, nothing was resolved, prompting the Philippine and Spanish newspapers, as well as the candidates, to back out of the contest.

Then as now, the legislature intervened—and not in aid of legislation. After obtaining 39 of the 69 votes cast, Limjap was elected Carnival Queen by the National Assembly. Limjap, 17 and nick-

named “Nena,” was a graduate of Assumption College High School.

She took up painting under Fabian de la Rosa and music under Ventura Galvez, played tennis, and was interested in fencing. Coming from a de buena familia, she had “travelled through Europe accompanied only by a French governess.”

Interviewed after her election as Manila Carnival Queen of the Orient, she expressed a desire to get to know the country better by traveling to all the islands in the archipelago.

But toward the end of January 1908, Limjap resigned as Carnival Queen, choosing instead to travel to Japan with the Regidor family!

Two weeks later Pura Villanueva was selected Carnival Queen, but she refused the title, insisting on her nomination as Queen of Iloilo.

Later, however, she accepted it, and became the Philippines’ first beauty queen. ■

16

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Canada News Trudeau confers with European leaders on Trump, Freeland to meet Tillerson

BY MIKE BLANCHFIELD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — The Trudeau government has been conferring with jittery European allies about how to engage with the new Donald Trump administration in Washington, sources say.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau talked Trump with British Prime Minister Theresa May on the weekend and the unpredictable U.S. president was also a subject of discussion in a Monday call with French President Francois Hollande.

Readouts of the telephone calls from the prime minister’s office did not mention Trump and instead focused on how the British and French leaders offered condolences on the recent killing of six people at a Quebec City mosque.

Sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity briefed The Canadian Press on Trumprelated aspects of the calls, which were not made public.

May became Trump’s first foreign visitor when she travelled to Washington late last month. Given that Trudeau will soon have his own meeting, he was interested to hear about her visit, sources say.

Trudeau’s message to foreign leaders — some of whom have been more critical of Trump — is that Canada is mindful that it is at the start of a four-year relationship with the new president.

The prime minister reinforces the message that the two economies are deeply intertwined and dependent, so Canada needs to engage constructively with Trump, sources say.

The high-level, behind-

the-scenes talks come as the Trudeau government’s ongoing full-court press on the Trump administration continued Tuesday with Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland meeting in Washington with Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan.

She also met Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee, the Republican chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, and veteran Republican Sen. John McCain of Arizona. She is to meet Secretary of States Rex Rillerson on Wednesday.

Tillerson, the longtime chief executive officer of Exxon Mobil, was sworn in as secretary of state last week and he and Freeland spoke by phone on his first day on the job.

They affirmed the importance of keeping trade flowing across the Canada-U.S. border,

Women warn PM Justin Trudeau about US President Donald Trump during a protest rally.

ARINDAMBANERJEE / SHUTTERSTOCK, INC.

according to a readout from her office.

That same day, Tillerson welcomed German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel to Washington. Sources say Freeland later spoke to Gabriel about his visit.

Freeland and Gabriel know each other well from their work together clearing one of the final hurdles to getting the Canada-EU free trade deal approved. They collaborated to fix a section on the investor-state dispute resolution mechanism.

Freeland moved into Foreign Affairs last month in a cabinet shuffle by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau aimed at dealing with the election of Donald

Trump as president.

She had already engaged in a round of Washington networking in December, when she was the trade minister.

Freeland’s latest trip to Washington comes after Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan visited the Pentagon on Monday.

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Bill Morneau will also be in Washington to meet some “newly appointed” Trump cabinet members as well as members of Congress. But his soon-to-be opposite number, financier Steven Mnuchin, won’t be among them, because he has yet to be confirmed as treasury secretary. ■

B.C. centre on substance use releases guidelines for treatment of opioid abuse THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s fledgling network for research into drug abuse has released new provincial guidelines for doctors and nurses on treating people addicted to opioids.

The new protocols, established

by the B.C. Centre for Substance Use, mark a shift away from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C. as the body responsible for developing provincewide treatment protocols related to the overdose crisis.

An introductory note in the document says by June, the guidelines will replace those

previously established by the college.

The new guidelines discourage solitary withdrawal treatment and recommend buprenorphine and naloxone as first-line medications.

They also propose eventually using lower-intensity treatments, such as take-home dosing.

The centre’s inaugural director, Dr. Evan Wood, and Health Minister Terry Lake revealed the new guidelines at a news conference that announced $5 million in immediate funding from the province for the research network, along with $1.9 million per year in additional ongoing support.

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Wood says two of the centre’s main areas of focus are clinical studies examining the efficacy of slow-release oral morphine, and research into offering better support for people in recovery so that patients are not simply treated then discharged into the community without help or followup. ■

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17

Ontario health minister concerned about system’s sustainability

New Brunswick budget: Debt keeps rising as Liberals spend on education, tourism

BY ALLISON JONES The Canadian Press

BY MICHAEL TUTTON The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Ontario’s health minister says he is concerned about the sustainability of the province’s health-care system, as both nurses and a business group raise similar worries and doctors deal with internal turmoil.

The concerns come as Ontario draws up its 2017-18 budget — one it has promised to balance for the first time in many years, while still increasing spending in the more than $50-billion health file.

Premier Kathleen Wynne and Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced Tuesday that the province would invest an unspecified amount — somewhere between $50 million and $100 million, the government says — in a facility at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre that will offer treatment such as stem cell transplants for blood cancers.

Both took questions on the state of Ontario’s health-care system and both used the opportunity to point a finger at the federal government.

“We, on the one hand, believe that we are making the right and important investments in our health-care system and a threeper-cent increase in the healthcare budget over the course of the last year,” Hoskins said.

“But at the same time we are concerned about the sustainability of the health-care system, which is why we’ve been having talks over the course of the past year, 18 months, with the federal government with regards to the federal Canada Health Transfer.”

The federal government has offered to increase the transfer payments by 3.5 per cent annually with additional money for home care and mental health, but many provinces including Ontario say that’s not enough and have asked for a 5.2-per-cent increase.

Wynne said Ontario will continue to increase health-care funding every year, but more funding is needed.

“We actually need a more even partnership with the federal government and that is exactly the conversation we’re having

with them right now,” she said.

A recent report from the province’s budget watchdog said that if the government wants to keep growth in its health budget to a target of 1.7 per cent over the next three years, it will need to find further savings.

The government has limited growth in the health sector over the past few years to about two per cent, largely through cutting payments to doctors and freezing hospitals’ base operating funding — though in the fall economic update it added $140 million in new health spending for hospitals.

But the financial accountability office said Ontario is set to be over this fiscal year’s target by $400 million, rising to $900 million next year and $1.5 billion in 2018-19.

If the province does receive additional funding from the federal government, the FAO’s conclusions would change, it said.

The Ontario Nurses’ Association called Tuesday for more health-care funding, saying that more than 1,600 registered nurse positions had been cut in a two-year period.

Hoskins said that in the past three or four years more than 2,000 nurses had been hired in hospitals.

The executive committee of the Ontario Medical Association resigned after delegates at a recent OMA meeting expressed a lack of confidence in their leadership.

The committee members will stay on the board of directors.

The OMA has been engaged in a lengthy dispute with the province and various groups of doctors have formed to express dissatisfaction with the OMA’s representation in negotiations.

The association has been threatening unspecified job action as the government refuses to accept their term of binding arbitration as a pre-condition to negotiations.

Doctors rejected a tentative physician services agreement this summer and in December the association dismissed as “unreasonable” a new government proposal that would see fee cuts for high-billing specialists and more money for family physicians. ■

FREDERICTON — New Brunswick’s government is piling on more debt in its 2017-18 budget as the Liberals opt for targeted spending increases rather than a quicker assault on the deficit.

Finance Minister Cathy Rogers’ $9.4 billion budget released Tuesday hikes spending by just under four per cent despite the province’s fiscal challenges.

“New Brunswickers want their government to get our finances in order, but not at the expense of our social programs,” she said in her budget speech.

The deficit is projected to be $192 million by the end of March 2018. The total debt is rising to $14.4 billion — up almost $1 billion from last year’s net debt, although some of that is due to an accounting change.

Bruce Fitch, the Tory finance critic, said the government has squandered a chance to stop bleeding red ink after raising sales taxes last year.

“They could have balanced the budget this year, but instead they decided to spend it in order to win back ... some of the popularity that they’ve lost,” he said.

The government is still projecting to balance the budget by 2020-21, with Rogers referring to her progress as “a steady, responsible way.”

The budget hikes spending on both health and education.

It includes an additional $56 million for education, and a funding increase for the daycare assistance parents that the Liberals say will bring the annual total to $20 million, about double levels in 2014.

The Liberals say they will also spend $45 million over four years to help universities, with details yet to be worked out after meetings with the four publicly funded institutions.

Overall, education spending is set at $1.19 billion, up from $1.14 billion last year.

The population of the province crept up less than a per cent to 756,780 people last year, www.canadianinquirer.net

Rogers said the province will be adding an extra six positions to train doctors through its agreement with the school of medicine at Dalhousie University.

CITOBUN / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

and the province says it is going to spend $2.5 million on various initiatives to boost it more significantly.

The budget contains relatively few taxation changes other than a small reduction for small business, which will see its corporate tax rate lowered from 3.5 to three per cent.

The province has also committed to bringing in a carbon tax as part of its climate change strategy, but the budget doesn’t reveal when this will happen or how much it will be.

The hike in total debt is due in part to an accounting change that adds nursing home debts to the provinces’ books, but also to plans to spend more on highways and other infrastructure as federal matching funds become available.

David Coon, the Green Party’s leader, said he was alarmed at a $2 million cut to the Environment Department — one of few agencies to see their funding sliced — even as the province is hammered by storms he links to climate change.

“There’s nothing in the budget related to hardening our infrastructure to better protect New Brunswickers or help us reduce our reliance on expensive fossil fuels,” he said.

Economists have been warning for several years that last year’s two per cent rise in sales tax — which the minister said has added about $300 million in revenues this year — won’t sustain the province’s rising costs over time, as baby boomers age

and drop out of the workforce.

Health care spending is continue to climb to care for the aging population, growing 3.3 per cent — the largest increase in five years — to a projected $2.7 billion, about a third of the total spending.

However, Rogers said a recent health accord with the federal Liberal government will help fund the rising costs.

Rogers said the province will be adding an extra six positions to train doctors through its agreement with the school of medicine at Dalhousie University.

She also said she was to able expand the vaccination program for the human papilloma virus to include boys.

As the population ages, the province is continuing to spend on nursing homes, committing to about $58.2 million for construction, maintenance and improvements over three years.

The past year has been a difficult one for the province’s economy, with the shutdown of a large potash mine in Sussex and sluggish export sales.

Nonetheless, the budget makes optimistic predictions of a turnaround, noting employment has grown by about 5,300 people since June.

By the end of March 2018, the province expects interest payments on its debt will be $701 million, the province’s fifth largest expenditure.

The debt is about $19,000 for every man, woman and child in New Brunswick. ■

18

World News

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Voters await economic revival in a part of pro-Trump America

BY CLAIRE GALOFARO The Associated Press PRAIRIE DU CHIEN, WIS. — She tugged 13 envelopes from a cabinet above the stove, each one labeled with a different debt: the house payment, the student loans, the vacuum cleaner she bought on credit.

Lydia Holt and her husband tuck money into these envelopes with each paycheque to whittle away at what they owe.

They both earn about $10 an hour and, with two kids, there are usually some they can’t fill.

She did the math; at this rate, they’ll be paying these same bills for 87 years.

In 2012, Holt voted for Barack Obama because he promised her change, but she feels that change hasn’t reached her here.

So last year she chose a presidential candidate unlike any she’d ever seen, the billionaire businessman who promised to help America, and people like her, win again.

Many of her neighbours did,

too — so many that for the first ple like them. resentment that life still seems time in more than 30 years, Here in Crawford County, harder here than it should.

Crawford County, Wisconsin, a residents often recite two facts In this place that astonished sturdy brick in the once-mighty about their hometown, the first America when it helped hand Big Blue Wall, abandoned the one proudly: It is the second- Trump the White House, many Democratic Party and that wall oldest community in the state. of those who chose him greeted crumbled. The rural county The next is that it’s also one of the frenetic opening acts of his lent Donald Trump 3,844 votes the poorest. presidency with a shrug. Imtoward his win. More came There are no rusted-out fac- migration is not their top confrom formerly blue counties tories to embody this discon- cern, and so they watched with to the north and some trepidato the south, tion as Trump and on and on. signed orders Some 50 counto build a wall ties stretching I just hope we get the jobs back on the Mexican 300 miles down and the economy on its feet, so border and bar the Mississippi everybody can get a decent job and immigrants from River — through make a decent living, and have that seven Muslim Minnesota, Wischance at the American dream that’s countries, sowconsin, Iowa and gone away over the past eight or 10 ing chaos around Illinois — transyears. the world. formed in one Among them election season is a woman into Trump Country. tent. The main street of Prairie who works for $10.50 an hour They voted for Trump for du Chien butts up to the Mis- in a sewing factory, who still an array of reasons, and the sissippi River and bustles with admires Obama, bristles at list of grievances they hope he tourists come summer. Pickup Trump’s bluster, but can’t afnow corrects is long and exact- trucks crowd parking lots at ford health insurance. And the ing: stagnant wages, the cost of the 3M plant and Cabela’s dis- dairy farmer who thinks Trump health care, a hard-to-define tribution centre where hun- is a jerk — “somebody needs to feeling that things are not get- dreds work. Just a few vacant get some Gorilla Glue and glue ting better, at least not for peo- storefronts hint at the seething his lips shut” — but has watched

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his profits plummet and was willing to take the risk.

There’s a man who owns an engine repair shop and struggles to keep the lights on, and a bartender who cringes when he sees “Made in China” printed on American goods.

There’s also Holt, who makes $400 a week as a lawyer’s assistant and whose husband doesn’t do much better at a car parts store. She is enthusiastic that Trump started quickly doing the things he said he would, because she worries that by the time their sons grow up there will be nothing left for them here.

In this corner of middle America, in this one, small slice of the nation that sent Trump to Washington, they are watching and they are waiting, their hopes pinned on his promised economic renaissance. And if four years from now the change he pledged hasn’t found them here, the people of Crawford County said they might change ❱❱ PAGE 21 Voters await

World News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Fighting fake news isn’t just up to Facebook and Google

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY The Associated Press NEW YORK — The fight against fake news is not just being waged by Google, Facebook and big media companies.

They are joined in the battle by academics and data scientists who started work on the subject years before bogus news stories were suspected of helping sway the 2016 presidential election.

Their work has yielded tools that help track how “alternative facts” spread, and others that let you identify fake stories or block them altogether.

Some of these are still baby steps, but they’re a key, if largely unsung, part of the effort to tamp down the spread of fake stories.

And the researchers were there first.

For Giovanni Luca Ciampaglia, a research scientist at Indiana University, the phenomenon first caught his eye during the Ebola crisis in 2014.

“We started seeing a lot of content that was spreading, completely fabricated claims about importations of Ebola, (such as) entire towns in Texas being under quarantine,” he says.

So he helped create a tool tracking how unsubstantiated claims spread online.

Deciphering Twitter humors

Tanushree Mitra, a doctoral student at the Georgia Institute of Technology, began a project three years ago to see how misinformation and fake news spread through Twitter. At the time, she says, “companies like Facebook and Twitter were not paying much attention.”

What attracted her to the project was the prevalence of fake news that spread online following natural disasters such as Superstorm Sandy in 2012. When she saw that people were sharing a lot of incorrect or misleading information about the events, Mitra decided to track both big stories and smaller rumours with the goal of creating an app that could help ordinary people sort fact from fiction so they can make decisions that could be crucial to their wellbeing.

Mitra and her fellow researchers scanned 66 million

tweets linked to nearly 1,400 real-world events to identify words and phrases linked to perceived levels of credibility.

Looking at tweets surrounding news events in 2014 and 2015 — including the Ebola crisis, the Charlie Hebdo attack in Paris and the death of Eric Garner in a confrontation of police officers in New York City — they asked people to judge tweets based on how credible they thought the posts were.

Words such as “eager,” “terrific” and “undeniable” were linked to more credible posts, while words such as “ha,” “grins” and “suspects” were the opposite. A computer matched the humans’ opinions 68 per cent of the time. The next step, an app, could help people rate the credibility of tweets and other social media posts.

Tracing hoaxes

A group of researchers at Indiana University have created an online tool called Hoaxy that seeks to visualize “the spread of claims and related fact checking online.” Although it’s still a work in progress, Hoaxy can trace the origin of, for instance, the false claim that millions of votes in the 2016 presidential election were cast by “illegal aliens.”

Type in your search terms and Hoaxy will report back with stories that spread the claims, as well as fact-checking articles that debunked it.

In this instance, the claim goes back to a November article from Infowars.com that was shared 17,961 times on Twitter and 52,200 times on Facebook, according to Hoaxy. The site only tracks actual links people shared, so it misses anything that’s paraphrased or posted without a link.

A data visualization tool shows the intertwined web of Twitter users who spread both the claims and the fact checks, and how they are connected to one another. The researchers focused on Twitter because the service makes more data available to the public, which makes it easier to use in data-tracking tools than Facebook.

Lead a horse to water

Tools like Hoaxy or rumouridentification apps are only

helpful if people use them. The same goes for another approach — using a web browser plug-in to identify or block fake-news stories. For instance, the Chrome extension “Fake News Alert,” created last year, says it will tell you when you are visiting a site “known for spreading fake news.”

But there are a few drawbacks. Many people aren’t willing to go to the trouble of adding new extensions to their browser. And such extensions only work on the desktop version of Chrome, not its mobile counterpart.

“Fake News Alert” also uses a widely circulated but oft-criticized list of fake and misleading news sites assembled by a Merrimack College professor. The list casts a very broad net and includes some established, but highly partisan sites such as the right-wing Breitbart News and the left-wing Occupy Democrats.

A final obstacle: While fake news has been in the real news a lot, many people simply aren’t that aware of it.

“A lot of consumers are not savvy about it,” says Larry Chiagouris, a marketing professor at Pace University who follows the fake news phenomenon.

“And of those that are — and it’s a small number — not a lot of them add plug-ins to browsers.”

Educate the people

Chiagouris believes we are at the “beginning of the beginning” when it comes to defining just what fake news is and how to combat it. But he and other experts say technological solutions like apps and plug-ins are unlikely to get to the root of the problem.

The real solution, he says, will start in school: “not college, grammar school.”

The better educated and informed the public is, the more likely they are going to be “asking questions and exploring alternative sources of information,” says Mike Posner, co-founder and co-director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights. “What you really want is people saying they want to see different sides of an issue, looking at things by people who don’t agree with me, so one (part of the solution) is public education.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

19

‘Overwhelmed’:

Manitoba community seeing influx of unauthorized border crossers THE CANADIAN PRESS EMERSON, MAN. — An increasing number of people seeking asylum are braving the elements of the open prairie to come into Canada from the United States, says the head of one small community that is calling for federal help to deal with the influx.

Last weekend alone, 22 people crossed the border from North Dakota into EmersonFranklin, RCMP confirmed Tuesday. Nineteen were put up in a community hall where they were supervised and fed by officials and volunteers in the community of 2,000 residents.

“It’s starting to get overwhelmed here, and now we’re starting to have concerns that we maybe need to have more security or do something different,” said Greg Janzen, the municipality’s reeve.

“We will be sending a bill to (the federal government) because there is a cost to our ratepayers.”

The area has always seen the occasional border jumper due to the short walk from communities such as Pembina or Noyes in North Dakota to EmersonFranklin, which sits right on the boundary. The numbers have increased in recent months and have shot up dramatically in the last couple of weeks following planned new restrictions in the United States on refugees.

Many of the border crossers are from African nations such as Somalia who have been living in the U.S, said Cliff Graydon, who represents the area in the Manitoba legislature. They have two choices at the border — go to an official entry point and be turned back under the Safe Third Country Agreement with the U.S., or sneak onto Canadian soil, get picked up by police and start the refugee process with the help of non-profit groups.

They used to come individually or in twos or threes, but are now coming in large groups after being driven to areas near

the border.

“A number of the people that are refugees are coming from the Minneapolis area, for example. There’s a large core of Somalis there,” Graydon said.

Federal Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale said Tuesday that border crossings in other parts of the country have also seen an increase, but the overall numbers are not as high as they were several years ago.

“The number has risen over the last three or four years, but compared to 10 years ago, the number is substantially down,” Goodale said in Ottawa.

He said he would consider providing more resources to Emerson-Franklin and other areas, but was noncommittal.

Graydon said an aggravating factor is that the RCMP has cut some positions in the surrounding communities. The Mounties are responsible for patrolling the border outside of official entry points.

One of the highest-profile crossers was Yahya Samatar.

Originally from Somalia and fearing persecution from a group affiliated with al-Qaida, he came to the United States and was denied refugee status.

In the summer of 2015, he made his way from Minneapolis to the border area not far from Emerson-Franklin.

He got lost, saw the Red River and jumped in, hoping that Canada was on the other side.

After getting out and walking for another 45 minutes or so, he came across a Good Samaritan who helped him.

“When a person is very desperate, you have to take any options that can save your life,” Samatar recalled Tuesday. He has been allowed to stay in Canada and now works at an office in downtown Winnipeg.

Janzen said he is concerned that the flow of people coming across the border is going to increase even more once the weather warms up.

“We don’t mind helping.

We don’t mind opening up the doors, but it has to be in a safe and responsible way.” ■

20

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Voters await... again to someone else. *** Katherine Cramer, a political science professor at the University of WisconsinMadison, coined a name for what’s happened in her state’s rural pockets: the politics of resentment.

She spent years travelling to small towns and talking to people at diners and gas stations.

And when she asked which political party best represented them, their answers almost always sounded something like, “Are you crazy lady? Neither party is representing people around here.”

“People have been looking for a politician who is going to change that, going to listen to them, do it differently,” she said. “People a lot of times don’t have specifics about what that means. They just know that however government is operating currently is not working for them.”

In Crawford County, with just 16,000 residents, that dissatisfaction stems from feeling left behind as other places prospered.

There are plenty of jobs in retail or on factory floors, but it’s hard to find one that pays more than $12 an hour. Ambitious young people leave and don’t come back. Rural schools are dwindling, and with them a sense of pride and purpose.

Still, much of the economic anxiety is based not on measurable decay, but rather a perception that life is decaying, said Jim Bowman, director of the county’s Economic Development Corporation.

There are higher-paying jobs — in welding, for example — but companies can’t find enough workers with the right training, Bowman said. The county’s $44,000-a-year median household income is $9,000 less than the state’s, but the cost of living is lower, too.

Just 15 per cent of adults have college degrees, half the national average, and yet the ratio of people living in poverty is below the country as a whole.

Crawford County and all the other places in the county cluster along the Mississippi River that switched from Obama to Trump rank roughly in the middle on a scale of American comfort in one economic thinktank ‘s county-by-county appraisal of community distress. ❰❰ 18

Yet for many here, it doesn’t feel that way.

“If you ask anybody here, we’ll all tell you the same thing: We’re tired of living like this. We’ve been railroaded, run over by the politicians and run over by laws,” said Mark Berns, leaning through the service window in the smallengine repair shop downtown that he can barely keep open anymore. He drives a 14-year-old truck with 207,000 miles on it because he doesn’t make enough profit to buy a new one.

Berns watched Trump’s first days in office half-hopeful, halffrightened.

“He jumps on every bandwagon there is. It’s a mess,” he said, bemoaning what he described as a quantity-over-quality, “sign, sign, sign” approach to governing. “I just hope we get the jobs back and the economy on its feet, so everybody can get a decent job and make a decent living, and have that chance at the American dream that’s gone away over the past eight or 10 years.

“I’m still optimistic,” he said, sighing. “I hope I’m not wrong.” *** Marlene Kramer gets to work before the sun comes up and spends her days sitting at a sewing machine, stitching sports uniforms for $10.50 an hour.

Kramer, who voted twice for Obama, used to watch Trump on “Celebrity Apprentice.” “I said to myself, ‘Ugh, I can’t stand him.’“ When he announced his candidacy, she thought it was a joke. “Then my husband said to me, ‘Just think, everything he touches seems to turn to money.’“ And she changed her mind.

She’s 54, and she’s worked since she was 14, all hard jobs: feeding cows, pulling weeds, standing all day on factory floors.

Now it’s the sewing shop, where she’s happy and gets to sit. But there’s no health insurance.

Her bosses, brothers Todd and Scott Yeomans, opened the factory 12 years ago. They said they’re trying to do the right thing by making sportswear with American-made fabrics and American labour. But they compete against factories overseas.

They’d like to offer insurance.

The other day, a trusted worker quit for a job with benefits. But they’ve run the numbers and it would cost $200,000 a year — far more than they can spend.

Kramer said she’s glad the Affordable Care Act has helped

DONALD TRUMP / FACEBOOK

millions get insurance, but it hasn’t helped her.

She and her husband were stunned to find premiums over $1,000 a month. Her daughter recently moved into their house with her five children, so there’s no money to spare. They opted to pay the penalty of $2,000, and pray they don’t get sick until Trump, she hopes, keeps his promise to replace the law with something better.

Kramer thinks Obama did as good a job as he could in the time he had. She admires him, still, but went with Trump. That doesn’t seem incongruous to her, just a simple calculation of results.

“His things aren’t going the way we want them here,” she said, “so we needed to go in another direction.”

Across town, Robbo Coleman leaned over the bar he tends and described a similar political about-face. He held up an ink pen, wrapped in plastic stamped “Made in China.”

“I don’t see why we can’t make pens in Prairie du Chien or in Louisville, Kentucky, or in Alabama or wherever,” said Coleman. “Trump brought something to the table that I haven’t heard or seen before.

And if it doesn’t turn out, then, hey, at least we tried.”

Coleman doesn’t love Trump’s moves to build a wall or ban certain immigrants — all Americans descended from immigrants, he said, including his own relatives, who migrated from Germany too many generations ago to count. But he’s frustrated that other politicians stopped listening to working people like him.

“We’ve got to give him some time,” he said of Trump. “He’s not Houdini.”

Even some rural Wisconsin Democrats agreed with Coleman’s assessment, and think their party’s leaders are among www.canadianinquirer.net

those who stopped paying attention to those just trying to get by. On the same day that Trump took the oath of office, a group of them huddled in the back room of a tavern, still trying to grasp how the election went awry.

Bob Welsh met Hillary Clinton at a rope line in Iowa and asked her to visit Wisconsin.

But she didn’t come a single time during her campaign against Trump, and Welsh thinks that confirmed in the minds of many that Democrats are disinterested in white working people.

Welsh wears flannel shirts and suspenders. He grew up on a farm, worked as a herdsman, and drove a school bus until he was 76 years old. He’s 78 now, and knows his neighbours as kind, hard-working people, and could barely believe they voted for a man he finds reprehensible. But the left-right, blue-red vitriol that has cleaved apart the country has not left the same scars here, where wives reported not knowing how their own husbands voted and husbands said they never asked their wives.

Welsh said he hopes Trump finds a way to keep his promise to build his friends better lives.

“If he does that then he’ll change my mind,” he said. “And I’ll be the first to admit it.” *** Bernard Moravits hosed the mud and cow dung off the boots pulled up over his jeans and headed for his truck, to drive to town to talk to a banker about keeping his farm afloat.

Moravits — everyone calls him Tinker — works on his farm outside of town at least 12 hours every day, and usually a lot longer. He diversified to minimize risk and has dairy and beef cows, and acre after acre of corn, beans, alfalfa.

“You don’t hit a home run that way, but you don’t get your ass kicked either,” he said. “But this year could be the ass-kicking year.”

The price of milk and agricultural goods has plummeted, and it’s hard to keep things running.

Change is what he looked to Obama for and now expects from Trump. He wants the president to reduce red tape and renegotiate trade deals to benefit American farmers. And he hopes people make more money and spend more money, which eventually trickles down to him.

“I think he’s a shrewd businessman,” he said. “He’s been broke several times. He keeps bouncing back, and he knows how big business works.”

He has several choice words for Trump’s move to build “his stupid wall.” Moravits employs Hispanic workers who have been with him 15 years. He built them apartments. He trusts them to do a dirty, difficult job that he says white people aren’t willing to do.

“A lot of people don’t treat them like people,” he grumbled.

Unlike many transfixed by Trump’s presidency, Moravits doesn’t stay up-to-the-minute on the news. In the morning, he checks the agriculture prices and the weather. As protests over Trump’s immigration ban raged for days, Moravits wasn’t paying attention.

“The play-by-play don’t mean bullshit,” he said. “It’s like watching the Super Bowl. What counts is how it ends.”

He took over this farm at 18 years old, when his father died of an aneurysm while milking cows. He said he plans to die here, too. He’ll retire when “they close the casket lid.”

But if nothing changes and changes soon he might have to borrow against his equity.

Moravits isn’t sure Trump is going to “Make America Great Again” for farmers. But he feels he had to take the gamble.

“He might have us in a war in two weeks,” he said. “We’ll come back here in six months, drink a 30-pack of Busch Light and talk, because no one knows now what’s gonna happen.”

He laughed, then shrugged and pantomimed rolling the dice. ■ AP data journalist Angeliki Kastanis contributed to this report.

22

Community News

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

RCMB 3 settles Senator Enverga questions labor dispute in just immigration by lottery two conferences NCMB EXECUTIVE Director Shirley M. Pascual yesterday reported to Labor Secretary Silvestre H. Bello III the swift settlement of the labor dispute involving the Yokohama Tire Philippines, a manufacturer of tires in Mabalacat, Pampanga.

In her report, Pascual, said the Regional Office in Pampanga settled the preventive mediation case in only two conferences.

The union, Alliance of Yokohama Employees (AYE) filed a preventive mediation case on January 6, 2017 on account of Unfair Labor Practice (ULP), specifically issues on intimidation, transfers of union members, optional overtime, and diminution of existing benefits.

Pascual lauded the efforts of Regional Conciliation and Mediation Branch-III Director Edgar G. Aquino and Conciliator-Mediator Othello B. Tongio, Jr. According to Pascual, the management agreed to provide

prior and necessary information to the union on the transfer of its members to another section or department.

In addition, the parties also agreed to resolve the issues on Notice to Explain (NTE) on disciplinary actions, workloads, optional overtime and other benefits such as housing loan, housing assistance loan, emergency loan, and educational loan through their Labor-Management Cooperation (LMC).

Alliance of Yokohama Employees is affiliated with the Philippine Trade and General Workers Organization (PTGWO). It represents 1,748 regular and rank-and-file workers and is headed by its president, Roel Padilla and Atty. Arnel Dolendo of PTGWO. Yokohama Tire Philippines, Inc. is a manufacturer of all types of tires. It is located at the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ), Mabalacat, Pampanga.

The president of the company is Yasuhiro Kurokawa. ■

Statistics Canada set to release first batch of census data for 2016 THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — Statistics Canada will release the first batch of data today from the 2016 census.

This batch — the first of seven to be released during the year — will focus on population as of May 10 last year and helps determine how much money Ottawa transfers to provinces and territories for services like health care and to cities for infrastructure.

Today’s release will also look at where new homes are being built across the country.

In May, Statistics Canada will release data on age and sex, to be followed in August by household and marital status data.

Data on immigration and Aboriginal Peoples will be released in October, then figures on education, jobs and work patterns will be available from the federal agency in November.

The data, drawn from the mandatory short-form census, will assist decision-making across all levels of government and provide sociologists, demographers, urban planners and businesses with a wealth of information. ■

OTTAWA — Today, the Honourable Tobias C. Enverga Jr., Ontario Senator, questioned the Government Representative in the Senate during question period about the new lottery-based family reunification system for parents and grandparents that the Trudeau government announced in December 2016.

“Waiting for the department currently named Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada is something all immigrants have experienced, but

we expected that there is some fairness to the process in terms of having a first-come — firstserved system like in so many other facets of life,” Senator Enverga said in a statement.

“A lottery-based system leaves the fate of deserving qualified applicants to chance no matter how deserving one is or how long one has been waiting to reunite the family. This is not fair,” the Senator continued.

The questions raised by Senator Enverga covered why the Government gave such short

notice about the changes, and what algorithms will be used for the random draw.

The Government Representative, Senator Peter Harder, promised to inquire with the department and will provide answers to Senator Enverga’s questions in the future.

“I can assure all members of the public, and especially those who are caught in limbo by the changes, that I will share the Government’s responses once they are tabled in the Senate,” Senator Enverga ended. ■

EU council gives nod to extending border control in five Schengen countries PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY BRUSSELS — The European Council on Tuesday gave its nod to extending temporary internal border controls in five Schengen countries for another three months, as the bloc is still bearing the brunt of secondary movements of irregular migrants.

In the wake of a European Commission proposal put forward on Oct. 25, the Council announced in statement that starting from Feb. 11, Austria, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway should prolong “proportionate temporary border controls” for a maximum period of three months at certain internal borders.

The temporary border checks — currently in place at certain borders in the five countries — was last extended on Nov. 11, 2016 and due to expire on Feb. 11, 2017.

High-ups of the European Union (EU), including EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini, have recently blasted a travel ban signed by U.S. President Donald Trump that bars citizens from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya and Yemen from traveling to the United States for 90 days, www.canadianinquirer.net

FIF' / FLICKR

stops accepting refugees for 120 days and indefinitely halts refugees from Syria.

Mogherini last week pledged that the EU would not turn its back on anyone who has the right to international protection, because “this is where we stand, this is where we will continue to stand.”

But the bloc is on the other hand seeking ways to better control the migrant inflows

from North Africa and secondary movements of migrants within the EU. The Schengen area includes 26 European countries that have abolished passports and any other type of border control at their mutual borders.

However, border checks have become the norm in parts of the Schengen area that saw massive influx of migrants in 2015. ■

23

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FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Entertainment Direk Cathy Molina slams stars’ restrictive advertising deals

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer THERE IS a reason ABS-CBN actresses Bea Alonzo, Sarah Geronimo and Toni Gonzaga wear wigs in movies directed by Cathy Garcia-Molina.

The director of box-office hits like “One More Chance,” “You Changed My Life” and “My Only U” said these actresses all have shampoo endorsements that prohibit them from cutting, curling or even styling their hair.

The latest actress to don a wig is Liza Soberano, who will be seen in Molina’s “My Ex and Whys” opposite Enrique Gil starting Feb. 15.

If Molina had her way, she said she would make Soberano wear her hair au naturel. “That is why I’m pleading to companies that get an actress to endorse their products to please separate her public persona from the characters she plays in myfilm and TV shows,” the director stressed.

Molina said that while her actors were thankful to advertis-

ers for trusting them, these endorsements should not hinder talents from doing their jobs effectively.

“They can’t look the same for different roles,” she said.

“These companies got them precisely because they’re good actors. Therefore, in order for them to do well in their jobs, they should be able to play different characters convincingly.”

Molina said an actress who played a cancer patient in one of her films was willing, but couldn’t, shave her head because of a shampoo endorsement deal.

Molina pointed out that these endorsement contracts also limit the creativity of her creative team, especially in terms of character development.

“For example, if an actor is endorsing coffee, milk and juice products all at the same time, then this means he cannot drink anything else but water in my movie,” she explained.

“Because of this, we would have to create, for example, a fake coffee brand just so an actor, whose character is sup-

posed to be a coffee lover, could drink one. This makes a scene appear unrealistic sometimes.”

Molina also had this to say to those who may be interested in product-placement advertising. “I want to point out to them that this is your product as much as this is my film. We should meet halfway. This is not a commercial, but a film.”

She stressed, “We should make product intrusion as subtle as possible. It’s normal to serve and eat cake in a film—we do that in real life—but I draw the line at…requests for [product] close-up shots or taglines. I don’t care if they think I’m too strict and grouchy. I refuse to do that.”

Molina said her audience would get turned off “if they’d notice that the product placement is too hard sell. This becomes a distraction and does not help the brand at all.”

“My Ex and Whys,” which was partly shot in South Korea, is Molina’s first film featuring the popular LizQuen love team.

She also worked with them in the drama series, “Forevermore,” in 2014.

APETTYFER / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The film follows the story of Cali Ferrer (Soberano), writer of a blog titled “The Bakit List,” and her ex-boyfriend Gio Martinez (Gil), the unwilling subject of most of her online entries.

“They had a hard time working on this project, especially Liza (Soberano), because the characters they played were very far from who they are in real life,” Molina shared with

the Inquirer. “It was hard for them to empathize because they have not yet experienced the pain of a broken heart.”

Molina, who said the story was partly based on her own love experiences, added that the film “has no intention of criticizing men. It’s just that I have not met any guy who has never cheated on a girl—these include my father, brother and male friends.” ■

Ellen on breakup with Baste Duterte

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer KNOW YOUR worth. This, according to Ellen Adarna, was the lesson she learned from her shortlived relationship with Sebastian ‘‘Baste’’ Duterte, son of the President. The sexy actress admitted to have gone out with Baste for “roughly six to seven months.’’ Ellen, however, refused to elaborate on why they decided to call it quits. Know your worth,” said actress Ellen Adarna when the Inquirer asked her what lesson she had learned from her short-lived relationship with presidential son Sebastian “Baste” Duterte

that she wanted to share with other women.

The sexy actress admitted to have gone out with Baste for “roughly six or seven months.”

Ellen, however, refused to elaborate on why they have decided to call it quits.

Baste has a 2-year-old son named Yair with Davao-based ex-model Kate Necesario.

At the media gathering for her latest film, “Moonlight Over Baler,” Ellen pointed out that she and Baste have remained good friends. “In fact, we still hung out a couple of times after the breakup. There’s no bad blood between us. If I’d be given a chance to turn back time, I’d go out with him again. We had a

great time.”

She said she was likewise open to working with Baste in the future—like becoming partners in business ventures. “We are alike in many ways. We’re both funny and makulit,” Ellen shared with Inquirer. “We share many interests. We both like going to the beach—he influenced me to try surfing. We also got to travel.”

However, what really drew Ellen to Baste, she said, were the long conversations they had at night that normally lasted until morning. “It’s really the connection that we had,” she pointed out.

Having said that, Ellen stressed that more than the physical attraction, she hopes to www.canadianinquirer.net

end up with a guy who is “loyal, responsible and understanding.”

In “Moonlight Over Baler,” Ellen plays Rory, who’s torn between marrying Marcial (Abel Estanislao), the rich and influential guy whom her parents like, and running away with Kenjie (Vin Abrenica), the man she loves.

“Rory and I are different in that sense. I won’t choose to just go away. I’ll still fight for our love, regardless of the consequences,” declared Ellen.

The film, which opens in cinemas on Feb. 8, is Ellen’s third project with director Gil Portes.

She also starred in Portes’ “Bayang Magiliw” and “Ang Tagaraw ni Twinkle.”

“I cannot say no to Direk Gil. Working with him now is so much more enjoyable, because we understand each other better,” said Ellen, who’s also busy with the ABS-CBN programs, “Home Sweetie Home” and “Langit Lupa.”

“Issa is a kontrabida in every sense,” she said of her character in the drama series. “I’m not as scheming as she is, but we’re alike because we both give everything we’ve got when we’re in love. She feels betrayed by her lover. She is jealous. It’s normal to get jealous, but I don’t let the feeling affect me to the point that I’d ruin other people’s lives by being deceitful and sly.” ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

25

Movie watchdog Downie to Drake: Five things group says ‘A Dog’s we learned from the Juno Purpose’ video Award nominations was ‘misleading’

BY DAVID FRIEND The Canadian Press

BY ROB DRINKWATER The Canadian Press VIDEO THAT appeared to show a frightened German shepherd being forced to swim during filming of “A Dog’s Purpose” was misleading, according to the watchdog organization that certifies that “no animals were harmed” during TV and movie shoots.

American Humane says in a news release that an independent, third-party investigation into the filming which took place in Winnipeg in 2015, determined the video was “deliberately edited for the purpose of misleading the public and stoking outrage.”

The minute-long clip showed a trainer trying to put a resistant German shepherd named Hercules into a turbulent pool and the dog scrambling out.

A subsequent scene showed the dog becoming submerged in the water for several seconds as trainers shout “Stop!”

American Humane says the investigation confirmed preliminary findings that the two scenes shown in the edited video were filmed at different times and that the first scene was stopped after the dog showed signs of stress.

It says the dog was not forced to swim in the water at any time.

“The dog was selected for his love of the water, and had been professionally trained and conditioned for the water scenes over the course of six weeks,

using positive training techniques,” the news release from American Humane states.

“During the last scene, handlers immediately assisted the dog out of the water, at which point he was placed in a warming tent and received an examination that found no signs of stress. Eyewitnesses report that the dog wanted to go back in the water. Still, out of an abundance of caution, American Humane stopped filming of any more scenes with the dog.”

The video surfaced Jan. 18 on TMZ.com and quickly went viral. At the time TMZ did not reveal where it obtained the video from.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals called for a boycott of “A Dog’s Purpose,” which opened in theatres on Jan. 27.

Dennis Quaid, who stars in the movie, went on TV’s “Entertainment Tonight” and called the leaked video “a scam.”

The American Humane news release says the investigation was conducted by a respected animal cruelty expert. The organization questioned the motivation and ethics of releasing the video more than 15 months after it was shot, and only days before the movie opening.

It said it believes that the handling of the dog in the first scene in the video should have been gentler and signs of stress recognized earlier. However, it said that this was recognized and the scene did not proceed as insinuated by the video. ■

TORONTO — Chart-toppers Drake, Shawn Mendes and the Weeknd dominated the Juno Awards nominations on Tuesday, alongside a few cherished favourites of the Canadian music industry.

Here are five other notable developments within this year’s Juno categories: Downie shines

After revealing his fight with terminal brain cancer last year, Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie became a symbol of resilience as he soldiered through his illness to mount what many assumed to be the band’s final tour. So there was little surprise when the Junos piled on nominations for both the Hip and Downie’s solo work. The band is up for group of year and rock album of year awards, while Downie’s “Secret Path” grabbed nods for songwriter of the year, best adult alternative album and best video. “Secret Path” also got a recording package of the year nomination.

Drake’s crew

While Drake grabbed five nominations himself, his influence was also felt in other categories where his friends garnered recognition. Label mates Partynextdoor and Dvsn — both on Drake’s OVO Sound record

label — were recognized in the R&B/soul recording category.

The rapper’s longtime collaborator Nineteen85, born Anthony Paul Jefferies, was nominated for producer of the year.

Snubs aplenty

In a solid year for R&B/soul music it was surprising to see artists like Majid Jordan missing from the list. The Torontobased duo rose to fame with their Drake collaborations, but their self-titled debut album was nowhere to be found among this year’s nominees.

Rising country star Meghan Patrick was also snubbed for her album “Grace & Grit.”

Hamilton punches above its weight

No, not the stage production.

At the Junos, it’s the Ontario city that’s proving a force to

be reckoned with. Musicians like the Arkells, rockers Monster Truck and the Dirty Nil all started in the city. Jazz musicians David Braid, Diana Panton and Corin Raymond hang out in the burgeoning music town too, while husband-andwife duo Whitehorse have also called the city home.

Alessia Cara loves the Junos

She played “Saturday Night Live” last weekend, but clearly Cara’s international success hasn’t gone to her head. The Brampton, Ont., pop singer will return to perform at the Juno Awards in April, after opening last year’s show. Cara is also nominated in four categories, which seemed to surprise the singer. “This is pretty awesome,” Cara tweeted, “thank u @TheJUNOAwards for being so nice to me.” ■

2016: Good Year for Philippine Cinema

BY PHOEBE BALUBAR Philippine Canadian Inquirer

ARTURO NIKOLAI / FLICKR

THECOMEUPSHOW / FLICKR

NOT ONLY did 2016 was the year the Indie film genre breaks the local mainstream market by being enlisted as entries for the MMFF, it was also a year where various films from the genre earned international acclaim and recognition.

A few Filipino films made British Film Institute’s Sight and Sound Magazine’s “Best www.canadianinquirer.net

Movies of 2016.”

The list sought the consultation of 163 critics and curators from all over the world.

Three of Lav Diaz’s films made it on the list. “Ang Babaeng Humayo” (The Woman Who Left) peaked at no.31. The film was a Golden Lion Winner in the Venice Film Fest and garnered five votes from the panel. While “Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis” (A Lullaby to the Sorrowful Mystery) and “Ang Araw Bago ang Wakas” (The Day Before the End) were also chosen

by respondents.

Hele sa Hiwagang Hapis was a Silver Bear Alfred Bauer Prize in Berlinale 2016 while Ang Araw Bago ang Wakas won top prizes in Germany and Croatia respectively.

Two panelists on the other hand went for Brilliante Mendoza’s “Ma.Rosa” Canadian curator and critic James Quandt listed the film in his Top.5 while French critic Jean-Michel Frodon added it in his extended Top 15 list. ■

26

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Valentine’s Day A kiss is just a kiss, unless it’s the very first one

BY LEANNE ITALIE The Associated Press NEW YORK — A kiss is just a kiss, but as time goes by the first one can be everlasting.

“I can tell you the exact date,” declared stylist and fashion designer Nicole Grays Owens of Atlanta. “It was Aug. 16, 1985, three days after my sweet 16th.

He was my first true love and I his.”

We all have a first-kiss story, from the playground, park or basement, most likely. But do we all know what happened to the people with whom we shared that delicate snip of time? Do we care?

Writer Rachel Vail of Manhattan may not have been in capital L-love with the first boy she kissed, but they WERE a thing, elementary school style.

She was a fifth-grade Kim to his sixth-grade Hugo in their suburban New York school’s production of “Bye Bye Birdie.”

There was supposed to be a kiss between the two in the play.

This being elementary school, there was not.

Then came curtain call opening night.

“We met at centre stage. He had a bouquet of flowers and he leaned forward and kissed me in front of a packed auditorium, in front of our parents and teachers and everybody else,” Vail recalled. “It was a sweet, chaste kiss, but I wiped it right off my mouth. My dad filmed the whole thing.”

Vail, 50, has worked a few memorable kisses into some of the more than 30 books she has written for young people. In real life, there was a big twist to

her first. erything I could have had Though it left her a and I still possess “little shaken,” she took every picture, card, her spot at the end of love letter,” Owthe stage as planned ens said, “and the during bows. And dress I wore to that put her next to his senior prom, the boy who played which still fits, her father. And by the way.” it was he, years For David later, who Rivera, a became 62-year-old her husdoctor in band. suburban They’ve Chicago, b e e n the first m a r is now ried 24 bitteryears sweet. c o m e The spring. date: “ Mo r e “May than sex, 27, 1968, that idea of behind kissing, conthe hedges in necting with someseemed to go on forfront of the house body, it can be very innocent ever. Maybe passionate is too where she was babysitting! Life and it can be so very powerful,” heady a word for two virginal was never the same after that.

Vail said. “It’s that first thought teenagers, but it felt like pas- Her name was Cheryl and we of yourself as a romantic and sion to me.” used to leave notes for each eventually a sexother tucked ual being. First into the post for kisses can knock a stop sign near you down and her house,” he make you feel so You have to understand your said. different about customers in real time because They exyourself and political ramifications are happening changed Christabout the world.” instantly. mas cards occaOwens, 47, sionally over the feels the same. years. She had a She and her long-term temp first beau, back in Los AngeThe two drifted after high job about a mile from where he les where she grew up, courted school, but she doesn’t have to lives. over scoops of mint chip at wonder what became of him.

“I saw her in 2004 for the first the ice cream shop where he Through social media she has time in 32 years. We met for worked. learned that he’s the married lunch. That would be the last “It was awkward, tentative father of four, a police officer time,” Rivera said. “She died in at first, then it morphed into in a small California town. She December 2012. I didn’t know everything I’d seen in a movie keeps her distance out of re- until I had dinner with three or on television,” she said. “It spect. other friends from high school was passionate, romantic and “He was the greatest first ev- a couple of years later.”

www.canadianinquirer.net

Dana Marlowe, 40, also reconnected with her first kisser, 25 years after the act.

She’s a federal agency IT consultant in suburban Washington, D.C., and new software to access a payment portal included the security question: “What is the name of your first kiss?”

Marlowe treated her assistant to the story behind the answer since she’s the one who had to input the name.

The scene: A summer camp in Pennsylvania one hot July night in 1989, near the tree line.

Marlowe was 12. Adam was 13.

Marlowe was so tickled by the crush reminder that she tracked him down on Facebook, where they had a couple of old camp friends in common, and privately messaged him his new security role in her life.

“He wrote back within seconds and we wound up chatting,” she said. “He said, ‘If you think that’s funny, I’ve got a story for YOU, Dana.”‘ Adam is Adam Goldberg, a Hollywood writer and producer. At the time they reconnected, he was pitching a TV series based on his 1980s childhood, “The Goldbergs,” which was picked up by ABC and includes a noteworthy young kiss and the pursuit of same in a story line involving a character he left as Dana.

Goldberg uses real-life home movies and other memorabilia to end each episode and it was Marlowe’s turn that time around, in a short snippet of young them.

“So, that’s what happens when you look up your first kiss, courtesy of needing to get paid by the government,” Marlowe said. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

5 tips for buying jewelry for Valentine’s Day

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO The Associated Press NEW YORK — Shopping for jewelry for a loved one ahead of Valentine’s Day can be stressful. But learning some tricks should help anyone have an easier time finding the perfect gift. That means understanding a partner’s tastes, shopping at reputable jewelry stores and learning what the wording means in terms of how gemstones are graded.

And there’s plenty of opportunity to haggle for the best price.

“It is a big time to buy jewelry,” says Amanda Gizzi, a spokeswoman at the Jewelers of America, a trade association with more than 8,000 retail members. “There are some wonderful sales to be had. Look for the best pieces for your budget, but don’t be dazzled by the discounts.”

Above all, start researching with time to spare, figure out how much you want to spend, and shop to take advantage of post-holiday sales or limitedtime Valentine’s Day deals.

The median price for a piece of jewelry is $350, excluding engagement rings and wedding bands, the trade group says.

But there’s a wide range of jewelry sellers from Target to Tiffany. At Wal-Mart’s Sam’s Club, which says its jewelry is priced at a 25 to 40 per cent discount over other jewelry retailers, Valentine’s deals run from Jan. 25 to the holiday. Macy’s jewelry sale, which includes 60 per cent off 14-carat and 18-carat gold jewelry, starts Jan. 29 and ends Feb. 9.

“You really do need to shop early if you are budget-minded,” said Benjamin Glaser, features editor at DealNews.com, an online deal comparison site.

Here are some tips: Know your loved one’s taste

Look at what your partner is wearing and what’s in the jewelry box. If your special someone likes small earrings, don’t get big hoops. And if that person is active, don’t buy rings with high settings, says Gizzi. Among the trends this year: updated classics like hoop earrings with dia-

Quilling: Paper craft lends elegance to Valentine’s cards

BY JENNIFER FORKER The Associated Press

Look at what your partner is wearing and what’s in the jewelry box. If your special someone likes small earrings, don’t get big hoops.

mond chips, or layering rings or bracelets. If you plan to buy diamonds, see if there’s a way — subtly! — to find out if your partner would rather sacrifice size over quality or vice versa.

Do research and learn the lingo

Check out sites like Jewelers of America and online retail sites like Blue Nile for help understanding key terms like what clarity means when you are talking about diamonds, or want to know more about how gemstones are graded. Bluenile.com, which has also begun opening in-person showrooms, offers tools to compare prices from 150,000 independently graded diamonds.

Take precautions against fraud

First, be cautious about a store always offering discounts of more than 50 per cent. Consumers may find the discount price is actually the average retail price elsewhere, says the Jewelers of America. Buy from a trusted retailer. Ask friends for recommendations, or go to websites like the American Gem Society, which lets you search for reputable jewelry stores by ZIP code.

As for diamonds, consumers should insist a stone be accompanied by an independent grading report from a respected lab like the Gemological Institute of America, says Josh Holland, Blue Nile’s director of brand experience.

Also, check out the return policy and find out whether you’d get your money back or would have to exchange an item for credit. And haggle — it’s a

common practice in the jewelry business, Glaser says.

Consider synthetic diamonds

If you want something sparkly but want to avoid gems from conflict zones, synthetic or man-made diamonds are about 20 per cent to 40 per cent less expensive, according to DealNews. Produced in a laboratory, they are chemically the same as mined diamonds, as opposed to simulated diamonds, which are usually cubic zirconia or moissanite. Pure Grown Diamonds, the world’s largest distributor of them, has a directory on its website of stores by zip code that offer lab-grown diamonds.

While a gemologist wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between mined and synthetic diamonds, a jeweler needs to tell buyers the origin.

Be creative

Not interested in spending a lot but still want good quality?

Consider estate sales. Or if you think your partner would want to try out pieces for a while, there’s a rental jewelry subscription service called Rocksbox.com. It allows shoppers to get three items per month based on their tastes, delivered to their doors. Rocksbox. com offers memberships of three months, six months and 12 months with a gift card that can be applied to a purchase.

For example, a three-month gift membership plus a $10 gift card is $49. The retail price on the jewelry ranges from $50 to $150 and includes such designers as Kate Spade and Rebecca Minkoff. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

27

WANT TO add a little panache to your Valentine’s Day cards?

Learn how to roll a few quilling shapes — hearts, teardrops and petals, for starters — to convey your love.

Quilling — an ancient craft also known as paper filigree — doesn’t require any special tools to get started. It’s essentially the rolling of narrow strips of paper to make simple shapes for use in artwork and handmade cards. Complementary techniques have developed over time, such as delicately cut and curled or fringed flowers.

A quilled card that she received several years ago fascinated Kari Cronbaugh-Auld of Olathe, Kansas, so she got to experimenting — and then perfecting — her craft. Today, she sells handmade cards and other gifts at her online Etsy shop, Quillique. Wedding invitations framed by intricate, quilled details are a top seller for her.

“It looks easy, but it’s time-intensive,” says Cronbaugh-Auld, a social worker and grant writer who quills in her spare time.

A simple Valentine’s Day card — one heart or a few scrolls — is a good project for beginners.

Cronbaugh-Auld, who is selftaught, recommends picking up a quilling kit at a craft store and watching tutorials on YouTube.

Quilling books include supply lists and basic techniques.

Quilling paper and equipment, such as a slotted tool — the slot at the tip helps start paper rolling — are sold at craft stores. Beginners also need fine-tipped tweezers and craft glue that dries clear and quickly. And that’s about it.

After all, none of these supplies were even available to the Renaissance monks and nuns who decorated holy pictures and relic vessels with the precious strips of gold-edged paper that resulted from bookmaking. Their paper filigree — created by wrapping thin paper

strips around a feather quill — replicated ironwork patterns of the day.

During the Victorian era, well-heeled young ladies learned quilling in addition to needlework. The craft travelled to the Americas, where it was used to decorate cabinets, cribbage boards and picture frames, says Cronbaugh-Auld.

“Hundreds of years ago, quilling was done by people who wanted to make decorative things for their homes,” says Hannah Milman, a Martha Stewart Living contributing editor. “Paper was precious. I’m sure every scrap was kept.”

Decades before she wrote about quilling for Martha Stewart Living magazine, Milman quilled paper beads as a child.

She strung them on elastic thread to make necklaces.

“I never knew it was quilling,” Milman recalls. “I just did this instinctively, and I’m sure a lot of people did this around the world.”

Milman fondly recalls using the glossy pages of her parents’ New Yorker magazines.

“It was such perfect paper and smooth. It rolled up really well,” she says.

A reuse-and-recycle advocate, Milman recommends cutting one’s own quilling strips — 1/8-inch and 1/4-inch widths are common — with scissors, paper cutter or shredder.

Scrapbook and construction papers are too thick, but simple white craft paper works well, Milman says. Dye it, splatter it with paint — make it your own.

“It looks amazing, really elegant,” Milman says.

She recommends “going big.” Although quilling was traditionally a delicate craft for small projects, Milman now sees it used in home decor. For parties, decorate with giant coils instead of the ubiquitous tissue-paper pompoms, or quill a giant wall heart.

Think outside of traditional quilling colours, too, she says. ❱❱ PAGE 31 Quilling: Paper

28

Lifestyle

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Happy Galentine’s Day, ladies! Love your heart And thanks ‘Parks and Rec’ by choosing heart healthy plant based foods more often

BY LEANNE ITALIE The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Move over Friendsgiving. Galentine’s Day is on the way.

Designating Feb. 13 for the ladies has endured since 2010, when Amy Poehler’s “Parks and Recreation” character, Leslie Knope, declared the fictional holiday her favourite day of the year on the NBC show: “Ladies celebrating ladies,” Knope explained of her Galentine’s breakfast bash with Designating Feb. 13 for the ladies has endured since 2010, when Amy Poehler friends. “It’s like Lilith Fair, mi- (center)’s “Parks and Recreation” character, Leslie Knope, declared the fictional holiday her favourite day of the year on the NBC show. nus the angst. Plus frittatas.”

ANDERS KRUSBERG / PEABODY AWARDS Since, women in real life have embraced the idea of gathering when Valentine’s Day rolls 28 this year and will celebrate people would mock the idea.”‘ around. This year, some are par- at a Sunday brunch with about They didn’t. About 20 particiticularly fired up, fresh off pink 15 girlfriends. On the 14th, it’ll pated last year. pussyhatted women’s marches be dinner with a small group of It’s mom Alexandra Jamiethe day after President Donald ladies at a Mexican restaurant son’s first Galentine’s Day. She’s Trump was inaugurated. on the Lower East Side. setting aside Feb. 13 to host 12 Galentine’s Day isn’t just for “I try to pick a place that I can women for a “bad art party” in Feb. 13, and it isn’t just for date- go to with my girls that won’t her Brooklyn apartment. less, single ladies. Jessica Gott- feel romantic, so margaritas “We’ll tap into our inner lieb and Stefanie Pollard live in and tacos really fits the bill,” child and just get creative and Los Angeles and will celebrate she said. “I’ve actually only had messy,” she said. “I’m not single with a brunch for gal friends a boyfriend once on my actual but my female friendships are Feb. 12, a Sunday. birthday and he crashed the so important to me. I believe “We’re a couple of married la- girls night out.”

Galentine’s Day should be mandies who really do love our husKim Terca lives in San Fran- datory for all of us!” bands but plan on celebrating cisco and plans a destination Galentine’s Day has been an Galentine’s Day. Why? Because Galentine’s Day with a friend in annual event for Rosie Brown that march wasn’t just about Miami. They’ll be in Havana. in Campbell, California, since being against 2015. She and Trump or for a group of girlreproductive friends made health. It was glass terrariums about women Most of us are in relationships and one year and cherishing each we want an excuse to get together, took a cooking other and our just the ladies. We want to celebrate lesson the other. strengths and ourselves.

“It’s a special knowing that we way of honourneed one anothing our friender for physical ships and makhealth, emotional stability and “We’re both single with no ing everyone feel loved,” Brown career success,” said Gottlieb, Valentine’s dates, so this year said. who marched in her hometown. we’re taking advantage of our Michelle Peterson is a GalKaila Fiske in Minneapolis, freedom to run off and do what- entine’s newbie. She’s putting a Minnesota, is multitasking this ever we want,” she said. “Cheers karaoke night on the calendars year, celebrating Feb. 14 with her to being single!” of a few girlfriends for Feb. 11. partner but reserving Feb. 17, a Kate Conroy in Plainfield, “I’m single and all my friends Friday, for dinner and a mass la- New Jersey, is the Galentine’s are in relationships, so I wantdies night with 11 girlfriends to planner among her female ed to be sure I got some friend see “Fifty Shades Darker.” friends. This year will be her time near Valentine’s Day,” she “Most of us are in relation- third brunch. Significant oth- said. ships and we want an excuse ers have started to show up, and As for Valentine’s Day itto get together, just the ladies,” there’s an after-party, she said. self, she’ll treat herself to she explained. “We want to cel“At our first one, someone some chocolate, a glass of red ebrate ourselves.” did a toast and when it was my wine and a solo ticket to “Fifty Every Feb. 14 is extra special turn to say a few words I started Shades Darker.” That, she said, for Lauren Stiffelman in New with, ‘When I stole this idea “seems like the ultimate single York. It’s her birthday. She’ll be from ‘Parks and Rec,’ I assumed girl thing to do.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press TORONTO — The month of February might feature Valentine’s chocolate, but with 1.3 million Canadians living with heart disease it’s also a time to focus on heart-healthy foods.

A healthy, balanced diet should consist of a variety of natural, whole and minimally processed foods, says Carol Dombrow, a Heart and Stroke Foundation dietitian.

“This message ... is never going to change. No matter what they find, whatever new research comes out, this is still going to be an important message,” she says.

The thinking on healthy eating has changed in recent years.

Rather than focusing on single nutrients and highly restrictive diets that aren’t sustainable, research shows the overall quality of one’s diet is more important.

“We’re asking people to eat more vegetables and fruit, to have a variety of protein sources, so include beans and legumes, include lower-fat dairy and alternatives, lean meat, poultry, fish. Have whole grains more often and stay away from highly processed foods,” the Toronto-based dietitian says.

Heart disease is the secondleading cause of death and the leading cause of disability, says Dombrow. Nine in 10 Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

But many risk factors are in your power to control. This includes having a healthy diet and maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active and smoke-free, limiting alcohol consumption and reducing stress. It’s also important to manage blood cholesterol levels and diabetes, also a risk factor for heart disease, she adds.

“The simplest message is to make half your plate vegetables and fruit. They’re going to give you so many nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fibre,” says Dombrow. “They’re

positive from a healthy weight perspective.”

The rest of the plate should be one-quarter each whole grains and lean protein.

There’s a strong body of research showing the Mediterranean diet has been linked to better heart health, says registered dietitian Zannat Reza.

This traditional way of eating in Italy and Greece includes a high ratio of vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, pulses and olive oil.

Reza likes to put a Canadian spin on it, featuring hearthealthy ingredients grown and produced in this country.

Canada is one of the world’s largest producers of pulses, the edible seeds of plants in the legume family, which include lentils, dry beans, dry peas and chickpeas.

Oil made from canola, grown mainly in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, is high in monounsaturated fatty acids which have been shown to reduce blood cholesterol levels.

It’s also high in plant omega-3 fats, which help protect against heart attacks and strokes.

Olive, sunflower and safflower oil are also sources of good polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, says Dombrow.

Saturated fat, a risk factor for heart disease because it raises blood cholesterol levels, should be avoided.

“It occurs naturally in animal products like meat, eggs and dairy products as well as some plant-based and vegetable oils such as coconut, palm and palm kernel oil,” explains Dombrow.

“Where they fit into highly processed foods is that they’re used in production of baked goods, fried and many processed foods, so we really want to reduce the amount of this type of fat in our diet.”

Flaxseed, grown on the Prairies, is another good source of omega-3 essential fatty acids as well as being high in fibre.

In 2014, Health Canada an❱❱ PAGE 35 Love your

29

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

Sports Super Bowl go political in a big way

BY MAE ANDERSON The Associated Press NEW YORK — Messages about America, inclusiveness — and, yes, even “four years of awful hair” — kept bubbling up in Super Bowl 51 ads from Airbnb, the NFL and a line of personal care products. But there was still plenty of escapism and light humour for those who weren’t into the politics.

As the New England Patriots edged out the Atlantic Falcons on the field in Houston, Airbnb touted inclusiveness with an ad showing faces of different ethnicities and the copy: “We all belong. The world is more beautiful the more you accept.”

Coca-Cola aired a previously run ad in the pregame in which people sing “America the Beautiful” in different languages.

Even a hair care brand dipped into politics: The “It’s a 10” hair brand indirectly referenced Donald Trump famously unruly do in its Super Bowl spot.

It’s tough to be a Super Bowl advertiser in during any year.

But this year, a divisive political climate has roiled the nation since President Donald Trump took office in January, making it even tougher for advertisers.

Paying $5 million for 30 seconds to capture more than 110 million expected viewers, advertisers had to walk the line with ads that appealed to everyone and didn’t offend. Some were more successful than others.

“Anxiety and politics just loom over this game, so anybody

who gives us the blessed relief of entertaining with a real Super Bowl commercial wins,” said Mark DiMassimo, CEO of the ad agency DiMassimo Goldstein.

Several ads aimed for just that. Tide, for instance, offered a humorous ad showing announcer Terry Bradshaw trying frantically to remedy a stain while he goes “viral” online, with the help of New England Patriot Rob Gronkowski and actor Jeffrey Tambor.

Walking the political line

Advertisers were treading carefully when it came to political themes.

“When it comes to politics, most brands prefer to stand on the sidelines, for good reason,” said Kelly O’Keefe, a marketing professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. “Brands used to worry about whether their ad could be interpreted as right or wrong. Now they have to worry about whether it will be interpreted as right or left.”

But there were still plenty of ads that walked the line.

An NFL ad conveyed what all advertisers hope the Super Bowl becomes: a place where Americans can come together.

“Inside these lines, we may have our differences, but recognize there’s more that unites us,” Forest Whitaker intoned in a voiceover as workers prepped a football field and gridiron scenes played.

“The Super Bowl is shaping up as a counterpoint to the divisiveness in the United States,” said Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at Northwestern Uni-

versity.

Airbnb’s ad was one of the more overtly political, showing a variety of different faces with the tagline “We accept.”

Some thought the ad was a hit. “Kudos to them for making a strong statement,” said O’Keefe. But others, such as Villanova University marketing professor Charles Taylor, thought it didn’t have a clear enough link to the brand and risked coming off as a “purely political statement.”

Some advertisers took the safest route possible by reairing ads they’ve used before — an unusual, though not unprecedented, move. Coca-Cola, Google and Fiji water aired rerun ads.

During the pre-game show, Coca-Cola ran “It’s Beautiful,” an ad featuring people around the country drinking the fizzy beverage and singing “America the Beautiful” in different languages.

Surprises

A debut Super Bowl spot by the “It’s a 10” hair care brand introduced its line of men products by joking about Donald Trump’s hair.

“America, we’re in for four years of awful hair, so it’s up to you to do your part by making up for it with great hair,” a voiceover states, showing black-and-white photos of people with a wide array of hairstyles. “Do your part. ... Let’s make sure these next four years are ‘It’s a 10.”‘ Snickers got tons of press by airing a live ad In the third quar-

BRIAN ALLEN / VOICE OF AMERICA

ter. On a Wild West set, Adam Driver seems to not know the ad is live. The set falls apart (on purpose). “You ruin live Super Bowl commercials when you’re hungry,” the ad’s tagline reads.

“It went by so fast, I almost missed it,” DiMassimo said.

“Not sure it was worth the trouble of doing it live.”

Light humour plus celebs

Ads with light humour and stuffed with celebrities were popular. Honda’s ad made a splash by animating the yearbook photos of nine celebrities ranging from Tina Fey to Viola Davis. They make fun of their photos — Jimmy Kimmel is dressed in a blue tux and holding a clarinet, for example — and talk about “The Power of Dreams,” Honda’s ad slogan.

“It was a really good message and it was entertaining,”

said Mirta Desir, a New Orleans native who works in education and was watching the game on Long Island.

The Tide ad with Terry Bradshaw was a hit with some viewers because of the way it tricked viewers by seeming to be part of the broadcast. “It made you think twice,” said Pablo Rochat, watching in Atlanta. “There was funny dialogue and good storytelling.”

T-Mobile’s spots featuring Justin Timberlake and Rob Gronkowski dancing , Kristen Schaal in a “50 Shades of Grey” parody and Martha Stewart and Snoop Dog mixing talk about T-Mobile’s unlimited-data plan with innuendos about Snoop Dogg’s marijuana habit, won raves from some. As did an ad from antioxidant drink maker Bai featuring Justin Timberlake and Christopher Walken. ■

Gonzales seals PH win over Indonesia

BY MARC ANTHONY REYES Philippine Daily Inquirer RUBEN GONZALES overpowered David Agung Susanto, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4, Sunday to help the Cebuana Lhuillier-Davis Cup team clinch its tie over Indonesia at Philippine Columbian As-

sociation indoor courts in Paco, Manila.

The victory was thorough and underscored the country’s projected march to Group 1.

“It was a solid match for Ruben today,” said PH nonplaying captain Karl Santamaria of his team’s goal to move out of Group 2, where they have been

playing for the last six years.

“We definitely have the pieces [to go back to Group 1], but there’s a lot of work to do.”

In the dead rubber, Alberto Lim Jr. redeemed himself with a 7-5, 6-3 triumph over Anthony Susanto as the Philippines completed a 4-1 win.

The Filipino Cuppers await www.canadianinquirer.net

Thailand or Kuwait in an away tie in the Asia/Oceania Group 2 semifinals.

Team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier said the Filipinos showed that “they got the passion and hunger to go back and compete with the big boys of Group 1.”

It was Gonzales’ second win af-

ter beating Aditya Hari Sasongko (6-2, 6-2, 6-4) following the sorry loss of Lim to Susanto (3-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 1-1 (retired) last Friday in the opening singles.

Treat Huey and Francis Casey Alcantara beat Susanto and Sunu-Wahyu Trijati, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4, for a 2-1 Philippine lead Saturday. ■

30

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Business Boycotts, Trump’s tirades part of new business landscape

BY JULIE BYKOWICZ The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Uber’s CEO quit President Donald Trump’s business council. Nordstrom stopped selling Ivanka Trump’s fashion. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Toyota, meanwhile, suffered through the discomfort of being on the receiving end of Trump Twitter tirades.

The Trump era is a perilous new landscape for corporate America. Companies are feeling political pressure like never before, squeezed on one side by consumers who are boycotting products with any ties to the administration and on the other by the outspoken, social media-loving president.

For most companies, the decision to get political used to be made after long, careful deliberations among a company’s leader, public relations team, lawyers and lobbyists. Now, in an increasingly divided America, companies may have no choice but to move quickly.

“You have to understand your customers in real time because political ramifications are happening instantly,” said Matt Friedman, a crisis communications adviser based near Detroit who has worked with public and private companies.

“Each business now has to look at where their customer fits into the political divide and how their company values align to what the president is doing on a day-to-day basis.”

The predicament for companies was on display ahead of Trump’s first White House meeting Friday with his business forum, a group that includes General Motors CEO Mary Barra, JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon and a dozen others. The night before, Uber’s Travis Kalanick told his employees he’d decided to quit the council because his presence on it was being “misinterpreted” as an endorsement of the president.

“I spent a lot of time thinking about this and mapping it to our values,” Kalanick told employees in an internal memo obtained by The Associated Press.

Disney CEO Bob Iger didn’t attend either; instead he was at a company board meeting in California.

A seat on a high-profile White House council, no matter the political party in power, has previously been a can’t-passup sign of prestige. It’s a direct way for a company to express opinions to the president — far less fraught than trying to gain access through lobbying or donating money.

Trump said he intends to take advice from the council, which organizers of the “Grab Your the company with angry meshe said would meet regularly Wallet” social media effort to sages on Twitter — some saying to discuss policies. Trump said encourage boycotts of com- they were now prepared to behe’d be seeking guidance on his panies tied to Trump, said she gin their own boycott. plans to roll back the financial would only be satisfied when Nordstrom spent the night services legislation known as Kalanick resigned from the responding to hundreds of the Dodd-Frank bill from JP presidential forum, saying: them, with messages like: Morgan’s Dimon.

“This is not a ‘seat at the table’ “We’re so sorry to disappoint “There’s nobody better to tell moment. This is a flip-the-table you. It’s not a political decision me about Dodd-Frank than Ja- moment.” for us.” mie,” he said Friday.

Grab Your Wallet claimed anMaine-based retailer L.L. But an audience with this other victory Thursday night Bean faced the flip side of that. president, at Linda Bean, one least at this stage, of many fambrings with it ily members customer cominvolved in the plications.

No You have to understand your company, gave doubt weighing customers in real time because money to a prointo Kalanick’s political ramifications are happening Trump super decision to give instantly.

PAC during up that influence the campaign, was the boycott prompting Grab the ride-sharing Your Wallet to company, popular in urban, when Nordstrom announced it call for a boycott, which in turn largely Democratic areas, had had stopped selling first daugh- prompted Trump to weigh in been experiencing all week. ter Ivanka Trump’s fashion line. with a bit of social-media marThat campaign went viral on The company cited the brand’s keting. social media Saturday night performance. The department “Thank you to Linda Bean of when people perceived Uber store was one of Grab Your L.L. Bean for your great supas trying to break a taxi strike Wallet’s first targets. Neiman port and courage. People will to and from New York’s John Marcus also appears to have support you even more now.

F. Kennedy Airport that was in stopped selling her jewelry.

Buy L.L. Bean,” Trump tweeted response to Trump’s executive “Companies have been late last month, a few weeks before order suspending the coun- to the game with realizing how taking office. try’s refugee program. It didn’t much ire it can create to associWhen they make a move that let up even after Uber publicly ate with a person like Donald,” could be perceived as a knock condemned Trump’s executive Coulter said. on the president, companies order and contributed to relief While the anti-Trump boy- like Nordstrom must calculate groups. cotters cheered Nordstrom, an- not only the financial impact of Shannon Coulter, one of the gry Trump supporters deluged angering Trump supporters but www.canadianinquirer.net

1000 WORDS / SHUTTERSTOCK, INC.

also the possibility that Trump himself could take notice — spiraling the crisis to another level.

Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys Inc., said CEOs are especially vulnerable now because technology allows people to protest and vent their anger without organizing a march, or even leaving their home.

Among those who can weigh in with a few finger taps: the leader of the free world.

“The direct communication from the president of the United States, with attacks on specific brands and specific people, is not something we’ve ever seen before,” he said.

Just how much this new, perilous environment for CEOs will actually affect business in the long term is difficult to know.

Shares of Lockheed fell sharply after the president tweeted in December that the cost of its F-35 fighter jets was “out of control,” then fell again after he complained about the military contractor at a news conference the next month.

The stock quickly recovered both times. ■ Associated Press writers Bernard Condon in New York and Jill Colvin in Washington contributed to this report.

Business

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

PH to still use coal, but will get an upgrade

BY PHOEBE BALUBAR Philippine Canadian Inquirer PRESIDENT DUTERTE decided that in order to meet the energy and commercial needs of the Filipino consumer, the country would still need to depend on coal despite its repercussions as an energy source.

However, the administration will require upgrading power plants by adopting clean coal technologies (CCT) ensuring that effects in terms of emissions can be minimized or be manageable.

The President is aiming towards a “happy balance” as coal is regarded as a major contributor in terms of carbon emissions.

He said that alternative power sources such as solar and wind can’t cut as an energy alternative for countries with emerging economies like the Philippines.

“There have been a lot of inventions about solar and everything. But other people and

especially the pretentious experts, they do not have a good alternative, I mean cheap, affordable fuel for the power plants,” Duterte added.

According to the IEA (International Energy Agency), many markets in Asia will still remain highly dependent on coal as the demand for coal is expected to shift towards Asia.

With Asia’s growing economies, it is just but a practical choice for most developing nations to prefer coal as a primary energy source as it is still cheap and accessible. This factor is enough to boost the productivity of these nations and cater to their growing population and needs. It is only through cheap energy sources can a country would be able to meet economical demands of its consumers.

The IEA also emphasized that the growth trajectory will depend on China for the coming years since it accounts for 50% of the global demand and nearly half of the world’s coal production. ■

Many markets in Asia will still remain highly dependent on coal as the demand for coal is expected to shift towards Asia.

HERRY LAWFORD / FLICKR

Quilling: Paper...

For Valentine’s Day, insert some silver in among the pinks and reds, or accent a traditionally white-quilled card with a smattering of colour.

When you get more involved in quilling, Cronbaugh-Auld says, there are more tools that ❰❰ 27

might help, many that cross over from scrapbooking and other crafts.

The key ingredient? Patience.

“It’s like learning how to knit or crochet. When you start out, you have to be patient with yourself,” says CronbaughAuld. ■

31

North Korean economics 101: How much is a dollar worth?

BY ERIC TALMADGE The Associated Press PYONGYANG, KOREA, DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF — To get a feel for how North Korea’s economy works, go buy a roll of toilet paper. Or start up a mobile phone network.

As capitalist-style markets have grown more important in North Korea, so has a marketfriendly exchange rate for the much-coveted U.S. dollars, euros and Chinese yuan that lubricate the North’s economy.

But the official and unofficial rates are totally out of whack.

And as one big investor recently found out, the difference can mean hundreds of millions of dollars in lost profits.

Dueling exchange rates are a common issue for developing countries that have an official premium rate set by the government, often for political purposes that don’t reflect economic realities and are therefore often ignored in the marketplace.

The discrepancy can severely hamper foreign investment, undermine confidence in the local currency and contribute to corruption and economic instability.

But nowhere in the world is the gap bigger than North Korea, according to Steve Hanke, a professor of applied economics at the Johns Hopkins University who specializes in hyperinflation, “The North Korean won’s black market premium is the highest in the world: a fantastic 6,440 per cent,” he said. For comparison’s sake, the black market premium for the Syrian pound is “only” 144.3 per cent of the official rate, he said.

What does such a system look like on the ground?

If you pick up that roll of toilet paper in a shop catering to foreigners, tourists or the relatively affluent elite in the capital, it would probably have a price tag in the 200-400 won range, or $2-4. The prices in won are calculated according to the official exchange rate. In reality, you can’t actually pay in won, at least not at that rate.

Typical Pyongyang residents, www.canadianinquirer.net

meanwhile, are more likely to do their shopping at a place like the Kwangbok Department Store, which does take won and therefore uses an entirely different pricing system. Here, a roll of toilet paper costs 1,400 won. An exchange booth right next to the checkout counter posts the day’s rates — not the official 108-or-so won to the dollar, but a whopping 8,000plus.

“The official rate is a political rate,” Hanke said. “It is, therefore, totally arbitrary and no one really knows how it is determined. The black-market rate is a free-market rate. The supply and demand for dollars and won on the black market calls the tune and sets the rate.”

Most North Koreans don’t have foreign currency to begin with and don’t shop in upscale stores, so the system is fairly invisible most of the time.

On a larger scale, it has major ramifications.

One of North Korea’s biggest recent success stories has been the rapid spread of mobile phones, now in the millions, thanks to capital and expertise invested by the Egyptian conglomerate Orascom. The venture, Orascom Telecom Media and Technology, was hugely profitable, but rather predictably hit a big wall when it tried to get its earnings out of North Korea.

In late 2015, it announced a huge loss after North Korea insisted it use the unofficial rate to convert its profits into dollars, turning what would have been $450 million into a mere $8 million.

CEO Naguib Sawiris resigned on Jan. 1 this year.

Sawiris refused to comment to the AP until after the company releases its next financial report. But the company, which has staff working out of a hotel in Pyongyang, is apparently still waiting to get even its $8 million out of North Korea.

The importance of the unofficial exchange rate has grown tremendously since the 1990s, when the collapse of the Soviet bloc and natural disasters that devastated harvests took North Korea’s economy to the verge of collapse. Citizens who previously relied on the government

for their needs had to learn how to fend for themselves.

The result was the rise of an unofficial, but by now well-established, capitalist-style market, where prices are competitive and determined by supply and demand. Transactions are primarily made in cash. Outside experts estimate that half or even more of all economic activity in the North is done in this grey zone.

The transformation has not been without its shocks.

In 2009, leader Kim Jong Un’s father, Kim Jong Il, ordered a revaluation of the won, effectively cutting two zeros off the value of each bill. That appears to have been an attempt to reassert control over nouveaux riches who had profited too much from the grey market and were seen as a potential political threat.

That put the country through a severe bout of hyperinflation from late 2009 to early 2011.

Monthly inflation peaked at 496 per cent in March 2010, according to Hanke’s calculations, and the value of the won on the black market collapsed.

To the surprise of many, the won appears to have rebounded and stayed within a fairly stable range, both officially and at the unofficial rate, since Kim Jong Un assumed power in late 2011.

“This is a major quandary, and an apparent success story of the Kim regime,” said William Brown, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University and non-resident fellow at the Korea Economic Institute of America. “I think for the time being people are getting used to monetary stability and that is allowing a big increase in market activity and growth.”

He warned, however, that the stability could be fragile.

“Some kind of shock would instantly cause people to trade in their won for dollars and the exchange rate and won prices would soar,” he said. ■

32

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Technology In Israel, teaching kids cyber skills is a national mission

BY DANIEL ESTRIN The Associated Press BEIT SHEMESH, ISRAEL — In some Israeli schools, fourth-graders learn computer programming while gifted 10th-graders take after-school classes in encryption tactics, coding and how to stop malicious hacking. The country even has two new kindergartens that teach computer skills and robotics.

The training programs — something of a boot camp for cyber defence — are part of Israel’s quest to become a world leader in cybersecurity and cyber technology by placing its hopes in the country’s youth.

To that end, Israel announced this week the establishment of a national centre for cyber education, meant to increase the talent pool for military intelligence units and prepare children for eventual careers in defence agencies, the high-tech industry and academia.

“You students need to strengthen us with your curiosity,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told an Israeli cyber technologies expo, sitting next to high school students in a training program overseen by the defence establishment.

“Your years in the security services will be golden years for the security of the nation.”

Israel has long branded itself the “Cyber Nation” but authorities say they have been facing a shortage of cyber experts to keep up with the country’s defence needs and keep its cybersecurity industry booming.

To build up a wellspring of talent, Israel is starting young:

teaching children the basic building blocks of the web.

“In the first grade, they learn the letters, then how to read and how to write. We are building the next level of knowledge — how to code,” said Sagy Bar of the Rashi Foundation, a philanthropic group running the cyber education centre as a joint venture with Israel’s defence establishment and academic institutions.

The centre will also oversee educational programs launched in recent years, including the Education Ministry’s Gvahim pilot program that introduced computer and robotic classes to the fourthgrade curriculum in 70 schools, and the after-school Magshimim program, which trains talented high-schoolers from underprivileged areas in college-level cyber skills.

Drawing youth into the highly technical field of cybersecurity is not a novelty, and the United States and Britain have implemented similar training programs.

The National Security Agency, America’s global surveillance and intelligence agency, co-sponsors free cybersecurity summer camps throughout the U.S. for students and teachers from kindergarten through high school. The GenCyber program seeks to improve cybersecurity teaching in schools as early as kindergarten.

GCHQ, the U.K.’s powerful signals intelligence agency, has a host of youth outreach initiatives, including an annual competition for amateurs and youngsters at dramatic venues such as Winston Churchill’s World War II-era bunker under central London.

In 2015, the competition invested in whizz kid-friendly puzzle games — including a specially designed Minecraft level — to pique children’s interest.

Also, GCHQ is trying to bridge the gender gap and last month announced a national cybersecurity challenge for schoolgirls aged 13 to 15.

In Israel, the two cyber training programs feed Israel’s vaunted military intelligence Unit 8200, which intercepts digital communications and collects intelligence on Israel’s enemies across the

Middle East — the Israeli equivalent of America’s NSA. Many members of the unit eventually move on to Israel’s high-tech and cybersecurity industries. Some of the most successful technology companies have been founded by the unit’s veterans.

Military service is compulsory for most Jewish high school graduates in Israel, giving military intelligence the power to enlist the country’s best and

www.canadianinquirer.net

brightest.

For military intelligence, it’s a win-win situation.

“Israeli talent comes mandatorily to the army,” Col. R, deputy head of Unit 8200, told The Associated Press over the phone.

The colonel, who could only be identified by her first initial under military regulations, said Unit 8200 is trying to encourage more girls to study computer sciences and eventually join the unit as “cyberists.”

In the Magshimim program, applicants must first pass a home quiz of riddles and challenges involving math, logic and algorithms. Previous computer expertise is not needed, and they can even look up answers online or ask a parent for help. The idea is to recruit students who are not intimidated by challenges, organizers say.

Those accepted to the program meet twice a week after school for three-hour classes, complete 10 hours of cyberrelated homework a week, and participate in workshops twice a year.

During a recent workshop for 10th-graders at a school in the central city of Beit Shemesh, a group of 15 religious Jewish girls attended a lecture on artificial intelligence. One of the girls was knitting an orange yarmulke during class.

In a darkened classroom across the hall, a group of teens in sweatshirts and sweatpants hunched over laptops, playing a simulation game: a fictional network of computers had been hacked, and they had 45 minutes to learn an unfamiliar computer code, regain control of the network, and hack into the hacker’s system to deter-

mine his identity.

“I broke in!” a student suddenly exclaimed. The fictional hacker was a popular cartoon character.

Glued to his computer, 16-year-old Shalev Goodman said he hopes to use his cyber skills in military intelligence when he enlists.

“I’m not the most athletic person,” he said. “I do want to give something to the country.

So cyber is a good thing to do.”

Program leaders say cyber ethics are enforced — students who use their skills to hack would not be accepted into the military and would likely ruin their future in the cyber industry.

But once in the army, the definition of ethics can become blurred. In 2014, a group of reservists in Unit 8200 signed a letter protesting its role in surveillance of Palestinians.

One of the soldiers said the unit was sometimes asked to perform ethically questionable tasks, like spying on Palestinians uninvolved in violence.

“It feels a bit like a game, like a cool computer game,” said Gilad, who could only give his first name because Israel’s military censor has prohibited the protesters from revealing their full identity.

During his compulsory army service, Gilad said he worked part time in programming.

“You develop apathy, moral numbness ... You are far away from the target,” he recounted of those days.

Still, the computer skills Gilad gained while in the army helped him get his current job in the high-tech industry, he said. ■

Technology

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

33

Campers may unplug, but Raising the bar: summer camps are plugging in Facebook Live

BY MELISSA KOSSLER DUTTON The Associated Press JEN OILER loves that her two daughters spend a week every summer unplugged from their phones and internet connection while visiting Camp Akita in Logan, Ohio. But she also appreciates that the camp takes full advantage of technology to help parents feel connected to their children’s experience.

Each evening that her girls are away, she goes online to view photos that the camp has posted of the day’s activities.

“I think not being able to communicate with them is more of a challenge for me than them,” says Oiler, of Dublin, Ohio.

While kids are often unplugged at summer camp, the camps themselves are harnessing technology in new ways, for promotion and to enhance the camp experience, from posting photos and videos for parents and alumni to connecting campers in the off-season.

It’s a delicate balance, keeping parents informed and happy while not losing sight of camp’s purpose, said Tom Rosenberg, CEO of the American Camp Association, headquartered in Martinsville, Indiana.

“I find that parents today need more communication than our parents did when we went to camp,” he said. “It’s a learning experience for us.”

Many camps ban cellphones for campers but engage with parents by posting daily photos, letting parents email their children, and creating annual videos featuring campers and activities. Some camps encourage kids to stay in touch year-round by having them share phone numbers, email addresses and social media information.

Many camps maintain Facebook pages and Instagram accounts for campers to connect.

Photos a priority

After years of reading teacher blogs and classroom newsletters, parents have grown accustomed to having a window into their child’s day. Many camps have responded by hiring a staffer to take photos and post

BY PHOEBE BALUBAR Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Some camps encourage kids to stay in touch year-round by having them share phone numbers, email addresses and social media information.

them online every day.

Camp Kanata in Wake Forest, North Carolina, for example, provides daily photos along with updates about the weather, activities and meals, said executive director Shane Brown.

“We feel that it’s important for parents to have an idea of what is going on at camp,” he said.

Capturing the experience in photos is too important and time-consuming a task for counsellors, he added: “I don’t think it can be secondary. We hire a person to be the eyes and ears for parents all day, every day.”

and delivered to campers once a day. If kids want to write back, however, they usually must rely on pencils, paper and stamps — although some camps will scan handwritten letters and email them to parents.

Hummels liked the ease of composing a few lines each morning on email with tidbits about the family pet or updates on sports news.

“The kids said they always looked forward to it,” said Hummels of West Lafayette, Indiana.

“It was a little dose of home.”

Staying connected

Weekly videos

In addition to posting photos, Camp Fitch in North Springfield, Pennsylvania, creates weekly videos for parents. The videos also allow campers to relive the fun times later, and they provide an opportunity for the camp to reach new audiences, says Matt Pose, executive director.

While photos occasionally lead to a parent calling because their youngster looks “mopey,” they typically have a reassuring and positive effect, he said.

Parents can see their kids trying new things and making new friends.

“The upside is parents feel a lot more engaged in the experience and become even more evangelical” about the benefits of camp, he said.

One-way email

Tanya Hummels never sent her three children care packages or letters while they were at Camp Tecumseh, in Brookston, Indiana, but she regularly emailed them. Many camps encourage letter-writing by parents but do allow them to send emails, which are printed out

Hummels’ daughter Abby never objected to leaving her phone at home, but did insist that her mom bring it on pickup day so she could add hew new friends’ contact information.

Abby and her camp friends have arranged several reunions and visits outside of camp. The friendships would not be as close if it weren’t for technology, said Abby, who started going to sleepaway at age 8 and is now 17.

After booking her week at Camp Fitch, 14-year-old Eleanor Ziance of Bexley, Ohio, shared the information on her social media channels to see who would be there at the same time. That laid the foundation for new relationships and made her look forward to camp even more, she said.

Poese, Fitch’s director, said that ability to connect to fellow campers year-round solidifies friendships and the connection to camp, which is good for kids and camps.

“We see a lot of kids communicating through Instagram and other platforms,” he said.

“It definitely intensifies the experience.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

experiment with the platform.

The platform also is said to be appealing to the millennial market which is the majority SOCIAL MEDIA giant Face- of people present and active in book has been encouraging social media. their users to go on live often as One example of successful heavy marketing and advertis- marketing done through Faceing has been observed recently book Live is General Motors since it was released in April went live at the 2016 Consumer 2016.

Electronics show and rolled out Currently there are over 1.8 the Chevy Bolt EV. billion Facebook users all over With Facebook live, a certain the world and this massive au- marketing campaign expands dience is a great playing field its target audience as it goes out for marketing, advertising and from the traditional methods of elevating a new way of commu- advertising such as television nicating to the consumer mar- and print. ket.

Currently Facebook live Facebook live is is a new mechaproving itself to nism launched be taking comby the company The platform munication to for users to view also is the next level as ads once they said to be news agents and use the feature appealing to sites are adaptthus further inthe millennial ing the platform creasing sales. It market which to bring informais also thought as is the majority tion in real time. a new way for the of people From Trump’s company to keep present and inauguration to their users. active in the Miss UniHere’s how it social media. verse prelimiworks: when a naries, Facebook user goes live on live provides real Facebook, his or time documenher friends will tation thus furget a special notification and ther redefining the way people everyone who engaged in the get their news wherever they live stream will get to see ads are and whatever they are dowhich creates an increase in ing. marketing.

Since its release Facebook’s According to eMarketer fourth quarter earnings peaked Debra Aho Williamson, for now at $3.56 Billion with a signifithe idea of ads going on live cant increase from $1.56 Billion is challenging however Face- from the previous quarter and book live will turn out to be a its monthly user base increased great avenue for marketers to to 17 percent. ■

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

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Tel: (1) 647-521-5155

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

35

Travel ARMM tourism officer to push ‘hazard tourism’ in Maguindanao

BY LILIAN C. MELLEJOR Philippines News Agency DAVAO CITY — The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is home to beautiful natural wonders but two areas of major security incidents have been surprisingly attracting visitors – the sites of the 2009 Ampatuan Massacre and the 2015 Mamasapano attack.

ARMM Tourism Secretary Ayesha Mangudadatu-Dilangalen said these sites of two notorious security incidents are giving them the idea of hosting “hazard tourism” by turning war zones into tourism destinations.

Dilangalen said they were surprised that people continue to visit and take photos of the Ampatuan or Maguindanao massacre and the Mamasapano sites.

She said the tourism plan would include putting up a tourism center to host visitors.

Since the Maguindanao massacre happened in Ampatuan town on November 23, 2009 at the height of the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the 2010 elections, the area has been frequently visited by people from other provinces and cities.

The site is where the mass graves of at least 34 journalists who died in the mas-

sacre.

On the other hand, Tukanalipao in Mamasapano, Maguindanao was the site where 44 members of the police Special Action Force carrying out a police operation code named “Oplan Exodus”, were killed on January 25, 2015.

Aside from the two areas, Dilangalen said they are also proposing to the Moro Islamic Liberation front (MILF) and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) to open their camps for tour packages. “People are curious and wanted to see these camps,” she said.

“Pero bigyan natin sila muna ng chance (But let’s give them the chance first),” Dilangalen said, adding that this is just a proposal initially offered to the two organizations to give the families of the MILF and MNLF other forms of livelihood.

Dilangalen said they would want the MILF or MNLF to take care of the visitors when they are inside the camps.

When asked about the response of the two organizations on the proposal, Dilangalen said they were receptive. They are also hoping the cooperation of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the military.

“Hindi lang puro offensive (It should not only be about offensive),” she said in an interview after Monday’s Kapehan Sa Dabaw at SM Davao Annex.

PNA

According to her, the PNP and military’s role in this project is to ensure overall security of all sites.

Overall, Dilangalen said ARMM is receiving more visitors year-on year. In 2016, ARMM recorded about three million visitors but the biggest chunk of the arrivals was recorded in Tawi-tawi.

Dilangalen said Tawi-tawi’s top destination is the Panampangan Island, which is famous for its powdery sand beach.

Tawi-tawi is also known for its rich seafood and for being the seaweeds industry capital in the country.

Next month, ARMM is launching the Inaul Festival. Inaul is a Maguindanaon word which means “weaved”. It is

a known fabric manually and meticulously woven mostly by Maguindanon women weavers in Mindanao.

The Inaul Festival is slated from February 1 to 15.

Datu Paul Ampatuan, provincial planning officer of Maguindanao and Inaul Festival Director, said Inaul is a textile of Maguindanao that the provincial government is trying to popularize and make as its icon.

Inaul was used during the Mindanao tapestry event for the Miss Universe candidates during their Davao segment recently.

Ampatuan said the demand for Inaul fabric is increasing locally and internationally. ■

it’s 12 ounces, it doesn’t fit as part of the healthy balanced diet. It’s too much,”

says Dombrow. ■

Love your... nounced that eating 75 ml (5 tbsp) of ground (milled) whole flaxseed per day over three meals helps reduce cholesterol. For the most nutritional benefit, it should be ground.

Other healthy seeds include hemp hearts, pumpkin seeds and quinoa, all grown in Canada.

Another way to boost intake of omega3s is to eat oily fish at least twice a week, says Reza. The omega-3 fats in salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel can reduce inflammation, triglycerides and blood clotting, all leading to better heart health. Both coasts of the country are known for their seafood.

Whole grains provide fibre, protein and B vitamins. Check ingredients on bread to ensure a whole grain is listed first or second and compare nutrition facts tables for the best per cent daily ❰❰ 28

value.

Both dietitians advise avoiding sodium and added sugars.

“Sugar-sweetened beverages are the No. 1 thing we want people to avoid and that includes 100 per cent fruit juice,” says Dombrow.

While ultra-processed deli meats and frozen dinners and pizzas should be nixed, it’s OK to eat minimally processed foods such as bagged salad, cutup squash, flour, brown rice, oil, milk, cheese and dried herbs.

“We don’t want to take away the ease.

We know people don’t have time. Where you can use these types of things to help you eat healthier it makes sense,” says Dombrow.

And pay attention to portion size.

“It’s one thing for us to eat whole foods. It’s another thing to understand what a portion is. If you have a steak and

www.canadianinquirer.net

36

Travel

PAL adds Davao, Puerto Princesa, Busuanga flights from Clark PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY CLARK, PAMPANGA — The Philippine Airlines (PAL) will be adding three new domestic routes as the nation’s flag carrier opened its first Cebu flight on Monday out of Clark International Airport (CRK).

Ismael Augusto Gozon, PAL senior vice president for airline operations, during the send-off ceremony held Monday at the CRK Domestic Passenger Terminal before the Clark-Cebu inaugural flight, said that PAL will add three new routes, namely Davao, Puerto Princesa and Busuanga that will fly out of Clark.

“PAL is offering Clark to Davao on February 1, and Puerto Princesa and Busuanga service on March 26,” Gozon said as he expressed optimism that PAL’s operations will continue to grow in the coming months.

PAL’s flight PR-837 via ClarkCebu took off at 7 a.m. on Monday with 118 passengers on board, the third operations of the nation’s flag carrier since launching the daily Caticlan route on December 16, 2016 and international flights to Incheon in South Korea on January 1 this year.

The Clark-Cebu plane departs from Clark at 7 a.m. every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

The Davao domestic route at Clark will start on February 1 with thrice weekly flights. The Davao route is every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday that will

depart at 10:50 a.m. from Clark Airport.

“PAL’s flight is a new route that is part of our ongoing expansion outside Manila and we will continue to develop new routes for Clark as well as a secondary hub of operations in Luzon,” Gozon said.

Also on hand during the send-off ceremonies before the Clark-Cebu inaugural flight is OIC president and CEO Alexander Cauguiran of the staterun Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC).

The CIAC chief said PAL’s operation at Clark is essential in easing the issue of decongestion in Metro Manila, particularly the Ninoy Aquino International Airport which already reached passenger capacity of 37 million last year.

“Clark Airport offers convenience and comfort to passengers especially those coming from the provinces of the northern and Central Luzon,” Cauiguiran said.

“President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive is to develop Clark — the premier airport of the North,” Cauguiran added, citing CIAC’s vision that is aligned with Department of Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade’s efforts to develop the Clark International Airport with the support of private proponent initiatives.

Other flagship projects the Duterte administration is set to pursue include a railway system from Manila to Clark, the Subic-Clark railway, and the Clark Green City. ■

GEORGE PARRILLA / FLICKR

FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

What the devil? Spaniards clang bells in religious festival

BY DANIEL OCHOA DE OLZA The Associated Press ALMONACID DEL MARQUESADO, Spain — For two days in a tiny Spanish village, the devil ceases to be enemy No. 1 for a few devout Catholics.

Since medieval times, the 400 residents of Almonacid del Marquesado have celebrated the “Endiablada” (Brotherhood of the Devils) festival each Feb. 2-3.

Members of the town’s allmale religious brotherhood dress up in what they consider devil-type characters, donning colorful jumpsuits and red miter hats. Almost every male in the village, from boys up to the elderly, then take part in processions through the twisting village streets.

They each carry heavy copper cowbells around their waist, which they clang incessantly, and some run and jump to make as much noise as possible. Each man in the brotherhood also has his own wooden staff that they have inherited or carved, some of which include images of a devil.

The Feb. 2 procession, the “Candelaria,” represents the Virgin Mary presenting the baby Jesus to authorities in the temple 40 days after Christmas.

The protocol is believed to have

EMILIANO GARCÍA-PAGE SÁNCHEZ / FLICKR

caused her some embarrassment, and the bell-clanging is thought to be a way of diverting the public’s attention. On this day, the brotherhood also visits the local cemetery to pay respects to its members who have passed away that year.

Starting in the morning, the brotherhood parades to the town’s church, where the clamour of the bells is amplified to a deafening din inside its old stone walls.

Aniceto Rodrigo, 80, presides over the celebrations. He’s the Diablo Mayor, or “great devil,” because he’s the person who has the longest streak of participating in the celebrations without missing a single year.

Although the processions are similar, the two holidays have different origins.

The Feb. 3 procession commemorates the day of Saint Blas. According to a local legend, town shepherds found a statue of the saint and then won a competition with a nearby town to keep the effigy, ringing the bells of their animals in celebration. This bit of lore is said to have inspired the walking sticks the men carry, harking back to shepherds’ crooks.

While some of the village’s women join the spectators who have come from other towns to enjoy the parades, others are busy cooking traditional “rosquillas” treats. ■

NY Times Travel Show features 3 major tourist destinations in PHL PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Three major Philippine tourist spots were featured at the Philippine booth during the New York Times Travel Show held at Jacob Javits Convention Center from January 27 to 29, the Department of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday.

Boracay (#1), Palawan (#2), and Cebu (#5) were cited by Condé Nast’s Traveler’s 2016 Reader’s Choice Awards as some of the world’s best. www.canadianinquirer.net

Anchor destinations in the Philippines, as well as several diving spots, such as Palawan, Bohol, and Boracay were highlighted during the travel show.

The DFA statement said several guests inquired about Palawan because of its reputation as a home to an international island resort and because of other natural attractions such as the Puerto Princesa Underground River.

The New York Times Travel Show is a three-day event featuring nearly 500 exhibitors representing over 150 countries.

The Travel Show is one of

New York’s most popular attractions during the winter season. It is currently the largest travel trade and consumer show in North America drawing visitors from all over the world.

It has notably grown in attendance within the past few years, as thousands of guests flock to the Javits Center to learn more about global destinations as well as new opportunities in the travel industry.

The event promotes travel to domestic and international hot spots, popular travel sites and off-grid destinations. ■

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2017

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Food Power bowl recipes that pack a hearty punch include many Canadian ingredients

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press ZANNAT REZA wants to shine the spotlight on heart-healthy ingredients made and grown in Canada for Heart Month and all year long.

The registered dietitian has developed recipes for themed power bowls each featuring foods from different areas of the country.

“What I like is that they’re customizable so these are just some suggestions,” says Reza, who promotes health and wellness through her thrive360 company. “Say you’ve got another leafy green instead of bok choy, well, feel free to put that in.”

As a general rule, fill half the power bowl with whatever vegetables you may have — and it’s a great way to use up leftovers, she notes.

Seasonal items will be less expensive. At this time of year choose cabbage, cauliflower, sweet potatoes and root vegetables like carrots and parsnips.

“Sometimes potatoes get a bad rap, but they’re actually very high in vitamin C and potassium, which are hearthealthy nutrients,” says Reza.

“You can support P.E.I. potatoes by roasting those up as well.”

One-quarter of the bowl should be a lean protein and the remaining one-quarter whole grains. If you’re supporting Canadian whole grains that are heart healthy, then barley, oats and wild rice are good ideas.

To save time during the week, roast a couple of trays of vegetables on the weekend. Reza also likes to cook a pot of barley or lentils in water or broth. She portions them out and freezes them for later use. They can be kept in the freezer for about a month.

“With lentils you don’t need to soak them, which makes them extra special when it comes to that pulse legume

carrots and purple cabbage.

• 500 ml (2 cups) sliced purple cabbage • 500 ml (2 cups) steamed or blanched bok choy • 500 ml (2 cups) carrot ribbons (or thinly sliced) • 500 ml (2 cups) cooked wild rice or quinoa • 4 cooked salmon fillets (each about the size of your palm) or substitute canned salmon (1/2 can per bowl)

family, but also there’s the canned variety and they’re just as good. Just give them a good rinse, drain them and off you go, adding some really great protein and fibre and other heart-healthy components to your food,”she says.

Here are recipes for three themed power bowls: The 150 power bowl

In honour of Canada’s 150th, this power bowl is jam-packed with a ton of flavour and Canadian foods from coast to coast.

Even the dressing features the best of Canada with maple syrup, flaxseed, mustard (Canada is the largest exporter of mustard seed) and apple cider vinegar.

You can substitute any oily fish for the sardines, such as trout, Arctic char or salmon.

Roasted Winter Vegetables • 1.5 l (6 cups) winter vegetables cut into 1-cm (1/2-inch) chunks (squash, beets, parsnips, mushrooms) • 30 ml (2 tbsp) canola oil • Pinch of salt • 500 ml (2 cups) green lentils, cooked (or rinsed and well-

drained canned) • 500 ml (2 cups) cooked barley • 4 cans (each 125 g) sardines (preferably canned in water) Maple Mustard Dressing • 50 ml (1/4 cup) canola oil • 30 ml (2 tbsp) maple syrup • 30 ml (2 tbsp) apple cider vinegar • 30 ml (2 tbsp) ground flaxseed • 15 ml (1 tbsp) Dijon mustard • 2 ml (1/2 tsp) turmeric • 1 ml (1/4 tsp) salt • 1 ml (1/4 tsp) black pepper Preheat oven to 200 C (400 F). Toss vegetables with canola oil and salt. Roast for 30 minutes until tender.

In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients.

To assemble bowls, divide vegetables, lentils, barley and sardines equally among four bowls. Drizzle with dressing.

Makes 4 bowls.

West Coast bowl

Salmon is a wonderful way to celebrate the West Coast. This Asian-influenced bowl also features wild rice, baby bok choy,

Asian Dressing • 50 ml (1/4 cup) low-sodium soy sauce • 45 ml (3 tbsp) lime juice • 30 ml (2 tbsp) canola oil • 30 ml (2 tbsp) ground flaxseed • 30 ml (2 tbsp) finely chopped green onion • 30 ml (2 tbsp) minced ginger • 15 ml (1 tbsp) minced garlic • 15 ml (1 tbsp) rice vinegar • 15 ml (1 tbsp) brown sugar • 5 ml (1 tsp) sesame oil • Pinch of pepper flakes (optional) Prep vegetables as needed.

In a small bowl, mix dressing ingredients.

To assemble bowls, divide cabbage, bok choy, carrots, wild rice and salmon equally among four bowls. Drizzle with dressing.

Makes 4 bowls.

Prairie power bowl

This bowl showcases a lime, coconut-scented barley and lentil mix. These Prairie-grown foods are paired with roasted cauliflower and sweet potato and rounded out with a flaxseed dressing.

Lentil-Barley Mix This has been adapted with permission from Lentils.ca.

• 15 ml (1 tbsp) canola oil • 1 medium onion, finely diced • 15 ml (1 tbsp) minced fresh ginger • 500 ml (2 cups) vegetable stock • 1 can (398 ml/14 oz) reduced-

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fat coconut milk • 175 ml (3/4 cup) green lentils • 175 ml (3/4 cup) pearl barley, rinsed and drained • Half lime (zest and juice) • 30 ml (2 tbsp) chopped fresh cilantro (save some for garnish) • 75 ml (1/3 cup) toasted unsweetened coconut flakes (save some for garnish) • 2 ml (1/2 tsp) salt • 2 ml (1/2 tsp) black pepper In a medium pot, heat oil.

Add onion and ginger and saute for 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir in stock and coconut milk.

Add lentils and barley, stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes or until lentils and barley are tender. Stir every few minutes.

Add lime juice and zest. Stir in cilantro, coconut flakes and season with salt and ground black pepper.

Makes 1.5 l (6 cups).

Roasted Winter Vegetables • 750 ml (3 cups) cauliflower florets • 750 ml (3 cups) sweet potato (cut in 1-cm/1/2-inch cubes) • 45 ml (3 tbsp) canola oil • Pinch of salt Lime Cilantro Dressing • 50 ml (1/4 cup) canola oil • 30 ml (2 tbsp) flaxseed • 1 lime (zest and juice) • 15 ml (1 tbsp) chopped fresh cilantro • 5 ml (1 tsp) Dijon mustard • 5 ml (1 tsp) honey • 1 ml (1/4 tsp) salt Preheat oven to 200 C (400 F). Toss vegetables with canola oil. Roast for 30 minutes until tender.

In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients.

To assemble bowls, divide lentil-barley mix and vegetables equally among four bowls.

Drizzle with dressing.

Makes 4 bowls.

Source:

Registered dietitian Zannat Reza, thrive360.

Food

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FEBRUARY 10, 2017

FRIDAY

Tuscan flavours of olives and beans make this salad a treat

BY MELISSA D’ARABIAN The Associated Press NEWS FLASH: Kale is still in.

It’s still one of the nutritional highlights in my crisper drawer, and winter is its peak season, which means it’s most abundant, healthy and cheap right now.

Kale, part of the same family as broccoli, is loaded with vitamins (particularly A, C and K) as well as smaller quantities of protein, fiber and an impressive array of minerals. Plus, a cup of kale has under 35 calories, and a bunch of organic kale will set you back probably a little over a dollar right now. So, you’re going to need some updated kale recipes to get your through the winter.

The two varieties most available in the supermarkets are curly kale and the darker flatleaved version that is called Tuscan, lacinato or dinosaur kale. Tuscan kale is thicker and heartier than the curly variety, so it holds up nicely in sautees.

Both kale varieties are slightly bitter in flavour and do well to be “massaged” in acid, like lemon juice, which simultaneously tames the bitterness and gently breaks down the kale cells, making the leaf more tender in raw or lightly-cooked applications.

Today’s recipe is a saute starring Tuscan kale. I like to think of it as a warm salad with leaves made slightly more tender by a lemon juice massage and a quick saute. The main flavours are perfectly Mediterranean: anchovy paste and olives for saltiness (you can cut the quantities down if you are watching sodium), lemon zest for brightness, and garlic, which is a heart-healthy staple of the region.

Small grape tomatoes add sweetness and acid, while a handful of black beans boost the already-fiber-rich kale, turning this into a side dish that means you really can serve way less meat for the main. Or, double the recipe and skip the meat altogether, which makes the

dish extra healthy and walletfriendly.

Tuscan kale with olives and beans

Start to finish: 15 minutes Servings: 4

• 1 bunch Tuscan, or lacinato kale, removed from thick stem, about 12 large leaves • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, plus extra lemon juice for serving, if desired • 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil • 1 clove garlic, minced

• 2 teaspoons anchovy paste • 2 teaspoons lemon zest • pinch red pepper flakes (optional) • 2 tablespoons chopped or sliced olives • 1/2 cup grape tomatoes, halved • 1/2 cup cooked white beans, drained and rinsed if canned • 2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese, for serving • lemon wedges, for serving (optional) Thoroughly wash the kale leaves (no need to dry), and

slice into strips. Place in a medium bowl and pour lemon juice on top of the leaves. Use your hands to massage the lemon juice into the leaves, coating well. Let sit for a few minutes while you prepare the rest of the ingredients. Heat large skillet over medium heat.

In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, garlic, anchovy paste, lemon zest and red pepper flakes. Scrape the oil mixture into the pan and saute until fragrant, stirring with a wooden spoon, about 1 minute. Add the olives and kale leaves, stir and then cover with a lid and allow to steam for 2 minutes. Uncover and stir in the tomato halves and beans. Turn off the heat and top with parmesan cheese.

Serve with lemon wedges for squeezing.

Nutrition information per serving: 105 calories; 39 calories from fat; 4 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 3 mg cholesterol; 269 mg sodium; 12 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 5 g protein.

COOKING ON DEADLINE:

Cheesy White and Green Spinach Lasagna

BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press IN THE quest for Big Crowd Food, lasagna reigns supreme.

And at this time of year, you may find yourself entertaining a big crowd for a football game party, for the Oscars or another awards show, or just because it’s cold out and it’s nice to put together a cozy gathering.

This lasagna is rich and creamy, absent the tomato sauce that anchors many lasagnas, filled with sauteed spinach folded into fluffy ricotta and a very simple bechamel sauce, rich with melty cheeses.

The nutmeg is optional — a little can add a nice flavour, but too much can overpower.

Cheesy white and green spinach lasagna

Serves 10 to 12 Start to finish: 2 hours

Spinach-Basil-Ricotta Filling • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter • 1/2 cup minced shallots • 1 tablespoon minced garlic • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste • 2 pounds baby spinach leaves, roughly chopped • 2 pounds ricotta, preferably fresh • 2 large eggs • 1 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese, plus 1/3 cup for sprinkling the top • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil leaves Bechamel-Cheese Sauce • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour • 4 cups (1 quart) whole milk • Pinch ground nutmeg (optional) • 1 pound fresh mozzarella, shredded • 8 ounces shredded Monterey Jack cheese

• 1 (8 ounce) package no-boil lasagna noodles (containing 12 noodles) Preheat the oven to 375 F. Make the Spinach-Basil-Ricotta Filling: Heat the tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until melted. Add the shallots and garlic, season with salt and pepper and saute for 2 minutes until tender. Add the spinach in batches and saute, adding more spinach as each batch wilts down, about 6 minutes in all, until all of the spinach is added and wilted. Adjust the seasoning, transfer to a strainer over a bowl, press down with a spoon to release excess liquid, and set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl combine the ricotta, eggs, 1 cup Parmesan, and the basil. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.

Make the Bechamel-Cheese Sauce: Heat the 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan www.canadianinquirer.net

over medium heat until melted.

Whisk in the flour until the mixture turns a light golden colour, about 3 minutes. While whisking constantly, slowly pour in the milk. Continue to cook and whisk until the mixture thickens and bubbles, about 4 minutes, adding the nutmeg, if using. Whisk in the mozzarella and Monterey Jack cheeses until they are melted, and season with salt and pepper.

If the spinach still seems wet, give it a squeeze with your hands.

Stir the drained spinach into the reserved ricotta mixture.

Lay out all of the lasagna noodles on a clean counter top.

Spread the spinach-ricotta filling evenly over all of the noodles, so that each is topped with about a 1/2-inch-thick layer of the spinach-ricotta mixture.

Pour a small amount of Bechamel Sauce into the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch pan and spread it out. Place four ricotta-

covered noodles in the bottom of the pan to cover it in a single layer. Drizzle 1/3 of the white sauce over the noodles. Place another layer of the ricottacovered noodles over the top, drizzle with another third of the sauce, and then repeat the layers once more. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake for about 40 minutes until the top is golden and the lasagna is bubbling. If you want a more browned top, run it under the broiler for 1 or 2 minutes, watching it carefully.

Let the lasagna rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes before cutting into squares and serving warm.

Nutrition information per serving: 674 calories; 383 calories from fat; 43 g fat (25 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 174 mg cholesterol; 871 mg sodium; 35 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 38 g protein.

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FRIDAY