Philippine Canadian Inquirer #260

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER MARCH 17, 2017

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VOL. 3 NO. 260

YASAY REPLACEMENT

Foreign Undersecretary Enrique Manalo replaces Perfecto Yasay whose appointment as foreign secretary was rejected by the Commission on Appointments.

GRIG MONTEGRANDE / PDI

Solon calls destabilization plot crazy

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BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer

name anyone involved in the alleged destabilization plot.

“Philippines can’t own Benham Rise” — China

‘Bogeyman’

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THE MINING industry funding a destabilization plot against the Duterte administration?

“That’s crazy!” Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin said, referring to President Duterte’s claim in a news conference on Monday that mining companies were funding efforts to oust him.

Mr. Duterte did not offer evidence or

Villarin said it was unlikely mining companies wanted Mr. Duterte ousted, as he had supporters from the industry, including his own finance secretary, Carlos Dominguez.

Villarin scored the President for yet again “raising this bogeyman,” referring

Canadian defence spending among lowest in NATO despite small increase last year ❱❱ PAGE 16

❱❱ PAGE 6 Solon calls

Alleged killer to testify in court vs. Duterte

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MARCH 17, 2017

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

Churchman puts drug war into focus Redemptorist brother trawls city streets at night to document in photographs the nameless dead in the government’s relentless crackdown on narcotics

BY JULIE M. AURELIO Philippine Daily Inquirer

the ecumenical group Rise Up for Life and for Rights to the communist-led National Democratic Front of the Philippines before the third round of peace talks between the government and the NDFP in Rome.

Some of his work have been included in a photo exhibit on extrajudicial killings, while others will be used in a video being produced as part of an awareness drive on human rights.

“Brother Jun,” as he is known

of a man gunned down in a slum area in Tondo, Manila, that night, just before 10 p.m.

Having worked in disaster A RELIGIOUS brother by day, a management for a nongovern“ghoul” by night. ment organization during the That might well describe 2006 mudslide in Southern Ciriaco “Jun” Santiago III Leyte province, Santiago is no who spends his days serving stranger to death and corpses. in church and his nights docuSo the grisly sight of the dead menting drug-related killings man did not disturb him as through his camera. much as the pained cries of his “It’s not just my personal anguished family. apostolate,” said Santiago, 46, “At first, no one was crying. a RedemptorBut once the poist brother who licemen left the attends to his crime scene, the duties at the Naweeping began. tional Shrine of But once the policemen left the crime I could not take Our Mother of scene, the weeping began. I could a photo of them, Perpetual Help not take a photo of them, but could but could only in Baclaran, only listen to their story. listen to their Parañaque City, story,” he said. before rushing According to off to the Manila the neighbors, Police District (MPD) press of- to fellow photographers on several men who introduced fice before 9 p.m. “When I click the police beat, bought his themselves as police arrived my camera, it’s not just me, but first Nikon camera for about in the community and saw the all my Redemptorist brothers P70,000 in 2006. He now uses victim, known to the residents behind the lens.” a Canon that a priest had gifted only as Michael, and asked for The Paombong, Bulacan, him. his name. He was their target, native has been documenting one officer said, since his name crimes scenes all over Metro Nightly jaunts began with “M.” Manila for four months now, Santiago’s nightly jaunts beDespite the man’s protestataking compelling photos of gan on Dec. 1, 2016, after he tions of innocence—”I’m just people killed in the govern- volunteered, initially for two a street sweeper,” he said—the ment’s antinarcotics campaign months, to document the kill- assailants shot him dead and known as Oplan Tokhang. ings linked to the Duterte ad- fled.

Santiago’s photographs of the ministration’s antidrug cambloody war were submitted by paign. His first photo was that ❱❱ PAGE 9 Churchman puts

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Radar repairs done; NAIA operations back to normal

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer FLIGHT OPERATIONS at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) have returned to normal after the completion of maintenance work which shut down for six days the Tagaytay aviation radar, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (Caap).

At 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, the CAAP lifted the notice to airmen (notam BO822/17) it issued earlier about the scheduled corrective maintenance of the Tagaytay monopulse secondary surveillance radar (MSSR) from March 6 to 11.

The MSSR is a radar system used in air traffic control to detect and measure an aircraft’s position. It interacts with an aircraft’s radar transponder to determine the plane’s identity, altitude and position.

With the lifting of the notam, Naia is back to normal operations with 40 flights per hour instead of the previous 32.

Several airlines cancelled hundreds of domestic flights last week to give way to the maintenance work.

Caap Deputy Director Gen-

eral Manuel Antonio Tamayo on Sunday said they were doing their best to provide safe and convenient air travel for all passengers.

The radar repair covered the overhauling of its antenna and the replacement of its drive motor and rotary joint. The Tagaytay radar is one of three being used by the CAAP in guiding flights approaching Naia. The two other radars are in Laoag and Cebu City.

Tamayo said the repair was necessary for its integration with the satellite-based Communications, Navigation, Surveillance/Air Traffic Management systems which let aircraft operators meet their planned departure and arrival schedules and stick to their preferred flight profiles without compromising safety.

The P9-billion facility, made possible with the help of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, is expected to be turned over by main contractor Sumitomo-Thales JV to Caap management by July.

The facility can monitor 80 percent of the Manila Flight Information Region assigned to the Philippines by the International Civil Aviation Organization, Caap said.

Alleged killer to testify in court vs. Duterte

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A retired police officer who linked the Philippine president, when he was mayor of a southern city, to hundreds of extrajudicial killings in a local anti-drug crackdown said Thursday he’s ready to testify in domestic and international courts and help authorities gather evidence of the slayings he says he and other assassins carried out.

Arturo Lascanas told The Associated Press in an interview that the campaign he and others allegedly conducted on orders of then Davao City

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was “95 per cent” similar to the bloody anti-drug crackdown currently unfolding across the Philippines under Duterte, now president.

The present nationwide crackdown, which has left thousands of mostly poor drug suspects dead, has alarmed the United States and other Western governments and U.N. human rights officials. U.S.-based Human Rights Watch has said Lascanas’ allegations linking Duterte to past killings heighten “the urgent need” for an independent U.N. investigation.

Lascanas, 56, linked Duterte to the Davao killings in testimony at a nationally televised

PNA PHOTO BY AVITO C. DALAN

Senate inquiry this week. Last year, Lascanas, then still an acwww.canadianinquirer.net

tive police officer, denied under oath any knowledge of or in-

volvement in the Davao killings in an earlier Senate inquiry. He told the Senate on Monday that he lied last year because he was afraid for his family. Senators, including some Duterte allies, expressed doubts about his new allegations amid his turnaround.

Philippine presidents are accorded immunity from lawsuits, but critics say the claims made by Lascanas could be used in an impeachment complaint or when he steps down from office. An opposition senator, now jailed over drug charges she says are politically motivated, has challenged Duterte’s ❱❱ PAGE 7 Alleged killer

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MARCH 17, 2017

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FRIDAY

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FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

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Philippine News

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

“Philippines can’t own Benham Rise” — China

BY PHOEBE BALUBAR Philippine Canadian Inquirer PHILIPPINE OFFICIALS had asked China to explain the presence of a Chinese vessel cruising the waters of Benham Rise, a territory awarded and recognized by the United Nations as part of the Philippines’ national territory.

Beijing responded saying that it was only exercising its right of free navigation and that the Philippines cannot claim Benham Rise despite being included in the country’s 200-nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Benham Rise, an undersea region that has been estimated to

be the size of Luzon, Samar and Leyte combined, was awarded to the Philippines by the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in 2012. “. . . it does not mean that the Philippines can take it as its own territory,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a recent statement.

China insisted that the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea states that “a coastal state’s rights over the continental shelf does not affect the legal status of the superjacent waters or of the air space above those waters. They also do not affect foreign ships’ freedom of navigation in the coastal state’s EEZ and on the high seas, nor

their innocent passage through the coastal state’s territorial sea as supported by international law.”

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang noted that even though the UN Commission had approved the Philippines’ submission to claim Benham Rise as part of its extended continental shelf in 2009, this does not mean that it is part of the Philippines’ national territory.

He also confirmed that there were Chinese vessels that sailed across the waters northeast of Luzon for marine research last year.

“The remarks of some individuals from the Philippines are not consistent with the

39 convicts to receive pardon Tuesday night — DOJ PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

liberty), relatively bigger than what our prison facilities can accomodate and the prompt release of deserving prisoners for parole, pardon, and the end of sentence with correct computations of good conduct and allowances,” DOJ said in a statement.

The DOJ indicated that those discharged on parole “shall be automatically released from prison upon the award of the papers to them.”

for recommitment in prison upon the recommendation of PPA and approval of the BPP (Board of Pardons and PaMANILA — Some 39 convicts role).” are set to receive certificate of Executive clemency is a conditional and commutation power of the President to parpardons in line with President don any prisoner, provided for Rodrigo Duterte’s order grantunder Article VII, Section 19 of ing executive clemency to 127 the Constitution and pertains convicts. to reprieve, absolute or condiDepartment of Justice (DOJ) tional pardon with or without Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II parole conditions and commuwill award the 39 prisoners the tation of sentence. discharge on paParole on the role papers on other hand is Tuesday night the conditional held at the DOJ release of a prismain office in oner from a corManila.

However, the DOJ warned that any rectional instiThe list of the violation of the parole conditions tution after he 39 parolees was “shall be a ground for recommitment or she has served released as a rein prison upon the recommendation the minimum of sult of the March of PPA and approval of the BPP his or her sen9 meeting held (Board of Pardons and Parole).” tence. by the Board of Earlier, AguPardons and Pairre said that no role (BPP) which high profile inis chaired by mate is among Aguirre. the said list of The DOJ Secretary also said While out on parole, the pa- inmates, noting that most of that he made the recommenda- rolees will be placed under the them are elderly and sick intions for presidential pardon supervision of the DOJ’s Parole mates from the New Bilibid upon endorsement by the BPP and Probation Administration Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa after reviewing the eligibility of (PPA) until they reached the City, the Correctional Instithe inmates in the list. maximum period of their pris- tute for Women in Mandaluy“This is in line with the on sentences. ong City and other penal coloPresident’s pronouncement However, the DOJ warned nies operated by the Bureau of to decongest the high volume that any violation of the parole of PDLs (persons deprived of conditions “shall be a ground ❱❱ PAGE 10 39 convicts www.canadianinquirer.net

facts,” Geng said in a press briefing last Friday.

“It is hoped that individuals of the Philippines will stop playing up the false information and do more to promote mutual trust,” he added.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana had issued a directive to the Philippine Navy to take action in driving away any Chinese vessels seen in the territory. He also said that he finds China’s latest move “very worrying”.

Experts, such as International Law Professor, Julian Ku of Hofstra University said that the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s response to the issue is confusing and troubling.

In a statement on Twitter,

he said, “Actually, that’s what it means. UNCLOS Art. 76(8) makes those [Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf ] recommendations ‘final and binding’ if [the Philippines] accepts (it did)”.

“Paragraph 1, Article 77 of the UNCLOS declares that a state has sovereign rights over its continental shelf for the purpose of “exploring it and exploiting its natural resources.”

“The rights referred to in paragraph 1 are exclusive in the sense that if the coastal state does not explore the continental shelf or exploit its natural resources, no one may undertake these activities without the express consent of the coastal state,” the UNCLOS asserts.

Solon calls... to the alleged destabilization plot.

“His press conference (on Monday night) lacked coherence. He was making those pronouncements without basis,” Villarin said.

He said Mr. Duterte had a propensity to distract his audience instead of tackling real concerns. For example, he said, Mr. Duterte regaled them with stories such as receiving a Mercedes-Benz from a girlfriend at his rambling press briefing at Malacañang.

The opposition lawmaker said Mr. Duterte was using the “strongman argument.”

“The President usually uses a strongman argument when confronted with real issues. Right now, he talks about a destabilization plot and the real issue is … the Commission on Appointments won’t confirm his (Environment) Secretary Gina Lopez.

❰❰ 1

That is a very clear strongman language,” Villarin said.

UN investigation

Villarin added that he was in communication with Agnes Callamard, the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, who remained interested in coming to the Philippines to investigate the thousands of deaths under Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs.

Villarin said details of Callamard’s visit were being worked out.

More than 8,000 drug suspects have been killed by police and unknown assailants since Mr. Duterte launched the crackdown after taking office in June last year.

“These are very serious crimes and, in fact, we have to hold accountable President Duterte. We cannot set aside this issue,” Villarin said.

AKBAYAN REPRESENTATIVE TOM VILLARIN / FACEBOOK

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

Alleged killer... immunity in a landmark case before the Supreme Court.

Duterte has denied condoning unlawful killings, but has repeatedly threatened drug lords and dealers with death in public speeches.

“There is no destroying if there is no killing,” Duterte said in a speech in Davao City late Thursday, adding that he only ordered law enforcers to shoot back when threatened and that he is ready to go to jail for his men.

Lascanas said he is ready to testify in an international investigation or in a local court against Duterte and others allegedly involved in the killings in Davao, where he estimates about 300 drug suspects were killed by his group alone over more than two decades, starting when Duterte became mayor in the late 1980s.

A few years after his group of police officers, former communist rebels and other gunmen launched the killings in Davao, about nine other similar bands of assassins, collectively known as the “Davao Death Squads,” were formed in many districts of the city, considerably inflating the death toll, he said.

“My testimony is very incriminating to me,” said Lascanas, who added that he is ready to be convicted or even lose his life for involvement in the killings of about 150 of the 300 people gunned down by his group of about 50 hit men.

“It will have no relevance if I will not expose this to the whole world and it won’t get acted upon so ... this will no longer happen again to the next generations of police and local government units,” he said.

Lascanas said the government Ombudsman, who prosecutes government officials accused of corruption and other crimes, has asked him to submit an affidavit of his allegations against Duterte.

He and his lawyers are preparing the statement, which could be submitted as early as Friday, he said.

Lascanas said he could lead investigators to places in a quarry in Davao where he and his group buried some of their victims. He said some officials might try to dig up the bones to protect Duterte, but that he and a few other killers were the only ones who knew some of the burial sites in the vast area.

The large monthly allowances and cash rewards given to him and other gunmen, allegedly from Davao government funds under Duterte’s control as a mayor, could be investigated in relation to the killings, he said.

Lascanas said at least two other gunmen involved in the killings might be convinced to publicly back up his allegations and those of another self-confessed killer, Edgar Matobato, who was the first to come out in the open last year and accuse Duterte of being linked to the Davao deaths.

He said the Davao City crackdown initially targeted drug suspects and ❰❰ 3

criminals, but the targets later included Duterte’s political opponents and critics, including two hard-hitting radio

commentators. As an insider who was involved in the killings and saw how the Davao crackdown spun out of control,

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Lascanas warned that a disaster awaits the country if the current killings are not stopped.

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Philippine News

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MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Making growth inclusive, innovationled for women in ASEAN

BY KRIS M. CRISMUNDO Philippines News Agency Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Inc.

Editorial Assistant Christelle Tolisora

MANILA — An inclusive, innovation-led growth is one of the thematic priorities of the country’s ASEAN chairmanship this year.

This initiative aims for increasing participation of women in the region’s economic activities driven by science, technology, and innovation.

In line with the ASEAN hosting, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DTI SlingshotPH, Women’s Business Council Philippines, Inc. (WomenBizPH), and ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs’ Network (AWEN) organized the STEAM Ahead in ASEAN: A Forum on Women in Technology in Pasay City from March 16 to 17.

“It aims to bring together various technology-driven enterprises to give women more insights about opportunities in careers centered on technology and innovation,” said DTI Undersecretary Nora Terrado.

Terrado noted that women who pursues career in STEAM or science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics are highly likely to earn 30 percent more income than those women in non-STEAM careers.

Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva

The status quo

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

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

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Member

The Projected Gender Impact of the ASEAN Economic Community, a study published by the ASEAN Secretariat in 2016, has noted that gender inequality remains a challenge in the region, particularly in education, labor force participation, and trade-oriented activities, among others.

The same study shows that these challenges in gender gap expose women in lower paying jobs and vulnerable sectors with limited access to benefits and social protection.

Across all ASEAN member states, average gender gap in labor force is at 19 percent, which is reflective of gap in labor force participation between man and women as well as inadequate and unequal access of women to economic opportunities and work conditions favorable to woman.

Lao PDR led ASEAN in narrowing gender gap in labor force participation at 3.0 percent, while Indonesia recorded widest gap at 33 percent.

In 2013, highest female share to total employment were in Laos and Cambodia at 50 percent, and Vietnam at 49 percent.

In contrast, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia had the least share of women in total employment at 37 percent, 38 percent, and 39 percent, respec-

PNA PHOTO BY DTI

tively.

In terms of gender wage gaps, it ranges from a high of 12.1 percent in Singapore and as low as 1.0 percent in Brunei Darussalam.

“One possible explanation for the relatively large gender wage gap in a number of countries is that a large number of women are wage workers (contractual) and are more affected by minimum wage laws,” the ASEAN study said.

“Most of the job growth for women in the region has taken place in sectors that is dominated by wage work (such as garments and agriculture), where compliance with minimum wage legislation has been a challenge,” it added.

Across ASEAN member states, 63 percent of women in the labor force were in vulnerable employment, or those which are difficult to be transformed from informal to formal employment.

In terms of women participation in business and private sector, firms with female participation in ownership of manufacturing businesses is highest in the Philippines at 66 percent, followed

by Vietnam at 55.7 percent, Indonesia at 43.4 percent, Lao PDR at 32.1 percent, Myanmar at 24 percent, and Malaysia at 13.1 percent.

Female participation in ownership in services companies, is also high in the Philippines at 70.5 percent, followed by Vietnam at 61.4 percent, Lao PDR at 47.1 percent, Indonesia at 39.9 percent, and Myanmar at 28.7 percent.

The study also reveals that access to finance remains a challenge to ASEAN member states.

Less than a third of women in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam have their own bank accounts.

An average of 16 percent of women in

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ASEAN borrowed from financial institution.

“From a business skills perspective, the socio-cultural environment limits women’s exposure and skill development opportunity resulting in limited business sense, information, and marketing skills,” the ASEAN study noted.

“Women businesses also lack networks and technology that are essential for moving beyond the small scale level,” it added.

ASEAN’s role on gender equality

The ASEAN has been supportive in advancing the status of women in the region.

In fact, gender equality and women’s empowerment is part of integral principles in the ASEAN community’s building process.

In the Joint Statement of the 2nd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women in Manila in October 2015, it noted that “realizing these principles requires the commitment of all ASEAN Member States, sectoral bodies under the three pillars of ASEAN, and stakeholders including civil society, academia, media and private sectors”.

On the other hand, the AWEN has created a regional forum for women entrepreneurs in ASEAN. It aims to provide a platform for sharing of information, knowledge, and experience; assisting women entrepreneurs to improve their business management and skills; supporting better access to finance, science and technology, trainings, markets, and business opportunities; promoting entrepreneurship to ASEAN women; and integrating women entrepreneurs to international and regional networks.

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

9

Philippines, communist rebels agree to resume talks, truce

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press

CIRIACO SANTIAGO III / FACEBOOK

Churchman puts...

11 killings

There was more to hear of the chilling narrative, but Santiago and the other photojournalists had to rush to another crime scene.

Santiago photographed 11 killings on his first night.

“I felt it was not a war on drugs, but a war on the poor.

Most of the victims lived in slum areas, with houses made of tarpaulin,” he said, adding that his heart goes out to the families left behind, especially the young children who could not understand why their father was mercilessly killed.

Santiago noted that the number of killings seemed to have declined—from an average of 13 a night in December, to 11 in January and 9 in February.

Most of the killings happened in the northern cities of Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas.

Before going off on the night shift that starts at 7 p.m., Santiago joins his fellow Redemptorist brothers in a community prayer at Baclaran church. A quick dinner follows before he rushes off to the MPD press office.

“I have to be at the MPD before 9 p.m.,” he said, adding that he constantly murmurs a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide him in his work.

Whenever there was a lull in the killings, he and the other lensmen would visit the wakes of the victims they had earlier photographed.

At the end his shift around 3:30 a.m. the following day, he heads back to Baclaran church to get some sleep—and must be up again by 9:30 a.m. for Mass.

On mornings and weekends, Santiago attends to his church duties as a finance officer and also manages the upkeep of the church surroundings.

Santiago recalled only two nights when they had no deaths to cover: on Feb. 1, shortly after President Duterte called for a

halt on the war against illegal drugs, and one night in December when the police had their Christmas party.

Grisly, traumatic

One memory on the beat that he could not shake off was the funeral of three teens killed during a street party in Caloocan City in December and buried side by side in a single grave at Tala Cemetery.

“I cannot forget the sight of them buried together, their coffins side by side. It was cheaper and their families had little money,” Santiago recalled.

Despite the weight of those traumatic images on his memory, Santiago considers himself fortunate for being able to share his experiences and thoughts with his other Redemptorist brothers.

“They give me their full support and listen to my experiences during recollection. I am also able to express (my thoughts) through prayer. It’s not just about me but about the Redemptorist community.

“I have my brothers with me, and my relationship with the Lord has deepened over time,” he added.

Aside from Santiago’s documentation mission, Baclaran church also provides counseling, funeral assistance, legal aid, livelihood support and sanctuary to families of Tokhang victims.

The documentation mission was supposed to end in January, but with the government relaunching Oplan Tokhang, the Redemptorist brother took up his camera again.

The effort might look small in the grand scale of things, but Santiago sees no reason to stop his work of documenting the drug war’s nameless dead. “In five to 10 years, we might go back to these photographs,” he said. “There is no need for me to stop because it’s a community apostolate. This is not just a job, but a church mission.”

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Philippine government and communist rebels have agreed to resume peace talks and restore separate cease-fires after an escalation of deadly clashes, officials said Sunday.

Government and rebel negotiators will resume talks early next month and discuss the terms of a broader cease-fire, presidential adviser Jesus Dureza said. Norway, which has been brokering the negotiations, hosted two days of informal talks in the Netherlands that led to a decision to resume the negotiations on ending one of Asia’s longest-running rebellions.

Just three days ago, President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to unleash an all-out war against the New People’s Army guerrillas after they killed four policemen and wounded another in an ambush in southern Davao del Sur province.

“I’m ready for all-out war, another 50 years,” Duterte said Thursday at the policemen’s wake. “I can assure you that the armed forces and the Philippine National Police would re-

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spond. This time I’m using everything ... rockets and bombs.”

Duterte did not mention the talks’ resumption in his speech at the annual graduation of cadets at the Philippine Military Academy Sunday in northern Baguio city, where he instead condoled with the families of government troops who died in combat. He promised better and more weapons for soldiers and thanked “those who risked their lives and limbs to defend this country’s sovereignty as well as those who continue to offer their sweat and blood to fortify the pillars of a great nation that we are presently trying to build.”

The military welcomed news of the breakthrough but said it would await formal notice from government negotiators and Duterte’s instructions. “Pending this, all military operations will continue and remain at current state,” the military said in a statement.

The Maoist guerrillas said they would remain vigilant because of continuing military and police counterinsurgency operations but added they were optimistic with the talks’ resumption.

“Instead of putting the lives of millions of people in harm’s way, such as Duterte’s all-out-

war declaration, better yet we try to settle our differences on the negotiating table,” said the rebels’ Melito Glor command, which has a presence in the mountainous provinces south of Manila.

Founded in 1968, the ruralbased guerrilla group has unsuccessfully tried to negotiate with five Philippine presidents before Duterte. Battle setbacks, surrenders and infighting have weakened the rebel group, which is considered a terrorist organization by the United States and remains a major Philippine security threat.

The rebels and the government declared separate ceasefires last year as they resumed peace talks. That allowed the government to withdraw troops from battlefields to focus on an offensive against the Abu Sayyaf and other Muslim extremist groups in the country’s south.

In a joint statement with the rebels, the Philippines also agreed to release a rebel consultant to the talks and reinstate immunities from arrest for other guerrilla consultants.

It pledged to release soon four other consultants and 19 detainees the guerrillas regard as political prisoners.

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Philippine News

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

39 convicts...

Corrections.

Last March 7, a total of 27 convicts received certificate of conditional and commutation pardons.

Aguirre said that of the 27 inmates awarded, only four were granted conditional pardon while 23 were awarded commutations of sentence and all will be able to go home.

Aguirre said that one inmate identified as Rogelio Malagutnot, who was granted commutation of sentence last Feb. 22, passed away just two days prior to the grant.

He noted that aside from the 127 elderly inmates, there have been 1,245 inmates who were granted parole under the first seven months of President Duterte.

Earlier, DOJ Undersecretary Reynante Orceo said that the agency wants to standardize the computation of good conduct and time allowances to hasten the release of elderly inmates in line with the executive clemency ordered by President Duterte.

Orceo said that the carpeta or the record of inmates’ sentences both from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penelogy (BJMP) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) must be standardized.

The BJMP is under the Department of Interior and Local Government while the BuCor is under the DOJ. “Ang recommendation namin isa na lang sana gawin natin process standardilization ang tawag ko dun isa na lang sana ang computation mula sa computation ng BJMP hanggang sa BuCor dala dala niya yung carpeta niya kaya dapat magkaroon ng single Carpeta system wherein the computation of isang inmate yung nakakulong sa BJMP na facilities ay carry over sa BuCor kasi from BuCor ito na yung total computation para marecommend sa Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) yung executive clemency so BPP kasi ito yung pinka last stop na recommendations papunta sa Presidente,” Orceo noted Last November, President Duterte granted pardon to actor Robin Padilla, after he was among those recommended by the BPP for executive clemency.

The actor, known as Robinhood Ferdinand Cariño Padilla in real life, has applied for absolute pardon for his 1994 conviction for illegal possession firearms where he was sentenced with up to 21 years in prison.

He served three years at the NBP in Muntinlupa before being released in April 1997 by then president Fidel Ramos who granted him conditional pardon.

The BPP earlier said that as of November 2015, it has listed 473 inmates seeking executive clemency.

Under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, only nine inmates were granted clemency. ❰❰ 6

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Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

11

Senate probers find cover-up in mayor’s killing

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer TWO SENATE committees have warned President Duterte against “micromanaging” the Philippine National Police after his move to recall a relief order on a group of Leyte policemen allegedly resulted in the officers killing Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. of Albuera, Leyte province, in November last year, purportedly to cover up their involvement in illegal drug activities.

The committee on public order and dangerous drugs, led

by Sen. Panfilo Lacson, and the committee on justice and human rights, led by Sen. Richard Gordon, said Supt. Marvin Marcos and his men from the Criminal Investigative and Detection Group-Region 8 (CIDG8) “could have been prevented from doing their dastardly deed” had they been relieved a month before they “silenced” Espinosa.

But the two panels stated that the Oct. 15, 2016, relief order issued by PNP Director General Ronald dela Rosa on Marcos and his men was rescinded that same day by Mr. Duterte.

Espinosa and another inmate, Raul Yap, were shot dead allegedly by Marcos’ men inside the Baybay City subprovincial jail in a predawn operation on Nov. 5, 2016.

Confessed drug distributor Kerwin Espinosa, the mayor’s son, had testified in the Senate that some members of Marcos’ raiding team had been under his payroll.

“The committees are of the opinion that the President should not be micromanaging the affairs of the government and should place his trust in the sound discretion of all his appointees, including PNP Chief Dela Rosa,” they said in a 34page report to the Senate on

and chargers in Espinosa’s possession.

Not only did they plant evidence at the cells of Mayor Espinosa and Yap, but Marcos and his men also took the hard drive of the CCTV cameras in the jail, according to the report, pointing out that jail guards had attested that the cameras were functioning on the day of the raid.

Overwhelming evidence

SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES / FACEBOOK

March 7 for plenary approval.

The report was later posted on the Senate website.

The report said Marcos and his men were involved in the “premeditated” killing of Mayor Espinosa and were guilty of abuse of authority.

The committees said Dela Rosa should be given “full authority and control on how he will manage the day-to-day affairs of the organization.”

Free hand

“He should be given a free hand to decide on how to run the PNP and his decisions should be recognized and respected and should be countermanded or reversed only by the Chief Executive in case of a clear showing of grave abuse of discretion,” the report said.

“The committees strongly condemn the killing of Mayor Rolando Espinosa and Raul Yap. Though they have committed violations of our existing laws, the same is to be determined by our courts. Granting that certain freedoms are denied to detainees, including their right to privacy, they are still entitled to the fundamental right to life as guaranteed by the Constitution,” it said.

The committees said Espinosa was silenced by “individuals who wanted their participation concealed” and that they happened to have access and means to kill Espinosa “through abuse of their authority.”

“They thought they could do away with Espinosa by feigning a legitimate operation,” they said.

The senators noted the use of “overwhelming force” by authorities serving the search warrants on Espinosa and Yap on that day, with Marcos bringing in 18 CIDG men and six members of the Regional Maritime Unit as “perimeter defense.”

They rejected the explanation of Marcos that they needed such force, noting that Marcos did not even inform his superiors, Region 8 director Chief Supt. Elmer Beltejar and CIDG Director Roel Obusan, about the raid on the cells of Espinosa and Yap. The committees also found it “peculiar” that aside from the CIDG men, “nobody was able to witness what transpired in Cells 1 and 7.”

Guards disarmed

They found “appalling” that

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jail guards and police personnel tasked with ensuring Espinosa’s safety were “disarmed and made to kneel down and face the wall” by the CIDG men during their raid.

“That fact alone merits strong denouncement and condemnation as it disrespects and disregards the authority of the jail guards and police officers present, who are supposed to be accorded with respect as fellow public servants,” the report said.

The committees also did not give credence to the deposition of Paul Olendan, whom the CIDG men said was their informant, that Mayor Espinosa had drugs and firearms in his cell.

Olendan was on his workplace at the time he was supposed to be inside the Baybay jail, which was 100 km away.

Olendan had gone missing when the Senate started its hearings on Espinosa’s killing.

The senators said they were convinced that Espinosa and Yap had no firearms and illegal drugs in their possession.

They noted that a few days before the raid, a thorough search of the cells was done and guards only found cell phones

The report said that Kerwin Espinosa had stated during the Senate hearing that Chief Insp.

Leo Laraga (who shot Rolando Espinosa) and Supt. Santi Noel Matira had been on his payroll.

It said this “gives sense to all that has happened and explains why Espinosa was murdered.”

The committees urged the Department of Justice to expedite its preliminary investigation of Espinosa’s killing since a multiple murder complaint was filed against Marcos and his men by the National Bureau of Investigation as early as Dec. 7, 2016.

“Considering the time, not to mention the overwhelming testimonial and documentary evidence presented before the five-man panel conducting the preliminary investigation, they should have already resolved this matter with urgency,” the report said.

The committees also asked the Supreme Court to expedite its determination “as to the propriety and liabilities or sanctions, if any” of Judge Carlos Arguelles (for failing to act on Mayor Espinosa’s motion to be transferred to a safer facility); Judge Arcelo Sabarre Jr., of RTC Branch 30 Basey, Samar, and Judge Janet Cabalona of RTC Branch 33 Basey, Samar, (for issuing search warrants upon persons detained in a government detention facility outside and his and her courts’ jurisdiction.)

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Philippine News

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Duterte vows to improve military modernization

BY PHOEBE BALUBAR Philippine Canadian Inquirer SPEAKING before the PMA Salaknib Class of 2017, President Duterte assured graduates and top officials that his administration will continue to further modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines in order to be on par with its international counterparts.

He announced that more modern military aircrafts, sea vessels, and other equipment are to be expected in the next two to three years to improve the patrol of the country’s territory and combat security threats.

“In the next two to three years, the AFP will have flight simulators, radars, support, patrol and assault vehicles, as well as new surveillance and fighter aircrafts so that they can better patrol our borders and guard our seas,” the President said.

“All of these improvements are intended to enable our AFP to be more effective in pursuing its mandate, in assisting law enforcement agencies in battling crime and illegal drugs, and in undertaking relief and rescue efforts during disasters and calamities,” he added.

He personally thanked all the Filipino soldiers for their loyalty to the Philippine flag.

Duterte said that his administration values the soldiers’ valor and courage and in return, will be committed to provide them with all the necessary support and incentives.

“To give recognition those who risked their lives and limbs to defend this country’s sovereignty as well as those who continue to offer their sweat and blood to fortify the pillars of a great nation that we are presently trying to build,” he said.

He also paid tribute to the Order and Dangerous Drugs fallen soldiers and had prom- and on Justice and Human ised to provide assistance to Rights state there was an overtheir bereaved families. whelming evidence to support The President cited improv- that there was a cover-up in the ing the modernization of the killing of Albuera, Leyte Mayor military amid the various issues Rolando Espinosa and fellow that the current administration inmate Raul Yap. is facing; from terrorism, to the Committee Chairs Sen. Panillegal drugs trade and other filo Lacson and Sen. Richard crimes in the country. It is also Gordon said that Supt. Marvin about time that the country Marcos and his men from the doubled its efforts on securing Criminal Investigation and Deits territories in the West Phil- tection Group-Region 8 (CIDGippine Sea and the newly dis- 8) “could have been prevented covered territory on the east, from doing their dastardly the Benham Rise. deed” had they been relieved a Reports have stated that a month before they “silenced” termanded or reversed only by Chinese ship was spotted in the Espinosa. the Chief Executive in case of a area recently, which could be an In a 34-page report made clear showing of a grave abuse easy violation of territorial wa- on March 7, the committees of discretion”. ters as Benham Rise is located also warned President Duterte “The Committees strongly within local territory. about “micromanaging” the condemn the killing of Mayor During the ceremony, the Philippine National Police, as Rolando Espinosa and Raul President praised the record- it was his decision to recall the Yap. Though they have comhigh number of mitted violations women in this of our existing year’s batch led laws, the same is by class valeto be determined dictorian Rovi To give recognition those who risked by our courts.

Martinez of Catheir lives and limbs to defend this Granting that banatuan City. country’s sovereignty as well as those certain freedoms This is the first who continue to offer their sweat and are denied to detime in PMA hisblood to fortify the pillars of a great tainees, includtory where eight nation that we are presently trying to ing their right to spots of the Top build. privacy, they are 10 were taken by still entitled to female cadets. the fundamen“With the tal right to life highest number of graduat- said relief order if in the event as guaranteed by the Constituing women in PMA’s history, it had been issued, the killing tion”. this breakthrough is a fitting would’ve been prevented.

The report also ruled the tribute to our mothers, sisters “The committees are of the following: 1) The Committees [and] daughters as we celebrate opinion that the President found it “appalling” that the jail Women’s Month,” he said. should not be micromanaging guards and police personnel in Martinez herself had cho- the affairs of the government charge of Espinosa’s safety were sen to be commissioned in the and should place his trust in the “disarmed and forced to kneel Philippine Navy. This year’s sound discretion of all his ap- down and face the wall” by Salaknib class consisted of pointees, including PNP Chief the CIDG men while conduct167 newly commissioned 2nd Dela Rosa”. ing the raid, 2) “overwhelming Lieutenants; 90 will serve the “He should be given a free force” was used when Marcos Philippine Army, 44 will go to hand to decide on how to run had reportedly brought in 18 the Philippine Navy and 33 will the PNP and his decisions CIDG men and six members join the Philippine Air Force. should be recognized and re- from the Regional Maritime Senate Committees on Public spected, and should be coun- Unit as “perimeter defense”, 3)

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KARL NORMAN ALONZO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Espinosa and Yap had no firearms and illegal drugs in their possession, which was in contrast to the Police report made about the incident, 4) the Committees conclude that Espinosa was silenced by “individuals who wanted their participation concealed” and that they have used their access and means to kill Espinosa “through abuse of their authority”.

It was also cited that evidence was planted in the cells of Espinosa and Yap, and that Marcos and his men also took the hard drive of the CCTV cameras in the jail. The jail guards had affirmed that the cameras were functional on the day of the raid.

Kerwin Espinosa, Espinosa’s son who was also named for his participation in the illegal drugs said before the Senate hearing that Chief Insp. Leo Laraga (who shot Rolando Espinosa) and Supt. Santi Noel Mitra had been on his payroll.

This statement alone suggests that this is probably the main reason as to why Espinosa was killed.

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

13

Duterte OKs national security SC denies inhibition guidelines for bureaucracy motion vs Justice PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the enhanced National Security Policy 2017-2022 (NSP) that serves as guide for the government bureaucracy in the efforts to safeguard national security interests.

“This version of the NSP now directs the national security sector to be aligned with and in tandem with the recently approved Philippine Development Plan,” Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a press briefing on Tuesday, March 14, in Malacañang.

Abella said the NSP was approved by the President during the National Security Council meeting last Monday, March 13.

Among the matters discussed during the National Security Council meeting include the peace process with the CPPNPA-NDF, the West Philippine Sea issue, and the anti-illegal drugs campaign, among others.

On the peace process, Abella said the President acknowledged the joint statement of the government peace panel and the National Democratic Front (NDF) on the intent to resume formal peace talks.

“To ensure that genuine peace talks are realized, the President asked both panels to agree on clear parameters for ceasefire and the talks,” Abella explained.

In addressing illegal drugs, meanwhile, Abella said President Duterte has directed the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to be more actively involved in the PDEAled anti-drug operations, together with the Armed Forces and the Philippine National Police.

In the same briefing, Abella cited Mastercard Index of Women Entrepreneurs, which says that the Philippines has become an ideal business environment for women to prosper.

“The Philippines ranks eighth among top 20 markets in the world, gaining an overall index of 68.4 on the Mastercard Index of Women entrepreneurs in 2017,” Abella said.

Citing the continued policy of breaking the glass ceiling, Abella said the Duterte administration continues to support endeavors of Filipino women.

Abella also announced that barely nine months in office, the Duterte administration has seen an increase in exports.

“The Palace is pleased to announce that the Philippine merchandise exports reached 5.13 billion in January, surging 22.5 percent, the highest growth posted in three years,” Abella said.

He said garments and clothing accessories exporters saw a 270 percent increase, followed by coconut oil products, which grew 230 percent; and chemicals, which saw a 105 percent growth. Japan is still the top Philippine export destination.

Palace echoes importance of climate change pact

Meanwhile, in the same briefing, Climate Change Commission (CCC) Vice Chairperson Frances Veronica Victorio said the country’s accession to the Paris Agreement would enable the country to get access to financial and technical support, as well as in capacity building.

“Ang Paris Agreement po ay may goal po sila na you’ll be able, we’ll have about USD 100 billion per year. So starting 2020. So pag kasama po tayo sa Paris Agreement ay makaka mas access tayo dito sa mga financial support na available for us, lalo na as a developing country (The Paris Agreement has a goal that will enable us to gain about USD 100 billion per year. So starting 2020. If we join the Paris Agreement, we will have access to financial report that is made available to us as a developing country),” Victorio said.

“Ang plano po natin is that we want to make sure na naka-incorporate po dito ang mga goals ni Presidente also, of really poverty eradication, mga sustainable development. So pwede po ‘to under the Paris Agreement (Our plan is that we want to make sure that the President’s goals are incorporated with this... of poverty eradication, of sustainable development. These are all possible with the Paris Agreement),” she added.

Victorio noted the impact of warmer temperatures to food production.

“Tayo po ay like 5th most vulnerable country when it comes to climate change, all over the world. So kung ngayon pa lang, ngayon nasa 1.2 degrees Celsius po tayo. Dati pa nagka-Yolanda na tayo, nagka-Ondoy and these are all at 1 degree Celsius (We are currently around the 5th most vulnerable country when it comes to climate change, all over the world. And already, we are at 1.2 degrees Celsius. Before, we experienced Yolanda and Ondoy which were at 1 degree Celsius),” Victorio explained.

“Right now, last year, 1.2 degrees Celsius na po tayo. So this is something we’re continuously advocating at kailangan po natin i-lead ang ating mga iba’t ibang bansa kasi hindi po natin ito kakayanin na mag-isa (Right now, last year we are at 1.2 degrees Celsius. So this is something we’re continuously advocating and we have to lead other countries for we cannot accomplish this alone,” she added.

Jardeleza on oral arguments on De Lima plea PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the call of several groups for the inhibition Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza from participating in the oral arguments on the petition filed by detained senator Leila De Lima questioning the legality of her arrest in connection to the drug raps filed against her.

“Preliminarily the motion for voluntary inhibition of Justice Jardeleza is denied,” Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno said before the start of the oral argument.

It will be recalled that prior to the start of the oral proceedings, the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption, Republic Defenders and the United Filipino Seafarers called on Jardeleza to recuse from the case, citing his profes-

sional relationship with the detained senator that they said goes back to the 1980s.

The groups through lawyer Ferdinand Topacio said Jardeleza and de Lima worked together at the Jardeleza Sobrevinas Hayudini and Bodegon Law Firm in 1987 as well as from 1991 to 1993 at the Roco, Bunag, Kapunan, Migallos and Jardeleza Law Firm.

Topacio said Jardeleza also served as Solicitor General from 2012 until he was appointed to the SC on August 2014 when De Lima was the Justice Secretary.

Topacio though clarified they would not file a formal motion calling on Jardeleza’s inhibition since the VACC and the other groups are not party to the case being heard by the SC. He explained their call is only so that Jardeleza’s vote on the case would not be tainted by negative perception.

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1114

Opinion

14

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Lacson: Cam won’t escape CA scrutiny should she get Cabinet post

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDANO Philippine Daily Inquirer ALTHOUGH SHE may still get a Cabinet post despite her recent bad behavior, Sandra Cam would have to reckon with the powerful Commission on Appointments (CA) when the time comes.

This was the opinion expressed by Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Sunday as he said that Cam was wrong to berate two airport personnel when she was not accorded the VIP treatment reserved for government officials.

But detained Sen. Leila de Lima said the former jueteng whistle-blower did not deserve a Cabinet post, referring to her as “this evil of a woman” who should be exposed, prosecuted

and jailed for “certain nefarious activities.”

Cam was strongly criticized by netizens over a Feb.16 incident in which she blew her top when an employee of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the latter’s manager failed to recognize her and treat her like a VIP. She also gave the employee a tongue-lashing laced with curses and dropped the name of Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go, saying she was going to be appointed to a government post in three months.

Despite this, President Duterte said on Saturday he was willing to offer Cam a government post in return for her help in his campaign. But he added there was currently no

vacancy in the Cabinet.

In a radio interview, Lacson said that Cam was wrong for treating airport personnel that way.

He added that he would tell Cam the same thing should he see her. Cam was his witness when he conducted a Senate inquiry into jueteng operations during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Lacson, however, said it was the prerogative of the President to give a Cabinet position to Cam although he noted that the CA has the power to scrutinize Mr. Duterte’s nominees.

“The check and balance under our system of government is lodged at the CA. If and when the time comes for Cam to face the scrutiny of the commission, she will have to explain

MANAY SANDRA CAM / FACEBOOK

what transpired at the Naia as reported in the media,” Lacson said in a text message.

Cam earlier referred to the report about her as a “grand plan by the Liberal Party to destroy those closest to the Duterte administration.”

De Lima, on the other hand, attributed Cam’s bad behavior to the latter’s “special relationship” with the President.

In a handwritten note released by her office, De Lima said Cam had played a major role in the “massive demolition” job against her which included “harassment, coercion and blackmailing of so-called witnesses and prospective witnesses.” “Because of that ‘ special” relationship with the tyrant, [Cam] thinks and acts like she is untouchable,” she added.

PUBLIC LIVES

‘Tokhang’ 2, vigilantes, and the Church

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer Late in January, President Duterte suspended the police-led war on drugs in the wake of the gruesome abduction and murder of the Korean businessman Jee Ickjoo by police elements assigned to the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Group. What ostensibly prompted the suspension order was the realization that the war on drugs was being used by some police officers as a cover for criminal activities.

It was a no-brainer that the PNP itself had to undergo a thorough internal cleansing before it could effectively perform the crucial role of lead agency in the war on drugs.

After subjecting an assembly of about 300 police officers, all facing charges for a broad range of offenses, to a public dressing-down, Mr. Duterte ordered the transfer of a small sample to farflung assignments in Mindanao to teach them a lesson. This appears to be the sum total of the review process aimed at ridding the PNP of unfit officers.

A month quickly passed, and the PNP has now relaunched the war under the banner of “Project Tokhang 2” and “Oplan DoubleBarrel Reloaded,” to be led by a newly formed Drug Enforcement Group. This new version promises

to be bloodless. Still, PNP Chief glance, this move seems incredible police operations have been done Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa seems all in its naivete, for seeking to involve in self-defense. too painfully aware that the cred- civilians in what have been—in the My own view is that the meibility issue that has hounded the last eight months—undisguised thodical carnage that attended the police throughout this bloody cam- and heavily armed police opera- war on drugs was, from the start, paign is hardly resolved through a tions. intended to produce shock and mere change in labels.

Indeed, some bishops have awe. The sheer scale of the coldIn nearly every urban poor com- dismissed the offer of a place in blooded killings was meant to jolt munity that has been subjected Tokhang 2 as nothing but a public the entire nation into a chilling reto lightning drug raids, residents relations gambit meant to show alization not only of the magnitude harbor no other perception of the police openness to public scru- of the drug problem, but also of police except as a bunch of ruth- tiny, while challenging the Church this administration’s willpower to less killers. Whatever social trust to do its share in combating the end it within the shortest possible is left in these neighborhoods drug menace by joining the police time. The immediate result of this between ordinary residents and in their Tokhang routine. Church shock-andawe strategy has been law enforcement agencies has people have correctly responded the mass surrender of over a milbeen completely lion drug users and eroded. And so the pushers, who, by The sheer scale of the coldblooded killings was meant to proposed solution voluntarily admitjolt the entire nation into a chilling realization not only of the is to restore trust ting to their drug magnitude of the drug problem, but also of this administration’s by inviting priests, habit, might have willpower to end it within the shortest possible time. pastors and imams been hoping to buy to join the police some measure of as they go knockprotection from ing at the homes of drug suspects that police work is not a function of murder. Little did they know that to convince them to surrender and the clergy. they were, in effect, signing their seek rehabilitation.

But, more importantly perhaps, own death warrants.

It is difficult to misinterpret the this unusual invitation might have In here perhaps lies the most PNP chief when he says: “Imag- been intended to perpetuate the difficult role the Church has had ine you’re a drug personality and myth that while Project Tokhang to play in these dangerous times— the people whocome knocking on was originally conceived as a harm- how to help those who wish to your door turn out to be the chief less effort to plead with drug users turn a new leaf in their lives, but of police, the barangay captain and pushers to change their ways, are gripped by the terror of being and the local priest. I think it will it has had no choice but to resort hunted down in this brutal war. soften your heart, and make you to coercive means when met with Many of them have nowhere to go, immediately follow their advice to violent resistance. Therefore, it is no sanctuary in which they can find change your ways, or undergo re- to be assumed that all the killings refuge, even as they try desperately hab if you’re not yet ready.” At first that have resulted from legitimate to free themselves of their drug

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habit. Can the Church offer them adequate shelter and protection while they undergo rehabilitation?

One expects the police to recognize this vital role of the Church and to respect this delineation of institutional functions. PNP Chief Dela Rosa might want to start with this acknowledgment if it wishes to reach out to the Church.

But, the so-called “vigilante killers” are another matter. In their anonymity, they seem to answer to a different morality and set of laws. The killings attributed to them outnumber the deaths from acknowledged police operations by a ratio of 2:1. State security forces have denied involvement in these killings, though they have shown no urgency in investigating them.

There is absolutely no room for selfrighteous masked killers in a society that claims to be under the rule of law. Their presence in our midst promotes violence, anarchy, and deep insecurity. The local governments, the Commission on Human Rights, and civil society organizations can join hands with the police in a concerted effort to expose them, stop them, and make them accountable. The Church can minister to the needy and the oppressed, even as it pursues its fundamental role of educating consciences. But law enforcement is not its function. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

15

AT LARGE

Fearless girls and women

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer My curiosity about the bronze statue “The Fearless Girl” confronting the “Charging Bull” of Wall Street was first piqued when my daughter, who works for a financial news service in this location, posted a selfie with her.

I’d heard about “the girl” on Wall Street but only paid it passing attention. But seeing her with my daughter in a similar pose roused not just motherly sentiments but also curiosity about how “the girl” came to be there. As well, the sight triggered reflections on how far young women like myMiya have travelled since the first glimmer of feminism on our horizon, and yet also how much farther they—we!— have yet to go.

“The Fearless Girl” has been called “a potent symbol of female leadership in business.” But to Jillian Steinhauer, writing in the website “Hyperallergic,” the girl standing defiantly in front of the bull, arms at her hips, face raised and

ponytail swinging in the air, “rep- paign to encourage companies to them to help promote a fund called resents basically everything that’s increase the number of women SHE, “which only invests in comwrong with our society.” in their boards. She symbolizes panies with women in leadership.”

Speaking with Tali Gumbiner “a remarkable evolution for Wall They cited studies that “found and Lizzie Wilson, who spearhead- Street,” and represents “the turn- companies with gender-diverse ed the campaign for McCann New ing point of gender equality in cor- leadership, and women in leaderYork in behalf of its client State porate America.” ship, are actually more lucrative.”

Street Global Advisors, Adweek Well, not really, says Steinhauer. Putting more women in charge, notes that “the girl” has become The companies behind her pres- they said, was “not just a nice thing about the biggest draw on Wall ence in the heart of Wall Street— to do,” but also necessary: “We acStreet. Wilson, asked why people McCann New York and asset man- tually need to change the percepare so drawn to the tion of what a sucnew sculpture (by cessful company Kristen Visbal), is made of. That is We do not give up. We will not be silenced. We do not says it’s because such a challenge, surrender to the dark night. Today and every day hereafter, “there is somebut such a cool we commit to stand up for our beliefs and values and to continue thing so relatable one.” to engage what has become a more vicious world. about a kid… You And obviously, see yourself in her, putting out ads or but you also see your kids. You see ager SSGA, the third largest in the launching campaigns in old and the future, and you see your past.” world—are not exactly paragons of new media weren’t going to cut it.

Precisely my reactions. gender equality. Women in their So “The Fearless Girl” was created, *** boards comprise just about 20 per- bringing the message to the heart Steinhauer, though, takes a dif- cent, and worse, SSGA itself has of the beast, as it were. ferent view. been implicated in “shady deal*** Those behind the installation, ings,” in one instance meriting a Likewise bringing the message she says, settlement of over $64 million with home, our home, were the womhave sold the story behind “the the US government. en at the “Women Defend Degirl” as a courageous “guerrilla” The women of McCann New mocracy” forum held on March operation that was part of a cam- York said that SSGA had come to 8. Participants were welcomed

by Ging Deles, a founder of the women’s group Pilipina and former peace process adviser to the president.

The conclusion of her welcome address is inspiring and heartening, and, remembering “The Fearless Girl” confronting the “Charging Bull,” I reprint it here: “And so, we women, perennials and millennials alike, pledge to fight on. We do not give up. We will not be silenced. We do not surrender to the dark night. Today and every day hereafter, we commit to stand up for our beliefs and values and to continue to engage what has become a more vicious world. We pledge every ounce of our agency, to the deepest core of our being, to live and to work to make the world a better place, to ensure for our children and our grandchildren a future still pregnant with the best possibilities.

“Rebellion runs in our veins: we fought the Spanish colonizers, the Japanese, the Americans, and the dictator. Never again, we said; never again, it shall be!” ■

LOOKING BACK

Tourists taking selfies overlook this relic

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer Christianity in the Philippines, if we are to follow the Spanish version of the story, was literally planted on our shores in 1521 when Ferdinand Magellan erected a wood cross in Cebu and caused the mass baptism of natives headed by Rajah Humabon and his wife. We cannot use the word “conversion” here because the Cebuanos did not have the basic Christian training to appreciate the ritual that was made upon them—something they probably mistook to be a strange custom of friendship brought by one of our earliest tourists.

There has been a suggestion that Christianity was introduced by the Portuguese, a narrative covered up during the 400 years of Spanish colonization, because when Pope Alexander VI cut the world in half like an orange, and granted the rights to all unknown lands equally between the kingdoms of Spain and Portugal, the Philippines lay in the Portuguese

side. Moving the demarcation line the Basilica: a wooden bust of the The history of the Ecce Homo to bring the Philippines into the suffering Christ known as “Ecce is to be found near the image. The Spanish side was futile, so Spain homo” (Behold the man), the Lat- pertinent part reads: kept the Philippines in an ex- in words allegedly proclaimed by “On August 20, 1572 the woodchange that included ceding Span- Pontius Pilate when he presented en bust of Jesus Christ was miish Brazil to Portugal.

Jesus to a mob of angry Jews after raculously discovered in an early Tracing the Christianization of he was scourged for claiming to settlement of Sugbo. The historic the Philippines to Magellan, the be the Son of God and King of the event coincided with the death of fourth centenary should have been Jews. ... Miguel Lopez de Legazpi in Macelebrated in 1921, but reckoning This wooden Ecce Homo is be- nila. Historian Fray Gaspar de San has been pegged to 1565, the ar- lieved to have been one of three Agustin recounted in his Conquisrival of a Spanish expedition led religious icons presented to the tas de las Islas Filipinas (Madrid

by Miguel Lopez 1698) how it was de Legazpi and unearthed in a Moving the demarcation line to bring the Philippines into navigated by the burial site of a fathe Spanish side was futile, so Spain kept the Philippines in Augustinian friar mous and ancient an exchange that included ceding Spanish Brazil to Portugal.

Andres de Urdaleader named Raneta. This explains jah Carli, believed the Spanish-Philippine history Queen of Cebu after her baptism to be among those baptized during reflected in the naming of upper- when she was given the Chris- the arrival of Ferdinand Magellan crust Makati villages as: Urdaneta, tian name “Juana,” in honor of [in 1521]. Popular scholarship assoLegazpi, and Magallanes. the Spanish Queen who is unfor- ciates the name of Rajah Carli with All this history is often lost on tunately remembered in history Rajah Humabon with the view that tourists to Cebu, the “Cradle of as “Juana la Loca” (or Joanna the the latter was christened Carlos.

Christianity in the Philippines,” Mad). The Queen chose the cute Through time the usage or citation who take selfies with the Santo Santo Niño over the Ecce Homo of the name may have been misNiño and “Magellan’s Cross.” If and an image of the Virgin Mary. spelled or corrupted and carried they inquired further they would The other two extant relics from over into extant historical literadiscover another historical relic the Magellan expedition are worth ture. often overlooked in another part of looking into.

“A certain soldier, Juan de Cas-

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tilla, uncovered the casket of the chieftain while digging the ground to lay down the foundation of his house. Surprisingly enough, the rajah’s body was still in recognizable condition after many years of entombment. Fray Gaspar de San Agustin’s narration on the finding of the Ecce Homo described the bust’s precise location in evocative detail. It was devoutly placed on the Rajah’s chest in excellent form, contrary to some accounts that it was positioned on the side of the cadaver. A small cross was also held piously in his hands. Such orchestrated precision undoubtedly signified the rajah’s faithful state to the newly embraced Christian belief while still alive.”

The Ecce Homo once located on the tabernacle of the church of the Santo Niño for centuries was moved to San Agustin Museum in Intramuros in 1965. It was returned in August 2011 after a long process began by then Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal. It is a historical puzzle waiting to be solved. ■

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MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Canada News Canadian defence spending among lowest in NATO despite small increase last year

BY LEE BERTHIAUME The Canadian Press OTTAWA — The Liberal government sought to deflect criticism about Canada’s overall defence spending Monday by pointing to new NATO figures showing a mysterious boost in investments for military equipment last year.

The comments came as NATO’s top official threw down the gauntlet by calling on all members to spend more on their militaries in the face of rising tensions around the world.

Speaking in Brussels at the release of his annual state-ofthe-alliance report, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said it is incumbent on all members to spend two per cent of GDP on defence.

That is the target all NATO members, including Canada, agreed to work towards in 2014.

“All our efforts must be underpinned by adequate resources and fair burden-sharing,” Stoltenberg said.

“It is realistic that all allies should reach this goal. All allies have agreed to do it at the highest level. It can be done.”

Stoltenberg’s report said Canada saw a small bump in defence spending in 2016, which pushed the percentage of GDP spent on defence to an estimated 1.02 per cent, up from 0.98 per cent.

That would move Canada up to 20th from 23rd in terms of

spending among NATO’s 28 al- an email. lies, but would leave it in the “We are focused on ensuring bottom half of the alliance’s that our partners and allies, as members. well as Canadians and people The figures are estimates at around the world, see the tangiNATO NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION / FLICKR this point because the Cana- ble benefits of our investments dian government’s fiscal year in defence and security.” and naval ships.

“Having said that, of course, ends on March 31, which means But defence officials, who “If we actually get an increase Spain — as many other allies there could be some changes in are currently reviewing the like that, that’s pretty conse- — invests too little in defence,” the final three months. way Canada calculates defence quential,” he said.

Stoltenberg said.

In response, Defence Minis- spending compared to other Prime Minister Justin “And that’s exactly why we ter Harjit Sajjan’s office point- NATO allies, were hard pressed Trudeau appeared to all but decided in 2014 to stop the cuts, ed out that the NATO report to explain the sudden jump in dismiss the two per cent tar- gradually increase, and move found Canadian spending on equipment spending. get during a visit to Germany towards spending two per cent military equipment had actualDefence analyst David Perry last month, saying: “There are of GDP on defence. And I exly increased substantially over of the Canadian Global Affairs many ways of evaluating one’s pect that Spain will deliver on the previous year.

Institute was mystified by the contribution to NATO.” that.”

All NATO members agreed reported increase, particuThe government has reiterA former prime minister of to invest 20 per cent of their larly since the Liberals delayed ated that message a number of Norway, Stoltenberg acknowldefence budgets on equipment $3.7 billion in planned capital times, emphasizing Canada’s edged the difficult choices to ensure alliance members spending in the budget. military contributions to Lat- politicians must make when it continue to field modern miliPerry said there was a valid via, Ukraine and Iraq in lieu of comes to spending limited taxtaries with statelarge spending payer dollars. of-the-art capaincreases.

He said politicians prefer to bilities.

While Lib- spend on education, health and Stoltenberg ’s eral insiders say infrastructure and many counreport estimated We are focused on ensuring that Canada’s mes- tries cut defence spending as Canadian spendour partners and allies, as well as sage has reso- tensions eased in the wake of ing on military Canadians and people around the nated in Wash- the Cold War. equipment world, see the tangible benefits ington, where “But my message is that if we jumped from of our investments in defence and the Trump ad- are decreasing defence spendabout 13 per cent security. ministration has ing in times with reduced tenin 2015 to 18 per pushed for more sions, we have to be able to incent last year, spending from crease defence spending when which would repits NATO part- tensions are going up and now resent the highest ratio in 20 years. argument for using invest- ners, Stoltenberg was adamant tensions have gone up.”

“When it comes to investing ments in new equipment as an- that all allies meet the two per Canada spends about $20 in the Canadian Armed Forces, other way to measure Canada’s cent target. billion a year on defence and Canada’s priority is to ensure NATO commitment, in addiAt one point during Monday’s would need to double that to that our women and men in tion to overall spending. news conference, he listed the reach the NATO target. uniform have the training and Canada has consistently un- many ways that Spain has conOnly five NATO members equipment they need in order der-invested in equipment, he tributed to NATO operations currently spend two per cent of to do important work on behalf said, which is why the country and security, which includes GDP on defence, though severof Canadians,” Sajjan’s spokes- is currently dealing with aging contributing troops to a Cana- al have committed to reaching woman, Jordan Owens, said in fleets of fighter jets, helicopters dian-led battle group in Latvia. the target in the next few years.

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B.C. economy to grow more slowly over next two years: Central 1 Credit Union THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER — A British Columbia credit union says the province’s economy will remain strong through 2019, but Metro Vancouver’s once-sizzling housing market will no longer fuel the growth.

The latest forecast from the Central 1 Credit Union says the total amount of goods and services produced in B.C. will climb by 2.3 per cent in 2017.

Central 1 says B.C.’s economic growth this year will fall far short of the 3.8-per-cent expansion recorded in 2016, although growth is expected to rebound

by almost half of a percentage point to 2.7 per cent in 2018 and 2019.

It says a low Canadian dollar will help the export of goods and services but stronger commodity prices will push up overall price levels, as consumer prices edge up about two per cent this year and 1.8 per cent in the following two years.

The forecast warns ongoing softwood lumber trade talks and the risk of tariffs could drag growth, and low global gas prices will keep a lid on any major liquefied natural gas projects in the province until at least the 2020s.

After a 33-per-cent surge in

2016, housing starts in B.C. are expected to tumble by 13 per cent this year, but Central 1 predicts the drop will be cushioned by other economic factors.

“Household demand will remain the backbone of economic growth, but we will see further rotation towards government spending, trade and an increase in investment, as the contribution from the housing sector diminishes,” says Bryan Yu, the credit union’s senior economist.

Government spending and higher commodity prices are expected to pick up the slack, Yu says, although there could be a chill from potential softwood lumber tariffs.

Toronto man appealing sex assault conviction says judge was biased

BY PAOLA LORIGGIO The Canadian Press TORONTO — Lawyers for a Toronto man found guilty of sexual assault are arguing he deserves a new trial because the judge who oversaw his case was allegedly biased against him.

Mustafa Ururyar is appealing his July 2016 conviction in the sexual assault of Mandi Gray, a fellow PhD student at York University with whom he had a casual relationship.

His appeal, which was being heard in a Toronto court Tuesday, also challenges an order that he give Gray — who has waived the standard publication ban on the identity of complainants in sexual assault cases — $8,000 to help cover her legal fees.

In court documents filed ahead of the hearing, Ururyar’s lawyers allege the trial judge “displayed a reasonable apprehension of bias in favour of the complainant,” saying Justice Marvin Zuker had decided on a sentence before hearing submissions on the matter.

The Crown, meanwhile, says the defence had no complaints about the judge’s behaviour dur-

ing the trial and only raised concerns about a possible bias once their client was found guilty.

Before the hearing began, Gray said she wouldn’t participate in a new trial if one was ordered for Ururyar.

“It’s not worth it. I don’t have another two years to take off of my life to be doing this,” she said outside court. “I just don’t have the capacity to continue.”

In his ruling, Zuker spoke out against what he called “the myths of rape,” specifically stereotypes that affect how those who experience sexual assault are perceived.

Ururyar’s lawyers say those comments indicate a lack of objectivity from the judge.

“He assumed the role of advocate, witness and judge and turned the appellant’s sexual assault trial into a scathing rebuke of how the trial courts treat complainants in sexual assault prosecutions and so called ‘rape myths,”‘ they argue in the documents.

Zuker’s comments were largely based on academic texts that were not opened to submissions and that served to “explain away some of the arguments made that the complainant’s evidence was not cred-

ible,” Ururyar’s lawyers argue.

They also point to the judge’s decision to revoke Ururyar’s bail pending sentencing and to hand down the strictest possible sentence — 18 months behind bars with three years probation — as signs of bias, noting Zuker made the ruling immediately after hearing sentencing submissions.

Ururyar’s lawyers also allege the judge mistakenly framed the issue for the court to decide as whether sexual contact had occurred, rather than whether there was proof beyond a reasonable doubt that it was nonconsensual or whether their client mistakenly believed it was consensual.

The Crown contests the allegations, arguing the judge was entitled to comment on the social context surrounding the case and showed no preference for either party.

“None of these alleged errors relate to the trial judge’s conduct during the actual trial.

They all relate to his comments or conduct related to his finding of guilt and what followed it,” prosecutors write.

“The trial judge did not make ❱❱ PAGE 19 Toronto man

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BRIAN GALLANT / FACEBOOK

New Brunswick premier announces engagement: ‘A very happy partnership’

BY ALY THOMSON The Canadian Press FREDERICTON — They met on a blind date, and he popped the question at one of the iconic landmarks of the Acadian people.

Canada’s youngest premier — New Brunswick’s telegenic Brian Gallant, 34 — has announced his engagement to 27-year-old Karine Lavoie, who reportedly works for Canadian Heritage.

He posted the news Monday in both official languages on his Twitter feed: “Karine said yes to spending the rest of her life with me.”

Gallant said both he and their dog Blaze couldn’t be happier.

He also posted a photo of himself casually dressed in a ball cap, Boston Red Sox T-shirt and jeans, holding Lavoie in his arms under an apple tree. They are smiling widely.

Although they both grew up in Shediac Bridge, N.B., the two met on a blind date set up by mutual friends.

He proposed to her March 3 at the Memramcook Institute, a grand former seminary and Acadian university in Memramcook, N.B., not far from their mutual hometown.

“She’s absolutely terrific and together, they compliment one another very well ... The two of them together, frankly, it feels like a very happy partnership,” said Liberal MP Dominic LeB-

lanc, a longtime friend of Gallant’s who is also a friend of Lavoie’s family.

Gallant sent him a message him over the weekend to tell him the good news, he said.

LeBlanc said he and his wife had met the couple for dinner a few years ago at Le Petit Paris restaurant in Shediac. He said it was clear that Gallant and Lavoie had a “deep connection.”

“He was clearly captivated by Karine from the very start and I left that first dinner with the two of them very much of the view that this was probably the person that Brian would marry,” said LeBlanc in a phone interview from Moncton, N.B. LeBlanc, who is the federal minister of fisheries, said he’s known Gallant for about 15 years and is a friend of Lavoie’s family — her grandfather was a friend of LeBlanc’s father, former governor-general and longtime MP Romeo LeBlanc.

He said Lavoie has worked with various New Brunswick community organizations since graduating from the University of Moncton.

LeBlanc said he and Lavoie had a meeting about seven years ago when she was a student, in her capacity as an organizer with the university’s chapter of Right to Play, an international organization that uses sports and games to improve health ❱❱ PAGE 18 New Brunswick

Canada News

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MARCH 17, 2017

Wynne meets with Government acted ‘within Michigan governor hours’ of website security in Detroit, heralds breach, say officials trade benefits

BY TERRY PEDWELL The Canadian Press

THE CANADIAN PRESS DETROIT — Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder say they want to be heard as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to refashion American trading relationships with Canada and Mexico.

The Detroit News reports that Snyder and Wynne met in Detroit on Monday and heralded the benefits of trade between Michigan and Canada.

Snyder told reporters that Canada is Michigan’s biggest trading partner and he wants that to continue.

The Republican said the U.S. needs to be “very thoughtful in talking about trade issues.”

Trump is scheduled to visit Michigan this week to talk about policies related to the auto industry. He has said he would like to “tweak” trade relationships with Canada as he pushes other Mexico-focused changes in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

KATHLEEN WYNNE / FACEBOOK

New Brunswick... ❰❰ 17

and build life skills for children affected by war, poverty and dis-

ease.

“She was a enthusiastic student with a few other students who were leading a fundraising effort for Haiti,” said LeBlanc.

“She’s very special.”

LeBlanc said Lavoie has been a positive influence on Gallant.

“She’s encouraged him to do things outside of work and politics,” said LeBlanc.

“I would tease him that if he didn’t find a way to ... have interests outside of work, he was going to get overtired. A lot of Brian’s friends thought we needed to find a way for him to not work 18 hours a day, and Karine has been successful is setting up a

routine for him that doesn’t only revolve around work.

“As a result, I think he’s much more enthusiastic and much happier about the work he has to do because he has this presence at home that is so positive for him.”

Gallant, whose father is Acadian and his mother one of 17 children born to Dutch immigrants, was elected premier in October 2014.

He received a bachelor in business administration and a law degree from the University of Moncton before completing his masters of law from McGill University. Gallant worked in a private law practice before being elected Liberal leader in 2012.

Researchers at Cisco Systems said they had seen a “high number of exploitation events” by hackers attempting to carry out OTTAWA — A security breach a range of malicious acts. at Statistics Canada’s main Attackers were injecting website prompted the governcommands into web pages to ment to shut down a number prevent firewalls from protectof services over the weekend, ing the servers, allowing malincluding electronic tax filing ware to be uploaded that could, at the Canada Revenue Agency, among other things, hide their officials confirmed Monday. real IP address during Internet That shutdown helped to enchats or cause a denial of sersure that the private informavice. tion of Canadians was never “These are several of the compromised, officials said many examples of attacks we during a briefing to explain why are currently observing and the statistical agency’s site and blocking,” Cisco’s Nick Biasini that of the CRA had been largewrote on the Hack Players webly unavailable. site.

Federal IT security officials “The payloads being delivwere made aware of a bug in a ered vary considerably, and to computer program widely used their credit, many of the sites by the federal government late have already been taken down Wednesday, Shared Services and the payloads are no longer Canada’s chief available.” operating officer, Canadian ofJohn Glowacki, ficials said Montold the briefing. day that other But it wasn’t The “critical vulnerability” allowed countries that until Thursday, hackers to take almost complete had not respondafter a breach control of web servers used by banks, ed quickly to the was discovered government agencies, and large vulnerability at Statistics CanInternet firms. were facing more ada, that the plug serious breachwas pulled on es, although they the agency’s web wouldn’t say servers. which countries.

“Thursday, at about midday, that all affected departments While a forensic investigation the StatCan information came “acted very quickly” to deal has been launched into who to light ... based on a variety of with the issue. breached the Statistics Canada systems we have scanning the IT news website ArsTechnica website, and from where, it environment,” Glowacki ex- reported last week that the vul- may be impossible to nail down plained. nerability had been identified a specific hacker, or to even “Within, I’d say, three to four by the international cyberse- identify the country where the hours ... (from) when we recog- curity community as early as attack originated, said Scott nized that there was activity on Monday, and that by mid-week Jones, assistant deputy ministhe server that wasn’t autho- attacks were escalating on web- ter, IT Security at Communicarized, it was taken offline.” sites by hackers using a code- tions Security Establishment, That action launched a cas- execution bug in the web ap- Canada’s electronic spy agency. cade of events that resulted in plication framework known as “Country of origin is really online services at the Canada Apache Struts 2. misleading,” said Jones. “You Revenue Agency being shut The “critical vulnerability” can always pretend to be from down as well. allowed hackers to take almost somewhere.”

The tax agency took several complete control of web servThe government operates of its web-based services of- ers used by banks, government roughly 26,000 computer servfline as a precaution Friday as agencies, and large Internet ers attached to “millions” of deIT experts scanned other gov- firms. vices, spanning dozens of federnment departments to see Despite a patch being made eral departments, said Jones. whether they could be affected quickly available, hackers were Security officials are also by a problem that was detected still exploiting the bug through- alerted to multiple potential in computer servers used by out the week to inject their own computer software threats websites worldwide. commands into servers that daily, but not all of them pose a By late Sunday, CRA reported had not yet installed the up- serious risk, he added. it had fixed its systems, tested date, said ArsTechnica. www.canadianinquirer.net

for the vulnerability and had brought the services back online.

The CRA services affected by the shutdown included “My Account,” “My Business Account,” “Netfile,” “EFILE” and “AutoFill My Return.”

Statistics Canada’s main website, which officials described as a “soft target,” was also back up and running by late Sunday.

Officials maintained that no personal data had been compromised before CRA took what they described as a preventative measure.

“There was unauthorized access to our web server,” Gabrielle Beaudoin, director general of communications at Statistics Canada, confirmed. “That server does not contain any personal or sensitive information.”

The government also insisted

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Turkish leader says Dutch will ‘pay the price’ for insult

BY MIKE CORDER, CINAR KIPER AND RAF CASERT The Associated Press ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan intensified his dispute with European nations Sunday, claiming that “Nazism is alive in the West” after two of his ministers were prevented from campaigning in the Netherlands and promising that the Dutch would “pay the price” for their unusual action.

While Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte worked to contain the diplomatic damage, Erdogan made it clear that Turkey would not be easily appeased.

He said Ankara would retaliate for the treatment of the Turkish family affairs minister, who on Saturday was blocked by police in riot gear from entering her country’s consulate in Rotterdam.

That came hours after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu was denied airport landing rights to address crowds at a Rotterdam rally.

Saying that he was wrong to think Nazism was over, Erdogan made the comment to an audience in Istanbul. The remarks were similar to ones he made about Germany earlier this month.

The Dutch prime minster said it was important for his government not to bow to pressure from Turkey, especially after Ankara threatened sanctions if the Dutch kept Turkish ministers out.

“Turkey is a proud nation.

The Netherlands is a proud nation. We can never do business under those sorts of threats and blackmail,” said Mark Rutte,

whose party is locked in a neckand-neck race with populist firebrand Geert Wilders.

To bolster support for an April 16 referendum that would expand the powers of Turkey’s president, Turkish cabinet ministers have scheduled campaign trips to several European countries with sizable populations of Turkish expatriates.

However, some European nations have complained that Turkey under Erdogan is slipping toward authoritarian practices, especially since last summer’s aborted coup. Rutte cited that concern in asking Cavusoglu not to come to the Netherlands.

The furor between two NATO allies comes at a crucial time in the Netherlands, where issues of Dutch identity, relations with migrant communities and Islam have taken centre stage in the run-up to a national election on Wednesday.

Rutte’s actions, which came two days after several German municipalities cancelled rallies that Turkish Cabinet ministers had planned to address, prompted Erdogan on Saturday to accuse the Dutch of being “Nazi remnants.”

On Sunday, he heaped on more criticism while demanding an apology from the Dutch.

“If you sacrifice TurkishDutch relations to the elections on Wednesday, then you will pay the price,” Erdogan warned.

“Those who unleash the dogs and their hatred will pay the price,” he added in reference to images showing police dogs biting pro-Erdogan protesters who gathered outside the consulate.

Dutch Foreign Minister Bert Koenders said no apologies would be forthcoming.

Addressing crowds at a cam-

paign rally later, Erdogan called on international organizations to impose sanctions on the Netherlands and urged the European Union to speak out against the Dutch.

“What took place in the Netherlands was the trampling of diplomacy, international law, practice, decency. Is there a peep coming out of Europe? No. Why? Because they won’t bite one another. They are all the same. The Netherlands did not behave like a European Union member state governed by the rule of law, but like a banana republic.”

Amid the sparring, Cavosoglu was allowed to campaign Sunday in the northern French city of Metz a day after he was banned from speaking in the Netherlands. He told hundreds of supporters there that the Dutch would be forced to “account” regardless of an apology and called the Netherlands the “capital of fascism.”

Alain Carton, secretary general of the Metz prefecture, said the rally presented no threat to public order and was permitted in the name of the freedom of

assembly.

France’s foreign minister, Jean-Marc Ayrault, called for the calming of tensions between some European countries and Turkey. He also urged Turkish authorities to “avoid excesses and provocations.”

About 100 supporters draped in Turkish flags greeted Cavusoglu as he reached the Centre des Congres of Metz.

“I am disappointed by Holland because they speak of democracy and freedom but it is not the case.

To not allow a speech, it’s sad.

We are all disappointed,” said Beatrice Bozkus, a Metz resident who attended the rally.

The Netherlands said Turkish attempts to campaign here touched at the heart of Dutch citizenship, although hundreds of thousands of residents have Turkish roots and many still feel committed to their ancestral homeland.

“The biggest problem in this case is that Turkey is talking about Turkish citizens who they want to talk to,” Rutte said.

“These are Dutch citizens who possibly also have voting rights in Turkey.”

as the basis for his findings.

“Is the trial judge entitled to highlight social context like this? Yes. Is he biased for doing so? No,” they say.

Also at issue in the appeal is Zuker’s decision to award Gray restitution for her legal fees, a precedent-setting move under the recently passed Canadian

Victims Bill of Rights. Ururyar’s lawyers argued it was an inappropriate interpretation of the law.

But the Crown says Gray had the right to get her own counsel, particularly since the courts have recognized “that victims’ privacy and equality rights are often engaged in sexual assault cases,” and note that the legislation does

not restrict the type of restitution victims of crime can request.

Gray says she wants to highlight the “social and economic costs” incurred by those who are sexually assaulted.

“I think all of us who have been sexually assaulted can relate to how we bear almost all of the costs of these people’s deci-

RECEP TAYYIP ERDOĞAN \ FACEBOOK

Still, added the prime minister, his government “will keep working to de-escalate where we can. If the Turks choose to escalate, we will have to react, but we will do everything we can to de-escalate.”

On Saturday, Turkey’s family and social policies minister, Fatma Betul Sayan Kaya, was denied entry to the Turkish consulate in Rotterdam, where she was to campaign for the upcoming referendum in Turkey.

After a tense standoff outside the consulate, she was escorted back to the German border.

Speaking to reporters Sunday at Istanbul’s main airport, Kaya condemned Dutch authorities’ “anti-democratic” actions which “trampled on freedom of expression and right to assembly.”

“We were subject to very rude and harsh treatment,” she said.

Earlier, a man climbed onto the roof of the Dutch consulate in Istanbul and replaced the Netherlands’ flag with the Turkish one.

Television footage showed a man standing on the roof of the building shouting Allahu akbar, Arabic for “God is great.”

A small group of men holding Turkish flags were seen outside the consulate shouting “Damn Holland” and “Racist Holland.”

The private Dogan news agency reported that the consulate later took down Turkey’s flag and put the Dutch flag back up.

In Rotterdam, police arrested 12 people early Sunday at a demonstration outside the consulate after police were hit by bottles and rocks.

Kiper reported from Istanbul.

Suzan Fraser in Ankara and Dominique Soguel in Metz, France, also contributed to this report.

Toronto man... any comments during the trial which would suggest that he was biased or that he had prejudged the matter.”

The materials Zuker referred to served to highlight some stereotypes already condemned in the case law cited in his ruling, prosecutors say, and did not act ❰❰ 17

www.canadianinquirer.net

sion to sexually assault us,” she says. “If every victim witness was entitled to have a lawyer in the courtroom, things would be very different.”

In his ruling, Zuker found Ururyar forced Gray to perform oral sex and engage in sexual intercourse in the early hours of Jan. 31, 2015.

World News

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MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Slaying of thief fuels Italy’s debate on legitimate defence

BY FRANCES D’EMILIO The Associated Press

PHOTO BY TANGO7174 - OWN WORK, CC BY-SA 4.0, WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Report shows negative effects of Brexit for Spain PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

Brussels.

The effects of this could be most seriously felt in the Canary Islands, which currently MADRID — The regions of Va- welcomes around a third of the lencia, the Balearic islands, the total number of British visiCanary Islands and Murcia will tors to Spain, especially as an be the parts of Spain that will “ultra-peripheral region” of the most suffer the effects of Brit- EU situated off the north-west ain’s departure from the Euro- coast of Africa and accessible pean Union (EU). only by boat or plane.

This was one of the concluBritain is currently a major sions of a report by the Span- importer of Spanish agriculturish government al products, but published on with the expectMonday in El ed rise in “nonPais, one of tariff barriers” Spain’s largestand new health circulation daily Meanwhile, controls that newspapers. the withdrawal Brexit would enThe report of the UK tail, export to the said that the arfrom the UK would beeas would feel EU’s fisheries come more difthe effects “due agreements ficult. to their exposure “will affect the Meanwhile, to British tourSpanish fleet.” the withdrawal ism and other of the UK from key sectors” the EU’s fisherwhich include ies agreements agriculture and “will affect the the car and pharSpanish fleet,” maceutical industries. according to the report, which Over 17 million British citi- stated that 80 Spanish boats zens visited Spain during their currently fish in British waholidays in 2016 and the re- ters while 40 boats of the Britport predicted the number of ish fleet actually have Spanish tourists to the Canary Islands, owners and would lose their Valencia, the Balearics and current EU status.

Catalonia would fall as a result The report said there was a of Brexit. This would not only strong need to “negotiate a biinclude a fall in direct income lateral fishing agreement befrom visitors, but could also tween the EU and the United lead to a drop in financing from Kingdom.”

ROME — Italian opposition politicians from the far right populist parties and other conservative forces on Sunday demanded a new law quickly on legitimate defence to protect law-abiding citizens.

The debate was fueled after a restaurant owner was put under investigation for allegedly fatally shooting a thief in the back during a middle-of-thenight break-in at the eatery.

The owner, Mario Cattaneo, 67, and his family live above the restaurant in Gugnano, near Lodi, northern Italy.

When noise awakened the family early Friday, the restaurateur grabbed a loaded hunting rifle and, according to some accounts given by the man and his adult son, fired toward a courtyard through a rear-entrance barricade erected by the thieves.

In other Italian media accounts, the owner was quoted as saying the rifle fired accidentally when the thieves yanked the barrel of the rifle and he fell. In still another version, the Italian news

agency ANSA on Sunday quoted Cattaneo as saying one of the thieves grabbed his arm and tried to pull away the rifle.

When the restaurant reopened for business Sunday, Cattaneo showed journalists bruises on his arm he said was caused by a thief.

The victim, a Romanian man, was fatally shot near a back shoulder blade. The other thieves fled, leaving behind cigarette cartons allegedly stolen from the trattoria’s bar area.

“I’m deeply sorry for what happened. I thought the criminals had already gone away,” ANSA quoted the owner as saying Sunday.

Opposition politicians championed the restaurateur’s cause.

“I’m on Mario’s side,” Mariastella Gelmini, a leader in former Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s conservative-leaning Forza Italia Party, wrote on Facebook.

Gelmini challenged the ruling Democratic Party to speedup the timetable on a bill in Parliament aimed at clarifying what constitutes legitimate defence of people and property.

That the slain alleged thief was Romanian fueled antiimmigrant sentiment being

whipped up by far-right parties, especially by the Northern League led by populist firebrand Matteo Salvini.

One bill, proposed by the Northern League two years ago, would widen the circumstances in which citizens could act for legitimate defence.

“A dead man is never good news, but the Italian citizens stand by Mario Cattaneo,” Salvini tweeted Sunday. “No judge can convict him.”

The owner’s son, Gianluca Cattaneo, said: “We’ve reopened, because one needs to start over, go forward, but our morale is very low.

“We wanted to re-open today thanks to the strength of our customers and to say thanks.”

Giorgia Meloni, who heads the far-right Brothers of Italy party, contended that if the right-wing-backed legitimate defence bill had become law already, “Mario Cattaneo wouldn’t have to face a trial.”

“The principle that we want to ratify is clear: if, in the best of hypotheses you come into my property during the night to rob, I have the right to defend myself,” Meloni wrote on Facebook.

Ancient timber resource disappearing in New Zealand PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY WELLINGTON — Lawmakers have called for a ban on the “mining” of an ancient New Zealand timber resource after a government report Monday showed that half of it might have already disappeared.

The report showed that an estimated 30 percent to 50 percent of swamp kauri logs — massive logs of New Zealand’s native kauri hardwood that have been preserved in peat land for thousands of years — have been removed from the ground.

It was one of three reports on swamp kauri, which is found in the far northern Northland region, published by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) www.canadianinquirer.net

on Monday.

The reports provided information on the scientific and cultural values of swamp kauri and its distribution and remaining volume.

“This is the first time an attempt has been made to assess the swamp kauri resource,” MPI director general of regulation and assurance Bryan Wilson said in a statement.

The reports also said that swamp kauri held significant value for New Zealanders, due to its age, appearance, and its cultural properties.

“They also highlight swamp kauri’s scientific value in helping to understand the natural history of New Zealand, and its contribution to understanding the effects of climate change,” said Wilson.

Swamp kauri timber, also

known as ancient kauri, is milled from kauri trees that have been buried and preserved in peat swamps for between 800 and 60,000 years.

Some kauri trees were up to 2,000 years old when they fell.

MPI is responsible for overseeing and regulating the milling and export of swamp kauri, which is the world’s oldest workable wood.

Swamp kauri can only be legally exported as a finished product or as whole or sawn stumps or roots — provided the timber didn’t come from indigenous forest land.

Stumps and roots intended for export must be visually inspected and approved by MPI before they leave New Zealand.

Breaches of these rules can incur fines of up to 200,000 NZ ❱❱ PAGE 22 Ancient timber

21

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

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22

World News

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Death toll exceeds 50 Carlos the Jackal regrets not in Ethiopia’s garbage killing ‘people I should have’ dump landslide

BY PHILIPPE SOTTO The Associated Press

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY ADDIS ABABA — The number of people killed has exceeded 50 after a massive landslide on Saturday night hit a landfill at the outskirts of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa, officials at the Addis Ababa City Administration told Xinhua on Monday.

Dagmawit Moges, head of the Addis Ababa City Administration Communication Affairs Office, said that the death toll has exceeded 50, while the number of people injured has reached 28, of whom two are highly injured.

According to Dagmawit, this number could rise as the search for missing people is still ongoing at the site where the landslide occurred.

The city administration, after organizing a committee to respond properly to the crisis, has already evacuated 300 inhabitants from the area, in an effort to avoid the impact of similar other tragic incidents.

Dagmawit, however, indicated that since almost all residents in the area are informal settlers, the number of people missing has not been yet confirmed.

The condition at the 50-yearold landfill is said to be a bigger challenge for emergency personnel who are working “day and night” to save the lives of

those residents who are missed.

The number of bodies found dead at the site was initially reported to be 15. This number, however, mounted to 35 later on Sunday and 45 on Monday morning. Officials at the city administration are still unsure whether this number could rise or not.

The massive landslide that occurred at 8 p.m. on Saturday night has buried and damaged several buildings in the area, while many of the residents were inside their houses during the landslide.

The 36 hectare municipal landfill, called “Koshe,” in Ethiopia’s capital is home for number of Addis Ababa dwellers who were apparently victims of a number of landslides, including the latest one on Saturday night.

Local residents told Xinhua that a number of smaller landslides had occurred at the dumping site over the past years, yet none of them had a magnitude of the one seen on Saturday.

The Addis Ababa City Administration and the Addis Ababa University Horn of Africa Regional Environmental Center (HoA-REC), in a bid to produce energy from the 50-year-old landfill, have recently installed the first stage of a methane capture and flaring system, known as the “Repi landfill gas project.”

Ancient timber... dollars (USD 138,980).

In the second quarter of 2016, about 1,500 cubic meters were approved for milling and less than 200 cubic meters were approved for export, according to MPI. In 2015, the Auditor-General reviewed the regulation of the milling and export of swamp kauri by MPI after claims that exporters were duping regulators to illegally sell the logs abroad, but found it was being carried out effectively.

The opposition Green Party called for a moratorium on further mining of swamp kauri. ❰❰ 20

The reports showed almost 80 percent of land containing swamp kauri might have significant ecological value, despite these areas currently being classified as “unlikely” to have any, said Green Party environment spokesperson Eugenie Sage.

“We simply shouldn’t be ripping up our wetlands for shortterm profit when the environmental destruction will last for generations to come,” Sage said in a statement.

“This is a prime example of a short term, high impact extractive industry exploiting a scarce and finite resource.”

PARIS — Once the world’s most-wanted fugitive, the man known as “Carlos the Jackal” appeared in a French court Monday for a deadly 1974 attack on a Paris shopping arcade, a trial that victims’ families awaited for decades.

The Venezuelan-born Ilich Ramirez Sanchez is accused of throwing a hand grenade from a mezzanine restaurant onto a shopping area in the French capital’s Latin Quarter. Two people were killed and 34 injured at the trendy Drugstore Publicis.

Known worldwide as Carlos, the 67-year-old is already serving a life sentence in France for a series of murders and attacks he has been convicted of perpetrating or organizing in the country on behalf of the Palestinian cause or communist revolution in the 1970s and ‘80s.

As the trial opened Monday, Carlos denounced it as a “gross manipulation of justice” 42 years after the attack. He has denied involvement and pleaded innocent.

The back and forth between him and a panel of judges provided some answers not usually heard from a criminal suspect asserting innocence.

Asked to state his profession, Carlos called himself a “professional revolutionary,” and said “I’m doing fine” in prison — after more than 20 years behind bars.

At one point, the presiding judge asked him whether he had any regrets.

“Yes, I have regrets — because I’m kindhearted — that I did not kill people I should have killed,” Carlos answered.

“I like people. I know what violence is. I don’t like violence.

I saw massacres,” he added.

Speaking of his usual behaviour when he was confronted with tense situations, Carlos told the court: “I look at the scene and I shoot before everyone else. I have no merit, I was born like that.”

If convicted at the end of the new trial before a special terrorism court, he could get a third life sentence. Carlos, who www.canadianinquirer.net

A NARROW STREET IN LATIN QUARTER OF PARIS, FRANCE. (SHUTTERSTOCK)

was convicted of terrorism in 2011, is charged this time with multiple first-degree murders in relation with a terrorist enterprise.

At the time of the 1974 attack, he was 24 years old and already had joined the organization Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, but hadn’t yet achieved worldwide notoriety.

When police arrived at the scene of the attack, they found a devastated mall with all the windows shattered, multiple bloodstains and a hole in the marble slab of the ground floor where the grenade fell.

The two men who died were hit by metal chips that perforated vital organs and caused internal bleeding, according to court documents.

His long-time lawyer, Isabelle Coutant-Peyre, claims that none of the witnesses had described a man resembling her client, and that the whole case was trumped-up.

The case took so long to go to trial because it was first dismissed for lack of evidence before being reopened when Carlos was arrested and imprisoned in France. His lawyers repeatedly argued against holding a trial, arguing the attack was too long ago and that it won’t make a difference for Carlos, already in prison for life.

“What need is there to hold this trial?” asked CoutantPeyre, who married Carlos in a Muslim ceremony in 2001 that is not legally binding. “It’s a useless trial.”

The attack’s victims, however,

are relieved. “The civil parties demand justice,” said Georges Holleaux, lawyer for the widows of the two men killed in the attack and other civil parties to the case.

Prosecutor Remi Crosson du Cormier argued that the trial remains relevant today. “Democracy has two principal enemies — totalitarianism, and terrorism,” he said, suggesting that Carlos is among “those who threaten democracy by their actions.”

The case is being heard by a special court made up of professional judges and with no jurors, as is the custom with terrorism trials in France.

An Arab language news magazine in France, Al Watan Al Arabi, published a long interview with a man it identified as Carlos five years after the attack. He allegedly claimed he had personally thrown the grenade into the restaurant, described the full details of the operation and explained why it was carried out. Carlos later disputed he had given the interview.

A year after the Drugstore Publicis attack, Carlos sprang to global recognition in the 1975 hostage-taking of OPEC oil ministers.

Intelligence agencies later linked him to the 1976 Palestinian hijacking of a French jetliner to Uganda, and other hijackings, explosions and deaths throughout the Cold War. Carlos was arrested in Sudan and whisked to France in a sack

by French intelligence services in 1994.

23

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

New Year, New Beginning concert TRIBU Production presents GERPHIL FLORES, a classically trained performer and dubbed the songwriter and producer David Foster’s “Golden Girl”.

The evening is sure to bring the audience in awe with her take on soft classics. Moreover, an advocate of classical crossover music, she is keen on enthralling everyone with rendition of popular music performed with a classical twist.

A fast gaining genre of music having recently acquired its own billboard chart, classical crossover is known to blend the two elements of a musical piece. These are the symphonic as well as the operatic elements. For a mainstream musical piece in either popular, folk, rock, Latin, gospel, R&B, movie themes and all other type of music; once these elements are given the treatment raises the bar on the quality of the performance and steals the heart and soul of the discerning audience.

Gerphil was born in Hamburg, Germany. She eventually relocated to her maternal homeland, the Philippines at the age of four. Before then, her parents regularly brought her to the German opera houses and the age of three, she began singing songs composed

by Mozart including the aria “Queen of the Night” from the opera Magic Flute. At the age of 11, she decided to pursue a career in music.

To further hone her singing, Flores had voice lessons under New York based soprano Evelyn Mandac and upon her advice, Flores started to formally study voice at the College of Music, University of the Philippines. Gerphil graduated with a diploma in Creative Performing Musical Arts and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music (Major in Voice) cum laude.

Some of her theatre credits include Tumpet’s and Stages’ “High School Musical” in the role of Kelsi Nielson, Maria Clara on the Gantimpala Theatre Foundation’s Noli Me Tangere.

Opera credits include the role of Anne Page in the “Merry Wives of Windsor” production by the UP College of Music and Cio-Cio/Kate Pinkerton alternates in the Music Artes’ pro-

duction of “Madame Butterfly” held at the Cultural Center of the Philiippines, the title role in Antonin Dvorak’s Opera “Rusalka” and as Dorothy in her recent graduation recital opera “Dorothy” held at the College of Music, UP. At the recently concluded 29th ALIW AWARDS, the award body that honors live entertainment in the Philippines, she was bestowed the 2016 Best Crossover Performer and the 2016 Best Major Concert award. Previously nominated in 2009, 2010 and 2011 in the Best Female Classical Performer Category, she won her first Aliw Award in 2013 for Best Crossover/Broadway Performer. In 2014 she again won for Best Classical Performer. 2015 brought a triple threat win as the Best Female Crossover Performer, Best Female Classical Performer and the coveted Entertainer of the Year as well as a nominee to the Best Actress in a Musical.

Her advocacy towards classical crossover music also brought her as a contestant to the inaugural run of Asia’s Got Talent held in Singapore where she garnered the “Golden Buzzer” from one of the judges, songwriter and producer David Foster. She reached up to the third place and was invited to perform in Mr. Foster’s Asia Concert Tour in Manila and Thailand. She has since pursued solo and collaborative concerts worldwide.

Joining the Golden Girl is another classical crossover artist from Budapest, Hungary; ATILLA DOBAK. This season, Attila will appear as the title role of Háry János in Kodaly's Háry János at the MÜPA Budapest, and create the roles of Haly in Rossini's L'italiana in

Algeri and Schaunard in Puccini's La Boheme with the Hungarian State Opera. His past season’s engagements included performances with Boston Lyric Opera in Puccini’s La Boheme, in Bizet’s Carmen under the baton of David Angus and in Lehar’s The Merry Widow under the baton of Alexander Joel. He is fondly counted as one of the BARIHUNKS®, a group of the sexiest baritone hunks from the opera.

Attila Dobak was born in Budapest, Hungary, where he began his musical education.

He began learning to play clarinet at the age of seven and was twelve when he took his first piano lesson. He was inspired to study singing after watching the 3 Tenors Concert with Luciano Pavarotti, Jose Carreras and Placido Domingo. He started studying voice at age sixteen and eventually was accepted into the Béla Bartok Conservatory of Music in Budapest, where he majored in Opera and Vocal Performance.

In the year of 2011, he continued to pursue opera studies in the United States at the Longy School of Music of Bard College in Cambridge, MA. After graduating from the university in 2013, he joined the Opera North as a member of their Young Artist Program.

During his time there, he was taking the roles of Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Emil de Becque in South Pacific and Gideon March in Little Women under the baton of Louis Burkot and Anthony Barrese.

In 2014, Dobak was invited to perform at the Miami Summer Music Festival by Michael Rossi, a conductor of the Washington National Opera, where he sang Figaro in Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. He also apwww.canadianinquirer.net

peared on NBC giving a solo opera performance with the Miami Summer Music Festival Orchestra.

Although, mainly raised on classical music, Dobak has a great passion to perform in classical and mixed genres too.

The idea of making his mark both as an opera singer and a classical - crossover artist has led him to the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. He loves combining different musical elements from opera to pop, in an attempt of creating a "soulful pop opera".

To accompany our artists on piano is HANNAH HAN, is a Canadian classical pianist who has previously made guest appearances with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra at the Orpheum Theatre and with the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra at the Michael J. Fox Theatre. She had studied with Edward J. Parker and later continued her studies under Dr. Sara Davis Buechner.

GALEN SCHRAM, Violin Galen is currently completing the fourth year of his Bachelor's degree in violin performance at the University of British Columbia. He has served as concertmaster of the UBC Symphony Orchestra, and the UBC Chamber Strings orchestra, with which he will be featured as a soloist this spring.

Galen has also served as concertmaster of the Marrowstone Festival orchestra and the Marrowstone Chamber orchestra in Bellingham, Washington.

JOHN-PAUL RADELET, Violin John-Paul is a fourth year violin performance student at the UBC School of Music, studying under the tutelage of Professor Jasper Wood. He has served as assistant concertmaster of the National Youth

Orchestra of Canada and concertmaster of the UBC Symphony Orchestra. After graduating from UBC Music this May, John-Paul will be pursing his Masters degree, also in violin peformance.

AMANDA PANG, Viola Amanda is currently pursuing a double degree in nutritional science and music performance at UBC. Starting music at a young age, she has competed in numerous competitions for chamber ensembles and solo works, and has composed and arranged music for competitions. Aside from music, Amanda is a big foodie and actively posts her food pictures in instagram.

ADRIAN PANG, Cello Adrian is currently seeking to pursue a degree in computer science and music peformance at UBC. Having started music at a young age along with his two older siblings, he has been exposes to numerous youth symphonies and chamber ensembles as well as competed in multitudes of competitions over his lifetime. Adrian also has composed and arranged a large variety of works for various instrumentations, especially that of a string quartet.

Part of the proceeds of the concert will go towards the Black Pencil Project. This project brings pencils to remote schools in the Philippines.

TRIBU would also like to extend sincere thanks and gratitude to the sponsors, countless volunteers and everyone the patrons. We have limited seats so we advise everyone to purchase tickets as soon as possible.

Tickets are available online or via the phone at the www.ticketsnw.ca or 604 521 5050.

24

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Entertainment Is MMFF 2016 a flop or a hit?

Box-office results aside, total subsidy for fest beneficiaries is almost the same this year, says FAP head

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer LAST WEDNESDAY night, a supposedly impartial news report on TV insinuated that last December’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) was a “flop.”

As expected, the fest’s defenders swiftly denied the allegation on all forms of media, social and traditional.

In an earlier statement released to the press on Tuesday afternoon, Thomas Orbos, overall chair of the MMFF, declared the 2016 edition “a success.”

Critics, however, pointed out that the 2016 total gross, P400 million, is considerably lower than 2015’s P1.3 billion.

Liza Diño, chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), one of MMFF’s beneficiaries, remarked that the definition of success was “relative” and one had to consider “the production budget of most of the entries.”

“I believe most of them earned from the festival,” Diño wrote on her Facebook page.

Leo Martinez, head of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), another MMFF beneficiary, pointed out that in spite of the lower total earnings, the 2016 subsidy that would be given this year to the five ben-

eficiaries was almost the same as 2015’s amount.

Apart from the FDCP and the FAP, the other fest beneficiaries are the Movie Workers Welfare Foundation (Mowelfund), the Motion Picture AntiFilm Piracy Council, and the Optical Media Board (OMB).

Martinez first revealed the report about the subsidy during last January’s Senate hearing on the MMFF, which was called

by Sen. Grace Poe-Llamanzares (who was eventually appointed as a member of the newly organized executive committee of the MMFF).

When Martinez divulged the information at the Senate hearing, it was quickly brushed aside, he recalled.

In an interview with the Inquirer, Martinez recounted that the good news had been relayed to him by MMFF organizers themselves.

“I was told that the total subsidy would be almost the same as last year’s amount, which was P14 million, to be divided among the five beneficiaries,” Martinez explained.

He pointed out that the MMFF pie would be divided, as follows: 50 percent goes to Mowelfund; 20 percent to FAP; 20 percent to the Anti-Film Piracy Council; 5 percent to OMB, and 5 percent to FDCP. Martinez recalled that he

fought for and was able to change the previous practice of distributing the subsidy in tranches. “The funds instead will now be given in full.”

Martinez said that the FAP has yet to receive the 2016 subsidy, though. “It was supposed to be handed out last month.”

Rochelle T. Macapili-Ona, MMFF executive director, told the Inquirer on Thursday that these issues would be discussed in the first execom meeting last Friday morning.

In a statement released on Friday afternoon, the MMFF announced that this year’s total subsidy was P12 million.

The statement also stated: “There is already an Executive Order sent to the Office of the President that will officially declare the MMFF duration from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7.” It is just waiting for the President’s signature, said the statement.

“The office of Senator Llamanzares will also try to take up [the matter] in the Senate,” it added.

Martinez also had misgivings regarding some newly appointed members of the execom.

From last year’s 14, the execom membership was increased to 24. Still, Martinez noted that FAP was not included in the new board. “The five beneficiaries should be represented in the execom,” he noted.

METRO MANILA FILM FESTIVAL (MMFF) OFFICIAL / FACEBOOK

Martinez used to be an execom member until he was barred from the group three years ago. “Perhaps some people hate…that I ask too many questions. I told the MMFF officers that if they didn’t like me, they could appoint another FAP representative.”

Martinez related that Victor Villegas, brother of Dominic Du, was appointed to the new execom.

Former execom members Du and Marichu Maceda figured in the controversy that led to the disqualification of Erik

Matti’s “Honor Thy Father” in the MMFF best picture race in 2015.

After being absent for a year, Maceda was reappointed to the execom this year.

The 2016 execom members who were not reappointed included Moira Lang, Ed Cabagnot, Rep. Alfred Vargas and Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara.

“Ed and I were not informed that we would be removed,” Lang told the Inquirer. “Of course, we knew it was possible, even likely. But there was no heads up.”

Farmer is ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ champ

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer “HE REMINDS me of the young Rey Valera.”

This was how Rey Valera, the award-winning singercomposer and jury head of the talent search “Tawag ng Tanghalan,” described the show’s grand champion, Noven Belleza of Negros Occidental.

Belleza, a farmer from Victo-

rias City, beat five other equally worthy contenders to bring home the P2-million cash prize during the contest’s “Huling Tapatan” (grand finals) held on Saturday at Resorts World Manila in Pasay City.

When asked what he thought Belleza did that earned the judges’ nod, Valera said: “The other jurors and I can easily sense if a performer is simply trying to manipulate his audience. Noven did no such thing.

His performance was very honest. That’s why he is well-loved.”

For Belleza’s winning performance, a medley of Air Supply tunes, he garnered a score of 99.96 percent from a combination of points given by the judges, and from text votes from the audience and television viewers.

Sam Mangubat, who got 49.9 percent, was a far second. He dished out songs popularized

by Bruno Mars. On the third www.canadianinquirer.net

slot was Froilan Canlas, who did some original Filipino songs, with 45.78 percent.

Valera added that he was pleased that Belleza did a version of his “Malayo pa ang Umaga” during the eliminations.

“I’m pretty sure that version will be a hit,” Valera declared. “I surely hope he doesn’t change, that he doesn’t lose that spirit.”

Singer-composer Ogie Alcasid, also a member of the jury, added: “While he was on stage, I felt No-

ven’s sincerity. Hewarmed the hearts not only of the judges but also of the audience. That’s what made him win.”

Marielle Montellano, Pauline Agupitan and Carlmalone Montecido completed the Final 6 lineup.

“Tawag ng Tanghalan” is a segment on the noontime variety program “It’s Showtime.”

Starting March 13, the segment will feature child contestants ages 7 to 13.

Entertainment

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

25

Learning from Beyonce and Kanye:

Star syllabus:

The rise of ‘Trojan horse’ celebrity courses

Academics pitch their dream Canadian celebrity courses

BY DAVID FRIEND The Canadian Press

BY DAVID FRIEND The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Sometimes it takes a superstar like Beyonce to get university students talking about bigger issues.

It’s one of the reasons University of Victoria lecturer Melissa Avdeeff launched a course on Queen Bey a few years ago.

She felt a description highlighting the pop superstar would draw students who might otherwise dismiss her music class with a sociological spin.

“It’s kind of a Trojan horse situation,” Avdeeff says. “(We) bring students in with Beyonce, they get a better critical understanding of an artist they’re engaged with — but through that (we introduce) wider issues.”

Over the past few years, a growing number of universities have warmed to teaching classes linked to today’s celebrities.

While academia once reserved class time for composers like Beethoven and legends like the Beatles, more recently, Top 40 mavens Lady Gaga and Miley Cyrus found their names listed on a syllabus of higher learning. Washington University’s “Politics of Kanye West: Black Genius and Sonic Aesthetics,” which began in January, filled up almost instantly when registration opened for students.

But celebrity courses aren’t entirely a new phenomenon.

Madonna was an early pioneer of celebrity studies when the University of Amsterdam launched a class on her influ-

ence in 1997. Other pop culture-angled courses followed, including a buzzworthy class on HBO’s “The Sopranos” at the University of Calgary while the show was still in production.

What’s different today is that social media has injected an immediacy into the conversation unlike ever before. Examinations of popular artists now include debates about their tweets, Instagram posts and music videos.

Even as they grow in popularity, not everyone thinks celebrity courses deserve full credit.

Zainab Mahmood felt the backlash from her peers after enrolling in a Beyonce course at the University of Waterloo two years ago.

“I had to explain myself to most people,” says Mahmood, adding she’s glad she ignored the naysayers and took the class. If anything, time has given her vindication for studying the power of modern celebrity.

Donald Trump’s ascent to the White House blindsided many who wrote him off as a mere reality TV star.

All the while Beyonce continues to ignite conversations about race relations, while actors like Emma Watson and Lena Dunham stoked feminist rhetoric on social media.

Mahmood says her professor warned students this wouldn’t be a series of breezy lectures on Beyonce’s glamorous life. Instead, the pop singer would be a vehicle for exploring broader issues like race, feminism and performance theory, though ❱❱ PAGE 27 The rise

WHILE MANY celebrities are the subject of courses of higher learning, there have been few Canadian examples.

Aside from a Leonard Cohen class at McGill University, homegrown stars haven’t been given the same academic treatment as the likes of Beyonce, Kanye West and Lady Gaga.

So we asked a group of scholars to dream up courses headlined by famous Canadians from the entertainment world.

Here are the celebrities they picked and their imagined course outlines: Samantha Bee — American politics through a Canadian lens

Why: The “Full Frontal” host’s feisty political commentaries frequently go viral, proving the Toronto-born comedian’s mix of jokes and jabs resonate beyond borders.

The pitch: University of Oklahoma assistant professor Lisa Funnell, who was born in Hamilton, says Bee is an avenue to a lineage of Canadian comedians who found success partly by poking fun at America. Units could include an examination of Michael Moore’s comedy “Canadian Bacon,” which starred the late John Candy, and the career of “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels. k.d. lang — Gender, sexuality and the politics of country music

Why: The Alberta chanteuse has pushed against “dominant gender norms and prevailing

Canadian rapper Drake.

sexual stereotypes” throughout her career, says Marc Lafrance, associate sociology professor at Concordia University.

The pitch: Lafrance suggests a focus on how the singer bucked country music conventions by appropriating masculine iconography. Other sections could examine how lang was able to cultivate her persona through the changing social conditions of the times.

Drake — Race and identity politics through social media

Why: Toronto’s rapper extraordinaire is a social media pro, to say the least. His Instagram posts are a portal into his life, but also a window into lifestyle creation.

The pitch: Western University student Amara Pope, who wrote about Drake for her master’s thesis, suggests Drake as a vehicle for a study of race and social status. Drake plays the role of “high-class rapper and low-class citizen,” she says,

SHANICE GARCIA / PCI

which makes him a timely example of how the Internet can help shape identity. “It can go beyond him as a case study into examining different ways of communicating on social media,” Pope says.

Celine Dion — Quebecois diva on a global scale

Why: No other French-Canadian celebrity can rival Dion’s influence as an ambassador for both Quebec and Canada.

The pitch: A course rich in social context would focus on Dion’s rise to fame as a musical export, suggests University of Calgary arts professor Dawn Johnston. Starting with a study of Montreal living, the course could expand to chart Dion’s beginnings in international song contests. “You could flash back to when she was on Eurovision,” Johnston says, pointing to when she represented Switzerland in 1988. “(And then) explore her role as a French Canadian in a world culture.”

Milo Ventimiglia poured his dad into Jack on ‘This is Us’

BY LEANNE ITALIE The Associated Press NEW YORK — In Milo Ventimiglia’s trailer on the set of NBC’s “This is Us” hangs a black-andwhite photo of himself at maybe 3 or 4, leaning on his dad’s knee, father and son smiling in the front yard near a tall tree.

Above and below the snapshot are handwritten signs, reminders that have helped the actor mould his popular character, Papa Jack Pearson, on one of network TV’s weepiest family shows of the moment: “Be a Good Father,” Ventimiglia penned above, with “Be a Good Husband” below.

“I saw my mom and dad with

a great, great healthy marriage,” said the kind-faced Ventimiglia, neither father nor husband himself.

“I think I would absolutely love to have that, have a family, have a wife, have a partner.

You think about who is that one person that you’re going to be with that you can just walk shoulder-to-shoulder with in www.canadianinquirer.net

life, support, and they support you, you know,” he added in a recent interview.

Ventimiglia, at 39 already in the business more than two decades, said he poured other aspects of his parents into the character and his on-screen marriage to Mandy Moore’s Rebecca, including their very human challenges and flaws as

the show headed into Tuesday’s first-season finale.

“I know he was in some pretty hot spots,” Ventimiglia said. “He was 20, 21 years old. To know that my father has experienced war, like some of my friends have experienced war, gives me a different perspective. ... There’s gotta be a better way to solve the problems that we have.”

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MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Lifestyle ASK A DESIGNER:

Rethinking the basement for spring

BY MELISSA RAYWORTH The Associated Press BASEMENTS CAN be cold and dark, and often get much less decorating attention than the rest of the house. But you can gain new, useful and stylish living space by upgrading that subterranean space.

Step one is addressing any risk of flooding or water leakage. Bring in a professional to assess the risk and recommend safety measures. If the air in your basement is damp, add a dehumidifier to dry it out. After that, the options for renovating and redecorating a basement are endless.

We’ve asked three interior designers — New York-based Jenny Kirschner, and Los Angeles-based Sayre Ziskin and Theodore Leaf — for advice on transforming basements into well-loved rooms, while preserving their role as a practical storage space.

Choose a purpose

Growing up in the Midwest, Leaf saw his grandmother and mother use their basements as creative spaces for sewing or scrapbooking. He encourages homeowners around the country to take the same approach: Choose a particular purpose for your basement, or perhaps two purposes if the space is large enough.

Ziskin agrees: “Make a decision as to what you’d actually go down there for,” she says, and be realistic. “If you make it into a game room, how likely are you to actually go down there?”

For some, it works best as a home office. “I’m one of the few people in LA who does have a basement,” Leaf says. “It’s a walk-out basement, and it’s where I edit all my videos. The lack of light is actually great because I can see my screen properly.”

Basements with little natural light can become gorgeous media rooms, he says, and can solve the problem of having a living room dominated by a large TV. And don’t forget embracing the original purpose of a cellar: Use it as a cool spot for fermenting healthy foods like kombucha.

Warm it up

Many homeowners avoid their basement because it’s cold, Ziskin says. If so, tackle that problem first.

Ziskin recently decorated a basement with low-pile carpeting in a soft shade of grey, and then finished the edges with moulding. It gave the room warmth while adding the sort of finished look you normally find upstairs. For added coziness, you can layer area rugs on top of low-pile carpeting. Carpets and rugs will also improve acoustics. (If decorating with carpet, of course, make sure any water leak problems have been solved.)

Another warming trick: Ditch cold, unflattering, fluorescent lights in favour of warm bulbs, and add more light as needed.

“It’s important to have at least one overhead light,” Ziskin says, and you’ll want that to be a flush-mount that doesn’t drop

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lower than 6 inches below the ceiling, since basement ceilings are often lower than ceilings upstairs. Then fill in with wall sconces, floor lamps or table lamps.

Leaf agrees: You want “lighting coming from different angles, so put a lamp in there,” he says, “and up-lights in the corner.”

Lighting is important enough in a basement that Kirschner suggests working with a professional.

It can help to add a dimmer so you have brighter light for working or games, and soft light for socializing or screen time.

Lastly, include upholstered furniture with soft, warm textures (“Stay away from leathers and vinyls that feel cold and slippery,” says Ziskin), and finish the space with a big basket

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of cozy blankets.

Go light and bright

Basements are great places to take design risks, so have fun.

“Why shouldn’t the floor be teal or bright orange? Make it happy,” says Leaf. “Put up that one wallpaper swatch you always loved.”

Even in a basement storage room or laundry room, he says, “paint it a colour you don’t hate.”

Also consider the positive impact of light, airy colours, says Ziskin. She prefers “a very light off-white or a very soft light grey, like a very light cloud colour.”

Invest in quality

All three designers suggest decorating basements with the same level of quality and beauty

you choose for other rooms. Details like crown moulding and built-in shelves give basement rooms the feel of a “real” room.

Kirschner and Ziskin have used Ikea’s built-in cabinets to create stylish basement spaces without huge expense. Line one wall with floor-to-ceiling wardrobe cabinets in the same solid colour for a neat, cohesive area where items can be stored out of view.

For open storage, choose strong shelving units with a bottom shelf that’s 4 to 6 off the floor, just in case of any flooding, says Leaf.

And choose good containers to put on those open shelves. “If you have a mishmash of plastic bins, donate them and get ones that match,” Leaf says. “If it’s good-looking, you’re more likely to keep it organized.”

Lifestyle

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

27

58 percent of Filipino women delay marriage and kids for career They believe there has never been a better time to be a woman, study reveals

BY CATHY CAÑARES YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer MOST FILIPINO women believe there has never been a better time to be a woman and that femininity is strength, according to research made by global marketing communications brand J. Walter Thompson (JWT).

That they are among the least likely to experience sexism in the workplace compared to their sisters in the Asia-Pacific region reflects this world view.

‘Too superficial’

Filipino women also wish to mentor their juniors—whether in the family, office or other social circles—in the self-taught independence and expression they have honed as part of growth. One reason for this is that Filipino women apparently feel it is dangerous to leave young girls looking for role models in media, since female celebrities are “too superficial.”

JWT revealed the results of its study called “Filipina Next” in time for the celebration of International Women’s Day last March 8. The quantitative and qualitative research covered Filipino women across socioeconomic levels, from 18 to 70 years old.

“Filipina Next” is an offshoot of the group’s more exhaustive poll in 2016 called “Female Tribes” that involved 4,300

participants from the United States, China, United Kingdom, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Russia, India, Australia and South Africa.

In that study, women, ages 18 to 70, were asked about money, career, religion, sex and other “relevant topics.”

Highlights

Among the highlights that JWT Philippines managing director Golda Roldan and executive strategic planning director Pamela PaceteGarcia shared from “Filipina Next” are: • 98 percent of Filipino women believe in establishing “strong and substantial women in television and film,” but 76 per cent find female celebs “too superficial.” Still, 15 percent credit a female role model in media for inspiring them to leave an abusive relationship.

• 94 percent want women in general to “step up and serve as mentors to young girls.”

• 80 percent consider themselves “the main household purchaser,” with 73 percent saying they make majority of financial decisions at home.

• 72 percent claim they “don’t need anyone but themselves to achieve their goals.”

• Among those who turned to role models, 41 percent “have taken risks in life that they otherwise would not have taken;” 40 percent “became more ambitious,” while 33 percent were encouraged to go to school or pursue further education.

• 63 percent consider sexual fulfillment important as a lifelong concept, with 70 percent agreeing that sexual fulfillment is not just for the young; 50 percent expect to remain sexually active even in their advanced years.

• 58 percent would delay getting married and/or having children to pursue their chosen career.

More than career advancement and the acquisition of material wealth, 47 percent measure success as “achieving a higher level of religious and spiritual awareness.”

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Luminaries

While JWT studies showed Filipino women as the least likely to experience sexism at work, guest panelists in the presentation agreed that mentoring young women would help them overcome challenges, especially in the workplace.

Taguig Rep. Pia Cayetano said this means it becomes more crucial now to confront policy issues such as maternity leave, age discrimination and reproductive health because “we still live in a time when women are very much discriminated against.”

In the case of Olympic medalist Hidilyn Diaz, she recalled facing opposition from family members, particularly her mother, Emelita, after she decided to concentrate on weightlifting—a sport normally associated with “macho” men.

Other panelists attributed their success to strong women in the family who raised them, and mentors at work who encouraged them to find their place.

Trickie Lopa of Art Fair Philippines had grandmothers who were both luminaries in the faculty of University of Santo Tomas, and a mother who also worked.

“I never experienced women being Maria Clara (the weak female character in Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere”). These days I work with women... I’m surrounded so it’s never been an issue,” Lopa said.

Armie Jarin-Bennett of CNN Philippines recalled asking too many questions (“Tanong ako nang tanong”) at work “so people had the tendency to take me under their wing.”

Melissa Henson, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Manulife Philippines, once had a “Turkish lady” who taught her the ropes during a stint abroad.

“In the US, I was the quiet Filipina who didn’t speak. Kasi nakakahiya, baka mali ang sasabihin ko, mas matalino sila sa akin,” she said. Henson said her boss encouraged her to speak

my course wasn’t that relevant anymore,” he says.

“To use the type of cultural value usually accorded to ‘legends’ to people in the middle of their career seems a little awkward.”

Concordia University lecturer Marc Lafrance suggests academics walk a careful path in making sure famous names don’t overshadow the study of broader culture and how “celebrities are crystallizations of us.”

“Beyonce is a reflection of social and cultural trends,” the

associate sociology professor says.

“And let’s face it, Beyonce is a much more influential public figure than the vast majority of our political figures. All of my students know who Beyonce is.

How many students know who our minister of foreign affairs is?”

University of Oklahoma Prof.

Lisa Funnell feels the debate over the appropriateness of studying pop culture is getting old. If anything, she says, the popularity of these courses

Policy issues

up “or they’ll think you don’t know. If I turn out wrong, so what? Do better next time. I grew significantly, professionally under her watch.”

Role models

Johnson & Johnson country director Tina Sabarre noted that her women role models “did not act like men,” which made her realize “I can really be a woman, be strong in my femininity, and not work as if I am a man, and succeed.”

Globe Telecom senior vice president and head of consumer mobile marketing Issa Cabreira grew up watching a grandmother, who was widowed at 49, raise seven children, and a mother who raised four kids after separating from her husband.

“Having two very strong role models made me who I am today. If I am asked what drives me, it’s always those two amazing women—professionals who were doing the (traditional) jobs of men because they were running businesses,” Cabreira said.

“I did not follow them as entrepreneurs, but they drove me to be at least half as successful on my own,” she added.

The rise... her self-titled 2013 album.

“It was really intensive,” Mahmood remembers. “(The class) left a huge impact on me — more so in my daily life than a lot of the other things I studied.”

Not every academic is convinced that splashing a famous person across a course title is the right approach.

University of British Columbia Prof. Ernest Mathijs chose not to put Johnny Depp in the name of his media industries ❰❰ 25

class, even though a few sessions focused solely on the actor as a case study.

“It’s really not only about the star — you’re using the star as an example,” he says.

Mathijs believes a class named after a performer who’s still making movies could work against the professor. For example, Depp fell out of favour with his students around the same time a soured relationship was grabbing headlines in gossip magazines.

“In hindsight, all the sudden

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proves the need for better media literacy.

“We’re moving into a heightened area of awareness with celebrities,” she says.

“Our connection with media is expanding, but never (how) we’re taught the media has an impact on our lives.”

Funnell says she doesn’t see a problem in putting a celebrity’s name on the marquee to draw students into the conversation either.

“That’s how we attract people to films.”

28

Lifestyle

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Can Manila House make its zone free of FB and Instagram posts?

BY THELMA SIOSON SAN JUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer “WAKE ME up after five years and nine months,” said someone over lunch, who was obviously keeping track of the political calendar.

Unfortunately, we had to remind her, it doesn’t happen that way. You either die or be in a coma to tune out that long; sleep doesn’t allow that luxurious length of time. Of course, she was miffed that we ignored her figurative way of expressing horror at today’s events, and that we took her word literally.

How one wishes that what is going on were just a figure of speech, a hyperbole. But it’s not. In fact and in truth, we are in messy times. How did we go from being Asia’s rising tiger to being its laughingstock again (enough to land in a fictitious US TV series featuring a state secretary giving a Philippine president a good whack on the face)? How did we go from stability to uncertainty and anxiety, from a sense of decency to a sense of impunity?

Simple. People believed the brand was crisis, just like the movie of the same title. It was as if their vote was made or lost based on the Edsa traffic and how it was rubbed in into the social-media consciousness 24/7.

The 1986 Edsa Revolution brought down a strongman; the 2016 Edsa traffic brought a strongman to power—that is, if by strongman, one referred to guns blazing and mouth spewing machismo talk.

Strength of character

It’s not yet too late to teach our children how and what a strong man should really be— it is strength of character. And strength is tested by how one lives by and fights for one’s sense of values, for character is the sum of one’s values.

It is that set of values that informs one’s decision and commitment to society. It gives one that ability to resist temptation, to say no to bribery and corruption, to uphold justice and fairness, and to protect and fight for the rights of others.

It is one’s sense of values that leads one to respect and to protect human life, not only one’s own—a most basic right. It is what makes this world worth passing on to one’s children.

Inner strength in a man and a woman is what you look for, and is not the same as braggadocio.

We mistook glibness for inner strength. After all, what is machismo? Is it pulling the trigger or fighting for one’s principles?

‘Can’t sleep’

of discord. “I lunch only with like-minded friends,” she said. “I can’t stand listening to someone defend the indefensible. It spoils my appetite—good for my diet but bad for my sanity.”

Indeed it’s getting harder to defend the indefensible, and harder still to sleep soundly.

Filipinos comprise a race known for its forbearance, as if to be colonized and conquered were in our submissive DNA. We must face current realities and confront our demons—in their literal sense, unfortunately.

From the indefensible, we go to what is perhaps unimplementable.

“I don’t feel safe, not when my kids are out at night. Can’t sleep (until they get home),” said one mother at the table.

“Can’t sleep”—that must sum t h e up how a good part of the popmetro’s Aulation feels, simply because List, who must be willkillings are in the atmosphere, ing to fork out a six-figure sum everywhere, if not in your midto own shares. dle-class neighborhood, then It now has a vast dining room in your news and social media. New exclusive club with private corners along the Nakakaumay.

There’s a new exclusive club side, a Japanese restaurant, In truth, we saw that fear of in Manila that people are be- with the sought-after chef Gilsummary executions under this ginning to talk about, for good bert Pangilinan of Kai fame at war on drugs, even in a lifestyle or bad (that’s life). the helm. A Filipino restaurant A-lister. One A-lister, whose Manila House at Net Park, is opening soon. initials had been mentioned of- Bonfacio Global City, softIts founders also intend Maten enough and early on in the opened late last year with the nila House to be the venue of drug war (a “war” whose statis- fun birthday party of Anton interesting activities that will tics are dubious, much more its San Diego, Lifestyle columnist, draw a good quality crowd. The “list”) as being on the target list Tatler editor in chief and one highly successful Art Fair just of druggies, simply didn’t know of Manila House’s sharehold- had a satellite event there. what to do or where to begin, ers. Since then, people have or whom to apThe catch proach, because Naturally, givhe/she didn’t en such beautiknow which list ful interiors and he/she was really Filipinos comprise a race known w e l l - a tt e n d e d on—PDEA, PNP, for its forbearance, as if to be events, people NBI? colonized and conquered were have been postIf not on any in our submissive DNA. We must ing photos on of these, he/she face current realities and confront Facebook and was advised, he/ our demons—in their literal sense, Instagram. she could be on unfortunately.

The catch? a vigilante’s list, You’re not supand that could posed to, bebe anyone or any cause the place group lurking in the shadows. been going to the club to dine is private and exclusive. You’re How do you survive such bar- and to attend events, the latest supposed to post only photos of barity? of which, last weekend, was the the event.

While our friend has sur- fashion show of Rajo Laurel.

One night I was there, for Dr. vived, thank God, some relaDone by iconic Belgian de- Vicki Belo’s dinner for ex-Miss tionships haven’t. The belliger- signer Gert Voorjans, the Universe Dayanara Torres, I ent times have created fissures 5,000-square meter space is was snapping away, drawn to so right down the family dining ta- the ultimate design showcase. many lovely interior design vible. Never has there been great- Although some parts are un- gnettes, when a Manila House er division, clutter and confu- finished, it is beautiful, taste- insider reminded me that phosion as now—a perfect breeding fully done, perfect as an urban to-taking wasn’t allowed and ground for falsehood. haunt, especially the veranda we couldn’t post photos. In One “tita” of Manila—as la- backdropped by the skyline. this day of Instagram and Facedies who lunch are now someThe concept behind Manila book? I asked her. times called—found a way to House is that it is an exclusive, Others have been given such a stress-free lunch in this era very exclusive, private haunt of reminders, a case or two yielding www.canadianinquirer.net

notso-happy results. (Don’t ask me to elaborate.)

Work in progress

Indeed, how do you implement a no-Instagram/ Facebook rule in this day and age?

Somehow, those posts will give a glimpse of the setting.

I can’t but sympathize with the Manila House people who are supposed to implement this rule.

Manila House is a curious work-in-progress, which lifestyle kibitzers should enjoy watching from the side, with a few questions: How does one market an exclusive place which, its founders say, isn’t supposed to be marketed in the first place? By word of mouth, I guess.

How does one create an aspirational haunt in a city teeming with options?

Indeed, how does one build an exclusive and private club?

Exclusive clubs around the world aren’t built in a day. It takes generations to build one, usually bound by some fraternity.

Manila House founders want it to be just a place where members can relax and dine in utmost privacy.

How does one balance snobbery and exclusivity with desirability and viability?

How successfully can a place screen guests? How does one build a database of friends without making enemies—in such a small town?

Who will be the exclusive members of Manila House?

You won’t find the answers in FB or IG. (And I won’t tell.)

29

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

Sports WTA confirms Sharapova’s comeback at Stuttgart tournament in April

Swiss, Czech rule Ironman challenge

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

BY ROY LUARCA Philippine Daily Inquirer

MOSCOW — The Women Tennis Association (WTA) confirmed on Monday Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova’s right to participate in the tennis tournament in Stuttgart next month, according to a statement from the association.

The 29-year-old Sharapova has already picked up wildcards for tennis tournaments in Stuttgart, Madrid and Rome, as she is making her return to the circle of the WTA following her suspension for doping rules violation.

“Five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova becomes eligible to play WTA tournaments on Wednesday, April 26, following a 15-month suspension,” the statement from the WTA said.

“As both a former Grand Slam champion and WTA Finals winner, Sharapova may request and receive an unlimited number of wildcard nominations, including the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix (in Stuttgart), where the Russian will make her return,” the statement said.

“In compliance with WTA and the Tennis Anti-Doping Program rules, Sharapova can participate in a tournament in the week that her suspension ends, providing that the first

RUEDI WILD of Switzerland and Radka Kahlefeldt of Czech Republic ruled the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 in Subic Bay on Sunday. Wild finished the 1.9K swim, 90K bike, 21K run race in 3:48:24 to dethrone Aussies Craig Alexander (3:48:57) and reigning world titlist Tim Reed (3:50:17). Kahlefeldt prevailed in 4:22:13, three minutes and 43 seconds ahead of 2016 ruler Caroline Steffen of Switzerland. Having kept pace with the favorites in the early going, Swiss Ruedi Wild felt that the Century Tuna Ironman 70.3 men’s crown was his for the taking Sunday morning in Subic Bay. The 34-year-old two-time Olympian’s hunch proved right as he bested Australians Craig Alexander, the defending champion, and reigning world champion Tim Reed in the decisive 21-kilometer run to claim his biggest victory thus far. Czech Radka Kahlefeldt duplicated Wild’s feat as she unleashed a strong finishing kick to claim the women’s crown.

Competing in the Philippines for the first time, Wild poured it all in the last 10 kilometers to clock 1:14:08 in the run segment and post an overall time of 3:48:24 in the event that also featured the 1.9K swim and 90K

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match that she is scheduled to contest takes place on or after the day on which she is eligible to return to competition,” the statement added.

Currently serving a provisional suspension, Sharapova is set to make her comeback following a doping ban on April 26 at the tennis tournament in Stuttgart.

The tennis player has been serving a two-year suspension for the violation of anti-doping regulations since January 26 last year. However, the Swissbased Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled on October 4, 2016 to reduce her suspension term from 24 to 15 months.

In March last year, Sharapova announced that her doping

tests revealed the presence of banned performance enhancing drug meldonium in the body system. Following the announcement, former World’s No. 1 was provisionally suspended from all tennis-related activities, including from the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.

Sharapova is Russia’s most well-known tennis player having won a total of five Grand Slam tournaments, namely Australian Open in 2008, French Open in 2012 and 2014, Wimbledon in 2004 and US Open in 2006.

She is also a silver medal winner of the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the 2008 Federations Cup champion.

bike races.

Alexander settled for second in 3:48:57, besting Reed (3:50:17) in the event supported by Century Tuna, Department of Tourism and Tourism Promotions Board.

Kahlefeldt forged a similar conquest in the distaff side with a winning 4:22:13, an impressive three-minute and 43 seconds ahead of 2016 queen Caroline Steffen of Switzerland.

Dimity Lee-Duke was a distant third at 4:41:57.

August Benedicto and Jenny Guerrero shared the spotlight with the world-class bets when they emerged champions in the men’s Asian Elite and Filipina Elite, respectively.

Benedicto stamped his class with a time of 4:25:42 while Guerrero flaunted superb form with a 5:14:23 effort.

Trailing the lead pack after the swim and bike stages, Wild slowly picked up speed and caught up with pacesetting compatriot Sven Riederer at the 11K mark.

Revving up some more, Wild surged ahead going to the last four kilometers, building a 10-second gap against Reed and Alexander.

“Those guys were starting really fast. But I knew it wasn’t about the first two kilometers; it’s about the second half of the run,” said Wild, a self-confessed slow starter.

Cebuano knockout artist hopes to continue winning streak PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY CEBU CITY — Undefeated Jack Tepora is hoping to extend his knockout streak when he takes on Yon Amed of Indonesia in the main event of “Who’s Next” for his first defense of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) Oriental super bantamweight title at the Waterfront

Cebu City Hotel and Casino on Saturday.

Tepora, who will turn 22 on April 8, is undefeated in 19 fights and has an impressive 74-percent knockout rate, having stopped 14 of his foes, including the last three.

A single father who made his boxing debut on March 4, 2012, Tepora stopped Galin Susanto in the fifth round to win the vacant WBO Oriental super ban-

tamweight belt at the Mandaue City Sports and Cultural Center on Dec. 2, 2016.

Before that, he showed his true power as he dropped Bryan Capangpangan four times in the first round in his first defense of the WBO Asia-Pacific youth super bantamweight title in the second edition of Who’s Next.

Tepora, who has made no secret his desire to be a world www.canadianinquirer.net

champion, is hoping another impressive victory over the Indonesian will get him closer to a shot against the champions in his division.

“This is a very important fight for me because I’m now ranked No. 13 in the WBO. I want to improve my ranking and be at the top 10,” said Tepora.

Aside from knocking out almost 75 percent of his foes, Tepora, the youngest in a brood of

seven, has stopped nine of his last 10 opponents. Since 2014, only Andrew Palas managed to go the distance against Tepora when they fought for the vacant Philippine Boxing Federation super bantamweight crown.

Standing in the way of the Cebuano knockout artist is Yon Armed, a 30-year-old professional of 21 fights with a 14-7 record. He is fighting for the second time in the Philippines.

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MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Business Liberals nearing decision on how to spend $800M earmarked for innovation PRESIDENTIAL COMMUNICATIONS PHOTO

BOI: Joint economic, trade commissions with China, Russia to back FDI inflows in PHL PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — A strengthened economic cooperation with China and Russia will support inflows of foreign direct investments (FDIs) in the Philippines, the Board of Investments (BOI) said Monday.

Last week, the Philippines and China revived its Joint Commission on Economic and Trade Cooperation (JCETC) after a five-year hiatus, resulting in commitments from China to fund infrastructure projects here and invest in various sectors like manufacturing, shipbuilding, green energy, aerospace, and agriculture, among others.

Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan visited Manila for the 28th JCETC with Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez.

Likewise, the Philippines and Russia concluded in January a pre-inaugural meet for Joint Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation (JCTEC) in Manila.

The meeting was in preparation for President Rodrigo Duterte’s visit to Moscow this month, according to BOI. The bilateral meeting, headed

by Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo and Russian Deputy Minister of Economic Development Alexander Tsybulskiy, discussed possible cooperation

between the two countries in areas of energy, infrastructure, science and technology, metallurgy, industry development, aerospace, tourism, electronics, information technology and business process management, agribusiness, agri-fishery, and iron and steel.

“There are good investment prospects from both new and traditional sources such as China, Japan, Russia, among others,” said Rodolfo, who is also the BOI managing head.

President Duterte already had state visit to China and Japan.

Rodolfo noted that the agency was bullish to hit Php 500 billion worth of investment approvals at end-2017, coinciding the 50th founding anniversary of BOI, with more FDIs from new and traditional investment sources.

Latest data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas showed that FDI in 2016 rose 40 percent to USD7.9 billion, exceeding the government’s target of USD6.7 billion.

“What further makes the Philippines attractive are plans of the Duterte administration to ramp up infrastructure spending that is seen to increase economic activities, the country’s demographic dividend and high-skilled, fast-leaner workforce, and the strategic location of the country, which can serve as a gateway to the rest of the ASEAN market,” Lopez said.

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — An $800-million commitment central to the Trudeau government’s economic growth strategy is expected to be divvied up within the next few months among groups and companies that can persuade Ottawa they’re best positioned to help young, highpotential firms flourish.

The government earmarked the cash in last year’s budget to support “innovation networks and clusters” as part of federal plans to help budding companies scale up significantly.

Ottawa hopes these firms will evolve into strong job creators and give Canada an economic boost.

The first withdrawal from the four-year program is scheduled to happen in 2017-18.

But even with this month’s release of a budget billed as a plan deep in innovation, specifics on the $800-million program will likely have to wait a little longer.

Several non-government stakeholders engaged with Ottawa say the feds appear to be finalizing the strategy of how and where the funding will ultimately be allocated.

The $800-million envelope is important for the Liberal government, which is hoping the investment will help raise the country’s long-term growth trajectory.

The Liberals have valued this approach since their days in opposition. Their 2015 election platform pledged $900 million over three years to support accelerators, incubators and clusters as a way to help innovative entrepreneurs grow their firms into global players.

Groups like the Council of Canadian Innovators, which has been actively engaged with the feds, expects the governwww.canadianinquirer.net

ment to settle in April or May on how it would like to proceed with the $800-million plan.

Council executive director Ben Bergen, who represents tech-sector CEOs, said one challenge is that there are many ways to define a “cluster.”

It can range from a university with connected companies to a string of tech firms in a given region, he said.

As an example, he pointed to the cluster of companies that formed a couple of decades ago in the region around Kitchener-Waterloo, Ont. Among them was BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion.

Bergen said his council would like to see the $800-million investment used to support clusters centred around high-growth Canadian companies, rather than ones that revolve around universities and incubators.

He argued that in the past, the institution-centred approach has not produced the outcomes governments have been looking for.

“By really focusing it on the firm rather than on...institutions or on incubators you actually give them the jet fuel that they need to go and compete globally,” Bergen said.

“There’s real economic opportunities for revenue and growth — and it’s through that commercialization that wealth is generated.

“That’s how you turn the $800 million into $8 billion.”

Bergen added that he thinks the federal plan should emphasize accountability and transparency when it comes to how the clusters are formed. He also recommended metrics be attached to monitor their progress.

The chair of one organization hoping to attract some of that funding said his partners have also been pitching a businessled approach to Ottawa.

Ray Bouchard said the Man-

itoba-based Enterprise Machine Intelligence and Learning Initiative aims to help firms quickly commercialize in the fields of deep learning and artificial intelligence. In particular, it would focus on the technologies’ applications in the agriculture sector.

Bouchard said the group’s other goal is to help train and retrain enough workers in the skills needed for these emerging areas, such as collecting, managing and understanding data.

The initiative’s board not only includes people from Manitoba-based businesses, but also from institutions like the University of Winnipeg and Red River College.

The group has had several meetings in recent months with senior government officials, including Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, according to lobbying records.

“What Ottawa is saying is they’re intrigued by it, they like this approach and it could be very complementary to a number of different other approaches they may be taking,” Bouchard said.

The key, he added, is keeping promising firms and the associated job opportunities in Canada.

“The last thing we want to do as Canadians is spend $800 million ... on innovation and have all of that leave the country. This is about making sure that we can leverage it in Canada and create more wealth within Canada,” said Bouchard, who operates nine John Deere dealerships that employ 370 employees.

He said he has seen lots of technological changes in the agriculture sector over the last few years. He pointed to firms that have turned more and more to data-driven technology to optimize their performances, such as learning how to apply ❱❱ PAGE 33 Liberals nearing

Business

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

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BSP seen allowing peso to fall further

BY DORIS DUMLAO-ABADILLA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE BANGKO Sentral ng Pilipinas is expected to tolerate further weakening of the peso—now trading at its lowest against the US dollar in 11 years—to prevent the erosion of foreign reserves, a buffer for financial and monetary stability.

Emilio Neri Jr., lead economist at Bank of the Philippine Islands, said in an investors briefing conducted by BPI Securities that the peso should be allowed to depreciate to avoid the dwindling of reserves.

By the end of this year, BPI expects the peso to depreciate to between 51.50 and 52.50 against the US dollar. This assumes that the US Federal Reserve will hike interest rates twice this year.

“If something goes wrong with Europe or the US, we could—before the end of the year —hit 54,” Neri said. “I’m not saying we could end at 54 but we could hit 54:$1,” Neri said.

To date, Neri said the Philippines’ import cover had shrunk considerably to less than 11 months from 18 months.

As of Friday’c close of 50.36 to $1, the peso is trading at its lowest level against

the greenback since September 2006.

The BSP’s gross international reserves (GIR) ended February at $81.1 billion, down from $81.4 billion in January.

Sparing GIR from weakness implies accommodating weaker peso, said Citi Philippines economist Jun Trinidad in a research note dated March 8.

“We sense the BSP prefers to allow a weaker peso to accommodate strong onshore foreign exchange demand, particularly involving private transactions. We still expect the BSP to tactically intervene in the market [as net seller] and use GIR if there’s a need to, during key event risk such as FOMC (US Federal Open Market Committee) meeting. However one-off private transactions that may involve hefty import payments, debt service, dividend/profit repatriation, as noted in the past would likely be absorbed by a weaker peso and local liquidity,” Trinidad said.

Citi also sees interest rate hikes as an option when evidence of a weaker peso accelerates upside inflation risk in the second half of 2017.

Trindad said public and private foreign debt maturity would sustain onshore demand for US dollars amid a weak current account, in turn posing

HK leader given role in China’s top political advisory body PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY BEIJING — China’s top political advisory body voted Monday to appoint Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying to the ceremonial post of vice chairman, ahead of his departure from office in July.

Leung announced in December that he wouldn’t seek a second term as leader of the Chinese-controlled territory, a former British colony that returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

His five-year term has been marked by increasingly bitter political divisions between pro-democracy activists and Beijing loyalists. Leung has said Hong Kong is an “inalienable” part of China and independence is not possible.

Members of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference voted to appoint him on the final day of their annual 10-day meeting. The body advises China’s rubberstamp legislature and is made up of politicians and representatives from business, the arts, civil society, sports and academia.

China regularly rewards retired or retiring officials for their loyalty with largely ceremonial posts that require them to attend meetings but do little else. Tung Chee-hwa, Hong Kong’s first chief executive after its return to China, is also a conference vice chairman.

The Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post said there were questions over whether Leung’s dual roles in Hong Kong and Beijing contravene the “one country, two systems” law, under which Hong Kong retains a separate economic, legal and political system from the communist-governed Chinese mainland until 2047.

Premier Li Keqiang said at the opening of this year’s meeting of the legislature that the Chinese government would “continue to implement, both to the letter and in spirit, the principle of ‘one country, two systems.’”

Li also for the first time publicly denounced dismissed the territory’s independence as an option, saying: “The notion of Hong Kong independence will lead nowhere.”

a drag to GIR. However, he sees the GIR staying resilient in the $80 billion range.

In the last five years, BPI’s Neri said the country had accumulated reserves equivalent to 1 to 1.1 times the country’s total foreign debt stock.

“That will be very difficult to sustain in the future in the face of the US raising interest rates in the next two to four years,” Neri said. “Whoever takes the reins of the BSP in July will be very much challenged by the ability to sustain this impressive performance of the central bank.”

The BPI said it was becoming more difficult to further beef up the country’s foreign reserves when the US Federal Reserve was hiking interest rates. “The next BSP governor will have a tougher time ahead,” he said.

Neri said the country’s trade deficit had more than doubled in the past year even before the construction projects of the new administration were completed. The difference between remittances and trade deficit has dropped to $2 billion compared from $10 billion in the previous years.

It was possible, he said, that the trade gap could grow larger than the total remittances these days. Not even business

process outsourcing (BPO) revenue can compensate, he said, as $20-billion in gross revenue from the BPO industry would translate to only $5-10 billion in net revenue.

Across the region, all countries are suffering from declining exports in the last 12 months. On import bills, he said the Philippines stood out as an exception, bucking the decline in imports largely due to Filipinos’ propensity to buy cars. The proposed excise taxes on vehicles can slow down car purchases in the near term but Neri said growth would continue over the medium term.

“If we don’t manage this well, we can bring the deficit-to- GDP (gross domestic product) ratio back to 1997 level,” he said, referring to the Asian currency crisis period when central banks were forced to devalue currencies amid capital flights that gnawed on foreign reserves in the region.

Neri sees the selection of the next BSP chief as a potential “black swan” for the Philippines. His personal bias is for either of the two deputy governors— Diwa Guinigundo or Nestor Espenilla Jr.—to become the next steward, adding he would feel “more secure, more confident” than if an outsider would be named to the post.

Free Homework Club for Newcomer Youth Aged 16–24

Saturdays, 1–3pm 5902 Kingsway, Burnaby Call 604 438 8214 Free snacks provided

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Grades 10–12 + Continuing Ed.: French, maths Social science Pre-calculus English

32

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Technology Facebook tool created by B.C. Experts tell feds how teen to plan homework Canada can lead gains popularity overseas in emerging tech field of ‘blockchain’

BY LINDA GIVETASH The Canadian Press A FACEBOOK tool that helps students be more productive and keep track of assignments developed by a Victoria teen has gone viral in an unexpected place.

Alec Jones, 14, says his chatbot, Christopher Bot, that helps students stay on top of their homework has garnered more than 3,000 subscribers, with many of them based in Thailand.

Chatbots are automated software programs, which Jones compares to iPhone’s Siri, that respond to users in a conversational manner. The bot that Jones developed works through Facebook’s Messenger platform.

For students who forget to write down their assignments or deadlines when they are handed out or struggle to keep track of it all, Christopher Bot is designed to do the remembering for them.

Once a user subscribes to Christopher Bot, all they need to do is input their course schedule.

The bot then sends a message to them near the end of each class asking whether they’ve been assigned homework. It also responds with sympathizing messages of “that sucks more than a vacuum” when the answer is yes.

Later, the bot reminds the user about their assignments.

Jones said he had the idea after forgetting to bring books or schoolwork home with him.

When he went to school early

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press

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sometimes to catch up on homework he had missed, Jones said he noticed his friends were having similar problems.

“The thing with calendars or agendas or to-do lists is that at the end of the day you always have to remember to put that information in,” he said, adding that those tools are easily forgotten in lockers.

But your phone is always in your pocket.

“With the bot, it texts you first. You don’t have to remember to write it in, it asks you.”

He said he first considered designing a smartphone app, but with only having experience in building websites, the technology for app development was a bit out of his reach.

“I looked up what would be the closest thing I could do (to an app) and I heard about bots, and I thought it would be an interesting platform to build on,” he said.

Everything about building a bot was also new to him, and Jones said he spent a lot of time reading articles and documents

to figure it out.

A spokesperson for Facebook said the company doesn’t typically see 14-year-olds developing bots on their platform, and called Jones’s endeavour “an incredible achievement.”

When he launched the bot in February, Jones said he hoped a few hundred people would sign up.

He created a profile for the bot on a tech product website to help promote it. Jones said someone from Thailand came across the profile, tried out the bot and shared the post on Facebook.

That Facebook post received over 11,000 likes, 3,800 shares and 300 comments, all of which were written in Thai. A spike in subscribers to the bot ensued.

“I never expected that so many people would be signing up,” Jones said.

While Jones said he sees endless potential uses for technology, he hasn’t had any new ideas yet and is focusing his efforts on managing Christopher Bot for now.

www.canadianinquirer.net

OTTAWA — The federal government has received a batch of recommendations on how to make Canada a global hub for an emerging digital platform known as “blockchain.”

The nascent technology has been widely hailed as a game changer, with the potential to transform everything from financial transactions to how democracies vote to a music lover’s ability to buy a favourite tune straight from the artist.

And Canada is well-positioned to be leader in blockchain development, argues a report released Friday that received funding from the federal government.

“If we do this right, blockchain technology can usher in a halcyon age of prosperity for all, and Canada will lead the way,” reads the report, entitled “The Blockchain Corridor: Building an Innovation Economy in the 2nd Era of the Internet.”

“Canada today has a head start and thus a rare opportunity to be that global hub or, at least, one of a handful of such hubs.”

The report was prepared for and funded, in part, by the federal Department of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, says its author, the Tapscott Group — the high-tech think tank founded by innovator Don Tapscott.

To be sure, blockchain has the full attention of the Trudeau government, which has frequently stated its core goal of boosting innovation as a way to help inject some life in the country’s ho-hum economy.

Innovation is expected to be a theme of Ottawa’s budget, which will be released in the coming weeks.

Much like a global bulletin board, blockchain offers a digital ledger where information can be shared, moved and maintained on a huge, transparent network.

It’s viewed as far more secure than the Internet and more protective of an individual’s privacy.

Viewed by some as the foundation of the second generation of the Internet, it’s still so new that its full potential remains unknown.

Its peer-to-peer design aims to cut out the middleman, reducing costs for businesses and everyday consumers alike. Many predict blockchain, the underlying technology of the digital currency bitcoin, will eventually help counter inequality and deliver more benefits to poorer regions of the planet.

The advice in the 49-page report was developed following a December roundtable where public- and private-sector stakeholders explored ways to turn Canada into a global hub for the blockchain “revolution.”

Academics, business leaders, ❱❱ PAGE 39 Experts tell

Technology

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33

Who and why, twin mysteries behind leak of CIA’s cybertools

BY DEB RIECHMANN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — It’s not just who did it, but why.

WikiLeaks’ release of nearly 8,000 documents that purportedly reveal secrets about the CIA’s tools for breaking into targeted computers, cellphones and even smart TVs has given rise to multiple theories about who stole the documents and for what reason.

Perhaps it was a U.S. spy or contractor who felt jilted.

Maybe the CIA was exposed by a foreign country that wanted to embarrass U.S. intelligence.

Could it have been a CIA insider worried about Americans’ privacy rights?

Some possible motives behind last week’s disclosure:

ligence agencies.

“Julian Assange is in the business of trying to reduce American power. That’s just fact,” he said.

“It’s about giving the CIA’s reputation a black eye,” he said.

“I think they are trying to induce panic and make people even more skeptical of the intelligence agencies.”

Assange said during an online news conference Thursday that it was “not true” that WikiLeaks was focused on the United States. He cited recent publications dealing with Germany and Turkey and numerous references to Russia and China throughout WikiLeaks’ previous releases.

“People raise this for distracting reasons, to try to question the messenger because the content itself is so powerful,” he said.

From the source

In a statement released with the documents, the anti-secrecy group launched by Julian Assange in 2006 said the source told the organization that there are policy questions in urgent need of public debate Among them were “whether the CIA’s hacking capabilities exceed its mandated powers” and the “problem of public oversight of the agency.”

The CIA, while not confirming that the documents are authentic, isn’t necessarily buying that explanation.

“As we’ve said previously, Julian Assange is not exactly a bastion of truth and integrity,” CIA spokeswoman Heather Fritz Horniak said. She said the CIA’s work would continue “despite the efforts of Assange and his ilk.”

Robert Chesney, a national security law expert from the University of Texas School of Law, said WikiLeaks could have put the material online to damage the reputation of U.S. intel-

Cilluffo, who directs the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University, thinks leakers might leak for different reasons today.

“If they were doing it to make money, why would they go to WikiLeaks?” he asked.

He said Edward Snowden, a former contractor for the National Security Agency who leaked classified material exposing U.S. government surveillance programs, was not motivated by money. Likewise, Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of leaking many thousands of classified government and military documents to WikiLeaks while serving as an intelligence analyst in Iraq, said she did it not for money but to raise awareness about the war’s impact on innocent civilians.

Foreign meddler

Spies go rogue for many reasons: money, a quest for fame, ego, they are coerced or compromised.

WikiLeaks said the material came from an “isolated high-security network” inside the CIA’s Center for Cyber Intelligence.

The group said the material “appears to have been circulated among former U.S. government hackers and contractors in an unauthorized manner” and that one of them gave WikiLeaks part of this cache.

Assange suggested that spies, former intelligence officials and contractors had been sharing the material, potentially to feed a growing for-profit market in electronic espionage tools. He said it appeared that not only was it being spread among contractors and former American computer hackers for hire, but “now may be in the black market.”

Traditionally, money has been a key motive. But Frank

It’s not impossible to imagine an insider walking out of the CIA with the data, said Bob Ayers, a retired U.S. intelligence officer currently working as an international security analyst based in England.

But Ayers, who appeared opposite Assange in a debate over whistleblowers in London several years ago, said his instincts are that a foreign country is involved. “I think the Russians are behind it, I really do,” he said.

James Lewis, a cybersecurity expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, also suspects a sleight of hand by the Kremlin, which he says has used WikiLeaks in the past.

He pointed to WikiLeaks’ statement about receiving the material from a source who thinks there needs to be a debate about whether the CIA’s hacking exceeds its mandated powers. Lewis said the source who believed that the CIA had

whether the money will be sprinkled across the country.

The government could also choose to allocate the funds into different areas of expertise, such as artificial intelli-

gence or health technology.

Last month, a report by the federal government’s influential economic advisory council recommended Ottawa assemble “innovation marketplaces”

Jilted contractor

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gained too much power “probably lives in Moscow.”

“There is a long-term campaign by the Russians to damage the U.S and the intelligence community,” he said. “It’s too early to tell if this is another part of that — although it fits that pattern. I think the biggest concern is that we are in a new kind of fight with Russia and we are losing. The damage from lost tools can be repaired.

The damage to reputation takes longer.”

Assange has long denied claims, often made on flimsy evidence, that he acts on behalf of Russian interests. Asked Thursday by an American journalist whether he had received any money from the Russian state, Assange said no and that it was a “pretty sad question.”

And this past week, Russia Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov denied any Russian involvement in hacking.

Right to know

WikiLeaks said the source of the documents wants to start a public debate about “the security, creation, use, proliferation and democratic control of cyber weapons.”

Ben Wizner is Snowden’s lawyer and the director of the Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project at the American Civil Liberties Union. He said if WikiLeaks is accurately repre-

senting the source’s intentions, then there seems to be success in stirring a public debate about the balance between the need to protect networks used daily

by Americans and the government’s need to conduct surveillance operations against adversaries.

“To the extent that the documents help inform a public debate about what the balance should be between the government’s offensive surveillance operations and defensive cybercapabilities, then the documents have contributed to an important public conversation,” Wizner said.

But he also wondered whether the source wanted the documents released with parts blacked out. WikiLeaks has previously voiced disgust with the idea of censoring documents, even in part, saying that doing so “legitimizes the false propaganda of ‘information is dangerous.”‘ WikiLeaks has not answered questions from The Associated Press about why it applied redactions this time or whether it was done at the source’s request. Knowing the answer to those questions, Wizner said, might help with understanding what motivated the release.

Associated Press writer Raphael Satter in London contributed to this report.

Liberals nearing... the precise amounts of herbicides, seed and fertilizer.

It remains to be seen how many groups will receive funding from Ottawa’s plan and ❰❰ 30

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that unite entrepreneurs and researchers with public and private customers.

It said they should be centres of technology and industrial activity that are driven by the pri-

vate sector.

The report also suggested Ottawa take on early roles such as encouraging private-sector groups to come forward and to solicit bids.

MARCH 17, 2017

34

CANADA

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Completed Caregiver’s course or nursing qualifications. Emphasis will be based on reliability, communication skills, comprehension, trust, honesty, loyalty, initiative & flexibility.

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FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

35

Travel More great white sharks appear to be visiting off Cape Cod

BY MARK PRATT The Associated Press

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Nepalese celebrate festival of colors Holi with gusto PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

the celebrations in major parts of the capital city like new Road, Thamel and Kathmandu Durbar Square.

KATHMANDU — Nepalese people On the occasion, President Bidhya across the hilly region of the country, in- Devi Bhandari, Vice President Nanda cluding the Kathmandu valley, celebrat- Bahadur Pun and Prime Minister Pushed the festival of colors Holi on Sunday pa Kamal Dahal all extended their best with merriment. wishes to the public.

Holi is one of the major festivals celeIn a press statement released by the brated annually in the Himalayan coun- Office of the President, President Bhantry. dari said that it is the responsibility of all The one-day festo preserve such cultival, locally known tural festivities. as Fagu Purnima, is “Such cultural fescelebrated by smeartivals help forge naing different types tional unity, foster of color powder over May Holi fraternity and mueach other along with festival tual harmony,” the water. enhance and statement reads.

Hindus celebrate strengthen Similarly, Prime Holi to remember brotherhood Minister Dahal in the day when the vicamong all his message stressed tory of good over evil communities. promotion of such was achieved. cultural heritages in According to relia country full of digious belief, a mythiversity. cal legend named “Nepal is a counHolika jumps into the fire along with try of multi-languages, multi-cultures her son Prahlad to devote herself to God and multi-religions. May Holi festival Bishnu. Though her son Prahlad sur- enhance and strengthen brotherhood vives the fire, Holika gets burned into among all communities,” the prime ashes as a punishment for inflicting in- minister said. justices which is interpreted as victory Holi is also synonym to sweet delicacy, of justice over injustice. music and dancing and consumption of Since then, people celebrate Holi by alcohol. Considering the possible hooliexchanging greetings with each other ganism, security of the capital city was and sharing happiness and love with beefed up Sunday with heavy mobilizafamily members, friends and well wish- tion of security personnel in major roaders. sections.

Hundreds of thousands of Nepali Holi is marked in the southern belt of people from all walks of life, especially the country known as Terai region only youths, and even foreign tourists joined on Monday.

BOSTON — Great white sharks are discovering what tourists have known for years: Cape Cod is a great place to spend the summer.

The latest data from a multiyear study of the ocean predators found that the number of sharks in waters off the vacation haven appears to be on the rise, said Greg Skomal, a senior scientist with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, and the state’s top shark expert.

But that’s no reason to cancel vacation. The sharks are after seals, not humans, and towns are using the information from the study to keep it that way.

“How long does it stay and where does it go are the questions we’re trying to answer,” Skomal said. “But for the towns, it’s a public safety issue.”

Researchers using a plane and boats spotted 147 individual white sharks last summer. That was up slightly from 2015, but significantly more than the 80 individual sharks spotted in 2014, the first year of the study , funded by the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy.

More than half the white sharks spotted last summer hadn’t previously been documented by this study.

Researchers have also tagged more than 100 to track their movements.

The white shark population is probably significantly larger, because the scientists can’t possibly spot all of them, Skomal said.

Two of the more interesting findings are the increasing number of young sharks, and that they appear to be swim-

www.canadianinquirer.net

ming farther afield.

“Last summer we saw greater numbers of smaller sharks, including juveniles, and that tells us that the population is rebuilding,” Skomal said.

Great whites, made famous in the 1975 movie “Jaws,” about a monstrous shark that terrorizes a fictional New England resort town, are coming to Cape Cod waters to feast on seals. Once hunted to near extinction, the now-protected seals are found in great numbers.

The seals used to be concentrated at the Monomoy Wildlife Refuge, off limits to humans, but as they have moved farther north, so have the sharks, Skomal said.

The risk of a swimmer being attacked by a shark is minimal, and Cape Cod towns would like to keep it that way.

The last documented fatal great white shark attack in Massachusetts waters was in 1936, Skomal said. In 2012, a man bitten while swimming off Truro required 47 stitches and surgery to repair damaged tendons. In 2014, two young women kayaking off Plymouth were attacked, although neither was bitten.

Nathan Sears, the natural resources manager in Orleans, said the study is invaluable and is already prompting changes in how the town manages its beaches.

The town used to fly dangerous marine life flags — they have a picture of shark on them — only when they knew there was a shark in the area. Now, he said, they fly the flag every day during the tourist season.

“The fact that they have an eye on the situation from the air is crucial,” he said.

“And if they spot a shark in the swimming area, we’ll close the beach.”

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Travel

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Tanzania revamps Tagaytay is still Calabarzon’s renowned top tourist destination archaeology camp to lure more tourists PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY ARUSHA, TANZANIA — Tanzania has started revamping the camp that was being used by famous archaeologists, Dr. Louis Leakey and Dr. Mary Leakey at the Olduvai Gorge in Ngorongoro area located in northern part of the country in an effort to lure more tourists.

Jumanne Maghembe, Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism said on Sunday that the camp is under refurbishment to restore its natural outlook as it was in 1960s.

“We are revamping the camp so that some of the tourists and researchers who want to sleep in, do so and learn a number of things of the earliest man,” the minister said.

He described the Olduvai Gorge as an important area when it comes to tourism and historical researches as it holds the earliest evidence of the existence of human ancestors. Paleoanthropologists have found hundreds of fossilized bones and stone tools in the area dating back millions of years, leading them to conclude that humans evolved in Africa.

Maghembe stated that the area is one of the world’s most important historical sites, where it is believed that the famous Zinjanthropus skull was discovered at Olduvai Gorge.

Dr. Leakey discovered the 1.75 million year old skull on July 17, 1959 after nearly 30 years of archaeological research at the gorge in Ngorongoro district alongside with her husband Dr. Louis Leakey.

“The Olduvai Mary Leakey camp has been attracting more tourists as well as scientists and researchers. That’s why we want it to look natural as it was in 1960s,” said Maghembe.

John Paresso, conservator of the camp, said that among other issues in the rehabilitation process include restoring the bed that was being used by the two archaeologists into the camp.

“We are currently communicating with the family of Dr. Leakey in Nairobi, Kenya so that to get that bed and bring it into the camp,” the official said.

Louis and Mary (Nicol) Leakey are often referred to as the first family of paleontology, as much of their lives, and later the lives of their children, revolved around Olduvai Gorge.

MANILA — Tagaytay remains to be the top tourist destination in the Calabarzon region, a tourism official said.

DOT Region IV-A Director Rebecca Labit said that of the region’s five provinces, namely Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon, it is Cavite with the most number of tourist arrivals being home to the breezy city of Tagaytay.

She said that tourists like visiting Tagaytay for its various attractions—from rivers, springs, beaches, waterfalls, mountains, farms, parks and forests to historical landmarks, museums, golf courses and Baroque churches.

The tourism official further said that there cultural events and festivals are also celebrated monthly in each of the 16 towns and seven cities to promote their local products and their legacies.

Cavite is also known for its rich culture noting the significance of the province as the cradle of the Philippine Revolution of 1898 and as the last bastion of defense during World War II. The Calabarzon region recently had an exhibit in the DOT showroom in Makati City earlier this week, which featured some of its export products including crunchy chips

SHANICE GARCIA / PCI

made from banaba, lagundi, ginger, malunggay, ampalaya, onion, garlic, and tahong (mussles) as Cavite is one of the Philippines’ biggest producers of seafood.

Labit said that there were also pineapple candies, pickled papaya and vegetables, mangosteen and turmeric teas as well as Sosmaryosep hot chili sauce and Emperor’s Juice of 18 in 1 herbal mix powder.

Meanwhile, internationally-

recognized Nurture Wellness Village in Tagaytay provided complimentary spa treatments and samples of their wellness menu patterned after Filipino and other Asian traditions.

There were also food and drinks, including the best Amadeo coffee, served throughout the program through the courtesy of the municipal governments of Maragondon, Indang and Mendez as well as the city government of Imus.

Despite bottom line pressure, FY17 to be the best for airlines PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MUMBAI — Airlines are likely to close the outgoing financial year with 22-23 per cent traffic growth, making it one of the best for the sector, even though the pressure on their bottom line is increasing as oil prices are on a northward-ho, says a report.

“Airlines are maintaining healthy load factors backed by low fares. But since oil prices are on an uptrend, impact on profitability in Q4 is inevitable as average ATF price during the

quarter are 37.9 per cent higher YoY, while the yields continue to remain under pressure,” says an Icra report.

The fuel cost per ASKM increased to Rs 1.16 in January from a low of Rs 0.82 a year ago, and the same is expected to increase further in February and March, according to Icra.

Backed by competitive pricing, the industry reported stellar passenger load factor of 84.4 per cent during the first 10 months of the year, which is also one of the best amongst the key markets in the world. The PLF stood at 88.3 per cent in

January.

The aviation industry has reported YoY passenger traffic growth of 23.2 per cent during the first 10 months of the current financial year and is heading towards completing one of the best years in terms of passenger traffic growth, says the report.

The domestic passenger growth for last five years stood at 12.9 per cent, 5.3 per cent, 4.6 per cent, 15.5 per cent and 22.1 per cent, and the industry is likely to surpass the last year growth rate, making the domestic market the fastest growing in the world. www.canadianinquirer.net

In January, traffic growth rose to healthy at 25.3 per cent, while the international traffic growth was moderate at 8.8 per cent. For the full year till January however this is the highest in world with 17.8 per cent growth in traffic.

The industry capacity, measured in available seat kilometres or ASKMs, reported 20.6 per cent YoY growth during the first 10 months of the year. Except Air Costa and Air Pegasus (which halted operations since August 2016), all the airlines reported capacity growth during the year.

Indigo continued to enjoy the leadership position with a market share of 40.1 per cent in the first 10 month fiscal 2017. This is the fifth year of market leadership for the airline as well as the first airline to achieve 40 per cent market share in the past eight years.

While Jet Airways and Air India continue to concede market shares, the new players Vistara and AirAsia, have reported gradual expansion in their market shares to 2.7 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively, during the first 10 months of the year.

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

37

Food A braised brisket recipe that’s perfect for any dinner party THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA LET’S GET this out of the way early: you don’t need a Passover brisket recipe, because you will never make one that is better than your grandmother’s, and you wouldn’t even try.

But maybe you’re hosting dinner for friends that happens to look a little like a Seder, and you want a great recipe that will never ever live up to that other brisket you love unconditionally (wink wink). Luckily, this recipefor Red Wine Braised Brisket is perfect for any dinner party, or weeknight, for that matter.

Brisket comes from the breast of a cow, and is usually sold in one large piece or broken down into two smaller cuts, the flat and the point. It’s notoriously tough and you’ve likely had a piece that is bone-dry and bland. But done right, the thing that can make a brisket undesirable is really what makes it so good.

Brisket falls into a category of meats that shine when cooked low and slow. That can include smoking at low temperatures, a leisurely oven-roast, or a long and flavourful braise. Braising is a great choice because the cooking liquid imparts flavour into an otherwise bland cut of meat.

The red wine in our marinade, which eventually becomes your braising liquid, works not just to flavour the brisket and sauce, but also to tenderize. The acidity in wine breaks down proteins, so make sure to give it enough time to really do its work. Once it cooks together with the tomato paste and beef broth, the wine flavour will mellow and it will be the perfect combination of savory, salty, and just a little sweet.

After braising, the brisket is rubbed in persillade, which is a very fancy word to describe a very simple thing. A mixture of chopped parsley, garlic, oil and

other seasonings, persillade can be used to season or garnish almost any dish. It is often combined with bread crumbs (or matzoh, in this case) and used as a crunchy, colorful coating for meat and fish.

By now, you’re probably starving, and we haven’t even told you the best thing about this recipe. Not only is it delicious and amazing, but like most braises, this brisket is going to taste even better if you make it ahead of time.

That means that on the day of your dinner, all you have to do is gently reheat it, cover with the persillade (which you can also make ahead), and give it a quick bake to warm through.

That’s basically ten minutes of work, leaving you plenty of time to explain yourself to your grandmother.

Red wine braised brisket

Servings: 10 Start to finish: 11 hours 15 minutes (Active time: 45 minutes) The key to the brisket is the marinade, and a handy way to marinate it is to place the meat in a large zipper-locked plastic bag. Pour in the marinade, and seal the bag. Turn the bag a few times to thoroughly coat the meat.

• 3 to 4 pounds beef brisket, fat trimmed • 2 cups dry red wine • 4 cloves garlic, chopped • 1 small onion, chopped • 2 carrots, chopped • 2 stalks celery, chopped • 1 teaspoon black peppercorns, cracked • 1 teaspoon thyme leaves • 2 to tablespoons vegetable oil • 1/4 cup tomato paste • 3 cups low-sodium beef stock • Persillade (recipe follows) • Roasted Cippolini Onions (recipe follows) Place brisket in a sealable plastic bag or in a large shallow baking dish. In another bowl, combine wine, garlic, onion, carrots, celery, peppercorns,

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and thyme. Pour mixture over brisket, cover (or seal). Turn the bag a few times or stir the mixture to thoroughly coat the meat. Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the brisket from the marinade and pat dry with a paper towel. Reserve about half of the marinade. Pat beef dry.

In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan or Dutch oven, heat the oil over high heat until wisps of smoke appear. Place dry brisket in pan and sear on all sides until golden brown, then transfer to a plate.

Reduce the heat to mediumlow and pour off the fat. Add the tomato paste and cook until the colour deepens and appears rusty, about 4 minutes. Add the reserved marinade and use a wooden spoon to scrape any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

Return the brisket to the pan and add stock (you may not need all of the stock. The braising liquid should come about 1/3 of the way up the brisket).

Bring to a simmer, cover, and place in preheated oven. Braise until meat is tender, about 1 1/2 hours. (Test meat for doneness by piercing with a roasting fork. If fork enters meat without resistance and brisket easily slides off, the meat is done.)

Transfer the brisket to a foil-

lined baking sheet and set aside.

Skim any fat from the cooking liquid. Carefully transfer the braising liquid to a blender and process until smooth. If remaining sauce is too thick, add additional stock; if it is too thin, simmer over medium heat until it has reduced. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and set aside.

Sprinkle the persillade over the cooked brisket and gently pat down to adhere. Return to the oven and bake until the persillade is lightly golden brown, about 10 minutes.

Slice the brisket into thin slices and serve with the sauce and roasted vegetables.

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1/2 teaspoon chopped thyme

Persillade

Nutrition information per serving of brisket: 332 calories; 175 calories from fat; 19 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 72 mg cholesterol; 173 mg sodium; 5 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 28 g protein.

Nutrition information per serving of persillade: 190 calories; 98 calories from fat; 11 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 6 mg sodium; 22 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 3 g protein.

Nutrition information per serving of the onions: 48 calories; 24 calories from fat; 3 g fat (0 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 193 mg sodium; 5 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 1 g protein.

Servings: 10

• 2 cups matzo meal • 1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, finely chopped • 1 clove garlic, crushed • 1/2 cup olive oil In a bowl, combine the matzo meal, parsley, garlic, and oil.

Toss to combine and set aside until needed.

Roasted cipollini onions

Servings: 10

• 2 tablespoons olive oil • 10 garlic cloves • 1 pound Cipollini onions, peeled

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Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine the oil, garlic, onions, salt, and pepper, and toss to coat. Spread on into a baking dish or roasting pan and cover with foil.

Cook until the onions begin to soften, about 10 minutes. Remove the foil, stir the onions, and return to the oven.

Roast until the onions are translucent, very tender, and lightly browned around the edges, about 30 minutes.

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Food

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Canadian edition of U.K.’s Big Feastival launches this August in Ontario

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press

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Not a lumberjack? You can still eat a filling breakfast

BY MELISSA D’ARABIAN The Associated Press I AM a morning person (by choice, not nature, but that’s a story for another time) and breakfast is my favourite meal of the day.

Strong coffee and a hearty morning meal make me feel like I’m on vacation, luxuriating in hashed-brown-and-bacon heaven, without a health or calorie care in the world. Breakfast menus at truck stops and diners have incredible appeal to a closeted lumberjack like me, with words like grand-slam and breakfast skillet promising a meal that will fill me up for most of the day.

But, eating like a lumberjack when you have a desk job makes no sense, unless you really are on vacation. For a more quotidian option, try my CountryStyle Skillet Breakfast.

I use just a few strips of real pork bacon to keep things feeling authentically diner-ish.

Onions, sweet yellow peppers, spinach and garlic all add a ton of flavour (and nutrients) but hardly any calories. The real nutrient and calorie-saving workhorse of this recipe, though, is: cauliflower.

I swap out the breakfastskillet staple hashed browns for riced cauliflower. It works beautifully, and not only do you save the calories of the po-

tatoes, but all the extra fat you need to make those hashed browns crispy and tasty.

You can find riced cauliflower in most neighbourhood grocery stores these days, either in the packaged produce aisle or the freezer. Or, simply pulse up a bunch of cauliflower florets in a food processor until it is cut into rice-sized pieces. The cauliflower is just bland enough that it takes on the flavours of the rest of the ingredients and provides enough heft to house eggs broken right into the skillet.

The result is rustic, gorgeous, and filling. Yet another reason to celebrate our country’s current obsession with cauliflower.

Country-style cauliflower breakfast skillet

Start to finish: 25 minutes Servings: 4

• 3 slices of bacon, cut into small pieces • 1/2 yellow or sweet onion, chopped (about 1 cup) • 1/2 yellow bell pepper, chopped (about 1/2 cup) • 3 cloves garlic, minced • 1 teaspoon dried herbes de provence (or dried oregano or thyme) • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika • 3 cup cauliflower rice (raw) • 1 tablespoon lemon juice • 10 ounce frozen chopped spinach, thawed and excess

moisture gently squeezed out • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt • Freshly ground black pepper • Chopped parsley, for garnish • 4 eggs, cracked into 4 small ramekins or bowls Preheat oven to 350 F. In large oven-safe skillet, cook bacon over medium low heat until starting to crisp, about 5 minutes. Add onion and bell pepper and cook until tender, about 6 minutes. Add the minced garlic, herbs, and smoked paprika and stir.

Add the cauliflower and cook until tender, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the lemon juice, stir, and then the spinach, and stir until wellcombined. Remove from heat and sprinkle the cheese evenly over the mixture. Gently make four wells in the mixture with a wooden spoon. Spray each well with nonstick spray. Pour one egg into each well. Bake until eggs are done, about 7-8 minutes for runny yolk, longer for firmer yolk. Sprinkle with black pepper, more salt if needed, parsley and serve.

Nutrition information per serving: 219 calories; 117 calories from fat; 13 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 235 mg cholesterol; 804 mg sodium; 11 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 15 g protein www.canadianinquirer.net

TORONTO — A food and music festival conceived by British celebrity chef Jamie Oliver in the United Kingdom is coming to Canada this August.

The Big Feastival Canada will showcase music on one stage, Canadian chefs cooking live on another, and family entertainment elsewhere.

The inaugural event is slated to take place at Burl’s Creek Event Grounds in Oro-Medonte, northeast of Barrie, Ont., from Aug. 18 to 20.

In the U.K., the Big Feastival is hosted annually at the Cotswolds family farm of Blur bassist Alex James, who has turned his hand to making award-winning artisanal cheeses.

The Canadian event will also focus on gourmet street food, pop-up restaurants and cook-offs.

“If you want a festival to work you’ve got to be doing something special and what Big Feastival is brilliant at is food and kids’ stuff. We’ve got 10 kids between us, Jamie and I,” James said in an interview in Toronto on Wednesday ahead of an event to launch the Big Feastival Canada.

As the food ambassador, Canadian TV personality and restaurateur Chuck Hughes, who has two sons aged three and six months, says about 15 chefs have signed on so far to take part.

“A lot of the chefs that are coming are mostly all my friends and people that everyone knows,” Hughes said. “It’s all guys who are kind of in the same spot as I am right now.

They have young children, they love food, they love the outdoors. This combines it all together.”

Attending are chefs Rob Gentile of Buca and King Street Food Company in Toronto; Vancouver restaurateur Vikram Vij; Matt Demille, who hails from Ontario’s Prince Edward County; Derek Dammann of Montreal’s Maison Publique; Michael Hunter of Toronto’s Antler Kitchen and Bar; Victor Barry of Toronto’s Piano Piano; and

Danny Smiles, chef at Hughes’s Le Bremner in Montreal.

Oliver launched the concept of the festival in 2011 in London. In 2012, the show moved to the rural Cotswolds to merge with a similar festival held by James. The U.K. concept was purchased by IMG, the international events company that once owned Toronto Fashion Week and now owns Taste of Toronto festival. The company intends to roll out the Big Feastival concept in other locations, with Canada the first stop.

In keeping with the ethos of the U.K. event, Hughes and James said there will be no fastfood choices or sugary, prepackaged fare.

James has found the U.K. event a great way to engage with kids.

In the spring, a garden will be planted at the Burl’s Creek location so that children will be able to harvest fresh produce in August.

“Through half a dozen years of doing it at home, we’ve sort of perfected the recipe and I think it will work really well here because there’s clearly a really strong community of chefs and foodies and restaurateurs who all sort of know each other,” James said.

“It’s sort of like the music scene in London in the early ‘90s. They all know each other and hang out together and I think they’re all up for a weekend away and having a bit of fun.”

Weezer and Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals are the musical headliners. Also taking to the musical stage will be the Strumbellas, Basia Bulat, Choir!Choir!Choir!, De La Soul, Dwayne Gretzky, Magic!, Keane frontman Tom Chaplin and Wintersleep. Fred Penner, PAW Patrol and Splash’N Boots will keep the kids entertained.

But youngsters won’t be turned away if they want to rock to Weezer with their parents.

“The kids love it. They love staying up late,” James said.

“With Fatboy Slim (at his farm) there were all the kids on the mom’s and dad’s shoulders jumping up and down to ‘Rockabilly Skank.’ It’s great fun.”

39

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

Chickpea crepes boast flavour and nutrition

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press I’VE ALWAYS loved crepes, those elegant, paper-thin French pancakes. They’re great containers for any filling and — as long as you have the proper pan — they’re really a cinch to make. But let’s face it, the typical flour-based crepe is pretty bland. It’s a messenger, not a message. We care far less about the crepe itself than we do about what’s wrapped up in it.

But what if the crepe boasted some flavour and nutrition?

Enter chickpea flour. Popular throughout the Middle East and Asia, as well as along the Mediterranean, it’s a good source of protein and fiber and happens to be quite tasty, almost nutty.

Today’s recipe is a variation on a swell little chickpea pancake that’s known as socca in southern France and farinata in northern Italy.

Made with chickpea flour, water, olive oil and seasonings, socca is pretty elemental. As noted, it’s delicious, but texture-wise, it’s sturdy, not pliable. I wanted to make a chickpea pancake that was thin enough to fold like a crepe. So I added some eggs and a tiny amount of flour.

There’s a way to make glutenfree chickpea crepes, but you’ll have to swap out the regular flour for cornstarch ( just be sure it’s gluten-free cornstarch) or gluten-free flour. If you roll with the gluten-free flour,

you’ll need to add an additional tablespoon or two of water to thin out the batter.

What about the filling? Anything you might want to put into a crepe or tortilla, you can put into a chickpea crepe. Here I’ve taken an Indian vegetarian route: Indian spices, potatoes and peas. But if you happen to be short of time, feel free to combine any leftovers you have in the refrigerator, roll them up in the crepes and heat them in a 300 F oven for about 10 minutes. Instant dinner!! (But without the empty carbs.)

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Chickpea crepes stuffed with Indian spiced potatoes and peas

For the filling: • 1/2 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces • 2 cups chopped (1/4 to 1/2inch pieces) cauliflower • 3 tablespoons vegetable oil • Kosher salt

Make the crepes: In a medium bowl sift together the chickpea flour, all-purpose flour, salt and baking soda. In a second medium bowl, whisk the eggs, add 1/2 cup water and the oil; mix well. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk until there are no lumps. Let the batter rest for 30 minutes. (Make the filling while the batter is resting.)

Brush the bottom of an 8-inch

nonstick skillet and a 1/2-inch up the sides with a little oil and heat the pan over medium-high heat until it is hot. Whisk the batter to remix. Add slightly more than 1/8 cup of the batter to the pan and working quickly, pick up and tilt the pan so that the batter coats the bottom. Let the crepe cook for 45 seconds to 1 minute or until it is set. Flip the crepe and cook it for 30 seconds on the second side. Transfer it to a plate and make more crepes with the remaining batter. You should have at least 8 crepes.

Make the filling: Preheat the oven to 450 F. In a small saucepan combine the potatoes with enough cold, salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and simmer until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes.

On a rimmed sheet pan lined with parchment or foil, toss the cauliflower with 1 tablespoon

stitutions, the research community, tech entrepreneurs, civil society and consumers.

Get governments using blockchain. The report says governments at all levels should use the technology to transform their own operations to provide examples of how the technology can benefit public sectors in Canada and abroad. Governments could use blockchain to collect taxes and manage public services more efficiently.

Create a blockchain centre of excellence. Universities and colleges in Canada should be closely involved in blockchain development, just like efforts that have been made in other

countries. They can also test blockchain applications; electronic voting, for example, could be tested in campus elections.

Support a blockchain research institute and a centre of excellence. The report says the Tapscott Group is launching a not-for-profit institute with a goal to “unlock” the potential of blockchain in different industries as well as within organizations. It says global experts will undertake research to lay out the blockchain road maps.

Extend “flow-through” financing to the tech sector.

This would give entrepreneurs access to large pools of funds to advance research and develop-

ment in the tech sector, particularly in blockchain. It would also enable ordinary investors to get involved in the sector. The system could be set up on a blockchain ledger, increasing accountability and transparency.

Many challenges remain, however, before blockchain is ready for “prime time” in many applications, the report said.

Those include “user-unfriendly” interfaces, unsustainable levels of energy consumption to perform secure tasks and the lack of a blueprint on how to regulate the technology.

Federal departments are examining blockchain and are at the early stages of building

Start to finish: 1 hour, 10 minutes (45 active) Servings: 4

For the crepes: • 1/2 chickpea flour (60 grams) (available at many supermarkets and online) • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/8 teaspoon baking soda • 2 large eggs • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus extra for brushing the pan

• 1 teaspoon cumin seeds • 1 teaspoon mustard seeds • 1 cup finely chopped onion • 2 teaspoons minced chile (with the seeds and veins) • 2 teaspoons finely chopped ginger • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala • 1/2 cup thawed frozen peas • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice • 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, plus extra for garnish

of the oil and a hefty pinch of salt. Arrange it in one layer and bake it on the middle shelf of the oven until golden, about 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside and reduce the oven to 300 F. In a medium skillet combine the remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil with the cumin and mustard seeds. Cover the skillet and cook over medium heat until the seeds become fragrant and start popping, about 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium low and add the onion, chile, ginger and garam masala.

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is golden.

When the potatoes are tender, transfer them to a bowl and mash them with a potato masher or fork until mostly mashed with a few lumps (don’t overdo it or you will get gluey potatoes).

Add the cauliflower, onion mixture, peas, lemon juice, cilantro and salt to taste; stir until combined.

Arrange 8 crepes on a cutting board and divide the potato mixture among them (about 1/4 cup per crepe). Roll up the crepes to enclose the filling and transfer them to the rimmed sheet, seam side down. Cover with foil and bake them on the middle shelf of the oven until hot, about 10 minutes.

Nutrition information per serving: 298 calories; 132 calories from fat; 15 g fat (2 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 108 mg cholesterol; 320 mg sodium; 32 g carbohydrate; 6 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 11 g protein.

Experts tell... regulators and senior officials from the public service, including then-international trade minister Chrystia Freeland, participated in the meeting.

Here some of the proposals laid out in a draft version of the report, obtained by The Canadian Press: Establish a digital economy commission. The commission should be tasked with developing solid recommendations on how Canada can become a leader in developing technologies such as blockchain, quantum computing, artificial intelligence and self-driving vehicles. It would be made up of stakeholders from financial in❰❰ 32

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policies around it, particularly in areas such as privacy, banking and cybersecurity, said one government source familiar with the discussions.

“Blockchain is a great example of innovative technology, and Canada has the opportunity to become a leader in its development,” Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains is quoted in the report as saying.

“My goal is to support innovation in Canada by creating an environment where emerging technologies such as blockchain can flourish, while at the same time protecting consumers when they use new and innovative technologies.”

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MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

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