Philippine Canadian Inquirer #262

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER MARCH 31, 2017

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VOL. 3 NO. 262

Vice President Leni Robredo applauds as President Duterte walks to the rostrum during Friday’s PNPA commencement exercises.

MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / PDI

When Digong meets Leni

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT DUTERTE and Vice President Leni Robredo appeared in public together on Friday, a day after the leader told his allies to stop trying to impeach the leader of the political opposition.

Mr. Duterte and Robredo were guests at the commencement exercises of the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) here.

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It was only the second time that they appeared together in a public event since Robredo resigned from the Cabinet last year.

The first time was during the graduation of the Philippine Military Academy’s Class of 2017 in Baguio City two weeks ago.

Threats against VP

Their second meeting took place

Partial compensation for 4,000 Martial Law victims approved — Palace

16 EU summons Filipino envoy to explain Duterte tirade ❱❱ PAGE 13

❱❱ PAGE 9 When Digong

China: As Canada talks trade deal, Trump’s Washington eyes it warily

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MARCH 31, 2017

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

LGBT community slams Du30 on turnaround

BY JODEE A. AGONCILLO AND DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer

are Catholics.”

“And we have a Civil Code, which says you can only marry a woman for me, for a woman to marry a man,” the President A SLAP in the face. said.

This was how some memMarjohara Tucay, Kabataan bers of the lesbian, gay, bisexual party-list national president, and transgender (LGBT) com- said the President’s comment munity described President was “tasteless, senseless and Duterte’s statement on his visit without any sense of proprito Burma (Myanmar) that he ety… . It’s not fit for a President was against same-sex marriage. or anybody.”

Mr. Duterte’s aversion to sameDanton Remoto, chair of Ang sex marriage notwithstanding, Ladlad, said members of his the leadership of the House of group were confused about the Representatives is drafting a President’s remarks and change bill allowing “civil union”—not of stand on same-sex marriage. same-sex marriage—for LGBT “We are confused with the couples, according them the mixed messages he is sending same rights as straight partners regarding same-sex marriage. “short of marriage.”

He used to be an advocate for Speaker Pantasame-sex marleon Alvarez on riage … I think Wednesday said because Time the bill would magazine writes entitle LGBT He does not about it. Time partners the civil like anything being an Amerirights enjoyed by European and can magazine. He commonlaw husAmerican. does not like anybands and wives, thing European including rights and American,” to property and Remoto said. inheritance, as He noted that well as the adoption of children. when Mr. Duterte was mayor of The only thing that will be Davao City he had LGBT promissing is the “blessing of the grams and showed his support priest or the judge that this is a for same-sex marriage. marriage,” Alvarez said.

Nap Arnaiz, vice president for externals of UP Babaylan, ‘Disappointing’ said the President’s “‘distaste’ Mark Pere Madrona, a pro- for the [proposed] marriage fessor, LGBT rights advocate equality law (a term we prefer and blog owner of The Filipino to use over same-sex marriage) Scribe, said it was disappoint- not only exhibits one of his ing that Mr. Duterte had “re- many false promises during his scinded his previously stated campaign, but also promotes a openness to having marriage culture of discrimination that equality in the country.” further stigmatizes society’s “His highly negative descrip- views on the LGBT peoples’ tion of gays and lesbians is defi- fight for the fulfillment of their nitely a slap in the face of many basic human rights.”

Filipino LGBTs who voted for Madrona said pushing for him because of what they ini- marriage equality was still not tially regarded as his progressive a priority in the country. The views on the issue. Is this his way focus, then, should be more of tempering the criticisms from on fighting discrimination in the Catholic Church?” he said. schools and in the community.

In a speech to the Filipino “It’s hard to think about getcommunity in Burma on Sun- ting married to your partner day, Mr. Duterte, commenting when you can be fired from on a Time magazine article’s as- your job just for being gay. On sertion that there was no longer this issue, I hope the President gender distinctions, said “that’s can still be a valuable ally,” Manot allowed with us because we drona said. ■

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It’s not even summer yet, but the heat is on

BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE HEAT is on—way before the official summer season.

The Philippines once again experienced heat reaching feverish levels on Friday, with Metro Manila registering a heat index of 38.5 degrees Celsius, with a temperature of 34.2 degrees as of 2 p.m., at the weather bureau’s station in its central office in Quezon City.

The highest heat index in the country as of Friday, 2 p.m., was registered in Cotabato City at 44.1 degrees, with a temperature of 35 degrees, said weather specialist Meliton Guzman of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The same heat index was recorded in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija, at 5 p.m. on Thursday— the highest for that day across the country.

Heat indices past 40 degrees on Thursday were also recorded at the Pagasa station in Sangley Point, Cavite, which reached 43.1 degrees at 11 a.m.; Ambulong, Batangas, which reached 42.3 degrees at 2 p.m.; Dipolog, Zamboanga Del Norte, which reached 41 degrees at 2 p.m.; and Pasay and Quezon cities in Metro Manila, which registered 40.5 degrees and 40.1 degrees at 2 p.m., respectively.

The “heat index” or the “human discomfort index,” colloquially dubbed “init factor,”

JUN ACULLADOR / FLICKR

is the temperature people feel, as opposed to the temperature measured by a dry-bulb thermometer. High air temperatures and high relative humidity will give high heat indices.

According to Pagasa, a heat index of 32 degrees to 41 degrees calls for “extreme caution,” exposure to which could cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion. Continuing activity in such hot conditions could result in heat stroke.

A heat index of 41 to 54 degrees is already categorized as “dangerous,” with heat cramps and heat exhaustion likely, and

heat stroke probable with continued activity. A heat index above 54 degrees is “extremely dangerous,” with heat stroke imminent.

A heat index of 27 to 32 degrees is already deserving of “caution.” Under these levels, fatigue is possible with prolonged exposure and activity to heat, and continuing activity could result to heat cramps.

Pagasa starts measuring the heat index by March. The heat is expected to last throughout the annual dry season, and until the rainy season starts ideally

by June. ■

Barangay execs’ appointment reeks of Marcos–solon

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer OPPOSITION LAWMAKERS on Friday said allowing President Duterte to appoint barangay officials will give him control over the people like the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, but administration supporters countered that selecting rather www.canadianinquirer.net

than electing village leaders will get rid of those linked to drugs.

“Imagine the possibilities of appointing at least eight officials in each of the 43,000 barangays all over the country,” said Akbayan Rep. Tomasito Villarin, a member of a minority bloc in the House of Representatives.

“That’s 344,000 people at the

beck and call of the President!” he said.

Hesaid that during the Marcos dictatorship, barangays became “a machinery to monitor and control the people.” Marcos also used barangay assemblies to ratify the 1973 Constitution, the legal mantle to his dictatorial rule, he said. ❱❱ PAGE 7 Barangay execs’

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FRIDAY

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FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

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Philippine News

MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

Impeachment to be very divisive, says Leni

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer

Pantaleon Alvarez.

Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano filed on March 16 an impeachment complaint against Mr. Duterte, citing his bloody campaign against drugs and alleged illegally acquired P2.2 billion in bank accounts.

“Impeachment whether against the President or me would put a halt to the things Congress should focus on. It is going to be very divisive in our country. It won’t be good in the long run,” she said.

ers searching for drug suspects would allow an exchange with family members or other people connected to them.

BREAKING HER silence on “But we never said anything moves to impeach her, Vice that was not true,” she said.

President Leni Robredo said on Asked to comment on Mr. Thursday that her denunciaDuterte’s remark asking his altion of extrajudicial killings in lies to “let her be,” Robredo said the administration’s drug war that would be in the best intershould not be construed as an est of the nation. attempt at destabilization or a “I have always been for workdesire to take over from Presiing together. Only our dissent is dent Duterte. being misinterpreted as desta“When we verbalize dissent, it bilization,” she said. doesn’t mean we “By working towant to replace gether, it doesn’t the President. mean we agree We think removon everything. ing a President by I have always been for working But disagreement impeachment or together. Only our dissent is being should not be whatever means, misinterpreted as destabilization. seen as our desire we won’t accomto replace him,” plish anything Robredo said. anymore,” she “We want to told reporters.

‘Palit-ulo’ scheme be heard because we feel strongly Robredo met with her supShe acknowledged brickbats about certain things, like the killporters from civil society and that came her way after she ing of ordinary people,” she added. urban poor groups in her office sent a video message at a UnitRobredo also spoke about during which she spoke for the ed Nations-affiliated side event the bitter infighting between first time about the impeach- giving a stinging rebuke of the her supporters and Duterte’s. ment complaint submitted last government’s war on drugs and “It wastes a lot of our time, and week by two Marcos loyalists exposing an alleged “palit-ulo” it encourages a culture of hate for the endorsement of Speaker scheme, in which law enforc- among everyone,” she said. ■

Letty Shahani hailed for standing up to China, US

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer “MORE THAN just being an accomplished diplomat, legislator and women’s rights advocate, (she) was a nationalist who harbored a fierce sense of patriotism,” former partylist Rep. Neri Colmenares said of former Sen. Leticia “Letty” Ramos-Shahani, who died on March 20 of colon cancer. She was 87.

In a statement on Wednesday, Colmenares expressed the “profound sense of loss” by the group P1nas, or Pilipinong Nagkakaisa Para sa Soberanya, whose advocacy is the preservation and defense of Philippine territorial integrity. Shahani was one of the group’s founders.

“In the latter years of her life,

(Shahani’s) advocacy (of ) an independent foreign policy led her to be a convenor of P1nas,” said Colmenares, a fellow P1nas convenor.

The former congressman recalled how Shahani, along with other former legislators and civil society leaders, joined public opposition to China’s incursions into the West Philippine Sea, as well as the United States’ increasing military presence in the country.

“We share her strong position that Philippine interest should not be held hostage to the imperialist designs of either China or the United States,” Colmenares said.

He also lauded Shahani for her efforts in helping people understand the intricacies of the arbitration case filed by the Philippines against China on

Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and Kalayaan (Spratly) islands, and the concepts of territorial integrity and maritime sovereignty.

“Even as she was suffering from her illness, she took every opportunity to speak out and act to defend Philippine sovereignty through what she called ‘people’s diplomacy.’ She actively participated in P1NAS’ events and even joined a factfinding and solidarity mission to Zambales province to support Filipino fishermen in their struggle to assert the country’s rights over Panatag,” Colmenares said.

The former congressman described as “valuable” Shahani’s input “especially at this time of confusion” on the Duterte administration’s foreign policy direction. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

RISA HONTIVEROS / FACEBOOK

Hontiveros urge foreign investigation into EJKs

BY PHOEBE BALUBAR Philippine Canadian Inquirer NATIONAL OFFICIALS had expressed concern over the facts that Vice President Leni Robredo released in a video message for a UN Conference last week, citing that she had provided false information.

This places the Philippines in a position of further scrutiny and criticism over Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.

In a statement made Monday, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros said that the government should invite representatives from the United Nations and the European Union to ensure that the international community is not “misinformed.”

“The assertion that the UN and EU parliament were grossly misinformed of the situation in the country is wrong. The members of both the UN and EU have various missions to the country, manned by hundreds of staff. They know what is happening around here,” she said.

“But if the government will continue to dismiss the international organizations’ pronouncements for their supposed lack of awareness of the realities on the ground, then I urge the Duterte government to invite representatives of the UN and EU to verify the allegations of EJKs in the country,”

she added.

Hontiveros said that the Duterte Administration should understand that the Philippines is part of a global community joined not only by trade and economic ties, but also by the shared respect and interest in human dignity and social welfare.

On the other hand, Senator Panfilo Lacson asked the Vice President to double-check her figures on extrajudicial killings in the camera. In her video, she said that over 7,000 people were killed ever since Duterte was elected as President.

Lacson said that both sides have their share of losses. He tweeted that the government had suffered 38 casualties in 2,000 police operations and that she should correct her facts.

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano also said earlier that international human rights groups are looking at a summarized figure where the 7,000 is a summary of legitimate police operations, and homicide and murder cases that are not supposed to be attributed with the drug war.

In fact, according to Cayetano, there are some 70,000 extrajudicial and unresolved killings recorded during Former President Benigno Aquino III’s term which is something that international groups had not raised prior to Duterte’s war on drugs. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

Barangay execs’...

Mr. Duterte’s plan would require a new law to again postpone barangay elections scheduled for October and to give him authority to appoint village leaders.

Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections scheduled for October 2016 had been moved to October 2017 under Republic Act No. 10923 passed last year.

The poll watchdog, National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), warned that not holding elections regularly could undermine the democratic process of ensuring the citizens’ right to choose their leaders and make them accountable.

Namfrel secretary general Eric Alvia said regularity of elections is important to establish the mandate, legitimacy and moral authority of elected leaders.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Mr. Duterte’s chief ally in the House, agreed that village officials who use their positions for the illegal drug trade should be replaced by presidential appointees.

“We have no problem with that and we support the President in that it is quite a valid reason,” Alvarez said in a radio interview on Friday.

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno said that under Mr. Duterte’s plan all barangay posts will be declared vacant “and persons not involved in drugs will be appointed in their place.” The new barangay chairs and council members would be appointed through the Department of the Interior and Local Government, he added.

Namfrel’s Alvia, however, questioned the plan to appoint rather than elect village leaders.

“Going by the criteria: what is (the administration’s) mandate, legitimacy and moral authority? They may be prone to abuse their office and appointment authority,” he said.

Alvarez said he does not expect any constitutional problems as the plan would only entail legislating amendments to the Local Government Code.

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said there should be a law to provide the legal basis for whatever may be done by the President in lieu of a barangay election. “I would have to discuss that with my fellow senators and I hope the Speaker would discuss it with his fellow congressmen,” Pimentel told reporters.

“The appointive power is by default placed on the President. But this certainly still needs a law because this is a mandate,” he said. “The mandate must be renewed periodically.”

Villarin said the plan reeked of the President’s dictatorial tendencies. “If barangay officials are involved in drugs, let the people kick them out through the ballot. Give that power to the people not to one person. That’s the essence of democracy,” Villarin said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, an opposi❰❰ 3

tion leader in the House, said neither the President nor the interior secretary should be allowed to appoint barangay

officers in charge. “The choice of elective officials belongs to the electorate,” Lagman said. ■

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With reports from Julie M. Aurelio and Jeannette I. Andrade

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MARCH 17, 2017

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De Lima faulted for technicalities

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Member

SUPREME COURT justices hinted on Tuesday that Sen. Leila de Lima’s petition questioning her arrest might be headed for outright dismissal for violations of court procedures. Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. asked De Lima’s lead counsel how she could have signed and sworn to her affidavit before a notary public on Feb. 24 when he did not visit De Lima in her detention cell that day. Justices of the Supreme Court on Tuesday hinted that detained Sen. Leila de Lima’s petition questioning her arrest might be headed for an outright dismissal due to violations of court procedures, including the principle of the hierarchy of courts.

At the continuation of the oral arguments on De Lima’s petition, several magistrates centered their questioning of the senator’s lead counsel, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, on technicalities concerning her petition for certiorari instead of discussing the main allegations against her by the Department of Justice (DOJ).

De Lima is accused of receiving protection payoffs from convicts running a multi-billion peso narcotics trade from New Bilibid Prison when she was the justice secretary.

She has denied wrongdoing and has maintained that the case against her should have been investigated by the Ombudsman and filed in the Sandiganbayan instead of criminal courts.

Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. raised the claim of Solicitor General Jose Calida that De Lima had falsified her “jurat,” or the phrase in her sworn affidavit stating the authenticity of her statements and the name of the lawyer who notarized the document.

Saying he was “bothered” by Calida’s allegation, Velasco asked Hilbay to explain how the senator could have signed and sworn to her affidavit before notary public Maria Cecile Tresvalles-Cabalo on Feb. 24 when records showed that Cabalo did not visit De Lima at her detention cell in Camp Crame on that day.

Hilbay agreed that the Rules of Court clearly required petitioners to attest to the veracity of their statements and that they should personally sign such documents.

“This could be a serious breach of Rule 65 (of the Rules of Court),” Velasco warned.

Section 1 of Rule 65 states that certiorari petitions should be “accompanied by a certified true copy of the judgment, order or resolution subject thereof ... and a sworn certification of nonforum shopping.”

Forged affidavit

But Hilbay vehemently denied that De

JOSEPH VIDAL / PRIB PHOTO

Lima had forged a portion of her affidavit, which was attested to by Cabalo.

Reading a statement issued by De Lima, he said the allegation of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) in its manifestation was “false” and had “no factual basis.”

“By repeatedly attempting to resort to the basest of technicalities and in lieu of substantial arguments ... (the OSG) is scraping the bottom of the barrel for whatever argument is left to support her continued illegal detention,” Hilbay said.

De Lima, the most vocal critic of President Duterte’s bloody war on drugs, said the OSG’s strategy was “obviously born out of desperation.”

In her affidavit, Cabalo said she met with De Lima at the office of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group in Camp Crame on the day she notarized the senator’s affidavit.

She said she tried to visit De Lima in her detention cell at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center, but was refused entry by the guards.

“Since I already know that Senator De Lima caused the preparation of the petition and that it was her who signed the same, I stamped and signed the (document),” Cabalo said.

Associate Justice Samuel Martires, who was appointed to the high court by President Duterte two weeks ago, asked Hilbay if Executive Judge Juanita Guerrero of Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 204 had to determine first her jurisdiction over the case before ordering De Lima’s arrest.

Martires, a former RTC judge and associate justice on the Sandiganbayan, pointed out that Rule 112 of the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedures, which pertains to the issuance of arrest warrants, came before Rule 117, which cov-

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ers the motions to quash.

Question of jurisdiction

Hilbay said it was logical and was important for any RTC judge to rule first on the question of jurisdiction before issuing an arrest warrant against the accused.

To which Martires replied with sarcasm: “I would appreciate it if you would reduce that into writing and recommend to the Supreme Court the amendment of Rule 112 for the guidance of RTC judges.”

Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta said De Lima practically waived her right to due process when she refused to file a counter affidavit during the preliminary investigation of the DOJ and a motion for reconsideration.

Peralta, also a former RTC judge and Sandiganbayan associate justice, said the senator should have also waited for Guerrero to rule on her motion to quash before she sought the high tribunal’s intervention.

But Hilbay said De Lima’s petition was “born out of frustration” after the DOJ acted with “undue haste” to resolve the drug cases against her and recommend her indictment despite the absence of strong evidence.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio then directed Hilbay to state “very good reasons” and “special and important reason” why De Lima directly brought her case to the high court instead of waiting for the resolution on her motion to quash in violation of the hierarchy of court.

In reply, Hilbay said: “We have made a very strong and clear case for an application of exceptions of the procedures of this court. These exceptions are clearly stated in the jurisprudence of this honorable court.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

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TIME poll shows More senators oppose widespread support Duterte poll plan for Duterte’s agenda of real change PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER

BY CIELITO M. REGANIT Philippines News Agency MANILA — Malacañang on Monday welcomed a TIME Magazine online poll on the world’s most influential people which showed President Rodrigo Duterte leading early results, saying it only attests to the strong support of Filipinos to his agenda of real change.

“We note that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has been included in TIME magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential persons in the world. President Duterte is grateful to the Filipino people all over the world for their support for him and his agenda of real change in Philippine society,” Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

Early TIME online survey results on the world’s most influential people showed Duterte garner-

ing 4 percent of the votes, leading other prominent figures such as the Pope and Facebook founder Zuckerberg with 3 percent each.

President Duterte likewise leads Russian President Vladimir Putin and Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Microsoft founder Bill Gates; and British actress Emma Watson who also got 3 percent each in the early voting.

In the meantime, US President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are at 2 percent.

But despite the recognition, the Malacañang official said the President’s only ambition is to serve the interest of the country and its people.

“As a public servant he serves the nation faithfully and without any thought of receiving any distinction. For him, the presidency begins and ends with public interest,” Abella said. ■

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto and Sen. Panfilo Lacson thumbed down yet another postponement of the barangay elections.

Other senators against the Palace plan are Antonio Trillanes IV, Francis Pangilinan and Leila de Lima.

“The essence of democracy is

“The best way to change officials involved in drugs is to have elections as scheduled and make the drug issue front and MORE SENATORS have voiced center,” Recto said. their opposition to President Lacson, for his part, said he was Duterte’s plan to scrap barangay not inclined to support yet anothelections in October and to let er postponement of the polls. him appoint village officials, even “I believe it’s time we allow the as the majority bloc in the Senate 42,036 barangays to elect their met on Sunday night to discuss new village leaders or give those the matter. who deserve their The meeting, vote of confiattended by nine dence to continue senators, came serving them,” up with up to The best way to change officials Lacson said in a four options that involved in drugs is to have elections text message.

Senate President as scheduled and make the drug Asked whether Aquilino Pimenissue front and center. he skipped the tel III would Sunday meeting present to Mr. because he was Duterte, Senate against the postMajority Leader Vicente Sotto we should have regular elections ponement, he said: “Almost III said on Monday. and renew the mandate of elect- subliminally.”

The President wants the ed officials. We postponed it last Aside from Pimentel and barangay elections scrapped, year. I’m not in favor of postpon- Sotto, Richard Gordon, Cynthia claiming that 40 percent of ing it again,” Drilon told reporters. Villar, Nancy Binay, Sherwin about 340,000 barangay chairs Barangay elections were sup- Gatchalian, JV Ejercito, Juan and council members nation- posed to be held last year but Miguel Zubiri and Sonny Angara wide were involved in the ille- this was reset for Oct. 23 this attended the meeting. gal drug trade. He also wants to year after Congress passed a just appoint village officials. law postponing the polls. ❱❱ PAGE 10 More senators

When Digong... amid threats from Mr. Duterte’s allies to impeach Robredo for criticizing his brutal war on drugs, which they insist is part of a plot to destabilize the administration.

Mr. Duterte and Robredo shook hands and chatted as the President arrived on the stage.

They also sat beside each other, upsetting an earlier arrangement.

Based on the names posted on the backs of the seats for the VIPs, Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno was supposed to sit between the President and the Vice President.

But when Mr. Duterte arrived, Sueno offered Robredo his seat.

Robredo appeared hesitant to take Sueno’s seat, but Mr. Duterte indicated the seat and took the papers off it, apparently asking the Vice President to sit beside him. ❰❰ 1

Closely watched

The public meetings of the

President and the Vice President have been closely watched, especially because of the animosity between their allies and supporters.

Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Mr. Duterte’s right-hand man in the House of Representatives, insists on examining an impeachment complaint brought against Robredo by a Marcos loyalist, saying it is the job of the House to process the filing.

Alvarez claims that Robredo betrayed the public trust by sending a video message to a UN gathering last week criticizing Mr. Duterte’s crackdown on narcotics, which has taken the lives of more than 8,000 mostly poor people.

On Thursday, Mr. Duterte, speaking to journalists on his arrival from official visits to Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand, told his allies and supporters to stop trying to unseat the Vice President.

“Look, you know, we just had an election. Guys, lay off. Let’s

Police families

MARCELINO PASCU / PPD MALACAÑANG

stop it,” he said.

In his speech to the PNPA graduates on Friday, Mr. Duterte urged the new police officers to do the right thing and follow the rules.

Mr. Duterte also assured the PNPA graduates that he would protect them and take care of their loved ones through a trust fund worth “billions” that he planned to set up.

“Fight for the country, do it www.canadianinquirer.net

right. You have been lectured on the rules on how to do it. Do it right.” Mr. Duterte said.

“And if you face trouble in your performance of duty or duty-connected, I will answer for that and I will provide the legal [help],” he added.

He also said the war on drugs and crime had claimed the lives of law enforcers, but he vowed not to allow them to become mere statistics.

“We owe it to them, to ourselves, to our children to ensure that their sacrifice will not be in vain. That they died so [we may] have peace and order and stability for our country today,” he said.

According to Mr. Duterte, his concern is that when police officers get suspended, or worse, their families suffer.

He said that when the New People’s Army once took him hostage and he felt the cold steel of the gun, the first thing that came to his mind was the baby who was then in the belly of his wife.

He vowed to take care of the police officers’ families, adding that he was looking for billions for the trust fund.

He also noted that he had increased the combat pay and incentives of policemen, and issued directives to provide assistance to the families of fallen officers.

The wives of slain police officers would also be given jobs in the government, he said. ■

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Philippine News

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

More senators...

At the meeting, some senators did not agree with the President’s plan to postpone the polls and just appoint barangay chiefs, according to Sotto. ❰❰ 9

Abolish barangay system

Sotto said abolishing the barangay system was discussed given that drug syndicates were taking advantage of it.

Pimentel said no decisions and agreements were reached at the meeting but senators would study the constitutionality and legality of the President’s authority to appoint barangay chiefs.

Pimentel claimed that under the law, Congress could tinker with barangay elections, including the terms of officials, citing a provision that says that “the term of an elected official is three years except the barangay official whose term should be fixed by law.”

In a statement, presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said the President under the Administrative Code could appoint positions declared vacant.

In Tacloban City, Deputy Speaker Rodolfo Fariñas saw nothing wrong with “appointing village officials if it’s mandated by law.”

Fariñas pointed out that since the terms of the barangay officials expired last year when the elections were supposed to be held, they may be replaced by appointment.

‘Unconstitutional’

But election lawyer Romulo Macalintal said “any law or executive order declaring vacant all existing elective barangay positions and to appoint their replacements is unconstitutional.” “[T]he remedy is not to amend the law but to amend the Constitution providing for appointive barangay officials,” Macalintal said in a statement.

Macalintal said that if barangay positions were declared vacant by a mere order of the President, this could also be applied to governors, mayors and councilors.

A number of barangay officials in the Visayas are opposing Malacañang’s plans.

“This will deny the people to vote directly officials they like to lead them in the barangay,” said Rosario Bactol, chair of Barangay 88 in Tacloban City.

Pablito Gemarino, president of the Liga ng Barangay Iloilo provincial federation, said he preferred that the barangay elections proceed in October.

“What will happen if the villagers do not agree with the choice of the appointment and the performance of the appointee?” Gemarino said.

Reyland Hervias, president of the Liga ng Barangay in Iloilo City, said residents were the most knowledgeable about who deserve to be elected in their village. ■ With reports from Christine O. Avendano and Julie M. Aurelio in Manila, Joey Gabieta, Jani Arnaiz and Nestor P. Burgos www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

11

CBCP dismayed over CA decision blocking Veloso testimony vs recruiters PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY Martial Law monument at Mehan Garden.

RAMON FVELASQUEZ / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Partial compensation for 4,000 Martial Law victims approved — Palace

BY CIELITO M. REGANIT Philippines News Agency MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday said the Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB) has approved the release of partial compensation for 4,000 Martial Law victims.

In a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella said “HRVCB sped up the process of evaluating and releasing of claims of Martial Law victims as part of its commitment to President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal to expedite the release of the claims.”

“The HRVCB informed the Office of the President of their accomplishments and latest development on processing and release of claims since their meeting with the President,” he said.

The Palace official said the claims board transmitted to the Office of the Executive Secretary its Board Resolution No. 01 2017 approving their preliminary list of 4,000 eligible claimants and release of partial

monetary reparation.

The first 4,000 eligible claimants, as listed in Board Resolution No. 03 2017, consisted of 2,661 “conclusively presumed victims” and 1,339 new applicants.

Abella said the HRVCB and its resolutions committed to distribute 50 percent of the total estimated reparation value through the cash card facility of Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).

HRCVB and the LBP earlier signed an agreement to use the bank’s facilities to pay legitimate claimants.

He added that the HRCVB has already requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the release of PHP 300 million from the Bureau of Treasury for the partial payment of monetary reparation.

“The claims board, following the point system prescribed by the reparation law, came up with a total of PHP 23,567 points to be awarded to the first batch of claimants. That should be sufficient,” Abella said. ■

MANILA — The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrants and Itinerant People (CBCP-ECMI) expressed disappointment over the decision of the Court of Appeals (CA) preventing drug mule Mary Jane Veloso from testifying in the criminal case against her recruiters from her detention cell in Indonesia.

“What the CA did was depressing and disappointing. It is disservice to Mary Jane, ob-

structions to truth and justice,” said CBCP-ECMI chairman Bishop Ruperto Santos.

He believed that the ruling is not good for the case and has prolong the suffering of the jailed OFW. “Their decision just leads to uncertainty of the case and longer suffering for MJ,” the Bataan prelate said.

“Indonesia is waiting for our court decision. And our court must render decision. But with what CA did, it is justice delayed,” Santos added.

On Monday, the CA issued a temporary restraining order (TRO) granting the immediate

relief sought by Veloso’s detained recruiters, Ma. Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao for the deposition set for April 27

by Nueva Ecija Regional Trial Court Branch 88 Judge Anarica Castillo-Reyes.

Veloso was arrested at the Yogyakarta airport in 2010 after found in her possession for the drug-laden luggage.

She was scheduled to be executed but it was temporarily stopped last April 29, 2015 after then President Benigno Aquino III appealed her case to Indonesian President Joko Widodo. ■

Impeachment battles will only delay political agendas

BY PHOEBE BALUBAR Philippine Canadian Inquirer KABAYAN PARTY-LIST Representative Harry Roque said that the impeachment complaints filed against both the President and the Vice-President will only consume time in Congress, which would have been used for acting on rather important matters such as addressing the need for universal healthcare and freedom of information in the country.

Other lawmakers also agree that the pending impeachments filed against the two heads of state is not only counterproductive but will paralyze their legislative functions.

1-Ang Edukasyon partylist Representative Salvador Belaro Jr.

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believes that President’s Duterte’s impeachment complaint will not make it past the Lower House because it is dominated by the supramajority and would most likely junk the complaint.

Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas also believes that the complaints will get the country nowhere and will also result in “further polarization among our citizens”.

Meanwhile, Muntinlupa Representative, Ruffy Biazon said that the leaders of the House of Representatives may hopefully pursue a healing process during the Lenten season.

For Former President and now Manila Mayor Erap Estrada, should both impeachment cases proceed, it will only be detrimental for the already thriving and promising Philip-

pine economy.

Estrada, who also faced an impeachment complaint during his term said that the nation who elected both Duterte and Robredo should give them a chance as they are still in the middle of their first year in office.

“Just like what happened to me. They filed an impeachment complaint against me. That is why all my programs were delayed. Nothing happened. That is the reason why I don’t believe in this impeachment. It’s too early for politics. We will not move forward,” he said.

He also called for the public to stand behind Duterte and crush the impeachment complaint against him. He also hoped that both Duterte and Robredo will “talk and unite for the sake of the Filipino people.” ■

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Philippine News

Amid opposition, Duterte vows intense drug war

BY PHOEBE BALUBAR Philippine Canadian Inquirer

ly with the participation of the police.

The President had always been firm about his stand PRESIDENT DUTERTE re- against illegal drugs. He had mains unfazed after an im- slammed the international peachment complaint has been community for condemning filed against him last week, an his actions and responded to EU resolution condemning his the EU saying that it should not campaign against illegal drugs meddle with the affairs of the and efforts to bring him to the country nor impose its western ICC. culture and views.

Before he left for Myanmar Duterte said that he does and Thailand, the President not care about drug crimiheld a press conference at the nals losing their lives over Davao International Airport legitimate operations so long saying that he could not be as no member of the police stopped from pursuing his drug or military is killed. He once campaign despite opposition again warned all drug lords, efforts to bring operators and him down. suspects to stop “Listen to me: their operaI will deliver my tions or face the promises even if consequences. it will cost me my I do not want “So drop shabu life, my honor to see military if you want to be and the presiand dead alive. If you do dency. I can let men on my not want trouble these go, but I side, getting with the governwill comply with killed. ment, stop trafmy promise,” he ficking. I will not said. for a moment, be “The drive out of focus on against corrupthat. Whatever I tion, the drive promised, I will against criminality and drugs rise and I will fall on this,” he will resume and it will continue said. and it will be brutal if they do “We just follow the rules unnot understand the role of gov- der the Revised Penal Code…if ernment. Suppression includes you are a criminal, and you are all,” he added. caught in the act, do not fight Since the “Operation Dou- because if you place a person’s ble Barrel Reloaded” was an- life in jeopardy, my order is to nounced two weeks ago, 34 shoot you.” were already killed and 2100 “I do not want to see miliwere arrested. Prior to its tary and dead men on my side, comeback, authorities had as- getting killed. I’d rather that sured that the second wave of the criminals, however thouthe anti-drug campaign would sands or millions they are, they be less violent as its predeces- should be the first to go…drop sor as more safety measures the shabu and nobody will die had been employed particular- tomorrow,” he added. ■

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

NYT report a well-paid hack job, says Abella

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer MALACAÑANG ON Wednesday described The New York Times’ profile of President Duterte as a “well-paid hack job,” and blasted it for linking his rise to power to violence.

Presidential spokesperson Ernesto Abella said in a statement that the New York Times appeared to be dealing with facts selectively in order to “bully” Mr. Duterte.

“One would expect more from the New York Times. Their article, ‘Becoming Duterte: The making of a Philippine strongman,’ sounds like a well-paid hack job for well-heeled clients with shady motives,” Abella said.

He objected to the article’s use of violence to frame the rise to power of Mr. Duterte—who has repeatedly threatened to kill criminals and drug peddlers—and said it ignored his other achievements.

Mayor’s initiatives

“NYT cynically and unfairly narrates the President’s rise to power in the context of violence. It deliberately fails to mention the many initiatives the President made when he was Davao City mayor,” he said.

He pointed out that with Mr. Duterte as its long-term mayor, Davao City had been praised as one of the safest cities in the world.

Residents followed an antismoking and a midnight alcohol ban, and city services were efficient, he noted.

“Moreover, Mr. Duterte ensured that Davao City Hall is a responsive government known for its efficient delivery of government services,” he said.

On Mr. Duterte’s watch,

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ALBERT ALCAIN / PPD

Davao City got a one-stop shop for business permits, a Central Communication and Emergency Response Center that provides emergency resources to residents, a Lingap Para sa Mahirap health financial assistance program, free primary and secondary education in public institutions and access to college education for underprivileged but deserving students, he said.

Best of intentions

While Mr. Duterte shuns “Western liberal niceties” and has a rough manner, he only has the best of intentions for the nation, Abella said.

Mr. Duterte wants to reduce crime and poverty, and bring about peace, he said. “[The President] does not engage in Western liberal niceties to promote his agenda, to rebuild a nation with compromised internal structures,” he

said.

‘Rough-hewn outsider’

“He is a rough-hewn outsider who vowed to ‘reduce poverty; restore trust in the government by addressing crime, corruption and illegal drugs; and reinforce peace agreements with ethnic Moros who experienced historic injustice, and the CPP/ NPA/NDFP who have been fighting for social justice for decades,’” he added.

The New York Times article failed to present the whole picture of the President, he said.

“One gets the feeling NYT is not interested in presenting the whole truth, only that with which they can bully those who attempt an independent foreign policy,” he said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

EU summons Filipino envoy to explain Duterte tirade

BY JIM GOMEZ The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The European Union on Monday summoned a Philippine envoy to explain an expletive-laden tirade by President Rodrigo Duterte, who threatened to hang EU officials for opposing his efforts to reimpose the death penalty.

The EU’s external action service, the equivalent of a foreign office, said it hauled Charge d’Affaires Alan Deniega in to its Brussels headquarters to provide “an explanation for the recent, unacceptable comments of President Duterte.”

The move highlights growing European exasperation with the president.

Earlier, the EU denied his allegations that it proposed solving the Philippines’ drug problem by creating treatment clinics where illegal drugs such as methamphetamine or cocaine would be dispensed.

The EU Delegation to the Philippines issued a statement saying it has not “suggested, discussed, proposed or considered the use of any substitution drugs when treating addiction to methamphetamine ... or any other drug addiction in the Philippines.” It did not mention Duterte by name.

Duterte, who has lashed out at the EU repeatedly for raising human rights concerns over his deadly crackdown on illegal drugs, said in a speech Friday the EU had proposed a “healthbased solution” to the drug problem that involved dispensing methampetamine, locally known as shabu, cocaine or heroin.

He branded the supposed EU proposal a “government-sponsored idiotic exercise.”

“The sons of bitches, they want us to build clinics, then we should, instead of arresting or putting them in prison like in other countries, you go there and if you want shabu they will inject you or give you shabu,” he said in a speech before Filipino-Chinese businessmen.

“Then if you want cocaine, they will give you cocaine and if they want heroin, they will give you heroin.”

The EU said that in co-operation with the World Health Organization and experts, it was working with Manila’s Department of Health and the government’s main anti-drug agency and selected villages to implement a program that “aims to support recovery from addiction, while keeping families together and facilitating development of social and job skills.”

The voluntary program plans to develop “recovery clinics and recovery homes,” where patients can receive better care, education and counselling without prescribing medication and ensuring confidentiality. Livelihood skills will be taught, the EU said.

Thousands have died under Duterte’s crackdown, which was launched after he took office in June, alarming the EU, Western governments and U.N. rights officials.

Duterte has said he will not be intimidated by threats by critics to impeach him or file a case against him before the International Criminal Court for the killings, mostly of poor drug dealers and users. He has denied condoning extrajudicial killings but has repeatedly threatened drug suspects with death and said he is ready to rot in jail to protect Filipinos from atrocious crimes linked to drugs. ■ AP Writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed.

13

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Opinion

14

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

Congress urged to pass DFA: No irregularities Expanded Maternity Leave Law when APO given green

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency MANILA — More than a hundred expectant mothers on Monday held a forum urging the House of Representatives (HoR) to pass the Expanded Maternity Leave Law as it was done in the Senate.

The forum, which was held in Barangay Commonthwealth, Quezon City, was led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros, Laguna 3rd District Rep. Sol Aragones, Akbayan Partylist Rep. Tom Villarin and Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte in a bid to sustain the momentum for the passage of a law.

The law seeks to double the number of paid maternity leave days of women to 120 days with pay and an option to extend it for another 30 days without pay. The 30 days can also be allotted to fathers and alternate caregivers.

Hontiveros, who is also the chair of the Senate Committee on Women, said that contrary to criticism, the passage of an Expanded Maternity Leave law does

not mean a vacation for mothers. ger mother-child bond through “It is not a vacation that moth- breastfeeding,” she added. ers and women are asking for Under Hontiveros’ leadership, but recognition of their role as the Senate has already passed child-bearers. We want women on third and final reading the to have the chance to take care of Expanded Maternity Leave Law their children and their health of 2017. However, the measure’s and well-being without worry- counterpart bill in the House of ing about the economic costs of Representatives is still waiting being away from approval from its e m p l o y m e n t ,” members.

Hontiveros said.

The Buntis The neophyte Congress was orsenator further It is not a ganized by the ofexplained that the vacation that fices of Hontiveros Expanded Mamothers and and Belmonte in ternity Leave law women are partnership with was at par with inasking for but the Department ternational stanrecognition of of Health (DoH)dards and which their role as National Capital can truly address child-bearers.

Region, Senate the physical, Gender and Demental and ecovelopment Focal nomic burden of Point, House Compregnancy is long mittee on Women overdue. and Gender Equality and Akbayan “We need a new maternity leave Women. It provided free medical policy that will provide adequate services for pregnant women such paid maternity leave days for as pre-natal checkup, ultrasound, working mothers to fully recover laboratory examination, dental from childbirth, properly care for health care and counselling. A Latheir child and establish a stron- maze session was also conducted. ■

light to print passports PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday reiterated that there were no irregularities when they allowed APO Production Unit to print the Philippine passport.

“As far as we are concerned, there’s nothing irregular with our contract with APO. Everything is aboveboard,” DFA Spokesman and Assistant Secretary Charles Jose said in a text message.

He said the DFA has no choice but to award the 10-year contract to APO after two government printing agencies refused to print the new passport.

“We can outsource the production of passports only to government printing offices.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) which didn’t want to continue printing the passports for us, National Printing Office (NPO) which didn’t want the

job and APO Production Unit,” Jose explained.

In a recent press conference by DFA Acting Secretary Enrique Manalo, he said they have no other recourse but to award the project to APO because BSP and NPO refused to accept the job saying they are “work-loaded.”

Asked on who decide the passport fees, Jose said it is a collegial decision of inter-agency group spearheaded by the Department of Finance.

However, Jose pointed out that “DFA recommendation is given in setting the fees.”

“Passport expedite fees is set by the Passport Law,” he stressed.

To date, the DFA is charging PHP900 for regular passport and an additional PHP300 for rush passport.

He added that this is the same fees they collected when they give APO the green light to print Philippine passports as he dismissed allegations that there was such an increase. ■

AT LARGE

Same-sex rights and laughs

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer A “SLAP IN THE FACE” is how a leading voice among the local LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community described the “turnaround” of President Duterte on the issue of same-sex marriage and gay rights.

“Disappointing” is how academic and blogger Mark Pere Madrona described Mr. Duterte’s recent statement that same-sex marriage was against not just the law but also Filipino culture and morals, including Catholic teachings.

While Mr. Duterte’s policy turnarounds on a wide range of issues have left the heads of observers and pundits spinning, his rejection of “marriage equality” this time around is particularly puzzling.

In July 2015, guesting on a TV talk show (hosted by an openly gay comedian) at a time when he was still mulling a presidential run, Mr. Duterte said he would still accept his son if the young man came up

to him and confessed he was gay. community to vote for him? Or gay and in love—with each other.

Everyone, he told host Vice Ganda, is his current rejection his way of And their love affair has been going should “respect human dignity wooing the support of the largely on for the better part of 20 years. because all humans are created by critical Catholic hierarchy?

Robert and Sol’s confession and God.” He added that he thought *** their request for a divorce from same-sex marriage is “good,” sayWhatever. I suggest that folks their spouses throw both Grace ing that “everyone deserves to be who are both supportive or critical and Frankie for a loop, along with happy” and recounting that even of the President’s current stance on their children, circle of friends, and as a student he felt bad about how the rights of LGBTs start viewing associates. his gay friends were being taken “Grace and Frankie,” a TV series No spoilers here. All this inforadvantage of. available on Netflix. Jane Fonda, mation is revealed in just the first But a few days quarter of the first ago, talking to episode, but the The show explores the emotional toll of divorce, the messy the media during rest of the series (it detritus of lingering love and lasting memories, the special a visit to Myanis now on its third difficulties of love and sex among senior folks—regardless of mar (Burma) and season) explores whether the protagonists are female, male and varied couplings upon his return how the four prinin between. to the country, he cipals cope with said that he would having their world not support any moves to legalize who looks pretty stunning for a turned upside down, and touches same-sex marriage, and that he 70-year-old, is Grace while Lily on, along the way, issues like aging, is against blurring the line divid- Tomlin is Frankie (Frances), and child rearing, infidelity, spousal ing men and women. This, he said, they are both discombobulated support, rekindling old loves and even if he has two brothersin-law when their respective husbands of discovering new ones. and cousins who are gay.

40 years, Robert (Martin Sheen) *** Why the turnaround? Did the and Sol (Sam Waterston), successIt would be easy enough to turn public just misread his earlier ful divorce lawyers and partners in the characters into broad caricasupportive statements which con- a firm, confess that they are gay. tures, especially Frankie who is a vinced many among the LGBT Not only that. The two men are painter and art teacher and lives a

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flaky, counterculture life. She is in sharp contrast to Grace who has retired from her own cosmetics company but is now itching for a comeback, except that her daughter has inherited the business.

But the people behind the series are not just interested in laughs and controversy. The show explores the emotional toll of divorce, the messy detritus of lingering love and lasting memories, the special difficulties of love and sex among senior folks—regardless of whether the protagonists are female, male and varied couplings in between.

I suggest that the President and whoever are his advisers on this issue, as well as legislators, policymakers and influencers, check out “Grace and Frankie.” It gives viewers a good time, of course, but also an occasion to reflect on the complications of human relationships and individual ways of surviving the slings and arrows, warps and wrinkles, joys and sorrows that life throws at us—women, men, gays and whatever gives us definition. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

15

PUBLIC LIVES

Why is global public opinion important?

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer A FACT that the Duterte administration has to learn to come to terms with is that there is such a thing as global public opinion. No government, no matter how popular, can command the rest of the world to “leave us alone”—and expect to be taken seriously. World opinion today will weigh in on any vital issue affecting any country, nearly as often as the opinion of that country’s citizens.

This is not intervention in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation.

It is just a reality that has come with the emergence of world society. The political administration of countries remains very much the prerogative of their respective governments. But, the performance of that function has become a legitimate subject of observation and scrutiny by interested entities other than the nationals of any particular country.

We are not only referring to the mandate of the United Nations and its agencies, or of the work of the international mass media, which are the most eloquent purveyors of global public opinion. We are also talking here of the major players in the economic system, easily the most globalized of all the function

systems of modern society. These the growing interconnectedness of a signatory to the Rome Statutes are the international financial in- economies. There are special arbi- that created the ICC, and, indeed, stitutions, investment managers, tration tribunals that are expressly we can proudly claim that one of global corporations, and the vari- established to settle economic dis- our brightest legal scholars, UP ous credit and investment ratings putes, even if participation in such law professor Raul Pangalangan, agencies that routinely monitor mechanisms is voluntary. From the former publisher of the Inquirer, political and economic risks in a actual operation of such mecha- sits as a distinguished member of given country or region. nisms are drawn stable norms that that Court.

Unlike citizens that must often increasingly govern today’s global Reading the Rome Statutes, one wait for elections to make their transactions. Though not com- will notice that states cannot be opinions matter, global players can pulsory, governments and private compelled to participate in the proact almost immediately and with economic entities can ignore these ceedings of the ICC. This Court is equally costly consequences. They only at the risk of being treated as therefore very much a court of last can put their money into a coun- outcasts. resort. One has to prove, when one try’s stocks in exgoes to the ICC, pectation of longthat the relevant The sheer scale of the coldblooded killings was meant to term growth and state is unwilling jolt the entire nation into a chilling realization not only of the stability, or withor genuinely unmagnitude of the drug problem, but also of this administration’s draw capital at the able to investigate willpower to end it within the shortest possible time. first sign of poand prosecute litical uncertainty. these crimes. PriThese entities have their own reThere is, as we know, another mary jurisdiction still resides with searchers and their own methods area in which the globalization of the judicial systems of countries. of calculating risk and opportunity law has made tremendous prog- Merely initiating an investigation based on information culled from ress. Crimes against humanity— is subject to exacting protocols that diverse sources. They don’t rely ex- like genocide or the systematic depend very much on state cooperclusively on what the newspapers extermination of minority groups ation. It’s not easy. report or what politicians and po- or persecuted peoples—have come The globalization of such instilitical analysts say. Least of all will under increasing scrutiny by the tutional systems is thus very much they take the assurances of a sitting world community in recent years. a work in progress. It is aided in government at face value.

The culmination of global efforts no small measure by the power of Apart from the economic sys- to bring perpetrators of such global public opinion, which—not tem, the other institutional do- crimes to justice has been the es- to forget—also suffers from the main that is increasingly evolving tablishment of the International same center-periphery imbalinto a global system is law. A major Criminal Court, a permanent ances that one finds in other funcdriving force toward the globaliza- tribunal that came into effect on tion systems as the economy and tion of the legal sphere is precisely July 1, 2002. The Philippines is the law. To understand how global

public opinion is crucial to the formation of autonomous global function systems, it may be useful to review the social uses of public opinion in general.

Public opinion serves as a society’s ultimate tool of self-observation. It is, in the words of Niklas Luhmann, a vital mechanism for “rationality-checking.” A government can be so drunk with power that it becomes oblivious to the democratic principle of separation of powers. It may, for instance, be tempted to deploy the judiciary for purely political motives. Indeed, a presidency with “Mosaic pretensions” can so overwhelm the entire bureaucracy, the legislature, and the judicial system as to waste the society’s built-in capacity for selfobservation and correction.

In such instances, it is public opinion, both local and global, that alone can induce a government to do the needed self-examination.

We need to know if we’re moving in the direction of a failed state, and, if we are, what corrective measures to undertake to avert this danger.

For clearly, there is something ominously wrong with the functioning of our political system when people raise the specter of impeachment against the nation’s two highest officials—less than a year after the national elections. ■

LOOKING BACK

Then and now, problems of government

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer “SURRENDER” and “guerrilla” were words that caught my attention as I read about recent New People’s Army attacks on government targets and the yielding to authority of all types of people involved in drugs, or influential types seeking to evade, even temporarily, being thrown into a city or police jail with “ordinary” criminals.

These were also words that came to mind as I browsed through the 5-volume compilation of captured documents that Capt. J.R.M. Taylor put together as “The Philippine Insurrection Against the United States,” the publication of which was blocked by the US War Department.

Before the publication of a limited number of copies by the Lopez Museum in 1971-73, Filipino scholars researching on the period had to endure perusing the material in microfilm. We have to thank the

late Renato Constantino, who proposed the publication when he was director of the Lopez Museum. An army of researchers working from a print of the microfilm supplied by Teodoro Agoncillo took years just to transcribe the text and to weed out most of the typographical or obvious factual errors in the original text.

In the end Constantino threw in the towel and just published the volumes without the promised commentary on the anti-Filipino history as written by the biased Captain Taylor and supplementary notes or annotations on the various documents appended to the work as exhibits.

Despite the bias of the compiler who wanted to present the First Philippine Republic as incapable of self-government, and the problems of translating the captured documents from the original Spanish, Tagalog, and other Philippine languages, the work is still the first

step in trying to understand what we now know and accept, not as the “Philippine Insurrection” which was a mere uprising against an established government, but as the “Philippine American War” which was a conflict between two nations.

If we are to trace the birth of the nation to the shortlived First Republic, we accept that Filipinos declared themselves free of Spain on June 12, 1898, that they established a government and Congress in Malolos in 1899, and that our freedom was taken from us when America bought the Philippines from Spain at the close of the Spanish-American War for $20 million.

“Guerrilla” and “surrender” are words that caught my attention while I read some of the circulars and orders issued by Gen. Vicente Lukban (1860-1916), who was the political-military chief of Samar and Leyte during the PhilippineAmerican War. On Feb. 4, 1900, Lukban issued general orders for

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guerrillas from his stronghold in Samar that consisted of items covering: obedience from the leaders down through the chain of command; that officers should look after their men’s health; that they be responsible for their men’s behavior; and that they prevent any abuse, destruction of property, robbery, or the unlawful collection of war contributions. It is interesting that Lukban issued a revised version of the same orders on April 26, 1900.

Agaw-armas was in place even then. Lukban ordered a promotion for any soldier who captured arms and ammunition: 25 guns led to promotion as 2nd lieutenant; 50 guns to 1st lieutenant; 100 guns to captain; and 300 guns to major.

In the February orders, Lukban told officers to “try in every way to make prisoners of our enemies, and in case they make any resistance he is to shoot them.” In April this was revised to: “If he should meet and

give the enemy battle and be victorious, he shall treat the enemy with greatest courtesy, he shall respect the wounded, giving them hospital facilities and giving them kind treatment if possible until they arrive here, and he who shall abuse them or cause their death shall be executed.”

He was more direct about punishing those who “take the guise of guerrillas and are nothing but a gang of bandits who are disturbing the common welfare.” He warned against “those who collect taxes in my name without my authority.”

These documents can be read in two ways: first, as primary-source documents that tell us how our freedom was won; and second, as painful reminders that, human nature being what it is, there were problems of government that ruin the picture of the past we wish to have, problems that are still around more than a century since Lukban’s time. ■

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MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

Canada News China: As Canada talks trade deal, Trump’s Washington eyes it warily

BY ALEXANDER PANETTA The Canadian Press WASHINGTON — On the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, Robert Zoellick — an eminent figure in American trade policy — offered Canada a pointed warning about China: proceed with caution.

A former president of the World Bank, trade czar to George W. Bush and occasional critic of Trump, Zoellick participated in a panel on CanadaU.S. relations the night before the newly elected president took office.

He flagged a concern about the timing of Canada-China trade talks.

At a moment when China hawks are swooping into Washington, setting up nest in a new U.S. administration and eyeing opportunities to attack alleged commercial abuses, Canada is moving the other way: starting trade negotiations, discussing an extradition treaty and approving the Chinese takeover of a high-tech firm with military uses.

“Just be careful,” said Zoellick, Bush’s former U.S. trade representative, at a panel hosted by the Wilson Center.

“I suspect there will be some voices in Canada saying, ‘Oh, well, the U.S. is kind of screwing it up with China. We’ll go develop it with China.’... I’m not trying to interfere with your sovereign decisions... But given the personality (of Trump), just be careful about that. If you’re going to do it, make sure you get

something good for it.

Greenwood of the Canadian“Otherwise you’re going to American Business Council. pay a big price with this guy if “It’s a very careful line that his No. 1 enemy is China.”

Canada has to walk here.”

His advice to Canada was She mentioned three memto emphasize how the North bers of the Trump trade team.

American neighbours could Trade nominee Robert compete, together, as a global Lighthizer: A lawyer for U.S. trading block. In essence, that’s steel companies, he repeatedly the message from Canada on is- fought the Chinese governsues like steel, and the related ment over alleged dumping. issue of Buy American rules for He’s cast China’s entry into the infrastructure.

WTO as an economic tragedy The Canadian government and proposed a half-dozen ac- Robert Zoellick. also says China talks are merely tions, including aggressive U.S. still exploratory. lawsuits, anti-dumping duties bur Ross: He is expected to But the early signs are wor- and intellectual-property com- play a leading role in NAFTA. risome, says the opposition — plaints. Lighthizer says the U.S. He co-wrote Trump’s campaign pointing to recent comments should even threaten to leave policy on trade with Navarro. It from the Chinese government the WTO if those issues remain criticized U.S. open-trade poliabout the substance of the unresolved. cies, and mentioned Canada only talks, that human rights aren’t White House trade ad- once in passing; Mexico 10 times; up for discussion, nor are limits viser Peter Navarro: It’s un- and China 33 times. He’s been to takeover bids by state-owned clear whether he’ll be involved more nuanced than Navarro. firms. in NAFTA. But this economist The opposition says the govThen there’s ernment should the timing. hit the pause Canada is button. It says about to begin Canada would trade negotiaBut given the personality (of Trump), have more levertions with its just be careful about that. If you’re age if it waited to indispensable going to do it, make sure you get negotiate with trade partner, something good for it.

China as a larger the U.S., which block, with the buys three-quarU.S. or other ters of this councountries. try’s exports.

“We have to Some of the people on the U.S. was Trump’s senior trade ad- be very sensitive to what’s goside are intensely critical of viser during the campaign. ing on down there (in the U.S.),” Chinese trade.

His most prominent work be- said Randy Hoback, the Con“The Trump administration fore entering the White House servative critic on Canada-U.S. is populated by a number of ex- was a book and documentary relations. “I would prefer that if perts who have cut their teeth titled, “Death By China.” In it, we’re doing any trade negotiaon being aggressive towards he compared the purchase of tion with China, we don’t do it China. And the campaign was, Chinese exports to the financ- alone.” in large part, run on a (promise ing of 1930s-style totalitarian But a trade expert says this is of ) very aggressive anti-China regimes. precisely the right moment. trade practices,” said Maryscott Commerce Secretary WilIn fact, says Laura Dawson,

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Canada’s already late. Dawson, who hosted the pre-inauguration event with Zoellick, says Australian exporters already have a deal and a head start tapping into the massive Chinese market.

She cites other benefits: that Canada is better off with a rules-based framework with China; that trade within North America is increasingly unpredictable, prompting a need to diversify; and finally, she says, Canada could actually be doing the U.S. a favour.

This could be the test run for eventual U.S.-China talks, she said.

“China is worth the effort,” says a paper she recently cowrote, titled, “Chasing China.”

“Doing nothing ... means falling further behind. Canada must act quickly and decisively to ensure that the China-sized hole in Canada’s trade policy does not create lasting damage from which we cannot recover.”

That being said, she added in an email Tuesday: “Doing a deal with China is still going to be really difficult. ■

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FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

17

N.S. tackles racial profiling in stores: ‘It’s about a societal transformation’

BY MICHAEL MACDONALD The Canadian Press HALIFAX — More than a decade after racial profiling was identified as a festering problem among some police forces, it is now being addressed in another sector: retailing.

After years of complaints about retail staff who routinely follow, search, ignore, insult and provide poor service to visible minorities, one province has decided to do something about it in a big way.

On Monday, the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission launched a free, online training program aimed at preventing a problem that has sparked a growing chorus of complaints across the country.

The 20-minute interactive course for front-line service staff — described as the first of its kind in Canada — has already attracted attention from businesses in other provinces and the United States, and plans are in the works to roll out a national campaign.

“As a proud African Nova Scotian and seventh-generation Canadian ... I am acutely aware of the problems associated with navigating race relations in our society,” Rev. Lennett Anderson of the African United Baptist Association of Nova Scotia told a news conference at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce.

“The need for a campaign such as this is a desperate one ...

It is worthy of our celebration.”

The retail sector is Canada’s largest employer, with over two million people working in an industry that generated $59 billion in payroll in 2015.

Christine Hanson, CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission, said the need for such a training program was reinforced in 2013 when the commission released a groundbreaking report that concluded aboriginal people and African Canadians more often reported being treated poorly by retail staff than did any other group.

“In fact, people from all ra-

cialized groups, including Asian, Latin American and Middle Eastern people, reported being treated poorly by staff far more than did white people,” the report said. “In the focus groups, several participants commented on being made to feel ‘lower class’ or like ‘second-?class citizens’ when shopping.”

The report went on to say that aboriginal people, African Canadians, and Muslims were all targets of offensive language and were treated as if they were physically threatening and potential thieves.

“A person who is a member of a visible minority group is three times more likely to be followed in a store, and four times more likely to be searched,” Hanson said.

The online program, called “Serving All Customers Better,” includes a quiz about immigration and visible minorities. It also cites statistics from the 2013 report and clearly spells out what the law says.

The course also cites some examples, at one point quoting a worker who said: “I worked for a retailer who said, ‘The eagle has landed,’ when a black person walked into the store ? I quit my job over it.”

Examples of consumer racial profiling continue to make headlines across the country.

In October 2015, the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario agreed with a woman who said she faced discrimination as a black person when she was confronted by a Shoppers Drug Mart employee who demanded to search her backpack on suspicion of shoplifting. The tribunal ordered the store to pay Mary McCarthy $8,000.

And in February 2015, Calgary university student Jean Ventose said he was racially profiled when he was followed by a security guard inside a local Walmart, apparently for no reason. He posted a video on the encounter on Facebook, which received more than one million views and 10,000 reactions in two days.

In August 2016, one of Can-

ada’s largest grocery chains withdrew its appeal of a human rights decision that found an employee of Sobeys had discriminated against a black customer in May 2009 after falsely accusing her of being a repeat shoplifter.

Sobeys said it reached a settlement with the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission and would apologize to Andrella David, pay her $21,000 in compensation, and develop a staff training program on racial profiling.

The company faced a boycott by a group of 19 churches in the province. As well, Nova Scotia’s first black lieutenant-governor, Mayann Francis, came forward to reveal that she, too, had been the victim of repeated racial profiling while shopping.

At the time, Francis said Nova Scotia was in a state of denial when it came to racial profiling, saying she had often been the victim of “shopping while black” since she left her viceregal post in 2012.

“It does not matter how successful you are, it still can happen to you,” said Francis, who had previously served as CEO of the province’s human rights commission.

“It’s just so wrong and so hurtful and I know how I feel when I’m followed in the stores ... They’re stalking you.”

Earlier in the year, the Hudson’s Bay Company agreed to educate its staff about racial profiling as part of a settlement in the case of a now-deceased Nova Scotia grandmother allegedly accused of shoplifting a rug from a Zellers outlet in 2008.

Anderson, the pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Hammonds Plains, N.S., said the new online course in Nova Scotia marks a big step forward for visible minorities.

“Today, we are engaging in a courageous conversation,” he said. “We have decided that it’s time to confront major issues in our society ... Race is not a card we play, it’s a life we live ... This campaign is not about behaviour modification, it’s about a societal transformation.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

HUU-AY-AHT FIRST NATIONS / FACEBOOK

Vancouver Island First Nation gives nod to proposed LNG export facility THE CANADIAN PRESS VANCOUVER — A First Nation on Vancouver Island has approved a proposed liquefied natural gas export facility on its traditional territories.

Leaders of the Huu-ay-aht First Nation and the CEO of Vancouver-based Steelhead LNG held a joint news conference in Vancouver on Monday to announce what Chief Robert Dennis said was the First Nation’s “official entry into the international business world.”

Members of the small First Nation voted Saturday to approve development of the LNG facility at Sarita Bay, on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

“I feel it is going to be a very inviting opportunity for international investors to come to Canada and say, ‘Hey, there is certainty there and we would be willing to work there,”’ Dennis said.

Steelhead CEO Nigel Kuzemko said the company has National Energy Board licences to export 24 million tonnes of LNG through the Sarita Bay facility every year, but he said discussions are ongoing about how they’ll get the natural gas from northeastern B.C. and Alberta to Vancouver Island.

Kuzemko said existing pipelines are favoured, and Steelhead has been in talks over the possibility of bringing gas across the Salish Sea from Washington state or piping it across southern B.C. The company’s plans could even include building a new pipeline linking Vancouver Island and the B.C. mainland, but it is too early to discuss the costs of getting the LNG to market, he said.

“The project size, the scope, the scale and the amount we have to spend to do that will obviously evolve over time. We just don’t have a number to give you,” Kuzemko said.

The company planned to make a final investment decision on Sarita Bay by 2019 or 2020, with first production targeted for 2024, he said.

Steelhead and the First Nation did not offer specifics about job creation but Huu-ayaht leaders said the First Nation will benefit significantly, as would other workers.

“We are going to make sure that we extend as much of our energy to make sure Huu-ayaht people are working and also to contribute to the employment sector of other Ca❱❱ PAGE 25 Vancouver Island

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Canada News

MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

Man flummoxed by letter from Canada Revenue Agency declaring him dead THE CANADIAN PRESS CAMPOBELLO ISLAND, N.B. — A 64-year-old New Brunswick man says he is very much alive, despite being declared dead by the Canada Revenue Agency.

Peter Harwerth of Campobello Island said he was stunned to receive a letter from the agency a few days ago that was addressed to the “estate of the late Peter Harwerth.”

“That kind of baffled us, we

were shocked,” Harwerth said.

“We just couldn’t believe what we were looking at.”

He said the letter was a regular tax reassessment, but the problem was he and his wife had not yet received their original assessment after the taxes were filed last year.

He said their accountant had estimated Harwerth would receive a refund of about $1,100, but the assessment he received said he owed more than $500.

The letter also informed him that he had already received

the refund, even though he had not.

Harwerth’s wife was also due to receive a refund but had received nothing yet. She had also not received a letter asking her to pay back any money.

“When we called Revenue Canada, it turned out that both of our refund cheques had been cashed previously, only a few days after they had been issued,” Harwerth said.

He said they are now expecting photocopies of the cashed cheques so they can verify that

the signatures were not theirs.

Revenue Canada is investigating the matter, Harwerth said. But it wasn’t able to explain why the letter was addressed to his estate.

In an email, the agency said it identifies a taxpayer as deceased when it receives confirmation of death from another government department, lawyer, executor, beneficiary or family member.

“Despite safeguards to ensure accuracy of our files, occasionally information we receive

is incorrect or misinterpreted, or human error can occur during the processing of a taxpayer’s information,” the statement reads.

In 2015, it says dates of death were recorded in error in 0.09 per cent of all reported deaths.

Tax professional Ann LaFrance said there are ways to prevent such errors. She said people should make sure their name is spelled properly, their birth date is correct and that any children are on the file. ■

Leadership hopefuls pull out stops soliciting support as deadline looms

BY TERRY PEDWELL The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Conservative leadership hopefuls made some last-ditch pitches for support Monday in advance of a key campaign deadline — and stanching the flow of illegal migrants across the Canada-U.S. border played a prominent role.

Candidates only have until Tuesday to sign up new party members in order to buttress support for their leadership bids, so several — Kevin O’Leary, Maxime Bernier and Steven Blaney were doing their best to grab some Tory-friendly headlines.

In an early email blast, businessman and reality-TV star Kevin O’Leary suggested using the Constitution’s veto power, known as the notwithstanding clause, to block refugee claims from people who enter Canada illegally.

It’s a response to a recent spike in illegal border-crossings from the U.S. into Canada, in many cases by people apprehensive about a Trump administration that’s limiting immigration and stepping up deportations.

Under the Canada-U.S. Safe Third Country agreement, migrants who seek to cross at official border crossings are turned back if they have already made a refugee claims in the U.S.

Ottawa could act unilaterally if the U.S. doesn’t agree to amend that agreement, O’Leary suggested.

“If the U.S. won’t agree to closing the loophole so that those crossing into Canada illegally are returned to the U.S. where they are entitled to a fair hearing before an independent court, then Canadamust act on its own,” said the email.

Earlier Monday, former cabinet minister Bernier sent a basic solicitation, urging wouldbe supporters to sign up before 5 p.m. ET Tuesday.

But he later doubled down on O’Leary’s message, saying not only would he use the notwithstanding clause, but he’d deploy the military as a “temporary” measure to backstop existing police and border resources.

“If it takes too long to put that additional manpower in place, I will look at additional temporary measures — including deploying Canadian Forces in troubled border areas,” Bernier said in a statement.

Steven Blaney sent out an eyebrow-raising fundraising email of his own on the weekend, denouncing alleged antiSemitic remarks by some Muslim leaders.

The email, containing the subject line “Should Allah kill all the Jews?”, referenced individuals including an imam and former Ryerson University teaching assistant who was re-

cently removed from his position over alleged anti-Jewish remarks.

Leadership hopeful Michael Chong was also making headlines Monday — but not for his campaign efforts.

Social media was abuzz all day about a Globe and Mail item from March 22 by columnist Leah McLaren, since taken offline, in which she describes trying to breastfeed Chong’s infant baby during a house party more than 10 years ago, “just to see what it felt like.”

On Twitter, Chong shrugged it off as “no doubt odd, but of no real consequence.”

As the deadline loomed, other would-be Tory leaders opted for the straightforward approach, highlighting the support they’ve already drummed up through new memberships or from within the party’s office holder ranks.

Pierre Lemieux reinforced his opposition to legalizing marijuana amid news that the Trudeau Liberals planned to introduce legislation this spring to legalize pot by July 2018.

Lisa Raitt posted a video on her social media accounts, urging Canadians to join her under a “big blue tent.”

And Erin O’Toole’s campaign sent out separate emails announcing more endorsements, including a pack-leading 26 sitting MPs who were publicly backing his leadership bid.

Divergent messages, but all www.canadianinquirer.net

.ONTARIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE / FLICKR

with the same goal, said Mainstreet Research president and CEO Quito Maggi.

“These are all attempts to differentiate themselves from the other candidates,” said Maggi, whose firm has been tracking the leadership race through rolling surveys.

While the party said it doesn’t expect to release official numbers until some time in April, Maggi said he anticipated roughly 175,000 individuals paid the required $15 membership fee to become eligible to vote for a new leader, with that number likely to approach 200,000 by the deadline.

Just over 251,000 people took out memberships in 2004 before Stephen Harper was elected to lead the party, newly formed by a merger between the federal

Progressive Conservatives and the Canadian Alliance, said party spokesman Cory Hann.

Once past Tuesday’s deadline, the candidates will turn to encouraging voter turnout — and in the case of so-called “top tier” candidates, work back channels to shore up support from candidates who may quickly fall off the ranked ballot, said Maggi.

“Even if someone has signed up 10,000 or 15,000 people, the most important thing is getting those people to actually vote,” he said.

“But now it’s (also) about trying to shore up that second choice.”

The party is set to choose a permanent replacement for Ambrose on May 27 through a preferential ballot. ■

World News

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

19

European scientists, Airline faces wrath of leggings officials warn against wearers in boarding flap US climate plan

BY LEANNE ITALIE The Associated Press

BY FRANK JORDANS The Associated Press

cent report for the U.S. National Academies of Sciences on measuring how much greenhouse gas emissions cost society, said BERLIN — Scientists, officials Trump’s plan could undermine and environmental campaign- a crucial mechanism by which ers in Europe said Tuesday the United States governthat the United States would ment wanted to mitigate global be damaging its own interests warming. if it rolls back the previous adUnder U.S. regulations, auministration’s efforts to curb thorities calculate the “social climate change. cost” of carbon emissions in U.S. President Donald Trump order to compare it to the cost is expected to sign an execu- of complying with regulations tive order Tuesday that would aimed at curbing greenhouse rescind, suspend or review gas emissions.

Obama-era regulations, includDrastically reducing the estiing those restricting green- mated social cost of carbon, as house gas emissions at coal- the Trump administration has fired power plants. indicated, would increase profThe regulations are a key its from burning oil, coal and part of America’s contribution gas in the United States. toward meeting global goals Allen said that could send a agreed at an international cli- signal to developing countries, mate change summit in Paris such as Indonesia and Banglatwo years ago. desh, that fossil Thomas Stockfuels are a viable er, a climate scisource of energy entist at the Uniin the coming versity of Bern, It will definitely decades.

Switzerland, said chuck sand “It will defiTrump’s plan to in the wheels nitely chuck halt decommisof efforts sand in the sioning of old and to control wheels of efforts polluting coalglobal climate to control global fired power stachange. climate change,” tions would hurt he said. the United States Germany, in the long run. which plans to “If ‘America First’ means you get most of its energy from rewant to lead, then you can’t newable sources by 2050, said turn the clock back and rely on a ambitious policies on climate century-old technology. You’re change are in the United States’ missing the train,” he said. very own interests.

Stocker, a former co-chair Germany’s environment of the U.N.’s scientific panel on minister, Barbara Hendricks, climate change, noted that the said promoting renewable enObama administration had been ergy and energy efficiency is ala driving force behind securing ready creating large numbers of the Paris agreement in 2015. jobs around the world. “Who“They are giving up that lead- ever tries to change into reership position and I suspect verse gear is only going to harm that it will be taken up by other themselves when it comes to competitive countries,” said international competitiveStocker, adding that China was ness,” she said. well-placed to do so.

Sweelin Heuss, the chief exThat view was echoed by ecutive of Greenpeace GermaMyles R. Allen, a climate scien- ny, said Trump’s plan is “bad tist at the University of Oxford. news, but it’s not the end of the “If China saw the U.S. as being Paris agreement.” short-sighted (...) they might She urged German Chanceleven welcome this as a chance lor Angela Merkel to speak out to take over climate leader- against the plan and emphasize ship,” he said.

Europe’s commitment to comAllen, who co-authored a re- bating climate change. ■

NEW YORK — Don’t mess with our stretch, United Airlines, or risk the wrath of leggings lovers.

The social media matter of The Kids in Leggings vs. United snapped to the surface Sunday. That’s when one Shannon Watts said on Twitter she had witnessed a gate agent refusing to let two girls board a flight from Denver to Minneapolis because of their leggings. The girls’ dad was in shorts.

The incident, with United’s Twitter account chiming in, rolled right on through to Monday, prompting debate on whether leggings are “pants.”

That especially goes for women and girls and whether the United dress code for people on standby who are availing themselves of free family passes, as this family was, has perhaps not kept pace with the elevation of stretchy pants from gym and yoga garb to more broadly acceptable.

Or are leggings more like women’s stockings and therefore not appropriate for plane travel, as one Facebook user argued — or is this a better comparison, as suggested by another: “It’s like going to a baseball game on a player’s tickets and doing something against the rules, right?”

Besides, some on social media said, many airlines adhere to the same standards for flying on this type of freebie.

“Casual attire is allowed as long as it looks neat and is in good taste for the local environment,” tweeted the United account in response to one angry leggings defender Watts whipped up Sunday.

“United shall have the right to refuse passengers who are not properly clothed via our Contract of Carriage,” another tweet from United explained.

The policy for family and friends on passes is different from that for the rest of us paying folk. For United, it seems in this case to be about the stretchy fabric.

American Airlines, for paying passengers, reserves the right to bar you if you are clothed in www.canadianinquirer.net

BERNAL SABORIO / FLICKR

a manner that would “cause discomfort or offence to other passengers or are barefoot.” An American spokesman had no comment about the United flap Monday.

But American has a separate policy for employees and their guests: They’re prohibited from wearing clothes that are “torn, dirty, frayed or overly revealing.” If an employee or guest is travelling in first or business class, he or she can’t wear shorts, flip-flops or baseball caps, under that American dress code.

The point for some airline insiders, however, is different.

Some of them contend anybody eligible for the types of free passage afforded the girls on Sunday is well aware of dress code restrictions, however silly they may seem from the outside.

Kristin Taylor, in tony Greenwich, Connecticut, is a leggings lover and sees them everywhere in her world. She’s also a psychologist and stay-at-home mom to two of three sons, “so no leggings for them.” She just flew in leggings to San Diego and wore a nice pair, from J.Crew, out to lunch recently with a cashmere tunic.

“Leggings are pants,” she said. “Seriously.”

Fleece-lined or paired with a fancy top for evening, leggings can be just about anything the wearer wants them to be these days, Taylor said. Besides, as the debate over leggings has gone on for years, what about jeggings? What about tights?

Should today’s standard on

“pants” rely on whether one can also comfortably perform a Downward Dog? “And for kids? I find that ridiculous,” Taylor added. “If the father can wear shorts the girls should be able to wear leggings.

If the policy was that the father had to be wearing a suit and tie and you wanted a woman to be wearing something commensurate, I would hope she would still be allowed to wear pants.”

United spokesman Jonathan Guerin weighed in Monday: “The girls (teenagers) were completely understanding. No one was upset at the gate.”

Chicago-based United regularly reminds employees about the dress rules and tells them to make sure that anyone flying with one of their passes knows the guidelines, Guerin said.

Just the day before, United had sent a memo to airport workers reminding them of the dress policy, he said. The reminder “specifically mentioned leggings, along with other nonos for travellers using United passes, such as flip-flops and torn jeans,” he said.

He said United isn’t contemplating any changes to the standards.

“They were not designed to single out women or men,” Guerin said. “It has to do with the way we present ourselves and that represents the company and represents the brand.”

Tamara Rodriguez Trevino, of Dallas, Texas, is an elementary school teacher and wearer ❱❱ PAGE 20 Airline faces

20

World News

MARCH 31, 2017

French presidential candidate Macron defends “method of real shifts in power” PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY PARIS — French presidential hopeful Emmanual Macron on Tuesday defended his “method of real shifts in power” and specified the manner in which he plans to run the country if he gets elected.

The founder of the “En Marche!” movement has entered into the fray to respond to his detractors who claim that, if he is elected, he will not be able to govern, for lack of a coherent parliamentary majority.

“Our objective is to turn the page on the last five years, and more broadly the last 20 years, with the political practices which accompanied them,” Macron, the former Economy Minister of sitting President Francois Hollande, told a press conference, at his campaign headquarters.

“I wanted to present the method of real changes in power that we are in the process of constructing, that between powerlessness and efficiency, between the world of yesterday and the new world,” said Macron.

He said his objective is “to make work together those who share our project, regardless of the camp from which they come,” “to change customs, and also faces, because we cannot make something new with the old.”

The “En Marche!” founder denounced the “tick-tock of the right and left,” “the ministers chosen for their supposed political weight and without any other legitimacy than the fact to be apparatchiks,” as well as the political class “still too made up of men over 50 yearsold.”

Macron, shoulder to shoulder in polls with the president of the far-right National Front (FN) Marine Le Pen in the race for the presidency, clearly wanted to cut short the recurring critiques which call into doubt his ability to govern and to dispose of a parliamentary majority.

The presidential hopeful first

EMMANUEL MACRON / FACEBOOK

traced the contours of his government which he says will not be run by a newcomer but by an experienced political manager, “chosen by their skills.”

The government will be cut back and only contain 15 ministers, appointed for their strengths and not “for their political weight,” he said.

Half will be women, “including ministries in the foreground,” he said. A “consequential part” of the minsters will come from civil society, continued Macron.

The candidate for “En Marche!” also committed himself to putting an end to the “hyper-management” of the President of the Republic. Ministers will work under the authority of the first among them, “with a clear roadmap” and “according to the objectives (which will be) fixed,” he declared.

The former economy minister also made it clear that despite having support from both the right and the left, he would not be taken hostage by the different political sensibilities who backed him. “All the sponsorships are welcome, but no sponsorship will stop me from reforming and advancing,” he insisted.

As the first round of voting in presidential elections draws near, the question of June legislative elections has begun to become more pressing. If the candidates of “En Marche!” aren’t carried by the wave of

presidential elections, a Macron presidency would be constrained to form a parliamentary coalition, even to form a cohabitation government from the start of his term, according to his detractors.

Macron swept the hypothesis aside, by saying, “My government will be able to rely on a parliamentary majority which will be obtained thanks to the coherence the French have always demonstrated.”

“The movement will be open but coherent, it will be a majority of efficiency. We will invest 577 candidates under the banner of the presidential majority.

There will be one half made up of female candidates and they will be irreproachable from a legal point of view,” he said.

“There will be no agreement of political machinery.”

Macron also indicated that the naming of candidates for the legislative elections would be done “by successive waves” starting “the day after the second round of presidential elections” scheduled for May 7.

The presidential candidate ended his statement by evoking the numerous undecided voters who, according to several surveys, confirm that they still haven’t chosen who they will vote for on April 23, during the first round of the elections. According to those polls, close to half of Macron’s potential voters would still be particularly unstable. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

Airline faces... of LuLaRoe leggings.

The airlines, she said, should be left to their policies for friends and family free travel.

“After reading a few articles and comments about the situation, I feel that, although it may be discriminatory toward women and girls, the airlines have guidelines that have been in place for many years,” she said.

“Because they foot the bill for the travel, I feel that they can enforce their policies when applicable. Now removing those said friends of family from the plane seemed excessive to me.

Verbal warning should have been given maybe?”

Kim Bongiorno, in central New Jersey, has a 9-year-old daughter who is a leggings enthusiast and caught wind of the controversy on television news.

The family travels on United often on frequent-flyer points.

“Ever have to deal with the folds and bunches of jeans on a 5-hour flight, losing circulation and feeling the pinch in your waist when you become bloated?” she asked. “How about ❰❰ 19

people with bad circulation who need to wear compression socks and legging-style pants or sweatpants? Should those who need them for health and comfort reasons be denied a seat on United? Only healthy, very slim, short people who wear jeans/trousers comfortably in cramped spaces are welcome?”

Bongiorno has more questions: What of the decorum of men in clingy trousers that can be revealing? How about men in tight shirts? Men in shirts with sexual sayings or images on them?

Giovanna Bovenzi Cruz, a secretary and consumer services representative from Vineland, New Jersey, wears leggings.

“I feel like the dress code is a little outdated,” she said.

“I don’t know any woman or young girl that doesn’t wear leggings.” ■ Associated Press writers Tamara Lush in St. Petersburg, Florida, and David Koenig and Paul Harloff in New York contributed to this report.

UK prime minister signs formal Brexit letter to Brussels PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY LONDON — UK Prime Minister Theresa May has signed a formal letter to notify the European Union leadership that London was formally launching the procedure of quitting the organization, according to a photo released late Tuesday by the UK media.

The image shows May at the table in her official office in London. The letter, that has several pages, will be delivered personally to European Council President Donald Tusk on Wednesday by the UK ambassador to the EU, Tim Barrow.

The official notice will trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, starting a two-year period of negotiations on terms and conditions of Brexit.

May will also make a speech be-

fore the Parliament on Wednesday at approximately 12:30 GMT (14:30 Moscow time).

On Tuesday evening, the prime minister called German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of the European Council Donald Tusk, and President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker “to update them ahead of the letter giving notification of the UK’s intention to withdraw from the European Union being delivered tomorrow,” May’s office said in a statement.

“In separate calls, they agreed that a strong EU was in everyone’s interests and that the UK would remain a close and committed ally,” the statement reads. “They also agreed on the importance of entering into negotiations in a constructive and positive spirit, and of ensuring a smooth and orderly exit process.” ■

21

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

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22

MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

For Turkish president, referendum on power is a big gamble

BY CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA The Associated Press ISTANBUL — In a slick online video, 22-year-old Turkish student Ali Gul sits in front a drum kit and framed artwork while making tart remarks about Turkey’s political leadership. He wraps up by musing that he’ll probably get arrested if the video goes viral.

The video clocked tens of thousands of hits. This month, Gul was detained.

Times have been hard for Turkey, buffeted by bombings, violence between government forces and Kurdish rebels, refugee flows from the war in neighbouring Syria and a failed coup attempt that unleashed a huge government crackdown under an ongoing state of emergency. Now the nation is on the cusp of what could be drastic change in its political system that would, backers say, impose badly needed stability or, according to Gul and other critics, nudge it toward autocracy.

Next month, Turks will decide whether to make the post of president more powerful in a constitutional referendum that is a big gamble for Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the tough-talking president who is arguably Turkey’s most trans-

formational figure since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Ottoman-era army officer and national founder who died in 1938.

Whichever way the April 16 vote goes, Turkish society will remain deeply divided.

In power since 2003, Erdogan represents a swathe of pious Muslims whose political and economic ascendancy came at the expense of a hard-line secular class that once dominated the NATO member country with the military’s support.

A former prime minister, Erdogan was elected president in 2014 for a five-year term and took a far more active role in politics than his predecessors. Even if the referendum proposals fail and his aura of invincibility is punctured, he could still run for another term as president.

“He is truly a man of servitude. And he knows how to affect a person down to the capillary vessels. He gets down to one’s heart, touches it,” said Ahmet Kaya, a machinery workshop owner in Istanbul who views the president not as an authoritarian ruler, but as a scrappy defender against Turkey’s perceived enemies.

Those enemies, at least for the purposes of a political campaign, include some European nations that blocked efforts

by Turkish ministers to woo diaspora votes before the referendum. Erdogan,

You Are Invited this Holy Week, Easter & All Year Long To the Anglican Church of Canada Churches of The Diocese of New Westminster In Full Communion with Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church) & the Episcopal Church in the Philippines

holy communion services 2017 • Holy Week & Easter (Semana Santa)

St. Mary’s, South Hill • The Reverend Fr. Expedito Farinas

808 E. 50th Avenue, Vancouver 604.324.3365 • www.stmarysouthhill.com

• April 9 • 10:30am • Palm Sunday (Domingo Ramos) • April 13 • 7pm • Maundy Thursday (Huwebes Santo) • April 14 • 10:30am • Good Friday (Biyernes Santo) • April 15 • 7pm • Holy Saturday (Sabado Gloria) • April 16 • 10:30am • Easter Sunday (Domingo Alleluia)

St. Michael’s, Surrey • The Reverend Fr. Louie Engnan

12996 – 60 Avenue, Surrey • 604.591.8323 • www.stmichaelschurch.ca

• April 9 • 10am • Palm Sunday • Blessing of Palms • Liturgy of the Passion • April 13 • 6:30pm • Maundy Thursday • Ceremony of the Washing of Feet • April 14 • 12noon • Good Friday • April 16 • 10am • Easter Sunday • Renewal of Baptismal Vows

St. Michael’s Multicultural • The Reverend Fr. Wilmer Toyoken

409 E. Broadway Avenue, Vancouver 604.876.8191 • www.stmikes-church.ca

• April 9 • 10am • Palm Sunday (Domingo Ramos) • April 13 • 6pm • Maundy Thursday (Huwebes Santo) • April 14 • 10am • Good Friday (Biyernes Santo) • April 16 • 10am • Easter Sunday (Domingo Alleluia)

St. Mary the Virgin, Sapperton • The Reverend Fr. Arvin Amayag

121 E. Columbia Street, New Westminster 604.521.2314 • www.stmarysapperton.ca

• April 9 • 10am • Palm Sunday • April 13 • 7pm • Maundy Thursday • April 14 • 10am • Good Friday • April 15 • 6pm • Great Easter Vigil • April 16 • 10am • Easter Sunday

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!

who once courted the European Union on behalf of Turkey’s fading candidacy to be an EU member, has galvanized supporters by comparing current Dutch and German authorities to the Nazis.

The taunts aimed at Europe, Turkey’s No. 1 trading partner, tap into historical grievances in Turkey, where the story of how colonial powers carved up the disintegrating Ottoman Empire still fuels a powerful nationalism. To some, they smack of desperation in a referendum campaign whose outcome is unclear.

Hopes for consensus politics in Turkey would diminish if referendum proposals to abolish the post of prime minister and concentrate power in an executive presidency are approved, said Ahmet Kasim Han, an associate professor of international relations at Kadir Has University in Istanbul.

“The gates of populism, which will be fed also by the current zeitgeist around the world, could be wide open in Turkey,” Han said, referring to the populist platforms of U.S. President Donald Trump and anti-immigrant politicians in Europe.

A “yes’ vote in the referendum would grant the president the power to appoint government ministers and senior officials, appoint half of the members in the country’s highest judicial body, declare states of emergency and issue decrees.

“The president would be given the power to dissolve parliament on any grounds whatsoever, which is funda-

mentally alien to democratic presidential systems,” said the Venice Commission, an advisory body to the Council of Europe.

Erdogan has dismissed assertions that the referendum proposals set the stage for one-man rule, saying they will instead end the kind of political chaos that rocked past coalition governments. In 2001, the Turkish currency plummeted during an economic crisis in which public disgust with national leaders opened a path for Erdogan’s rise to power.

“I want to rule my country with almost the same understanding as a company manager. Why? To be able to lead with speed, to speedily take decisions,” Erdogan told the A Haber news channel.

Gul, the student, could face jail time if convicted of insulting the president and the Turkish state in his online video criticizing the referendum. Drawing a questionable parallel with democratic Turkey, he said dead dictators Moammar Gadhafi of Libya and Saddam Hussein of Iraq, as well as current Syrian President Bashar Assad, imposed stability and took rapid decisions in their countries.

“But these weren’t all that beneficial,” Gul said. “Speed in government leadership isn’t a good thing.” ■ Associated Press journalists Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey and Bulut Emiroglu and Mehmet Guzel in Istanbul contributed to this report.

An Invitation from The Anglican Churches of the Diocese of New Westminster THE ANGLICAN Church of Canada is in full communion with Philippine Independent Church (Aglipayan Church) and The Episcopal Church in the Philippines.

In the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster which stretches from Powell River in the Sunshine Coast to Hope at the entrance to the Fraser Canyon, taking in all the urban and suburban areas of the Metro Vancouver Area there are 66 Anglican Churches all offering a warm welcome to all who seek the presence of God. You are warmly invited this Holy Week and Easter and all year long to worship with us. There are four churches with significant Filipino-Canadian congregations: Father Expedito Farinas and the community of St. Mary, South Hill, 808 East 50th Avenue, Vancouver, 604.324.3395; Father Wilmer Toyoken

www.canadianinquirer.net

and the community of St. Michael’s, Multicultural Church, 409 East Broadway, 604.876.8191; Father Arvin Amayag and the community of St. Mary the Virgin, Sapperton, 121 East Columbia Street, New Westminster, 604.521.2314 and Father Luisito (Louie) Engnan and the community of St. Michael’s, Surrey, 12996 – 60 Avenue, 604.591.8323 Fr. Expedito and Fr. Louie are priests ordained in the Philippine Independent Church, Fr. Arvin and Fr. Wilmer are priests ordained in the Episcopal Church in the Philippines, their Holy Orders have been transferred and joyfully accepted by the Bishop of the Diocese of New Westminster, Anglican Church of Canada.

They and their communities of faith are looking forward to meeting you.

Give them a call, or just drop by during this Easter Holy season. ■

Community News

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

23

Fil-Can Wins House And Lot in Pag-IBIG, iRemit Raffle Promo

BY BOLET S. AREVALO Philippine Canadian Inquirer IF ANYBODY asks an average working Filipino about his most cherished dream for his family, a house and lot will possibly get to the top 3 of his list.

Or, if anybody asks an OFW about his ultimate plan in life, coming home for good and living safely in that dream house would certainly come up as a common answer.

Is every OFW able to do that?

Statistically, no. But can any one or any entity get him nearer that? Probably, yes.

Aware of the overseas Filipinos desire to have his own house or may be retire to his own house in the Philippines, Pag-IBIG Funds and iRemit Global Remittance Canada

joined forces to become part and make that dream a reality with a generous raffle promotions that gave away a house and lot as a major prize.

The grand draw was held in Toronto last February 25 at the iRemit Branch in Bathurst Street, Toronto, Ontario. The raffle promo covered all savings and housing loan amortization remittances sent by Fil-Canadians to PagIBIG thru iRemit between the period April 7 to Dec 31, 2016. For every remittance made, a Filcan receives an electronic raffle ticket.

Up at stake was a beautiful house and Lot in Le Rica Subdivision in Cavite City. Lucky winner was a remitter from Calgary, Alberta. Among those who witnessed the draw were: Ms. Bernadette Fernandez, Philippine Embassy Deputy Consul General;

Ms. Elizabeth Borres, Pag-IBIG lone representative in North America, Mr. Simeon Sarte, iRemit Branch Head and Marketing Officer; Ms. Leah Jardeliza, Immigration Managing Director of Canadian International Immigration Consultancy Inc.; Steve Pagao, president of Philippine Chamber of Commerce in Toronto; and Mr. and Mrs. Rose and Rony Lagran of RhonRose Printing, among others.

Pag-IBIG and iRemit have been actively partnering in bringing to this side of North America the benefits of getting the overseas Filipinos the chance to become members or renew membership with PagIBIG Funds, one of the Philippines’ most profitable and viable agencies that is committed to bring to fruition to some of the dreams of OFWs with an ar-

ray of useful services under its POP program.

POP or the Pag-IBIG Overseas Program is a voluntary savings program for Filipinos abroad. POP is entirely different from Pag-IBIG I. as membership under Pag-IBIG I is mandatory for Filipinos working abroad by virtue of RA 9679. Under this Republic Act, all Overseas Filipino Workers are required to register under Pag-IBIG I, regardless if they are POP members or not. Other POP members (immigrants

and those naturalized in other countries) may register voluntarily under Pag-IBIG I. As the campaign for overseas Filipino membership intensified, the agency sought to tie up with remittance centers all over the globe to reach out to Pinoys. Among those most active today is the iRemit Global Remittance Canada which continues to generate large volume of deposits and loan amortization remittances for Pag-IBIG members in Northern America, specifically Canada. ■

Filipina Women’s Network launches 2017 Summit in Toronto THE FILIPINA Women’s Network led by Marily Mondejar its CEO and Founder, in collaboration with the Toronto Philippine Consul General Rosalita Prospero and the Philippine Department of Trade and Industries’ Senior Trade Commissioner Nini Alvero, launched the Filipina Leadership Global Summit Kickoff and DISRUPTing Toronto book launch on March 26th, at the Philippine Consulate in Toronto. Keynote Speaker was Hon. Petronila P. Garcia, Philippine Ambassador to Canada.

The FWN Summit in Toronto will be held from October 2529, 2017.

Also launched was the Global Search of Filipina-Canadian influentials for nomination to the “100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World Award.”

The award recognizes women of Philippine ancestry who are influencing the face of leadership in the global workplace, having reached the status for their outstanding work in their respective positions, industries and communities. They are recognized for their achieve-

Roberto Roldan, SSS Foreign Representative.

JOEY BAKING, FE TADURAN & ARIEL RAMOS

ments and contributions to society, femtorship and legacy.

This award was first conferred to Filipina-Canadian community leader Rosemer Enverga in 2013 in San Francisco, California. The second FilipinaCanadian awardee was Maria Greaves of Surrey, British Columbia in 2015.

Filipina Women’s Network is an international advocacy organization that seeks to increase the power of Filipina women

worldwide as leaders and policymakers at all levels in corporate, government, institutions and community organizations to achieve economic and social justice and women’s rights.

FWN provides the content, credibility and community to support the success of Filipina women in their businesses and careers. FWN provides knowledge, products, research and a worldwide network for Filipina professionals. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

SSS’ Foreign Representative Roberto Roldan based in Toronto is addressing the concerns of SSS members in a mini info session at the I Remit Office in West Broadway, Vancouver BC. He is assisted by I Remit’s Western Canada Head Barry Ponce de Leon in reaching out to the Filipinos thru their remitters. I Remit has been a partner of SSS in remitting membership payments by SSS members.

Likewise, Mr. Roldan happily announced that they will soon open a Calgary Office so they can better serve the many inquiries of our kababayans in Canada.

24

MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

Entertainment Arrest after shooting involving 13 brains comprise hip hop star Fetty Wap NC Cinema’s new movers and shakers THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PATERSON, N.J. — A hip-hop promoter was charged Monday with pistol whipping someone during an altercation that included a shooting involving hip-hop star Fetty Wap in his New Jersey hometown that left three people wounded, authorities said.

The shooting happened outside a 24-hour deli in Paterson at about 5 a.m. Sunday. The name of the victim was not released, but police said Fetty Wap was not injured in the shooting.

Authorities charged Raheem Thomas with assault and weapons offences after investigators said he struck a victim in the head and face with a gun he was not legally allowed to carry. He was not charged in the shooting itself.

The Paterson resident is CEO and owner of Muscle Team Entertainment, a company that promotes hip-hop.

It was unclear whether Thomas had an attorney to comment on his behalf. An email sent to an account believed to be his wasn’t immediately returned.

In January, he posted a rap

song and video on YouTube that was disrespectful of Fetty Wap. There was no word what led to the altercation.

Fetty Wap, whose real name is Willie Maxwell, and several friends, became involved in a heated altercation with another group, police said.

Thomas had posted on Instagram, “Just to set the record straight, I personally didn’t take fettywap chain.”

Three victims were taken to a hospital, but their conditions weren’t immediately released. The investigation is ongoing. ■

How Sofia and Ronnie engage followers, bashers in social media

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer SOFIA ANDRES is well aware of the importance of social media to teenagers like her. “I realized long ago that social media is a big thing to millennials,” Sofia, 18, tells the Inquirer. “That’s when I started organizing my Instagram feed.”

Sofia says she often “studies” what her 2.2 million followers want to see. “It all depends on the likes. There was a time when my feeds were all dark-colored. They didn’t like that, so I changed them—now, they’re mostly white or light blue,” Sofia explains. “That’s how it works. Social media is important to people who work in show biz.”

In fact, Sofia recently bagged an endorsement deal with Penshoppe on the strength of her 3,400 posts on Instagram.

“Captions matter a lot,” she observes. “I post what I do every day and which products I use.

I gain a lot of fans that way. It’s amazing!”

PENSHOPPE / FACEBOOK

Simple stuff

Unlike Sofia, fellow #ClubPenshoppe endorser Ronnie Alonte says he isn’t very conscious about what he posts on his social media accounts. He says he simply uses them to share with his 35,000plus Instagram followers what he’s like as a person.

“I post about simple stuff, and things that interest me. I let them know what I do when I’m not taping,” says the cast member of the romantic series, “A Love to Last.” “I also enjoy playing basketball in my free

time. I want my supporters to see that.”

The 20-year-old adds: “I didn’t think much about social media before this interview.

Now, I realize that show biz personalities like Sofia and I are influencers. A lot of people look up to us, so we should be careful and responsible with what we put out there.”

How maturely one reacts to bashers also matters, says Ronnie: “I read their posts, but I don’t engage them. I show them that I’m not at all affected by trash talk.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer

it is maintained. We almost lost it two years ago, because it encountered a lot of difficulties.

We fought for it,” said Co. “Now, “WE ARE fast expanding geo- Filipino cinema is heading to graphically,” said newly elected the regions. Ten years ago, the National Committee on Cin- regions didn’t have representaema (NCCinema) chair Teddy tion in government.”

Co of the current state of the loThe group will hold a twocal filmmaking industry, adding day planning session in April, that his 13-man team would be Co related. “We’ll think of pro“the voice of the people outside grams we can offer to the pubthe National Capital Region.” lic, mostly grants for film projThe NCCinema is under the ects, festivals and distribution,” Subcommission on the Arts he added.

(SCA), one of 19 national comIncidentally, Philippine cinmittees of the National Com- ema will be celebrating its cenmission for Culture and the tennial anniversary this year.

Arts (NCCA)—a government Co explained: “The first local agency mandated to create film company, Malayan Movpolicies, as well as promote and ies, owned by Jose Nepomuimplement programs connect- ceno, was built on May 15, 1917. ed to the arts.

It was in 1918 “Ours is a diwhen Nepomuversified comceno made the mittee, but it has first documensome strong perNow, Filipino tary, and on Sept. sonalities and incinema is 12, 1919, the first telligent people,” heading to full-length film said Co, who’s the regions. titled ‘Dalagang also SCA chair.

Bukid.’”

Co heads the As NCCinema team composed secretary, Vilof: Jose Antonio larama has visitGarcia, vice chair; Baby Ruth ed universities in Tarlac, Davao, Villarama, secretary; Elvert Ba- Laguna, Bulacan and Cebu to ñares, assistant secretary, and give lectures on film producexecutive committee members tion.

Archie Adamos, Ed Palmos, “We aim to upgrade indusTito Valiente, Vincent Nebrida, try standards on production, Patrick Campos, Rosanni Sar- as well as introduce marketing ile, Ian Casocot, Hobart Savior, and distribution to the conand Joseph Arthur Tibaldo. sciousness of filmmakers in the “Thirteen brains. We have regions,” she explained. different specialties. Each one’s Villarama observed that knowledge represents a differ- there was indeed a need for ent sector. We’re like the ‘X- the government “to give the Men.’ We will work together for regions the platform to be exthe benefit of the film commit- posed to good practices in filmtee, the most obvious is in the making. More than anything, form of grants,” Co told the In- they need to see a lot of good quirer on Friday. films. They don’t have a lot The 9-year-old Cinema Rehi- of cinemas there, mostly just yon is the committee’s flagship university AVRs (audiovisual project. This year, it will be held rooms). We should really bring in Nabunturan, Compostela regional cinema to mainstream Valley, from Aug. 22 to 27. consciousness. That should be “We want to make sure that the core of this committee.” ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

25

Nelly Furtado reshapes her music against the feedback of social media

BY DIRK MEISSNER The Canadian Press TORONTO — Nelly Furtado has endured the wrath of social media before, but she couldn’t bear to read people’s opinions on her new album’s cover art.

So instead of playing into the hands of Internet trolls, she disabled comments on her Instagram post and released it into the world, hoping for the best.

“I knew some people would hate it,” the Toronto-based singer, 38, says of the abstract photograph adorning the cover of “The Ride,” which arrives on Friday.

Furtado is in the centre of the image, holding a bouquet of flowers. Two hands are seen holding a slab of wood behind her and off to the side, a protrusion closes in on her unsuspecting face.

“To me it’s a little bit vulnerable,” she says. “I like that it conveys a feeling of humility.”

She calls it a snapshot of a fragile moment in her life — but it’s also the kind of weird conceptual artwork that is practically asking to be mocked online.

“I don’t like reading mean things,” Furtado says. “I mean, I will if I have to, but I don’t like it. I’m sensitive.”

Furtado has learned a few lessons about hostility in the digital age.

Her unconventional performance of O Canada at last year’s NBA all-star game inspired a firestorm of nasty tweets, while ESPN sportscaster Michael Wilbon questioned whether

she was having a breakdown. arts and rediscovered where One Twitter user even told the she wanted to take her career.

Canadian-born singer with “I made a conscious effort Portuguese heritage to “go back to slow things down and take to Portugal.” apart the machine, look at all Furtado is still bruised by the the gears, look at the little bits pile on. and understand how it worked,” “I think women get extreme- she says. ly hammered,” she says.

She was inspired by meeting “The problem with social me- indie performer Annie Clark, dia is it’s all sound bites, so you better known as St. Vincent, at don’t get a lot of context.” a 2012 music festival. They exFurtado was already in the changed numbers and Furtado midst of a personal unheaval pressed Clark for advice, which before the national anthem included getting connected debacle added another layer of with her longtime collaborator stress.

John Congleton.

She was without the backing After convincing the Gram- and befriended visual artists of a major label in the after- my-winning producer to work like Samantha McCurdy, who math of the flop that was 2012’s on her album, Furtado booked would later craft that divisive “The Spirit Indestructible,” her a trip to Dallas with the goal album cover. hyped return to English pop of starting to formulate “The Songs on “The Ride” also venmusic after a six-year absence.

Ride.” But she was still creative- ture into new territory where The album landed with a ly lost, Furtado admits, and the Furtado’s confidence somethud on the Billboard charts, closer she got to Congleton’s times takes a backseat. debuting at No. Most stinging 18 in Canada and is “Phoenix,” the a dismal No. 79 album’s devasin the U.S. where tating final song, it sold only 6,000 I made a conscious effort to slow which ranks copies in its first things down and take apart the among the most week. machine, look at all the gears, look at personal tracks Those figures the little bits and understand how it of Furtado’s cawere miles away worked. reer. While the from the 219,000 lyrics are vague, copies that 2006 it’s hard not album “Loose” to read it as a sold in its debut week, pro- studio the more trepidation she confessional of being dragged pelled by hitmaker Timbaland’s felt about his hefty resume of through the mud of the music irresistible hooks on tracks work with rock acts like Modest industry before starting anew. like “Promiscuous” and “Say It Mouse and Spoon.

Her rebirth isn’t made for raRight.”

“I felt like he wasn’t going to dio, and with the exception of “For me it was like a divorce,” be impressed with Top 40 hits,” the infectious “Flatline,” there Furtado says of the changes she says. isn’t even a hint of chasing a hit. that followed the album’s disapCongleton pushed her to Instead, Furtado saddles pointing sales, including a split make an “artistic album,” and up with lopsided beats (“Cold with her longtime manager. “It introduced her to the local Hard Truth”) and even drifts was like, ‘Oh, I’m by myself.”’

Texas arts scene. She perused into gospel chants fuelled by an She started to dabble in the galleries in her downtime electric organ (“Pipe Dreams”).

Vancouver Island... nadians and other B.C. people who are also working for us,” Dennis said.

Neither Steelhead nor the First Nation would discuss the financial aspects of the agreement.

However, Huu-ay-aht leaders said the First Nation would have an equity stake in the project that they would co-manage to ensure environmental oversight and also have a financial ❰❰ 17

component commensurate with the size of the development.

John Jack, executive councillor with the Huu-ay-aht, said it’s time the First Nation took its place within Canada and British Columbia.

“This is an example of a First Nation working with business and working with the people of B.C. and Canada in order to create value that fits both of our interests.” ■

NELLY FURTADO / FACEBOOK

“This is definitely the album with the least amount of separation between what I’m actually like,” she says.

“Not that I was putting on airs before, but I was allowing myself to fall into stylizations of the music.”

Furtado isn’t certain what’s next for her career after “The Ride,” but there are a few visions taking shape.

She enrolled in a playwriting course at the University of Toronto and is penning a script about Brazilian composer Caetano Veloso. She’s also asked herself whether she still wants to stand behind a microphone as a singer — a question she seems to revisit after every album before using it as motivation to record another.

“I’ve realized that quiet reflection is where I gain my largest amounts of inspiration,” she says.

“There’s more ideas I want to distill and things I want to understand about myself. I think that can only happen through creating.” ■

Gay men in my life helped me become a woman, says Lady Gaga PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY LONDON — Pop star Lady Gaga says she feels blessed to be surrounded by powerful gay men in her life who have helped her become a woman.

Speaking on “RuPaul’s Drag www.canadianinquirer.net

Race”, the 30-year-old songstress, who is a vocal supporter of LGBTQ rights, praises the community for being a source of inspiration for her, reported FemaleFirst.

“I have always been surrounded by incredibly intelligent, powerful gay men who have lifted me up through lots of chang-

es in my life. Becoming famous was very strange and it’s the gay men in my life that helped me become a woman,” says Gaga.

“And I don’t know that a lot of people would understand that but it’s because of what you’ve (been) through — you survived so much that you inspire me to continue surviving.” ■

26

MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

Lifestyle Millennials, hoping to find real connections, ban the booze

BY KELLI KENNEDY The Associated Press FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. — It’s not really about the meal at the monthly Conscious Family Dinner, although there is plenty of vegan Indian food. You can spend time in a cuddling sanctuary, sit down with a tarot reader, chat career goals with a life coach or sit in on an acroyoga sex psychotherapy presentation. And there’s almost always some form of dancing.

But what’s inconspicuously missing is alcohol.

Creator Ben Rolnik says the dinners are about creating a new form of play that facilitates meaningful connections, not the vapid chitchat that often proliferates at cocktail parties or bars.

The reception to the dry dinners, held at various spots in Los Angeles but expanding soon nationwide, has been impressive, with each of the 200-person event selling out.

Tickets cost about $35.

“It’s like a journey more than a dinner,” said Rolnick, a 26-year-old yogi and former talent manager.

Similar parties are popping up across the country, notably in New York, Miami and Chicago, tapping into an itch from millennials to find meaningful connections and purpose even in their night life.

When Justin Henderson, who created the event company Bender , hosted his first few events in Chicago a few years ago, he served alcohol, but no-

ticed very few people were im- refreshed.” bibing. As time went on, he noWhile the ticed more alcohol was leftover events have a at each event and he decided to different feel stop offering it all together. around the Instead, Bender’s events country, they all range from 40 to 300 people involve moveand include everything from a ment, often rooftop yoga pool party at the yoga or dance, Standard Hotel to midnight si- to help people lent disco yoga on the pool deck loosen up and of the SoHo House in Chicago connect with during a full moon. their bodies and “I’m just one part of a much, each other in a much bigger movement that’s shared experihappening. It’s not so much ence. about whether alcohol is there The Shine has or not ... people are just look- the feel of a variety ing for ways to connect around show, with mindfulthings that they value and are ly-curated content passionate about,” said Hen- in Los Angeles and derson, a former health care New York once every manager who was looking for two months, and ina fun way to help people life cludes everything from healthier lives. guided meditation to coC o u r t ney Nichols, On the noa 28-year-old torious boozy owner of an holiday St. Patevent planning I wanted an alternative where you rick’s Day, Anna company and could hang out with people and not Garcia traipsed self-proclaimed feel the effects of alcohol and also a group of about dance fiend, has highlight that you don’t really need it.

20 to a workout attended several — like Caribbean Bender events in reggae dance or Los Angeles, and boxing — before says it combines hitting four difthe fun of a late night party in medians to beat boxers. ferent juice bars around New a more socially conscious manThe Shine gives about $400 York for her popular Juice ner. of its ticket sales to a guest with Crawl. Her first event in 2014 “It’s never been an issue of instructions to help someone sold out. not having alcohol. It probably with it. They might use the “I wanted an alternative is to the benefit of the event,” money to feed the homeless or where you could hang out with said Nichols, who was struck donate it to an animal sanctu- people and not feel the effects by the sense of camaraderie she ary. A short video of how they of alcohol and also highlight experienced. “You get to meet paid it forward is shown at the that you don’t really need it. It’s people in a clearer head space. next event, said co-producer about highlighting the relationYou leave the party and you feel Andrea Praet. ships with people,” said Garcia,

www.canadianinquirer.net

a 30-yearold trumpet player who found it difficult to socialize after going vegan.

Sober raves, like Daybreaker and Morning Gloryville, have been growing in popularity in recent years where partiers show up at dawn, dressed in their coolest, black-light glowing athleisure and dance their cares away. Afterward, there’s massage, juices and other healthy treats. Daybreaker is hitting up Miami next month where partygoers will gather at 9 a.m. for yoga at the Fontainebleau’s Glimmer Terrace, followed by a live DJ and dancing.

The Softer Image bans not just alcohol but shoes as well.

Healers open the space with group rituals, artists showcase their work and DJs supply heart-opening dance music.

There’s even sound baths, hypnotists and 31-year-old founder Luke Simon does reiki healings at the events where the motto is “let’s get psychic not blacked out. Let’s get wild without getting sick. Let’s get turnt while staying woke.”

“I wanted to have the spiritual feeling you have going to a workshop or retreat but bring that into the free formness of going out,” said Simon, a Brooklyn-based healer. “Sometimes spirituality gets so structured it doesn’t even feel like you’re living.” ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

27

Found while cycling Garage a mess? Tips for Boston’s streets: tackling a daunting job A new spirituality

BY KATHERINE ROTH The Associated Press

BY STEVE LEBLANC The Associated Press BOSTON — Bicycling through Boston’s twisting, trafficclogged streets may seem more about self-preservation than spiritual enlightenment.

For the Rev. Laura Everett, her daily 6-mile commute is a way of connecting to her adopted city, its residents, and her sense of community and vulnerability.

Instead of hopping on the subway and popping up in another part of town, Everett said, bicycling has exposed her to the warp and weft of Boston’s neighbourhoods and the people who animate them.

It’s also led her to a new sense of spirituality and inspired her to turn her experiences into a new book, “Holy Spokes: The Search for Urban Spirituality on Two Wheels.”

“Part of the regularity of a daily commute is what I think forms it to be a spiritual discipline,” said Everett, 38.

“That commitment to the same route time and time again, starting to see the same people, seeing the same neighbourhoods, seeing the trees change from budding to bursting — that is where I started noticing this is really having an effect not just on how I move through the city, but on my soul,” she said.

Along the way, Everett, executive director of the Massachusetts Council of Churches, stumbled on an impromptu congregation — a tribe of fellow bicyclists who share the joys and terrors of Boston’s byzantine streets.

She has married bicycle couples and officiated at an annual “blessing of the bicycles” in which bicyclists gather to pray for fellow cyclists who have died and let Everett and others anoint their bikes with a mix of holy oil and chain lube.

Everett’s most poignant contribution may be her participation in “ghost bike” ceremonies.

Ghost bikes refer to the practice of painting a bicycle and its tires solid white and locking it near where a bicyclist has died,

often after being struck by a car or truck.

“Bicyclists have the experience of knowing our own vulnerability, and knowing that in some ways our safety is dependent on the actions of others,” she said.

Ken Carlson, head of the Somerville Bicycle Advisory Committee, first met Everett at a ghost bike ceremony for Cambridge bicyclist Marcia Deihl, who died in 2015 after being struck by a dump truck.

“I was really touched and impressed with Laura and her deep sense of empathy, sympathy and connection to the bicycle community,” he said.

Bicycling raises another spiritual challenge, Everett said: anger.

“What does it mean to absorb other people’s anger? What do you do with your own anger?

How do you live in a system that’s unjust,” she said. “Those roads aren’t fair.”

One goal of her book was to ponder what she calls “an intentionally urban spirituality.”

“What if what is transcendent and what is heavenly is less like the Green Mountains of Vermont and more like Blue Hill Ave.?” she said, referring to a busy Boston thoroughfare.

Becca Wolfson, executive director of the Boston Cyclists Union, sees the connection between cycling and spirituality.

“You’re thinking about your mortality on a daily basis and where you are going and how you are going to get there,” she said.

Everett didn’t always see herself as a bicyclist.

Although she rode for fun growing up in suburban New Jersey, it wasn’t until she moved to Boston and her car broke down on Interstate 93 that she turned to bicycling.

Everett said she is also interested in the concerns of “invisible bicyclists” — those who rely on bikes, often in poorer and working class neighbourhoods, not to look hip but because they have no other options.

“The guy who’s retrofitted his bike to carry all the tin cans he’s picking up,” she said. “Isn’t he a bicyclist, too?” ■

GARAGES HAVE a way of going from deep storage to cluttered chaos. Clearing out the flotsam and organizing what remains can be daunting or downright overwhelming.

But with careful planning and a specific game plan, most garages can be organized in a day or a weekend, experts say. And if the job’s simply too much, consider hiring a professional organizer.

“I don’t think you can just wake up one morning and say, ‘I’m going to organize the garage,’ and be successful at it,” says Regina Lark of the Los Angeles-based company A Clear Path: Professional Organizing and Productivity. “You need planning. You need muscle power. You need people around you for support. And you will need some basic information and possibly supplies before you begin.”

Plan, enlist and prepare

The first step, says Lark, is to look at your calendar and set aside a full day for the job.

Choose a starting and ending time, and make sure someone will be there to support you.

“It’s got to be the only thing on the calendar that day, for everyone involved. It’s usually a very uncomfortable task, so get help. Bring in friends. Offer pizza at lunch, wine at the end of the day, and reciprocate,” she says.

Lark suggests that you and your support team set aside three or four hours to take things out, sort them into piles and make quick decisions about what to keep. Then set aside another three or four hours to put everything back in an organized way, and make a quick trip to the donation centre.

Before you start, she says, consider: “Do you have enough trash bags or do you need a small Dumpster? Do you have spare boxes where you can put things to be donated? What time does the donation centre close? Is your driveway clear so that you can take everything out of your garage and sort it there? Will you need shelving www.canadianinquirer.net

PONGMOJI / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

or storage bins or peg boards?

It’s better to have too many supplies and return a few things later than to have progress halted because you don’t have what you need.”

Decisions, decisions

Understand and embrace the decision-making process.

“It’s helpful to stand in your garage before you start and really connect with the reality of what is there,” Lark says. “The speed and success of the task really boils down to how quickly you can make decisions about things. Look around and ask yourself what you really need in your life in order to thrive.”

She says many unnecessary items are stored because they evoke memories or because they might be useful someday.

“Ask yourself how many artifacts you need to remember a single event? And if you can’t name a specific date and scenario when you’ll make use of something, you really should consider discarding it,” she says. “Try to have these decisions made beforehand so you can make the best use of your time on the big day.”

Remove, sort, discard

Betsy Goldberg, home director at Real Simple magazine, recommends starting the big

day by laying an old sheet or two onto the garage floor or driveway, and then taking everything out of the garage, sorting it into piles by category.

“That makes it easier to quickly see that you have five different baseball gloves and duplicates of garden tools, and that some things can be donated,” she says.

It’s best if you can put discarded items straight into the car so they can be donated the same day, Goldberg says. If things sit around, they have a way of ending up back in the garage.

Storage tips

Have the right shelves, bins and peg boards ready, Goldberg says. She recommends sturdy metal shelving with wheels, and clear bins — each to contain just one type of item — with labels. She also recommends a peg board for easy access to frequently used items like bike helmets or garden clippers.

When the job is done, everything should be off the floor and have a designated spot.

If you find yourself overwhelmed, Lark suggests hiring a pro. The National Association of Professional Organizers (www.napo.net) is searchable by zip code and area of specialty. ■

28

Lifestyle

MARCH 17, 2017

FRIDAY

The Power of Plants!

Scientists turn spinach into beating human heart tissue PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

SHANICE GARCIA / PCI

DOH: 1.1-M Filipinos quit smoking from 2009 to 2015 PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The number of smokers in the country has decreased by 1.1 million from 17 million in 2009 to 15.9 million in 2015, the Department of Health reported Monday, citing survey results.

According to the 2015 Philippines’ Global Adult Survey (GATS), the prevalence of tobacco use among Filipinos 15 years and above has dropped from 29.7 percent in 2009 to 23.8 percent in 2015, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial told reporters during a press conference held at the Bayleaf Hotel in Intramuros, Manila.

“One million Filipinos have quit tobacco use — the biggest decline we have seen in Philippine history, and we can do more

to stop the suffering caused by this epidemic,” Ubial said, pointing out that the reduction means at least a million Filipinos now have a lower risk of developing cancer, heart ailments, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

She further reported that the number of victims of second-hand smoke at home has dropped significantly from 54 percent in 2009 to 34 percent in 2015; and in the workplace from 32 percent in 2009 to 21 percent in 2015.

The survey however revealed that exposure to second-hand smoke remains high at 86 percent in bars and nightclubs; and at 33.6 percent in restaurants.

Ubial said the Sin Tax Law or Republic Act 10351 has made cigarette products inaccessible to the public, especially the poor and the youth. ■

per, Crossing kingdoms: Using decelluralized plants as perfusable tissue engineering scaffolds, the team document a MOSCOW — Scientists have series of experiments in which long-struggled to create hu- they flowed fluids and microman tissue the size of bones beads similar in size to human or organs, only succeeding in blood cells through spinach’s creating small patches in labs. vasculature, seeding the leaf’s However, a multidisciplinary veins with human cells that research team at Worcester typically line blood vessels.

Polytechnic Institute, MassaWhen the plant cells were chusetts, has now managed to washed away, what remained create human heart cells — on was a framework made prispinach leaves marily of cellustripped of plant lose, a natural cells. substance not Researchers harmful to peohave hitherto We have a lot ple. Cellulose is been prevented more work biocompatible, from creating to do, but so and has previfull-size tissues far this is very ously been used for treating dispromising. in a wide variety ease and trauof regenerative matic injuries medicine appliby not being cations, such as able to estabcartilage tissue lish a vascular system capable engineering, bone tissue engiof delivering blood deep into neering, and wound healing. the developing tissue. In esIn addition to spinach leaves, sence, no bioengineering tech- the team successfully removed nique, including 3D printing, cells from parsley, Artemesia has been able to manufacture annua (sweet wormwood), and the branching network of blood peanut hairy roots. They expect vessels down to the capillary the technique will work with scale required to deliver the many plant species that could oxygen, nutrients and essential be adapted for specialized tismolecules required for proper sue regeneration studies. tissue growth.

Spinach leaves might be better The WPI researchers turned suited for a highly-vascularized to plants in hope of a solution. tissue, such as cardiac tissue, Detailing their work in a pa- whereas the cylindrical hollow

structure of the stem of jewelweed might better suit arterial graft, and the vascular columns of wood might be useful in bone engineering due to their relative strength and geometries.

Using plants as the basis for tissue engineering also has economic and environmental benefits.

By exploiting the benign chemistry of plant tissue scaffolds, the scientists believe it may be possible to address the many limitations and high costs of synthetic, complex composite materials.

The team believes their findings open the door to using multiple spinach leaves to grow layers of healthy heart muscle to treat heart attack patients, and other plants to engineer tissue.

“We have a lot more work to do, but so far this is very promising. Adapting abundant plants that farmers have been cultivating for thousands of years for use in tissue engineering could solve a host of problems limiting the field,” said Dr. Glenn Gaudette, Professor of Biomedical Engineering at WPI. The research will continue, with studies to optimize decellularization processes and further characterize how various human cell types grow while they are attached to, and are potentially nourished by, plants. ■

Virata art collection nets $25.3 million at Christie’s Auction

BY CHECHE V. MORAL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE RECENT Christie’s auction of the Virata family’s Asian art collection netted a whopping $25.3 million (P1.25 billion)—more than twice its estimated presale value, according to a statement released by the British auction house.

The “Marie Theresa L. Virata Collection of Asian Art: A Family Legacy” went under the hammer March 16 in New York, and consisted of exquisite classical Chinese furniture, huanghuali

and zitan pieces, from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The 82-lot Virata collection was accumulated over four decades by three generations of the affluent Virata family, beginning with matriarch Marie Theresa Lammoglia Virata, Bebe to family and friends, who died in 2015.

The proceeds from the sale will benefit charitable organizations for poor children in the Philippines, and cancer research, according to the statement. The museum housing Bebe Virata’s Philippine art collection will also be funded.

The centerpiece of the collection, an 18th-century zitan luohan bed, estimated between $2-3 million, was sold for over $3.6 million.

However, it was a “very rare” huanghuali incense stand from the 16th-17th century that topped the sale. Estimated between $400,000600,000, it sold for nearly $5.85 million.

In her Instagram, Asia’s Best Female Chef 2016 Margarita Fores, who was in the Big Apple, posted a dish from the menu she prepared for the Christie’s auction.

Bebe Virata, born in Manila www.canadianinquirer.net

to Italian parents, was the widow of Leonides Sarao Virata, an economist who served as Ferdinand Marcos’ commerce secretary from 1969 to 1970. He was later chair of the Development Bank of the Philippines.

Bebe Virata was the sister of Ana Maria “Bambi” L. Harper, former Inquirer columnist and president of the Heritage Conservation Society of the Philippines.

Virata’s distinguished collection was acquired owing to the guidance of, and friendship with eminent New York art dealer Robert Hatfield Ells-

worth. Her collecting legacy was continued by her children, son Luis (“Buboy”) and daughter Giovanna (“Vanna”), and daughter-in-law Elizabeth “Libet” Cu-unjieng.

Virata reportedly started collecting antiques in the 1950s, when she would actually join archaeological digs. The family is said to be planning to use the money to support many worthy causes, including cancer, helping abandoned or abused children, and possibly putting up a museum for the matriarch’s other collections of Philippine art and artefacts. ■

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FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

Sports The lady is a champ Untouched by the fame and glamor enjoyed by Manny Pacquiao, Filipino world boxing champion Gretchen Abaniel toils to make ends meet

BY JASMINE W. PAYO Philippine Daily Inquirer SHE’S IN a sport known as the “sweet science.” But it hasn’t been exactly that for female fighter Gretchen Abaniel. Like many women pro boxers, Abaniel juggles jobs on top of her forays inside the ring to make ends meet. “It’s tough and tiring but I have to do it,” she says in Filipino. “I have three world titles, but there’s really no money in women’s boxing.”

Her heroics often come with heartaches. That’s why the 5-foot-1 dynamo has learned to hustle—in and out of the ring— just to get her name out there.

“Except for my family and friends, not many know about my accomplishments,” Abaniel admits. “In the Philippines, women’s boxing has yet to be embraced by the masses.”

Despite being a world champion, Abaniel had to lobby to be part of the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s bigtime bouts. She finally succeeded last month after a few tries, only to be crushed by news that the eightdivision world champion’s April 23 slugfest with Briton Amir Khan had been canceled.

But Abaniel continues to hope that the Filipino ring icon will keep her in mind.

“He promised I’d be included,” says the 31-year-old fighter. “If that happens, it will be a dream come true.”

To stay in top shape—just in case she gets called up to fight World Boxing Organization (WBO) titleholder Nao Ikeyama of Japan in a Pacquiao undercard—Abaniel recently returned to Sydney to train with her Australian coach, Tony del Vecchio of the Bondi Boxing Club. There, the Puerto Princesa amazon works the mitts in the morning and evening, and in between, works as a salon assistant and a private boxing trainer.

It’s hard, Abaniel stresses.

Dumaguete City to host six national sports events PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

GRETCHEN M. ABANIEL / FACEBOOK

But she sees no reason to quit boxing just yet.

“I really love this sport,” says Abaniel, who holds the Women’s International Boxing Federation (WIBF), Global Boxing Union (GBU) and Women’s International Boxing Association (Wiba) minimumweight belts.

“The prize money in women’s boxing is very small. It’s not like Manny Pacquiao’s fights where you get millions. But for me, it’s for the honor and glory.”

Abaniel’s will to fight faced its biggest test when she suffered a string of losses from 2014 to 2015. “I felt it was the beginning of the end of my career,” she says of her three straight setbacks. “I cried a lot.”

But she soldiered on, beating erstwhile undefeated Asiye Özlem Sahin in her German hometown of Ludwigsburg to bag the GBU crown in 2015, before pinning a loss on Thai Saowaluk Nareepangsri to reclaim the Wiba title in New South Wales, Australia, in 2016.

“In boxing, you can’t be just physically fit,” says Abaniel, who is married to Cesar Zabala, a former athlete. “It’s also a big factor to be mentally and emotionally fit.”

There’s really no breaking Abaniel’s spirit, even if the sport made her an emotional wreck quite a few times. As she points out: “Since high school, boxing has been my life.”

Although she tried karate as a teenager, it’s boxing that piqued

Abaniel’s interest after seeing her younger brother try the sport. “I told my father that if there’s women’s boxing, I want to join,” she shares. “That’s how I started. Then I joined fiesta boxing in Puerto Princesa.”

As a rising talent known for her speed, Abaniel soon earned a slot on the Philippine boxing team. Her fouryear stint resulted in several international triumphs, including a bronze in the 2005 Women’s World Amateur Boxing Championships in Russia.

After Abaniel turned pro in 2006, she won her first world title against Thai Buasawan Wisetchat for the vacant Wiba minimunweight title in 2009.

Now holding a record of 17 wins, including six knockouts, against eight losses—all with barely decent prize money— Abaniel just feels thankful that she receives support from some local government officials to help her get by.

It’s likely she may never hit pay dirt, but Abaniel sees three to four more good years in her before taking the coaching route. “I’m not dreaming to be a Manny Pacquiao, to have all that fame and fortune,” she says.

“For me, I want to have a legacy.

A few years from now, who will be the next champion? I want to train future champions.”

So never mind if her career winds up bereft of big-money bouts. For Abaniel, a legacy will be enough to make it all sweet. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

DUMAGUETE CITY — Officials of the Dumaguete City local government unit (LGU) are gearing up for the hosting of six national sporting events beginning in April.

City Information Officer Dems Rey Demecillo on Monday said the first event will be the Little League Philippines Series on April 4-12.

Around 60 baseball and softball teams from different cities and provinces, including home team Dumaguete, or more than a thousand players aged 11 to 16 will be competing in six divisions, Demecillo added.

District Administrator Atty.

Jolly Gomez informed Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo that the winners earn the right to represent the country in the 2017 Asia-Pacific Tournament.

Games will be played at the Perdices Coliseum, RUSI ball field in Barangay Daro, Montesorri field and Cimafranca (SU) Ball field, according to Demecillo.

On April 6 to 8, hundreds of paddlers from across the country will be taking part in the Dumaguete Dragon Boat Challenge at the Rizal Boulevard.

Also, Dumaguete is this year’s preferred venue for the nation-

al archery competitions slated April 5 to 9, especially as Dumaguete is known for producing national and international archery champions.

Another event is the annual national Frisbee ultimate championship with hundreds of Frisbee players converging in Dumaguete although the date has yet to be set.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Sports Commission Chairman William I. Ramirez informed Mayor Remollo that PSC has selected the city to co-host the Visayas Games edition of the Philippine National Games and Batang Pinoy on June 19-24 and June 26-July 1, 2017, respectively.

The Philippine National Games will serve as the qualifying tournament for the national pool of athletes, Demecillo explained.

For the Batang Pinoy, these games are for the out-of-school youth who may represent the country in various sporting events.

Demecillo said Mayor Remollo has already mobilized all concerned agencies and readied funds to support the successful hosting of these sports events that boost the local economy and “reinforce the growing credentials of Dumaguete as a sports tourism destination of choice.” ■

DUMAGUETE INFO NET / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

30

MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

Business Finance executives want Transferring stock estate, donor tax rates at flat to a TFSA 6 percent to cure breaches

BY GORDON PAPE

BY DORIS DUMLAOABADILLA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE FINANCIAL Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) has proposed to simplify and make the estate and donor tax system in the country more equitable by adopting a flat 6-percent tax rate and sparing the “family” home from such tax burden.

In a letter dated March 3 addressed to Sen. Juan Edgardo Angara, who chairs the Senate committee on ways and means, Finex said the flat rate would complement efforts to achieve a “simpler, fairer, and more efficient tax system.”

Currently, estate tax has several tiers, with the maximum at 20 percent. Graduated rates are also slapped on the donor’s tax, with a 15-percent top rate if given to a relative, and 30 percent if given to a stranger. Tax on “capital” real property is at 6 percent.

While the objective of these taxes is supposedly to raise revenues for the government while serving as a tool for distribution of wealth to serve the ends of social equity, Finex cited data

showing the dismal performance of these tax measures in the past.

In 2013, Finex said only 40,325 estate returns had been filed as against 531,280 deaths, adding that estate tax collection currently amounts to a negligible 1 percent of total annual tax revenue.

“Clearly, the estate and donor’s taxes have proven ineffective for their intended role. On the other hand, it is effective in creating social and economic problems. These onerous laws breed contempt and disrespect as they are honored more in the breach,” a position paper prepared by Finex chair for national affairs committee Eduardo Yap read.

“Otherwise upright citizens perforce become tax evaders.

Noncompliance leaves countless real properties stranded with the decedent and, in the process, excluded from the market,” it also read.

The paper said the estate tax could cause the liquidation of family business assets and even their dissolution just so a tax obligation would be met. As a consequence, Finex said capital in the hands of entrepreneurs

would be impaired to the detriment of the economy.

“The estate tax has failed to reduce income inequality and distribution of wealth, if such were the intention in the first place. The wealthy and super rich are the targets of this tax, but there are enough loopholes in the tax system to reduce the tax bite through tax planning,” the paper read.

Finex also proposed to exclude the family home from gross estate and consequently, from estate tax, arguing that the cost of the estate tax to society and the economy may exceed intended benefits.

“It has the deleterious, albeit unintended, effect of breaking up or forcing the liquidation of the family home, a revered institution of Philippine society to which are anchored the close family ties that are the very foundation of Filipino culture.

The home is where these ties are born, nurtured, and take root. In turn, close family ties that extend to several degrees of consanguinity and affinity, and is a safety net that enables less fortunate family members to survive financial crisis,” the paper read. ■

A READER recently told me she has a good dividend-paying stock and would like to move part of it into a TFSA, where she has accumulated a few years of contribution room, placing the remainder in her self-directed RRSP, to which hasn’t contributed for years. Her intention is to reinvest the money back into the same company, but under both the TFSA and the RRSP umbrellas, and she wants to know if this is a sensible move.

She’s 60 years old and drawing a pension. Her spouse won’t retire for another five years, and they manage well with their combined incomes for now. It’s actually a fairly common ques-

tion.

For starters, you don’t have to sell the stock to make the transfers. You can contribute it in kind, assuming you have selfdirected plans.

If you move the stock into either plan, it will be deemed a taxable event by the Canada Revenue Agency, and you will be taxed on any capital gain.

The same will apply if you sell the shares. You should take that into account before you act.

If you decide to proceed, your dividends and capital gains will be fully sheltered in the TFSA. The RRSP will give you a tax deduction when you contribute, but you’ll be taxed at your marginal rate when you make any withdrawals, including on the original contribution. ■

Cautious trading seen to continue

BY DORIS DUMLAOABADILLA Philippine Daily Inquirer LOCAL STOCKS are seen continuing to trade with caution this week while investors across the globe assess how effective US President Trump will be in passing a key healthcare legislation.

Last week, the main-share Philippine Stock Exchange index fell by 1.03 percent, weighed down by the weak sentiment in Wall Street.

BDO Unibank chief strategist

Jonathan Ravelas said investors were recalibrating expectations to reflect the reality that President Trump’s progrowth agenda would not push through overnight, inducing profit-taking among local investors.

“Chartwise, the week’s close at 7,269.62 continues to highlight expectations that the market will remain range bound between the 7,000–7,400 levels in the near term. A break below the 7,150 levels suggests further weakness toward the 7,000 levels,” Ravelas said.

In their latest joint publication, First Metro Investments Corp. and University of Asia & the Pacific, said no positive catalysts for local equities were in sight for the next two months.

“If at all, the headwinds appear daunting. These include: The strengthening of US economy and dollar and its negative effect on the peso; and the economic fundamentals on the external side show some cracks as the current account looks headed toward a deficit as a result of years of an overvalued www.canadianinquirer.net

currency,” FMICUA & P said.

The strategy should thus be to remain patient and search for value stocks—such as consumer, banking and energy sectors— and take position on market downturns, FMIC-UA&P said.

In a research note on Friday, Citigroup said the delay in calling a vote on the American Healthcare Act (AHCA) bill was keeping sentiment on edge.

“Investors are looking to this vote to assess the likelihood of a lame-duck Trump administration. While passage in the

House does not guarantee at all that a compromise bill with the Senate can be worked out, the market is still likely to react positively,” Citi said.

In the meantime, Citi said failure of the vote would likely be seen as making tax reform less likely, even though in theory the timetable for tax reform could move forward if the Republican party leadership decided to move on from the healthcare to tax right away. But the first reaction would likely be negative for reflation trades, it said. ■

Business

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

31

Woe for stores as shoppers look elsewhere for inspiration

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE The Associated Press NEW YORK — Erica Dao used to shop at malls once a month, looking in stores and seeing what the mannequins displayed. Now, she mainly looks for inspiration on social media.

“I discover brands through Instagram,” said Dao, 33, of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Elizabeth Troy says she was the “queen of sales,” going through discounted items at J. Crew and Banana Republic stores at malls near where she lives in Richmond, Virginia. But her goto source has become the online subscription service Stitch Fix, which lets her try on clothes at home and decide what to keep.

“I almost never go out to buy now,” says Troy, 50.

Those kind of shifts illustrate the way people are changing how they buy clothing. Shoppers aren’t just showrooming at stores and then buying the same items online if they can find better prices — it’s a more significant separation from the mall.

That is spelling big problems for mall chains like The Limited, which has shut all 250 of its stores, and Wet Seal, which filed for bankruptcy. Department stores like Macy’s and J.C. Penney — anchors for the malls — are also closing stores.

Sears Holdings Corp. has said there’s “substantial doubt” about its future, but believes its plan to turn around its business should reduce that risk. The number of “distressed” retailers — those with cash problems and poor credit profiles that are facing strong competition — is at the highest rate since 2009, says Moody’s Investor Service.

“Retail is increasingly becoming boring,” said James Reinhart, CEO of the used-clothing marketplace thredUP. He says much of the merchandise at stores is homogenous, while online “each day there’s a whole new assortment.”

Department stores make regular announcements about the next way they’re going to win customers back, like offering more athletic-inspired clothes or adding tech areas. But they’re fighting a market in which people are already buying fewer clothes, spending online or at discounters when they do, and demanding more personal and convenient ways to buy.

Brands like Stitch Fix and Bonobos offer curated selections based on people’s preferences, while companies like thredUP capitalize on shoppers’ increasing willingness to buy secondhand items from mall brands like J. Crew, Anthropologie and Athleta at big discounts.

Deloitte estimates that the nation’s top 25 retailers have lost $200 billion to the smaller entrants to the market over the last five years.

“These internet-rooted businesses are connecting so well with consumers,” said Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at market research firm NPD Group Inc. “They’re offering personalization.

They offer great value, quality service and a unique look. This is something that the apparel industry has been ignoring, but consumers are gravitating toward them. And they’re becoming a big threat.”

While U.S. clothing sales increased 3 per cent overall to $218.7 billion last year, department stores and national mall-based chains saw a drop of 4 per cent, says NPD. Discounters enjoyed a 1 per cent increase, and off-price stores like T.J. Maxx and Ross saw sales rise 5 per cent.

Clothes are also a smaller part of people’s personal spending. In January 1990, Americans spent 5.2 per cent of their overall expenditures on clothes and shoes. That compares with 3 per cent in January 2017, according to an analysis by Michael P. Niemira, principal at The Retail Economist research firm. If demand held steady, Niemira says, there’d be an extra $255 billion spent.

Even so, retail space rose to 7.76 billion square feet in 2016 in 54 U.S. metropolitan areas — about six times per capita that of countries like Britain, the International Council of Shopping Centers said. Richard Hayne, CEO of Urban Outfitters, likens the retail industry to a housing bubble.

“We are seeing the results: doors shuttering and rents retreating,” Hayne said after the company reported disappointing fourth-quarter results. He expects the trend to continue, and says online shopping is only partially offsetting lower store sales.

“Digital communities and social media are replacing storefronts and traditional advertising as a preferred means by which brands and customers are connecting,” Hayne said, noting Urban Outfitters’ 7 million Instagram followers.

The online startups have their own ways of reaching shoppers.

Jason Hairston started his hunting clothing and gear brand KUIU by blogging, and says he generated $500,000 on the first day in business based on interest through the blog. He says by skipping the store step, his Dixon, Californiabased company can offer higher-quality products at the same price.

It was on social media that Dao discovered the online brand Everlane and liked its simple but modern looks. It’s also how she found shoes by Freda Sal-

Abandoned mall in Detroit.

vador that she spent $300 on — three times what she usually pays.

“I am trying to find someone that appeals to me,” she said. “It’s not, ‘Oh, everybody is doing this.’ It reflects my values. It reflects my personal style.”

That connection is something shoppers may feel is missing from the brands they’re turning away from. Bill Taubman, chief operating officer at mall operator Taubman Centers, expects more store closures. But as much as shoppers gravitate toward online brands, he has doubts about their sustainability.

“Customers forget about them very quickly,” he said. “That’s why the internet guys are thinking of opening stores.”

Indeed, online brands like Bonobos,

JAMES R. MARTIN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

jeweler Blue Nile and eyewear seller Warby Parker have been setting up showrooms. Even KUIU plans a 30-city tour with an 18-foot trailer that expands to a showroom as a test for traditional store locations.

The hybrid model is gaining ground, but online retailers are also figuring out whether to go with traditional stores or showrooms where shoppers try on clothes and then have their purchased delivered. “We quickly discovered in the testing days of the Guideshop concept that guys don’t need that instant gratification of walking out of the store with something right away,” said Antonio Nieves, chief financial officer at Bonobos. ■

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32

MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

Technology Elon Musk’s latest Apple: Software flaws in latest target: Brain WikiLeaks docs are all fixed computer interfaces

BY ANICK JESDANUN The Associated Press

BY MAE ANDERSON The Associated Press

brain-interface work.

Stimulating the brain

Some neuroscientists and NEW YORK — Tech billionaire futurists, however, caution Elon Musk is announcing a new against making overly broad venture called Neuralink fo- claims for neural interfaces. cused on linking brains to comHooking a brain up directly puters. to electronics is itself not new.

The company plans to devel- Doctors implant electrodes in op brain implants that can treat brains to deliver stimulation neural disorders — and that may for treating such conditions as one day be powerful enough to Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy put humanity on a more even and chronic pain. In experifooting with possible future ments, implanted sensors have superintelligent computers, ac- let paralyzed people use brain cording to a Wall signals to operStreet Journal ate computers report citing unand move ronamed sources. botic arms. Last Musk, a Hooking year, researchfounder of both a brain up ers reported that the electric-car directly to a man regained company Tesla electronics is some movement Motors and the itself not new. in his own hand private spacewith a brain imexploration firm plant.

SpaceX, has beMusk’s procome an outspoposal goes beken doomsayer yond this. Alabout the threat artificial in- though nothing is developed telligence might one day pose yet, the company wants to build to the human race. Continued on those existing medical treatgrowth in AI cognitive capabili- ments as well as one day work ties, he and like-minded critics on surgeries that could improve suggest, could lead to machines cognitive functioning, accordthat can outthink and outma- ing to the Journal article. noeuvr humans with whom Neuralink is not the only they might have little in com- company working on artificial mon. intelligence for the brain. EnIn a tweet Tuesday, Musk trepreneur Bryan Johnson, gave few details beyond con- who sold his previous payments firming Neuralink’s name and startup Braintree to PayPal tersely noting the “existential risk” of failing to pursue direct ❱❱ PAGE 38 Elon Musk’s

NEW YORK — Apple said purported hacking vulnerabilities disclosed by WikiLeaks this week have all been fixed in recent iPhones and Mac computers.

The documents released by the anti-secrecy site Thursday morning pointed to an apparent CIA program to hack Apple devices using techniques that users couldn’t disable by resetting their devices.

The iPhone hack was limited to the 3G model from 2008. In a statement late Thursday, Apple said the flaw was fixed with the release of the iPhone 3GS a year later. Apple also said the Mac vulnerabilities were all fixed in all Macs launched after 2013.

Apple’s statement was consistent with assessments from security experts, who say that many of the apparent vulnerabilities were in older technology. Apple is going further in saying those flaws have all been fixed, based on its preliminary analysis.

Security experts say the exploits described in the WikiLeaks documents are plausible, but suggest they pose little threat to typical users. Besides being likely out of date, the techniques also typically require physical access to devices, something the CIA would use only for targeted individuals, not a broader population.

The CIA has not commented on the authenticity of this and earlier WikiLeaks revelations,

www.canadianinquirer.net

SORBIS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

but has previously said it complies with a legal prohibition against electronic surveillance “targeting individuals here at home, including our fellow Americans.”

The leaks Thursday came about two weeks after WikiLeaks published thousands of alleged CIA documents describing hacking tools it said the government employed to break into computers, mobile phones and even smart TVs from companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft and Samsung. WikiLeaks has offered to share further details with tech companies to help them fix flaws, though accepting such information might subject companies to certain conditions and put government contracts at risk.

Apple addressed the offer for the first time in Thursday’s statement.

“We have not negotiated with WikiLeaks for any informa-

tion,” the statement read. “We have given them instructions to submit any information they wish through our normal process under our standard terms.

Thus far, we have not received any information from them that isn’t in the public domain.”

Apple said that while it takes users’ security and privacy seriously, “we do not condone theft or co-ordinate with those that threaten to harm our users.”

Earlier, Microsoft said WikiLeaks had made initial contact through its public reporting channel, “and we have followed up, treating them as we would any other finder.”

Mozilla, the organization behind the Firefox web browser, also said it had been contacted through the email address it uses for security vulnerability reporting. Mozilla said it would take steps necessary to fix any vulnerabilities reported that way. ■

Technology

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2017

33

Google’s YouTube losing major advertisers upset with videos

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — AT&T, Verizon and several other major advertisers are suspending their marketing campaigns on Google’s YouTube site after discovering their brands have been appearing alongside videos promoting terrorism and other unsavoury subjects.

The spreading boycott confronts Google with a challenge that threatens to cost it hundreds of millions of dollars.

YouTube’s popularity stems from its massive and eclectic library of video, spanning everything from polished TV clips to raw diatribes posted by people bashing homosexuals.

But that diverse selection periodically allows ads to appear next to videos that marketers find distasteful, despite Google’s efforts to prevent it from happening.

Google depends largely on automated programs to place ads in YouTube videos because

the job is too much for humans to handle on their own. About 400 hours of video is now posted on YouTube each minute.

Earlier this week, Google vowed to step up its efforts to block ads on “hateful, offensive and derogatory” videos.

“We know that this is unacceptable to the advertisers and agencies who put their trust in us,” Philipp Schindler, Google’s chief business officer, wrote in a Tuesday blog post.

As part of Google’s solution to the problem, Schindler promised to hire “significant numbers” of employees to review YouTube videos and flag them as inappropriate for ads. He also predicted YouTube would be able to address advertisers’ concerns through Google’s recent advancements in artificial intelligence — technology parlance for computers that learn to think like humans.

But that promise so far hasn’t appeased AT&T, Verizon Communications and an expanding global list of advertisers that includes Volkswagen, Audi,

YouTube has become one of the fastest growing parts of Google’s ad system, which generated $79 billion in revenue last year.

CHONLACHAI / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

HSBC Holdings, the Royal Bank of Scotland and L’Oreal.

“We are deeply concerned that our ads may have appeared alongside YouTube content promoting terrorism and hate,” AT&T said in a statement. “Until Google can ensure this won’t happen again, we are removing our ads from Google’s nonsearch platforms.”

By extending its ban to everything beyond Google’s search results, AT&T is also effectively pulling its ads from more than two million other websites that depend on Google to deliver ads to their pages.

In its statement, Verizon said it decided to pull ads from YouTube to protect its website while it investigates the “weak

links” among its digital advertising partners.

Both AT&T and Verizon may have an ulterior motive to make YouTube look like an untrustworthy spot for marketers because both companies are trying to sell more digital ads in their own networks.

YouTube has become one of the fastest growing parts of Google’s ad system, which generated $79 billion in revenue last year. Google doesn’t disclose how much of that came from YouTube ads, but the research firm eMarketer estimated that the video site accounted for $5.6 billion that amount. EMarketer projected YouTube’s advertising will rise 26 per cent this year to $7 billion, but that prediction came before marketers began to suspend their spending.

The YouTube boycott began late last week after an investigation by The Times in London revealed the ads of major brands were appearing in videos delving into contentious themes. ■

Senate votes to undo privacy rules that protect user data

BY TALI ARBEL AND RICHARD LARDNER The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The Republican-led Senate moved Thursday to undo Obama-era regulations that would have forced internet service providers like Comcast and Verizon to ask customers’ permission before they could use or sell much of their personal information.

Senators voted along party lines, 50-48, to eliminate the rules. The Federal Communications Commission, then controlled by Democrats, put the regulations in place in October.

They’re not in effect yet.

The regulations would have required a company like Verizon to get approval before telling an advertiser what websites customers visited, what apps they used, their health and financial information, or their physical location. Under the regulations, many more people

likely would have chosen not to allow their data to be shared than if they had to take an extra step of asking a company to stop sharing or selling their information.

Industry groups and Republicans protested the regulations.

They said broadband providers would have to operate under tougher privacy requirements than digital-advertising behemoths like Google and Facebook.

Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., said undoing the rules won’t change existing consumer privacy protections. But Democrats and consumer advocates say it will be easier for phone and cable companies to use and sell customer data. Flake is chairman of the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on privacy and technology.

The House and President Donald Trump must still approve rolling back the privacy rules.

Cable companies, cellphone

carriers and the advertising industry attacked the rules as an overreach. If the permissions requirements went into effect, it may have been more difficult for telecom companies to build advertising businesses that could serve as stiffer competition to Google and Facebook, as they want to do. Internet companies like Google doesn’t have to ask users’ permission before tracking what sites they visit.

Republicans and industry groups have blasted that discrepancy.

“The commission’s rules suffocate industry and harm consumers by creating two completely different sets of requirements for different parts of the internet,” Flake wrote in a recent opinion column.

The cable companies’ trade group, the NCTA, had argued broadband providers should be allowed to use web browsing and app history data unless a customer specifically told them to stop. There is no evidence, www.canadianinquirer.net

NCTA said, that consumers are harmed by this “opt out” approach.

The Senate voted to overturn the broadband privacy rules using the Congressional Review Act, which lets lawmakers undo regulations enacted in the last months of the Obama administration with a majority vote.

It gets around the Democrats’ filibuster power.

A similar resolution has been introduced in the House, which Republicans also control. And then it would go to President Trump, who has already signed three such measures overturning Obama-era regulations.

Undoing the regulation means that a future FCC couldn’t pass the broadband privacy measure again.

The Trump-appointed chairman of the FCC, Ajit Pai, a critic of the broadband privacy rules and other Obama-era policies meant to protect consumers and promote competition, has

said that privacy standards should be consistent for internet providers and internet companies.

He and the head of the Federal Trade Commission, Maureen Ohlhausen, said in a joint statement earlier this month that the FTC should oversee all internet privacy issues. The FTC monitors internet companies like Google and Facebook.

But consumer advocates have said the FTC has less power to police privacy practices than the FCC. “At the FCC, consumers are much more protected with strong privacy rules that give (internet service providers) clear rules as to what’s fair and what’s foul,” Dallas Harris, a policy fellow with consumer advocacy group Public Knowledge, said last month. “The FCC is a stronger entity with a bit more teeth to hold ISPs to the fire.” ■ Arbel reported from New York.

MARCH 31, 2017

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34

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

35

Travel Essentials of Buenos Aires: Evita, tango and pope’s hometown

BY ALBERT STUMM The Associated Press BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA — During Buenos Aires’ heyday, fabulous wealth flowed into the city from Argentina’s agricultural heartland, turning the country into one of the world’s richest by the early 20th century. The evidence of that era is still apparent in the grand architectural showpieces scattered around this sprawling city of 3 million.

But since the late 1940s, Argentina has experienced dictatorship, military rule, corruption and a succession of crippling economic crises. Artless graffiti scars nearly every building and much of the transit system, though efficient, hasn’t been updated since the 1960s.

Still, it remains a marvelous destination. Meet a few Portenos, as city residents are called, and take advantage of the legendary nightlife and restaurant scene, and you’ll get a buzz from the culture that invented the tango.

Classic attractions

stone-paved alleys. Evita’s black granite gravesite is rather dull by comparison, and generally crowded, but parts of the cemetery offer plenty of opportunities for reflective solitude.

Afterward, stroll around the surrounding area, where the wealthy built palatial homes as they fled a yellow fever epidemic in the low-lying San Telmo neighbourhood near the Plata River.

What’s new

It wasn’t long ago that the dining scene mostly consisted of steak, empanadas, Italian and more steak. But a flurry of restaurant openings has transformed the city into a worldly food destination. The craft beer craze arrived along with a burger invasion a few years back, but chefs have begun to draw on other cultures to spice up the mix. The Korean-Argentinian restaurant Kyopo in Flores serves a sweet and spicy kimchi burger as well as savory rice bowls.

In Villa Crespo, I Latina serves seafoodfocused tasting menu of Colombian fare in a renovated townhouse.

The Pope Francis story has become big business in his native city. A number of tours have popped up to show off the sites The necropolis he used to frequent resembles a when he was known city in miniature as Jorge Mario Bermore than a goglio. Stops include burial ground, where he grew up in with intricate Flores, his former gothic temples schools and the Metto the dead ropolitan Cathedral lined up like where he presided.

No trip to Buenos Aires would be complete without a swing past the blushing balconies of La Casa Rosada, or Pink House, where Eva Peron and her president husband Juan once addressed adoring crowds. The building faces Plaza de Mayo, the heart of the city that provides a good rowhouses jumping off point for along a Hanging out exploring the downnetwork of San Telmo, one town. An organizastone-paved of the city’s oldest tion of mothers of the alleys. neighbourhoods, 30,000 Argentines today is an artsy enwho disappeared clave known for a during the dictatorSunday afternoon ship in the 1970s and ‘80s still gathers market at Plaza Dorrego with hundreds there, as they have every Thursday af- of stalls selling antiques, leather goods, ternoon for decades. vintage gear and handmade accessories.

Continuing the requisite Evita pil- The rest of the week, sidewalk cafes fan grimage, head up the hill to the posh Re- out from the plaza during the day, and coleta neighbourhood and its namesake late at night (some bars don’t even open cemetery, where the city’s elite have until midnight) a bohemian crowd minbeen laid to rest for generations. The gles with tourists. One called Doppelnecropolis resembles a city in miniature ganger serves more than 100 cocktails at more than a burial ground, with intri- its dimly lit mahogany bar. cate gothic temples to the dead lined Besides late nights, Buenos Aires is up like rowhouses along a network of also known for its beef. Don Julio and La

MILOSZ MASLANKA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Cabrera in the Palermo neighbourhood represent fine options at the top end of the steak-joint spectrum, particularly if you pair the meal with a bold Malbec wine. In the riverside Puerto Madera area, La Cabana sources its beef from its own ranch and offers views of the spire that angles up from a pedestrian bridge by architect Santiago Calatrava, who designed the Oculus transportation hub at One World Trade in New York.

Tips

Find a way to experience one of Argentina’s signature attractions: the tango. You’re bound to stumble across dancers performing for tips on the streets, and there are numerous tango shows catering to tourists, including in Cafe Tortoni downtown and El Viejo Almacen in San Telmo. But it’s best to

www.canadianinquirer.net

hit up a milonga, which is essentially a tango gathering. Usually lessons are offered before a milonga begins. I found one in Villa Crespo at a downmarket sports club called Villa Malcolm. A twohour group lesson in the pink and blue room cost only 60 pesos on a Monday night (about U.S. $4).

The vast transit system can be baffling, but rides cost only 7.5 pesos (U.S. 50 cents), and its six lines mostly lead downtown. It’s convenient for sightseeing but less so for hopping between the outer neighbourhoods. Taxis fill the gap and are incredibly cheap by U.S. standards, but traffic can be stressful. Buses, called colectivos, are 6.5 pesos (about U.S. 40 cents) and a particularly good option if you’re trying to get somewhere along one of the wide avenues that have dedicated bus lanes. ■

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Travel

MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

Tourism enterprise zones eyed in Ilocos Norte PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY LAOAG CITY — As economic growth continues in this northern gateway of Luzon, local government units hope to establish more investment hubs such as in areas near the Port of Currimao.

Governor Ma. Imelda Josefa Marcos said Friday since the first arrival of a cruise ship in the province, many investors are asking if the province has designated

tourism enterprise zones (TEZs) to further attract businesses.

Marcos said this is one of the major concerns of investors hence, the provincial government is planning to coordinate with the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

TIEZA is an attached agency of the Department of Tourism which designates, regulates and supervises TEZs in various parts of the country.

Once declared as part of a TEZ, operators and tourist en-

terprises within the area enjoy at least a six-year income tax holiday, 5 percent preferential tax on gross income except for real property tax and fees of TIEZA, value added tax exemption, and other tax deductions related to importation of capital goods and equipment needed for TIEZA-registered activities and so on.

Other incentives also include employment of foreign nationals, special investor’s resident visa, foreign currency transactions, exemption from requisi-

tion of investment and lease and ownership of land.

In Ilocos Norte, only the Fort Ilocandia Resort and Casino Hotel is part of a TEZ while the Valdez Center in San Nicolas town, which stood several Business Processing Outsourcing firms and a mall have pending TIEZA applications.

In a business forum where Marcos served as one of the resource speakers, the governor reiterated that now is the time to do business in the province.

As a business-friendly prov-

ince, Ilocos Norte offers incentive packages to would be investors including venue grants and product development assistance.

“Time and again, we have paid for tourism promotions, advertising and marketing that our fledgling stakeholders could ill-afford,” she said, citing Ilocos Norte is a place ripe for high-value agriculture, processing, and light manufacturing and packaging driven by ongoing investments in renewable energy, the BPO industry, and tourism. ■

Poker tables keep decreasing on Nevada casino floors

BY REGINA GARCIA CANO The Associated Press

JORDAN WRIGHT / WHISKANDQUILL.COM

Kidapawan opens Mt. Apo summer climb PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY KIDAPAWAN CITY — The city government here has opened the northern trails to Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak at 9,692 ft. above sea level, for treks to its summit this summer season.

This came about as the city’s Protective Area Management Board (PAMB) announced on Saturday the reopening of Mt. Apo for trekkers starting next month.

“The PAMB, through Resolution 2017-01 officially opens Mt. Apo for trekkers, which was closed after the wide-range bush fire occurred in the peak during the ‘Holy Week trek’ in March last year,” an official PAMB statement said.

Mayor Joseph Evangelista said the development is seen to accelerate the influx of both foreign and domestic climbers, boosting the locality’s tourism and generating big profits for local micro-entrepreneurs.

The mayor batted though for

the strict implementation of trekking regulations set by the Mt. Apo-PAMB to ensure safety and prevent the natural degradation of the highlands.

Last year, unregulated intrusion by climbers on the southern slopes of Mt. Apo resulted in a vast bush fire that took several weeks to contain.

“We will never commercialize Mt. Apo, thus we are bound to maintain strict imposition of rules,” Evangelista said.

The mayor has tasked the city tourism office to strictly monitor and regulate the number of trekkers to the summit.During summer, Mt. Apo attracts an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 climbers.

Joey Recimilla, city tourism officer, said they are set to conduct training workshops to all mountain guides and travel agencies starting next week to enhance their capability in offering services and welcoming tourists.

Mt. Apo boasts of its vast rain forests teeming with flora and fauna, among them the rare Philippine Eagle, said to be the biggest of its kind in the world. ■

LAS VEGAS — When the Monte Carlo casino closes its eighttable poker room in about a month as part of a $450 million overhaul, the Las Vegas Strip will be down nearly a quarter of the tables it had a decade ago.

Casinos constantly adjust their floors to meet customer demand. And unlike the boom years when they competed for card fans after everyman Chris Moneymaker won the World Series of Poker’s main event in 2003, poker’s appeal in Sin City has been weakening this decade.

Some casinos have made their poker rooms smaller. Others have eliminated them entirely.

“Casinos added more tables in response to popularity, and once it became less popular, they took away the tables,” said David Schwartz, director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The peak of the poker room was 2007.

In 2002, before fans of Texas Hold ‘Em began to rush to the Strip, casinos had 144 tables and made $30 million from the game. Five years later, casinos had more than tripled their poker revenue to $97 million with 405 tables. Last year, the game netted them only $78 million after the number of tables decreased to 320.

The situation is similar www.canadianinquirer.net

across the state. Casinos had 907 tables and made $168 million in 2007. Last year, they took in $118 million from 661 tables.

Even the game’s proponents understand poker has never been a big moneymaker for casinos. That’s because instead of gambling against the stacked odds of the house as they do in blackjack or slots, players wager against one another and the casinos take a portion as a fee for hosting the games.

Casinos were willing to do that to keep players in their establishments while the game’s popularity soared. The boost was fueled by the rise of internet gambling and a watershed moment in 2003 when Moneymaker, as an amateur, won $2.5 million as people watched on TV. The landscape drastically changed in 2011, when the federal government cracked down on internet poker and blacked out major sites — a moment poker enthusiasts refer to as “Black Friday.”

MGM Resorts International, the owner of the Monte Carlo, attributes its decision to close the property’s poker room to an overhaul that includes a full rebranding with the launch of a new luxury hotel named Park MGM and a version of the widely acclaimed NoMad Hotel. The company’s nearby Aria and Bellagio properties have poker rooms.

The Hard Rock Casino Hotel east of the Las Vegas Strip

closed its poker room earlier this month. Other Vegas casinos that have shed their poker room since 2010 include Ellis Island, Palms and Tropicana.

Property officials carefully choose games for their valued space and are always looking to maximize their revenue per square foot. Meanwhile, floors are generally smaller overall as casinos have morphed into fullservice resorts with nightclubs, shopping areas, restaurants and other amenities.

“Gaming has become a smaller portion of the overall revenue mix and things like poker rooms are candidates for further evaluation as to whether they make sense or not at a casino property,” said Brian Gordon, a principal at the Las Vegas-based research firm Applied Analysis.

Caesars Palace, owned by the company that owns the World Series of Poker, relocated and downsized its poker room by two-thirds in 2015. But the revenue it now generates is much higher per square foot, said Seth Palansky, the tournament’s spokesman.

“We recognized the room was bigger than it needed to be,” Palansky said. “You can make a lot more money per square foot with a nightclub-dayclub these days than you can with a poker table.” ■

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

37

Food COOKING ON DEADLINE:

Chicken Thighs with Onions, Olives

BY LISA RATHKE The Associated Press PASSOVER COMES in the spring, but there is often still a chill in the evening air as families and friends gather in their homes for Seder dinners. A richly flavoured and warming meal is still very welcome at this time of year.

Tender chicken thighs can sit for an extra bit of time in the oven without drying out, which is handy for a meal that often can’t be timed precisely. A sauce dense with onions, lemon and olives also keeps the meat moist, and hits nice notes of savory, sweet, tart and salty. A bit of hot sauce keeps it lively.

If you have a huge pan you can double the recipe, or just make two pans’ worth for a bigger group.

You could serve this right from the pan, or move the cooked chicken to a plate for a moment, transfer the onions and olives and all of the wonderful sauce to a shallow serving platter, and then place the chicken back on top. Serve with a big bowl of mashed potatoes, or maybe even polenta, depending on your tradition.

On occasions other than Passover, plenty of other starches,

from fregola to couscous, would also be perfect.

Chicken thighs with onions and green olives

Serves 4 to 6 Start to finish: 1 hour 40 minutes • 3 pounds chicken thighs (about 6 to 8) • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 teaspoon cumin • 1 teaspoon paprika • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice • 2 tablespoons olive oil • 4 large yellow onions, halved and thinly sliced • 1 cup chicken broth • 1 cup pitted green olives, halved • 1 teaspoon hot sauce, such as Sriracha • 1 lemon, cut into 8 wedges • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley Preheat the oven to 400 F. Pat the chicken dry. Combine the salt, cumin, paprika, pepper and allspice. Rub the spice mixture evenly onto the thighs, on both sides.

Heat the oil in a very large, deep, ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ❱❱ PAGE 38 Chicken Thighs

Pork medallions with grape sauce is quick weeknight entree

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press HERE’S A quick, easy and delicious weeknight entree that’s certain to impress your family.

The star of the show is pork tenderloin, the leanest and most tender part of the animal. Like beef tenderloin, pork tenderloin is a muscle cushioned by other muscles. It’s tender because it’s not used very much.

I prefer it hands-down to pork loin, which is prone to cook up dry and tough.

Pork tenderloin is a narrow cylinder of meat, usually weighing between 1 to 1 1/4 pounds.

For this recipe it’s cut crosswise into rounds (or medallions).

These medallions would be kind of puny if you cut the tenderloin straight down because it’s only about 2 inches in diameter. Here, though, we slice it at a 45-degree angle into rounds that are around 3 inches in diameter.

Tender as it is, tenderloin will dry out if it’s overcooked. This recipe arms you with two ways to guard against it. First, dip the medallions in flour before browning them. Second, brown the meat very quickly, just one minute per side. (Make sure your pan is good and hot before adding the meat.) The flour not only furnishes the meat with a protective outer coating, it also helps thicken the sauce when the meat is returned to the pan at the end of the recipe. And the quick browning leaves the pork extra-pink inside, which makes it that much harder to overcook afterward.

The grapes are the surprise ingredient here. Much as we love grapes straight off the vine, a cooked grape is one in which the flavour has been concentrated. In effect, it becomes grape-ier. Once you’ve tasted the cooked grapes in this recipe, you may find yourself adding them to other savory sauces.

Try them with sauteed chicken and see for yourself.

Sauteed Pork Medallions with Grape Sauce

Start to finish: 40 minutes (20 active) Servings: 4 • 1 pork tenderloin (about 1-1 1/4 pounds) • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • Kosher salt and black pepper • 1/2 cup Wondra or all-purpose flour • 1/4 cup minced shallots or onion • 1 cup red or yellow seedless grapes or a mix, halved • 1/2 cup dry white wine • 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth • 1 teaspoon firmly packed dark brown sugar • 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard Slice the pork diagonally at a 45-degree angle into 7 to 8 pieces, each about 3/4- to 1-inch thick. Don’t worry if the pieces are not all the same size. Just make sure they are all the same thickness.

In a large skillet heat half the oil over medium-high heat.

While the oil is heating, season half the pork medallions on

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both sides with salt and pepper and then dip them in the flour, shaking off the excess. Add them to the skillet and brown them quickly, about 1 minute a side, transferring them to a plate when they are done. Repeat the procedure with the remaining pork, flour and oil.

Add the shallots to the skillet, reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the shallots, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the grapes and cook, stirring occasionally, 5 minutes. Add the white wine and deglaze the pan, scraping up the brown bits and simmer the wine until it is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Add the chicken broth and sugar and simmer until reduced by half. Whisk in the mustard. Return the pork and any juice from the plate to the skillet and simmer gently, turning the medallions, several times, for 2 minutes. Divide the pork medallions among 4 plates and spoon some of the sauce over each portion.

Nutrition information per serving: 382 calories; 124 calories from fat; 14 g fat (2 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 92 mg cholesterol; 360 mg sodium; 24 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 8 g sugar; 33 g protein.

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Food

MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

Indigenous chefs aim to raise awareness of their traditional foods

BY LOIS ABRAHAM The Canadian Press TORONTO — Canadian cuisine might include a mix of culinary traditions, but the food of one of the country’s founding groups is largely missing. An emerging group of indigenous chefs and restaurateurs is hoping to change that.

Rich Francis, chef-owner of Seventh Fire Hospitality Group in Saskatoon, says he’s “cooking for reconciliation” as he specializes in his interpretation of modern indigenous cuisine.

“Everything that’s been taught in school is through a colonial lens. It’s not our story. It’s colonial books, so now I’m stepping into a time where we are telling our own stories through our own lens and our own vision.”

Francis, a member of the Tetlit Gwich’in and Tuscarora Nation and originally from Fort McPherson, N.W.T., was a finalist on season 4 of “Top Chef Canada” and is looking forward to opening a restaurant this summer.

Meanwhile, he’s catering and conducting events like a recent Cooking for Reconciliation dinner series in Vancouver, where he focused on local indigenous foods such as halibut, razor clams, stone fruits and sage for flavouring. He took buffalo meat with him to do a play on

surf ‘n’ turf.

“I’ve been travelling raising awareness just to go beyond what people know us for, like the Indian taco and bannock and all that. That’s not truly us, who we are,” says Francis.

“It was given to us in our cultural genocide and the residential school system and all that happened to us. We’re starting to find our culinary identity now in the industry beyond bannock and all the colonial stuff that was designed to destroy us.”

Lenore Newman, a B.C. professor with a Canada Research Chair in food security and environment, says the country is seeing a resurgence in indigenous food ”and a very timely one that needs to happen.”

“I think there is still serious reparation to be made though,” she adds.

During field work for her recent book, “Speaking in Cod Tongues: A Canadian Culinary Journey,” Newman found indigenous groups played a huge role in helping early settlers learn to survive.

“Then you enter this horrible period where indigenous cuisine was actively destroyed and used as a weapon. The biggest example is the clearing of the bison and how that was basically a genocide,” says Newman, who teaches at the University of the Fraser Valley in Abbotsford, B.C.

“Out here on the West Coast the potlatch was banned. In residential schools, people were taken away from their indigenous foods. They were prevented from using them or talking about them.

“We have a lot of reckoning to do and some of that is culinary.

And so what that meant was for a very long time you didn’t hear about indigenous cuisine except very peripherally as kind of exotic.”

Newman has eaten in indigenous restaurants in Vancouver, Haida Gwaii, B.C., at a Songhees First Nations food truck in Victoria and at Tea-N-Bannock in Toronto.

Tina Ottereyes, who manages Tea-N-Bannock, agrees First Nations food is “very underrepresented” in Canada’s restaurant sphere and is happy more eateries are opening.

“We’re starting to share more of our culture and more of our food,” says Ottereyes, from Wemindji Cree First Nation on James Bay in Quebec.

“When I grew up we hunted and we trapped and we fished.

That was my culture, that was the food that I ate.... Each tribe has a different diet according to their area.”

The menu at Tea-N-Bannock reflects traditional dishes from different tribes. Hominy corn grown by a local farmer is the base for their Ojibwa corn soup, made through a labour-inten-

Elon Musk’s... for $800 million, last year started Kernel, a company working on “advanced neural interfaces” to treat disease and extend cognition. ❰❰ 32

Risk of overhype

Neuroscientists posit that the technology that Neuralink and Kernel are working on may indeed come to pass, though it’s likely to take much longer than the four or five years Musk has predicted. Brain surgery remains a risky endeavour; implants can shift in place, limiting their useful lifetime; and patients with implanted electrodes face a steep learning

JORDAN WRIGHT / WHISKANDQUILL.COM

sive process. The corn is dried after picking and the kernels removed. They’re boiled for several hours in wood ash to remove the hard outer shell, allowing the inner kernel to get “nice and cooked and plumped up,” says Ottereyes.

Wild rice comes from First Nations people in northwestern Ontario. Teas include a fruity herbal blend made by the grandmother of a staff member in Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ont. Though meat like elk and bison are prepared in a traditional way, they are farmed, not wild, because the product has to be certified and inspected.

Francis believes there should be some leniency when it comes to wild food.

“The regulations that are

put in place by the government don’t allow us to fully express ourselves.”

Elsewhere in Toronto, NishDish, a cafe focused on Anishinaabe recipes, was slated to open this month in Toronto.

Pow Wow Cafe, which launched last fall, features Objibwa tacos using fried bannock instead of tortillas.

A smattering of colleges also offer indigenous culinary courses.

Francis, who received his chef training at Stratford Chefs School, originally learned traditional recipes in Moose Factory on James Bay and Iqaluit in Nunavut from people who still live off the land.

“You won’t find any of this stuff in history books, or cookbooks for that matter.” ■

Chicken Thighs... curve being trained how to use them.

“It’s a few decades down the road,” said Blake Richards, a neuroscientist and assistant professor at the University of Toronto. “Certainly within the 21st century, assuming society doesn’t implode, that is completely possible.”

Amy Webb, CEO of Future Today Institute, pointed out that the Neuralink announcement is part of a much larger field of human-machine interface research, dating back over a decade, performed at the University of Washington, Duke University and elsewhere.

Too much hype from one

“buzzy” announcement like Neuralink, she said, could lead to another “AI Winter.” That’s a reference to the overhype of AI during the Cold War, which was followed by a backlash and reduced research funding when its big promises didn’t materialize.

“The challenge is, it’s good to talk about potential,” Webb said. “But the problem is if we fail to achieve that potential and don’t start seeing all these cool devices and medical applications we’ve been talking about then investors start losing their enthusiasm, taking funding out and putting it elsewhere.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

chicken thighs and brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side, and then transfer them to a paper-towel-lined surface. Do this in batches if necessary.

Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat left in the pan, reduce the heat to medium low, and add the onions. Cook, stirring frequently, for about 20 minutes until they are very soft and browned, but do not allow them to get too dark; adjust the heat as necessary. You can add a tablespoon of water from time to time if they appear to be getting too brown.

Stir in the broth, olives, hot ❰❰ 37

sauce and lemon wedges. Return all of the chicken to the pan, skin side up, nestling the pieces into the sauce. Cover the pan, place in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes. Remove the lid and bake for another 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked and tender and the skin is crisped.

Sprinkle with the parsley before serving.

Nutrition information per serving: 439 calories; 242 calories from fat; 27 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 114 mg cholesterol; 1577 mg sodium; 22 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 7 g sugar; 27 g protein.

Food

FRIDAY MARCH 31, 2017

39

For an elevated banana split, try this nutty panna cotta THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA “DESSERT” IS not French for “butter, sugar, and cream,” but as far as most people are concerned, it could be. For centuries, the word itself conjured images of sweet macarons, decadent custards, buttery cakes, and picture-perfect pies. But there must be a healthier way to make dessert, right?

With its sweet, salty, and creamy components, this panna cotta dessert is a dish you can feel good about serving and good about eating. It also happens to include that all-time favourite flavour combination of banana, chocolate, and pecans, which basically makes this a banana split.

You will recognize the components of this dish, but set aside your expectations. Most panna cottas you’ve enjoyed have likely contained cream, eggs, and plenty of added sugar.

This recipe contains none of those things, and while the result is shockingly delicious (no cream!), it won’t behave like other panna cottas in terms of texture and your ability to unmould it. We’ve given you some handling advice in the recipe.

We’ve plated ours like a snazzy restaurant dessert, but there’s no pressure for you to do the same. You can serve this dish like a classic ice cream sundae, if you’d like. Then, start experimenting.

Three pleasures chocolatebanana panna cotta

Start to finish: 8 hours (Active time: 1 hour) Servings: 12 Pecan Butter (recipe below) • Chocolate-Banana Panna Cotta (recipe below) • Roasted Pecan and Chocolate Shards (recipe below) • Coconut-Banana Sorbet (recipe below) • Bananas, for garnish (optional) Prepare the pecan butter for use in the chocolate-banana panna cotta and roasted pecan and chocolate shards.

Prepare the chocolate-banana panna cotta and freeze or

refrigerate, as desired.

Prepare the roasted pecan and chocolate shards and refrigerate while you prepare the sorbet.

Prepare the coconut-banana sorbet mixture. Wait to process in your ice cream machine until as close to serving as possible (no more than 2 hours, for ideal results).

To serve as a plated dish: Place a round roasted pecan and chocolate shard on a plate.

Unmold the panna cotta from its silicone mould and place on top of the chocolate round.

Scoop a portion of sorbet (about 2 tablespoons) and place it beside the panna cotta. Top with chocolate shards, and garnish with diced and pureed bananas and leftover pecan butter, if desired.

To serve in a container: Scoop a portion of sorbet (about 2 tablespoons) and place on top of the panna cotta. Garnish with chocolate shards. Top with diced and pureed bananas and leftover pecan butter, if desired.

Pecan butter

Makes about 2 cups (about 32 servings) • 8 ounces (about 2 cups) pecans • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake until they begin to brown, about 12 minutes.

Transfer the hot pecans to a food processor, add the salt, and blend until a butter consistency forms, about 3 minutes. The mixture will seem too dry to start, but with a few minutes, it will come together. Scrape the sides of the bowl, as needed.

Set aside until needed, and refrigerate leftovers in a covered container.

Chocolate-banana panna cotta

Makes 12 servings

• 1 tablespoon powdered gelatin (from about 1 1/2 packets) • 2 tablespoons cold water • 8 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) chopped dark chocolate, about 56% • 1 tablespoon Pecan Butter (recipe above)

• 1 1/4 cups coconut water • 2 bananas Set out 12 moulds or serving vessels. For panna cottas that can be unmoulded and plated on a dish, use silicone moulds large enough to hold 1/4 cup of filling. Otherwise, prepare bowls, jars, or other containers that are large enough to top with sorbet and chocolate pieces.

In a small bowl, combine the gelatin and water. Mix with a fork until the gelatin is moistened. Set aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

Place the chocolate and pecan butter in a medium heatsafe bowl and set aside.

Add the coconut water and bananas to a blender and puree until smooth. Transfer to a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat and stir in the soaked gelatin. Stir until it is completely melted.

Pour the banana mixture over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth.

Pour 1/4 cup of the mixture into moulds or containers. For silicone moulds, freeze at least 6 hours or overnight, then unmould and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. If using bowls or other serving dishes, freeze for at least 3 hours (thaw at least 1 hour before serving), or refrigerate overnight. www.canadianinquirer.net

Roasted pecan and chocolate shards

Makes 12 servings

• 9 ounces (about 1 3/4 cups) finely chopped dark chocolate, about 56 per cent • 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Pecan Butter Prepare a hot water bath with barely simmering water. Place the chocolate in a heat-safe bowl and melt over the hot water bath until about halfway melted.

Add the pecan butter and stir until the chocolate is fully melted and the pecan butter is incorporated.

Line a baking pan with a silicone baking mat. Pour the chocolate mixture onto the pan and spread into a thin, even layer. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

If desired, use a round cutter about the same size as your panna cotta mould to cut bases for your unmoulded panna cotta. Break up the scraps to use as garnish. If serving in dishes, break up the chilled chocolate to use as garnish. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Coconut-banana sorbet

Makes 12 servings 4 bananas

• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened shredded coconut, toasted • 1 tablespoon lime juice • 1 tablespoon dark rum (optional)

Place the bananas, coconut, lime juice, and rum (if using) in a blender and puree until smooth.

Transfer to an ice cream maker and freeze according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Transfer to a covered container and freeze until needed.

This sorbet should be made as closely to serving as possible.

Due to its lower sugar content, it will become icy after about 2 hours.

Nutrition information per serving of pecan butter: 114 calories; 107 calories from fat; 12 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 80 mg sodium; 2 g carbohydrate; 2 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 2 g protein.

Nutrition information per serving of the panna cotta: 120 calories; 67 calories from fat; 7 g fat (4 g saturated; X0g trans fats); 3 mg cholesterol; 7 mg sodium; 16 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 10 g sugar; 3 g protein.

Nutrition information per serving of the pecan and chocolate: 157 calories; 117 calories from fat; 13 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 0 mg sodium; 11 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 7 g sugar; 3 g protein.

Nutrition information per serving of the sorbet: 117 calories; 66 calories from fat; 7 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 3 mg sodium; 12 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 1 g protein

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MARCH 31, 2017

FRIDAY

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