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BLESSING RITES Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle leads the blessing of palm fronds after his Palm Sunday Mass at Manila Cathedral.

MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / PDI

Philippine and Saudi leaders discuss labour, anti-narcotics

Tough road to redemption

BY ABDULLAH AL-SHIHRI AND AYA BATRAWY The Associated Press

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RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte met Tuesday with King Salman in Saudi Arabia, where hundreds of thousands of Filipinos work as nurses, domestic helpers, drivers, waiters and technicians. It was

Duterte’s first time meeting with the Saudi king.

Philippine media outlets report that the Middle East is the second largest source of remittances, with Filipinos sending back home some $7.5 billion in wages from the region last year. Local media report there are 760,000 Filipino workers living in Saudi Arabia, though

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B.C. election is underway after weeks of unofficial campaigning ends ❱❱ PAGE 17

❱❱ PAGE 7 Philippine and

Batangas aftershocks easing but continuing swarm still possible

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Why are DENR employees grumbling?

BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE GRUMBLINGS of a group of Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) employees fed up with sudden personnel revamps implemented by Environment Secretary Gina Lopez erupted during a lunchtime protest rally on Friday.

Black-clad employees of the DENR, mostly from the Human Resource Development Service (HRDS) office, gathered outside the department’s main office to express support for two HRDS officials facing transfer after being blamed for the disapproval by the Civil Service Commission in March of the appointment of Lopez’ handpicked undersecretary Philip Camara as Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (Penro). Some employees at the rally bore placards asking for Camara’s ouster.

The employees were particularly incensed by a draft order transferring HRDS director Rolando Castro and Personnel Division chief Miriam Marcelo to other positions.

One of the reasons Camara’s appointment for the Penro post was disapproved

by CSC was because Marcelo did not sign it as required by civil service rules.

Penro is a permanent plantilla position.

According to the employees, Marcelo’s refusal to sign the appointment of Camara was what prompted Lopez to draft an order transferring them to other posts.

The CSC cited Camara’s lack of civil service professional eligibility, a qualification for the post, for the disapproval

President Rodrigo Duterte with Environment Secretary Regina Paz Lopez (right) during the Environmental Summit.

SIMEON CELI / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOGRAPHERS DIVISION

and his lack of supervisory and managerial training. Camara was formerly president of the Philippine Biochar Association, a company engaged in minesite rehabilitation.

“The disapproval of the appointment of someone with no civil service eligibility was blamed on HR, particularly on our director and personnel chief. When did the lack of eligibility become HR’s sin?” a statement from the employees read.

“To our Secretary. You know what is right and wrong. Where is the social justice that you have been talking about?” the statement added.

The statement was being read by DENR employee Dada Cendana when Lopez arrived.

Taking the microphone, Lopez assured the employees she has talked to the employees’ union and said there was a “miscommunication” and “misunderstanding of the situation.”

Bi orders deportation of Syrian national

BY FERDINAND G. PATINO Philippines News Agency MANILA — The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ordered the deportation of Rahman Zina, one of the suspected members of terrorist group Islamic State Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), who was arrested in Taguig City last March 25.

In a summary deportation order signed by the three-man board of commissioners headed by BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, it has directed to deport Zina to Syria.

“Wherefore, finding the charge to be sufficient and well substantiated, we hereby order the deportation of Rahaf Zina (Rahaf ) to Syria, subject to the submission of her National Bureau of Inves-

tigation (NBI) clearance,” said the order which was also signed by Deputy Commissioners Estanislao Canta and Jose Carlito Licas, who are also members of the board.

The order has also included the Syrian’s name in the bureau’s blacklist as undocumented/undesirable.

“Respondent’s presence in the country poses risk to public interest,” the summary deportation order added.

No schedule has been set yet for her deportation.

Zina, together with a Kuwaiti national Husayn Al-Dhafiri, were apprehended in Bonifacio Global City last month by the BI Fugitive Search Unit in coordination with Intelligence and Security Unit-Intelligence Security Group, Philippine Army and Intelligence Group Philippine National Police. ■

She assured DENR employees that there would be personnel removals or transfers until the employees “understand and agree.” “They have inputs on who’s gonna be put there, Lopez said.

The HRDS employees, however, were unimpressed, noting Lopez had made the same commitment on Thursday, and yet signed the order calling for the HRDS officials’ transfer. The order was not executed only because it was not “barcoded” or finalized yet, the employees said.

Should Lopez go back on her word, the employees warned of bigger protest rallies.

Lopez has also drawn the ire of media practitioners after she told a BusinessWorld reporter “You’re just a f*cking employee” during an ambush interview at the DENR on Thursday.

The cursing incident was even echoed

by DENR employees during their protest on Friday, as they taunted Lopez with signages saying “We’re not just f*cking employees.”

Lopez admitted she “had an issue” with BusinessWorld reporter Janina Lim and another business reporter she was with during the ambush interview at the stairway of the DENR office.

“They always ask questions and they always have their minds set a certain way … even if I talk about social justice, their dedma mind is always like this. So I get inis eh,” Lopez admitted.

The reporters had asked Lopez for her reaction to complaints against the P2 million trust fund she was requiring suspended mining firms to put up before they can remove their stockpiles from their mine sites.

Asked about the incident, Lopez said: “Their question was not to find out the truth, their questions were to make harass. So I got inis. Having said that, there is no excuse for losing your cool,” Lopez said. ■

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I’m not criticizing Lascañas’ decision to leave PHL — Lacson

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency MANILA — Sen. Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday denied that he was criticizing the decision of retired cop and self-confessed hitman Arturo Lascañas to leave for Singapore in fear of his safety.

Lacson said that he only questioned who was financing Lascañas’ trip in the context of what he called “an obvious destabilization effort” against Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.

Lascañas said that there was indeed a Davao Death Squad and that he merely lied during a previous Senate hearing in October 2016 when he first denied

its existence.

“If I asked which group is financing his and his family’s trip and accommodations in an expensive place like Singapore, it was in the context of an obvious destabilization effort against President Duterte since nobody seems to admit being involved in the scheme,” Lacson said in response to Lascañas’ statement.

Lascañas earlier said that he expected Lacson, of all people, to understand his situation as he too once left the Philippines to hide in Hong Kong after being linked to a double murder case in 2010.

“Of course I understand SPO3 Lascañas’ predicament and I am not blaming or criti-

cizing his decision to leave the country,” Lacson said.

“Anybody who feels persecuted and physically threatened is entitled to make a personal decision on self-preservation,” he added.

The senator meanwhile defended his decision to leave the Philippines noting that he returned after being proven innocent and did not want his foes to see him behind bars even for a second.

“I stated when I resurfaced after being proven innocent of the trumped-up charges thrown against me by the Arroyo administration, I chose to fight my legal battle under our country’s judicial system based

Office of Cabinet secretary under attack, says dismissed Usec Former CabSec deputy Maia Valdez describes her dismissal as part of a demolition job by people close to President Duterte

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer “IT APPEARS that the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS) Leoncio Evasco [ was] under attack” by people who have President Duterte’s ears, former OCS Undersecretary Maia Chiara Halmen Valdez said of her dismissal on Wednesday over rice importation issues.

Valdez, who said in a statement that she remained supportive of the President and accepted his decision, however lashed out at National Food Authority Council (NFAC) Chief Jason Aquino, and accused Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol of meddling in the affairs of Evasco’s office.

The undersecretary, sacked

by Mr. Duterte for allegedly defying the NFA decision to put rice importation on hold, said she was the eyes and ears of Evasco who also chaired the NFAC, the NFA’s highest policy making body.

Valdez said Aquino refused to attend NFAC meetings and later defied the council’s decision to extend the deadline for rice

imports under the minimum access volume scheme, from Feb. 28 to March 31.

Aquino had pushed for the government to government rice importation to boost the NFA’s buffer stock, Valdez said, adding that “a state-led importation means additional debt to be incurred by the already debtsaddled NFA [that would] ultimately be paid by the government through taxpayer money.”

Prudent

This explains why its proponents wanted to be prudent in undertaking it, Valdez said.

Aquino, she said, bypassed the council and went directly to President Duterte to request for the government to government importation of rice with a total volume of one million metric tons which, Valdez said, the country did not need.

Aquino and Piñol, she added, “[had] been meddling in the functions and affairs of the OCS,” and made it appear that there was a rice shortage in the country.

Valdez said that the NFAC’s and the OCS’s decisions, reso-

lutions, actions and memoranda had been forwarded to Mr. Duterte through the Office of the Special Assistant to the President (Osap) headed by Christopher “Bong” Go. But the former undersecretary wondered how Piñol and Aquino were able to reach Mr. Duterte when the NFAC’s request for a dialogue with the President through Go’s office had been unsuccessful.

“To date, it appears to us that this request, along with the documents submitted by the OCS, which were personally handed by the Cabinet secretary to the Osap head, have either failed to reach the President or have been tampered with,” Valdez said.

On the sidelines of a harvest festival in Nueva Ecija last week, Piñol confirmed that Valdez was fired for overruling Aquino’s decision to suspend rice importation as it was still harvest season.

“It’s over the issue of rice importation. She had a conflict with (NFA administrator) Aquino,” Piñol said in a text message about Valdez, an appointee of former President Benigno Aquino III. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES / FACEBOOK

on existing jurisprudence although I refused to give my enemies and detractors the pleasure of seeing me behind bars even for a second for a crime I did not commit,” Lacson said.

He said that he would never regret that decision.

“I thought it was the right decision to make given the cir-

cumstances at that time. If Lascañas feels the same, so be it,” he added.

Reports noted that Lascañas decided to leave the country after receiving information that a lawsuit will be filed against him. The exact reason for Lascañas’ departure has not yet been confirmed. ■

Philippine and... that figure could be higher.

Before embarking on his weeklong tour of the Gulf, which includes stops in Qatar and Bahrain next, Duterte said the region is home to the largest group of Filipinos working overseas. More than 1 million Filipinos reside and work in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. Hundreds of thousands also work in the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Kuwait.

The official Saudi Press Agency reported that Salman hosted Duterte for lunch in the capital, Riyadh, and that the two sides signed a number of memorandums, including some dealing with labour. The report did not disclose further details about the memorandums signed.

A slide in oil prices has impacted Saudi government spending and the revenue of Saudi companies relying on state-backed infrastructure projects. This has left tens of thousands of Filipinos and South Asian labourers without pay and, in many cases, without airfare or exit permits to return home.

In addition to discussing labour issues, Duterte said his visit to the kingdom would also address ways to broaden co-operation in trade, investments, security, energy and anti-narcotics. ❰❰ 1

Both Saudi Arabia and the Philippines have strict laws against drug dealing and drug smuggling. In Saudi Arabia, dozens of convicted drug smugglers are executed each year. In the Philippines, Human Rights Watch says 7,000 have died in Duterte’s war on drugs, many of them in extrajudicial killings. Duterte has said he does not condone unlawful killings, although he has threatened criminals with death in several speeches.

In Qatar and Bahrain, expatriate workers outnumber the local population. In Saudi Arabia, a third of the population — around 9 million people — are foreigners, many of whom take on low-wage jobs that Saudi citizens shun.

Saudi analyst Khaled Almaeena said the kingdom’s labour laws are good on paper, but there are concerns around their implementation. Almaeena has advocated for protecting the rights of foreign workers in Saudi Arabia, and during his time as editor of the Saudi daily Arab News he started a weekly for Filipino expats called “Pinoy Xtra.”

“Without the contribution of the Filipino nurses the hospitals here would fall flat,” he said. ■ Batrawy reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

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2 senators air warning on housing anarchy Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer, Inc. Correspondents Jane Moraleda Cheng Ilagan Katherine Padilla Deby Mangabat Phoebe Balubar Socorro Newland Bolet Arevalo Gerna Lane Sotana News Anchor Manny Noel Abuel Administration Head Victoria Yong Graphic Designer Shanice Garcia Photographers Angelo Siglos Vic Vargas For photo submissions, please email editor@canadianinquirer.net For General Inquiries, please email info@canadianinquirer.net For Sales Inquiries, please email sales@canadianinquirer.net PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP Editorial Assistant Christelle Tolisora Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer digital edition Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 11951 Hammersmith Way, Suite 108 Richmond, B.C. V7A 5H9 Canada

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BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO, CYNTHIA D. BALANA AND PHILIP C. TUBEZA Philippine Daily Inquirer AN INVITATION to anarchy.

This was how Senators Panfilo Lacson and Richard Gordon described on Wednesday President Duterte’s decision to allow homeless families illegally occupying thousands of idle units in six government housing projects in Bulacan province to own them.

“It is a potential invitation to utter disregard of the rule of law, if not chaos and anarchy,” Lacson said in a text message.

Senator Gordon, in a phone interview, said what the President did may sow anarchy.

“The National Housing Authority should have solved the problem for the President,” Gordon said.

On Tuesday, Mr. Duterte announced that he would let members of the urban poor group Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) keep the housing units in Pandi town and San Jose del Monte City originally meant for military and police personnel.

The President promised to build better houses for members of the police and the military by December, as he sought understanding for the poor.

Kadamay reminder

”Your housing, after a few years, you have to pay Php200,000 both the (typhoons) Yolanda and Pablo. For as long as I am the president, it will be free,” President Duterte said during the National Housing Summit in Quezon City earlier this year.

ACE MORANDANTE / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

place “for an orderly turnover of unoccupied housing units to the homeless among our countrymen if the government is already committed to giving out the units to the Kadamay group.”

“If not attended to properly, my concern is, if this move is replicated all over the country and has become uncontrollable, we have a big problem,” he said.

In a statement, Sen. JV Ejercito said Mr. Duterte’s decision was improper.

Ejercito, chair of the Senate committee on urban planning, housing and resettlement, said the occupation by Kadamay of the housing units served as a “wake-up call” for the government to act on the massive housing problem.

“While I appreciate the President’s heart for the poor and homeless, as (Senate) chair, this should not be the means for anyone to become a recipient of housing projects,” he said.

Elago urged the President to look further into the country’s housing crisis.

“The Duterte administration should investigate why so many houses are left unoccupied despite the huge housing backlog,” Elago said.

Brig. Gen. Restituto Padilla, AFP spokesperson, recalled that during the inspection of the housing units, some soldier-beneficiaries asked if they could get two units, as they could afford to pay for them because of the small size.

Padilla said each unit was good only for a single soldier, not a family. Thus, single soldiers who would eventually get married wanted more space.

He said the military was hoping that no similar occupation of government housing units would happen in the future.

“The whole episode is both good and bad. Good in the sense that the discourse on housing was opened up again… Bad in the sense that it’s setting addressing a precedent,” he said.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police on Wednesday said they would abide by the President’s order.

Interviewed on dzMM radio station, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. said the Kadamay [T]his government is listening and action in Bulacan rethe needs for our people. minded the government of its responsibility to the poor, but warned against such action becoming a The senator said he was against any bad precedent. form of a government project being held “While we appreciated what Kad- hostage in order to justify anyone’s need amay did, because it was a reminder to for shelter, unless in times of calamity. the government of our responsibility “We want them to comply with the toward the marginalized people, it does process so that their occupation would not mean that we will have to do it in not become a precedent for other groups the future because we have to deal with demanding housing from the governthem in accordance with the law,” said ment,” Ejercito said.

Evasco, who oversees government proHe said he would look into Kadamay’s grams, including housing, for the poor. occupation of the housing units and find He said the government would not al- out those accountable for the neglect of low itself to be “hostaged” by certain the housing projects at the hearing on people. “Now, government should be on April 18. top … . [T]his government is listening and “Our inquiry will also tackle issues as addressing the needs for our people.” to why a number of housing projects by the NHA remain substandard in quality, ‘Orderly turnover’ unoccupied and fragmented,” he said.

Lacson said a system must be put in In a statement, Kabataan Rep. Sarah www.canadianinquirer.net

Grateful

Senior Supt. Dionardo Carlos said the affected police personnel were grateful to the President for promising them “better, bigger and more comfortable homes” by December.

“So, we’re willing to sacrifice for the benefit of this group (Kadamay). At the end of the day, we’re grateful to the President for also looking after the welfare of our policemen and soldiers by giving a better, bigger and comfortable home, with electricity, water connection. All you need to do is move in,” Carlos said in a briefing.

He noted that the President also told Kadamay members to avoid housing units that were already occupied or awarded to policemen and soldiers. ■ With a report from DJ Yap

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PNP seeks help of village officials in war on drugs

BY JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT DUTERTE’S top enforcer in his war on drugs is appealing for help from a group of barangay officials, saying their support is crucial to the success of the campaign.

Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, Philippine National Police chief, told members of the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas (Philippine League of Barangays) that he was taking exception to “damaging” remarks made by Western media and First World officials about human rights abuses committed during the campaign.

If he were not a believer, he would have lost faith in it, too, as a result of these criticisms. he said.

The group brings together all village officials in the country. But Mr. Duterte, according to his officials, want the next elections for barangay officials scrapped because at least 40 percent of them are involved in drugs.

The President wants to appoint village officials instead to weed out those with involvement in drugs. Elections would be futile, the President was

quoted as saying, because drug syndicates would simply finance those they wanted to win.

Dela Rosa, taking a cue from his boss, launched a tirade at critics of the high death toll of the war, including foreign officials and groups that denounce alleged human rights abuses committed in the antidrug campaign.

tation.

He recalled seeing a group of drug users, who surrendered in Bacolod City, and pitying them as they had turned to be like zombies.

Shoot first

Saving lives

But he took a less harsh description of victims of drug abuse, saying they need help and should not be killed instantly. In contrast, Mr. Duterte has described drug addicts as hopeless.

The first phase of the PNP campaign, composed of “Oplan Tokhang” and “Oplan Double Barrel,” was suspended following reports of abuses, including one involving the killing of a South Korean businessman by policemen in the guise of an antidrug operation.

It has been relaunched and given new names—“Oplan Tokhang Revisited” and “Double Barrel Reloaded.”

Dela Rosa said he would not retreat from the war on drugs, the centerpiece program of the Duterte administration, which the President repeatedly said was what the people wanted

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte shows a binder containing names of individuals allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade in the middle of his speech.

ALFRED FRIAS / PPD MALACAÑANG

when he was elected on a campaign platform to eradicate the drug menace.

Foreign critics don’t matter

“I do not care what the Europeans, the Americans say,” Dela Rosa said. “What I care about is what the ordinary Filipinos are saying, that they are happy with what we’re doing. I work for the Filipino people. I don’t work for these foreigners.”

The PNP chief said he considered the first Oplan Tokhang a success because of the support of the villages.

“Your clamor for the resumption of the drug war paved the

way for the PNP to go back to the front line and resume operations,” he said. “We are now urging the strong and active support of barangays in the antidrug war.”

Among the revised rules of the PNP operations is a requirement for village officials to be present when police conduct Oplan Tokhang. “I am happy that you will be with us in the house-to-house visitations,” Dela Rosa told the Liga.

He, however, said the group should be instrumental in reducing the number of deaths in the war on drugs by encouraging drug users to enter rehabili-

But he said if law enforcers’ lives were put in danger during an antidrug operation, they had no choice but protect themselves, meaning shoot first.

Double Barrel Reloaded, he said, had led to the surrender of 55,406 suspects, arrest of 6,205 and killing of 82 in what he said were legitimate police operations.

Dela Rosa admitted that the first phase of the campaign had been abused by rogue officers.

He said the rules in the antidrug campaign had been revised to prevent abuses. These include limiting the involvement of police officers in Oplan Tokhang operations to provincial police chiefs in rural areas and police station commanders in cities.

“Let’s please be vigilant so we won’t have problems anymore,” Dela Rosa said. “Let us, however, be reminded that these visitations and the entire drug war entail more than just complying with a commitment to win this war.” ■

EJK cases in PH PNP chief rides MRT submitted to the UN to show everyone is safe

BY KATHERINE PADILLA Philippine Canadian Inquirer A HUMAN rights group in the Philippines has submitted a letter of allegation to United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial/Summary or Arbitrary Executions Agnes Callamard where cases of extrajudicial killings in the country were documented.

KARAPATAN Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights in a statement said that they documented 47 victims of extrajudicial killing in the Philippines under the Duterte administration.

In her letter to Callamard, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay said, “The vic-

tims of killings are peasants; many faced harassment and vilification by the military because of their advocacy and actions to defend people’s rights and are thus considered as human rights defenders.”

The letter was submitted to the UN a month before the 3rd cycle of the Universal Periodic Review on the Philippines at the UN Human Rights Council where the “human rights record of a country will be examined by other State.”

The cycle covers the last four years of the Aquino administration and the first months of Duterte in office.

KARAPATAN have also submitted the same reports during the Arroyo and Aquino administrations. ■

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Tuesday rode the MRT-3 (Metro Rail Transit-3) from Cubao, Quezon City to Taft Avenue, Pasay City to show that everyone is safe.

“Gusto ko iparating sa taumbayan na safe ho sila, safe tayong lahat (I want to show our countrymen that they are safe, that we are all safe),” Dela Rosa said in an ambush interview.

Likewise, the PNP chief assuaged the fears of the riding public.

“Huwag tayong matakot (Let us not be afraid). Everyone is www.canadianinquirer.net

working, your government is working, your security forces particularly the PNP is working para magiging safe tayo lahat (so we can all be safe),” he said.

At the same time, the PNP chief disclosed the fruits of the intensified anti-criminality campaign such as the downtrend in the commission of petty crimes.

“Na-obserbahan naman natin na bumaba yung mga petty crimes lalo na yung mga snatching, mga theft, robbery, bumaba na talaga so that will benefit the whole public dahil kampante na sila maglakad sa kanilang kalsada sa labas na hindi sila masnatch (We have observed that the occurrence of petty crimes like snatching, theft, robbery,

these have really gone down so that will benefit the whole public for they will feel complacent while walking through streets at no risk of falling victim to snatchers),” Dela Rosa said.

The PNP chief also urged the public to patronize the mass transit system even more so as to mitigate the traffic problem.

“It would be very good for everyone dahil yung traffic natin mababawasan (because the traffic has decreased). If the riding public will concentrate more on using more the mass transport system like the MRT so mababawasan yung individual cars sa EDSA (the individual cars plying through EDSA will decrease),” Dela Rosa said. ■

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DOLE, OWWA extend aid to 25 OFWs repatriated thru Saudi amnesty program PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) reported that the first batch of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who have availed of the 90-day Amnesty Program offered by the government of Saudi Arabia are now in the country.

With this, OWWA Officerin-Charge Josefino Torres said the agency has provided due assistance to the 25 distressed workers, who arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), via Philippine

Airlines flight PR 663 Tuesday morning.

He added that also part of the initial help that will be given to the OFWs are: post repatriation services that include temporary shelter at the OWWA halfway home; psycho-social counseling/stress debriefing; medical referral; provision of transport services or fare for their onward travel to their respective provinces.

“The Philippine Embassy and Philippine Overseas Labor Officials, made arrangements to process the OFWs’ registration and documentation prior to their travel exit. As this happens, OWWA Manila will take

the next step from the airport to their travel to their respective destinations,” he said in a statement.

Torres noted that the displaced OWWA members are entitled to avail of the “BalikPinas! Balik-Hanapbuhay! Program, a non-cash livelihood package worth PHP10,000.00 where they will be provided with a ‘starter kit’ ; Referral to Reintegration Program for OFWs of the Technical Education School Development Authority (TESDA) where returning workers and one of their family members are given slots in the free training skills either for wage or self-employment,

assessment and certification, jobs referral and employment assistance.

He added that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Assist WELL Program for welfare, employment, legal, livelihood, are open for distressed OFWs’ stressdebriefing or counseling by OWWA; local employment referral or job placement by the Bureau of Local Employment (BLE); overseas employment referral or placement by Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA); livelihood assistance by OWWA and National Reintegration Center For OFWs(NRCO); legal assis-

tance or conciliation services

by POEA, DOLE Regional Offices and Regional Coordinating Centers, and competency assessment and training assistance by TESDA. For non-OWWA members, they may be referred to NRCO’s Balik-Pinay!, Balik-Hanapbuhay! Livelihood Program, a non-cash training and livelihood program for undocumented OFWs. At the same time, Torres said the OWWA Repatriation Team will be on standby for the batches of returning workers who availed of KSA’s “Nation Without Violations’ 90-Day Amnesty Program. ■

Ex-cops setting up ‘jueteng’ syndicate

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer SEVERAL RETIRED police officials are planning to run the illegal numbers game “jueteng” in three regions, including Metro Manila, according to a ranking government official.

They’ve been dropping the name of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office chair to coax police chiefs into letting them operate in exchange for payoffs, the source said. A different kind of “tsunami” is threatening to ravage Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

Several retired senior police officers, including one known as “Tsunami,” have allegedly formed a group to run the illegal numbers racket “jueteng” in the metropolis, Calabarzon and Central Luzon, according to a ranking government official.

The source, a leading member of a task force formed by President Duterte to expunge all forms of illegal gambling, said the former police officials were dropping the name of Jose Jorge Corpuz, chair of of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), in persuading local police chiefs into letting them operate their illicit business in exchange for monthly payoffs.

Citing information from the police, the source said the

group could earn as much as P10 million daily from jueteng bets collected in Metro Manila and in the provinces of Laguna, Cavite, Quezon, Batangas, Rizal, Bulacan, Pampanga and Nueva Ecija.

“The retired police officers are claiming to have the blessing of Corpuz, which I personally doubt because he knows that jueteng is illegal and President Duterte abhors all illegal gambling activities,” said the source, who asked not to be named for security reasons.

“This group has also been talking to corrupt local government officials who had gotten used to receiving jueteng payola during the previous administrations,” he told the Inquirer.

TEL SAMONTE / FACEBOOK

Probe ongoing

The government official declined to identify the retired police official known as Tsunami pending the result of the investigation being conducted by authorities.

“This Tsunami and other members of the group are apparently trying to use their influence as former police officials for their jueteng activities,” he said.

A member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1982, Corpuz has vowed to stamp out jueteng, two-ball, “masiao” and other similar underground numbers rackets with the ex-

pansion of the state-sanctioned Small Town Lottery (STL).

In STL and jueteng, bettors choose two-number combinations—from 1 to 37 for jueteng and from 1 to 40 for STL. Unlike the PCSO-run lotto, where draws are televised nationwide, STL draws are done locally.

Front for jueteng

Because the two games have similar mechanics, STL has been used as a front for their racket by jueteng operators.

Mr. Duterte, who won the May 2016 balloting on a single platform of curbing crime, has www.canadianinquirer.net

designated Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II to head a multiagency task force to clean up the country of illicit gambling as part of his administration’s anticrime campaign.

Corpuz on Sunday said he was just doing his job promoting STL as he shrugged off information that his name was being used by a group of retired police officers to operate jueteng.

“That’s wrong,” Corpuz told the Inquirer whensought for comment. “Am I promoting jueteng? I’m promoting STL, the only legal numbers game in the country.”

“I don’t know why they’re using my name. Identify them, so I can act on it. There are a lot of retired generals,” said Corpuz, a former police official himself.

Corpuz said it was the job of the police to investigate illegal gambling activities.

“Mine is to generate revenue through legal numbers game and this revenue will be used for charity programs of the government,” he said.

Asked if he has nothing to do with jueteng, Corpuz said, “Is PCSO promoting jueteng?

The President’s instruction to me is to stop illegal gambling.

Jueteng is illegal. And my job is to stop jueteng, stop illegal gambling, stop corruption.

That’s my job. That’s what I’m doing.”

Oscar Albayalde, National Capital Region Police Office director, said he would ask intelligence operatives to verify the report about jueteng activities in Metro Manila.

He said no such information had reached his office.

“As far as (Metro Manila) is concerned, we have not monitored (any group talking to local police chiefs),” Albayalde said.

The source said the group of retired senior police officers had tapped the services of Totoy Haruta, a well-known gambling operator in Laguna province, to run their illegal operation using STL as front. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

11

Tough road to redemption Bothered by his conscience, confessed hit man Edgar Matobato decided to leave his life to God and tell all in a Senate hearing. Along the way, he found signs of divine assurance: an image of the Virgin Mary in a trash can and a swarm of fireflies glowing

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer IN A secret place where the silence is broken only by the chirping of birds, the crowing of roosters and the gentle rush of a nearby stream, confessed assassin Edgar Matobato tries to make peace with his dark past and with God. The quiet is deceptive, says the former hit man who finds himself tormented by images of people he had killed as a member of the so-called Davao Death Squad (DDS).

“There are times I cannot sleep for three straight days,” he says, speaking in Filipino with a heavy Visayan accent.

“I think about the people we killed. When I close my eyes, I see them pleading for their lives.” He had contemplated suicide during his darkest moments, he adds.

“It’s hard when you carry a heavy burden. But maybe God is telling me to go back to him and I should stand by it,” he says.

Matobato publicly testified against President Duterte in a Senate hearing last year, claiming that the then Davao City mayor founded the DDS in 1988, initially as a small team of seven called “Lambada Boys,” to kill petty criminals on his order.

The hired gun has since been hiding for his life, sheltered by religious orders which also give him regular spiritual guidance.

In his safehouse, Matobato meditates and listens to Bible stories regularly and keeps himself fit and busy with cleaning chores and by tending a vegetable garden close by.

He was among the first to be

recruited into the DDS, says Matobato, adding that he had killed at least 50 people, usually with a gun. He admits that he stayed on with the group because he liked the power that went with being associated with the then Davao mayor, a rare opportunity for an illiterate man like him.

“The mayor picked me even if I were a nobody. It made me happy and proud,” he says.

“Para akong galanteng tao.

Maski walang akong grado, ang daming rumirespeto sa akin dahil andun ako kay Mayor Duterte (I felt respectable). In Davao, when you’re with the mayor, walang gagalaw sa iyo (you’re untouchable). No one can reprimand you for carrying a gun. Wala, ganyan kami kagalante sa Davao City. I thought life would get better, but I ended up being used to kill people.”

shoes wrapped in plastic to avoid soiling them during his trek.

He would don his uniform only when he was near the town proper. His teachers also allowed him to leave school an hour earlier than his classmates, at 3 p.m. so he could be home before sunset.

After his father’s death, Matobato became the family breadwinner, doing all sorts of jobs to be able to send his brother and sister to school and provide food for the household.

When he turned 23, he became a member of the CHDF and was later recruited by the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (Cafgu).

“Because I had a good record as a member of Cafgu, I was picked by Mayor Duterte to be part of his group,” he says.

Matobato’s first kill was a

PNA

orders. “In Davao City, you cannot kill without clearance, or you’ll end up in jail,” he says.

Troubled conscience

By his account, it was in September 2013 when he decided to bolt from the DDS. He had been carrying a troubled conscience for far too long and wanted to live his remaining years doing a dignified job.

While the first Breadwinner nine months of As a young his “new life” boy, Matobato were a breeze — dreamed of beIt’s hard when you carry a heavy he was earning a coming a soldier. burden. But maybe God is telling me modest income But the dream to go back to him and I should stand as a security was crushed by it. escort to some when his father, businessmen in then a member the city— Matoof the Civilian bato eventually Home Defense Force (CHDF)— suspected snatcher. He re- realized that the path to cona paramilitary force active members getting drunk after version was a long and tough during the Marcos years—was his first assignment that night. ride that also meant being on beheaded in front of him by “I couldn’t sleep. It was some- the run. members of the New People’s thing new to me. Syempre, naOn June 19, 2014, he was arArmy in 1977. kapatay ka ng tao (You’ve killed rested for the death of businessFollowing his father’s un- someone).” he says. man Richard King. Matobato timely death, Matobato had to He adds: “Nakikita ko yung claims to have been tortured by stop schooling. He was then a mga kasamahan ko, mga kaba- the Davao City police for a week Grade 1 student who attended baihan ang pinapatay. Andoon because he had refused to take class only once a week because ako pero nakokonsyensya din sole responsibility for King’s of the 14-kilometer trek to and ako. (I saw the others killing murder. from school. women. I was there but my conThe physical abuse impaired He recalls leaving home at science started bothering me).” his right ear and damaged a 5 a,m. so he could be in school To assuage his guilt, he told vein in his buttocks, he says. (In by 7, carrying his uniform and himself he was only following September 2016, the Depart-

www.canadianinquirer.net

ment of Justice cleared Senior Supt. Vicente Danao Jr. and SPO 1 Reynato Medina of violating the Anti-Torture Act). A cousin, a retired colonel, used his connections to get Matobato out of detention. He was advised to leave Davao City if he wanted to live. Two days later, he and his common-law wife did, leaving behind his five children from a previous marriage.

From Davao to Cebu, the couple went to Samar and stayed with a relative. It was here where they wrote then justice secretary, now senator, Leila de Lima and asked for help. When nothing much came out of that, they took a bus to Manila to try their luck with broadcaster Ted Failon. Discouraged by the long queue at the TV network, they took the next bus back to Samar. On Aug. 21, 2014, Matobato decided to surrender to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Eastern Visayas, where he told CHR officials everything he knew about the DDS. He was advised to enter the Department of Justice’s witness protection program (WPP) for his safety. “When I decided to come out and expose whatwe did in Davao City, that was when I entrusted my life ❱❱ PAGE 13 Tough road

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Philippine News

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Immigration chief cancels all approved leaves of employees

BY JEANNETTE I. ANDRADE, LEILA B. SALAVERRIA AND TINA G. SANTOS Philippine Daily Inquirer IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONER Jaime Morente on Wednesday threatened to declare absent without official leave (Awol) Bureau of Immigration employees who would not report back to work after he ordered the cancellation of all approved leaves for this month.

Morente ordered the leaves canceled to ease immigration staff shortages at international airports that had been caused by mass resignations and leaves in the bureau.

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has blamed the staff exodus on President Duterte’s order stopping the immigration bureau from using the express lane fund to pay its employees for overtime work.

Travel season

Thirty-two immigration officers have resigned since Feb. 17 and 50 more have filed for leaves of up to six months to look for new jobs. More than 3,000 employees of the bureau have gone on leave since Feb. 17.

Heavy passenger traffic is expected at international airports this month with the start of the summer travel season.

Traffic is expected to peak during Holy Week and to deal with the heavy volume of travelers, Morente has ordered 170 employees from different offices of the bureau to serve on the immigration counters at the airports during the holidays.

Apparently that is not enough, so Morente has ordered the cancellation of all leaves. “Pending and would-be filed leave applications will also

be disapproved,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Those who filed for leaves during the month have to report back to work since their leaves have already been canceled,” Antonette Mangrobang, spokesperson for the immigration bureau, added.

Those who will defy the order will be declared Awol and may be subject to administrative liability, she said.

Augmentation force

The augmentation force has been deployed to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) and the airports at Clark, Davao province, Kalibo and Mactan, Long lines of passengers at the check in counters at NAIA Terminal 1. with 150 assigned to Naia and 20 to the four provincial gate- reau’s employees. odus of personnel, our beloved ways.

The employees, too, have ap- bureau is in the brink of colMorente said the deployment pealed to Mr. Duterte to allow lapse,” they said. was only temporary, as the em- the bureau to use the express They said the express lane ployees would be recalled to lane fund again to pay for over- fund, generated from fees paid their own offices after Lent. time work, warning that the by travelers for fast processing The reassignments would slow agency was on the “brink of col- of documents and has been in down a bit work at the affected lapse” because of the exodus of place for 30 years, had been the offices, he said. staff. “ultimate” source of compensa“I appeal to our rank-and-file “Our families will suffer tre- tion for the bureau’s employees. to remain patient and focused mendously. We will have very Immigration officers are paid on their responP16,000 a month, sibilities, as evbut bring home erything is being up to P48,000 done to address with their overtheir financial Thirty-two immigration officers have time work paid plight that reresigned since Feb. 17 and 50 more from the fund. sulted from the have filed for leaves of up to six The Departloss of their months to look for new jobs. More ment of Budget overtime pay,” than 3,000 employees of the bureau and Managehe said. have gone on leave since Feb. 17. ment (DBM) has allowed the Appeal to immigration buDuterte reau to add 887 Morente and positions so that Aguirre have appealed to Presi- limited resources to pay for our current employees do not need dent Duterte to reconsider his monthly bills and rents. We will to work overtime. decision axing the overtime face extreme difficulties in proBut the Immigration Officers pay. viding for the basic needs of our Association of the Philippines They have proposed that the loved ones. Our children may said hiring new staff would not overtime pay be temporarily re- not finish their education,” the solve the problem at the airstored until Congress can enact employees said on Wednesday ports. a new immigration law that will in an open letter to Mr. Duterte.

“They would be of the same upgrade the salaries of the bu“With massive layoff and ex- low salary grade like us, so no-

www.canadianinquirer.net

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

body will take the job,” said ER German Robin, president of the association.

‘New formula’

Speaking to reporters at Clark, Pampanga province, on Wednesday, Aguirre said he planned to meet with Morente and Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno on Thursday to find a new solution to the immigration employees’ problem.

Aguirre said Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. proposed a possible solution to the problem during Monday’s Cabinet meeting—putting on the fast track the enactment of the proposed new immigration law.

But Diokno, he said, appeared to be unreceptive to the idea during the Cabinet meeting.

Aguirre said he hoped his next meeting with Diokno would be more fruitful, with a “new formula” on the table.

He declined to provide details, however, saying it would be premature. ■

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

Philippine News

Sen. Pangilinan: Drop in VP Robredo’s ratings ‘expected’

PHL, US ink pact vs child trafficking

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

MANILA — Acting Liberal Party (LP) president, Sen. Francis Pangilinan, said Tuesday the drop in the net satisfaction rating of Vice President Leni Robredo is “expected”, noting that ratings increase and decrease through time.

“It is expected that there will be drops, as well as increases in her satisfaction ratings,” Pangilinan said, noting that even President Rodrigo Duterte suffered a seven-point drop.

“The 11-point drop means that a segment of the population may not be in agreement with a number of positions she has taken, but that is expected as well,” he added.

Results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released Tuesday showed that Robredo’s ratings dropped by 11 points.

The survey was conducted last March 25 to 28 among 1,200 respondents.

Robredo obtained a net satisfaction rating of 26 percent, 11 percent lower than the 37 percent she received last December.

MANILA — The Philippine government and the United States Embassy on Tuesday signed an agreement to strengthen the campaign against child trafficking in the country.

“The evil of human trafficking should be fought on all fronts.

We should channel our collective efforts towards eradicating it. Anything that debases or dehumanizes the dignity of a person is an abomination that must end. Slavery and exploitation has no place in any society. Any act that which enslaves or exploits our children magnifies the evil a hundredfold,” Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II, who also sits as the Chairperson of the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) said.

Aguirre represented the Philippine government while the US Embassy represented by US Chargé d’Affaires Michael Klecheski.

“Protection, prevention, prosecution and punishment. Let us not leave no stone unturned in our avowed purpose to protect our children. Let us send a message, a strong one at that. Hurt our children, and we will come after you. And you will not like it,” the DOJ Chief noted.

Through the agreement, both the aforementioned governments acknowledge the increasing reports of Filipino children being victims of online sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, and other forms of child labor trafficking. These Filipino children are subjected to lasting psychological, physical ad developmental consequences that hinder their growth and development.

To protect the future generation of Filipinos from exploitation by organized criminal groups, the Philippines and the United States took it as a responsibility to device a concerted and well-coordinated response against child labor trafficking.

As stated earlier, the CPC Partnership is a 4-year joint undertaking between the Philippine and American governments. To suppress online sexual exploitation of children (OSEC) and child labor traffick-

KIKO PANGILINAN / FACEBOOK

The survey was done after Robredo sent a video message to the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs where she criticized the conduct of the administration’s campaign against hard drug trafficking.

Robredo’s video message also prompted House of Representatives Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez to file an impeachment case against her.

Meanwhile, the “Ulat ng Bay-

an” survey released by Pulse Asia Research Inc., showed that President Duterte’s trust rating dropped 7 points, from 83 percent last December to 76 percent in March.

President Duterte’s performance rating also dropped 5 points nationally, from 83 percent in December 2016 to 78 percent in March. The survey was conducted from March 15 to 20. ■

But it was a few days before his 56th birthday in June 2015 that he got some sort of divine assurance, says Matobato. He found a small image of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a garbage can while disposing of trash from his room.

A strange sense of joy overcame him when he retrieved the image. “I felt it would provide me the guidance I needed,” he recalls. He now carries the image wherever he goes, securing it on a bed of cotton inside a small case that used to hold his partner’s manicure set.

When it became clear that Mr. Duterte was going to win the presidential elections last year, Matobato decided to drop out of the WPP program and seek solace in the Church. “I realized that in the end, it’s the Church that will give me comfort, no matter how bad I am,” he says.

Matobato’s common-law wife sees his journey as part of God’s divine plan for his renewal. She recalls a swarm of fireflies suddenly glowing over their heads on a dark night just before he was to appear at the Senate last year.

“We had been staying at that safehouse for a month and had never seen one firefly. But on that particular night, they were flying above us. It was like a sign of enlightenment,” she says.

With the recent Senate testimony of his “superior,” SPO3 Arturo Lascañas, confirming his own disclosures, and news that at least four more members of the dreaded DDS were coming out, Matobato believes that they too have been touched

by God. “It’s not impossible for people like us to seek renewal and to change for the better,” he says. ■

Tough road... to God. I was ready to die but not before the people learned the truth,” he says. ❰❰ 11

Fireflies

A Catholic, Matobato says he stopped going to church when he joined the DDS. “I thought, ‘What’s the use of going when you’d be ordered to kill later?’”

But his two-year stay in the WPPhelped rekindle his relationship with God. There, he had his first confession after a long time and started hearing Mass again.

Despite being transferred from one safehouse to another, he and the others in the WPP program were shuttled to a church nearby every Sunday to hear Mass and attend a retreat.

“I started to look forward to Sundays,” he says, adding that he also befriended priests along the way.

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13

ing (CLT), both countries have separate but shared responsibility as stipulated in the partnership. Philippines’ Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT) and US Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (TIP) will assume leadership roles and responsibilities.

The CPC is primed to accomplish three objectives.

Firstly, it seeks to increase the number of victims-centered investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of OSEC and CLT cases, secondly, it seeks to strengthen government’s and civil society’s capacities to identify and provide comprehensive services for victims and thirdly, it seeks to strengthen existing community-based mechanisms for identifying and protecting child victims of OSEC and CLT. For his part, Klecheski said that State Department’s trafficking office to provide up to USD3.5 million (PHP175-million) in US foreign assistance to nongovernmental and/or international organizations to support the implementation of the CPC partnership.

From the said fund, USD3 million will be allocated to support capacity-building related to improving Philippines’ response to OSEC while the remaining USD500,000 will be used to support activities related to Philippines’ response to CLT. On the other hand, the IACAT will provide PHP40 million (PHP25 million) for fund that will be allocated to activities addressing CLT and (PHP15 million) and also will be allocated to activities addressing OSEC. Both enhanced strategies against OSEC and CLT will be piloted in two regions, namely: the National Capital Region (NCR) and Central Visayas (Region 7).

Other Philippine government agencies involved in the said contract are the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Immigration (BI), Philippine National Police (PNP), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). ■

14

Philippine News

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

DDS hit man flees Fearing killers were coming after him, confessed Davao Death Squad (DDS) assassin Arturo Lascañas quietly left the country on Saturday night to seek safe haven abroad

BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer

The number of people affected by the April 8 magnitude 5.7 earthquake that struck Batangas has now climbed close to 22,000, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council.

KAMPFGRUPPE / CC BY-SA 3.0

Batangas aftershocks easing but continuing swarm still possible

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency MANILA — The seismic swarm or series of small to moderate earthquakes rocking Batangas province may persist throughout this Holy Week and beyond.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has not discounted yet such possibility, noting that Batangas may still experience in forthcoming days earthquakes that are actually aftershocks of the magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck Mabini municipality there last week.

“Some of those aftershocks may even be felt but people must remain calm,” said Phivolcs science research analyst Bhenz Rodriguez.

He urged owners concerned to have their structures checked if they sustained damages from the earthquake.

“A weak aftershock may either further damage such structures or even cause these to collapse,” he noted.

Rodriguez said latest data indicated some decreasing frequency of aftershocks from the Mabini earthquake.

“Aftershocks from that earthquake may still occur in forthcoming days, however,” he said.

He noted although aftershocks’ frequency decreases over time, it’s difficult to say when the swarm in Batangas will end.

According to experts, aftershocks are earthquakes resulting from a main shock

or earthquake that’s larger in magnitude than these seismic events.

Rodriguez said aftershocks of last week’s magnitude 6.0 earthquake in Batangas were part of the seismic swarm plaguing this province.

The magnitude 5.5 earthquake in Batangas’ Tingloy municipality last Tuesday (April 4) and its aftershocks were also part of such swarm, he noted.

From being a main shock, Phivolcs reclassified the Tingloy earthquake as a foreshock due to occurrence of the magnitude 6.0 earthquake in nearby Mabini last Saturday (April 8).

Phivolcs also reclassified the Tingloy earthquake’s aftershocks as foreshocks since these occurred before the Mabini earthquake struck, said the agency’s science research analyst Tom Simborio.

Foreshocks are earthquakes that precede larger magnitude main shocks or earthquakes in the same location, noted experts.

Citing latest available data as of 8 a.m., April 11, Phivolcs data management specialist Jay Gallardo said 1,353 aftershocks of the Mabini earthquake already occurred.

Fifteen of such aftershocks were felt, he noted.

He noted the Mabini earthquake also had some 1,000 foreshocks.

“Those foreshocks and aftershocks comprise the swarm happening in Batangas at present,” said Simborio. ■

RETIRED POLICE officer Arturo Lascañas, the confessed leader of the socalled Davao Death Squad (DDS) who implicated President Duterte in extrajudicial killings during his stint as Davao City mayor, slipped out of the Philippines on Saturday night.

“I have received information that a lawsuit will be filed against me, and some people are looking for me,” Lascañas told the Inquirer.

He decided it was better to leave the country—“for the time being.”

For security, he asked the Inquirer not to disclose his destination, although he knew it would be easy for the government to trace him because he filled out his immigration form properly.

Just telling the truth

Was he running away from Mr. Duterte?

“I’m not confronting him. I am just telling the truth, the whole truth about the killings in Davao, [and about] my involvement, because I want to have a clean conscience,” Lascañas replied.

His world suddenly shrank in February when he retracted a testimony he gave to a Senate inquiry into extrajudicial killings in the President’s war on drugs last year that the Davao Death Squad and the killings it carried out allegedly on orders from Mayor Duterte were all lies.

Speaking at a news conference in the Senate on Feb. 20, Lascañas confirmed the existence of the DDS, disclosed the killings ordered by Mr. Duterte, and admitted to taking part in many of them, including agreeing to the murder of his two brothers.

His confession corroborated the Senate testimony last year of another confessed DDS hit man, Edgar Matobato, who claimed that Mr. Duterte was the founder and financier of the squad and the brains behind the killings of suspected criminals in the city.

Matobato also admitted to taking part in many of the killwww.canadianinquirer.net

ings and claimed to have witnessed Mr. Duterte shoot dead a Department of Justice employee with an Uzi submachine gun.

Both Matobato and Lascañas said they saw signatures of the Davao killings in the extrajudicial killings in Mr. Duterte’s war on drugs, but the President’s allies in the Senate said they found no evidence of extrajudicial killings in the thousands of deaths in the hands of police and unknown assailants in the antinarcotics crackdown.

Lascañas admitted to lying when he first testified to the Senate inquiry into the extrajudicial killings, saying he did so out of fear for his family’s safety.

Mr. Duterte’s allies have threatened to bring perjury charges against Lascañas, with Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II saying he is gathering evidence, including a copy of Lascañas’ affidavit submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman, to back up a case against the former police officer.

Lascañas came forward with help from the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) and with support from opposition Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. He had since been provided safe haven by a number of supporters, some of whom helped him flee the country on Saturday.

Lascañas had said he was ready to testify against Mr. Duterte in the International Criminal Court, which warned administration officials last year that they could be called to account for possible crimes against humanity.

Malacañang has denied the allegations of Lascañas, saying these are part of a plan to “destroy the President and topple his administration.”

For a while on Saturday, Lascañas thought he would not be able to get out.

He waited for around 15 minutes at the airport immigration counter before his passport was stamped.

“They didn’t talk to me. They just told me to take a seat. They didn’t tell me why,” Lascañas said, referring to the immigration officers.

One of them told the Inquirer

that they had no reason to stop Lascañas from leaving.

But they said they informed the Bureau of Immigration headquarters that an Arturo Lascañas was at one of the immigration counters at the airport.

“The immigration staff were actually polite and even apologetic,” Lascañas said, adding the immigration officer at the counter took note of his full itinerary.

Through it all, however, he said he was confident that he should be allowed to leave because there was no hold-departure order for him. He said he was not on the immigration watch list.

This Inquirer reporter took the same flight as Lascañas’.

‘I love our country’

On Sunday morning, at a rented place, which for now he would call home, Lascañas looked well rested and relaxed.

With his companions and this Inquirer reporter, Lascañas went out to walk around his new neighborhood and to have brunch.

This was the first time in two months that he was able to walk some distance, and without tight security, he said.

Lascañas and his companions navigated their way through the neighborhood gayly, apparently exhilarated by the absence of fear.

This was Lascañas’ first time to travel out of the Philippines, and he said he had mixed feelings about it.

“Of course, I’m happy that I have been able to get out. But I’m also sad because this is my first time to leave. I love our country,” he said.

Then the man who admitted to killing hundreds of people allegedly on Mr. Duterte’s orders reached for a handkerchief and wiped away the tears that rolled down his cheeks.

He knew it would take a long time before he could return to the Philippines.

“I am sure, I will either be jailed or killed. It’s just one of the two possibilities. But for me, I know God has a plan and that would be my destiny for telling the truth. I have accepted that,” Lascañas said. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

15

AT LARGE

Doing what we do

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer I suppose I should be scared — along with all the other Inquirer employees and correspondents — now that the President of the country, no less, has directly targeted this newspaper.

President Duterte has accused the Inquirer and broadcast giant ABS-CBN of being “unfair” in their coverage. In an expletive-laden rant before a group of councilors, the President accused these two media outlets of being “really vicious and virulent” in the way they or their reporters cover his activities and interpret his statements. He followed that up by accusing this newspaper’s owners of failing to pay the proper taxes on a property in Makati, while dragging in the name of a former official— whom he mistakenly identified as a son-in-law of the owners

of the Inquirer, and whom he accused of receiving excessive allowances during his final year in office.

This isn’t the first time the Inquirer has come under fire from the most powerful people in the land. Indeed, I’ve often said that to its credit, this newspaper has been an “equal opportunity”—shall we say— “oppressor” of public officials.

Every administration, starting with Cory Aquino all the way to her son PNoy, and now, as he so strongly complained, Mr. Duterte himself, has griped about the way it has been treated by the Inquirer.

Former president Fidel V. Ramos once quipped that often, when reading newspapers, he “wanted to commit suicide,” but there were other times when he was “tempted to commit homicide.” Former president and now Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada didn’t really try to kill anyone in this paper, but he

and his friends did try with all their might to “kill” this newspaper by leading an advertising boycott designed to bring the Inquirer to its knees.

True, the boycott did hurt a lot, but with fortitude and steely determination, and the help of friends and supporters, the Inquirer owners and board stuck to their guns.

Then there is also the faith we have managed to build among our community of readers. I remember spotting a letter on our company notice board with a P100 bill stuck to it. It was from a reader who wanted to do his bit to keep the paper alive with his humble contribution.

I’ve always believed that with goodwill like this, a newspaper that believes that “the truth will set you free” will overcome all odds.

I’d like to tell Mr. Duterte that it’s nothing personal, even if he seems to take personally the way the Inquirer delivers news

concerning his governance and interprets his actions and statements.

The media play an important role in a democracy. We are not just a channel of communication, delivering the news. We also interpret the news, and in these Op-Ed pages, we study and comment on the news, all in an effort to provide our readers and audience the information and formation they need to become involved and concerned citizens. Informed and aware individuals become better voters and wiser members of the national and international community.

In all this, credibility is crucial. And I’ve always maintained that a media outlet or practitioner—even in this unregulated age of bloggers, social media denizens, tweeters and rumor mongers—whose credibility falls into question will sooner or later lose whatever following they’ve managed to

attract through controversy and crudity.

Unfavorable and perhaps even critical coverage may rankle and enrage, but learning to live with it is precisely part of statecraft. Politics is not just making friends and making nice. It also entails accepting the good with the bad, and prevailing over the daily testing to which one is subjected. The official who feels himself or herself under siege should seek to prove critics wrong not by closing down their media outlets or looking into their tax returns, but by governing better, making better policies, and overcoming one’s petty peeves to achieve a higher goal.

I suppose I should be scared.

And maybe I am. But my calling as a journalist—and the Inquirer family’s commitment to this duty—compels us to continue doing what we do, even if someone doesn’t like it. ■

LOOKING BACK

The stolen ‘Noli,’ ‘Fili’ and ‘Ultimo Adios’

By Ambeth R. Ocampo Philippine Daily Inquirer It is not well known that the original manuscripts of Jose Rizal’s “Noli Me Tangere,” “El Filibusterismo,” and “Ultimo Adios” were stolen from the National Library in December 1961 and held for ransom. Or that all three priceless relics were recovered by then Education Secretary Alejandro R. Roces, who to his dying day would neither confirm nor deny whether ransom was paid, whether wholly or partly, for the safe return of these manuscripts that have since been kept in a presumably fireproof vault in the National Library.

Here is the path of ownership of each from the time it left Rizal’s hand: The “Noli” was acquired from Soledad Rizal in 1911 for P25,000; the “Fili” was acquired from the heirs of Valentin Venture in 1925 for P10,000; and the “Ultimo Adi-

os” was acquired from Hong Kong, presumably from Josephine Bracken, for US$500. At the time of the theft, the entire Rizal collection was insured for P2 million, and since the three manuscripts were only part of the collection, one wonders how much insurance was receivable after evaluation.

The story of how these survived the Battle for Manila in 1945 has three versions. One source says the prewar National Library had 70,000 items in 19 steel vaults that were left in the old Legislative Building (today the National Museum). Another source claims the Rizal manuscripts were separated from the rest of the Library collection and deposited in January 1945 in one of the Manila City Hall vaults, which was discovered at the close of the war to have been forcibly opened using an acetylene torch and emptied of its contents. Yet another source claims the Rizal manuscripts

survived because the box that contained these was forgotten or intentionally left behind by a janitor who ran to safety. The box and its contents were recovered intact after the war.

These manuscripts evaded capture or destruction by the repressive Spanish colonial or Church authorities, and survived the Philippine Revolution, the Philippine-American War and the Battle for Manila in 1945—only to disappear from a National Library display case during the 100th anniversary of Rizal’s birth in 1961.

The only clue was a physician’s rubber glove (right hand), found by investigators near the open window that the thief used for his or her escape. The glass case containing the manuscripts was forced open, and yet one wonders why the thief didn’t cart off the rest of the equally valuable items on display. “Ultimo Adios” is so small it can be folded and slipped into

www.canadianinquirer.net

a pocket, but the “Noli” and “Fili” are oversized and rather heavy. It must have taken some effort to carry these out of the building without being seen.

After grilling the night guard, the police pronounced the theft an “inside job” and proposed three angles or motives for the crime: that the culprit was hired by an avid Rizalist and collector; that the culprit was “psycotic” (sic) and a fanatic Rizalist who was afflicted by an intense desire for the priceless articles; and that the culprit was a “prankster out to embarrass the authorities.”

Another lead followed by the police was a possible connection between the National Library theft and the break-in at the Santa Mesa home of the historian Gregorio Zaide, who had just returned from a study trip on Rizal’s travels abroad, including new research on the hero’s stay in Japan.

After a preliminary police

inquiry, the National Bureau of Investigation stepped in.

But all were stumped because all but one set of fingerprints lifted from the display cases were identified as belonging to officials of the Jose Rizal National Centennial Commission and delegates to the then ongoing International Congress on Rizal.

More motives were added to the list. The culprit: was an insider familiar with the National Library; was deranged and wanted to become famous; stole the manuscripts for resale or ransom; wanted to outdo the thefts of famous paintings in Europe; was doing a publicity stunt to add zest to the closing of the International Congress on Rizal; worshipped Rizal as God and wanted a relic; and was bent on destroying all of Rizal’s original works.

Aside from the money angle, not all is clear in this 56-yearold story. ■

16

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Canada News Russia partly to blame for Syria attack, future can’t include Assad: Trudeau

BY LEE BERTHIAUME The Canadian Press COURSEULLES - SUR-MER, FRANCE — Bashar Assad’s days as president of Syria are numbered, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested Monday as more hostile talk from international powers continued to amplify the threat of a military escalation in the Middle East.

The way forward in Syria can’t include Assad, whose recent chemical attack against his own people were abetted by those countries — Russia and Iran — that have allowed him to remain in power, Trudeau told a news conference.

“There is no question that anyone who is guilty of the types of war crimes against innocents, against children, that Assad and his regime are needs to be held to account,” he said during a visit to Juno Beach to commemorate Canada’s Second World War dead.

“We need to move as quickly as possible towards peace and stability in Syria that does not involve Bashar al-Assad.”

Trudeau was, however, noncommittal when it came to the question of how to remove Assad from power, and whether Russia should be punished for supporting him. Canada remains open to imposing new sanctions against Russia in concert with its allies, he said, but Russia must also be part of the solution for bringing peace to Syria.

“Countries that have been supportive of the Assad regime

bear some of the responsibility for the chemical attacks on innocents,” he said.

“And those countries must also be part of the solution as we hold the Assad regime to account and as we move tangibly forward as an international community to ending this conflict in Syria.”

The U.S. fired 59 cruise missiles at a Syrian airfield last week in retaliation for the chemical attack, sparking tough talk and warnings from all sides.

On Monday, the tension was only mounting.

The degree of hostility intensified on multiple fronts between the U.S. and its allies, versus Assad and his backers Iran and Russia. The U.S. said it has evidence Russia’s military helped cover up the use of chemical weapons.

And the U.S. appeared to threaten to strike Assad again, expanding — or so it seemed — its possible justifications for future strikes.

Three times during Monday’s White House briefing, Trump spokesman Sean Spicer mentioned barrel bombs as another reason for launching attacks on Assad.

“I will tell you: ... if you gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent people, I think you will see a response from this president,” Spicer said.

Later, however, the administration was playing down the idea of barrel bombs as a red line.

“Nothing has changed in our posture,” the White House said in a statement.

That same day, the administration suggested Russia broke an international deal to gather Assad’s chemical weapons. In fact, an administration official was cited telling the Associated Press that it actually helped Syria cover up its use of the illegal weapon.

The AP reported that the official said a Russian-operated drone flew over a hospital in Syria as victims of the attack were rushing to get treatment; then, hours later, a Russian-made fighter jet bombed the hospital in what American officials believe was a coverup effort.

Meanwhile, Assad’s allies reportedly threatened retaliation if the U.S. strikes again.

That threat reportedly came Monday from a coalition of Assad military backers including Russia and Iran. Various news reports said that coalition released a statement with a warning: “From now on we will respond to anyone, including America if it attacks Syria and crosses the red lines.”

The statement reportedly said: “America knows very well our ability and capabilities to respond well to them.”

The U.S. is hinting that its true long-term purpose in striking the airfield was to send a political message — that longterm peace in Syria will require changes in government, and the countries backing Assad should stop keeping him in place.

Yet the U.S. has sent mixed messages about what it wants in the short term; it’s not even clear whether Washington intends to help oust Assad.

PMO PHOTO

The Trump administration says that ambiguity is intentional. One government official after another has suggested they would like to see Assad gone, but not elaborated on whether it’s an immediate U.S. priority.

Trump’s spokesman says that lack of clarity is no accident.

“He’s going to keep his cards close to the vest,” Spicer said of the president. “But make no mistake: he will act.”

Trudeau was in France for two days of overseas commemorations for Canadian soldiers killed in the two world wars, including the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and Canada’s role in D-Day on June 6, 1944.

“The men who fought in 1944 were carrying the legacy of those who risked their lives at Vimy Ridge in 1917,” Trudeau said after walking the beach with his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau and their son Xavier.

But there was no escaping the here and now, with the attack in Syria still fresh on everyone’s mind. And the irony wasn’t lost on Trudeau.

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The prime minister left no doubt that he considered Assad’s government responsible for last week’s chemical attack, which killed more than 80 people, including many children, in the Syrian province of Idlib.

Russia and Iran were also at least partly to blame, he added, because of their support for Assad’s murderous regime, which international observers believe has used chemical weapons dozens of times.

Asked whether he feared the world was on the verge of a new war, Trudeau said the international community needed to come together more now than ever and address its challenges together.

“The raging civil war in Syria, the violent conflicts around the world,” he said, “require an international community that pulls together, that holds each other to account and that strives everyday not to repeat the terrible mistakes of the past.” ■ With files from Alexander Panetta in Washington

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FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

17

B.C. election is underway after weeks of unofficial campaigning ends

BY DIRK MEISSNER The Canadian Press VICTORIA — British Columbia’s Liberal party began its bid for a fifth straight majority government on Tuesday as Christy Clark touted her government’s record on job creation and balanced budgets while warning the opposition parties would risk economic growth with higher taxes and deficits.

The campaign has been underway unofficially for weeks with the Liberals, NDP and Greens releasing platform details for an election that polls suggest will be a tight battle.

Clark has tried to make NDP Leader John Horgan’s economic judgment an issue, accusing the New Democrats of siding with fringe advocates over the mainstream interests that drive job creation.

The Liberal leader visited the lieutenant-governor to formally start the election and emerged to remind voters that British Columbia has had Canada’s fastest-growing economy.

“B.C. is just getting started,” she added. “We don’t want to throw this all away. The Opposition would replace our tax cuts with tax hikes. They would scrap projects that create thousands of jobs for working peo-

ple and they would push B.C. families to the brink.”

Horgan has attacked Clark on social policies, arguing too many people have been left behind by a Liberal government that is out-of-touch after 16 years in power as he promotes a daycare program that would cost $10 a day and a significant increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

The NDP is scheduled to release its platform on Thursday, but Horgan has said the party will create jobs by making public investments to attract more private-sector investment. He also opposes the expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline and BC Hydro’s Site C dam.

“Change starts today,” he said at a concert hall in downtown Vancouver where he countered Clark’s rosy economic outlook.

“It’s not working for everybody. It’s not working if it’s all part-time jobs and temporary jobs.”

Green Leader Andrew Weaver, the first member of his party to win a seat in a provincial legislature, is asking voters who are tired of the status quo to give his party a chance, promising a revamped economic plan that encourages growth in emerging business sectors while protecting the environment.

Clark continued her push to brand the New Democrats as job killers at her first official campaign stop at Elk Lake, just north of Victoria, where she stood on the dock flanked by members of Canada’s national rowing team and Saanich South Liberal candidate David Calder, a former Olympic silver medal winner.

“Let’s make sure we create jobs,” said Clark, who released the party’s platform on Monday. “You don’t create jobs by saying, ‘No,’ to everything.”

Clark was knocked off her message on the campaign’s first day when the sister of a man who took his own life after being fired by the government held a news conference to accuse the premier of cynically handling the issue.

British Columbia’s Office of the Ombudsperson has said eight health-care researchers should not have been fired in 2012 over allegations of potential privacy violations and found the workers did nothing wrong.

Clark said her apology to the family of Roderick MacIsaac was sincere and she is willing to personally apologize to his sister Linda Kayfish.

“If it would bring Ms. Kayfish some closure, absolutely,” she said.

CHRISTY CLARK / FACEBOOK

From the base of his single seat on Vancouver Island, Weaver is pushing for a breakthrough for his party by setting out a Green vision that offers free daycare for children up to the age of three, tougher greenhouse gas emission standards and more money for public education.

Weaver campaigned Tuesday in Vancouver’s Olympic Village on his party’s housing policy that he says aims to cool the overheated real estate market by, among other things, improving the supply of homes through capital spending to build about 4,000 new units a year.

Weaver said voters have produced surprises with the election of U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain’s decision to leave the European Union as he pushed for change of a different kind by supporting the alternatives offered by the Green party.

“Why do you need more than two NDP MLAs? They all vote the same,” Weaver said, adding that the Liberal platform is “so void of ideas, it’s staggering.”

At dissolution, the Liberals held 47 seats in the legislature, the NDP 35, and there were three Independents, which includes Weaver. There are two new ridings this election, bringing the total to 87 seats. ■

Four of five bodies recovered from mountains near Vancouver snow slide

BY LINDA GIVETASH The Canadian Press LIONS BAY, B.C. — Several hikers crossing an unstable ledge of snow in the mountains north of Vancouver fell 500 metres to their deaths, a search manager said on Sunday.

Martin Colwell, with Lions Bay Search and Rescue, said four bodies had been recovered and the search continued for a fifth person at the bottom of Mount Harvey. He said it was unlikely that person would be found alive.

“It’s a great tragedy,” he told

reporters at the search headquarters in Lions Bay, B.C. Search and rescue crews were alerted to the accident late Saturday afternoon, Colwell said.

A sixth hiker with the group had fallen behind and when he arrived at the summit, the other five had disappeared, Colwell said.

“The tracks were at the summit and there was an obvious sheer break in the snow over the north face,” he said.

He said it appears the group stepped out on the ledge, or cornice, of unsupported snow and it collapsed under them.

“It’s very dangerous, it’s very

deceptive,” he said, of the snow ledge.

“It creates a nice gentle curve to the downwind side and it looks like a nice gentle slope in fact to walk on, and tempting to walk on because there is no brush in the way. Unfortunately you can’t see the edge of the mountain face below it.”

RCMP said the surviving hiker met another person walking up the trail who then alerted police to the disappearance.

Searchers in a helicopter spotted debris from the group left behind in the long track down the mountainside, he said. www.canadianinquirer.net

Colwell said the victims were from B.C.’s Lower Mainland and were part of a regular hiking group.

Using the trails up to the top Mount Harvey isn’t dangerous, he said, but there some very steep cliffs near the summit and getting too close to those with the current winter conditions can be dangerous.

He said those in the group may not have known they were walking into trouble.

Colwell said he understood that few of the hikers had some winter hiking equipment with them such as shovels, but didn’t have full avalanche gear such as

beacons and probes.

He added anyone who hikes in the mountains during such winter conditions should be trained and prepared for an avalanche.

The surviving member of the group was clearly upset about the fate of his fellow hikers but provided valuable information to search teams, Colwell said.

Family members of the victims had gathered at the local library near the search headquarters to hear the news of their loved ones and grief coun❱❱ PAGE 18 Four of

Canada News

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Four of...

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

School boards say government directive

sellors were there to help.

A group of three loved ones could be seen talking to victims services workers outside the facility not long after crews confirmed four bodies were recovered. The three people, a woman and two men, appeared visibly distraught.

A reverend who was in an adjacent room in the building at the time the families were notified about the recovery said he could hear people scream and sob.

Colwell said, “It’s obviously been very difficult for them.”

He said the coroner still needed to officially identify the victims and an announcement wasn’t expected until at least Monday.

Dozens of search and rescue volunteers from Lions Bay to Chilliwack, 130 kilometres away, helped in the search ef❰❰ 17

fort on Sunday.

The snow conditions were hard for digging and Colwell said by midday that search crews including rescue dogs were tiring out and being relieved by a fresh group of volunteers.

Squamish RCMP Cpl. Sascha Banks says the end of the search wasn’t the outcome they were hoping for.

“Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the hikers and the search and rescue teams in Lions Bay who are still working tirelessly to find the fifth individual.”

No information about the identities of those killed will be released until all the family members have been notified.

Avalanche Canada has set the danger rating on the South Coast mountains at moderate at the treeline, but considerable in the alpine. ■

on how to meet budget cut needs clarity

BY JENNIFER GRAHAM The Canadian Press REGINA — Saskatchewan school boards say there’s confusion over how the government wants them to meet a 3.5 per cent budget cut in compensation to employees.

The boards received a letter last week from the deputy minister of education that says the cut can’t be achieved through staff reductions.

On Monday, Finance Minister Kevin Doherty said school boards could lay off employees as a last resort, but it would be an option.

“I’m hearing some things that are contradictory to what’s in this letter and we need clarity around those contradictions, because how can we meet a direc-

tive if the story keeps changing,” Shawn Davidson, president of the Saskatchewan School Boards Association, said Tuesday.

Saskatchewan school boards are also being told to freeze the compensation cuts for three more years.

The Saskatchewan government is trying to wrestle a $1.3-billion deficit down to $685 million in the year ahead.

Premier Brad Wall said in March that compensation costs for the entire public sector would be cut by 3.5 per cent.

Davidson said the letter suggests that the cut is on top of an average three per cent loss in operating funding for school boards this year.

“That appears to be how this letter is worded and we really

need clarification on that because that’s getting really deep.

That’s really, really significant.”

Boards have already been trying to find savings through things such as joint purchasing and joint transportation, Davidson said, but that won’t be enough to make up for the $55 million the province has cut overall.

Doherty suggested boards should negotiate with employees as to where money can be saved, even though some contracts are already done deals.

Davidson said schools boards do not intend to break existing contracts.

A provincewide agreement for more than 13,000 teachers expires at the end of August and negotiations for a new contract are to begin next month. ■

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

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

• April 9 • 10am Palm Sunday • Blessing of Palms • Liturgy of the Passion

• April 9 • 10am • Palm Sunday

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

• 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

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU!

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

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

Canada News

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

19

Israeli transgender officer Granting agency stresses education, focuses on ‘internal tolerance to Canadian Forces systems’ after Canada 2020 sponsorship

BY MIKE BLANCHFIELD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Shachar Erez recalls the day five years ago when, as an 18-year-old female Israeli soldier, the time had come to tell his commanding officer something profound about himself — that he believed he was a man.

He had already broken the news to his family, including his two younger brothers, and it had come as no surprise. When he was two, he asked his parents to cut his hair; at five, his dresses and skirts were tossed out.

But what would his army commander think? She was only 19, herself. “She only asked me one thing: how can I help? It was amazing.”

The answer changed Erez’s life, and set him on a course to become an international ambassador of sorts for the Israel Defence Forces on LGBT rights after becoming its first and highest-ranking openly transgender officer.

It was in that role that he was in Ottawa recently to meet senior officials in the Canadian Forces, who are still in the throes of wrestling with their own policy on transgender issues in the military.

The Forces long-awaited policy on transgender personnel was expected at the end of last year, but it now appears tied up in the broader policy review of the military, which is also delayed.

It will build on transgender guidelines adopted in 2012. The Forces are hoping to give commanding officers a checklist on variety of things, including how to deal with uniforms and bathrooms.

How to better educate personnel to lessen the likelihood of discrimination and abuse is also expected to be a feature of the new policy.

Erez said that’s a message he delivered during his recent meeting at National Defence: “How to create a better environment for trans people to serve and how to educate the units to

BY JOANNA SMITH The Canadian Press

CORPORAL JAX KENNEDY / U.S. ARMY EUROPE IMAGES / FLICKR

be inclusive and thoughtful and respectful.”

He came out of the meeting concluding that Canada has a very “progressed military, very aware of a lot of the situations and complexity and the capability of the trans soldier to have a successful service.”

He said he was good to hear “we are both dealing with the same questions and the right questions.”

But Canada still has a long way to go, to catch up with the IDF on the issue.

Erez is featured on the Israeli military’s website, accompanied by the remarks of a brigadier general in charge of LGBT policy.

“The main issue is that it’s really not an issue,” Brig.-Gen. Rachel Tevet-Weisel writes.

“Today in the army we don’t ask anyone about his or her sexual preferences. It’s not an issue in term of recruitment, it’s not an issue in terms of where they are going to serve, it’s not our business — it’s only their business.”

Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan is promising steps forward for the Canadian Forces, but he had few specifics when asked recently in Ottawa.

“When we look at the Canadian Armed Forces, we are extremely open and making sure that we allow all Canadians to have an opportunity to serve their country,” he said.

“A lot of great work has been done in the past. A lot of great work is ongoing right now and we look forward to talking

about some of the newer initiatives and what we’re going to be doing with our new defence policy.”

No one knows for sure how many transgender personnel are in the Forces but some estimates peg the number at 200.

Erez said he’s never experienced any sort of discrimination in the IDF. It paid for his sex-reassignment medical procedures, something that started happening in Canada after 2012.

He served as a commander of 70 personnel in the IDF’s Behaviour Analysis Unit after entering officer training, after he came out. It was rewarding work that focused on finding ways to make the IDF more efficient and that had him working with numerous professionals and academics.

He is now based at IDF headquarters in its planning branch.

In the summer, he expects to be promoted to the rank of captain. One day, he would like to go to university to study engineering.

In the meantime, he said he wants to be the best soldier he can be — a goal, he says has been enhanced by his own personal experience.

“Studies have shown is that diversity makes organizations stronger,” he said.

“Trans people, especially in a military that is professional . . . when they know they had to overcome obstacles, they are going to be the best soldier you could hope for.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

OTTAWA — A federal government agency that gave money to a think tank with close ties to the Liberals says the attention it received has made it think carefully about how it collaborates with outside organizations.

“It’s certainly helped us to focus on systems — internal systems — to make sure these kinds of partnerships are the right ones for us,” Christopher Walters, director of communications for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC), said in an interview last week.

The federal granting agency signed an agreement last year giving Canada 2020, a not-forprofit organization founded by long-time Liberal partisans, a total of $20,000, according to recently released documents.

Seventy-five per cent of that money went to sponsor an innovation conference Canada 2020 hosted at the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa from Nov. 2 to 4, 2016, featuring three Liberal cabinet ministers. The remaining $5,000 went towards a series of roundtables on open government.

Emails and other documents released to The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act raise questions about what the granting agency was hoping to get out of working with Canada 2020, which styles itself as an independent think tank developing progressive ideas and policies, but whose people are closely linked with the Liberals and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Conservative MP Blaine Calkins asked why federal tax dollars were going to an organization whose president, Tom Pitfield, has been friends with Trudeau since childhood and played a key role in the 2015 Liberal election campaign. He is also married to Anna Gainey, the Liberal party president.

“The prime minister’s friends

at Canada 2020 twisted themselves and their program into a pretzel to make sure they could get the taxpayer’s cash,” Calkins said Tuesday during question period in the House of Commons.

Science Minister Kirsty Duncan said the granting agency is allowed to issue contracts for less than $25,000.

“This fell below the dollar amount. SSHRC took an independent decision,” Duncan said.

Canada 2020 declined to answer questions for this story.

According to the emails, the agency, which funds social science and humanities research, and Canada 2020 had worked together on a number of occasions throughout last year.

Then, on Oct. 7, less than a month before the innovation conference was set to take place, someone from Canada 2020 emailed Ursula Gobel, associate vice-president at SSHRC, to ask if they would be interested in sponsoring the event.

Ten days later, Gobel asked her contact at Canada 2020, whose name has been redacted, for a copy of the program for the conference. She also attached a draft funding agreement. “(I) will need further details on the program before signing,” she wrote.

That agreement states both the agency and Canada 2020 “agree to collaborate on the development and holding” of the innovation conference.

But by this time, the agenda was mostly complete.

Canada 2020 emailed the draft agenda on Oct. 20, saying there were a few more tweaks expected before it would go live four days later.

“We can’t confirm our support until we see opportunities for a social sciences and humanities dimension in the program,” Gobel replied.

Another email suggests they arranged to speak by telephone ❱❱ PAGE 23 Granting agency

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World News

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Turkey: Autopsies show sarin gas used against Syrian town

BY BASSEM MROUE AND PHILIP ISSA The Associated Press BEIRUT — Turkey’s health minister said Tuesday that test results confirm sarin gas was used in an attack on a northern Syrian town earlier this month and the Russian military said the Syrian government is willing to let international experts examine its military base for signs of chemical weapons.

Col. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy of the Russian General Staff said in televised remarks that Russia will provide security for international inspectors seeking to examine Syrian bases, and that Damascus has agreed to allow the inspections. His comments came shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow will appeal to the United Nations to investigate the attack on Khan Sheikhoun.

The April 4 chemical weapons attack on the rebel-held town in Idlib province left nearly 90 people dead. The United States blamed President Bashar Assad’s government and launched nearly 60 cruise missiles on Friday at the Shayrat air base in the central province of Homs, where it claims the attack originated.

Moscow, which is a strong backer of the Syrian government, has dismissed suggestions that the Damascus could be behind the attack. The Syrian government also denied the

allegation, saying its air force bombed a rebel arsenal that had chemical weapons stored inside.

Putin told reporters on Tuesday that Russia would appeal to a U.N. agency in the Hague, urging it to launch an official probe. The Russian president also said Moscow has received intelligence about planned “provocations” using chemical weapons that would be used to pin the blame on the Syrian government.

The Russian statements came as U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrived in Moscow where he will meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday.

In Turkey, a main backer of the Syrian opposition, Health Minister Recep Akdag said test results conducted on victims of the Khan Sheikhoun attack confirm that sarin gas was used.

Akdag said that blood and urine samples taken from the victims confirmed that they were subjected to the nerve agent.

His comments were reported by the state-run Anadolu news agency.

Turkey last week conducted autopsies on three victims of the gas attack who were brought from Syria. Officials from the World Health Organization and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons participated in the autopsies.

In Damascus, a Syrian official said Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem will visit Russia on

People and children in Ghouta massacre, victims of chemical attack. ‫ ديعسلا دمحم‬/ YOUTUBE SCREENSHOT / CC 3.0

Thursday where he will meet officials in Moscow.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said Tuesday that there might be a threeway meeting later this week in Moscow between officials from Russia, Syria and Iran.

Syrian government forces battling insurgents in Daraa have dropped several barrel bombs on the southern city, opposition activists said Tuesday, a day after the White House suggested that the use of the crude explosive devices could bring a U.S. response.

Russia’s Defence Ministry meanwhile said two of its army officers were killed and a third seriously wounded in a mortar attack in Syria, without specifying when or where it took place.

Russia has been waging an air campaign in support of Syrian forces since 2015.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the fighting in Daraa erupted Monday when rebels attacked a government-held area in the city centre. It said 16 pro-government fighters, including an army colonel, have been killed.

Both the Observatory and Daraa-based activist Ahmad alMasalmeh said warplanes carried out raids on Daraa while helicopter gunships dropped at least 14 barrels loaded with explosives.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Monday that the use of barrel bombs, which government forces have repeatedly employed throughout the six-year-old conflict, might prompt a U.S. retaliation.

A Syrian official, meanwhile, said residents will begin evacuating two besieged areas in northwestern Syria on Wednesday, in the latest population

transfer arranged by the warring sides.

Hakim Baghdadi said authorities have prepared 100 buses to move 5,000 people out of the Shiite villages of Foua and Kfarya. Baghdadi, a member of the relief committee for the two villages, said they will be bused first to the nearby city of Aleppo, then on to other destinations.

The predominantly Shiite villages have remained loyal to the Syrian government while the rest of the surrounding Idlib Province has fallen under the rule of hard-line Sunni rebels.

The rebel commander in charge of two opposition-held towns in western Syria says evacuations will also begin from his districts tomorrow.

The commander, who goes by the name Abu Adnan alZabadani, said residents and fighters electing to leave will be bused out of Madaya and Zabadani on Wednesday, before the towns are returned to government control.

An arrangement between the government and rebels has linked the fate of the four besieged towns since 2015. The U.N. has decried the arrangement, saying it has served to obstruct the provision of badly needed assistance. ■ Associated Press writers Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow, Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey and Albert Aji in Damascus, Syria contributed to this report.

President Sisi declares 3-month state of emergency in Egypt PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY CAIRO — President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has declared a threemonth state of emergency in Egypt and ordered military special forces to protect vital infrastructure after two powerful church bombings by the Islamic State terror group killed at least 45 people and wounded more than 100 others.

Sisi announced the state of emergency nationwide for three months in a short televised address last night, following the blasts that targeted the minority Coptic Christians on

Palm Sunday, one of the holiest days of the Christian calendar.

Before that, Sisi had called a National Defence Council meeting in the afternoon. Chaired by the president and made up of the prime minister, the speaker of parliament, the defence minister and the commanders of Egyptian armed forces, this was the second such meeting in five months, local reports said.

He said that a higher council for fighting terrorism and extremism will also be established.

The Egyptian government in its its initial response has ordered military special forces to assist police in securing vital

state facilities across the country. The security forces have been put on alert in anticipation of more attacks.

The Islamic State group claimed the bombings that killed at least 45 people and injured nearly 120 at two churches in Tanta and Alexandria cities as worshippers celebrated the Palm Sunday.

The first blast took place in the Coptic church of Mar Girgis, also known as St George, in the Nile delta city of Tanta, about 120 kilometres from Cairo, and killed 27 people and injured 78, according to the Egyptian Health Ministry.

Hours later, a suicide bomber www.canadianinquirer.net

struck the Saint Mark’s Coptic Orthodox Cathedral in Alexandria’s Manshyia district.

Citing Health Minister Ahmed Emad, ON TV news channel reported at least 18 people, including police personnel, were killed and 41 injured in the suicide attack in Alexandria.

Al-Azhar, the world’s highest seat of Sunni Islam, called the attacks an “outrageous crime” against all Egyptians. “This terrorist attack is devoid of all the principles of humanity and civilisation,” it said in a statement.

Coptic Christians make up about 10 per cent of Egypt’s population of 85 million.

Egypt’s Christian minority has often been targeted by Islamist militants. In December, a suicide bombing claimed by an IS affiliate killed 29 people during Sunday mass in Cairo.

Egypt has seen a wave of attacks by militants since 2013 when the military toppled president Mohammed Morsi, an elected leader who hailed from the Muslim Brotherhood, and launched a crackdown against Islamists.

Palm Sunday falls on the Sunday before the Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in each of the four canonical Gospels. ■

21

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

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read daily news from Philippines, Canada & the World www.canadianinquirer.net The one and only daily Filipino-Canadian live news

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22

World News

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Executions in China said to Tillerson: US can outpace world despite decline consider dialogue after N Korea stops weapons testing

BY MATTHEW BROWN The Associated Press

BEIJING — China’s use of the death penalty remains shrouded in secrecy and still outpaces the rest of the world combined, even after the nation’s execution rate fell sharply over the past decade, human rights activists said Tuesday.

Amnesty International reported 1,032 state-sponsored executions worldwide in 2016, excluding China, where the true number is unknown because the government considers it a state secret. The group said it believes China executed thousands, but it didn’t offer a more precise estimate due to a lack of accurate information.

The human rights group Dui Hua estimates about 2,000 executions took place in China last year, down from a 6,500 a decade ago, said the group’s executive director, John Kamm.

The tally was based on research into lower-level court cases and contacts with government officials and Chinese and Western legal scholars, Kamm said.

Amnesty said its figure for worldwide executions excluding China represents a 37 per cent drop from 2015. The United States recorded 20 executions, its fewest in 25 years, in part because of court rulings and shortages of chemicals used in lethal injections.

Yet as other countries shift away from capital punishment, China increasingly is seen as an outlier, said Amnesty International East Asia Director Nicholas Bequelin.

Government officials did not immediately comment on Amnesty’s report. But China’s chief justice, Zhou Qiang, told the national legislature last month that over the past decade executions were limited to “an extremely small number of criminals for extremely serious offences.”

China has faced longstanding pressure from the international community to curb its use of the death penalty, which reached a frenzy in 1983 with 24,000 executions after provincial courts were given powers to mete out capital punishment, according to Dui Hua.

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

Falun Gong movement in Auckland, New Zealand protest against almost 40,000 transplants that have been carried out using body parts harvested from executed members since 2000.

CHAMELEONSEYE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

The nation also has faced criticism for harvesting organs from executed inmates, including for sale to patients from overseas. China banned the practice in 2015 but Bequelin said it’s impossible to know whether organ harvesting for profit has ceased because the legal system operates within a “black box” with little transparency.

“China is trying to have it both ways, both getting credit and allaying international pressure over the death penalty in the county, while maintain and enforcing an elaborate system of secrecy,” Bequelin said.

Oversight of death sentence cases was returned to China’s highest court, the Supreme People’s Court, in 2007. Since that time, the government has narrowed which crimes can bring capital punishment but still lists more than three dozen eligible offences, including treason, separatism, spying, arson, murder, rape, robbery and human trafficking.

Chinese legal scholar Hong Daode contended that 90 per cent of executions last year were for homicide cases.

“There has been a long tradition in China that the one that has taken people’s lives should pay with his own life,” said Hong, a professor of criminal law at China University of Political Science and Law. However, Susan Trevaskes of Australia’s Griffith University, concluded in a recent study that close to half of all death sentences were handed down for drug crimes.

Efforts to reform how such cases are handled by the courts have been frustrated by the government’s attitude that all drug crimes constitute a threat to society, according to Trevaskes, author of the 2012 book “The Death Penalty in Contemporary China.”

That’s despite the fact that many perpetrators are lowlevel “mules” — typically poor, rural residents hired by traffickers to transport their illicit contraband but who reap minimal profit from the work, Trevaskes said.

Whatever the breakdown, Dui Hua’s Kamm said the number of executions in China remains a national embarrassment.

“Pushing for the Chinese government to release the number is perhaps the most effective way to drive it down,” he said.

Hong and others faulted Amnesty for claiming in its Tuesday report that verdicts on only 85 executions between 2014 and 2016 showed up on a supreme court website, out of at least 931 that the human rights group tallied through public news reports.

Among the cases omitted were the executions of foreigners for drug crimes and people accused of terrorism in China’s in Xinjiang Uyghur autonomous region, the group said.

But Hong said the website was never intended to provide a comprehensive database of executions and likely only includes verdicts intended to influence society or guide future trials. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

ment of a nuclear programme in North Korea are simply not credible,” he said.

Tillerson expressed concern WASHINGTON — The United about the “significant progStates can start thinking about ress” he said the North made reopening talks with North Ko- in its missile development, rea, but the communist nation such as the “sophistication must first stop nuclear and mis- around their rocket launch prosile tests, South Korea’s Yonhap grammes, their sophistication news agency reported Secre- around the type of fueling that tary of State Rex Tillerson as they use.” saying.

“They’re working their way The remark contrasts with towards the test of an interconTillerson’s previous asser- tinental ballistic missile. And tion that two decades of dip- these are the kinds of progress lomatic efforts to disarm the that give us the greatest conNorth have failed, and there is cerns. So we have been quite no point in purclear with the suing the diploregime in Pyongmatic path any yang that that’s longer, and the what we want US should conthem to cease,” sider all options, We have no he said. including the use objective to Tillerson also of military force. change the mentioned the The sharp regime in possibility of dichange in tone North Korea; alogue with the came after US that is not North on Friday President Donour objective. while briefing ald Trump held And so the reporters on the his first sumwhole reasons outcome of the mit talks with underlying the talks between Chinese Presidevelopment Trump and Xi, dent Xi Jinping. of a nuclear saying the two Beijing has long programme in countries are called for the US North Korea committed to to resume neare simply not working togotiations with credible. gether to “see Pyongyang to deif this cannot fuse tensions. be resolved in a “What we peaceful way.” would hope is “In order for that with no furthat to happen, ther testing, obviously their North Korea’s posture has to programme doesn’t progress,” change before there’s any basis Tillerson said on ABC TV’s for dialogue or discussions,” “This Week.” “What we have Tillerson said. asked for is for them to cease all Even a mention of the posthis testing before we can begin sibility of dialogue with the to think about having further North is seen as a big change talks with them.” for Tillerson as he has repeatTillerson also said the US edly displayed deeply negative goal is the North’s denucleari- views of talks with Pyongyang. sation, not regime change.

After the North conducted “We have been very clear that the latest missile launch last our objective is a denuclearised week, he said, “The United Korean Peninsula. We have no States has spoken enough about objective to change the regime North Korea.” in North Korea; that is not our On Sunday, Tillerson said objective. And so the whole reasons underlying the develop❱❱ PAGE 38 Tillerson: US can

Community News

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

Overseas voter registration continues to set new record THE DEPARTMENT of Foreign Affairs - Overseas Voting Secretariat (DFA-OVS) announced today 07 April 2017, that after four (4) months of overseas voter registration, that commenced last 01 December 2016 and will end on 30 September 2018, a new milestone has been established by garnering 105,333 new OV registrants, surpassing the previous high of 103,048 set over the same period during 2014-2015 registration drive.

The overseas voter registration in preparation for the 2016 elections netted a cumulative total of 1,376,067 active registered overseas voters. The 826,881 new registrants for the 2016 elections, was more than a 100% increase over the 398,554 new registrants for the 2013 elections. Of the almost 1.4 million registered overseas voters, 590,440 were in the Middle East and Africa, 334,215 in the Asia Pacific, 263,316 in the Americas, 138,757 in Europe, and 49,339 were Seabased. The attainable target for this registration period is 1.1 million OV registrants, which would net a cumulative total of 2,130,000 active registered voters for the coming national elections.

“This is once again an evi-

pect to be abroad from 13 April – 13 May 2019 during the overseas voting period for the 2019 Elections, at least 18 years old on 13 May 2019, and not otherwise disqualified by law, may register as an overseas voter, at all Philippine Foreign Service Posts including the three (3) Manila Economic and Cultural Offices (MECO) in Taiwan and Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) in Al-Khobar (for an updated list please go to www.dfa-oavs.gov.ph or www. comelec.gov.ph).

REGISTER AND VOTE! ■

did not come from money intended for researchers.

Meanwhile, someone else at SSHRC appears to have had some questions about the overall approach.

On Oct. 11, Brent HerbertCopley, the executive vice-president, wrote to Walters about the sponsorship possibility: “Where do we stand in terms of the document outlining our overall support to events like this?” he asked, adding that he would like to have a “broader discussion” about the “process going forward for decisions on event partnerships.”

Walters said SSHRC thought it would be a good idea to start tracking partnerships with outside organizations in a way that would let the agency see if they were working in terms of “overall balance.” Walters said that

idea had come up before the Canada 2020 partnership, but confirmed the list was developed afterwards.

Emails regarding events they did not sponsor from earlier last year suggest SSHRC saw another benefit to participating in Canada 2020 events, in that it gave them the opportunity to share their message with highlevel government officials, including cabinet ministers and Matthew Mendelsohn, deputy secretary to the cabinet.

Walters said the role social science and humanities researchers can play in shaping policy is often overlooked.

“Making contacts with key government figures is important to help get that word out,” said Walters.

“When an opportunity comes along, you want to take it.” ■

Granting agency... the next morning.

The primary change to the program, according to Walters, was that Gobel ended up introducing a panel on jobs, skills and the future of work, which is a priority theme for the agency.

Walters pointed to four other speakers at the conference who do research in the social sciences and the humanities, but they were already in the earlier version of the program.

“I don’t know the ins and outs of the negotiations,” said Walters. “I know that in the end, SSHRC was satisfied that social science and humanities research would be represented at this conference and Ms. Gobel introduced the panel, so that was the visibility and profile we were looking for,” said Walters.

Walters said the sponsorship ❰❰ 19

IRemit Bathurst branch celebrates 11th Anniversary

BY DINDO ORBESO St. Jamestown News Service

dence of the hard-work and dedication of the men and women of our Foreign Service who are aggressively campaigning to encourage more overseas Filipinos to participate in this on-going electoral exercise. Our media partners and other OV stakeholders are also playing a vital role in disseminating overseas voting awareness among our kababayans abroad,” said Undersecretary Ariel Y. Abadilla, who is concurrently Chairman of DFA-OVS. All Filipino citizens who ex-

www.canadianinquirer.net

23

IREMIT, A leading money remittance company in Canada celebrated the 11th anniversary of its branch located at 3776 Bathurst Street Corner Wilson Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on April 8, 2017,(Saturday).

Holy Mass was officiated by Father Anthony T. Pizarro CICM of St. Paschal Baylon Church.

On hand at the event, emphasizing service and sharing were Ms. Belinda Lim Herrera, IREMIT Country Manager and

Managing Director for Canada and Simeon M. Sarte, Ontario's Branch Manager and Marketing Officer. The employees of IREMIT, of both the Bathurst and Wellesley branches, were so happy and enthusiastic of the support and patronage by members of the Filipino community, not only in Toronto but also other places in Canada.

Members of the Filipino community can make free calls to their families in the Philippines through IRemit. For more information, please call IREMIT Bathurst Branch at telephone (647) 932 - 6407 ■

24

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Entertainment How Semana Santa helped Dexter Santos find his theater calling To date, the Dulaang UP artistic director has 11 ‘santos’ in his collection–and Lent is his ‘favorite time of the year’

BY CATHY CAÑARES YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer A DEEP-SEATED devotion to the Blessed Mother, a strong spiritual life and faith-bolstering experiences make Holy Week a very significant event to noted theater director and choreographer Dexter Martinez Santos. Vivid memories of dressing up religious statues, fondly called santos, also figured in his childhood.

To this day, Santos attributes his theater roots to Semana Santa, recalling that his young imagination would create dialogues as each carroza bearing a Paso de Palio (tableau or scene from the life of the Virgin Mary) or a Paso de Misterio depicting a moment from Christ’s Passion stopped in front of the family’s veranda.

“San Juan, alagaan mo ang Mater Dolorosa, ibinilin siya sa iyo ni Jesus nung Seven Last Words,” little Dexter prayed as the carriage of St. John passed.

And when the Mater Dolorosa arrived, the boy sympathized, saying, “Sobrang sakit siguro nang inililibing mo ang Santo Entierro.”

One rule

“I was negotiating biblical stories with human emotions,” recalls Santos, now the artistic director of Dulaang Unibersidad ng Pilipinas.

Santos’ paternal grandmother had one rule to all family members for important occasions like Christmas, fiestas and of course, Holy Week—be present in the family home in Sto. Rosario, Hagonoy, Bulacan.

Lent became Santos’ “favorite time of the year” because of the annual procession of carrozas.

Santos and his cousins prayed that their family would someday have its own santo to join the procession. Lola eventually asked her nine children to help out in shouldering the expenses for a Virgen Angustia (Our Lady of Sorrows), including the funding for its own carroza, a generator for the light fixtures and flowers.

The young Santos was “ecstatic.” Since then, he would clean the family’s carroza as Holy Week approached and be among the “pullers” that would transport the carriage as it joined 40 others in a procession that wrapped around six barangays in five hours.

“I would also bring this long bamboo stick to lift any (electrical) wires (obstructing) the cross of the carroza,” he recalls.

When Santos began working, he always put away a part of his salary for the flowers that would festoon the Holy Mother.

La Pieta

Santos later decided to commission his own image of La Pieta, depicting the sorrowful Mary embracing the body of the dead Jesus, with its own carroza.

Armed with his savings, Santos asked an uncle and his friend to help him look for a sculptor.

“Iba na pala ang presyohan,” he noted in shock after finding one in San Luis, Pampanga.

Still, Santos told the sculptor to begin with the image, thinking he could deal with the carroza later. After a week, he got a call saying a project, the proceeds of which he was earmarking to pay the sculptor, had been cancelled.

Santos called the sculptor, asking the guy to take his time “para ’di ma- sacrifice ang quality. But the truth is, wala pa akong pambayad ng buo.”

DEXTER MARTINEZ SANTOS / FACEBOOK

Two weeks went and Santos was offered another project that allowed him to pay not only for both image and carroza, but also for a brand new generator, vestments and more.

“Feeling ko talaga, ang La Pieta ang gumawa ng paraan para makapagpagawa ako ng image at makasama sa procession,” Santos notes.

The director also recalls that his youngest uncle, who was tasked to take care of the family’s Virgen Angustia, was blessed with three children after Our Lady’s primera salida or first procession. This after the uncle and his wife waited 10 years for a child.

‘Santero’

Santos calls himself a “santero,” a term proudly worn by devotees who collect and take care of beloved religious images.

“Taking care of a religious image requires utmost care.

Cleaning must be done at all times in a delicate manner. I also make sure that the vestments, metal works and other accoutrements are properly stored,” he says.

To date, he has 11 images— seven of them commissioned, two from director Floy Quintos’ Gallery Deus and two more gifted by close friends.

The santos are displayed in the family’s living room in Quezon City and are transported to Malolos and Hagonoy in Bulacan and to Intramuros, Manila on significant religious events.

“Lahat ng santo na inaalagaan ko ay may significance sa akin at sa buhay ng pamilya ko...

I don’t have a favorite santo. All of them play a meaningful part in my life. Lahat ng blessings na tinatamasa ko, alam ko na binigay sa akin dahil sa pag-aalaga ko ng santo. I have always considered this as a gift and a privilege,” he says. ■

‘Fate of the Furious’ cast say Johnson/Diesel feud overblown

BY JOHN CARUCCI The Associated Press NEW YORK — “The Fast and the Furious” franchise has seen its share of drama outside of the films, but rumoured infighting between the series’ biggest stars, Vin Diesel and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, is uncharted territory for the longrunning series.

The riff was put into the spotlight last year when Johnson, while shooting “The Fate of the Furious,” took to Instagram to

both express appreciation for his female co-stars and embarrass some of his male counterparts for unprofessional behaviour, calling them “candy asses.” It’s alleged he was referring to Diesel.

But at the film’s world premiere Saturday night in New York, many attributed the situation between the two stars as nothing more than “business as usual” on a film set.

Johnson and Diesel were not seen together during promotional appearances, nor did they pose together on the red

carpet. Johnson walked the carpet at the beginning of the premiere, while Diesel arrived later.

Michelle Rodriguez, who plays Letty in the series, equated it to a family squabble.

“If you know a family that never fights, then I think ... you just met a Stepford family, and that family is (expletive),” Rodriguez said. “It’s not real.”

Kurt Russell, who is back as Mr. Nobody, didn’t notice any bad blood on the set. But he also said conflict is not an unusual thing on movie sets in general. www.canadianinquirer.net

“I didn’t see that, and I was there a lot. I would tell you.

If there was I would tell you, ‘Yeah, they got into it pretty good,’” Russel said. “I’ll tell you what I can tell you: All movies are the same. Sometimes they are not an easy ride.”

Russell feels the public paid attention to the rumours simply because of the popularity of the eight-movie franchise.

Director F. Gary Gray, a newcomer to the franchise, thinks the situation was overblown in the media.

“When you’re striving for

perfection, the process isn’t always perfect, but we are all proud of what ended up on the screen,” Gray said. But when asked if the two stars got along in the end, Gray simply said “ask them” before walking off.

Off-screen intrigue isn’t expected to hamper box office results, however. The latest installment in the $3.9 billion franchise is expected to earn over $110 million when it speeds into theatres on April 14. ■ AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr contributed from Los Angeles

Entertainment

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

25

No ‘material’ gift 3 PH films go to Belgium from Daniel for Kathryn’s birthday

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer KATHRYN BERNARDO, who turned 21 in March, has ticked off an item on her bucket list this year: to celebrate her birthday in El Nido, Palawan, with onscreen partner and rumored boyfriend Daniel Padilla.

“We watched the sunset, had dinner on the sand bar, and gazed at the stars,” Kathryn recalled. “I’ve been celebrating my birthday with him for several years now. This is special because we were able to go islandhopping with close friends.”

She added: “After all the hard work we had while doing ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love,’ our four days in Palawan recharged me.

I had to convince my mom to allow me to push through with the plan.”

Kathryn said that just like any parent, her momwasmerely concerned with her safety.

“Whether you’re a celebrity or not, you still have to tell your parents what your plans are and who you’re going out with.”

“My mom still has the final say on whether she would allow me or not. I would have felt sad if she said ‘no,’ but I know that she was just thinking of my welfare. I had to promise that I wouldn’t break her trust.”

Kathryn said she really felt the love on her birthday, especially from Daniel. The actor woke up as early as 7 a.m. to join her in island-hopping and snorkeling.

Daniel pointed out: “My gift to her wasn’t anything material.

I’m glad she appreciated my effort to spend time with her in El Nido.”

In a previous birthday, Kathryn joined Daniel and his family on a trip to Boracay.

Now that she is 21, Kathryn said she hoped to tackle more mature roles like the one she played in Mae Cruz-Alviar’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” which will be in cinemas on April 15.

She and Daniel will also start working on “La Luna Sangre,” the sequel to the fantasy TV series “Imortal,” which featured John Lloyd Cruz and Angel Locsin in the lead.

“That TV series is totally different from what I was used to doing. It’s hard to adjust,” she shared with the Inquirer. “I’m also open to doing other things aside from acting, like hosting and dancing.”

Kathryn said she was open to working with actors, other than Daniel. “We also have to grow as artists,” she explained.

Daniel earlier said he would like to collaborate with Sarah Geronimo.

“Daniel and I have not discussed this yet. If I have my way, I’d still want my next projects to be with him,” she added.

Kathryn said she would like to work with someone “I can learn a lot from. I still don’t know who he would be, but I hope we’d get the same support from the audience that supported Daniel and me.”

“Can’t Help Falling in Love” also features Matteo Guidicelli, Lotlot de Leon and Cherry Pie Picache. ■

THREE PHILIPPINE films will be shown at the MOOV Film Festival 2017 in Bruges and Turnhout, Belgium, from April 18 to May 2. The fest, which focuses on world cinema, aims to “touch people through fiction films and documentaries.”

Mikhail Red’s “Birdshot,” Kohkei Hasei’s “Blanka” and Lav Diaz’s “Ang Babaeng Humayo” will be shown in the fest.

The event’s site describes “Birdshot” as a “well-structured and highly detailed film” [by] a director whom we will hear a lot [from].”

“Blanka,” which tells the story of a Filipino street urchin, is “a contemporary version of ‘Oliver

Twist,’” according to the fest’s site.

Directed by a Japanese filmmaker, the movie recounts “a story packed with colorful shades, life, hope, energy and resilience.”

Lastly, the site hails Diaz’s Venice-winning “Ang Babaeng Humayo” as “an intoxicating and hypnotic … experience in black-and-white … a unique opportunity for experienced viewers.” ■

Aga Muhlach: My restored films will be my legacy

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer

“We’re thankful that not only are old films restored because of this effort, but also us old people,” Lee said, laughing. “I NOW THAT a number of his can’t remember much about films in the 1990s are being rethe film so I’m excited to see it stored, actor Aga Muhlach said again tonight.” he would soon start collecting “Sa Aking mga Kamay” is copies for his personal library. the opening film of the week“Where do they store films long exhibition of digitally renowadays, still in DVDs?” he stored and remastered movies quipped. The actor was with in “REELive the Classics” that his wife, former beauty queen ends on April 12 at the Power and actress Charlene Gonzalez, Plant Mall cinemas in Makati when he attended the premiere City. of his restored 21-yearold psyAlso part of the festival are chological thriller “Sa Aking Romy Suzara’s “Kokey,” which Mga Kamay” at the Powerplant is celebrating its 20th anniMall in Makati versary; Olivia City on Tuesday Lamasan’s “Sana night.

Maulit Muli”; “I’m going to Jose Javier request for copWatching these films has inspired Reyes’ “Kung ies of my films me to do more. Before, there was no Ako na Lang that have been opportunity to see them, I used to Sana”; Rory restored.

The see my movies only during premiere Quintos’ “Basta’t collection will nights. At least now, I could get Kasama Kita”; be a legacy I will copies.

Laurenti Dyogi’s leave to my chil“All My Life”; dren,” said Aga, Antonio Perez’s adding that his “Haplos”; Carlos twins Atasha and Andres, 15, mille (Chin-Chin Gutierrez), Siguion-Reyna’s “Hihintayin did not attend the screening wife of Joven (Christopher de Kita sa Langit”; Reyes’ “Batang because the film had been given Leon), who leads the investiga- PX”; Peque Gallaga’s “Magic an R-16 rating by the Movie and tion of his case.

Temple”; and Jerry Lopez Television Review and ClassifiChristopher said ABS-CBN’s Sineneng’s “Labs Kita… Okey cation Board. film restoration project would Lang?”

According to ABS-CBN head “benefit the millennials. It’s The festival is part of ABof Film Archive and Restora- good that they would have an SCBN Film Restoration Projtion Leo Katigbak, eight of Aga’s opportunity to watch these ect’s advocacy dubbed “Sagip films have been restored, includ- classics that are still relevant up Pelikula,” which aims to preing “Sana Maulit Muli,” with Lea to this time.” serve Philippine cinematic legSalonga; “Basta’t Kasama Kita,” Also present during the acy by locally restoring classic with Dayanara Torres; “All My screening were members of Filipino films and making them Life,” with Kristine Hermosa; the movie’s production team, available to the general public and “Kung Ako na Lang Sana,” namely editor Albert Michael via different platforms. with Sharon Cuneta.

Idioma, musical director NonThe project has restored over “Watching these films has in- ong Buencamino, cinematog- 120 films since it began in 2011, spired me to do more. Before, rapher Romy Vitug, and writer mostly together with Central there was no opportunity to see Ricky Lee. Digital Lab. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

them,” the 47-year-old actor pointed out. “I used to see my movies only during premiere nights. At least now, I could get copies.”

Aga, who was last seen in Joyce Bernal’s “Of All the Things,” released in 2012, said he would begin shooting another film with Star Cinema this June.

Released in 1996, Rory B. Quintos’ “Sa Aking mga Kamay,” tells the story of a serial killer named Gene (Aga), who preys on unfaithful wives. The plot thickens when Gene’s latest victim turns out to be Ca-

26

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Lifestyle No cell zone: Masters clings to ban on mobile phones

BY PAUL NEWBERRY The Associated Press AUGUSTA, GA. — When you walk through the gates of Augusta National, it really is a throwback to a different era.

Welcome to one of the few remaining places on the planet where cellphones are strictly prohibited.

And, rest assured, the folks in the green jackets are serious about everyone going dark.

More than a decade ago, Scott Feight got one of those coveted opportunities to purchase badges for a practice round. He brought along his father, who forgot he had a mobile phone in the bottom of his bag, having just returned from a two-week trip to Asia.

Security officers spotted it at the gate.

He and his father were still allowed to attend the practice round, albeit after checking the phone. A few months later, Feight got a note from the club saying his badge-buying privileges had been revoked.

Permanently.

“I’m cursed for life,” Feight quipped in a telephone interview from Atlanta, where he runs a non-profit organization that decorates hospitals with artwork.

The ban on mobile devices is a shock to just about everyone who walks through the gates, especially in an era when people use them not just as a means of communicating with one another, but to take pictures and videos, stay connected to the internet, maintain their contacts and schedules, and even something as simple as check-

ing the time.

“My fiancee asked me, ‘How are you going to tell time when you’re out there?”‘ said Kevin Caskey of Chesterfield, South Carolina, shortly after arriving Saturday for his first Masters.

“I had to dig out a watch,” he added, smiling as he looked down at his arm.

Paige Robinson, a patron from Birmingham, Alabama, said the prohibition on cellphones is “just like the rest of this place: organized chaos and nostalgia.”

She got a bit of a scare when, during a trip to the hectic gift shop, she got separated from her friends. Since none of them had a cellphone, she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to track them down. Fortunately, she was able to find them.

Then again, there’s something to be said for being cut off from the rest of the world.

“It’s like a forced detachment,” Robinson said. “It’s almost liberating in a way.”

Augusta National is largely on its own when it comes to banning cellphones. Golf’s other three major championships now allow fans to carry their devices throughout the tournament. Ditto for the PGA Tour and other major tours.

The British Open , golf’s oldest major, began installing WiFi routers at each hole a few years ago to make it easier for fans to stay connected. There are specified areas out on the course where people can send texts and make calls. Fans are encouraged to download an app that allows them to keep up with the tournament on their devices.

Even through the tradition-

Augusta National is largely on its own when it comes to banning cellphones.

Golf’s other three major championships now allow fans to carry their devices throughout the tournament.

KATHERINE WELLES / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

rich Masters has opened up its membership to women and spent tens of millions of dollars to keep up with the times, there’s no sign that the cellphone ban will be lifted anytime soon.

If ever.

When Billy Payne, Augusta National’s chairman, was queried about it before the start of the tournament, he replied sternly: “You’ll have to ask the next chairman. That’s not going to change while I’m chairman.”

Pressed on why the club continues to ban a device that has become so indispensable in people’s lives, Payne said: “I just don’t think it’s appropriate. The noise is an irritation to not only the players — the dialing, the conversation. It’s a distraction and that’s the way we’ve chosen to deal with it.”

www.canadianinquirer.net

There are a couple of spots where cellphones are allowed.

Players can use them in the locker room. They’re also permitted in the media centre, though a constantly streaming message on the video board warns reporters not to even think of taking their devices out of the building.

After finishing the third round, Steve Stricker said he’s never had any problems with fans having cellphones on the course. But he’s not pushing for Augusta National to change its rules.

“So much of our world is on that iPhone or iPad,” he said.

“It’s kind of refreshing that nobody has them out here. You don’t have to worry about them ringing or people talking on them.”

The patrons aren’t totally cut

off from the world.

At the main entrance, not far from the first fairway, there’s a row of 24 phones — actual land lines, if anyone remembers what those were — enabling fans to place free calls anywhere in the United States (international cards require a credit card).

That spot was bustling Saturday, but there were plenty of humorous moments as people squinted to read the instructions or struggled to remember the numbers they needed to call. After all, most people have those stored in their cellphones.

“Hmm, you’ve got to dial ‘1’ to get out,” one man said.

Robinson, who had just finished a call, said it was probably the first time in five years she’d been anywhere without her mobile phone.

“I travel internationally a lot,” she said. “Even then, you can usually find Wi-Fi and call free to anywhere in the world.”

Augusta, though, is a whole new world.

Or, actually, a world that once was.

Feight knows the bigwigs at Augusta National won’t be asking for his advice anytime soon.

Heck, they won’t even allow him back on the grounds.

But, for what it’s worth, he thinks the Masters should get in step with the times.

“We’re so connected with technology. There are so many cool things you could have at your fingertips while the tournament is going on,” Feight said. “Why would you not let your spectators see what’s going on, as long as they’re not a distraction to the players?” ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

27

Is the Taal Basilica on the verge of collapse?

After the centuries-old church suffered damage during last week’s earthquake, people are worried another tremor could destroy it

BY CATHY CAÑARES YAMSUAN AND MARICAR CINCO Philippine Daily Inquirer RAMON ORLINA, noted sculptor and native son of Batangas, has warned of further damage to the centuries-old Taal Basilica, possibly the collapse of its ancient walls and bell tower, following the 5.5-magnitude earthquake that rocked southern Luzon on April 4.

The culprit could be an aftershock, another earthquake in the future, or just the sheer weight of the church’s own materials bearing down on already cracked walls and surfaces.

In an interview with Lifestyle, Orlina blamed his scenario on the unauthorized makeover of the 262-year-old church, an initiative of parish priest Msgr. Alfredo Madlangbayan. The sculptor alleged that the priest went ahead with his overhaul instead of retrofitting the church to allow it to cope better with seismic movement.

The Taal Basilica, formally known as the Basilica San Martin de Tours, was declared a national heritage site under Ferdinand Marcos’ Presidential Decree No. 375. This made the church a protected monument that cannot be renovated without the consent of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP).

Orlina and Madlangbayan had been at loggerheads since 2012, due to the priest’s controversial renovations that the sculptor said were not consistent with the basilica’s Augustinian architecture.

While Orlina said the huge slabs of adobe that fell off the walls support his theory, he remains thankful that the earthquake occurred at night, when there were no church-goers or tourists.

“Imagine if there were pedestrians at nagkaganun. What we should watch out for are the aftershocks. Delikado pa (“Imagine if there were pedestrians and that happened. What we should watch out for are the aftershocks. It’s still dangerous),” he added. Interviewed by INQUIRER’S Southern Luzon bureau, Madlangbayan down-

played Orlina’s warning of a collapse, calling it “farfetched,” but acknowledged that “it is better if we do something now.”

Only the façade

galawan sa walls, halos lahat ng simbahan sabay-sabay nagbagsakan (there was movement in the walls, most of the church fell at the same time),” the sculptor explained.

Orlina complained that instead of heeding his suggestion, Madlangbayan prioritized instead the construction of the Jubilee Hall, a multipurpose events place, adjacent to the church, meant to host wedding receptions, baptisms and other social events.

Asked on the phone whether or not he supported retrofitting, Madlangbayan replied, “Natural (Naturally).”

“I’m also concerned that the church stays as long as time allows. This (basilica) is strong, just about 250 years old. The current structure was built in 1755. ’Yung mga nasa Bohol, mga 400 years old na. Ito, bata pa (The ones in Bohol were already 400 years old. This is relatively new),” he stressed.

The priest noted that the church’s façade suffered “considerable” damage, counting four “blocks” that fell on the night of April 4.

Madlangbayan downplayed the damage, saying only the façade was affected, not the church structure itself.

Orlina said he told Madlangbayan to focus first on retrofitting the ancient structure.

Orlina, a licensed architect, said many old churches in Metro Manila had already undergone retrofitting, which is when an existing structure is so touched by their concern”) improved or modified to prowhile the Philippine Institute tect it from seismic movements. of Volcanology and Seismology The sculptor said retrofitting (Phivolcs) advised church auin the case of Taal Basilica had thorities to cordon off the site, already become a must, given particularly the area the blocks that the adobe stones used in fell from, as a safety precauthe construction had already tion. “Tapos na ’yung three days undergone so much weathering Repair budget observation period prescribed over the years.

Madlangbayan assured wor- by Phivolcs (The three day obOrlina pointed out that the ried residents the church would servation period prescribed by country’s ancient churches be able to shoulder repairs Phivolcs is done). Our doors are were designed by foreign archi- needed after the quake. This, open again,” he added. tects, who were used to materi- following reports that Batangas als available in Spain.

Gov. Hermilando Mandanas Danger “Ang problema talaga sa plans to donate P1 million for The priest announced that a Pilipinas, ang locally-sourced the basilica’s repair. committee that would “oversee na bato natin ay future actions” quarried lang at on the church madaling magwill be set up aferode. Ginaya nater the Easter tin ang construcThe priest announced that a celebrations lattion sa Europe committee that would “oversee er this month. pero iba ang bato future actions” on the church will be In several enila, kinukuha set up after the Easter celebrations mails, Orlina nang buo sa bunlater this month. enumerated the dok (The probvisible features lem here in the of Taal Basilica Philippines is that could spell that our locally-sources stone is The priest welcomed the danger, should a strong afteronly quarried and easily erodes. news, adding that the NHCP shock or another earthquake We patterned our construction also suggested that the entire occur. to Europe’s but their stone is church undergo digital scanHe said the cement finish in different, they were sources as ning “like an X-ray done on some parts of the façade are whole from mountains),” he people to check and then do “not aligned,” indicating these noted. an analysis or assessment by a were just plastered cement that structural engineer.” was applied to create an apBohol quake Retrofitting, he added, would pearance of a smoother surface “The reason old churches be considered as “another exOrlina also scored Madlangcollapsed during the Bohol pense. Pero sa ngayon, kayang- bayan’s move to add arches to earthquake in October 2013 kaya na namin ang repairs (But the windows. “The arches were is because of all that rain that at the moment, we can eas- not there before and do not the materials were exposed to. ily do repairs).” Madlangbayan match the façade of the basiliThe water creates small gaps said NHCP representatives ca’s architecture.” between the stones. So, when already inspected the area the Also, there are already visthe earthquake struck, may day after the earthquake (“I’m ible gaps between the original www.canadianinquirer.net

PROJECT KISAME / FLICKR

bricks on at least one side wall of the church. Orlina said another “push-and-pull” motion of another earthquake could make the wall collapse.

He noted that the ancient walls are made of load-bearing adobe stones. The “very heavy” bell tower on top has been strengthened with reinforced concrete. Orlina said old adobe and new concrete “are not compatible with each other.”

Orlina explained the bell tower has already been “twice covered with reinforced concrete” to complement the Jubilee Hall.

As it is, the bell tower’s heavy weight includes that of the church’s musical bells. This entire portion is supported by huge but centuries-old beams and structural beams. Orlina said it is possible that the loadbearing adobe stones below the bell tower are already weakening.”

The sculptor worries that because of all these alterations, the Taal Basilica could also “lose its chance to be declared a Unesco World Heritage Site.”

He then pointed to the Sta. Maria Church in Ilocos Sur that already earned that distinction.

Told about the adverse feedback on his project, Madlangbayan initially refused to react.

“I don’t listen to them,” he said. “That will make things worse. I am doing my things quietly. They are UFO— unidentified flying objects. I do not pay them attention; they are falling into disgrace.” ■

28

Lifestyle

WHICHCRAFT:

Instead of dyeing Easter eggs, try decoupage

BY HOLLY RAMER The Associated Press CONCORD, N.H. — When it comes to Easter eggs, dipping them in dye is fine, but for a more decorative and longerlasting result, try decoupage.

I tried three DIY techniques for adding colours and patterns to eggs using decoupage glue — Mod Podge is a popular brand. One technique paired vintage book pages with plastic eggs, another used printed napkins with real eggs, and the third involved fabric and Styrofoam. All three methods were fairly messy given the glue, but at least I didn’t end up with fingers dyed blue from food coloring. And unlike hard-boiled dyed Easter eggs, these will last for years to come.

Here’s what I found, with each method rated from 1 to 10, with 10 indicating the least expensive, easiest and best results: Book pages – plastic eggs

This tutorial comes from a blog called “SewforSoul” (http://bit.ly/1G8MTDF) and was published in “Reloved” magazine. While it was the most time-consuming technique I tried, it yielded the most impressive results.

To make these eggs, small strips of plain paper are glued to plastic eggs to serve as a base layer that hides the colored plastic. Once that layer has dried, the egg is buffed by rubbing it with the back of a spoon to smooth out any rough edges.

The eggs are then covered with small strips of paper torn from an old book, overlapping the strips at random until the egg is completely covered. More drying and buffing, and then additional designs cut from paper napkins are glued to the eggs. A wash of watered-down craft paint gives the eggs a distressed, antique look.

The original version of this method featured blackand-white images, but I used napkins featuring colored illustrations of Peter Rabbit to brighten them up a bit. I loved the pastel, shabby chic result.

COST: 7, EASE: 5, RESULTS: 9

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Let’s eat! PHL invites world to visit and try Filipino food

BY AZER N. PARROCHA Philippines News Agency

Napkins – real eggs

Craft maven Martha Stewart’s website (http://bit.ly/22BGbyd) features multiple techniques for decoupage eggs, including one that involves real eggs and decorative paper napkins. To try this method, pierce holes into either end of the egg and blow out the contents. Cut around designs from a paper napkin — I chose a floral pattern — and separate the layers to work with just one layer of tissue. Apply decoupage glue to the egg and adhere the designs, and then cover the entire egg with a coat of glue.

This technique was inexpensive, especially if you scramble up the egg’s contents for breakfast, and produced very pretty, elegant results. Real eggs are fragile, however — I cracked one open trying to enlarge one of the holes — so this method wouldn’t be the best to do with young children.

COST: 8, EASE: 7, RESULTS: 8 Fabric – Styrofoam eggs

I found this technique on Crafts ‘n Coffee (http://bit. ly/2oaXmer), a blog created by the company that makes Styrofoam brand foam craft products.

The foam eggs I purchased were significantly more expensive than either the plastic or real eggs used in the other projects, and while I had scrap fabric on hand, purchasing the fabric would have made this even more pricey.

For this project, fabric is cut into 1-inch wide strips and then trimmed into triangle shapes.

The eggs are covered with glue in sections, and the fabric is stuck on in a random, overlapping manner. A final coat of decoupage glue seals the edges.

I found this method fairly fussy — bits of fabric kept peeling off as I manipulated the eggs — and I had trouble smoothing them down.

The finished result was a bit too bumpy and rustic-looking for my taste. On the plus side, using Styrofoam means the eggs can easily be pierced and strung on baker’s twine to make a garland.

Because both the eggs and the fabric are fairly sturdy compared to the paper used in the other methods, or the real eggs, this would be an easier method for children to try.

COST: 4, EASE: 4, RESULTS: 6

MANILA — The world is no stranger to Filipino cuisine, especially after it has been cited by top media outlets like Bloomberg and The New York Times as “the next big food trend of 2017.”

However, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Wanda Teo on Wednesday expressed hope that this interest in Filipino food would position the country as a top culinary destination and translate to more tourist arrivals.

“The Philippines is sustaining its reputation as a culinary destination,” Tourism Undersecretary Benito Bengzon Jr. PNA said, reading from Teo’s speech at the SMX Convention Center overall inbound tourist arrivals.

The DOT official also said in Pasay City.

“The fact that Spanish arriv- that the agency was steadily Teo, through Bengzon, noted als in the Philippines is grow- pursuing the incorporation of that the country’s vibrant culi- ing at a faster rate is already an culinary attractions in the Philnary scene was quickly gaining indication of the very strong ippines as part of the various popularity among foreign chefs interest that we have created tours being offered. and foodies and a testament among the Spanish outbound “When we organize familiarto that was the third staging of travelers,” Bengzon said. ization tours for foreign media, Madrid Fusion Manila.

He said that this awareness we always include a strop in a Madrid Fusion Manila was driven by efforts of the DOT restaurant that can showcase (MFM), which is tagged as one to step up our activities in Spain the best of our culinary experof the biggest culinary events such as strengthened participa- tise,” Bengzon said. in the world, gathers top chefs tion in travel exhibitions, sales He also noted that our the from different country’s Nacountries under tional Tourism one roof to share Development their culinary exPlan 2011-2016 pertise and also When we organize familiarization and successor gain insight from tours for foreign media, we always plan 2017-2022, others chefs. include a strop in a restaurant that identifies cuisine MFM is the can showcase the best of our culinary as one of its prifirst and only expertise. ority products.

Asian edition of “We feel that Madrid Fusion – events such as Spain’s famous Madrid Fusion culinary event and one of the calls and presentations.

Manila provide a very effective leading gastronomy gatherings “This has worked out very platform for us to leave a lastin the world. well because obviously there is ing impression among global This year, MFM will go by the a great deal of publicity we are travelers as to what Philippine theme “Towards a Sustainable able to generate on both sides,” culinary delights are all about,” Gastronomic Planet”, which ac- he added. he added. cording to Teo, aims to expand The DOT official said that he The DOT has a five-year conhow gastronomy can be trans- expected arrivals coming from tract with Madrid Fusion to formative, by sustaining not Spain, an opportunity market, hold its Manila staging. Asked only people but their culture. to grow by 20 to 25 percent this if this could be extended or reIn an interview, Bengzon said year to around 40,121 visitors newed, Bengzon said it was too that the fact that the Philip- compared to the 32,097 visitors early to say but did not discount pines is holding MFM for a third it acquired in 2016. the possibility. straight year was an indication “For opportunity markets we “Right now the focus is on of the level of interest of Spanish tend to set a higher target, high- Madrid Fusion Manila 2017 so partners to the country. er than what we project overall. let’s put the spotlight on what Bengzon said that currently, For Spain, we’re hoping that we we are currently hosting and growth arrivals from Spain was can grow by 20 to 25 percent,” eventually, we’ll have a clearer growing at a faster rate than Bengzon said. picture,” he said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

29

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

Sports Runners race from Greece to Belgium sending message of solidarity with refugees PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY ATHENS — In the footsteps of thousands of refugees, 15 runners from Belgium set out in early April on a different relay race of 3,000 km on the Balkan Route.

Bearing a message of solidarity and aiming to raise awareness of the rights of immigrant populations, the citizens’ association “Humans Welcome” started its journey on April 5 from the Greek island of Lesvos, where they visited Kara Tepe camp, met with the Greek authorities and NGOs and raced from the camp to the island’s main port.

Their next stop was Athens, where, under the auspices of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, the runners symbolically raced inside the Panathenaic Stadium.

Engineer Valter Iurlaro, the founder of the initiative, came up with the idea a year ago, when Hungary decided to close its borders for thousands of refugees who had fled war zones.

“As a European citizen, closing the borders of Europe didn’t make sense to me. Especially since this resulted in closing the Balkan Route and thus increasing deaths in the Mediter-

ranean Sea,” Iurlaro told Xinhua, at Elefsina, 20 km west of Athens, where the continental relay started from.

“So the idea was to bring down these borders in a symbolic way and that’s how this humanitarian project was born,” he added.

Iurlaro’s idea, spread across the internet, was immediately welcomed among communities of runners. “The same thing that was in my mind, was also in the other people’s minds.

We thought the same thing, although we didn’t know each other,” Iurlaro said.

Leaving behind the comfort of their homes for the two weeks of Easter holidays, 15 determined runners of different nationalities, supported by a team of doctors, drivers and a crew of filmmakers who will tell the tale in a documentary, signed up for this mission, all inspired by the same idea.

“We do not want to declare war on anyone, we simply want to say ‘Humans Welcome’: we are all identical human beings,” Iurlaro explained.

“We are people of all ages, coming from all sorts of backgrounds, and what brings us together is that we all think we can do a little something so that people view these human beings who came from far away not only as numbers or fluxes,

much about the refugee crisis.

Like everybody I was listening to the news, I heard that there were people dying, but I didn’t know what to do about it. They gave me the idea to do this and I find it amazing,” Ungemach stressed.

“Humans Welcome” project serves a double purpose: alert the peoples of Europe not only to the refugee crisis, but also to the suffering Greek people.

“The second stage of our move has to do with Greek

people, the forsaken people of Europe, which is something we don’t understand either,” said Iurlaro, who has organized several events and filmscreenings back in Belgium in order to contribute to a more profound understanding of the Greek crisis.

Crossing eight countries, each runner will take turns in racing an average of 15 km per day accompanied by a cyclist and each followed by one of the three caravan vehicles that carry all the mission’s equipment. The convoy was expected to cross the Greek-Macedonian border on April 8.

All along their race, “Humans Welcome” collect postcards from people who wish to send their message to the European Parliament where the mission is expected to arrive on April 16.

There, in the administrative heart of the EU, the initiative plans to build a paper bridge made of the postcards and install an inflatable boat full of life vests collected from Lesvos in a symbolic gesture.

“Humans Welcome” have also launched an open call for people, who live near Brussels and wish to support their cause, to accompany the runners for the last kilometers of their race, aspiring to a more powerful finale at the Belgian capital. ■

[Manny will fight Amir] if [the fight negotiation] would push through again and the government of the UAE would still want Manny to fight. We’re still working on it, because they really want the fight to happen in UAE,” Pineda further said.

Heeding with the fans, Pacquiao’s camp began negotiations with that of Khan for the said match with both sides even claiming twice that it was already a done deal.

But Top Rank head honcho

Bob Arum, who has been insisting for the Pacquiao-Horn bout to happen, denied the claims. It was later revealed that the negotiations were stalled due to scheduling problems.

Looking forward to the Pacquiao-Horn match, Pineda said, “Hopefully this will be a good fight. Everybody is excited and wants to go to Australia now.

It’ll be good for everyone.”

For his fearless forecast, Pineda simply said, “Siyempre (of course), Manny will win.” ■

HUMANS WELCOME / FACEBOOK

but as the human beings that they are,” Sandra Ungemach, who was the first runner to start the relay from Elefsina, told Xinhua.

For Ungemach, who lives in Toulouse, France and loves running in the Pyrenees Mountains, the athletic challenge was naturally the first - but not the only thing that caught her attention.

“I met with extraordinary people, and an extraordinary cause. Personally I didn’t know

Pacquiao-Horn officially on

BY VAN SALDAJENO Philippines News Agency MANILA — Manny Pacquiao will be fighting Jeff Horn after all.

Pacquiao’s business manager Eric Pineda confirmed to local reporters on Sunday night that the eight-division world boxing champion will stake his WBO welterweight belt against the Australian pug at the Suncorp Stadium in the latter’s hometown of Brisbane on July 2.

Pineda, who also acts as Mahindra’s team manager, even said that Pacquiao has begun his training for the said match but, just like how he prepared for his match against Jessie Vargas, is staying in the Philippines to focus on his senatorial job.

“Araw-araw siya nagte-training.

Nagsimula na siya. Pag nagsimula na ang session sa May 2, the training will be confined here (He trains everyday. He has already started.

When the session starts on May 2, the training will be confined

here),” continued Pineda, who was present in the Floodbusters’ PBA Commissioner’s Cup match against the TNT KaTropa at the Mall of Asia Arena.

He also said that Coach Freddie Roach will fly in soon to join Pacquiao in training.

However, Pineda said that Pacquiao is still open to fight Amir Khan even as soon as the Horn fight is done.

“The deal with Abu Dhabi did not push through but maybe for his next fight. Hopefully www.canadianinquirer.net

30

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Business 95% of Taiwan youth NFA asked to dissatisfied with work: survey use funds to buy farmers’ produce

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY

TAIPEI — About 95 percent of young people from Taiwan aged between 21 and 30 are “dissatisfied with their life at work,” with over 20 percent “very dissatisfied,” according to a survey

by Taiwan’s 1111 Job Bank released Monday.

Over 77 percent of the 648 respondents said they were mostly dissatisfied with their income, followed by “long working hours” as well as “limited opportunities for young people.”

Daniel Lee, vice president of 1111 Job Bank, said although the per capita monthly income in Taiwan had reached a record high of 48,790 new Taiwan dollars (NTD), or about USD1,595 in 2016, personal income in real terms had dropped to 46,422 NTD a month, lower than 16 years ago.

“Low income has become an indisputable fact, and young people at the start of their career are the most vulnerable,” Lee said.

The average monthly income of respondents was just 26,614 NTD, with monthly personal income for part-time students 22,857 NTD, while full-time workers were paid just 6,700

BY RONNEL W. DOMINGO Philippine Daily Inquirer

Almost 80 percent of respondents said that “no savings/not being able to afford a house” was their top concern, followed by “high commodity prices” and “lack of connections.”

BENTO42894 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

NTD higher, at 29,638 NTD a month.

“College students now have a variety of choices in part-time jobs, including well-paid ones such as tutoring, modelling and design, yet job-beginners face various issues like low starting salaries and long working hours, leading to an unhappy life at work,” Lee said.

Almost 80 percent of respondents said that “no savings/not being able to afford a house”

was their top concern, followed by “high commodity prices” and “lack of connections.”

Data from Taiwan’s land and resource bureau showed that the price to income ratio in Taiwan had hit 8.97, meaning it would almost be nine years’ wages to buy the cheapest house. In Taipei, the ratio almost doubled to 15.07.

The survey polled 648 young people between March 23 and April 6. ■

Annual pace of housing starts hits highest level since September 2007 THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA — The annual pace of housing starts increased more than expected in March and hit their highest level since September 2007.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. says the seasonally adjusted annual rate of housing starts for March came

in at 253,720 units, up from 214,253 in February.

Economists had expected a reading of 215,000 for last month, according to Thomson Reuters.

The overall increase came as the annual pace of urban starts increased by 20.2 per cent to 235,674 units, boosted by an increase in multi-unit starts.

Multi-unit urban starts in-

creased by 30.2 per cent to 160,989, while single-detached urban starts increased by 3.1 per cent to 74,685 units. Rural starts were estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 18,046.

CMHC’s trend measure, a sixmonth moving average of the monthly seasonally adjusted annual rate, increased to 211,342 units in March compared with 205,521 in February. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

THE GOVERNMENT should devote billions of pesos earmarked for the country’s rice stockpile to buying homegrown grains instead of tying these up with supply agreements with foreign suppliers, according Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (Sinag).

The umbrella group of agribusiness organizations said this yesterday as the National Food Authority said it could not yet afford to buy palay due to high farm gate prices while the Department of Agriculture reiterated the need to rethink importation plans.

Sinag chair Rosendo So told the Inquirer the NFA Council needed to explain why it had apparently entered into an agreement with Vietnamese suppliers for shipments of up to 3 million metric tons to be provided over the next two years.

Citing Sinag sources from both in the Philippines and Vietnam, So said Hanoi was primed to deliver such volume under an agreement that was made in January and covered the period up to the end of 2018.

He said this arrangement was no secret and had been reported in international media, including those in Vietnam and China.

“At $380 per ton in current prices, that’s P57 billion pesos, which may be better used to buy palay from about half a million farmers,” So said.

“We challenge both factions of the NFA to help local farmers instead of the Vietnamese rice industry,” he added.

In a statement, NFA Administrator Jason Laureano Y. Aquino said farm gate prices of palay had increased steadily as harvest for the summer crop had yet to peak.

Based on NFA monitoring, palay was fetching as high as P22.60 a kilo in Davao del Norte while data from the Philippine Statistics Authority set the national average at P18.60 a kilo in the last week of March.

Aquino said this was good for the farmers who were enjoying higher income, but this also meant the NFA would not be able to buy as much grains as it wanted because the agency was not authorized to buy above the price cap of P17 per kilo.

The NFA aims at buying 4,607,350 cavans of palay this year. As of the end of March, the agency had bought 134,355 cavans or 21 percent of the target.

According to So, the chair of Sinag, palay prices would regularly go down as harvest time peaks. The PSA says harvest of the dry-season crop peaks every April.

So said that at such time, the local market would have more supply of palay and it would be the right time for the NFA to buy for its buffer.

“Farmers have no ability to store grains for a long time unlike traders who have warehouses so they would quickly dispose of their harvest,” said So. “If the NFA is around, farmers would sell to them. If they’re not present, farmers would of course sell to private traders.”

Aquino said the NFA “continues to intensify its palay buying activities” to beef up its food security stocks for the lean months.

“We have 413 buying stations strategically positioned nationwide and mobile procurement teams deployed regularly especially in far flung areas to accommodate farmers produce,” Aquino said.

“Our cereal procurement fund (CPF) and other logistical requirements were already in place,” he added. ■

Business

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

31

Discounts and subsidies for seniors under more scrutiny than ever

BY MICHAEL MACDONALD The Canadian Press HALIFAX — Tom Hann says too many older people in St. John’s, N.L., are struggling to get by.

That’s why the city councillor, who also happens to be a senior citizen, thought it was a good idea to have the municipality lower the age limit for the discounts it offers seniors seeking bus passes or admission to pools and other recreational programs.

“If there’s anything we can do to take some of the pressure off these people, then let’s do it,” he said in a recent interview, adding that the age limit should eventually be lowered to 55 from 65. “We have a lot of people living hand-to-mouth all the time.”

Hann’s well-meaning proposal was shot down with little debate. A staff report dismissed the idea, noting the cities of Vancouver, Edmonton and Moncton offer discounts only to those 65 and older — though two neighbouring Newfoundland municipalities have lower age limits.

Last week, council voted to keep the age limit where it is.

It was minor a setback for Hann, who plans to keep pushing for a broader discount. But there is evidence to suggest seniors across Canada are facing a quiet backlash against the expansion or retention of longheld entitlements once considered sacrosanct.

In 2014, the ferry service linking the islands off the West

Coast eliminated a discount that allowed those 65 and older to ride for free.

In recent years, TD Bank came under fire for scaling back its seniors program. And some airlines have also cut back on discounts.

In 2015, a report for the Institute for Research on Public Policy concluded it was time for governments, particularly municipal governments, to stop offering price breaks for seniors.

“I don’t think we should be providing special deals or perks to people simply based on their age,” economist Harry Kitchen, the report’s author, told Canadian Business. ”You end up subsidizing some fairly wealthy people.”

In December of last year, there was talk of eliminating the discount offered to seniors who use public transit in Toronto, but Mayor John Tory quickly rejected the idea, saying the lower fares were for “people that have paid their dues.”

Critics say discounts originally intended for low-income war veterans are now being gobbled up by a growing population of rich baby boomers with longer life expectancies.

Statistics Canada says nearly 30 per cent of seniors were considered poor in the mid-1970s.

By 2007, that rate had fallen to 5.2 per cent, prompting suggestions most seniors were getting markdowns they didn’t really need.

Paul Kershaw, a professor at the University of British Columbia, says Canada has suc-

ceeded in drastically reducing senior poverty, which should serve as an inspiration for policy-makers hoping to improve the lives of a more vulnerable group: young Canadians.

“Seniors report the lowest rates of low-income of any age group in the country,” says Kershaw, founder of Generation Squeeze, an advocacy group pushing governments to do more to help millennials and young families struggling to deal with skyrocketing housing prices and lower incomes than their parents had.

“The logic back in the day, which presumed the older demographic was vulnerable, requires revisiting. We need a more nuanced approach.”

Governments in Canada spend less than $12,000 on benefits and services per Canadian under 45, compared with more than $33,000 for every retiree, Kershaw’s group has calculated.

The 2017 federal budget, tabled last month, projected an increase in seniors’ benefits — from $48.3 billion this year to $63.7 billion five years from now — because of inflation and a growing number of Canadians eligible for old age security and the guaranteed income supplement.

As well, rapidly rising home prices have helped boost the net worth of senior families to roughly double that of families under 65, according to figures from Statistics Canada.

“We need to recognize that socio-economic vulnerability has actually shifted toward

“The logic back in the day, which presumed the older demographic was vulnerable, requires revisiting. We need a more nuanced approach.”

younger people,” Kershaw says.

“We can take inspiration from the success we’ve had at mitigating problems for seniors and repeat that for their kids and grandchildren.”

However, more recent figures suggest seniors have been losing ground on the income front.

In February 2016, the Broadbent Institute released a study showing senior poverty — based on Statistics Canada’s low-income measure — had increased from a low of 3.9 per cent in 1995 to 11.1 per cent in 2013.

More importantly, the poverty rate for single women seniors had risen sharply to 28 per cent.

Wanda Morris, vice-president of advocacy for the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, said while it’s true there are seniors who could live without discounts and government subsidies, there is a growing group that needs them.

Still, Morris says it doesn’t make sense to simply offer more help to everyone over 55 or 65.

“The question is: How do we be nuanced in not subsidizing people who don’t need it while still looking after those who

are vulnerable?” said Morris.

“Many (older Canadians) are at their peak earning level and are doing very well. The last thing they need is a subsidy. The answer is ... a nuanced approach.”

As for lowering the age limit for seniors discounts, Morris said it’s important to note that many Canadians under 65 have been pushed out of the workforce earlier than they expected for reasons beyond their control, such as health issues and restructuring.

In July 2015, the Angus Reid Institute released the results of a survey of 2,000 Canadians that found nearly half of retirees were forced into retirement earlier than they had planned — and more than one quarter were struggling to make ends meet.

“They’re not looking for massive entitlements,” Morris said, referring to the members of CARP. “A lot of them are concerned about poorer seniors ...

We have to look at the services that are used disproportionately by poor people, and those that offer a health benefits, allowing us to save costs elsewhere.” ■

Capital raising at record high in Q1 PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Capital raised at The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. (PSE) was at a record high of Php67.04 billion in the first quarter of 2017.

The amount came from an initial public offering (IPO) and a stock rights offering.

The previous highest amount of capital raised during the first quarter in any given year amount-

ed to Php55.90 billion in 2014.

“Our first quarter numbers are off to a good start. They provide strong basis for our target of six to eight IPOs and around Php200 billion worth of capital raised this year. We hope that the additional fund raising mechanisms we have worked on in the past months will provide further support to our targets,” said PSE President and Chief Executive Officer Hans B. Sicat.

The PSE rules for the listing of Dollar-Denominated Secu-

rities and Public-Private Partnership projects were released in November 2016.

Other stock market metrics were also up at the end of first quarter.

The benchmark PSE index advanced 6.9 percent to 7,311.72 while the All Shares index was higher by 5.9 percent.

All sectoral indices also ended in positive territory.

The Services sector showed the biggest growth as it registered a double digit gain of 19.13 percent. It was followed by the www.canadianinquirer.net

Financials index which rose 10.0 percent.

The Holding Firms and Industrial sectors were up at 6.5 percent and 2.8 percent respectively.

The Property sector for its part rose 1.9 percent while the Mining and Oil sector eked out a gain of 1.0 percent.

Meanwhile, total market capitalization of listed companies increased by 5.9 percent in the three month period to Php15.28 trillion.

Daily average value turnover

was slightly higher by 0.5 percent to Php6.82 billion from Php6.78 billion in the first quarter of 2016.

However, there was net foreign selling during the period which amounted to Php18.34 billion.

“As global investors start going back to emerging markets, we hope to see improvement in our daily value turnover. We believe that the Philippine market continues to offer potential good returns to investors,” Sicat added. ■

32

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Technology US regulators accuse Google of underpaying female workers THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN FRANCISCO — Government investigators looking into how Google pays its employees have accused the tech giant of shortchanging women doing similar work to men.

A U.S. Department of Labor official disclosed the agency’s allegations during a Friday court hearing in San Francisco.

“We found systemic compensation disparities against women pretty much across the entire workforce,” Janette Wipper, a Labor Department regional director, testified, according to a report published

by The Guardian.

Google said it vehemently disagreed with the charges, which the Mountain View, California, company said it hadn’t heard until Wipper’s court appearance.

“Every year, we do a comprehensive and robust analysis of pay across genders and we have found no gender pay gap,” Google said in its statement.

Google and other technology companies have been trying to improve hiring practices that have historically doled out most of their technical jobs to white and Asian men. Their efforts to strike a better balance have been mostly unsuccessful so far.

For instance, only 19 per cent of Google’s technology jobs are held by women. Overall, nearly one-third of Google’s more than 70,000 workers are women.

The Labor Department’s probe evolved from a lawsuit filed in January seeking to bar Google doing business with the federal government unless the company complied with an audit of its employee-compensation records. Google has said it has turned over some of the requested records, but withheld other information that it believes would invade its workers’ privacy.

While Google and its peers have been disclosing embarrassing sexual and racial imbalances in their workforces for the past few years, the technology industry so far has kept its compensation practices a closely guarded secret.

The Labor Department is now scrutinizing Silicon Valley for patterns of pay and hiring discrimination under its powers to vet companies that bid for lucrative government contracts. Earlier this year, the Labor Department also sued Oracle, alleging that the business software maker routinely pays white male workers more than their female and non-white counterparts for comparable jobs. ■

“Hyperloop” tube idea would connect Boston to Providence THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Commuters could rocket from Rhode Island to Boston through tubes at the speed of sound under a proposal that’s a finalist in a private company’s attempt to commercialize a new mode of transportation.

The Hyperloop Massachusetts proposal is the shortest of 11 proposed routes around the United States, selected this week by Los Angeles-based Hyperloop One. It would connect Boston to Providence, Rhode Island. The plan also calls for a stop in Somerset, Massachusetts, a town of fewer than 20,000 people near

Fall River. A proponent who submitted the route idea, Holly McNamara, is a member of the town’s board of selectmen.

The propulsion technology involves levitating pods that use electricity and magnets to move through a low-friction environment.

It was first proposed by Tesla co-founder Elon Musk in 2013. ■

Symantec: CIA-linked tools used in cyberattacks against at least 40 targets PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY SAN FRANCISCO — Symantec Corporation, a cybersecurity business, said Monday spying tools and operational protocols detailed in the recent “Vault 7” leak, by Web publisher Wikileaks, have been used in cyberattacks against at least 40 targets in 16 different countries.

Although Symantec, headquartered in Mountain View, California, on the U.S. West Coast, did not mention the origin of the Vault 7 in its Security Response posting, Wikileaks pointed its finger to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) on March 7, when it released a new series of confidential documents.

Code-named Vault 7 by WikiLeaks, the 8,761 documents and files were said to be from an isolated, high-security

www.canadianinquirer.net

“Longhorn has infected 40 targets in at least 16 countries across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa,” Symantec said in a posting on its website.

network inside the CIA’s Center for Cyber Intelligence.

On its part, Symantec called the group using the Vault 7 tools “Longhorn” and notified that the tools used by Longhorn closely follow development timelines and technical specifications laid out in documents disclosed by WikiLeaks, adding that “the Longhorn group shares some of the same

cryptographic protocols specified in the Vault 7 documents, in addition to following leaked guidelines on tactics to avoid detection. Given the close similarities between the tools and techniques, there can be little doubt that Longhorn’s activities and the Vault 7 documents are the work of the same group.” ❱❱ PAGE 38 Symantec: CIA-linked

Technology

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

33

Startups in Japan seeing ample cash but lack of innovators

BY YURI KAGEYAMA The Associated Press TOKYO — Japan Inc. where companies with roots going back decades, if not centuries, have long dominated, is finally warming up to startups.

Major banks and venture capitalists are keen to tap into faster growth by investing in innovative entrepreneurs, when they can find them. Money raised for ventures in Japan reached a record 276 billion yen ($2.5 billion) last year.

That’s up from about 50 billion yen ($450 million) annually after the financial crisis, according to Japan Venture Research Co. Open fields

Silicon Valley still raises 50 times more cash for startups than Japan, but the number of U.S. startups chasing that cash is higher. So there’s relatively more money to go around in Japan, where young, daring risktakers are still relatively scarce.

That helps startups to survive, says Yusuke Asakura, who heads a Tokyo-based angel network of entrepreneurs.

Still, he says Japan needs a change of “mindset.”

“Japanese value hard work, but what creates innovation is not keeping at the hard work but deciding it is too much work and figuring out how not to do it,” said Asakura, who led a turnaround as chief executive at Mixi, a social networking service in Japan.

He now sits on boards of two startups — Raksul, an online service that farms printing work out to plants nationwide, and digital hotel reservation service Loco Partners, which recently was bought by Japanese telecoms operator KDDI. “There is potential for startups in all the old-fashioned sectors,” he said, pointing to growing use of digital tools in education and home-remodeling. “Creating a totally new sector is one way. But there are many old areas that need fixing.”

Cool stethoscope

Arata Ohwa did exactly that: Innovating in an area

where practically nothing had born during the dot.com boom 2009, and Newschanged for decades. of the late 1990s-early 2000s.

Picks in 2013.

His Tokyo-based startup Until recently, such newcom- His company has Classico sells stylish lab coats ers were viewed by suspicion. gotten 1 billion and scrub tops online to doctors The classic example is Takaf- yen ($9 million) and nurses around the world, umi Horie, whose downfall was in Japanese venespecially in the U.S. and Japan. as dramatic as his ascent as a ture money from Classico coats cost about $200 star entrepreneur and founder investors such as each, about seven times more of dot.com Livedoor. He was Globis, Monex and than utilitarian conventional convicted in 2007 for finan- Itochu Technology ones, but are more fashionable. cial crimes that usually do not Ventures.

More recently, Ohwa raised land old-guard executives in “It’s unimagiseed money through crowd jail. Horie, who pleaded inno- nable how easy it funding to begin designing, cent, spent nearly two years in has become to get making and selling ergonomic prison. funding from both stethoscopes that sell from Startups still face other big companies and $380 to $520 apiece. hurdles in Japan, where initial venture capital,” said Classico’s U Scope is made public offerings remain the Umeda. “The culture to of a more pliant material than main exit option, rather than nurture startups and try traditional stethoscopes, whose the relatively easier mergers out new businesses is also basic design has been the same and acquisitions approach typi- growing. That was totally for a century. cal of the U.S. and Europe. absent eight years ago. That’s It can be rolled a big change. up to fit into a And I think that pocket, and docis positive.” tors say it’s light and easy-to-use.

Companies are investing in open Many tongues This year, it won innovation because they don’t want Some startups, Germany’s iF to end up like Sharp or Toshiba [who like software disDesign Award are big-name companies whose tributor Sourand Red Dot Defortunes have fallen in recent years.] cenext Corp., sign Award. serve as bridges “In the medibetween Japan cal industry, and the rest of even if you do the world. what’s considered normal in Sourcenext helped facilithe internet world, everyone Newsmaker tate launches of Dropbox says it’s new,” said Ohwa, 36.

Yusuke Umeda, 35-year-old and Evernote in Japan. Its co-chief executive of Tokyo- iOS and Android voiceHot startups based startup Uzabase, is bank- recognition application, Investment by financial in- ing on a smartphone subscrip- iGotcha, transcribes stitutions and manufactur- tion news service focused on voicemails into text in ers, some of whom are setting business and economic news.

11 different languages. up corporate venture capital Umeda’s NewsPicks service The app sends mesfunds, is driving the startup has attracted 2 million users sages to email and boom. who each pay 1,500 yen ($14) a Facebook Messenger Local companies that once month, 550,000 of them daily accounts by WiFi and tended to think locally with- active users. It eked out a profit collects and organizes out considering overseas mar- last year on nearly 3.1 billion voicemails from a kets increasingly are focusing yen ($31 million) in sales last user’s mobile phone on global platforms, said Akira year, up 63 per cent from 2015. numbers.

Kitamura, chief executive at JaThe service produces original Noriyuki Matpan Venture Research. stories and collects and curates suda, the company’s “Companies are investing in reports from The Wall Street billionaire chief exopen innovation because they Journal, Forbes Japan, Tech- ecutive, founded the don’t want to end up like Sharp Crunch and other news ser- company in 1996 in or Toshiba,” said Kitamura, re- vices. It also adds comments to Japan but has lived in ferring to big-name companies items written by its own pool of California since 2012. whose fortunes have fallen in hired writers and experts.

While the climate torecent years.

“And so they know it’s not ward ventures is graduJapan’s earliest “startup” fake news,” Umeda said. ally improving in Japan, ventures were in the 1970s. The While working for the Swiss it still hasn’t caught up 1980s brought internet giant investment bank UBS, Um- with more globally-minded Softbank Corp., travel company eda found Western financial Silicon Valley, says Matsuda, 51.

H.I.S. and the Culture Con- data services hard to use. He “You can make deals there,” venience Club, a video-rental launched Speeda, a Japanese- Matsuda, who used to work for chain. Online retailer Rakuten language service designed IBM Japan, said of Silicon Valand game company DeNA were for financial professionals in ley. “There are many advanced www.canadianinquirer.net

tools that have been developed in Silicon Valley, and we bring those products and the culture to Japan.” ■

APRIL 14, 2017

CANADA

CAREGIVER NEEDED ASAP Seeking a full time caregiver to assist in an English speaking household environment, to provide personal Care, hygiene, cooking, assist in all aspects of daily routine, with day outings, appointments to a social and demanding middle-age high-quad Male. With light house & yard keeping duties.

Applicant must be Canadian Citizen, Permanent resident, Foreign Worker. Living-in and with valid Drivers license for adapted minivan.

Completed Caregiver’s course or nursing qualifications. Emphasis will be based on reliability, communication skills, comprehension, trust, honesty, loyalty, initiative & flexibility.

Rate of Pay: $13.00/h, plus benefits. Guaranteed 168 hours bi-weekly (plus free R&B). Location: Devon. Alberta. To appy email Glen at maryglen@telusplanet.net

PROVIDE CHILD CARE FOR 4.5 YEAR OLD FULL-TIME, permanent position, $12.00 hour, 32 - 40 hours per week. Start ASAP. Location, Milton, ON. Provide child care for 4 year old. Preferably min. 3 years experience and has first aid certificate.

Duties include; supervision care of child, organize activities for child, instruct child w/ personal hygiene and social development. P/u child from school.

Prepare and serve nutritious meals. Light housekeeping and cleaning duties.

Must speak, read and write English. Education equivalent to high schools graduate in Canada. Accommodation available at no charge on a live-in basis.

(This is not a condition of employment). Relocation costs and medical equivalent to OHIP covered by employer.

Please email resume to jicconsulting@hotmail.com or call mobile: (905) 691 0776

Wanted: Real Estate Secretary Permanent – Full time $26.50 hourly for 40 hours/week Work Setting: Property and Real Estate Law Employer: Event Tours Realty Location: Scarborough Knowledge of English language is a must; College graduate or other non-university certificate or diploma; work experience at least 2 years to less than 3 years; area of work experience –Statistics, Reports and records, Invoices, Financial statements, Correspondence, Contracts, Charts, tables, graphs and diagrams; knowledge of Business Equipment and Computer Applications - MS Excel; MS PowerPoint; MS Word; Electronic mail; MS Outlook is essential

Apply by email to: hr@eventtoursrealty.com

www.canadianinquirer.net

34

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

35

Travel Stepping back in time at heritage farm, village at Western Development Museum

BY JENNIFER GRAHAM The Canadian Press NORTH BATTLEFORD, SASK. — Rising into the blue sky, the grain elevator seems to keep watch over the sprawling Prairie.

The red wooden structure is at home at the Western Development Museum in North Battleford, Sask., surrounded by a heritage farm and village that tell the story of settling the province.

The elevator, originally built in Keatley, Sask., in 1928, was moved to the village in 1983.

Museum manager Joyce Smith says it’s probably her favourite part of the Western Development Museum.

“I mean, that says Saskatchewan and you don’t see them anymore because they’re all being torn down,” said Smith.

Nearby is a vintage railway station that operated for 40 years in Prince, Sask. And next to the station, appearing ready to roll down the tracks, is a steam train, built in 1913.

The village, covering 40 hectares with more than 30 buildings, could delight history buffs, tractor or train enthusiasts, and children.

There’s a farm, a dairy and a North West Mounted Police outpost building

De Havilland Tiger Moth C-GYGU Recreation of a BCATP base, found in the museum.

from 1895, to name a few. All the buildings are open from May to September.

“Some of the buildings still retain their smells,” said Smith.

“For example, the harness shop, because it’s all old leather, so when you go into that building you know that this building was used for that purpose.”

Smith says during the summer there are animals in the corral by the barn.

There are also three steam tractors, which she says “is pretty much unheard of for a museum.”

At the auto garage, the gas pumps still work and are used to fill up vintage ve-

hicles that cruise the village for special events, such as the Those Were the Days Festival, on Aug. 12 and 13.

“We have a fire truck, a 1929 fire truck, that we give rides on, so you crawl up into the back where the firemen would have sat and driven around the village.

We also have Ford Model As, Ford Model Ts, we have some coupes and stuff that we give rides on,” said Smith.

There are blacksmithing, sawmill and ice-cream-making demonstrations on occasion too.

Not to be outdone by the outdoor village, the main building at the museum —

which is open year-round — is a treasure trove of artifacts and facts.

Saskatchewan’s crocodile, “Big Bert,” is calling the museum home until the end of April. Bert is believed to be the world’s most complete Terminonaris robusta crocodile skeleton measuring about 5.6 metres long.

On the walls, a timeline covers Saskatchewan’s history from 1905 to 2005.

Did you know that Girl Guide cookies started in Regina in 1927, or that the first ATM was developed in Saskatchewan too?

“It’s definitely eye-opening,” said Smith.

“And people think agriculture, which I mean of course we are, we’re huge. We have agriculture, but yeah, there’s a lot more.”

Smith says it takes at least two hours to see the museum.

But there’s so much to see that admission passes are also good for the next day.

“If you’re going to take the time to go into all the buildings and look at all the artifacts, read the timeline ... it all takes time.”

If You Go...

The Western Development Museum in North Battleford is located at the junction of Highways 16 and 40.

Admission and hours for all four Western Development Museums in Saskatchewan can be found at www.wdm.ca. ■

Guimaras town to host bike event during Manggahan Festival

BY MA DE LOS SANTOS Philippines News Agency JORDAN, GUIMARAS — The municipality of Jordan in Guimaras province will host a biking event to promote the island province as bike paradise at 6:30 a.m. on April 16.

Dubbed the “Sikaran sa Jordan”, the biking event that began four years ago is expected to attract some 200 bikers from all over the provinces of Negros and Panay islands this year. It will cover 25 km. of on- and off-road trails for a registration fee of PHP80.

“The 4th Sikaran sa Jordan is part of the ‘Manggahan sa Kabanwahanan sang Jordan’, the town’s participation in the Manggahan Festival,” said Councilor Victor Chavez.

The Manggahan sa Kabanwahanan is a celebration of the island province’s famed Manggahan Festival in the towns of Jor-

dan, Nueva Valencia, Buenavista, San Lorenzo and Sibunag. It aims to involve the local government units in the festival, and let the townspeople experience it.

Chavez said the event is expected to boost sports tourism in Jordan, and in the island-province in general. “It supports the province’s bid to be the Bike Paradise of the Philippines,” Chavez said.

“Jordan is a gateway to Guimaras. It has many bike trails ideal for beginner and professional bikers who are after the challenge and fun of biking.”

Moreover, he said, biking promotes a healthy lifestyle needed nowadays.

Last year, about 270 bikers joined Sikaran. “This year, we are expecting more participants because of the affordable registration fee,” he said.

Some of the major bike activities during the Manggahan Festival are: -Bike Fest: Tour de Guimaras scheduled on May 14, with starting line at the

Jordan Central School; -Bike Fest: Enduro National Race on May 19 at Barangay Ravina, Sibunag; -Bike Fest: Fun Ride from Jordan Wharf

www.canadianinquirer.net

to Woodland Bike Park, May 21; and -Bike Fest: 4 Cross/BMX, MTB Cross Country, Kiddie Bike Race on May 21 at Woodland Park in Barangay Ravina. ■

36

Travel

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Laguna beckons with festivals, religious sites and refreshing waters this summer PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY CALAMBA CITY, LAGUNA — Metro Manilans, tourists, vacationers, pilgrims and excursionists may take time to beat the summer heat of the metropolis and partake in the Lenten observance in Laguna’s enchanting festivals, take a dip in the refreshing waters and enjoy the tourism destinations.

In an April tourism advisory on Monday, Dr. Rosauro A. Sta. Maria Jr, department head of Laguna Tourism, Culture, Arts and Trade Office (LTCATO), is inviting the public to schedule their Lenten and summer escapades beginning this month in Laguna.

Sta. Maria has enjoined the Laguna provincial Capitol offices, tourism councils, tourism officers of various towns and cities here and the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region IV-A (Calabarzon) regional office of the province’s readiness to usher in the influx of tourists and travelers in this historic and scenic province.

Laguna boasts of centuriesold churches and houses of worship for the Catholic devotees and Lenten retreat-goers for the traditional “visita iglesia” and other Holy Week rites.

The LTCATO head also offers a host of festivities and celebrations of Laguna towns and cities this month with Luisiana which marks its town anniversary celebration this week organized by the Luisiana Tourism Office.

On April 5 to 7, the ancient town of Pila also celebrates its “Pailah Festival” and presents its come-on to the religious visitors to drop a visit and pay homage for the Lenten respite at its centuries-old and national treasure Pila Church through inquiries from the Pila Tourism Office.

The festivities for a bountiful harvest thanksgiving and agricultural bounty also await tourists and visitors alike to this Laguna’s northeastern town for its yearly “Marilag Festival” from April 4 to 7 organized by the Sta. Maria Tourism Office.

Laguna’s provincial capital of Sta. Cruz also invites tourists and visitors to have a taste of its

ALCANTARA0827 / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

native delicacies and nutritious home-made white cheese by the farmers and rural folk featured during the annual “Kesong Puti Festival.”

For the Lenten goers and the devotees, a pilgrimage to the town of Pakil could also witness its “Turumba Festival” for the parade of the miraculous image of the Virgin of Turumba around town.

The Pakil tourism office also provides details of the religious event-cum-festival with the “Biyernes de Dolores (Unang Lupi)”

on April 7; Piyestang Martes (Ikalawang Lupi) on April 18 and “Piyestang Biyatiko (Ikatlong Lupi) on April 24, 25 and 26.

Festival revelries and traditional crafts on this Laguna town of Liliw will be showcased during its traditional “Liliw Gat Tayaw Tsinelas” or footwear festival with the festivities organized by the Liliw Tourism Office.

Calamba City, birthplace of the National Hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal is gearing up for its “Cityhood Anniversary” on April

21 as a bustling gateway to the Calabarzon region and how this over 200 centuries-old town has transformed into a regional government center.

It is also gearing up for Rizal’s birth anniversary activities in June through the “Buhayani Festival” organized by the City April 21 Calamba City Tourism Office through Net Estrada, Community Affairs Officer IV of the City arts, culture and tourism office.

This new wave city of the Calabarzon region, Sta. Rosa City also gears up for its “Rosas ng Sta. Rosa Festival” salvo and pre-pageant on April 28 and caps with the “Rose Queen” coronation night on May 1. ■ For inquiries on the details of the Festivals, the tourists and visitors may contact Dr. Sta. Maria at the LTCATO office at the Laguna Provincial Capitol in Sta. Cruz at (049) 501-8212; telefax: (049) 501-0464; mobile phones: 0918-651-1303; 0977-188-0095 and through email addresses at: lagunatourism@yahoo.com.ph ; irtd_ltcato@yahoo. com.ph ; hacolaguna@yahoo.com and ltcato2015@gmail.com.

Saudi takes steps Ancient Rome treasures discovered to diversify during subway dig on show tourism attractions THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILIPPINES NEWS AGENCY RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has taken steps to diversify its tourism attractions to retrieve the billions dollars which its nationals spend abroad, Al Sharq Al Awsat local newspaper reported.

After the formation of an entertainment authority, the country announced this week the establishment of the largest cultural, sports and entertainment city in Riyadh.

Besides attracting certain percentage of the money spent by locals during their foreign travel, Saudi Arabia is hoping the city will increase foreign currencies flow through tourists from all over the world.

Saudi investor Dr. Nasser Al Tayar said that an average of 7 million Saudis travel annually abroad, while the city will attract large number among them.

Saudi Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud announced on Saturday that city is the first of its kind in the world with an area of 334 square kilometers, including a major safari area.

He said that the city is part of a plan to diversify the sources of national income, boosts Saudi economy and creates more job opportunities for young people.

The Deputy Crown Prince said that the project whose foundation stone is scheduled to be laid in the beginning of 2018 and the opening of its first phase in 2022. ■

ROME — The long-delayed project to extend Rome’s subway system has brought treasures of the past to the surface and allowed them to be showcased at one of the city’s new subway stations.

Rome city officials this week unveiled the Metro C archaeological exhibit, which features amphora, marble panels, coins and even peach pits dating back to the Roman era.

The permanent exhibit will be on view as passengers descend into the three-story San Giovanni subway station, which is expected to open in 2018.

“For those who will use this metro — this station in particular — it’s a full immersion into the history of Rome and of this site,” said archaeologist Rossella Rea, who is in charge of the www.canadianinquirer.net

Art in the Vatican Museum, Rome.

dig for the Italian government.

Archaeologists said their surveys, which reached an unusually deep 20 metres (yards), indicated the site was once a huge farm. Peach pits, seashells and other organic remains have been found intact and are featured in the exhibit.

SHANICE GARCIA / PCI

Lines on the southeastern section of Metro C have been operational since 2015, while northern lines near the city centre are still under construction.

The project has been delayed for years by the repeated discovery of ancient underground treasures. ■

FRIDAY APRIL 14, 2017

37

Food This strawberry season, make a dessert inspired by cannoli

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press

COOKING ON DEADLINE:

Burrata and Prosciutto Pizza

BY KATIE WORKMAN The Associated Press IF YOU haven’t had the chance to try burrata, I would be honoured if this recipe became the first occasion. Burrata is a semisoft, white Italian cheese made from mozzarella and cream. It is like the silkiest, creamiest fresh mozzarella, with a rich molten cream filling as a bonus.

And here it is paired with another Italian culinary triumph, prosciutto. Prosciutto is a ham made from selected legs of pork, slow cured with sea salt. The end product is sweet and delicious, with a wonderful texture. Prosciutto aged for 12 months will be less expensive and have a more delicate flavour and softer texture, while more aged prosciuttos will be denser and deeper in taste.

This pizza is made without tomato sauce, which allows the flavour of the burrata and the cured ham to shine, punctuated by the herby oregano. The prosciutto isn’t cooked, but rather just draped over the finished pizza, where it is gently warmed, preserving its texture and singular flavour.

You can use any storebought pizza dough. If you can find the super-convenient type that is rolled up in a tube in the dairy aisle, it will save you some stretching and pulling, which can be fun but takes a bit longer.

Burrata and prosciutto pizza

Start to finish: 25 minutes Serves 2

• 1 tablespoon cornmeal • 9 ounces pizza dough, at room temperature • Olive oil as needed • 8 ounces burrata • 4 slices paper thin slices prosciutto • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper to taste Place a baking sheet in the oven and preheat the oven to 425 F. Sprinkle the cornmeal on a flat cutting board or a pizza peel if you have one, and stretch and pat the dough into a circle about 8 inches in diameter. Let it sit for several minutes, then stretch it a bit further, into a 10inch circle.

Allow it to rest between gen-

tle pulls until it holds its shape and remains about 1/3-inch thick. Brush the top lightly with olive oil.

Remove the hot baking sheet from the oven and swiftly slide the pizza dough onto the baking sheet. Bake the dough for about 10 minutes until it is fairly firm and lightly browned, but not cooked through.

Remove the pizza from the oven. Tear the burrata into small pieces and distribute them over the dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Return to the oven and bake until the dough is cooked through and the burrata is melted, about five more minutes.

Remove from the oven, then drape the slices of prosciutto over the top of the pizza, allowing the burrata to peek through.

Sprinkle the oregano leaves over the top, and season with salt and a nice grind of black pepper to finish. Cut in wedges to serve.

Nutrition information per serving: 744 calories; 356 calories from fat; 40 g fat (18 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 114 mg cholesterol; 1802 mg sodium; 58 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 34 g protein.

I DEVELOPED this recipe to take advantage of strawberry season. Some of you are naturally scratching your head.

“Strawberry season? Name a time of year that isn’t strawberry season.” And it certainly can feel that way.

Strawberries are grown in all 50 states and, depending on the state, the season can be as short as a few weeks or as long as 11 months. But the heart of the strawberry season — the sweet spot of the year when you can count on finding juicy, delicious and locally grown strawberries at your supermarket or farmer’s market — is April through June.

Now that the goodies are at hand, here are a few tips about how to buy and store them. Start by selecting the specimens that are unblemished and smooth and, most important, bright red from tip to tail. Then, pick one up and take a whiff. It should smell strongly of ... strawberries.

When you get the winners home, put a layer of them in a shallow bowl lined with paper towels. Cover and store the berries in the refrigerator and try to eat them within a few days.

(Local strawberries are more perishable than the commercial varieties.) Do not wash or hull the berries until right before you’re ready to eat them.

When the moment arrives, simply put the strawberries in a colander and run some cold water over them. Then lift them out and let them drain on paper towels.

What makes this recipe Italian? The filling used to stuff these berries is a twist on the mixture of ricotta cheese, candied orange and chocolate that’s piped into cannoli. The difference is that I substituted Neufchatel for ricotta because it’s

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tangier and more assertive and teams up better with the berries.

This dessert is a simple and elegant way to end a meal now that spring has sprung — and it only takes 20 minutes to make.

You can even prep the strawberries and stuffing ahead. But don’t stuff them until the last minute. You don’t want the sugar in the filling to make the berries soggy.

Italian stuffed strawberries

Start to finish: 20 minutes Servings: 4

• 1 pound strawberries • 2 ounces Neufchatel or onethird less-fat cream cheese (about 1/4 cup), softened • 1 teaspoon sugar • 3/4 ounce bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped • 1 teaspoon grated orange zest Cut each strawberry in half lengthwise through the cap.

Arrange the strawberry halves, cut side up, on a serving plate.

Trim a thin slice from the bottom if necessary to make each half sit evenly. Using a small spoon or melon baller, scoop out a hollow in the centre of the cut side of each strawberry. Reserve the strawberry scraps for another use (or eat them).

In a small bowl combine the cream cheese and sugar; stir in the chocolate and orange zest. Divide the cream cheese mixture into the hollows in the strawberries and serve.

Chef’s Note: You can prepare the strawberries and the filling several hours ahead of time but do not stuff the strawberries until right before serving.

Nutrition information per serving: 104 calories; 50 calories from fat; 6 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 10 mg cholesterol; 47 mg sodium; 12 g carbohydrates; 2 g fiber; 9 g sugar; 3 g protein.

38

Food

APRIL 14, 2017

FRIDAY

Out flank old ideas of flank steak with this rolled version THE CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA DO YOU ever have the feeling that the world is lying to you?

That everyone else in humanity has agreed to love something terrible, and you have to play along or risk looking like a fool?

While we’re in agreement that some things really are the worst, it’s also true that some great things just get a bad rap.

Which is why we’re here to ask you to give something we love just one more chance.

It’s likely you’ve had an unfortunate bite of flank steak, which was probably dry and chewy and flavourless. Maybe that steak came out of your kitchen, and you served it feeling like a flank-failure, yet again. After all, everyone loves flank steak. What do they know that you don’t?

The truth is, flank steak can be hard to get right. It’s a tough cut of meat from the abdomen of a cow, which is not as forgiving as a rich ribeye or tender filet. It’s not a melt-in-yourmouth kind of steak, and no matter how well you cook it, it will always retain some chewiness.

You want to get it right, though, because its flat, uniform shape makes it the perfect cut of meat for feeding a crowd.

Throw it on the grill, and it’s Taco Tuesday. Put it under the broiler, and that’s a London

broil (yup, that’s flank steak) that will yield leftovers for days.

Flank steak is most commonly hyped as a “hot and fast” meat that should be cooked to medium-rare (but not more!) in as little time as possible. It shines when marinated and cooked to a light char, sliced thinly against the grain. And while that’s a great, super-fast option, flank steak also moonlights as a succulent roast.

The Culinary Institute of America’s recipe for Chimichurri-Stuffed Flank Steak is the game-changing recipe you need. Filled with tangy chimichurri sauce, the steak is rolled into a pinwheel and roasted for less than 30 minutes. Sliced and served medium-rare, it’s tender and juicy, without the day-long cook most beef roasts require (and at a fraction of the price).

Chimichurri is a rustic sauce, hugely popular in Argentina and other South American countries, made from parsley, vinegar, and plenty of garlic.

It’s tart, fragrant, and so bright, fresh and flavourful, making it the perfect complement to an otherwise understated cut of meat. If you have any leftovers, chimichurri is great tossed with roasted potatoes and vegetables, as a sandwich spread, or stirred into rice for a quick side.

You’re probably going to be hooked on this sauce, but remember that you can stuff your flank steak with virtually anything. Try cheese, caramelized

onions, roasted garlic, mushrooms, or maybe just your favourite spice blend. You can even marinate the meat beforehand for a boost of flavour.

You’re now armed with a great recipe and the confidence to tackle flank steak. Remember these top tips for making it perfect: cook it medium-rare, slice against the grain and marinades make everything better.

Chimichurri-stuffed flank steak

Start to finish: 2 hours 40 minutes (Active time: 40 minutes) Servings: 8 servings

• One 3-pound flank steak • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided use • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, divided use • 1 cup Chimichurri Sauce (recipe below), divided use • 2 tablespoons olive oil Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Lay a piece of plastic wrap that is just larger than your steak on a work surface.

Lay the flank steak on top of the plastic, then cover with a second piece of plastic. Use a meat pounder to flatten the meat into an even 1/2-inch-thick piece. Discard the plastic wrap.

Season the meat with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Spread 1/2 cup of chimichurri over the surface of the meat, leaving a 1/2-inch border near the edges.

With the long side facing the

Tillerson: US can...

Trump and Xi had “very extensive discussions” about the North and “a full range of options” were discussed between the two leaders as they met one on one for “quite some time” to discuss the issue.

The talks were also “very open” and “very candid,” he said.

“President Xi expressed agreement that the situation has reached a new level of seriousness and threat. He expressed a view that he wanted to be supportive in terms of causing the regime in Pyongyang to change its view around ❰❰ 22

counter, begin tightly rolling the steak away from you until the filling is fully enclosed. If desired, use three toothpicks to secure the roll as you tie the steak.

Use kitchen twine to tie the rolled steak in 1-inch increments to help it maintain its shape. Season with the remaining salt and pepper.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the steak to the hot pan and sear until golden brown on all sides.

Carefully transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet.

Transfer to the oven and cook until a thermometer inserted into the centre of the roast reads 125 degrees F. Remove from the oven and rest for 30 minutes.

Slice and serve with the remaining chimichurri sauce.

Chimichurri sauce

Makes about 1 cup (8 servings)

• 1 cup finely chopped parsley leaves (from about one 4-ounce bunch) • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh oregano • 1 shallot, minced • 6 cloves garlic, minced • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar • 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt • 1 teaspoon sugar • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes Combine all of the ingredients in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavours to develop.

Nutrition information per serving: 390 calories; 224 calories from fat; 25 g fat (6 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 111 mg cholesterol; 698 mg sodium; 3 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 37 g protein.

Symantec: CIA-linked... the future need for those weapons,” Tillerson said.

“China has expressed on multiple occasions, and they reaffirmed it in our discussions with us here in Mar-a-Lago, that their policy is unchanged and that is for a denuclearised Korean Peninsula,” he said, referring to Trump’s resort in Florida where the summit talks took place.

Tillerson also said he expects China to take additional steps pressuring the North.

“We expect that they will.

They have indicated that they will. And I think we need to allow them time to take actions,

and we will continue to be in very close discussions with them,” he said.

Asked what message the North should take from last week’s US missile strikes against Syria, Tillerson said, “If you violate international norms, if you violate international agreements, if you fail to live up to commitments, if you become a threat to others, at some point a response is likely to be undertaken.”

In response to a question if the US is drawing up a plan to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Tillerson said he is aware of “no such plans.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Active since at least 2011, Longhorn has used a range of back door Trojans in addition to zero-day vulnerabilities to compromise its targets, infiltrating governments and internationally operating organizations, in addition to targets in the financial, telecoms, energy, aerospace, information technology, education, and natural resources sectors, according to Symantec. And all of the organizations targeted would be of interest to a nation-state attacker.

“Longhorn has infected 40 targets in at least 16 countries ❰❰ 32

across the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and Africa,” Symantec said in a posting on its website.

“On one occasion a computer in the United States was compromised but, following infection, an uninstaller was launched within hours, which may indicate this victim was infected unintentionally.”

In addition, before deploying malware to a target, the Longhorn group has been found to preconfigure it with what appears to be target-specific code words and distinct domains and (Internet Protocol) IP addresses for communications back to the attackers. ■

Food

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