Philippine Canadian Inquirer #329

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JULY 20, 2018

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VOL. 7 NO. 329

FLOODED ROAD

Commuters wade in the middle of the flood at Zapote road in the boundary of Las Piñas City and Bacoor City as no vehicle was able to pass in the area even at past midnight of Tuesday. Story on page 11.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

China never asked for any in return of aid, Duterte asserts

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA — China has never asked for anything, “even one square of real estate,” in exchange for its assistance to the country, President Rodrigo Duterte maintained Tuesday.

Duterte made this remark as he led the

groundbreaking ceremony for the two bridges that the Chinese government will build for free along Pasig River.

“Personally I’ve been to China. I have talked to the leadership of the government and have had the honor of meeting President Xi (Jinping) and talked about a lot about friendships and coopera-

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30 Why do people bully others?

❱❱ PAGE 3 China never

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❱❱ PAGE 26

Build, Build, Build ‘light-years ahead,’ economist says

Philippine News

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JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

SWS: 4 out of 5 Pinoys see lack of gov’t action over China moves in West PH Sea

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer A LATEST Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed that four out of five Filipino adults think that the government must take more action against China’s militarization on the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

In its June 2018 survey released on Saturday, July 14, 81 percent of survey respondents said it is “not right” for the Philippine government to “leave China alone with its infrastructures and military presence in the claimed territories.”

Likewise, 80 percent of Filipinos believe that the government should strengthen the country’s military capability, particularly the Philippine Navy (PN).

Seventy-four percent of them, meanwhile, think that it is right for the government

to discuss the issue with international organizations such as the United Nations (UN) or Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for a “diplomatic and peaceful” negotiation with Beijing regarding the claimed territories.

While 73 percent of the respondents said it is okay for the Philippines to “have direct, bilateral negotiations” with China to tackle the resolution of the issue of the claimed territories, and 68 percent still believe that the government should just ask other countries “to mediate the issue.”

Awareness level

The SWS also found out that 81 percent of Filipinos are aware of the WPS conflict even before the interview was conducted, with 12 percent of them having “extensive” knowledge, 40 percent having “adequate” knowledge, 43 percent having “only a little” knowledge, and

Pres. Duterte and Xi.

five percent having “very little” knowledge about the issue.

“The remaining 19% learned about the issue only during the interview,” the pollster said.

Net trust in Beijing

Meanwhile, the recent sur-

ACE MORANDANTE / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

vey also revealed that China’s net trust rating went down to a “bad” -35.

It found 18 percent of the survey respondents with “much trust,” 27 percent “undecided,” and 53 percent with “little trust” in China.

“This is a 42-point decline, and two grades down, from the neutral +7 in March 2018. This is the lowest since the bad -37 in April 2016,” the SWS said.

China’s net trust rating also got a “bad” -38 among those who were aware of the issue, compared to the “poor” -22 among those who just learned about the conflict during the interview.

It was also at “bad” levels despite public’s satisfaction with President Rodrigo Duterte.

“It was highest among those who were dissatisfied with the President, at -42, followed by those who were undecided, at -39, and among those who were satisfied with him, at -32,” the pollster noted.

The latest SWS survey, conducted from June 27 to 30, 2018, used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults (18 years old and above) nationwide; 300 each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. ■

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Philippine News

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China never... ❰❰ 1

tion,” Duterte said in his speech.

“I just like to tell everybody that in all of these discussions, China never asked for any, not even a one square of real estate in this country,” he added.

Duterte said he and the Chinese leader promised to deal with The Hague-Permanent Court Arbitration’s ruling, which nullified China’s ninedash line claim in the disputed West Philippine Sea. “We will discuss this at some other time, as China has to deal with individually bilateral relations and issues,” Duterte said.

“We will allow them the sufficient period to sort out things and I’m sure that in the end, China will be fair and the equity will be distributed,” he added.

For the meantime, Duterte said China and the Philippines will continue to talk about concerted efforts that would help both countries in achieving economic progress.

“But in the days to come, we would realize that China, after all, is really a good neighbor,”

Duterte said.

In his speech, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua said the groundbreaking ceremony of the two bridges will serve as a ‘fresh starting point’ for more projects and efforts to further boost the relations of the two countries.

Zhao also assured that the Philippines will not fall into ‘debt trap’ with China’s soft loans being offered for the implementation of Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ infrastructure program.

“Under the wise leadership of President Duterte and his economic management team headed by Secretary (Carlos) Dominguez, they are smart enough not to allow the Philippines to fall into the so-called debt trap,” Zhao said. ■

Malacañang defends docking of Chinese ship in Davao City

BY AZER PARROCHA Philippine News Agency

“Only those afflicted with Sinophobia will find the routine incident objectionable,” Roque said in a press statement.

Earlier, Philippine Navy spokesperson Cmdr. Jonathan Zata said the ship, which will only stay in the country until July 19, was granted diplomatic clearance by higher authorities.

We had Chinese warships calling on our ports in the past the same as with any other warships from other countries,” MANILA — Malacañang on Zata said.

Tuesday defended the docking Last month, a Chinese plane of a Chinese vessel in Davao also landed and refueled in City on Monday, stressing that Davao City after it was given all nations which the Philipspecific conditions for complipines maintains “friendly ties” ance. It was on its way to New with may dock Zealand for a biat the country’s lateral military ports. exercise.

Presidential Department spokesperson We had Chinese warships calling of National DeHarry Roque on our ports in the past the same fense (DND) made this reas with any other warships from Secretary Delmark after the other countries. fin Lorenzana Philippine Navy defended this, reported that noting that it Chinese vessel, was part of “proYuan Wang 3, docked in Davao He also noted that there was cedure” done by even Philippe City Monday for replenishment. “nothing unusual” about the Air Force planes when going Roque also pointed out that docking of the Chinese ship, abroad. whoever finds the Chinese ves- noting that it was similar to any Chinese Ambassador to the sel docking in the Philippines as other foreign ship calling on Philippines Zhao Jianhua also alarming may have Sinophobia Philippine ports. stressed that all standard proor the fear or dislike of China, “It’s completely routine, tocols in the Philippines were its people, language or culture. nothing unusual about the visit. followed. ■

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JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

Different bilateral, multilateral meetings on WPS urged

BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Philippines must consider several bilateral and multilateral meetings in handling the issue of its territorial claims in the West Philippine Sea aside from its dual talks with Beijing and the consultations within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an official said Thursday.

The suggestion came as the country commemorated the 2nd anniversary of the Permanent Court of Arbitration July 12 ruling.

At a forum organized by the Albert del Rosario Institute at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City, Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said the country can enter into a sea boundary agreement with other claimant states.

One scenario is the Philippines and Vietnam venturing into such a deal over its over-

lapping extended continental try in the Spratlys generates also expressed optimism that shelves beyond the Spratlys. an exclusive economic zone as through calls for multilateral The premise of the agree- ruled by the Arbitral Tribunal. and bilateral cooperation, the ment would be on the lack of Consequently, there are no region may avert conflict on a geologic feature in the Spratlys EEZs from these islands that global scale. that generate an exclusive eco- will overlap with the EEZ of “With stakes this high, this is nomic zone (EEZ) as ruled by Borneo or Palawan,” he said. not the time to look for somethe Arbitral Tribunal.

Former foreign affairs chief one or something to blame; this Once the two countries estab- Albert del Rosario echoed is the time to find solutions for lished there is no overlapping similar sentiments, saying Ma- the benefit of us all,” she said.

EEZ between July 12 marks them, the sea the 2nd anniverboundary will be sary of the Perthe median line, manent Court Carpio said.

The path to gaining the support of Arbitration “There can be of the community of responsible Award, handno dispute on nations remains. ing its landmark this,” he added. ruling that in“Such an agreevalidated China’s ment adopts a nine-dash line, ruling in the award by state nila can still move forward on which claims at least 80 percent practice, even if China is not a the West Philippine Sea issue of the South China Sea. party to the agreement.” through bilateral engagements Meanwhile, he noted a simi- with other states, as well as Moving forward lar sea boundary agreement through multilateral ones with While there is still a long way can be entered into between the United Nations. to go in the settlement of comthe Philippines and Malaysia to He underscored that with an peting claims in the West Philipdelineate their adjoining EEZ all-out effort to pursue these, pine Sea, Carpio said “not all is between Borneo and Palawan. “the path to gaining the support doom and gloom” with the Phil“The premise of this agree- of the community of respon- ippines’ position in the area. ment is again that none of the sible nations remains.”

“I am heartened that Secreislands claimed by either counVice President Leni Robredo tary of Foreign Affairs Peter

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Cayetano has drawn a red line on Scarborough Shoal. That red line is: China cannot build on Scarborough Shoal. This should be the red line of the Philippines and the Filipino people,” he said.

Carpio urged the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to further promote this, saying the agency should campaign among ASEAN states, in particular among those states prejudiced by the nine-dashed line, to make Scarborough Shoal also the bloc’s red line.

He added that the DFA should also campaign for the United States to make Scarborough Shoal the official red line under the Philippine-US Mutual Defense Treaty.

Carpio said it was former US President Barack Obama who originally told President Xi Jinping in 2015 that Scarborough Shoal was a red line.

“Moreover, the U.S. has recognized Scarborough Shoal as part of Philippine territory when the US was still the colonial power in the Philippines,” he said. ■

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FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

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Philippine News

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

We will continue to assert ‘what is ours’ in WPS: Palace

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA — Two years after the Philippines won an arbitration case against China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), Malacañang on Thursday said the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte will assert “what is ours” while moving on with bilateral ties with Beijing.

“We assure the public that on the second year of the anniversary, we will continue to assert what is ours while we move on with our bilateral relations with China,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing.

On July 12, 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), based at The Hague in the Netherlands, released a landmark decision that invalidated China’s nine-dash line map, which covers nearly the whole of South China Sea. The 501-page PCA ruling also said “there was no evidence that China had historically exercised exclusive control over the waters or their resources.”

Roque explained the PCA’s verdict covers only the legal status of reefs, rocks and artificial islands and not the disputed islands in the Scarborough Shoal and Spratly Island groups.

“We are decided to move on issues which are non-controversial because we know that the final resolution particularly on the issues of sovereignty on the disputed islands will take many, many, many years to resolve since this was not a subject of the arbitral ruling that we won two years ago,” he said.

Harry Roque.

China had rejected the international tribunal’s ruling which it called “null and void.”

With China’s action, Duterte had decided to temporarily set aside the PCA ruling to give way to peaceful and friendly dialogues that eventually revived China-Philippines relations.

Duterte, however, told Chinese President Xi Jinping that he would raise the arbitral decision before his term ends in 2022.

For now, Roque said concerns about WPS, including China’s alleged militarization of the dispute territory, are being discussed in the Bilateral Consultative Mechanism (BCM).

“I have said that we are discussing this in the bilateral mechanism that we have with China, which also has the effect of a protest,” Roque said.

Contrary to alleged inactions by the Duterte administration, Roque said “the President has publicly protested in some instances.”

“And I know of formal protests filed directly with the embassy upon expressed direction of the President ‘no.

So we have said all this; we are not hiding what we have been doing to protect our sovereignty and sovereign rights in the disputed areas of the West Philippine Sea,” Roque said.

Roque dared former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay to file an impeachment complaint if the latter feels government’s inaction against China’s aggression is betrayal of public trust.

“He should file impeachment if he wants. He’s welcome. It’s a free country, they can file it and we will meet them in court,” Roque said. ■

PCOO

House won’t give up federalism push

BY FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES Philippine News Agency

ably change. And we are optimistic that upon understanding the need for this shift in our system of our government, the Filipinos will ultimately embrace MANILA — Deputy Speaker Gwendo- federalism,” Garcia said. lyn Garcia on Monday said the House “Only an informed populist can truly of Representatives will not give up in make an intelligent and responsible deits push for federalism amid a recent cision on the issue of abandoning the survey, which showed that a majority of unitary and centralized form of governFilipinos oppose a shift to a federal form ment we have been accustomed to for so of government. long and adopting a novel federal form According to the latest Pulse Asia sur- of government,” she added. vey, 62 percent said She said surveys ofthey were not in favor ten come and go and of federalism, 28 perare dependent upon cent said they were a particular mood at in favor while 10 pera given moment. cent said they didn’t We are The same survey know or couldn’t say. confident that as also showed that In a press conferwe continue and two in three Filipience, Garcia said the step up massive nos or 67 percent lower chamber will information were against current support the fulfillcampaign as moves to change the ment of President regards a federal 1987 Constitution.

Rodrigo Duterte’s system of Meanwhile, Gaadvocacy on federalgovernment, the briela Rep. Emmi de ism, which is one of public opinion Jesus said the survey his key election platwill invariably results only prove forms. change. that there is really no “The President public clamor for a when he was still new Constitution. a candidate had Bayan Muna Rep. pushed for this shift… We are in full sup- Carlos Zarate, on the other hand, warned port of the advocacy of the President, those pushing for Charter change to stop which is why we will continue the push it now or else, “face the people’s wrath.” for this shift to a federal system,” Garcia “The bold writings are very clear on said. the wall: majority of our people are opGarcia stressed the need to step up posed to Charter change and this is the information drive to promote fed- bound to grow as more of its provisions eralism and educate the public about its are exposed as anti-people and will only features. further the self-serving interests of the “We are confident that as we continue present elitist system,” Zarate said. and step up massive information camThe Pulse Asia survey was conducted paign as regards a federal system of gov- from June 15 to 21 with 1,800 responernment, the public opinion will invari- dents. ■

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Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

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Robredo asks PET to disregard OSG comment on poll recount

BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CALIWAN Philippine News Agency MANILA — The camp of Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo filed a manifestation before the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal to disregard the comment of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) on the shading threshold to determine the validity of votes in the ongoing recount on the electoral protest filed by former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. In a 13-page manifestation dated July 13 but was released to media on Monday, Robredo, through her lawyer Romulo Macalintal, said the OSG comment should be disregarded as it is not privy to the threshold shading issue and that allowing its version of events on the shading threshold issue will “erode the very foundation of our democracy.”

Macalintal said the OSG had no basis when it issued a reckless conclusion that the application of the 50-percent threshold percentage does not disenfranchise the voters.

“Once more, in making this reckless conclusion, OSG has revealed to the Honorable Tribunal its lack of knowledge on the ongoing revision, recount and re-appreciation of ballots,” Macalintal stressed.

While Macalintal admitted that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) reminded voters to fully shade the oval beside the name of the candidates of their choice, he said there were voters who were not able to fully shade the ovals.

“In those instances where the ovals were not fully shaded but still met the 25-percent threshold percentage, the VCMs still read and counted the votes cast,” said Macalintal.

The camp of Robredo said the OSG must not be allowed to be used as a venue by losing candidates to disregard the sovereign will of the electorate by applying different rules from those adopted and used during elections by the poll body.

In its manifestation and motion, the OSG asked the PET to affirm its ruling last April, upholding the 50-percent shading threshold in determining the validity of votes in the 2016 vice presidential race.

The OSG argued that there is

no basis for the High Court to grant Robredo’s motion.

“As the People’s Tribune, it is the Solicitor General’s duty to present to the Honorable Tribunal the position he perceives to be in the best interest of the State, notwithstanding the stance of the Comelec on the issue of whether the Honorable Tribunal correctly ruled that it has no basis to impose a 25 percent threshold in determining whether a vote is valid,” it said.

The OSG also sought an extension of the tribunal’s order to comment on behalf of the Comelec so it could study the issue and take the position of the PET. In resolution dated April 10, the PET denied Robredo’s plea to direct the head revisors to apply the correct threshold percentage as set by the Comelec in the revision, recount and re-appreciation of the ballots, to expedite the proceedings for lack of merit.

Last April 19, Robredo filed a motion for reconsideration, asking the PET to set aside its April 10 resolution, denying her plea for the 25-percent threshold to be applied.

The threshold adopted by the Comelec is designed to scan ev-

VP LENI ROBREDO / FACEBOOK

ery oval on the ballot and count as a valid vote those that contain appropriate marks based on pre-determined sharing threshold.

On June 29, 2016, Marcos filed the protest, claiming that Robredo’s camp cheated in the automated polls in May that year.

In his protest, Marcos contested the results from 132,446 precincts in 39,221 clusters, covering 27 provinces and cities.

Robredo won the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes. ■

PDEA to launch project to keep children away from drugs

BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CALIWAN Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is set to launch a project aimed at keeping children off the streets and away from the evil effects of drug use.

PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino said Tuesday the project, to be called “Sagip Batang Solvent”, aims to rescue street children from the drug trade and drug abuse, with sniffers of solvent as primary targets.

He noted that the sight of children sniffing solvent on the streets and their involvement in illegal drug activities have long been regarded as a perennial problem in the country’s

busy thoroughfares and urban areas.

“What these children need is a sense of belonging. They belong to their homes under their parents’ care, and in schools where they are supposed to learn and grow, not on the streets where they are left to fend for themselves,” Aquino said in a statement.

To develop the protocols of the program, a Technical Working Group, headed by the PDEA – Preventive Education and Community Involvement Service, was created. PDEA is set to hold a series of consultative meetings with the departments of social welfare and health, Commission on Human Rights, local government units and local police, and other stakeholders, to thresh out issues and concerns prior to the project’s

launch and implementation nationwide.

The basic components of the rescue program will be anchored on the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 9165 or “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002”; RA 9344 or “The Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006”; Presidential Decree (PD) No.1619 or “Penalizing the use or possession or the unauthorized sale to minors of volatile substances for the purpose of inducing intoxication or in any manner changing, distorting or disturbing the auditory, visual or mental process”; United Nations on Drugs and Crimes Plan of Action; and UN Children’s Rights.

“PDEA emphasizes the important role of parents in keeping these kids off the streets. www.canadianinquirer.net

The parents, as head of the basic unit of society, must be responsible for starting anti-drug awareness and prevention in the family,” he said.

Project: “Sagip Batang Solvent” will establish facilities to rehabilitate and reform rescued street children in the communities.

General intervention, such as education, talent and skills development, dual training system, in partnership with industries, counseling and values formation, volunteerism program, and livelihood and entrepreneurship training, are also provided under the program.

PDEA is appealing to big corporations and business owners to include Project: “Sagip Batang Solvent” as part of their corporate social responsibility and support the government’s

drug demand-reduction efforts by lending financial assistance.

“Poor families and their children are easily lured into illegal drug activities for lack of any decent means of livelihood.

This mirrors the prevailing sociological aspect of the drug problem. Poverty alleviation is a necessary component for success in the national antidrug campaign, and this is one area where big corporations as benefactors can help the government,” Aquino said.

“Education and skills trainings are permanent solutions to the problem. It is about time we have a rescue program solely designed for children to keep them off the streets for good,” the PDEA chief added. ■

Philippine News

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JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

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Senators Grace Poe (left) and Chiz Escudero (right).

GRACE POE / FACEBOOK

Senate won’t approve any move postponing 2019 polls

BY JOSE CIELITO REGANIT Philippine News Agency

and 7 of Article VI. “Personally, wala akong nakikitang legal na paraan para mabago yan ng Kongreso, maliban na lang kung amyendahan ang Saligang Batas. Hindi ito pupuwedeng magawa sa pamamagitan lamang ng simpleng batas na ipapasa ng Kongreso (Personally, I don’t see no legal way Congress can change it, unless we amend the Charter. It cannot be done by a simple law passed by Congress),” Escudero said.

The lawmaker said even if the House of Representatives passes a measure that would postpone the 2019 elections, such measure would not pass the Senate.

He said for a measure to be passed, a three-fourths vote of the Senate is needed, meaning that only seven opposition

against postponing the polls,” Escudero said.

His views were shared by Poe, who said any move to postpone the midterm MANILA — Senators Francis Escudero elections or amend the Constitution and Grace Poe on Thursday said the would need the concurrence of the SenSenate would not approve any law that ate. would seek to postpone the 2019 elec“First of all, I don’t know where Contions, stressing that such law would be gressman Alvarez is getting his facts. unconstitutional.

The Constitution specifically states Their statements were issued after when we’re going to have elections, and House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez on 2019 is certainly an election year. So, Wednesday floated the possibility of okay, you can probably amend the Conpostponing the midterm polls for lawstitution but even if you do, you need the makers to focus on the proposals to reSenate vote,” she said in a television invise the Charter. terview.

But Escudero and Poe pointed out Poe said even if the House of Reprethat for the midterm polls to be postsentatives comes out with an amendponed, the Constitution should have to ment, she believed the Senate, as well as be amended. the public, would not Appearing at a accept it. regular news forum “Hindi nila talagat the Senate, Escuang pwedeng gawin dero said enacting a na no election. Sinabi measure for the purThe Constitution specifically states when we’re na ni Senator Sotto pose would not sufgoing to have elections, and 2019 is certainly nasa Konstitusyon fice since the term of an election year. natin iyan. So kahit legislators and local na palitan pa nila officials from goviyan sa Lower House, ernor down to town mag-usap-usap sila councilors are fixed by the Constitution. voted are needed to reject the bill. doon, kailangan pa rin ng approval ng “Hindi pwedeng i-legislate ’yun (post“Right now there are five members of Senate (It really cannot be done without ponement of elections) dahil maliwanag the opposition, Senator Alan Peter Cay- an election. Senator Sotto has already na ang termino ng kongresista ay tatlong etano could not vote because he is al- said that it’s already in our Constitution. taon at magkakaroon ng halalan kada ready the Foreign Affairs secretary and So even if they change it in the Lower tatlong taon; at ang termino ng senador Senator Leila de Lima is currently de- House, discussed it there, it still needs ay anim na taon at magkakaron ng hala- tained. That’s already seven,” he noted. the approval of the Senate),” Poe said. lan kada tatlong taon para sa 12 miyemThe five active members of the opSenate President Vicente Sotto III bro (It cannot be legislated because it is position are Minority Leader Franklin earlier brushed aside Alvarez’s stateclean that the term of office of congress- Drilon and Senator Francis Pangilinan, ment, also saying that scrapping the men is three years and elections are held Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Risa Hontive- midterm polls would not be possible every three years; and the term of office ros and Antonio Trillanes IV. without amending the Constitution. of senators is six years and elections are “There are already seven opposition Sotto strongly doubted if his colheld every three years for its 12 mem- votes even without including those leagues in the upper chamber would bers),” he said, referring to Sections 4 in the majority who are also probably support the Speaker’s suggestion. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

9

2 ‘China bridges’ to upgrade NCR’s urban connectivity

BY FERDINAND PATINIO Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday said the construction of the Binondo-Intramuros in Manila and EstrellaPantaleon Bridge, which traverses the cities of Makati and Mandaluyong, aims to improve the capacity and efficiency of the road transport in the National Capital Region (NCR) by providing additional fixed links and routes crossing the Pasig River.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar made the remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony of the two infrastructure projects, which was spearheaded by President Rodrigo Duterte and Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua.

“The completion of these two bridges will create a positive impact in terms of alleviating traffic congestion, the beautification of Pasig River, tourism, mobility of goods and services,” Villar said.

“The two bridges are part of the Metro Manila Logistics Improvement Network, which intends to construct 12 bridges crossing Pasig River, Marikina River and Manggahan Floodway,” Villar said.

He added that the bridges will enhance the resiliency of Metro Manila’s

Architectural drawing of Binondo-Intramuros Bridge.

road network against natural disasters such as floods and earthquakes.

Villar noted that the bridge to be constructed in Manila worth PHP4.243 billion, will extend the life of existing bridges around the city by decongesting them from heavy traffic. This will reduce bridge maintenance and cost requirements.

The Binondo-Intramuros Bridge is a two-way, four lane bridge wherein its

SC recommends Martires for ombudsman post

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE COUNTRY’S highest court unanimously recommended Associated Justice Samuel Martires to the soon-to-bevacated ombudsman post.

Supreme Court (SC) Public Information Office head Theodore Te confirmed this in a press conference on July 17, Tuesday.

According to the court spokesman, Martires obtained 11 votes out of the 12 Justices who were present, since Associate Justices Estela Perlas Bernabe and Benjamin Caguioa were not present during the voting.

SC’s recommendation will be sent to the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) to be considered in its official shortlist.

First Duterte SC appointee

Martires is the first appointee by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte in the High court; he was appointed on March

last year.

He replaced retired SC Associate Justice Jose Perez.

Apart from Martires, other candidates for the SC’s recommendation were Ombudsman Special Prosecutor and former Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Edilberto Sandoval and incumbent Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III. Like Sandoval, Martires previously served in the Sandiganbayan as an Associate Justice.

Outgoing Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales will be retiring on July 26.

Morales has been appointed by different presidents in previous administrations; having served the public since 1971 after scaling different judicial offices like Regional Trial Courts, the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Court of Appeals (CA), the SC, and then the Office of the Ombudsman as her fifth government office.

For the said post, she was appointed by former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III in 2011. ■

MARK VILLAR / FACEBOOK

main span is a 90-meter steel box tiedarch bridge. It has a total road length of 734 meters and is envisioned to provide Binondo District a new link to the “Walled City” of Intramuros and vice versa.

On the other hand, the PHP1.229 billion Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge is a re-

constructed bridge with a total road length of 506.46 meters.

The projects, which are part of the Duterte Administration’s “Build, Build, Build” Program, are set for completion in 2020.

“Given the impact of these two bridges, the DPWH will do everything to fasttrack their completion. Expect these bridges to be operational by 2020,” Villar added.

For his part, Zhao noted that the construction of the bridges will realize the plan to upgrade the urban connectivity of Metro Manila.

“Today, we are proudly gathering here to unveil our great plans to upgrade the urban connectivity of Metro Manila.

Moreover, the beautifully designed bridges would also definitely help present a better landscape along the Pasig River, which, in turn, will attract more tourists visiting Manila,” he said in his speech.

The designs of the bridges were prepared by the CCCC Highway Consultants Co., Ltd. while the China Road and Bridge Corporation will be in charge of the implementation of civil works under a grant agreement between Manila and Beijing. ■

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Philippine News

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

DOJ likely to merge Dengvaxia raps vs. Aquino, others

BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CALIWAN Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday said it is likely to consolidate the complaint filed by private individuals and groups and the charges filed by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) before the Office of the Ombudsman against former President Benigno Noynoy” Aquino III, two former Cabinet officials, and several former and incumbent officials of the Department of Health (DOH) in connection with the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia.

This was bared by Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra when sought for a comment on Tuesday.

“Except for the forum, the complaint filed by the NBI is essentially the same as the complaint filed by the VACC. There is a possibility that the complaints may be consolidated to avoid conflicting resolutions.

Chances are, (at) DOJ ang consolidation dahil naunang na-file yung VACC complaint sa DOJ (The DOJ might be in charge of the consolidation since the VACC complaint was filed first at the DOJ,” Guevarra said in a text message sent to the Philippine News Agency.

“Take note that the motion to consolidate should come from any of the parties concerned,” he added.

In a letter signed by NBI Director Dante Gierran addressed to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, the NBI recommended the conduct of preliminary investigation against Aquino and his co-respondents including former budget secretary Florencio Abad, former health secretary Janette Garin

for conniving to introduce the lion and was used for the vacciDengvaxia vaccine in the coun- nation of 830,000 children. try by circumventing procureThe Public Attorney’s Office ment and other government (PAO) earlier cited that there processes. are over 200 deaths which can The NBI said Aquino, Abad, be attributed to Dengvaxia. and Garin should be held liable The NBI said that the purfor technical malversation for chase was made without cerconspiring to unlawfully effect tificates of product registrathe release of savings from the tion (CPR) given to Dengvaxia fiscal year 2015 Mutual Ben- which only received a certifiefit Personnel Fund and use the cate of exemption. same to augment the anti-denThe bureau added there were gue immunization program. irregularities in the issuance of Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

The Volunteers Against the exemption and that “the isCrime and Corruption (VACC) suance of Certificate of Exemp- (e) of Republic Act 3019 or the and Vanguard of the Philip- tion was reduced into a mere Anti Graft and Corrupt Pracpine Constitution, Inc. (VPCI). procedural technicality that tices Act. filed the complaint before the should be complied in order for The NBI said Formulary ExDOJ in February against the the responsible officials to pro- ecutive Council chairperson three and several others for cure Dengvaxia.”

Froilan Bagabaldo and mempossible violation of Section 3 Likewise, the NBI asked the bers Cleotilde How, Cecicilia of Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 Ombudsman to hold Garin, Jimeno, Hilton Lam, Cecilia (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Prac- health undersecretary Kenneth Maramba-Lazarte, Paul Mattices Act); Section 65 of RA Hartigan-Go, former officer- thew Pasco, Imelda Pena and 9184 (Government Procure- in-charge (OIC) of Food and John Wong should also be inment, Reform Act); Article 220 Drug Authority (FDA) lawyer vestigated for violation of the (Technical Malversation) of the Nicolas Lutero; former OIC of same provision R.A 3019.

Revised Penal Code; Article 365 Center For Drug Research and The NBI accused the respon(Criminal Negligence) of the Regulation(CDRR)-FDA Ma. dents of “causing undue injury” Revised Penal Code; and for Lourdes Santiago; OIC CDRR- to the government by giving other violations of the law.

FDA Melody Zamudio ; FDA Sanofi unwarranted privilege Also named as respondents consultants Grace Medina and in connection with the antiin the NBI comdengue vaccine plaint are health deal. officials Maria Last June 4, Joyce Ducusin, Aquino, Abad Julius Lecciones, The NBI accused the respondents and Garin subMaria Wilda Silof “causing undue injury” to mitted their va, Mario Baquithe government by giving counter-affilod, and RosalinSanofi unwarranted privilege in davit each and da Vianzon. connection with the anti-dengue sworn to before The agency vaccine deal. the DOJ panel, also recomheaded by Senior mended that Assistant State former health Prosecutor Rossecretary Paulyn Ubial be in- Imelda Matero; health under- sane Balauag with members, vestigated for technical malver- secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy Senior Assistant State Prossation for pursuing the Degue and Vito Roque; and Sanofi of- ecutor Hazel Decena Valdez, vaccine program project de- ficers Conchita Santos, Oliver Assistant State Prosecutors spite knowing that it was never Charmeil, Guillaume Leroy, Consuelo Corazon Pazziuagan part of the 2015 or 2016 General Jean Antoine Zinsou, Thomas and Gino Paolo Santiago at the Appropriations Act. Triomphe , Joselito del Mundo DOJ in response to the criminal The vaccine was purchased Sta.Ana and Jervin Papelleras complaint filed by VACC and for the amount of PHP3.5 bil- liable for violation of Section 3 VPCI.

www.canadianinquirer.net

PCOO

Last June 22, the complainants submit their reply-affidavits before the DOJ panel of prosecutors during the preliminary hearing of the case.

The panel gave the respondents in the case up to July 20 to file their respective rejoinders.

Also named as respondents are DOH undersecretaries Carol Tanio, Gerardo Bayugo, Lilibeth David and Mario Villaverde; and assistant secretaries Lyndon Lee Suy and Nestor Santiago; health department’s Financial Management Service director Laureano Cruz; directors Dr. Joyce Ducusin, Dr. May Wynn Belo, Dr. Leonila Gorgolon, Dr. Rio Magpantay, Dr. Ariel Valencia and Dr. Julius Lecciones; retired health undersecretaries Dr. Nemesio Gako, Dr. Vicente Belizario Jr., and Dr. Kenneth Hartigan-Go; and Dr. Yolanda Oliveros, who served as Garin’s head executive assistant.

Other named as respondents are officials and employees of the pharmaceutical company Zuellig, which supplied the Dengvaxia vaccine; and Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine manufacturer.

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

11

Pernia says PH Communist rebels remain firm economy may not be in rejecting localized peace talks ready for federalism

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer AS THE administration pushes for a federal shift of government system through Charter change (Cha-cha), the country’s top economic manager said that the Philippines still needs to prepare its economy for federalism.

Ernesto Pernia, chief of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), said in an interview with One News’ “The Chiefs” on Monday, July 16, that the country’s economic growth may be disrupted if the government shifts to a federal system in rush.

“Federalism may be good for the economy and for the people but we really have to do our homework first in terms of preparing well for the country for the economy to be ready for federalism,” he said in the interview.

He explained that other countries took years to change their government systems so the Philippines should not rush it.

“It’s unlikely that the regions will be ready and our concern, my concern is that we are moving now to connect the region, to bring the lagging regions into the mainstream economy and that momentum of infrastructure improvement in the regions is going to be disrupted so it’s not going to be good for federalism,” Pernia added.

Furthermore, the NEDA

head said that another concern is how federalism may affect the country’s balance sheet.

“The expenditure will be immense, he said estimating that fiscal deficit may balloon to six percent or more.

Pernia said, “That’s really going to wreak havoc in terms of our fiscal situation and we will certainly experience a downgrading in our ratings,” as the Development Budget Coordination Committee set a deficit cap for the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) at 3.2 percent for 2019.

‘Burden for economy’

Meanwhile, Senator Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros questioned if the shift to federalism was discussed by the government’s economists.

“I am worried that his (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) federalist vision is not even economically viable and practical in the first place. Instead of redistributing wealth and dispersing economic development to the regions, President Duterte’s federalism might only make the regions poorer and their economies weaker,” she said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Did the government take this into consideration in the drafting of the Federal Charter? Were the country’s economic managers consulted?

Has the economic cost of federalism been studied alongside the impact of inflation and the current state of the economy?”

Hontiveros added.

Economic Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY_FACEBOOK

COMMUNIST REBELS remained firm with their decision to turn down the government’s proposal for localized peace talks, stressing that this move is aimed to ‘isolate’ Jose Maria Sison, founder of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) from revolutionaries.

In a statement on Monday, July 16, the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) said, “Localized peace talks are also a vain attempt to isolate NDFP chief political consultant Jose Ma. Sison from the mass of revolutionaries, because of the crucial role he plays in the GRP (Government of the Republic of the Philippines)NDFP peace negotiations.”

“It could hardly be a coincidence that the latest vilification try against Professor Sison (from rabid anti-communist

Rigoberto Tiglao) has come on the eve of the (President Rodrigo) Duterte regime’s issuance of its guidelines on the localized talks,” it continued.

The NDFP described the said proposal as Duterte administration’s “classic divide-and-rule” tactic, believing that the idea of it is to ‘hoodwink’ local leaders of the CPP and its armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA) to agree to local ceasefire arrangements and then persuade them to surrender.

The political arm of the CPP also hit back at Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and other militarists in the Duterte administration, saying that they are ‘delusional’ if they think that the proposed peace negotiations by the government could be the “key to defeating the armed revolutionary.”

The CPP, through Sison, earlier said it would not engage in the peace talks with the government as the latter only “pre-

tends to want peace while actually waging total war against the people.”

It added that the said negotiations would only waste the people’s money.

Reacting to this, Lorenzana, on Sunday, said Sison’s rants against the government’s proposal are nothing but a noisy distraction.

“Did he think that the government would stop just because the ‘mighty’ Sison rejects it? Fat chance Mr. Sison. Do you really think that you still hold sway over events here in the Philippines? Dream on Mr. Sison,” the Defense chief stressed.

He further told the CPP founder that the “real waste of money” was the money being extorted by Sison and his cohorts from his so-called “revolutionary taxation scheme” to maintain his luxurious lifestyle in the Netherlands.

Classes still suspended as flooding, heavy rains hit PH

BY MA. TERESA MONTEMAYOR Philippine News Agency MANILA — Classes are still suspended in some areas in Luzon and Visayas on Wednesday due to the inclement weather caused by the southwest monsoon enhanced by tropical storm Son-Tinh (formerly Henry) and the low pressure area.

In Metro Manila, classes in all levels in public and private schools were suspended in the cities of Parañaque, Makati, Valenzuela, Marikina, Navotas, Pasig, Las Piñas, Manila, Mandaluyong, Pateros, Muntinlupa, Malabon, Caloocan, San Juan, Pasay, Taguig, Pateros and Quezon.

In Calabarzon region, classes in all levels in public and private schools were suspended in the whole province of Cavite, Laguna and Rizal. Only some areas in Batangas, such as Balayan, Calatagan, Lemery, Lipa, Nawww.canadianinquirer.net

sugbu, and Tanauan have announced class suspensions.

In Bataan and Bulacan in Central Luzon, classes in all levels in both public and private were also suspended, as well as in some areas of Pampanga such as Apalit, Floridablanca, Guagua, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Magalang, Masantol, Porac, San Fernando, San Simon, Sasmuan; and in the provinces of Zambales and Bamban, Tarlac In Mimaropa region, local governments in Abra de Ilog and Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro have announced class suspension in all levels in both public and private schools.

Classes in all levels in both public and private were also suspended in the Ilocos region, particularly in Alaminos and Bani, Pangasinan. In Dagupan City, classes were suspended from preschool to senior high school only in public and private schools. Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains would affect Metro Manila, and

the regions of Ilocos, Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Bicol and the Visayas.

As of 8 a.m., the state weather bureau issued an orange rainfall warning over Metro Manila and the provinces of Rizal, Bataan, and Zambales, which means that flooding in these areas is threatening. Yellow rainfall warning was raised over Pampanga, Tarlac, Bulacan, Cavite, Nueva Ecija and Northern Quezon.

Light to moderate with occasional heavy rains are also affecting Laguna, Batangas, Tarlac, Bulacan, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija and Quezon, which may persist within three hours.

12

Philippine News

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

Proposed federal charter bans Duterte from seeking reelection in 2022

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE CONSULTATIVE Committee (Con-com), which was tasked to review the 1987 Constitution, finally followed President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to ban him from seeking presidency again under a new charter.

Under Section 2, Article XXII (Transitory Provisions) of the “final official copy” of the draft federal charter released to media on Tuesday, July 17, “The incumbent President is prohibited from running as President in the 2022 elections under the Constitution.”

On July 9, Duterte approved “in toto” or almost in full the proposed federal constitution

and will endorse it the Congress; however, he wanted to amend the transitory provisions as he wants to step down before the shift to a federal form of government.

In Section 3, Article XXII of the amended draft, the President “shall call for an election for the Transition President and Vice President in tandem” within six months from the ratification of the Constitution.

The transition president and vice president, according to Article VIII of the new charter, must be a natural-born Filipino citizen, registered voter, college degree holder, at least 40 years of age, and domiciled in the Philippines for at least 10 years immediately preceding such election.

“Congress shall, by law, provide for the conduct of the election and appropriate funds for the purpose,” the Con-com proposal states.

The elected transition president, who will serve until June 30, 2022, will preside over the orderly transition to the Federal System of the Government.

The two leaders will also be “ineligible to run for any public office in the May 2022 elections.”

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. earlier reiterated Duterte’s pronouncement that he will step down from office by 2019 if the new Constitution is approved.

“Sabi nga niya, ito nga ay para maalis lahat ng suspetsa na may ibang balakid pagdating

President Rodrigo Duterte and the Consultative Committee.

sa Charter Change (Cha-cha) at pangalawa nga eh ay pagod na [siya] (He said that this is to remove all speculations that he has other motives with the Charter Change and second

PCOO

is that he is already tired),” Roque said in an interview with DZMM. Roque added that the President wants Filipinos to choose a ‘younger’ leader. ■

Ex-Presidents to attend Duterte’s Tawi-Tawi Vice Mayor 3rd SONA except Aquino 4th local official killed in 2 weeks

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer

AS THE Chief Executive’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) nears, his predecessor, former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III also marks his third absence as he decides to reject the invitation to the annual address this year.

The House of Representatives’ Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Special Affairs Bureau (IPRSAB) confirmed to the media that only Aquino among the previous presidents will not be attending the SONA. The former president has not attended any of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s SONAs ever since he took his Presidential post.

According to IPRSAB, former Presidents Fidel “FVR” Ramos, Manila City Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada, and Gloria MacapagalArroyo confirmed their attendance – especially with the latter who is currently Pampanga’s representative in the lower chamber.

Ramos has been a consistent attendee, not missing any of Duterte’s addresses.

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Ex-President Noynoy Aquino in his SONA. RYAN LIM / MALACANANG PHOTO BUREAU

Meanwhile, Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, Aquino’s party-mate is set to attend, branding it as part of her obligation as the second highest leader in the country.

Former Senate Presidents Juan Ponce Enrile, Manuel “Manny” Villar, and Aquilino Martin “Koko” Pimentel III will also be attending, the same with former House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Jr. Apart from the mentioned guests, other personalities invited include incumbent lawmakers, their spouses, mem-

bers of the Cabinet, Supreme Court justices, and others.

Duterte’s SONA – which is eyed to last in 35 minutes, will be on Monday, July 23 at the Batasang Pambansa in the direction of Director Joyce Bernal.

In a chance interview with reporters, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar confirmed that it was actor Robin Padilla who recommended Bernal to Duterte. The President’s first and second SONAs were directed by renowned director Brillante Mendoza. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

ANOTHER VICE mayor joins the list of killed municipal level officials these past two weeks as SapaSapa, Tawi-Tawi Vice Mayor Alrashid Mohammad Ali Lipae was shot dead on Wednesday, July 11.

According to the police, motorcycle-riding men fired gunshots to Lipae who was riding his car with his wife and security escort in Zamboanga City.

The Sapa-Sapa Vice Mayor is the latest victim to the string of local official killings this July and is the second vice mayor to be killed.

Last Saturday, Trece Martires, Cavite Vice Mayor Alexander Lubigan was gunned to death while riding his sports utility vehicle (SUV).

Though initial investigations have not produced enough evidence, some speculate that the killing was sparked by politics since Lubigan was supposed to announce his intention to run for a mayoral post on Monday.

On Monday, the same week

as Lubigan’s death, Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili was also slain with a gunshot during a flag-raising ceremony in front of the town’s hall.

The day after, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija Mayor Ferdinand Bote was also shot dead.

Both Halili and Bote have been laid to rest, while Lubigan’s burial will be on Sunday, July 15.

This makes Lipae the fourth official to be killed in the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, according to TawiTawi Representative Ruby Sahali, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte was “concerned” about the latest slaying.

“President Duterte was the one who broke the news to me.

He told me he was concerned about the killing of one of our vice mayors in Zamboanga City,” Sahali said in a phone call to Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“This killing will not happen in Tawi-Tawi. The vice mayor has some escorts like the marines and he was a good man, he had no records… not even [linked to] drugs.

I just feel sad that he was killed in a city like Zamboanga. It’s like we don’t feel safe there now,” she further said in the report. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

13

PRRD Year 2: Gov’t reassures 62% approve admin protection, support for OFWs performance on defending territory

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency

MANILA – Officials of different clusters of the Duterte Cabinet have reassured the government’s full support for overseas Filipino workers (OFWs).

At the pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2018 forum on Wednesday, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello said the government has done a lot to help OFWs since President Rodrigo Duterte took his oath of office in mid-2016.

Bello said the Duterte administration has established at least 17 One-Stop Shop Service Centers where OFWs can avail of government services.

In his accomplishment report, Participatory Governance Cluster (PGC) co-chair Benjamin Diokno said 1.22 million OFWs have been assisted by One-Stop Shop Service Centers.

Bello said the first-ever OFW Bank has also been created to respond to the financial needs of Filipino migrant workers and their families.

“We have also put up hotline 1349 where all request of the OFWs will have to be acted upon in 72 hours,” he said.

Bello also mentioned the iDOLE OFW ID Card that can serve as Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) of the OFWs. “This is free of charge for our OFWs. That’s unprecedented because that’s what the President wanted to give to our OFWs,” the labor chief said.

Recently, Bello said the Kuwaiti and Philippine governments, through Duterte’s request, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that provides protection to more than 250,000 OFWs in the Gulf state.

“Right now the cellphones of our OFWs in Kuwait cannot be confiscated by their employers while they have now specific eight hours of works and enough sleeping hours and other benefits,” he said.

He said at least 13,000 OFWs were stranded in Saudi Arabia when Duterte came into office but through the President’s intervention, and with the help of

BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Philippine News Agency

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello (left) and President Rodrigo Duterte.

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, “we were able to bring them home.”

“Through our integration programs, when they (OFWs) came home, they were given financial assistance and livelihood worth PHP20,000,” Bello said.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Manny Piñol also said his department and DOLE have put up a program, under which, OFWs could apply for loans to start business in food production.

For the past two years, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been providing livelihood and entrepreneurship training courses and seminars for returning OFWs. On the other hand, Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Leonor Briones informed the audience about the DOLE-initiated program called “Sa Pinas Maam at Sir Ka”.

“Those principals and teachers working abroad, we encouraged them to come back and apply again because our salaries for teachers are now higher or equal to what they have been getting abroad,” Briones said.

Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Officer-inCharge Prospero de Vera III, for his part, said the Philippine

government has been coordinating with different education ministries abroad to provide mutual recognition degrees for OFWs. Recently, de Vera said Duterte has signed Republic Act No. 11035 or the Balik Scientists Law that seeks to provide incentives to Filipino scientists to entice them to return home and fill in the gaps in scientific and technological expertise in the country.

“We have done a lot of programs and projects and we intend to do more for our OFWs in the coming years,” Bello said.

The forum, themed “Tatak ng Malasakit”, is the second of the three-part pre-SONA 2018 Forum prepared by the Office of Cabinet Secretary and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).

It aims to inform the public about key policies, programs and initiatives implemented by each Cabinet cluster during the second year of the Duterte administration.

The third and last part of the forum, entitled “Tatak ng Katatagan”, will be held on July 18, six days before Duterte’s third SONA, which he said will be finished in not more than 35 minutes. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Holmes said “a plurality” of Filipinos would like the government “to protest the continuous militarization of the Chinese” in the West PhilipMANILA — The Duterte ad- pine Sea. ministration has obtained a In its questionnaire asking 62-percent approval rating in the participants what position its performance with regard to should the administration updefending the country’s terri- hold in the reported Chinese torial integrity against foreign- militarization in the contested ers, a latest Pulse Asia survey waters, four points dominated showed. the response.

Pulse Asia president, Roland A total of 36 percent agreed Holmes, on Thursday revealed that the country should file a the results of a June 15-25 sur- diplomatic protest with the vey, commissioned by the Al- Chinese embassy in the Philipbert del Rosario Institute, in pines and emphasize the deciline with the second anniver- sion of the award. sary of the Permanent Court Some 22 percent said the of Arbitration’s government July 12 award. should strengthOf the 1,800 reen the country’s spondents, 10 permilitary alliance The Duterte cent disapproved with other nawhile 27 percent administration tions, such as Jawere undecided. should assert pan, the United The approval ratour rights States, and Ausing decreased 5 and protect tralia; while 16 percent from a our territorial percent said the March 2018 sursovereignty country itself vey, which then in the West should strengthshowed 67 perPhilippine Sea. en its military cent of Filipinos capability to proapprove of the tect its territoadministration’s ries. performance on On the other the same subject. hand, 21 percent agreed that Meanwhile, at least 73 percent Manila should “continue the believe that the current leader- current action of befriending” ship should assert sovereignty Beijing to avoid conflict bein the West Philippine Sea by us- tween the two states. ing the landmark ruling as basis.

The respondents were asked Countries Filipinos trust whether they agree or disagree In one part of the survey, a that “the Duterte administra- plurality expressed most trust tion should assert our rights in Japan, US, and Australia, as and protect our territorial sov- well as the United Nations (UN) ereignty in the West Philip- and the Association of Southpine Sea, as stipulated in the east Asian Nations (ASEAN).

2016 decision of the Permanent Of 12 options, 74 percent of Court of Arbitration.” the respondents placed trust The statement generated a most in the US, about 45 per73-percent nod, of which 46 cent in Japan, 32 percent in percent “strongly agree”, and Australia, 17 percent in China, 27 percent “somewhat agree.”

14 percent in South Korea, 10 Of the total sample, 2 percent percent in Russia, 9 percent in said they do not have enough the United Kingdom, 5 percent knowledge to give an opinion, in Vietnam, and 2 percent in 7 percent disagreed, and 17 per- India. cent answered they “may agree Among the selections of orgaand may disagree.” nizations, 33 percent had most trust in the ASEAN, 32 percent PH should protest in the UN, and 7 percent in the “militarization” European Union. ■

14

Philippine News

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

Robredo fires at Duterte: Fix economy first

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE COUNTRY’S top two leaders engaged in a word war as the Vice President chooses to speak up against the President’s recent remarks about her ‘incompetence.’

“Ayoko na sana i-dignify pero siguro sabihin ko na lang na imbes na insultuhin ako o ang Diyos, asikasuhin na lang muna ang mga problema ng ating ekonomiya (I did not really want to dignify him but let us just say that instead of insulting me or God, he should fix the problem in our economy,” Vice President Marie Leonor “Leni” Robredo said in a statement on Wednesday, July 11.

This statement came after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Tuesday did not believe that Robredo was competent to lead a country.

“I don’t think she will be

VP LENI ROBREDO / FACEBOOK

ready to govern a country. Reason? Incompetence. She is not capable of running a country like the Philippines,” the President told reporters in Clark, Pampanga.

Duterte, who has mentioned several times his intention to go down from his Presidential

post on past speeches, said if he does resign, he would not do it if it will make Robredo the president but only for the people to elect somebody they wanted.

In response to this remark, the Vice Presidential legal adviser earlier tweeted that Duterte is not in the position to

say such things.

“Inflation: 5.2%. Bigas (Rice): P42/kilo. $1 = P53.51. Dagdag sa pambansang utang (Additions to the national debt): P1.19T. Sariling karagatan: bawal sa Pinoy (Our own waters: prohibited from Filipinos). Trapik: palala pa (Traffic: getting worse). Patayan,

tila araw-araw na lang (Killings, an everyday occurrence),” lawyer Barry Gutierrez said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.

“Incompetent?

Nagsalita ang magaling (Look who is talking),” he added.

The President’s remarks against the Vice President came after she announced the willingness to lead and unite the opposition against the administration.

“Maraming mga grupo na pareho naman ‘yun paniniwala at mga issues na gustong salungatin pero dahil hindi nag-usap-usap, hindi napag-iisa ‘yun boses (Several groups have the same beliefs and issues that they want to oppose but since they are not talking to each other, the voices are not united as one),” Robredo said, adding that she wants to take the role of uniting these voices.

The Vice President was the former chairperson of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC). ■

PRRD to issue EO for ‘localized’ peace talks with NPA

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte will issue an executive order for “localized” peace talks with the New People’s Army (NPA) if the peace talks between national government and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) will not push through, Malacañang said on Thursday.

“So there will be an executive order that will spell out the guidelines that were agreed upon yesterday (Wednesday),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said during regular Palace press briefing.

Roque said the guiding

framework for localized peace talks has been approved during Wednesday’s special cluster meeting of the Security, Justice and Peace Committees at Malacañang Palace.

The meeting was attended by the President, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez and some Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) members.

“This localized peace talks was agreed upon during the last Cabinet meeting if Joma Sison does not want to talk here in the Philippines and to agree to some conditions, our local government officials will be given authority to engage in localized peace talks,” Roque said.

Roque said among guidelines for localized peace talks include: It is nationally orchestrated, centrally directed and locally supervised and implemented.

The constitutional integrity and sovereignty will not be compromised.

Complete and genuine resolution of the local armed conflict. It shall cover the NPAs, organs of political power and Militia ng Bayan.

If there is a ceasefire, the constitutional mandate of the state to protect public safety, civilian welfare, critical infrastructure and private properties and the guarantee of rule of law and order will not be compromised at all times.

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Government goodwill, full amnesty package based on disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration to the mainstream of society.

The necessary enabling environment set by the President for the formal local talks to proceed are local venue, no coalition government or powersharing, no revolutionary taxes, extortion, arson and violent activities and the fighters to remain in their pre-designated encampment areas.

The substantive agenda will be based on the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan and Philippine Development Program 2040.

Roque said officials have also agreed to have four kinds of lo-

calized peace talks such as the localized peace talks between the local peace channel and the local fighters; community dialogue; local peace package; and confidential dialogue.

“Confidential dialogue will be undertaken to a combatant armed group who desires to lie low without open documentation and will not avail of the peace package program,” Roque said.

He said the peace package, on the other hand, is direct availment of the GRP peace initiative intended to provide the integration and mainstreaming support without going through process of peace negotiation. ■

15

Canada News MPs agree to urgent summer Alberta Opposition study of asylum seekers surge won’t release report on vote dust up, cites privacy

BY JANICE DICKSON The Canadian Press

OTTAWA — Under mounting pressure from opposition MPs, the House of Commons immigration committee will meet at least two times before early August to study the simmering issue of asylum seekers crossing into Canada from the United States.

Committee members agreed Monday during a rare summer session to review the government’s response to the irregular border crossers, inviting testimony from Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen, Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale and Jean-Yves Duclos, the minister for families, children and social development.

Members gave a unanimous nod to future meetings after squabbling at length over details and debating the legality of asylum seekers crossing at wooded spots between official ports of entry.

“I believe what the committee decided today was to ensure that Canadians hear the truth, get the story from the government about what their work is, what they are doing, what remains to be done,” said Liberal MP and committee chairman Rob Oliphant following a testy two-hour meeting.

Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel and her NDP counterpart, Jenny Kwan, have been pushing the Liberal government to learn more about its plan to deal with the influx of border crossers.

Kwan reiterated her view that Donald Trump’s America is not a “safe country.”

Canada’s Safe Third Country agreement with the U.S. stipulates that asylum seekers are required to make their claims in the first “safe” country where they arrive — meaning those who come into Canada at an official land crossing are sent back to make their claim in the U.S. The agreement does not

BY DEAN BENNETT The Canadian Press

Rob Oliphant

cover “irregular” or “illegal” asylum seekers — those entering Canada at unofficial points, most notably in Quebec.

According to new numbers released Friday, the RCMP intercepted 1,263 people at the border in June, which is down from 1,869 in May. However, in April, the Mounties intercepted 2,560 people at the border.

Opposition members of the committee expressed concern they wouldn’t have sufficient time to question each minister at the coming meetings.

Liberal members rejected an amendment from Rempel that would have ensured each minister had one hour to testify.

Rempel said she wanted each minister to appear individually so that “it’s not a talking point festival” and to guarantee that MPs would have plenty of time for questions.

Rempel primarily wants to know how the federal government is accounting for the $50 million its giving to provinces to address the issue. Of the $50 million, $11 million will be provided directly to the City of Toronto to help with housing.

Liberal MP Serge Cormier told reporters that the money is coming from the “Parliament

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contingency plan” and reiterated that the cash is there to help provinces handle the situation.

Cormier said the province of Ontario, which has a new Conservative government, doesn’t “want to be at the table” so they’re steering the money directly to Toronto.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said the direct funding was required after Ontario chose to withdraw from its “jurisdictional responsibility around housing.”

Rempel, along with the support of three other opposition members, triggered Monday’s emergency meeting by introducing the initial motion, which called on the committee to undertake a study to review the “adequacy” of the government’s response.

Liberal members voted to axe the word “adequacy” from the motion.

Rempel said she thinks the Liberal MPs opted to flank Hussen with additional ministers because he needs all the support he can get.

“He hasn’t been able to answer questions adequately,” said Rempel, who called his communications with provincial leaders in Winnipeg last week “abysmal.” ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

EDMONTON — Alberta’s United Conservatives say they will not release an internal report on voting irregularities that led to the resignation of one of their legislature members.

The caucus also announced Tuesday it will reimburse the treasury more than $7,000 after Prab Gill charged taxpayers for what turned out to be a party event in February.

Gill resigned from the United Conservative caucus on the weekend following an investigation into allegations of ballotbox stuffing and other voting irregularities at a constituency meeting in Calgary North East, where Gill had been trying to win the party’s nomination.

Jeff Henwood, speaking for the party, said in a statement Monday that United Conservatives won’t release the report to protect the privacy of those interviewed by former Court of Queen’s Bench judge Ted Carruthers in his investigation.

“In completing his investigation ... Carruthers conducted interviews with non-public figures,” said Henwood. “To protect the privacy of those who provided testimony on this issue, the United Conservative Party will not release the final report.

“With the events of the weekend, we now consider the matter closed.”

The NDP caucus said the full report should be released because it’s in the public interest.

Gill, currently the member for Calgary Greenway, declined comment.

In a statement issued after his resignation on Saturday, he said he didn’t agree with everything in the report but said he

accepted its findings.

He said he will finish out the current legislature term as an Independent and won’t be seeking to run for the United Conservatives in next spring’s election.

Gill won a byelection in March 2016 as a Progressive Conservative. The byelection was called after PC member Manmeet Bhullar was killed in a road accident.

Gill joined the United Conservatives when the PC and Wildrose parties merged in 2017.

Also Monday, the NDP caucus demanded Gill and Kenney reimburse taxpayers for a February banquet in Calgary.

At the dinner, Kenney delivered a speech urging people to run for his party in the next election and later on social media called the event a “wonderful evening with UCP supporters.”

Legislature rules make it clear that public money can’t be used for partisan political activities.

The NDP issued the allegation late Monday morning in an email statement. The United Conservatives responded just over an hour later.

“This is clearly an error. We will work to ensure that the taxpayer is reimbursed for the full amount,” said the response.

Neither the UCP nor the NDP made anyone available for comment on either issue.

There have been a few friction points in United Conservative nomination races lately.

On the weekend, the party rejected a candidate from its Brooks-Medicine Hat race for public comments attacking the Muslim faith.

Last month, current member Leela Aheer was nominated in Chestermere-Rocky View after a disputed contest that included allegations of favouritism and abuse of membership lists. ■

16

Canada News

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

An aisle by aisle look at how to buy Canadian at the grocery store

BY TARA DESCHAMPS The Canadian Press TORONTO — Some consumers have vowed to take their patriotism to the supermarket and buy only made-inCanada products after the federal government slapped retaliatory tariffs on dozens of U.S. goods as part of an escalating trade war with the country’s biggest trading partner.

However, avoiding products from south of the border that are on the tariff list is easier said than done, thanks to our integrated economies and the fact that many companies don’t clearly label where their products are made.

The Canadian Press compiled an aisle-by-aisle list of some common grocery list items that are subject to the tariff and spoke to retail experts for tips on how to ensure products are Canadian.

nadian yogurt in the grocery store,” says Mike von Massow, an associate professor of food, agricultural and resource economics at the University of Guelph.

However, he’s noticed that when there are shifts in demand or production constraints, yogurt is sometimes imported to fill in the gaps. To know for sure if the product is Canadian, von Massow recommends looking for the blue cow label that the Dairy Farmers of Canada stamps on products.

Beverages

Coffee (roasted and not decaffeinated): The coffee beans fuelling many Canadians’ morning jolt aren’t grown in Canada or the U.S., but you can find Canadian companies that roast coffee within the country. Kevin West, Tim Hortons head of coffee operations, says most of its coffee is roasted in Canada. Some products from Balzac’s, Loblaw-owned President’s Choice and Muskoka Roastery are Dairy also labelled to say they’re both roasted Yogurt: Most yogurt is made with Caand packaged in Canada.

Joel_CanadianInquirer_print.pdf 1 2017-10-05 3:45 PM nadian milk and the country only imWhiskies: American whiskies, such ports $3 million of yogurt annually, so as Jack Daniel’s and bourbons are now “it is almost impossible not to buy Ca- subject to a 10 per cent tariff. But there’s

plenty of Canadian whisky to go around.

Crown Royal’s Northern Harvest Rye, which was named the 2016 World Whisky of the Year, is distilled by the British company in Gimli, Man and J.P. Wiser’s Deluxe is made in Windsor, Ont. Plus, craft distilleries have recently emerged as “the new hot trend,” bringing with them a wealth of new local whisky options, said von Massow. Most whiskies say right on the label where they’re made, making an “imbibe Canadian” decision easy.

Orange juice: Canadians won’t find any juice made with homegrown oranges, but some orange juices are processed in Canada. Those juices are often made from concentrate from fruit grown in South America because water is expensive to ship, so companies send the concentrate to Canada, re-add water and package it. Coca Cola, for example, produces Minute Maid orange juice at various plants in Canada using oranges sourced from Brazil and a spokesperson for the company said the tariffs only affect finished product, so its orange juice is exempt.

Water: Waters, including mineral and “aerated varieties” or those containing added sugar, sweetening or flavours are subject to tariffs. Plenty of bottled water companies operate from Canada and widely label their water with information about its origin. Multinationals such as Nestle bottle water within the country, but if you’re looking for a company that is Canadian in every sense, Quebec-based Naya has springs in Mirabel, Que., and Revelstoke, B.C. Condiments

Strawberry jam: Canada’s humid summers, short growing season and vulnerability to mould and pests make the farming of soft fruit difficult, says Gerhard Latka, president of Canadian jam maker Crofter’s Food Ltd. His company doesn’t use Canadian strawberries, but the product still counts as Canadian because it’s produced in Parry Sound, Ont. If you want to buy Canadian, aside from Crofter’s, you can find some E.D. Smith www.canadianinquirer.net

jams labelled “prepared in Canada” or varieties from Toronto-based Kitten and the Bear.

Maple sugar and syrup: Canada is the world’s largest producer and exporter of maple syrup and it’s not difficult to find plenty of bottles on grocery store shelves emblazoned with made in Canada labels, says von Massow. “It will be relatively easy to buy product that is labelled product of Canada,” he says, noting he often buys maple syrup from his neighbour. “The inclusion of maple syrup on the tariff list was entirely political because we import a very small amount of maple syrup.”

Soya sauce: A peek at the condiment aisle of a Toronto grocery store reveals most of the big brands make their soya sauce in China, so they’re exempt from the tariffs placed on U.S. producers.

Ketchup and tomato sauce: Even though both French’s and Heinz are American companies, some Canadians began to shift their ketchup purchases towards French’s, which produces its ketchup at Ontario plants, after Pennsylvania-based Kraft Heinz vacated its Leamington, Ont. facility and moved to Freemont, Ohio in 2014. For those who are new to ketchup politics, some companies have started to include country of origin information on their labels.

Mayonnaise, salad dressing and mixed condiments: The Canadian Press took a peek at these products at stores and found most lacked country of origin labels. Kraft Heinz, which commands the lion’s share of shelf space for such products, did not respond to a request for details about where they are produced.

Produce

Cucumbers and gherkins: Canadiangrown cucumbers are available yearround, but are more expensive and less plentiful in the winter months, says Joseph Sbrocchi, the general manager of the Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers. Homegrown gherkins are also easy to find as most grocers or farmers ❱❱ PAGE 21 An aisle

17

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JULY 20, 2018

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Judge sets aside decision to refer Abdoul Abdi case to deportation hearing

BY ALY THOMSON The Canadian Press HALIFAX — A Federal Court judge has set aside a decision to refer the case of Abdoul Abdi to a deportation hearing, saying Ottawa “blatantly” ignored the Somali child refugee’s charter rights and did not consider international law.

In a written decision dated July 13, Justice Ann Marie McDonald said a delegate of the public safety minister failed to consider the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international law in arriving at her decision, despite being statutorily mandated to render a decision consistent with the charter.

“Most blatantly, the (delegate’s) decision discloses no indication that the (delegate) even considered the charter values,” said McDonald, who does not name the delegate in her decision.

“In fact, the charter is not mentioned anywhere in the (delegate’s) cover letter outlining the issues she considered or in the body of her decision. This

is so despite Mr. Abdi’s extensive submissions on the charter.”

Still, the threat of deportation remains for Abdi, who was never granted Canadian citizenship while growing up in foster care in Nova Scotia.

The Canada Border Services Agency had detained the 24-year-old man after he served about five years in prison for multiple offences, including aggravated assault.

Abdi, who has never lived in Somalia and has no ties to the country, had sought a judicial review of the federal government’s decision to refer his case to a deportation hearing. His lawyer Benjamin Perryman argued in Federal Court in Halifax that the decision was unreasonable, unfair and contrary to the charter and international law.

McDonald noted the delegate is also required to weigh the statutory objectives of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act with the values of the charter, and that her decision was unreasonable and not “justified, transparent and intelligible.”

It goes on to highlight the

unique facts of Abdi’s case, including that his aunt had unsuccessfully attempted to apply for citizenship for him in 2005, but was stopped by the provincial Department of Community Services on the basis that as a ward of the state, only it could apply for citizenship.

“These factors may be relevant considerations with respect to a (section 15) charter value of non-discrimination in the (delegate’s) referral decision. But they were not considered,” the decision said.

McDonald set aside the decision to refer the matter to a deportation, and sent the case back for “redetermination” by a different delegate of the public safety minister.

Public Safety Canada did not immediately return a request for comment Monday.

Perryman said his client is happy with the decision, but has found the process over the past two years “emotionally distressing and extremely stressful.”

“He says he’s trying to work a lot and stay productive, reinte-

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grate into Canadian society, and help his family, but he said to me, ‘I’m tired of living life on this roller coaster and I’m ready to live life in peace’,” said Perryman.

The lawyer noted this is the second time the Federal Court has overturned a decision to refer the case to a deportation hearing. In October 2017, the court concluded that the decision-maker relied on protected youth records, but his case was again referred to a deportation hearing in a January 2018 redetermination decision.

Perryman said there remains uncertainty about what will happen next, and it’s possible the matter could be referred to a deportation hearing a third time. He said he hopes Ottawa will instead issue a warning letter, which would pause deportation proceedings so long as Abdi maintains good behaviour.

“Mr. Abdi should not have to go to court a third time for this government to do the right thing,” said Perryman. “It’s time for the ministerial leadership to end the proceedings against him and to ensure that children in

state care become citizens.”

Perryman has said a deportation hearing would inevitably lead to a deportation order given the circumstances of Abdi’s case.

Abdi, who was born in Saudi Arabia in 1993, lost his Somalian mother in a refugee camp when he was four and came to Canada with his sister and aunts two years later.

He was taken into provincial care shortly after arriving in Canada.

Abdi was moved between foster homes 31 times. He lost his native language and developed behavioural problems that advocates say were not adequately treated. They say those issues led to problems with the justice system and his non-citizenship put him at risk of deportation.

His case has prompted supporters to call on the Nova Scotia government to intervene on his behalf, and sparked protests at events with federal leaders, including a town hall earlier this year with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Lower Sackville, N.S. ■

World News

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

19

Prosecutors: Russian hackers leased servers in 2 states

BY TAMI ABDOLLAH The Associated Press

Former President Barack Obama.

EVAN EL-AMIN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Obama to deliver Mandela address in likely rebuke to Trump

BY ANDREW MELDRUM The Associated Press JOHANNESBURG — Former U.S. President Barack Obama is set to make his highest-profile speech since leaving office, urging people around the world to respect human rights and other values under threat in an address marking the 100th anniversary of anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela’s birth.

Obama’s speech on Tuesday in South Africa is expected to rally people to keep alive the ideas that Mandela worked for including democracy, diversity and good education for all.

While not directly mentioning his successor, President Donald Trump, Obama’s speech is expected to be a rebuke to many of Trump’s policies.

An estimated 14,000 people were gathering at a cricket stadium for the speech, which will be streamed online. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mandela’s widow Graca Machel will introduce Obama for the annual Nelson Mandela Lecture.

This is Obama’s first visit to Africa since leaving office in early 2017. He stopped earlier this week in Kenya, where he visited the rural birthplace of his late father.

Obama’s Mandela speech is expected to highlight how the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who was imprisoned for 27 years,

kept up his campaign against what appeared to be insurmountable odds to end apartheid, South Africa’s harsh system of white minority rule.

Mandela, who was released from prison in 1990 and became South Africa’s first black president four years later, died in 2013, leaving a powerful legacy of reconciliation and diversity along with a resistance to inequality, economic and otherwise.

Obama has shied away from public comment on Trump, whose administration has reversed or attacked notable achievements of his predecessor. The U.S. under Trump has withdrawn from the 2015 Paris climate agreement and the Iran nuclear deal while trying to undercut the Affordable Care Act or “Obamacare.”

Instead of commenting on politics, Obama’s speech is expected to draw on broader themes and his admiration for Mandela, whom America’s first black president saw as a mentor.

When Obama was a U.S. senator he had his picture taken with the newly freed Mandela.

After Obama became president he sent a copy of the photo to Mandela, who kept it in his office. Obama also made a point of visiting Mandela’s prison cell and gave a moving eulogy at Mandela’s memorial service in 2013, saying the South African leader’s life had inspired him. ■

WASHINGTON — Exactly seven months before the 2016 presidential election, Russian government hackers made it onto a Democratic committee’s network.

One of their carefully crafted fraudulent emails had hit pay dirt, enticing an employee to click a link and enter her password.

That breach of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee was the first significant step in gaining access to the Democratic National Committee network.

To steal politically sensitive information, prosecutors say, the hackers exploited some of the United States’ own computer infrastructure against it, using servers they leased in Arizona and Illinois. The details were included in an indictment released Friday by special counsel Robert Mueller, who accused the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency, of taking part in a wide-ranging conspiracy to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. The companies operating the servers were not identified in the court papers.

The Russians are accused of exploiting their access to inexpensive, powerful servers worldwide _ conveniently available for rental _ that can be used to commit crimes with impunity. Reaching across oceans and into networks without borders can obfuscate their origins.

The indictment painstakingly reconstructs the hackers’ movements using web servers and a complex bitcoin financing operation.

Two Russian hacking units were charged with tasks, including the creation and management of a hacking tool called “X-agent” that was implanted onto computers. The software allowed them to monitor activity on computers by individuals, steal passwords and maintain access to hacked networks. It captured each keystroke on infected computers and took screenshots of activity displayed on computer screens, including an employee viewing the DCCC’s online banking information.

From April to June 2016, the www.canadianinquirer.net

hackers installed updated versions of their software on at least 10 Democratic computers. The software transmitted information from the infected computers to a GRU-leased server in Arizona, the indictment said. The hackers also created an overseas computer to act as a “middle server” to obscure the connection between the DCCC and the hackers’ Arizona-based server.

Once hackers gained access to the DCCC network, it searched one computer for terms that included “hillary,” “cruz,” and “trump” and copied select folders, including “Benghazi Investigations.”

In emails, the hackers embedded a link that purported to be a spreadsheet of Clinton’s favourability ratings, but instead it directed the computers to send its data to a GRU-created website.

Meanwhile, around the same time, the hackers broke into 33 DNC computers and installed their software on their network. Captured keystrokes and screenshots from the DCCC and DNC computers, including an employee viewing the DCCC’s banking information, were sent back to the Arizona server.

The Russian hackers used other software they developed called X-Tunnel to move stolen documents through encrypted channels to another computer the GRU leased in Illinois.

Despite the use of U.S.-based servers, such vendors typically aren’t legally liable for criminal activities unless it can be proved in federal court that the operator was party to the criminal activity.

A 1996 federal statute protects internet vendors from being held liable for how customers use their service, and except for a few exceptions, provides immunity to the providers. The law is considered a key part of the legal infrastructure of the internet, preventing providers from being saddled with the behemoth task of monitoring activity on their servers.

“The fact that someone provided equipment and or connectivity that was used to engage in data theft is not going to be attributed to the vendor in that circumstance,” Eric Goldman, a professor of law and co-

director of the High Tech Law Institute at Santa Clara University School of Law, said. A notable exception, however, is if federal prosecutors are bringing a criminal charge for violations of a federal criminal law.

In that case, “we’re going to require a high level of knowledge of their activity or intent,” Goldman said.

When the DNC and DCCC became aware they had been hacked, they hired a cybersecurity firm, Crowdstrike, to determine the extent of the intrusions. Crowdstrike, referred to as “Company 1” in the indictment, took steps to kick the hackers off the networks around June 2016. But for months the Russians eluded their investigators and a version of the malware remained on the network through October _ programed to communicate back to a GRU-registered internet address.

“We do not have any information to suggest that it successfully communicated,” said Adrienne Watson, the DNC’s deputy communications director.

As the company worked to kick them off, GRU officials allegedly searched online for information on Company 1 and what it had reported about its use of X-Agent malware and tried to delete their traces on the DCCC network by using commercial software known as CCleaner. Though Crowdstrike disabled X-agent on the DCCC network, the hackers spent seven hours unsuccessfully trying to connect to their malware and tried using previously stolen credentials to access the network on June 20, 2016.

The indictment also shows the reliance of Russian government hackers on American technology companies such as Twitter, to spread its stolen documents.

The hackers also accessed DNC data in September 2016 by breaking into DNC computers hosted on the Amazon Web Services’ cloud. The hackers used Amazon Web Services’ backup feature to create “snapshots” that they moved onto their own Amazon cloud accounts. Amazon also provides cloud computing services for various government agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency. ■

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Elon Musk’s social media conduct may be bad for his business

BY TOM KRISHER The Associated Press WHETHER IT’S investors betting against his stock or reporters or analysts who ask tough questions, Elon Musk has fought back, often around the clock on Twitter.

In the past few months, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO has become a bigger, more snarling presence on social media. But when Musk called a British diver involved in the Thailand cave rescue a pedophile in front of 22.2 million Twitter followers Sunday, he may have gone one tweet too far.

The tweet, later deleted, sent investors away from Tesla stock and could expose the temperamental rocket scientist to a libel suit. In the tweets, Musk strayed from a vigorous defence of his companies into personal insult, with no facts to back it up.

“This has nothing to do with defending Tesla,” said Erik Gordon, a business and law professor at the University of Michigan. “This goes over a line where he can’t claim ‘Well, my big sin is that I go too far in defending the company.”‘ In a TV interview, British diver Vern Unsworth criticized Musk and SpaceX engineers for sending a small submarine to help divers rescue the 12 Thai soccer players and their coach from a flooded cave. The sub-

marine was not used. Unsworth called it a “PR stunt” and said it wouldn’t have worked anyway.

Musk responded with a tweet branding Unsworth a “pedo.”

In a second tweet, Musk said he bet the claim was true. Unsworth told CNN he is considering legal action.

A Tesla spokeswoman wouldn’t comment on the tweets.

For the first four months of the year, Musk was averaging around 100 tweets per month.

But the tweets spiked to about 400 per month starting in May as Musk was under pressure to raise production of the Model 3 lower-priced electric car, which starts at $35,000.

As the spike occurred, Musk gained thousands of Twitter followers. He has almost half as many as President Donald Trump, who likewise attacks his critics with relish on Twitter.

Mark Spiegel, an outspoken hedge fund manager who has been betting on Tesla’s stock falling for years, said the tweets are showing Musk’s fans his true personality.

The company, which has had only two profitable quarters, is deep in debt and will have trouble meeting Musk’s prediction of a profit in the second half of this year, Spiegel said.

“It’s all based around this rabid Elon Musk fan base. Once that fan base starts to see what kind of person they’ve been worshipping, they will turn on you on a dime,” he said.

Elon Musk.

THE HENRY FORD / FLICKR

Spiegel likened Musk to Trump, saying the two men have an “amazing amount of personality defects in common.”

Previous comparisons with Trump have angered Musk.

This spring, critic Andrew J. Hawkins tweeted that Musk was transforming into a “media-baiting Trump figure screaming irrationally about fake news.”

Musk responded by lashing out at the media for the Trump comparisons, writing: “Why do you think he got elected in the first place? Because no one believes you any more.”

In his defence, Musk posted on Twitter that leaders of the Thai rescue, in which all the boys and their coach were safely extracted, had asked him to

build the mini-sub.

Tesla stock fell nearly 3 per cent Monday to $310.10 even though the broader market was up slightly.

Robert Drechsel, who taught media law at the University of Wisconsin, said if he were Tesla’s attorney, he would advise the CEO to stop tweeting.

“You can’t be doing yourself any favour minimally by creating this kind of a distraction, and at worst raising questions about your credibility,” he said.

“I’m certain they wish he would be a more cautious tweeter.”

Big investors are in a difficult spot with Tesla, much as they were with Uber and ousted CEO Travis Kalanick, Gordon said. Like Uber, Tesla and SpaceX were built on their founder’s larger-than-life per-

sonality. Tesla is worth more than $52 billion, largely on the promise of Musk’s genius.

Until recently, Twitter and Musk’s personality worked well for Tesla. The company said in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission that it doesn’t need to advertise because it gets so much free media attention.

But Musk’s “pedo” comment and his Twitter skirmishes with analysts, reporters and others will make investors wary, Gordon said.

“It’s very dangerous if you just blurt things out,” he said. ■

using imported ingredients or from sugar beets that are grown domestically, but that doesn’t account for all of the sugar on the Canadian market, says von Massow.

made with Canadian ingredients for only part of the year. “A lot of times it will say ‘manufactured for’ and have a Canadian company, but that doesn’t mean it is manufactured in Canada,” says von Massow. “The only way to know for sure is to ask.”

such. The Etobicoke plant is slated to be shut down soon, making way for a new facility to open in Mississauga Ont., in 2019.

Associated Press graphic artist Francois Duckett, business writer Michelle Chapman and editor Charles Sheehan contributed to this report.

An aisle... ❰❰ 16

Treats

label and advertise where their vegetables are grown.

Licorice candy: The tariffs are bad news for licorice lovers. Most licorice comes from one or two plants in Pennsylvania and aren’t likely to be made with Canadian ingredients, says von Massow.

“You will probably have to switch from your favourite,” he says.

“There are no Canadian Twizzlers to my understanding, so you’ll have to go to another product, candy or treat to buy in Canada.”

Toffee: Hershey’s said it makes some toffee candies un-

der its Allan label in Canada.

The Canadian Press couldn’t find any other toffees labelled as made in Canada in Toronto grocery stores.

Chocolate in blocks, slabs or bars: Canada doesn’t grow cocoa for chocolate, but there are companies that produce chocolate bars, blocks and slabs domestically. Hershey’s said its Brookside Dark Chocolate products are made in Canada, and Canadian chocolatier Purdy’s makes all of its chocolates in Vancouver, B.C. Other sugar confectionery: Canada produces and refines some sugar within the country

Fridge and freezer

Prepared meals of spent fowl (hens raised to lay eggs, which are processed for meat when their productivity declines), pizza and quiche: These products are a bit tricky because they often use several ingredients and don’t list where each is sourced from. If the product relies on seasonal ingredients, like fruits or vegetables, it is possible it is www.canadianinquirer.net

Canned food

Soups and broths: Soups and broths are a set of items that experts say can shift where they’re made based on the seasonality of ingredients. However, industry giant Campbell Company of Canada said its soups and broths are made at a manufacturing plant in Etobicoke, Ont. and labelled as

Household goods

Toilet paper and serviettes: Plenty of big-name toilet paper companies produce their products at paper mills south of the border, but some produce them in Canada. The best way to find out where it’s produced is to call the company. Kruger’s CEO said virtually all of its Cashmere and Purex products are made at plants in B.C. and Quebec and Cascades does its manufacturing in Quebec. ■

22

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23

Entertainment Meryll Soriano: Anne Curtis bares ‘Buybust’ as 10 years after being hardest film in her 21-year career diagnosed with bipolar disorder

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer AFTER LOSING the light of some stars in the industry of show business – the celebrity life of cameras flashing and fans screaming – the fight to break the stigma of mental health came stronger into the limelight.

For Meryll Soriano who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder for 10 years, the 35year old actress confessed that it is only now that she is able to speak out about her condition.

“You know we have to break the stigma,” she said in an interview with ABS-CBN and Philippines’ Ultimate Showbiz Hub (PUSH).

Meryll stressed that mental health awareness teaches that those suffering from disorders should not just be branded as baliw (insane) just because it is the common connotation.

“I am just hopeful na (that) this will start something, that this is a global phenomenon.

It’s just not here, even in another place, maybe a third world country, maybe a first world

country, there is still stigma so I think there is a community now that is ready and it is so good to be part of that,” she said in the same interview.

Meryll was among the stars who joined the “Will You Still Love Me” art exhibit last July 14 – from “The Julia Buencamino Project.”

Julia is Nonie and Shamaine Buencamino’s daughter who passed away due to an apparent suicide back in 2015, and Meryll said that she personally knew her.

“I am very, very happy to create awareness and to share the inspiration and also the message that we are not alone,” she said, taking part in one of the said project’s initiative.

Though the Buencaminos chose to seal their lips on Julia’s passing, two years after, Shamaine was able to finally open up about it – at the same time, launching the project in memory of Julia and advocacy of mental health awareness.

The first time Meryll opened up about her bipolar disorder was also in 2015, after Julia’s passing, admitting that she was diagnosed at the age of 27. ■

IN HER 21 years in the show business, Anne Curtis revealed that her latest movie “Buy Bust” may be the most difficult film to ever shoot.

Gunshots, piles of bodies, blood – all vicious elements of crime are apparent in the upcoming action movie’s trailer as if it was possible to smell the scent of blood and gunpowder in the air just from watching.

The 33-year-old actress confessed that such intensity to be manifested in the widescreen is not an easy task, in spite of allotting 21 of her years in front of the camera.

“Yes, I will have to say, ito na siguro ‘yung pinakamahirap na nagawa ko sa buong (that this is the most difficult thing I did in my whole) career ko. I’m celebrating my 21 years in the industry, so what better way celebrate it with the film like this, ’di ba(right)?” Anne said during the media conference of their film.

She recalled her most challenging scene – a one-take three-minute scene – that she rehearsed for five days.

“Yung eksena, aakyat ako ng bubong, bababa, aakyat ulit tapos makikipag-away. Then

Anne Curtis.

aakyat ulit ako sa bubong hanggang sa malaglag ako sa bubong (The scene is I have to climb a roof, climb down, then climb up again then fight. Then I will climb again until I fall),” Anne narrated.

She revealed that it took them 57 takes in a span of three days to capture the scene perfectly.

“Nung first day naming shinoot ‘yon nasuka ako sa hirap (On our first day of shooting, I vomited). Hindi po biro ‘yon, nasuka talaga ako (No joke, I really threw up), that’s how hard it was,” she continued.

In addition to this, the actress said she had no doubles for the movie so she did all the stunts that she dubbed as “buwis-buhay.”

MICHAEL HOWARD / FLICKR

To prove that women can take the lead in action films, Anne said that she knew she had to do it despite being physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting for the intense role and storyline.

While this serves as the firstever action role for Anne to fill in, Director Erik Matti said that they would not have finished the film which was two years in the making and is set to hit the international big screens this July 15 for the New York Asian Film Festival. Buy Bust will also be shown at Fantasia International Film Festival in Canada and Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival on July 18. ■

Winwyn to bashers of her statement: Read full headlines first

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer

@PLANETUMEBOSHI / INSTAGRAM

HEADLINES IN social media and the world wide web are carefully crafted not only to stop the fingers from scrolling but to invite clicks and eyes looking.

However, sometimes, no www.canadianinquirer.net

matter how catchy headlines can be, some just refuse to read whole news stories.

Reina Hispanoamericana (RHA) 2017 Teresita Ssen “Winwyn” Marquez took to social media her dismay after she got bashed for her recent statement about Miss Universe (Miss U) Spain Angela Ponce. “‘Wag lang po sana hang-

gang headline lang tayo (I hope we do not settle by reading the headlines only). I said I would prefer that Miss U would have natural-born women, but I will support Angela and the Miss U org[anization] in any endeavor they choose to commit themselves to,” she wrote on Twitter. ❱❱ PAGE 28 Winwyn to

24

Entertainment

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

‘Hotel Transylvania ‘Jacqueline Comes Home’ film earns 3’ tops charts, mixed reactions from netizens ‘Skyscraper’ stumbles

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY LINDSEY BAHR The Associated Press LOS ANGELES — “Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation” has checked into the No. 1 spot at the box office in its opening weekend and left the Dwayne Johnson action thriller, “Skyscraper,” in the dust.

Sony Pictures estimated Sunday that the animated family movie earned $44.1 million from North American theatres.

As the first in the franchise to open in the summer, it’s just slightly under the previous installment’s $48.5 million debut in September 2015.

Worldwide, “Hotel Transylvania 3” has already earned more than $100 million.

“It’s really terrific,” said Adrian Smith, Sony’s head of domestic distribution. “We’re positioned to take advantage of the valuable summer weekdays and there are six weeks of summer left.”

The successful series has grossed over $900 million worldwide to date.

Going into the weekend, experts expected a three-way race to the top between “Hotel Transylvania 3,” “Skyscraper” and “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” but the family film won by a large margin.

“There haven’t been a lot of options for families this summer,” said comScore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

“They become instant hits.”

Johnson’s “Skyscraper,” a rare original summer blockbuster, remained earthbound in its first weekend in North America. The Universal Pictures film brought in only $25.5 million domestically.

“Skyscraper” cost a reported $125 million to produce, not accounting for marketing costs.

Johnson has been a consistent presence in movie theatres this year with both “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle” and “Rampage” prior to “Skyscraper.” Both previous films opened in the $35 million range, and while “Jumanji” went on to be a worldwide box office juggernaut, “Rampage” petered out

domestically just under $100 million. As with “Rampage,” however, the studio is expecting the majority of “Skyscraper” profits to come from international audiences. “‘Skyscraper’ is really engineered for a global release and it got a terrific start,” said Jim Orr, Universal’s president of domestic distribution. “We have great faith in a more than terrific run at the domestic box office going forward.”

Internationally, “Skyscraper” grossed $40.4 million from 57 territories for a global total of $65.9 million.

Second place went to Disney and Marvel’s “Ant-Man and the Wasp,” which brought in an additional $28.8 million in its second weekend, down 62 per cent from last week. It’s one of the steeper second week falls in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The first “Ant-Man” fell 53 per cent.

“Incredibles 2” took fourth place with $16.2 million and “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” rounded out the top five with $15.5 million.

A handful of smaller releases made notable splashes this weekend including Annapurna’s buzzy dystopian satire “Sorry to Bother You,” which opened in limited release last week and added 789 locations this weekend. It earned $4.3 million in its expansion for spot No. 7 on the charts.

The coming of age film “Eighth Grade” also scored top marks, and the highest per theatre average of the year, with $252,284 from four theatres.

The well-reviewed pic will expand nationwide in the coming weeks.

And documentaries continue to perform well too, including the Fred Rogers doc “Won’t You Be My Neighbour?” which added $1.9 million from 868 theatres, and “Three Identical Strangers” which expanded to 167 theatres and grossed $1.2 million. ■

JUST A few days before its release, Meg Imperial and Donnalyn Bartolome’s upcoming film “Jacqueline Comes Home” received mixed reactions from netizens, with some encouraging viewers not to watch it and others are curious about the film.

The crime-thriller film is based on the real-life story of the two Cebuana sisters, Jacqueline and Marijoy Chiong, who were kidnapped, raped, and murdered in 1997. This movie marks the directorial debut of Ysabelle Peach Caparas, daughter of well-known writer and director Carlo J. Caparas, who is also the film’s assistant director.

In a Facebook post on Sunday, July 15, a certain Marlina Santiago Carlos urged viewers to “boycott” Caparas’s film and instead watch the 2011 documentary entitled “Give Up Tomorrow” which tackles the alleged wrongful imprisonment of the 21-year-old Francisco “Paco” Larrañaga.

“Jacqueline Comes Home: Will be based on the false testimony of a convicted felon. Will recreate events that never happened. I don’t want to support this film in any way possible,” Carlos wrote.

“Give Up Tomorrow: Based on facts, will show the screwed up Philippine justice system.

Will show the story of a boy illegally arrested at 19 and wrongfully convicted at 21, sentenced to death for a crime he didn’t commit,” she added.

Sharing the trailer of the film, another Facebook user Kristina Sanciego told viewers that before watching the movie, they need to see the documentary first and they will find themselves angry, in tears, and at loss.

“I wanted to be neutral about this issue but watching that documentary, researching about it and seeing this film’s trailer have made me disgusted of how vile and corrupt people can be,” Sanciego said.

According to her, Paco is living in Spain as a third-degree prisoner and working as a chef www.canadianinquirer.net

Donnalyn Bartolome (left) and Meg Imperial (right).

by day, but he still comes home to his jail cell at night.

“Don’t let yourselves fall into the drama that convicted the innocent. Obviously, there’s a much bigger scene that we don’t see here,” Sanciego continued.

Twitter user @mhae--llantada, meanwhile, said “F—!!!

I can’t help it but react sa (to the) posts about that Jacquiline comes home movie. #FREEPACO He’s 40yro now. He’s not even given a chance to have his own family. Tapos (And then) there were people siding with the Chiongs? Hay nako!!! Pinas anu na (What now, Philippines)!”

For @keilcustillas, everyone deserves to know the whole truth regarding the Chiongs case and not just a movie that would give the audience a “false and one-sided” story. “#JacquelineComesHome lol (Laugh out loud). To whoever is reading this one. PLEASE DO NOT WATCH THE MOVIE. Plain bullsh*t. Just watch the documentary film ‘Give Up Tomorrow.’ Lol ito nalang magagawa natin (this is all we can do) for the accused innocents because no one gave them their justice way back,” she said.

She added that she was also disappointed with both Imperial and Bartolome, who will play the role of the Chiong sisters, as they should have researched first before they took the offer.

Responding to these, Imperial took to social media her defense of the film, asserting that the focus of it is about what the

@MEGIMPERIAL / INSTAGRAM

Chiong family went through after the loss of the Chiong sisters and not who is/are the perpetrator/s.

She added that they did make a research and even watched the 2011 documentary before they shoot the film.

“Like what our director said.

This is not about the other family. Dis (This) is about the family’s suffering regarding the loss of their daughters,” Imperial wrote.

“That’s why it’s ‘JACQUELINE COMES HOME’ from the word HOME… family,” she continued.

Despite these criticisms, there are some who would still want to watch the movie as it makes them really curious.

“So excited to watch this #JacquilineComesHome to see the Chongs’ side after watching #GiveUpTomorrow of Paco’s’.

And let us ponder what’s gonna happen next,” Twitter user @ agabas231 said.

“Watched #JacquelineComesHome trailer and got curious. And I’m here, lurking infos (information) about Chiong sisters’ case,” netizen @--shineeshine wrote.

Another user, @notfromdawest said, “Sh*t I’m so into this new viva film movie #JacquelineComesHome. I have to read articles. Ghaaad. This is some batsh*t story.”

Aside from Imperial and Bartolome, “Jacqueline Comes Home” stars Alma Moreno, Joel Torre, and Ryan Eigenmann. The film will premiere in cinemas this July 18. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

25

Barbie Imperial posts new photo of bruised arm

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer AFTER SHE caught the attention of many netizens over the weekend for posting a tweet about physical abuse, “Araw Gabi” actress Barbie Imperial posted a new photo showing her right arm marked with what seemed like bruises and scratches.

Imperial, in an Instagram post on Monday, July 16, shared a photo of herself and her mom, along with a caption, “I am strong because a strong woman raised me. You’re all I need mama. I love you. Thank you.”

Quick to notice the scars that Imperial had on her arm, the Kapamilya actress’ social media followers expressed their concern to the actress and even sent words of encouragement to her.

An Instagram user, @itslannalane--badiola119, said, “Mahal na mahal po kita (I love you) @msbarbieimperial super!! Pagpatuloy niyo lang po ‘yung pagiging matapang at matibay sa buhay. Nandito lang po kaming mga umiidolo

sayo. Mamahalin, susuportahan, ipagtatanggol ng walang alinlangan, at papahalagahan ka namin (Just continue being strong in life. We are here for you. We will love, support, defend you without doubts, and treasure you).”

“OMG (Oh my gosh) huhuhu ang dami mong sugat at pasa (you have so much wounds and bruises) baby girl. Take care always and please love yourself more,” @mrsjoviavena added.

Meanwhile, another netizen @xxaimeemarcos told Imperial, “Malalagpasan mo din po ‘yan, tiwala lang sa kanya(God) na ang lahat ng bagay may dahilan (You will get through it, just have faith in Him and that all things happen for a reason).

We support you and love you always. Be strong.”

On Saturday, July 14, the 19-year-old actress tweeted, “Girls, just because mahal niyo ang isang tao pero sinasaktan kayo physically, hindi pwedeng patuloy ‘yan. HINDI TAMA MANAKIT NG BABAE PHYSICALLY (Girls, just because you love the person, but that person harms you physically, it is not right. It is not right to harm a

woman physically).”

In a separate post, Imperial uploaded photos of her neck and arm exposing her bruises and with a caption, “No to physical abuse. Never again.”

These posts have since been taken down, but some of her followers were able to take screenshots of it.

Imperial did not further explain her posts or even dropped the name of the person who did it to her, but several netizens have pointed their fingers to actor Paul Salas, the actress’s rumored ex-boyfriend.

Amid the controversy, Salas’s friend, Kristoffer Martin, posted a series of tweets apparently referring to the issue.

In a now-deleted tweet, Martin said, “‘Wag dumating sa point na maninira ka ng buhay ng tao. Kung totoo man o hindi ‘yung nangyari, problema niyo ‘yan. ‘Di kailangan ipaalam sa buong mundo para kumuha ng sympathy (Do not come to the point where you ruin someone else’s life. Whether it is true or not, that is your problem. You do not need to let the world know about it to get sympathy).”

Barbie Imperial (left) with her mother (right)

He added, “There’s always two sides of the story. Mga naaapektuhan, ‘wag pa-victim.

Wala ako sa lugar para i-elaborate ‘yung nangyari. Iisang circle kami. Pero nasa lugar ako maglabas ng saloobin kasi may nadedehado (Those who are affected, do not play as the victim. I’m not in a position to elaborate what happened. We are in the same circle. But I’m in the right place to air out my feelings because someone is at a disadvantage).”

Martin then apologized and explained his side after he earned mixed reactions from

@MSBARBIEIMPERIAL / INSTAGRAM

the netizens for his posts.

“I see where people are coming from. Some took it a little far kaya lumaki (that is why it become a big issue). I DON’T TOLERATE PHYSICAL ABUSE. Sorry if na mislead ‘yung iba (others were misled).

Ni girlfriend ko kahit kelan ‘di ko naisipang saktan. Naapektuhan lang ako bilang kapatid (It never came to my mind to hurt my girlfriend. I was just affected as a friend). Not my story to tell. Again, sorry,” he wrote.

As of writing, Salas’s camp has yet to comment on the issue. ■

Pia speaks out about transgender beauty contestants

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer HEAR YE, hear ye! Brace yourselves for the queen has spoken.

The beauty pageant community and its fans have been buzzing different sentiments and views about transgender women’s participation in the prestigious Miss Universe.

Philippines’ representatives in different beauty pageants in the country and globally had their fair share of perception on the subject, and this time, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, Miss Universe 2015, or as some netizens brand her, the queen spoke up.

“We also have to remember that that’s a lifelong process for you to become a transgender and for you to identify as a woman,” she said in an exclusive interview with Philippines’

Ultimate Showbiz Hub (PUSH).

According to the beauty queen, she always knew that transgender women were allowed to join and win the Miss Universe pageant and that she admires the resilience and strength of these transgender contestants.

“Hindi naman ‘yan like (It is not like) one day she just decided na (that), ‘You know what, today I’m going to be a woman. I want to be a Miss Universe.’ It’s not like that. For all we know, baka sa pagkabata pa lang niya (maybe it is something that rooted from childhood),” Pia continued.

The subject of transgender contestants competing has been the talk of the town ever since Spain made history after crowning Angela Ponce as the first transgender woman to win the title of Miss Universe-Spain.

Philippines’ representative

@PIAWURTZBACH / INSTAGRAM

to the prestigious pageant Catriona Gray, has earlier mentioned in a previous interview with ABS-CBN that such topic is an “uproar” among pagwww.canadianinquirer.net

eant fans because it is a “very young discussion about the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer) and especially coming from a traditional

[view] in the arena of pageantry.” However, she stressed that she does not have any problem with competing with a transgender.

“If that contestant who may be transgender can go through the casting process, become a candidate, get judging, and earn the right to represent her country, then why not?” the beauty queen uttered.

“Who are we to say, ‘You know that’s wrong.’ I mean it’s the discretion talaga of the organization,” Catriona added.

Speaking of the Philippines’ bet this year, what does the queen think of Catriona?

“I think we have a very good chance at Miss Universe with her. She’s a very well-rounded person, sobrang ganda, matangkad (really beautiful, tall) proud to be Filipino. I mean what more could you ask for?” Pia said in the interview. ■

26

Lifestyle Why do people bully others?

BY LYDA GAIL SUYU Philippine News Agency MANILA — Seventeen-yearold “Arwin” (not his real name) has always seen himself as an alpha male.

At age 10, he began throwing his weight around and bullying those younger than him. When people around him called him names, such as ”Toyo” or ”Suka”, he defended himself, albeit in a different way.

“Tinatawag akong ‘Toyo’, ‘Suka’, kaya kinokotongan ko sila, sinusuntok, dahil hindi ako mang-aano kung hindi nila ako inaano (They call me soy sauce, vinegar, so I extort from them. I punch them. I don’t do anything to anyone who does not do anything to me),” said Arwin.

The moniker ”Toyo” eventually stuck. In Filipino slang, a person is called ”toyo”, a staple cooking ingredient in Asia, when he is difficult to deal with — which held true for Arwin.

“Parang ako ang siga dito.

Kung may ibang bata na nagpapasaway tapos ayaw magpapigil, binu-bully ko. Medyo pakiramdam ko dapat nila akong sundin (I’m like superior here.

I bully kids who are unruly and could not be managed. I somehow feel that they should obey me),” he said.

When asked why he bullies other young people, ”Toyo” said he wanted to defend himself and “be known as an untouchable.”

“Kapag nakakapanakit ako, hindi ako mapakali. Gusto ko pa dagdagan. Hindi ako kontento na umiyak lang ‘yung na-bully ko (When I hurt someone, I feel uneasy. I feel like I want to

inflict more pain. I’m not contented that my victim simply cries),” he said.

“Toyo” began with verbal bullying, which worsened into physical bullying when his tweener neighbors called him names.

It went on for years but stopped five years ago when he was imprisoned for stabbing another tweener during a riot inside a church on Christmas Eve. “Simbang gabi sinaksak ko ng ice pick yung tatlo sa loob ng simbahan. Tumakbo kami sa Talayan Village. ‘Yung tito na pulis ng sinaksak ko pinagbabaril ako. Tapos sumigaw siya ng ‘Snatcher!’ Kaya yung mga tao hinabol ako at pinagsusuntok ako (It was dawn Mass.

I stabbed the three with an ice pick inside the church. Then my friends and I ran toward Talayan Village. One of those I stabbed has a policeman for an uncle. He fired his gun at me then shouted ‘Snatcher!’ The people chased me and ganged up on me),” he related.

“Toyo” was arrested and turned over to the Molave Youth Home, a center for young people charged with crimes.

At the Home, he became a “big brother”, who facilitates the daily routine of more than 80 youths who, like him, are looking forward to having a renewed life.

He was released from the center in November last year when the judge handling his case found no solid evidence that he committed the crime.

The case of ”Toyo” is just one of the many bullying incidents in communities and schools.

Bullying has become preva-

lent in recent years, especially on social media, prompting the passage of Republic Act No. 10627 or the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.

Latest data on child protection from the Department of Education showed that as of December 2017, the incidence of bullying had decreased nationwide from 29,723 for school year 20152016 to 19,672 for school year 2016-2017.

The highest incidence of bullying for 2016-2017 was recorded in the National Capital Region with 3,595 while the lowest was in Region 9 (Zamboanga Peninsula) with 113.

In an earlier interview, Education Undersecretary Anne Sevilla said the decrease in the number of bullying incidents is a result of the department’s continuous campaign against bullying, including capacitating teachers and non-teaching personnel on how to handle bullying.

Celebrity psychologist-psychiatrist Randy Misael Dellosa told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that bullying could be caused by behavioral problems, mental disorders, personality disorders, and family background and issues.

Bullying is the use of one’s influence and strength to intimidate others and force them to do what the bully wants, either verbally, physically or socially.

Dellosa noted that most bullies have personality disorders, for instance, a narcissistic or an anti-social personality disorder.

“Those who have a narcissistic personality are arrogant.

They think highly of themselves.

www.canadianinquirer.net

It’s like they own the world and they own people.

So naturally, they look down on everyone else, except those whom they think belong to their level,” he explained.

“Those who have an antisocial personality are criminalminded, rule breakers. Your classmates who steal, who lie, who deceive their parents and teachers and engage in a different level of copying or cheating — they are the anti-social,” he added.

Dellosa said a person can have a combination of both personality disorders, which could result in a very destructive behavior.

He pointed out that to mask their low self-esteem, some youths resort to bullying because of reaction formation, which is considered a psychological factor.

“It’s the opposite of what you feel inside. Because they have low self-esteem, they have to mask it by going the other way.

He/she can be weak, insecure inside but aggressive on the

outside,” he said.

Dellosa added that bullies can also be from families with very authoritative parents or parents who are punitive towards their children.

“The young people would copy authoritarian and aggression from their parents. But it is also possible that they are abused in the family and they have to release their anger, like catharsis since they don’t have someone to talk to. They’ll lash it out physically on their classmates,” he said.

While counseling could help in correcting bullies’ behavior or disorder, Dellosa said imposing penalties is the best way to teach them a lesson.

“Counseling is sometimes not enough. They revert to what they were. It is important that you talk to the bully and penalize him by ordering him to do something that he dislikes so that he will remember the consequences of bullying and not do it again. For example, let him clean the comfort room if he hates it,” he said. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

27

Games boost student nutrition in Nigerian schools

BY OBIDIMMA EZEZIKA Assistant professor, University of Toronto THE WORSENING of dietary habits among youth appears to have no geographical bounds.

And improving dietary behaviour has become a critical public health challenge around the globe.

This is especially true in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where we have seen a rapid transition from wholesome traditional diets to a more Western diet consisting of foods high in sugar, saturated fat and salt.

This trend — generally referred to as the nutrition transition — has imposed a double burden of diet-related chronic diseases in SSA, a place where malnutrition and obesity now coexist.

This transition is affecting many youth, who make up approximately 33 per cent (344.4 million people) of the population. And the size of this demographic group is set to double — to reach 605 million by 2050.

With the exception of South Africa, where over 40 per cent of the adult population is now overweight or obese, most countries in SSA are still in the early stages of the nutrition transition.

This offers a window of opportunity to learn from other countries and take proactive steps to intervene at earlier ages and lessen the harm to the health of the population.

I have just published the results of a new study that documents the effectiveness of a nutrition gamification program — Nutrido — in improving dietary behaviour among youth in Abuja, Nigeria.

Why a nutrition game?

Given my experience working on food security issues for more than 10 years and teaching a food security and food sovereignty course at the University of Toronto, one question I see a lot is: How do I get youth to eat more fruits and vegetables and less junk food?

This question was very pro-

nounced for me during a sevenyear food security study across nine African countries, where I witnessed first-hand the rapid nutrition transition occurring in many urban city centres, from Nairobi to Abuja to Cape Town and Cairo.

During the same time period, there has been an increased interest in games and social media platforms among African youth.

This raised the possibility of piggybacking on this trend, to nudge youth towards healthier eating habits.

We wondered: Could games play an important role in nutrition education, and even in reversing this trend?

Designing for adolescents

Gamifying nutrition can be referred to as the strategy of employing game design elements to improve dietary behaviour.

A good example is the FIT Game, which was shown to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables by at least 30 per cent among elementary school children in the United States.

Looking at how we could bring this concept to the subSaharan African context, our teams in Abuja and Toronto came together to develop a gamification program (Nutrido) tailored for adolescents.

It consists of a nutrition board game, student clubs and vouchers that are redeemable for fruits and veggies.

The board game comes with a stack of playing cards, dice, playing pieces, play money and a list of rules. Players must navigate scenarios such as choosing whether to purchase a healthy meal or an unhealthy meal (given their play money) or landing on an action card that requires them to perform physical activity exercises (e.g., “Do 10 push-ups”).

The core strategy of the game is to buy healthy food cards to get as many points as possible.

These points can be “cashed in” through a voucher system, integrated in the game, to buy real ❱❱ PAGE 28 Games boost

Surge in demand for paper, glass straws a boon for plastic alternatives firms

BY ALEKSANDRA SAGAN The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Phillip Jacobsen started selling compostable cutlery in 2011 and about six months later expanded Greenmunch’s product line to include paper straws.

Colourful patterned paper straws were a fad at the time, he said, and party supply stores mostly stocked his product.

A few years ago, demand from restaurants, hotels, bars and others in the food service industry began to dwarf that of retail stores as public pressure on companies and governments to ban plastic straws increased.

Jacobsen is one of several Canadians who worked to fill a gap in the market years ago and now stands to capitalize on the growing trend to ditch plastic straws that get tossed after one use.

Starbucks, Ikea, A&W, Recipe Unlimited Corp. and others have announced they would phase out plastic straws from their restaurants over the next several years. Some cities have already banned the product, while others are considering similar proposals, often citing environmental concerns.

“I think pretty much everybody that’s offering paper straws are running into supply issues,” said Jacobsen, owner of Sherwood Park, Alta.-based Greenmunch.

He’s turned away multiple www.canadianinquirer.net

distributors seeking to stock his straws, which come with stripe, polka dot and star patterns. They cost $15 for a package of 200 and nearly $600 for a bulk order of 9,600. “(I) probably could have sold like a few million dollars more worth of straws in the last month if we had stock.”

Jacobsen believed he had ordered enough straws to supply his clients for the summer, but in the past three months he’s seen demand explode.

It’s a pattern Aimee Promislow is also seeing at her glass straw business, GlassSipper.

The artist and her husband started the company in Vancouver nearly five years ago after growing frustrated by the waste created when her son would only drink through a straw.

Her borosilicate glass straws feature colourful critter decorations, like geckos, flamingos and owls, and start at $16 — though her plain glass straws cost about half that.

When she brought a batch to her first craft show to sell them, people didn’t quite get the concept, she said.

Undeterred, Promislow continued attending craft shows and selling through an Etsy shop, eventually adding a website with an online shop.

She now sells thousands of glass sippers a year between craft shows, online and through dozens of retailers across Canada and also noticed a big increase since April.

“It’s become more and more mainstream,” she said. “So at first it was really the outliers ... now everybody wants glass straws.”

Other plastic alternatives manufacturers are watching the shift and contemplating expanding their offerings to include non-plastic straws.

Vancouver-based Good Natured makes more than 100 plant-based products, including food packaging containers made with 99 per cent plantbased materials.

It does not currently sell straws and CEO Paul Antoniadis said in a statement that as a publicly traded company it can’t share future product launch plans.

“I can share that our customers continue to ask for more options for convenience food packaging, and in turn I anticipate our product assortment will continue to expand to meet those needs.”

Despite the recent surge in demand, Jacobsen’s not ordering too much extra supply from the factory that makes his product.

For one, restaurants shifting from plastic straws to paper ones won’t replace them one for one, he said, but rather are likely to stop serving straws with drinks and offer the alternative ones when a customer asks for one.

He also realizes his company is no longer part of a niche market and faces more competition.

“We’re being cautious.” ■

Lifestyle

28

Winwyn to... ❰❰ 23

“Sana lang, basahin natin nang maayos ang kumpletong sagot.

At sana ‘wag na lang tayo mambastos at mag-name calling (I hope we read the complete answer. And I hope we are not rude and stop name calling),” the beauty queen added.

Reiterating what she said during a previous interview, Winwyn said that she had no problems if the Miss Universe organization allows it, as the decision has to be accepted and respected. She added that she has to do this too even if her opinion differs.

She also recalled an event when she first joined the RHA pageant, when some people reacted negatively for inviting the Philippines to be represented and compete. “‘Yung ibang hindi sang-ayon nung sumali ako pero rinespeto pa din nila ang decision ng org at rinespeto din nila ako at hindi binastos (There are those who disagreed with me joining but

they respected the decision of the org and they respected me too),” she explained.

Winwyn’s lengthy post stretched to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) movement as she said she had a lot of friends from the rainbow community.

“It’s good to have discussions on this topic and I encourage more people to come out with their opinions whether pro or against,” she further wrote.

Winwyn’s original statement was, “Pero (But) Miss Universe per se, sana ibigay na lang sa (I hope we give it to the) natural-born women and let transgenders have their own [contest],” she said.

“Pero kung i-a-allow naman ng (But if the) Miss Universe Organization (allows it), then we should accept it also, walang problema (no problem at all),” the beauty queen continued, adding that she has nothing against and is in fact happy and proud of Spain for being “open.” ■

Games boost... ❰❰ 27

fruits and vegetables from partnering tuck shops.

More fruits and vegetables

To test the impact of our idea, we tried this program in three secondary schools in Abuja.

Participants were male and female students in Grade 11 and Grade 12.

Each student took part in a game session (20-30 minutes) once per week over a period of about six weeks. We then assessed its impact on students’ nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward healthy eating and eating behaviour — using semistructured focus groups.

Importantly, we found that the game improved eating behaviour, specifically the intake of fruits and vegetables. One student said: “I used to skip fruits sometimes, like give it out, but now, I take my fruits.”

When asked exactly how her consumption of fruit had changed, she explained that “on a daily basis, I will say like one or so, but after the game, like five to four times.”

There was also a change in behaviour whereby students spent their own money to buy fruits from the tuck shop while

forfeiting junk food. For example, a female student said: “When we go there (the store) every week day, there’s a section for fruits and all that, but then when nobody ever used to look at that area but now that Nutrido started coming around, people like fruits like apple, people begin to like and learn to have some bit of fruit.”

By extension, participants also redeemed their Nutrido vouchers to purchase fruits from merchants at participating tuck shops.

‘Let food be thy medicine’

The results of the study are now published in the journal Nutrition and Health, and the Nutrido program has been introduced in 10 secondary schools across Abuja.

Almost 2,500 years ago, when Hippocrates made the statement, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food,” he was pointing at the profound impact that nutrition has on our health.

Until entire communities begin to think differently about the way they approach food, Hippocrates’ words serve merely as a motto — rather than a lifestyle we should strive for. ■

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

Is the “organic” seal worth it, given disputes on standards?

BY CANDICE CHOI The Associated Press NEW YORK — Is paying more for organic milk, meat or a can of beans worth it?

The “USDA Organic” label generally signifies a product is made with relatively minimal synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, and that animals are raised according to certain guidelines. But disputes over the rules, and questions about adherence, may raise doubts about whether the price is justified.

A federal audit in September found the U.S. Department of Agriculture was “unable to provide reasonable assurance” that required documents for imported organic grains were reviewed at domestic ports of entry, among other weaknesses. The Washington Post last year had reported that massive shipments of the imported grains intended mostly for animal feed were wrongly labeled as organic, and also questioned practices by major organic dairy and egg producers.

Some farmers also say practices have strayed from the spirit of the rules about organic food, and are planning new labels.

A lot is at stake. Last year, organic food sales came to more than $45 billion, according to the Organic Trade Association, an industry group. That represented more than 5 per cent of overall U.S. food sales.

What you can do

Understanding the issues may help you decide whether to pay twice as much for a carton of organic milk or a dozen eggs.

Consumer groups generally recommend buying organic foods, saying they promote sustainable agriculture, limit damage to the environment and are good for people’s health.

“The system in place isn’t perfect, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have this system, or that it isn’t a good one,” said Charlotte Vallaeys, a senior policy analyst with Consumers Union.

You may also be able to find more detailed information about specific products, either www.canadianinquirer.net

US Department of Agriculture.

directly from producers or others such as the Cornucopia Institute, an industry watchdog that rates dairy and egg farms.

Ronnie Cummins, director of the Organic Consumers Association, says employees at food co-ops and smaller grocery stores may also be more knowledgeable about where products come from.

What’s next

Regulators and organic food companies say they’re working to address the challenges posed by the organic industry’s growth and complexity.

The USDA says it’s trying to adapt its system for oversight.

Among the actions it outlined: Stepped-up inspections, coordination with other agencies and finding technologies to help it better track products across global supply chains.

The agency also notes organic corn imports from Turkey fell 35 per cent between 2016 and 2017, which it suggests is the result of increased enforcement.

The drop also highlights how pervasive problems may be.

The Organic Trade Association also says it’s testing ways to detect fraud at select companies, and will fine-tune them

DLZ28 / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

before recommending the practices to its broader membership, which includes companies like Danone, Organic Valley and Stonyfield Farms.

An association spokeswoman, Gwendolyn Wyard, says a degree of fraud is likely in any program, but that tightening standards is a priority. “I’m not going to try to pull the wool over everyone’s eyes and say we don’t have work to do,” Wyard said.

Milk producer Aurora Organic Dairy said the USDA reviewed its practices since the Washington Post report and found it to be in compliance with standards. Nevertheless, it said each of its farms have been certified twice to increase consumer confidence.

Given the disagreements over organic standards, the Real Organic Project says it is working on a label that it hopes would be an add-on to the USDA seal and indicate that additional rules were met, such as on living conditions for animals. The label, which is not yet being used, would also exclude produce from hydroponic farming, which relies on water instead of soil. ■

29

Sports 2018 World Cup gives everyone moments to remember PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MOSCOW — In the end it was Didier Deschamps in the rain, looking up at the stands after his side beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final, water dripping down his face and golden ticker tape in his hair and on his jacket...

Two years ago, he’d been the loser after Portugal defeated France 1-0 in the European Championships and now the French had redemption and the World at their feet.

Although the events at a World Cup are universal, everyone who travels to watch or work at the tournament has their own personal experiences, moments which were special to them.

Now that the curtain has finally drawn on Russia 2018 and France were crowned as champions in a rainy Moscow, it’s time to look back at some of the best and worst moments which will stick in my mind from the games I covered from stadiums over the past five weeks.

To be honest Uruguay’s 1-0 win over Saudi Arabia won’t stay long in my memory, mainly for the fact that as soon as Luis Suarez opened the scoring the winner was never in doubt.

However, the Saudi’s recovered well to claim some Group A pride with a late winner to defeat Egypt 2-1 in a baking Volgograd, where the disappoint-

ment was to see that Mohamed Salah was clearly lacking match fitness.

Japan and Poland’s footballing truce with Poland 1-0 up but with Japan assured of a place in the last 16 with 10 minutes remaining, was perhaps a personal low point, especially as the Japanese showed in every other game they played, that they are an exciting and aggressive team to watch.

Even the Japan coach admitted in his press conference that he hadn’t been happy with Didier Deschamps what he had done. Neither was anyone else in the Volgograd attack, although the Swiss also going to repeat itself.

Arena with a chorus of boos and showed they deserve to be takThe big talking point of that whistles. en far more seriously as a foot- game was the accusations of So onto the good stuff and ball nation. One memory in the ‘play-acting’ against Neymar, Spain’s 3-3 draw with Portugal lead up to that game was ‘sam- who needed 4 minutes treatin Sochi was a great way to start baing’ Brazilians on the flight ment after Mexico defender out with a Cristiano Ronaldo from Moscow; not great for a Miguel Layun trod on his ankle. hat-trick in a game that gave no nervous flier if the truth be told. There was contact (impossible hint that neither team would Brazil looked to be back on to see from the stands) ... but make it past the last 16. In fact track when they beat Mexico 2-0 how much there actually was Spain’s performance implied in the last 16; frustrating for the remains a moot point, although they had not been too badly Mexicans, who have reached the ‘Twitter’ very quickly made up affected by the its mind about sacking of coach the striker who Julen Lopeteis still rolling as I gui just 48 hours write. before kick-off.

It’s time to look back at some of the H a v i n g How wrong we best and worst moments which will watched Engwere... stick in my mind from the games land’s campaign Brazil’s 1-1 I covered from stadiums over the from a distance, draw against past five weeks. it was nice to still Switzerland in be in Samara to Rostov- On-Don see them progdid, however, ress to the last show that for all their attacking same stage in 5 World Cups and four with a comfortable 2-0 win talent Neymar and company never got past it. After the first against Sweden. Harry Maguwould have problems with their 20 minutes in Samara it looked ire rose like a Sputnik to head link-up between midfield and pretty obvious that history was home the opening goal and con-

ALIZADA STUDIOS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

firm him (in my eyes at least) as one of the players of the tournament.

France’s semi-final performance against Belgium was criticized for being over defensive by some of the Belgian players after their 1-0 defeat.

I thought it was a fascinating game in the splendour of St Petersburg; two tactically intelligent sides testing each other to the limits and separated by the narrowest of margins, with the best team on the night winning.

And that set up the final act of the tournament: Kylian Mbappe tearing down the wing: Antoine Griezmann and French celebrations 24 hours after Bastille Day and Deschamps looking skywards as the fireworks went off and the rain came down.

It’s been a month and a day... time to go home, until the next time in Qatar 2022, which will have moments of its own. ■

Ateneo falls to hot-shooting SoKor

BY IVAN STEWART SALDAJENO Philippine News Agency MANILA — Ateneo found South Korea’s fluid offense too tough to handle and bowed, 73-90, in their Jones Cup clash at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium

in New Taipei City on Monday night.

The Blue Eagles were actually in the thick of things most of the game against South Korea’s national team which was quickly saddled with turnover woes.

SoKor, however, made up for its errors with pinpoint passing, with 30 assists on 36 made

baskets, and a fine stroke from the perimeter highlighted by 10 triples out of 18 tries.

Ateneo eventually fizzled in the fourth quarter, only making 12 points in the final 10 minutes.

Ricardo Ratliffe and Heo IlYoung each chipped in 15 points for South Korea, which is now www.canadianinquirer.net

2-0 in the tournament.

Thirdy Ravena made 14 points, four rebounds, four assists, and five steals for the now 1-1 Ateneo, but missed all of his five shots from long range.

The Scores

South Korea 90 - Ratliffe 15, Heo I 15, Heo U 12, Lee J 9, Heo

H 6, Kang 6, Jeon 6, Kim J 6, Park 5, Choi 4, Lee S 4, Kim S 2.

Ateneo 73 - Ravena 14, Nieto 12, Kouame 10, Wong 9, Verano 5, Mendoza 5, Go 5, Navarro 5, Maagdenberg 3, White 3, Mamuyac 2, Andrade 0.

Quarterscores: 26-22, 50-41, 70-60, 90-73 ■

30

Business Build, Build, Build ‘lightyears ahead,’ economist says

BY JOANN VILLANUEVA Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Philippines’ journey towards becoming a first world country is further gaining ground as the Duterte administration pushes through with its ambitious infrastructure program, a noted economist said.

University of Asia and the Pacific (UA&P) co-founder and economist Dr. Bernardo M. Villegas said the current administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program is “light-years ahead” compared to the past governments in terms of implementation of infrastructure program.

“This administration has a great deal of absorptive capacity so that’s one thing that is very positive that you can say on the Duterte administration,” he said during the First Metro Investment Corporation’s (FMIC) midyear economic

and capital markets briefing in Taguig City Monday.

The current government plans to invest around Php8 trillion until the end of its term in 2022 in its infrastructure program to ensure that necessary infrastructure such as roads, bridges and airports are built not only in major areas but most especially in the countryside like in Mindanao where it is greatly needed.

It has prioritized the hybrid type of funding wherein the government will use its own funds and tap official development assistance (ODA) to boost financing.

It also welcomes unsolicited proposals from the private sector to ensure financing not only for its 75 flagship projects but for others that are seen to provide job opportunities nationwide.

Villegas said it is more prudent for the government to focus on financing infrastructure

Installation of steel columns in the National Government Administrative Center.

project that does not have rate of return for itself per se like farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities to uplift the lives of the farmers.

“Let the private sector build those projects that can give a decent return and those are airports, toll roads, LRTs and so on and so forth,” he said, citing that allowing private companies to finance these projects

would allow the government to implement more.

With the resolve of the current administration to implement its massive infrastructure program Filipinos can expect to see positive outputs in the next few years, he said.

Villegas, however, stressed that this determination to put up the necessary infrastructure should be continued by future administrations.

BUILD BUILD BUILD / FACEBOOK

“What (President) Duterte is doing is just the tip of the iceberg. We need the next 20 years, all our future presidents, to implement “Build, Build, Build” program for us to catch up with our neighbors,” he said.

“To become First World country we need world class infrastructure, world class universities and other educational institutions, and good governance,” he added. ■

San Francisco to consider tax on companies to help homeless

BY JANIE HAR The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO voters will decide in November whether to tax large businesses to pay for homeless and housing services, an issue that set off a battle in another West Coast city struggling with income inequality.

The city elections department verified Monday that supporters had collected enough signatures to get the measure on the ballot. It would raise about $300 million a year _ doubling what San Francisco spends on homelessness _ for more shelter beds and housing for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming so.

The money would come from an average half-per cent tax increase on companies’ revenue above $50 million each year.

Homelessness is a major problem in San Francisco, as well as other cities on the West Coast with growing numbers of high-paying tech jobs that price lower-income residents out of a shrinking housing supply. San Francisco’s new mayor, London Breed, vowed to clear the streets of its tent camps within a year of taking office.

“I think the city is really ready for this,” said Christin Evans, a San Francisco small- business owner and one of three petitioners on the measure. “We have a lot of momentum behind us, and more than a majority of the voting population is renters. We’re polling very well.”

Seattle leaders last month repealed a tax on large employers that was meant to fund homelessness services after Amazon pushed back.

But south of San Francisco,

Mountain View’s City Council got a measure on the November ballot asking voters to authorize a tax on Google and other companies with employees in the Silicon Valley city.

It’s unclear which companies in San Francisco would be affected and how hard by the additional tax on gross receipts.

Jim Lazarus, senior vice-president of public policy for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, estimates up to 1,000 businesses generate more than $50 million a year.

The companies could include Twitter, which declined to comment Monday. Other companies that could be affected, such as Uber, pharmaceutical distributor McKesson Corp., Google, Apple and Amazon did not respond to requests for comment.

Other businesses that could www.canadianinquirer.net

be affected include department stores, supermarkets, law firms and clothing makers such as Levi Strauss & Co., Lazarus said. The chamber will likely oppose the measure.

Marc Benioff, founder and chief executive of cloud-computing company Salesforce, has urged others in the tech community to help address the city’s problems with homelessness.

The city’s largest tech employer said in a statement that it has given more than $4 million to the cause and that it is “evaluating the potential ballot measure to carefully assess its merits in addressing this important issue.”

San Francisco voters last month also approved an increase in the gross receipts tax on commercial buildings and warehouses to fund universal

child care.

The upcoming ballot measure is backed by a coalition that includes homelessness and gay rights groups. Up to half of the money raised would go toward permanent housing, from rental subsidies to new housing. Up to a quarter would go toward mental health services.

Jason McDaniel, a political science professor at San Francisco State University, says it is likely to pass unless political leaders band together to block it.

“I suspect that local companies don’t have the same kind of relationship to the political establishment as they do in Seattle,” he said. “There’s no Amazon here. It’s not like a company town.” ■

Business

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

31

Oversight body’s PEZA cites contribution guidelines for 3rd to economy despite 56% telco out on Friday investments drop

BY AEROL JOHN PATEÑA Philippine News Agency MANILA — The terms of reference (TOR) governing the entry of that elusive third player in the local telecommunications industry is set to be known on Friday. This, after an interagency oversight committee finally concludes its deliberations on which of two proposed TORs will be applied.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) said it seeks to name the third telco

by October, once the guidelines are approved.

“May timeline na po kami kapag na-aprubahan po (terms of reference) sa Friday by October mayroon na tayo (We already have a timeline if the terms of reference on Friday, we might be able to select the new telco player on October),” DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. said in a radio interview Monday.

Telco industry stakeholders have expressed their preference to the draft terms of reference (TOR) of the DICT, which uses the highest committed level of service (HCLoS) as criterion for the selection of a new major telco player, over the use of auction as a mode for the selection during a public consultation conducted by the department last July 6.

The DICT secretary reiterated his opposition to an auction mode as it will force a new play-

er to put up a huge amount to qualify for the bidding process.

“You are forcing the third telco player to put money upfront that has nothing to do with the rollout of infrastructure and it has nothing to do with improving telecommunication services,” according to Rio. The Department of Finance (DOF) is pushing for the auctioning of frequencies to select the third telco player.

Under the guidelines using the highest committed level of service (HCLos) formula, the new telco will be selected on the following criteria: 40 percent for national population coverage, 20 percent for minimum average broadband speed and 40 percent for annual capital and operating expenditure over a five year commitment period.

The guidelines using the auction mode stipulates that a bidder that will offer the highest annual capital and operating expenditure for a 5 year commitment period shall be selected as the new major telco player.

Under Administrative Order No. 11, President Rodrigo Duterte has created an oversight committee to assist the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in the formulation of the guidelines for the selection and assignment of radio frequencies for the entry of new telco player. The committee is composed of the DICT, NTC, DOF, Office of the Executive Secretary and the National Security Adviser. ■

Information and Communications Technology Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY / FACEBOOK

BY KRIS CRISMUNDO Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) revealed that ecozones’ contribution to employment and exports remain positive despite a decline in project registrations.

As of May this year, direct employment in PEZA-registered firms increased 3.5 percent to 1.39 million jobs from 1.35 million in 2017. Their contribution to the overall export revenues of the country in the same period also grew 5.3 percent to USD21.81 billion this year from USD20.72 billion last year.

Meantime, PEZA reported on Monday that investment approvals in the agency dropped by 55.9 percent in the first semester of 2018 compared to the same period last year.

PEZA Promotions and Public Relations Group Manager Elmer San Pascual said in a briefing that investment pledges in January to June this year only posted PHP53.04 billion from PHP120.2 billion in the first half of 2017.

He said the number of projects that registered with PEZA declined by 14 percent to 258 projects in H1 2018 from 300 projects in H1 2017.

PEZA Director General Charito Plaza attributed the drop in investment pledges to the uncertainties created by the the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Package 2. Plaza said the uncertainties are causing delays in business decision-making such as whether or not to set up or expand in the Philippines. “[It’s] because of the uncertainties brought by the TRAIN 2. Although the objective of TRAIN [Package] 2 is meaningful, but it sends different interpretations, especially when it touches about incentives,” Plaza told reporters.

“And then our investors are also worried because in their interpretation of TRAIN 2, seems like PEZA will be demolished, so with the other IPAs, in the sense that the present authorities that we have now is being removed in the TRAIN 2, like the incentives authority will be under the proposed FIRB (Fiscal Incentives Review

Board),” she added.

Investment pledges in PEZA across industries declined in H1 2018. Project registration for manufacturing activities decreased by 9.3 percent to PHP19.55 billion this year from PHP21.54 billion last year; information technology (IT) investment pledges likewise declined by 13.7 percent to PHP6.98 billion from PHP8.07 billion; planned investments for economic zone development also dropped 65.2 percent to PHP26.3 billion from PHP75.46 billion; and pledges in other sectors plunged by 98.4 percent to PHP234.5 million from PHP15.12 billion.

“Our industries are in the panic mode, particularly those who deferred their investments in 2017 because of the TRAIN [Package] 1, hoping that everything will be stabilized in 2018, only to be welcomed by TRAIN Package 2. And that has created a lot of uncertainties in them,” San Pascual stressed.

San Pascual noted that PEZA industries accounted for 70 percent of the country’s merchandise exports and 80 percent of the total services exports. ■

Peso holds ground, local stocks shed anew

BY JOANN VILLANUEVA Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Philippine peso finished almost unchanged against the US dollar Monday but the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) tracked the slide of its regional peers.

The local unit finished the week’s first trading day at 53.53 from last Friday’s 53.51 close.

A trader pointed this performance partly to corporates’ higher demand for dollar to finance their mid-month requirements.

For the day, the peso opened at 53.50, slightly weaker than www.canadianinquirer.net

its previous start of 53.43.

It traded between its opening level and 53.54, bringing the day’s average at 53.52.

Volume was thin at USD290.75 million from the previous session’s USD397 million.

The same trader expects the local unit to trade between 53.3053.50 to a greenback Tuesday.

On the other hand, PSEi shed 0.40 percent, or 29.74 points, to 7,369.44 points in line with other stock markets in the region.

Another trader said foreign investors pulled out some of their placements in the domestic equities market given some worries overseas.

The main index was followed

by most of the other counters, with the All Shares down by 0.27 percent, or 12.29 points, to 4,462.60 points.

Holding Firms, Property, Mining and Oil, Services and Financials were on the same trend after giving up 0.76 percent, 0.66 percent, 0.62 percent, 0.19 percent and 0.11 percent, respectively.

Only the Industrial index registered improvement after it rose 0.22 percent.

Volume reached 919.84 shares amounting to Php4.28 billion.

Losers led gainers at 90 to 82 while 55 shares were unchanged. ■

32

Technology Google gear helps Uber facing probe into alleged create virtual tours gender discrimination of Georgia sites

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MACON, GA. – Miles of central Georgia trails and some of Macon’s most prominent historic landmarks can now be toured online on Google Maps.

Ocmulgee National Monument Superintendent Jim David says anyone with an internet connection can take a virtual journey to the top of the mounds and get 360-degree views of the places they’re walking.

The views were captured with a Google Street View Trekker _ a 45-pound backpack with an attached pole topped with a green sphere holding eight cameras, the Telegraph reported.

The device was on loan from Google to the Ocmulgee National Monument Association, a non-profit working to bring recognition to the 700-acre park that’s been occupied by humans since the Ice Age. The equipment was also used to create tours of Rose Hill Cemetery, Fort Hawkins and Amerson River Park.

“I saw that other national parks in other cities were doing this to try to encourage tourism,” said Billie Coleman, a volunteer for the park’s association who came up with the idea to apply for the Google Street View Trekker. “I thought it would be a great way to showcase a lot of the mounds so people could experience what it was like to be there even if they were never able to come experi-

ence this site here.”

Employees of NewTown Macon and the Macon-Bibb Parks and Recreation department helped trek the other sites.

Google published the virtual tours online about a year after the trails were trekked.

“Anytime there is an additional tourism offering for people who are visiting, as well as residents of Macon, I think is great,” said Valerie Bradley, director of communications for the Macon-Bibb County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Sights at Rose Hill Cemetery on Riverside Drive include mausoleums, obelisks and wrought-iron-ringed plots. The cemetery is the final resting place for some of Macon’s most prominent residents, including some of the original members of the Allman Brothers Band, famous architects and masons.

Fort Hawkins was built in 1806, when Georgia was still mostly frontier wilderness, for protection against Native Americans and invasions by the Spanish, British and French, the Macon newspaper reported. It was where militiamen and federal troops were trained for battle, and it is often referred to as the birthplace for modern-day Macon.

Amerson River Park was still being developed when images of it were captured in 2016. The area, on the banks of the Ocmulgee River, was once home to the city’s water treatment plant, which was destroyed in the flood of 1994. ■

SAN FRANCISCO — Uber is facing a U.S. government investigation into allegations that the ride-hailing service set up a pay structure that discriminated against its female workers.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission opened the probe in August 2017, according to a person familiar with the investigation.

The person insisted on not being identified because the inquiry is considered confidential.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the ongoing investigation.

The EEOC declined to comment Monday. Uber said it has already revamped its compensation practices and introduced other measures designed to ensure its male and female employees are treated fairly.

Some of the changes have been rolled out since Uber hired Dara Khosrowshahi as its CEO in September 2017, shortly after the EEOC opened its probe. Since his arrival, Khosrowshahi has been focused on cleaning up Uber’s corporate culture poisoned by a pattern of sexual harassment and other abuses that included a yearlong coverup of a major computer break-in and the use of duplicitous software to thwart government regulators.

The incidents have cast a cloud over Uber while it has been battling fiercer competition from its biggest U.S. rival, Lyft, and trying to reverse its

www.canadianinquirer.net

long history of huge losses as it prepares to sell its stock on the public markets for the first time next year.

If the EEOC finds Uber broke the law by paying women differently than men for the performing the same jobs, the agency could slap fines on the company as punishment.

San Francisco-based Uber already has paid $245 million in stock to self-driving car pioneer Waymo to settle allegations that it stole technology from the Google spin-off to help build a fleet of self-driving cars.

In separate development Monday, the Federal Trade Commission began mailing out nearly $20 million that Uber agreed to pay last year to settle claims that the ride-hailing service misled some U.S. drivers about their earning potential and vehicle financing costs. More than 88,000 drivers will receive an average of about $223.

News of the EEOC’s probe

into alleged gender discrimination comes a week after Uber’s top personnel executive, Liane Hornsey, abruptly stepped down.

A wide range of technology companies have been grappling with complaints of gender and racial discrimination while trying to diversify workforces consisting mostly of white and Asian men, especially in the highest-paying jobs. Uber’s latest diversity report disclosed that women make up 38 per cent of its worldwide workforce.

That number does not include people driving for the service.

The U.S. Labor Department last year publicly accused Google of shortchanging its female employees for doing the same work as men, but those allegations haven’t resulted in any action against the company.

Google has adamantly denied paying its female workers differently than their male counterparts. ■

Technology

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

33

Prime time: A day of deals at Amazon, and at its rivals THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK — Amazon’s annual “Prime Day” promotion that starts Monday will focus on new products, bringing Whole Foods into the process and persuading subscribers that Prime membership is worth the coming price hike.

Shoppers, meanwhile, will have plenty of sales to choose from as other retailers offer promotions to try to take a share of the spending.

Amazon is highlighting its Echo assistants and its own brands, particularly in clothing, said Deborah Weinswig, CEO of Coresight Research.

While Amazon doesn’t disclose sales figures for Prime Day, Weinswig estimates it will generate $3.4 billion in sales worldwide, up from an estimated $2.4 billion last year. Prime Day also lasts six hours longer than last year.

Expanding Prime Day has increased the pressure on other stores and chains like Macy’s, Nordstrom, Best Buy, Walmart and Target to roll out their own promotions, said Charlie

O’Shea, lead retail analyst at Moody’s.

“Brick-and-mortar retailers know that they have little choice but to continue offering their own deep discounts, which is evident in the proliferation of ‘Black Friday in July’ deals that are being launched earlier each year, as well as various ‘price match’ offers,” he said in a note Monday.

Amazon created Prime Day in 2015 to mark its 20th anniversary, and its success has inspired other e-commerce companies to invent shopping holidays. Online furniture seller Wayfair introduced Way Day in April, becoming its biggest revenue day ever.

Prime Day also usually helps boost the number of Prime memberships. Amazon disclosed for the first time this year that it had more than 100 million paid Prime members worldwide. It’s hoping to keep Prime attractive for current and would-be subscribers after raising the U.S. annual membership fee by 20 per cent to $119 and to $12.99 for the month-to-month option.

Here’s a look at what’s hap-

Amazon Prime day unboxing.

pening this year: Whole Foods in the mix

The Seattle-based company is offering Prime members who spend $10 at Whole Foods from July 11-17 a $10 Amazon credit to use on Prime Day. And at its more than a dozen Amazon Books stores, discounts will expand beyond devices.

New product launches

Several companies have agreed to launch new products on Prime Day, Amazon says.

Among them, a Fingerlings uni-

AMAZON / FACEBOOK

corn doll whose horn lights up and a Delta kitchen faucet that can be turned on through Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.

Private label push

Amazon has been building its own brands, and it’ll be offering deals such as 25 per cent off its Rivet furniture brand, which didn’t exist a year ago. Other deals include 30 per cent off its Mama Bear diapers and baby products.

Back to school

The company is making a

big push in school supplies for Prime Day. It says customers bought more pencils, pens, notebooks, glue sticks, lunchboxes and backpacks on Prime Day last year than any other day of the year.

More countries

Amazon has been expanding its Prime membership around the world, and four new countries will be a part of Prime Day this year: Australia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Singapore. ■

Tesla announces deal for Shanghai factory

BY JOE MCDONALD The Associated Press BEIJING – Electric car producer Tesla will build its first factory outside the United States in Shanghai under an agreement signed Tuesday, becoming the first wholly foreign-owned automaker in China.

Tesla Inc.’s announcement comes amid mounting U.S.Chinese tension over technology and follows Beijing’s April promise to end restrictions that required foreign automakers to work through local partners.

Tesla said construction would begin in the near future, once official permits are obtained.

It said production would begin two to three years after that and eventually increase to 500,000 vehicles annually.

No financial details were announced. A city government

statement said the factory would be the biggest foreign investment to date in Shanghai, a base for joint ventures between General Motors Co. and Volkswagen AG and a state-owned automaker.

The signing ceremony was attended by Tesla chairman Elon Musk, Mayor Ying Yong and other Chinese officials, according to the city government.

China is the world’s biggest electric vehicle market but Tesla and other producers including GM and Nissan Motor Co. had been reluctant to transfer manufacturing to this country due to the requirement to share technology with Chinese partners that might become rivals.

Tesla began selling cars in China in 2014, shipping them from its California factory, which added a 15 per cent import duty to the price. Despite that, China quickly became its No. 2 market

after the United States.

“Tesla is deeply committed to the Chinese market,” the company said in a statement.

Tesla is among companies hit by additional 25 per cent import duties imposed by Beijing in retaliation for a tariff hike by U.S. President Trump in a dispute over technology policy.

Automakers are pouring billions of dollars into developing electric car models for China.

GM, Ford Motor Co., VW, Nissan and other competitors have announced ventures with local automakers to develop models for China’s lower-income market.

Sales of pure-electric passenger vehicles in China rose 82 per cent last year to 468,000, according to an industry group, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. That was more than double the U.S. level of just under 200,000. www.canadianinquirer.net

Beijing is using access to its market as leverage to induce global automakers to help Chinese brands develop battery and other technology.

Auto brands in China are required to make electric vehicles at least 10 per cent of their sales starting next year or buy credits from competitors that exceed their quotas. Later, they face pressure to raise those sales in order to satisfy fuel efficiency requirements that increase annually.

Also Tuesday, Germany’s BMW AG announced a partnership with China’s biggest SUV maker, Great Wall Motor, to produce electric versions of its MINI cars.

Tesla said it also would set up a research and development facility in Shanghai.

The company said the China factory would not affect production in the United States,

which is forecast to increase.

Tesla announced last year it was talking to the Shanghai city government about possibly building a factory.

The plan went ahead after Beijing said in April it would end limits on foreign ownership of electric vehicle producers this year.

Industry analysts said that suggested the ruling Communist Party believes its own producers such as BYD Auto are close to being able to compete with global brands in performance and price.

Ownership restrictions on other parts of the auto industry are to end by 2022, the government said.

The city government statement said local authorities will “strongly support” Tesla as part of efforts to develop Shanghai as a centre for electric research and production. ■

JULY 20, 2018

34

CANADA

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Electronic Technicians Needed Experience in Low Voltage Electrical System installation and Servicing Computers with Networking Email resume to suda@alarmboss.com Call 416-432-1902

NANNY/BABYSITTER

LOCATION: BRAMPTON Employer: Romelo Perez for 2 children (15 & 11 y.o.), Mon-Fri, $14/hr for 40 hrs/wk. 3 year-contract Requirements: LanguageEnglish. Education- Completion of secondary school (min.)

Experience- 1-2 yrs. child care/babysitting exp; criminal record check, in good health. Duties: Supervise and care for children, prepare and serve meals, assist with feeding, grooming, hygiene, homework and school projects. Perform light housekeeping & cleaning duties including wash/iron clothes and household linens.

Take children to and from school and appointments, travel with family if needed.

APPLY BY EMAIL: melo.perez@outlook.com

www.canadianinquirer.net

35

Travel TravelLab: Adults take over science museums when night falls

BY EMILIANO RODRIGUEZ MEGA The Associated Press

band’s birthday.

The experience

During the night, guests have dinner in a room full of moon rocks and a 15-ton meteorite, and can wander around the 45 permanent exhibition halls.

They can also join guided tours, visit the planetarium, meet with curators and chat with museum scientists about their research — all while the city rests.

“I don’t think there’s any way you’d be able to experience this place in such a special way as doing this kind of overnight,” said Giancarlo Bruni, of Toronto, as he played with the control panel of a full-size submarine.

“It’s phenomenal.”

While only adults are allowed, there is still childish fun to be had. Monica Seebohm and her friend Renee Brown came in hooded T. rex onesies.

“We’re always looking for some adventure, and we thought bringing a dinosaur costume was appropriate,” Seebohm said. “We like to dress for the occasion.”

Lights go out at 2 a.m. People can sleep in their own sleeping bags or the museum’s cots, aligned right below the belly of a 94-foot-long blue whale that

NEW YORK — Sometimes, in the middle of the night, nocturnal creatures are allowed to roam the halls of New York’s American Museum of Natural History, free from shouting and swarming children. They are adult humans, known to sometimes quietly contemplate science with a cocktail.

“If you go to a natural history museum during the day, it’s definitely a space for people who are under 4 feet tall. And that’s clear in every way — from the soup they serve at the cafeteria to the height of the label,” said Victoria Cain, a museum historian at Northeastern University in Boston. “It’s kind of fun to reMuseum guests and researchers at American Museum of Natural History. claim that space for adults.”

AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY / FACEBOOK On a recent June evening, 175 grown-ups signed up for a into a teenager,” he said. “Now I big star. Another one had arms gotta hide and sometimes you slumber party at the New York get to sleep under her.” so thin that they looked like gotta show off. They’re doing it museum, which has capitalnoodles. simultaneously. It’s a brilliant ized on the hype created by Ben The science behind it Some visitors were awed; oth- solution.”

Stiller’s “Night at the Museum” Silence greets those who ven- ers recoiled when they touched Katz said the sleepover is an franchise. The museum’s first ture into remote exhibits. That the marine creatures. opportunity for guests to be sleepovers were aimed at kids. stillness makes a difference for Starfish like these depend surprised by nature. “We want Then in 2014, people 21 and up visitors hoping to learn some- on a healthy ocean to survive, people to have so much fun were invited to explore its darkthing, said biologist John Kara- Karavias explained. But car- that they almost forget they’re ened exhibit halls. vias. bon dioxide from the burning learning,” she said. “But this is The experi“During the of coal and natural gas is mak- not an amusement park. We are ment was so day, you’re fight- ing the ocean more acidic. That sneaking in a lot of informapopular that ing crowds. You means sea urchins, mussels, tion.” other science feel like you’re corals and other organisms centres followed When you go to these at night, all being rushed and have a hard time creating their If You Go… suit. Aquariums the background noise is quieted all you’re doing is shells or skeletons, which afAMERICAN MUSEUM OF and museums down and you’re able to digest getting an ‘Ooh!’ fects their development.

NATURAL HISTORY: Central in Atlanta, Milthe science behind everything that and an ‘Ah!’ but A few floors above, tour guide Park West and 79th Street, New waukee, Portyou’re looking at. you’re not learn- Arlene Katz taught visitors York. Adult sleepovers are ofland, Oregon, ing,” said Kara- about animals that glow. fered several times a year. The and elsewhere vias, who studShe approached a tank with next one is Sept. 21, $350 per have hosted paies the effects of an eel snuggled in the rocks. person. jama parties for climate change Its camouflaged body was hard ELSEWHERE: Other science grown-ups. And they’ve be- hangs from the ceiling of the on marine life. “When you go to pick out from the sandy bot- centres and institutions also come a hot ticket, according to Hall of Ocean Life. Those who to these at night, all the back- tom. But an ultraviolet film organize adult slumber parCain. feel restless can get cookies ground noise is quieted down made it glow greenish-blue. It’s ties. New York’s Bronx Zoo pro“When I saw that we could and coffee at the Hall of Planet and you’re able to digest the not making its own light, like a vides tents for camping on its do it and that there was also Earth. science behind everything that firefly does. Instead, it absorbs grounds. The Science Museum alcohol, we were like, ‘Oh my Michael Nedell, 53, recalled you’re looking at.” light and releases it as a differ- of Minnesota will hold a Zomgosh. Someone read our diary,’” being afraid of the whale as a He was recently invited to ent colour that’s invisible to bie Adult Camp-in Oct. 26. The said Janine Agarwal, 29, who child. show off acrylic bowls filled predators but obvious to other Chabot Space Science Center in attended the sleepover at the “When I was younger, that with weird-looking sea stars eels.

Oakland, California, will host American Museum of Natural blue whale freaked me out. I’d and sea urchins. Bright red “It’s a hidden language,” she adults in August to view the History to celebrate her hus- been scared of (it) until I grew spikes covered the body of one explained. “Sometimes you Perseids meteor shower. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

36

Travel

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

Palawan, Cebu named among best islands in the world

BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Philippine News Agency MANILA — Two Philippine islands were named among the best in the world by the 2018 poll of New York-based Travel+Leisure magazine.

Travel+Leisure conducted its annual World’s Best Awards survey, where its readers share

insight on best travel experiences around the globe, from top cities, islands, cruise ships, spas and airlines.

Their 15 Best Islands in the World for 2018 listed Cebu as 8th with a score of 89.10 and Palawan as 6th with 90.04.

Palawan in 2013 and 2017 scored the top spot among the 15 contenders.

Last year, Travel+Leisure noted that Palawan was even

hailed as "single most beautiful place on Earth," with its hospitable locals, world-class scuba diving spots and unspoiled beaches.

Cebu, a regular lister, also ranked 6th in the 2018 Asia’s Best Islands conducted by the same magazine.

Replacing Palawan’s spot was Java, Indonesia which scored 95.28 points. Java made its first appearance on the list this year. ■

LGU, private sector tie-up to save Banaue Rice Terraces

BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Philippine News Agency MANILA — With a huge land area of the Banaue Rice Terraces deteriorating, the local government has partnered with the private sector to save the country’s northern treasure and prevent it from being removed from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Sites.

The Banaue Rice Terraces was erased from UNESCO’s list of World Heritage in Danger in 2012, 11 years after it was listed in 2001.

But with about 600 hectares of the site abandoned, triggering deterioration, advocates believe this will once again put the landmark at risk.

Banaue’s city government and United Harvester, Inc. ventured together to form the Banaue Rice Terraces Restoration Project.

One component of the project is to generate public awareness and participation to the cause, with one of its latest initiatives closing into its end, the Banaue International Music Composition Competition (BIMCC) set for grand finals on July 25.

Gen. Jaime delos Santos, Banaue restoration project manager, said a lot of work still needs to be done, but the BIMCC is already a start.

"The area has faced a host of challenges in recent years, and

we aim to bring back its full glory through the Banaue Rice Terraces Restoration Project," delos Santos said.

"We recognize that there is much work to be done and what we’re doing is just a start.

Through the BIMCC, we want to call attention to the scale of the challenge and how the public can show support through a celebration of music and culture," he added.

At the press conference for the BIMCC on Tuesday, Banaue Mayor Jerry Dalipog confirmed that most local farmers have been moving to cities, leaving most of the farmlands unattended.

"Some of the parents sell their lots to send their children to school. This also decreases the number of our farmers," he told reporters.

Dalipog said the LGU allots an amount for rehabilitation from its 20-percent development fund, but the budget is "still not enough."

"We’re thankful for such initiatives because it really helps gather assistance," he added, referring to the Banaue project.

The national government also assisted in the rehabilitation through Congress and the Department of Tourism’s implementing arm, the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

Dalipog said a total of PHP200 million was allocated for the stonewalling of the rice terraces.

"For the PHP60 million, we submitted the detailed engineering to TIEZA so TIEZA will bid it within July. We target to start the project in September," said the mayor. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

GOVERNORS ISLAND WEBSITE

Luxury tents, gourmet meals redefine camping on NYC island

BY TED ANTHONY The Associated Press NEW YORK — Just imagine it, a luxurious room on an island, with chef-prepared meals and a view of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.

Hotel? Not exactly.

It’s actually a campground of high-end tents on New York City’s Governors Island, the latest outpost for glamping, or glamorous camping. Rates that can run more than $700 provide such creature comforts as full beds, high thread-count sheets, bathrooms, plush towels, electrical outlets, barbecue grills and an on-site restaurant offering prime cuts of meat.

There isn’t a leaky tent, musty sleeping bag or can of baked beans in sight.

“We’ve tried to create an experience where people can put all those concerns aside and connect to the place that they’re in, the people that they’re with and themselves,” said Peter Mack, CEO and founder of Collective Retreats, which has developed similar camps in Colorado, Montana and Texas.

Visitors staying in the 27 smaller journey tents share bathroom facilities; those staying in the 10 larger summit tents have their own private, en suite bathrooms, spa robes and even a campfire s’mores kit.

The location, Governors Island, is a 172-acre (70 hectare) plot of land that sits just off the southern tip Manhattan, with stunning views of the city’s Financial District, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. For-

merly used by the Army and Coast Guard, a portion of it is now home to a national monument overseen by the National Park Service, while the majority was transferred over to the city and state for the benefit and use of the public.

It’s accessible only by ferry and currently open to the public for six months of the year, which means visitors to Collective Governors Island have specific windows both to plan their stays as well as how they get to and from their tents during a visit. At night, once the ferries have stopped running, people staying there have to remain within the campgrounds, but in the mornings they have the run of the island to themselves until the boats start operating again.

The goal is to turn the island into a year-round destination, said Michael Samuelian, president and CEO of The Trust for Governors Island, the organization that oversees its redevelopment. To that end, the site hosts events including musical performances and art exhibits.

Collective Retreat’s pitch for a luxury camping ground on a portion of the island made perfect sense, he said. Putting up tents and communal bathrooms requires less infrastructure than building a full-scale hotel, which is on the ultimate goal list. But it allows the trust to start having overnight visitors and figure out the transportation and other needs to make it a full-time, year-round destination.

“It’s absolutely worth it because big-picture, this is the direction we need to go,” Samuelian said. ■

37

Food The secret to getting crispy chicken wings on the grill AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN TO TAKE this barroom classic from the fryer to the grill we had to figure out how to handle the fat and connective tissue from the wings, which creates a problem as it drips into the fire.

To get crisp, well-rendered chicken wings with lightly charred skin, succulent, smoky meat and minimal flare-ups, we quick-brined the wings and tossed them in cornstarch and pepper. These steps helped the meat retain moisture and kept the wings from sticking to the grill.

We then cooked them right over a gentle medium-low fire.

The moderate temperature minimized flare-ups and the direct heat accelerated the cooking process. Also, though we normally cook white chicken

meat to 160 F, wings are chockfull of collagen, which begins to break down upwards of 170 F. Cooking the wings to 180 F produced meltingly tender wings.

These few minor adjustments gave us crispy, juicy chicken that made a great alternative to fried wings. We also developed several easy spice rubs to take the wings up a notch if you’re looking for some new flavour options.

Grilled chicken wings

Makes: 24 wings Start to finish: 1 hour and 30 minutes If you buy whole wings, cut them into two pieces before brining. Don’t brine the wings for more than 30 minutes or they’ll be too salty.

• 1/2 cup salt • 2 pounds chicken wings, wingtips discarded, trimmed

• 1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch • 1 teaspoon pepper Dissolve salt in 2 quarts cold water in large container. Prick chicken wings all over with fork. Submerge chicken in brine, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Combine cornstarch and pepper in bowl. Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Transfer wings to large bowl and sprinkle with cornstarch mixture, tossing until evenly coated.

For a charcoal grill: Open bottom vent completely. Light large chimney starter half filled with charcoal briquettes (3 quarts). When top coals are partially covered with ash, pour evenly over grill. Set cooking grate in place, cover, and open lid vent completely. Heat grill until hot, about 5 minutes.

For a gas grill: Turn all burn-

ers to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes.

Turn all burners to mediumlow.

Clean and oil cooking grate.

Grill wings (covered if using gas), thicker skin side up, until browned on bottom, 12 to 15 minutes. Flip chicken and grill until skin is crisp and lightly charred and meat registers 180

F, about 10 minutes. Transfer chicken to platter, tent with aluminum foil, and let rest for 5 to 10 minutes. Serve. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 63 calories; 39 calories from fat; 4 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 37 mg cholesterol; 137 mg sodium; 0 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 0 g sugar; 6 g protein.

Our sweet secret to creamy frozen yogurt? Maple syrup AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN WE SET the bar high with this recipe: We wanted a naturally sweetened, pleasantly tart vanilla frozen yogurt with the creamy, smooth texture of premium ice cream.

We started with plain wholemilk yogurt; not wanting to mask the yogurt’s tangy flavour, we immediately ruled out the additional dairy we saw in some other recipes. Next, we needed to choose a natural sweetener that wouldn’t disrupt the clean flavour of the yogurt.

Sucanat, coconut sugar, and honey proved to be overpowering, but maple syrup worked perfectly: It offered just the right amount of rounded sweetness without being distracting.

To develop distinct, nuanced vanilla flavour, we used a whole vanilla bean along with a small

amount of extract.

With the yogurt’s flavour down, we turned our attention to fine-tuning the texture.

Usually, sugar helps to prevent ice crystals from forming in ice cream and frozen yogurt, but with the small amount we were using we needed to find a different way to avoid an icy texture.

We wondered if the water in the yogurt was to blame.

Draining the yogurt overnight and eliminating a measured amount of liquid resulted in a much better final texture, but the ultrasmooth creaminess we coveted was still proving elusive. We knew that storebought frozen yogurts often rely on additives and stabilizers to achieve a smoother texture, and we wondered if we could re-create the effect at home by using gelatin.

We tested yogurts made with various amounts of gelatin (blooming it in the strained

yogurt liquid kept our recipe streamlined), and landed on 1 teaspoon. Finally, we prevented large ice crystals from forming by allowing the frozen yogurt base to cool to 40 F or lower before churning.

You can increase the vanilla extract to 1 tablespoon if you don’t have a vanilla bean, though the flavour will be duller. We prefer to use whole-milk yogurt in this recipe; the frozen yogurt will be less creamy if you substitute low-fat yogurt.

Vanilla frozen yogurt

Servings: 8 (Makes 1 quart) Start to finish: 2 hours and 40 minutes, plus 8-12 hours to strain yogurt • 1 quart plain whole-milk yogurt • 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin • 1 vanilla bean • 1/2 cup maple syrup • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract www.canadianinquirer.net

• 1/8 teaspoon salt Line colander or fine-mesh strainer with triple layer of cheesecloth and place over

large bowl. Place yogurt in colander, cover with plastic wrap (wrap should not touch yogurt), ❱❱ PAGE 38 Our sweet

38

Food

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

For a variation on A simple chicken tikka masala pasta with pesto sauce, that’s neither mushy nor dry use kale instead AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN

AMERICA'S TEST KITCHEN ALTHOUGH MOST people think of pesto as an Italian sauce made with herbs (most famously, basil), many ingredients can be ably featured in a pesto. One of note is kale — leafy and deep green, with an earthy, slightly bitter flavour.

Pine nuts are too mild a match for kale, so we opt for more assertively flavoured sunflower seeds instead. We also add a handful of basil to the mix to brighten and freshen the earthy pesto.

Toasting the garlic cloves gives them a nutty sweetness.

An optional teaspoon of red pepper flakes provides some welcome heat. The hearty kale leaves make a thick pesto, which we thin out by stirring in several tablespoons of pasta cooking water before serving.

Pasta with kale and sunflower seed pesto

Servings: 4-6 Start to finish: 30 minutes

• 2 unpeeled garlic cloves • 4 ounces kale, stemmed and chopped (2 cups) • 1 cup fresh basil leaves • 1 1/2 ounces Parmesan cheese, grated ( 3/4 cup), plus extra for serving • 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds, toasted • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

(optional) • Salt and pepper • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil • 1 pound fusilli Toast garlic in 8-inch skillet over medium heat, stirring often, until fragrant, 5 to 7 minutes; transfer to bowl. Let garlic cool slightly, then peel and mince.

Pulse kale, basil, Parmesan, sunflower seeds, pepper flakes, if using, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and garlic in food processor until finely ground, 20 to 30 pulses, scraping down bowl as needed. With processor running, slowly add oil until incorporated. Transfer to medium bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Meanwhile, bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. Add pasta and 1 tablespoon salt and cook, stirring often, until al dente. Reserve 3/4 cup cooking water, then drain pasta and return it to pot. Stir several tablespoons of reserved pasta water into pesto to loosen it, then add it to pasta and toss to combine.

Adjust consistency with remaining reserved cooking water as needed and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with extra Parmesan. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 554 calories; 250 calories from fat; 28 g fat (5 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 6 mg cholesterol; 530 mg sodium; 62 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 3 g sugar; 16 g protein.

CHICKEN TIKKA masala is arguably the single most popular Indian restaurant dish in the world. Turns out, it’s not an authentic Indian dish — it was invented in a London curry house.

Without historical roots, there is no definitive recipe. The variations we found had mushy or dry chicken and sauces that were unbearably rich and/or overspiced. We wanted an approachable method for producing moist, tender chunks of chicken in a rich, lightly spiced tomato sauce.

Chicken tikka masala

Servings: 4-6 Start to finish: 30 minutes

• 6 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1 onion, chopped fine • 1 tablespoon garam masala • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes • 2/3 cup heavy cream • 1 cup plain Greek yogurt • Salt • 1 teaspoon ground cumin • 1 teaspoon ground coriander • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed • 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro Combine oil and onion in Dutch oven and cook over medium-high heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garam masala, ginger, and garlic

and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomatoes, cover, and simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until flavours meld, about 15 minutes. Stir in cream, cover, and keep warm.

Meanwhile, adjust oven rack 6 inches from broiler element and heat broiler. Line broilerpan bottom with aluminum foil and lay slotted broiler pan on top. Combine yogurt, 1 teaspoon salt, cumin, coriander, and cayenne in medium bowl.

Pound thicker ends of breasts as needed, then pat dry with paper towels.

Using tongs, dip chicken into yogurt mixture (chicken should be coated with thick layer of yogurt) and arrange on prepared

broiler-pan top. Discard excess yogurt mixture. Broil chicken until lightly charred in spots and chicken registers 160 F, 10 to 18 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking.

Transfer chicken to cutting board, let rest for 5 minutes, then cut into 1-inch chunks. Stir chicken into warm sauce and let heat through, about 2 minutes.

Stir in cilantro and season with salt to taste. Serve. ■

Using tip of paring knife, scrape out seeds; discard bean. Add seeds to warm gelatin mixture and let cool for 5 minutes.

In large bowl, whisk drained yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, and cooled gelatin mixture until well combined and smooth. Place bowl over ice bath, or cover and refrigerate, until yogurt mixture registers 40 F or lower.

Transfer mixture to ice cream machine and churn un-

til mixture has consistency of thick soft-serve and registers about 21 F, 25 to 35 minutes.

Transfer frozen yogurt to airtight container and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 5 days. Serve. ■

Nutrition information per serving: 456 calories; 236 calories from fat; 26 g fat (8 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 149 mg cholesterol; 533 mg sodium; 15 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 9 g sugar; 40 g protein.

Our sweet... ❰❰ 37

and refrigerate until at least 1 1/4 cups liquid has drained from yogurt, at least 8 hours or up to 12 hours.

Discard 3/4 cup of drained liquid and return remaining liquid to bowl. Sprinkle gelatin over liquid and let sit until softened, about 5 minutes. Microwave mixture until bubbling around edges and gelatin dissolves, about 30 seconds. Cut vanilla bean in half lengthwise. www.canadianinquirer.net

Nutrition information per serving: 131 calories; 36 calories from fat; 4 g fat (3 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 16 mg cholesterol; 95 mg sodium; 19 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 18 g sugar; 5 g protein.

39

FRIDAY JULY 20, 2018

www.canadianinquirer.net

40

JULY 20, 2018

FRIDAY

Philippines

Canada

CIBC Global Money Transfer

TM

$0 Transfer Fee.* Arrives in 24 Hours.** Safe and Secure.

Receive $50 when you open a CIBC account and make your first Global Money Transfer.3 Receive $25 when you send your first Global Money Transfer.4 Use promo code GMT18

Simply visit cibc.com/philippinestransfer Download the app

1 Transfer up to $15,000 CAD with no additional fee. CIBC foreign exchange rates apply. A CIBC Global Money Transfer transaction counts toward your allowable transaction limit; bank account transaction fees may apply. Must have a CIBC chequing, savings or personal line of credit account to send a CIBC Global Money Transfer. 2Most transfers are completed by the next business day; some transfers require 2 to 3 business days. 3Open a new CIBC personal bank account [savings, chequing or a personal line of credit] and make a CIBC Global Money Transfer within 60 days after account opening and you will receive $50 CAD in your new account within 20 business days. Offer runs from 12:00:01am EST on June 18, 2018 until 11:59:59EST on August 31st, 2018. 4If you have a CIBC personal bank account [savings, chequing or a personal line of credit] but have not yet tried CIBC Global Money Transfer (“GMT”), request a GMT transfer and you will receive $25 CAD in your CIBC account within 20 business days. Offer runs from 12:00:01am EST on June 18, 2018 until 11:59:59EST on August 31st, 2018. CIBC Cube Design & “Banking that fits your life.” are trademarks of CIBC. All other trademarks are owned by CIBC.

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