Philippine Canadian Inquirer #339

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SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

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VOL. 8 NO. 339

DUTERTE MEETS KOKO

President Rodrigo R. Duterte discusses matters with Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, Kathryna Yu, and Secretary Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President during a meeting at the Malacañan Palace.

TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Trillanes warns Duterte: You will go also go through this process

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer SENATOR ANTONIO “Sonny” Trillanes IV hoped that President Rodrigo Duterte was watching him undergo the

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Mayor Sara ‘very qualified’ to run for senator: Roque

15

booking procedure as he said that the Chief Executive will also experience it soon.

Without any trace of fear, Trillanes told this to reporters on Tuesday, Sep-

Paano ba ang mangarap?

❱❱ PAGE 7 Trillanes warns

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❱❱ PAGE 22

Indigenous eateries take centre stage in Canada thanks to increasing awareness

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Philippine News

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

Resolution filed on House media coverage PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — A resolution has been filed seeking to adopt the proposed rules on media coverage at the House of Representatives.

Antipolo City Rep. Cristina Roa-Puno filed House Resolution No. 2149 seeking the adoption of the draft rules crafted by the House Press and Public Bureau, in consultation with the Office of the Speaker, the legal department, the Secretariat, and even media practitioners.

“Adoption of the Proposed Rules For Media Coverage of the House of Representatives is imperative to guarantee freedom of the press and of information, while ensuring public order and safety,” Roa-Puno said in her resolution.

In a press conference on Monday, House public information committee chairman Ben Evardone expressed some “reservations” about the draft rules as it may restrict media coverage at the lower chamber.

“In a way, it might restrict your access to securing vital information,” Evardone said.

Evardone, however, assured that his

committee will consult media practitioners, as well as other stakeholders before approving the guidelines.

“We will not allow a diminution of your access (and) efforts to secure your news items and materials,” he added.

A copy of the current draft rules have yet to be distributed to House media.

Based on earlier reports, the draft rules released by the Press and Public Affairs Bureau disallow ambush interviews of House members, resource persons or invited guests on the hallways of the House buildings.

Under the resolution, Roa-Puno cited the need to merge, codify and amend the various rules on media coverage, in accordance with acceptable standards of courtesy, propriety, dignity, and decorum to ultimately guide media representatives in their coverage of plenary sessions, committee hearings, and other news events in the House, and while they undertake press conferences, interviews, and other media-related activities in the House, for the education, enlightenment and information of the public, on the basis of accurate and impartial news coverage. ■

ROBINSON NIÑAL / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Duterte certifies security of tenure bill as urgent PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte has certified the passage of the security of tenure bill as urgent, in efforts to fulfill his campaign promise of banning laboronly contracting in the country.

“Nag-certify po ng urgent ang ating Presidente para maisabatas ng Senado itong batas laban sa endo (The President has certified as urgent a bill in the Senate that will eliminate endo),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday.

Earlier, Sen. Joel Villanueva, chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, released a copy of Duterte’s certification contained in the President’s letter to Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III dated September 21.

“Pursuant to the provisions of Article VI, Section 23 (2) of the 1987 Constitution, I hereby certify to the necessity of the immediate enactment of Senate Bill No. 1826,” Duterte’s letter to Sotto read.

In the letter, Duterte also said that the priority measure is expected “to strengthen workers’ security of tenure by prohibiting the prevalent practices of contractualization and labor-only contracting.”

Roque explained that the Senate version now prevents all labor-contracting “regardless of whether or not the contractor has substantial capital or investment.”

“Itong bersyon po ng Senado ay nagbabawal sa lahat ng labor-only contracting at hindi po nito ine-exempt ang mga contractor na malaki ang kapital or maraming investments (This Senate version bans all labor-only contracting and does not exempt contractors with huge capitals or investments),” Roque said.

On January 29, the Congress approved its version of the measure called House Bill No. 916 or the Anti-Endo Act. Six-month rule

Once the law is passed, contractors

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will strictly follow the provision in the Labor Code that provides that an employee working in the company for six months have to be deemed as a regular employee.

“Ang mangyayari dapat diyan, yung mga contractual, gawing regular employees (What is expected to happen, is that contractual employees will have to be made regular employees),” Roque explained.

“May probisyon naman ang (There is an existing provision in the) Labor Code, six months, you’re deemed to be a regular employee,” he added.

Moreover, Roque said employees should be directly employed by companies and not be coursed through employment agencies.

“Kinakailangan po ngayon na direct na sila i-employ ng mga kumpanya. Hindi na ho dadaan sa employment agencies (They should be directly employed by companies. They shouldn’t have to go through employment agencies),” he added.

According to Roque, Duterte’s move to certify the Security of Tenure bill as urgent is his answer to labor workers’ protests that labor-only contracting is not completely abolished.

On May 1 (Labor Day), Duterte signed Executive Order No. 51 to ban end of contract (endo) or contractualization that violates the employees’ security of tenure.

However, he acknowledged that the Congress also needed to do its part to amend the existing Labor Code which he described as “outdated.”

The EO seeks the implementation of Article 106 of the Labor Code of the Philippines “to protect the right of security of tenure of all workers based on social justice in the 1987 Philippine Constitution.”

It “strictly” prohibits contracting or subcontracting “undertaken to circumvent the worker’s right to security of tenure, self-organization and collective bargaining, and peaceful concerted activities.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

3

Final guidelines for 3rd telco out

BY AEROL JOHN PATENA Philippine News Agency MANILA – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) released on Friday the final guidelines in the selection of the country’s third major telecommunications player.

The new major player in the local telecommunications industry is expected to be selected by December.

DICT and NTC signed Memorandum Circular No. 09-092018 on Thursday after addressing legal, financial and technical issues.

In a statement, the DICT said the third telco player will be determined based on its financial and technical capability to deliver communications services through a public bidding.

“Drastically improved through multiple public consultations and by consulting various agencies, the MC (memo-

randum circular) that uses the Highest Committed Level of Service (HCLoS) approach will be the basis in determining the NMP (new major player),” the department said.

“The NMP is expected to be identified in December 2018,” it added.

Under the memorandum, bidders must not be a related party to any dominant telco player.

Participants must also have experience in the delivery and operations of telco services for the past 10 years on a nationwide scale.

The following criteria will be used to determine the new telco player: 40 percent for national population coverage; 35 percent for capital and operational expenditure; and 25 percent for minimum average broadband speed.

The participant’s points shall be computed annually over a five-year commitment period.

The memorandum was signed by NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, Depu-

DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY - DICT / FACEBOOK

ty Commissioners Edgardo Cabarios and Delilah Deles, and was noted by DICT Acting Secretary Eliseo Rio Jr. as chairman of the Oversight Committee.

The directive will be effective 15 days after its publication.

Interested parties can then get

bidding documents from the NTC and will be given until Nov. 5 to submit their bid.

President Rodrigo Duterte has earlier said that the new major telco player must be known by December.

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the bidding are the Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Co., Now Corp., Converge ICT Solutions, TransPacific Broadband Group International Inc. and Easy Call Communications Philippines.

Some of the foreign investors expressing interest in the project include China Telecom, Surya Telecom of India, LG Uplus Corp. of South Korea, KDDI Corp. of Japan and Viettel Group of Vietnam.

The Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) said the final guidelines will promote competition with the existing duopoly in providing quality communication services.

“The release of the final TOR (terms of reference) in the search for the 3rd player in the telecom sector brings us closer to the goal of having a choice beyond the existing duopoly. We welcome the inclusion of PCC’s inputs as we share the goal of having a competitive landscape in this important sector,” according to PCC Chairman Arsenio Balisacan. ■

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Philippine News

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

SC affirms Imelda Marcos’ acquittal in dollar salting case

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sonal interest in the case was presented.”

The SC also said while Chavez finds fault in the scheduling of his testimony, he did not show how it was irregular.

The High Court said the May 28, MANILA — The Supreme Court (SC) 2007 RTC decision and promulgated on has affirmed the 2008 ruling of Court of March 10, 2008 did not violate the apAppeals on the acquittal of former first pellate court’s writ of injunction. lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda When the RTC decision was promulMarcos over her dollar salting case gated, the writ of injunction has already where she allegedly stashed millions of been dissolved. dollars in Swiss bank accounts.

“Thus, the argument that a subsisting In a 53-page decision, penned by As- injunction was violated was clearly frivsociate Justice Marvic Leonen, the SC’s olous, if not misleading, and intended Third Division denied the petition for only to make it appear as though the pereview filed by the late Solicitor General tition has some semblance of basis,” the Frank Chavez against Marcos.

SC said.

Marcos was acPampilo then proquitted of 32 counts mulgated his Mar. of dollar-salting in 10, 2008 decision, 2008 by the Manila acquitting Marcos Regional Trial Court and Rivera due to the (RTC)) Judge Silvino prosecution’s “variPampilo Jr. ous failures.”

Dollar salting is The High Court committed when Allowing said the judge found dollars are removed a judge to the government’s from the Philippines inhibit without evidence wanting without approval concrete proof and based on hearfrom the Central of personal say, noting that deBank and transferred interest or spite the case being to an account outside any showing anchored on docuthe county. that his bias ments from Swiss In 2007, Pampilo stems from an authorities, only two rejected Chavez’s extrajudicial witnesses with no motion for inhibisource will personal knowledge tion, which accused open the of the papers were the judge of bias floodgates to presented. largely on the basis abuse.

“Thus, the Regionof how he scheduled al Trial Court found Chavez’s testimony. that the prosecuThe High Court, tion failed to present however, ruled that it competent proof of is up to the judge if he the alleged offense would inhibit from and of the conspiracy hearing a case. among the accused,” “This Court will not require a judge to the SC said. inhibit himself in the absence of clear The SC also decided that Chavez failed and convincing evidence to overcome to provide legal basis to support his arthe presumption that he will dispense gument that Pampilo violated the CAjustice in accordance with law and evi- issued injunction by promulgating the dence. This Court will also not allow it- ruling that acquitted Marcos. self to become an instrument to paper “Essentially, petitioner takes issue over fatal errors done by the petitioner with how the Court of Appeals interand the prosecution in the lower court,” preted the acts of Judge Pampilo and it said. found no manifest partiality, which “It shall always presume that a judge are clearly not questions of law. He did will decide on the merits of the case not even attempt to frame the issues as without bias. Allowing a judge to inhibit questions of law,” the SC said. without concrete proof of personal inThe CA first issued on May 22, 2007 a terest or any showing that his bias stems writ of preliminary injunction, stopping from an extrajudicial source will open Pampilo from proceeding with the case. the floodgates to abuse,” it added.

However, it denied Chavez’s petition It also pointed out that there was “no on Feb. 28, 2008, due to an insufficient concrete proof of Judge Pampilo’s per- showing of bias and prejudice.

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EU takes part in cleaning up Manila Bay PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The European Union Delegation to the Philippines joined the Manila Bay Cleanup in Roxas Boulevard, Manila on Saturday.

EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen said that the delegation’s participation in the cleanup is an “expression of solidarity of the EU with the Philippines in ensuring that our oceans are rid of plastic wastes and other pollutants.”

The EU Delegation collaborated with the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary and the International Coastal Clean-up volunteers, and was joined by other staff from the Danish and the French embassies.

Jessen said the European Commission, during the early part of the year, adopted a Circular Economy Action Plan to foster a transition to a stronger and more circular economy, where re-

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sources are used in a more sustainable way.

The plan aims to ensure that all plastic packaging on the EU market will be recyclable by 2030, the consumption of single-use plastics significantly reduced and the intentional use of micro plastics restricted.

Plastic litter has become a major concern in Asia, including in the Philippines, and the EU Delegation is currently engaged in close dialogue with the government on the development of a national strategy for improving plastic waste management and reducing leakages of plastic waste in the marine environment.

A regional program is also foreseen for a period of three years starting in 2019 to enhance policy dialogue, exchange shared knowledge and lessons learned from Europe, capacity enhancement, technology transfer and piloting of solutions for better plastic waste management in the Asian region.

Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

7

Nancy Binay: My dad was arrested during Marcos’s martial law

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer CONTRARY TO the claim of former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile earlier, Senator Nancy Binay said her father was jailed during the late strongman’s, Ferdinand Marcos, martial rule.

Speaking with the reporters on Monday, September 24, Binay recalled that her mother used to visit her father, former Vice President Jejomar Binay, in jail.

“Nakulong din ‘yung daddy ko… habang pinagbubuntis ako, dinadalaw ng mommy ko ‘yungdaddy ko sa kulungan. Kaya ang sabi ko, nasa tiyan pa lang ako, na-i-stress na ako (My dad was also jailed… When my mother was pregnant with me, she visits my dad in prison. That’s why I said I’m still in my mother’s womb but I was already stressed),” the younger Binay said.

She also recalled that when she was little, her dad used to call her ‘Maki,’ short for ‘Makibaka’ which means to participate in a fight for whatever is the cause.

The senator said she and her siblings grew up joining rallies and would walk from Buendia Avenue, now known as Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, to Liwasang Bonifacio, formerly known as Plaza Lawton, in Manila.

“Based doon kinalakihan ko, ganito ’yung nakita ko during those period. I mean it’s a fact-

nanakulong ’yung ama ko. Lumaki ako na nag-ra-rally kami.

Tanda ko pa nga every Christmas ginagawa namin bumibisita kami sa mgapolitical prisoners katulad nila Satur Ocampo, sila Crispin Beltran (Based on what I grew up with, this is what I witnessed during that period. I mean it is a fact that my dad was arrested. I grew up joining rallies. I remember that every Christmas we visit political prisoners like Satur Ocampo and Crispin Beltran),” the lady senator said as she recounted the struggles that she and her family went through during the Sen. Nancy Binay. what is considered as one of the darkest periods in Philippine gyan namin ngayon kaya nag- belief” nor for criticizing the history. kakaroon ng difference doon former President during his re“Ang kinalakihan ko pa si sa perspective (There were re- gime. Enrile served as Marcos’s Senator Joker Arroyo, si Senator ally struggles that happened. defense minister.

Rene Saguisag (I also remem- Maybe Senator Enrile was in “That we had 70,000 arrestber Senator Joker Arroyo and different place, and we are also ed, which was not true! Maybe Senator Rene Saguisag),” she in different situation now that if they will include the people added. who violate curThe younger few and jaywalkBinay refused ers, maybe you to answer the can reach that question on We name one: our father. In his number,” Enrile whether she got nearly two years in prison, Dad was said. ‘offended’ by Ennever interrogated and was never “Of course, if rile’s apparent charged. you are a memattempt to ‘disber of the rebel tort’ what really group or a wartranspired durlord or someone ing the Marcos regime, but she is why there are differences in who violated the criminal law, acknowledged that there are perspectives),” she explained. you had to be arrested, whether differences in perspective since In a one-on-one interview you have martial law or not,” he not everyone was in the same with former Senator Ferdi- added. situation during that period. nand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., The video of the interview “May mga struggle talaga na son of the late dictator, Enrile was uploaded by the younger nagaganap. Siguro kasi iba lang stressed that ‘none’ were put Marcos on his Facebook page, ‘yung kinalalagyan ni Senator behind bars neither because just a day before the 46th anniEnrile, iba rin yung kinalala- of their “political or religious versary of the martial law dec-

NANCY BINAY / FACEBOOK

laration.

Before the younger Binay, the family of late Senator Jose “Pepe” Diokno had earlier refuted Enrile’s remarks.

“We name one: our father. In his nearly two years in prison, Dad was never interrogated and was never charged. The Supreme Court itself acknowledged Marcos’s political motive for arresting Dad,” the Diokno family said.

The late statesman, a human rights advocate, was among the first to be arrested when the Marcos placed the country under martial law on September 21, 1972.

Malacañang, for its part, believed that the younger Marcos and Enrile cannot twist history, especially “when there’s a law and when there are court decisions attesting to what happened during martial law.”

Trillanes warns... ❰❰ 1

tember 26, after posting a P200,000 bail before the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 150.

“Sana sinusubaybayan niya ‘yung proseso dahil gagawin at gagawin niya ‘yon. ‘Yung prosesong ganon… Ibu-book siya, aarestuhin siya. ‘Yun ang haharapin mo Mr. Duterte (I hope he is watching the process because he will also do this soon. The process where he will undergo booking procedures and be arrested. That is what you will face, Mr. Duterte),” Trillanes

said in a press briefing at the Senate.

On the same day, Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda granted the motion of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to issue a warrant of arrest and a hold departure order against Trillanes over his rebellion case in 2007.

The DOJ’s petition came after Duterte, through Proclamation No. 572, revoked the amnesty granted to the senator by the administration of his predecessor.

While he may be the talk of

the town this time, Trillanes believes that Duterte will soon be held accountable for his crimes.

“Kay Mr. Duterte, baluktutin mo na ang kailangan mong baluktutin. Isagasa mo na lahat ng [dapat] isagasa, pero ‘yung kasamaan na pinaghahari mo dito sa ating bayan ay hindi ‘yan mananaig (To Mr. Duterte, you can bend anything you need to bend. You can hit whatever you want to hit, but your reign of evil in the country will not prevail),” he said.

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ako, meron at merong papalit sa akin at sa dakong huli ikaw rin ang matatalo at harapin mo ‘yung mga kasalanan na ginawa mo (If you are able to get rid of me, there will always be someone who will replace me and in the end, you will lose and you will face the consequences of your sins),” he added.

Malacañang, however, taunted the opposition senator saying that he was ‘dreaming’ if he thinks that the President will experience the same fate as him in the future.

“Ang pagkakaiba po nila, nag-

ing piskal po ang ating Presidente, abogado po ang ating Presidente. Alam niya ang ginagawa niya, alam niya ang batas (The difference between them is that the President became a fiscal, he is a lawyer. He knows what he is doing, he knows the law),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. told dzMM. Roque also denied that Trillanes was subjected to political persecution.

Philippine News

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SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

Mayor Sara ‘very qualified’ to run for senator: Roque PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

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Member

MANILA — Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte is “very qualified” to run for senator in the upcoming 2019 mid-term elections, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Monday, after a nationwide senatorial survey showed her making it into the top 10 possible candidates.

“She’s very qualified, of course,” Roque said in a Palace briefing reacting to the Pulse Asia survey results, which showed the top senatorial candidates for the upcoming 2019 mid-term elections.

According to the survey, Mayor Sara, President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s daughter, was in fifth to sixth places with 39.5 percent.

The younger Duterte earlier said she was overwhelmed by the people’s support but clarified that she was not keen on seeking a national post and would rather remain as mayor.

Not yet decided

Roque, meanwhile, reiterated that he still had to make up his mind about joining the Senate race. The survey showed Duterte’s spokesman ranking 29th to 36th place.

He said he was not surprised about receiving a low ranking, lamenting how most senators are elected in office because of fame and power, and not because of possessing the right qualifications.

“It doesn’t come as a surprise. In this country, it’s the children of the senators, those who have been in politics who stand a very good chance of being reelected. So nothing has changed,” Roque said.

“I’m just an ordinary human being. I don’t belong to any political family, I’m not rich, I’m not surprised. Like everyone else, democracy in the Philippines can be very expensive and depends on who your parents are,” he added.

Fame, not qualifications

Without naming names, Roque pointed out that there were lawmakers who barely passed any laws, and did not even understand laws and policies.

“Bukod sa kanilang relasyon sa kanilang mga ama, ano naman ang kakahayang pinakita nila? Anong mga batas ang naipasa nila (Aside from their relationship with their fathers, what other capabilities have they shown? What laws have they passed)?” Roque said.

“Marami doon mga reelectionist, marami doon mga ‘comebackee’. Ano ba’ng naririnig niyong mga batas na ginawa nila? Puro investigation, puro pa-istariray. Excuse me, kaya po walang

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte.

nangyayari sa ating bayan dahil kulang sa bagong polisiya (Many of them are reelectionists, many are comebackees.

What laws have they passed? They keep conducting investigations. That’s why there’s nothing happening in our country because we lack new policies),” he added.

He acknowledged that it was the people’s responsibility to elect better leaders but noted that they have done their fair share of electing rightful leaders, including President Duterte.

“Kasalanan din siguro ng taongbayan ‘yan pero may pag-asa pa kasi nga nahalal naman si Presidente Duterte(Perhaps it’s the fault of the people but there’s hope because President Duterte was elected),” Roque said.

Asked if senatorial candidates who topped survey results were qualified, Roque said that it was up to the people to decide.

According to the Pulse Asia survey, Sen. Grace Poe landed in first place, followed by Sen. Cynthia Villar, Taguig City Rep. Pia Cayetano, and Sen. Nancy Binay.

Sen. Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada, Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos, former Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and former Sen. Lito Lapid landed seventh to 10th places.

Hope for others

Despite what survey results show, Roque said aspiring senatorial candidates should not lose hope even after receiving a low ranking, citing President

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CITY GOVERNMENT OF DAVAO / FACEBOOK

Duterte as an example.

“There’s hope. Remember President Duterte was elected despite the fact that he was in the bottom of the survey at the time of filing of certificate of candidacy.

And I think he’s a phenomenon by himself because he rejected the notion of who may be elected into high office in the Philippines,” Roque said.

“He proved that it is not always the case, so may pag-asa pa naman doon sa mga nasa hulihan ng listahan (there’s hope for those at the bottom of the list),” he added.

In May 9, 2016, Duterte won the elections by a landslide, with over 6.6 million more votes against his closest rival, administration candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, despite initially ranking low in surveys.

“Dahil laylayan naman si Presidente Digong nung nagsimula siya (The President started at the bottom) only to win with an overwhelming margin. This much I could say, that perhaps it’s no reason why ordinary people should stop dreaming about being elected in high office,” Roque said.

Roque said that a qualified senator must have a good grasp of the law to be able to craft new laws to supplement it.

“Dapat alam mo naman kung ano ‘yung batas para alam mo kung anong batas na isusulat at ihahain mo. Alam mo dapat kung anong polisiya, hindi lang dapat pasikatan (You should know the law so you know what laws to write and file. You should know the policies, it shouldn’t be a contest on fame),” Roque said.

Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

9

DA eyes boosting cheaper food’s entry into MM

BY AZER PARROCHA Philippine News Agency

DAYATENANG / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 3.0

Boracay can’t accommodate everyone, Duterte asserts

BY AZER PARROCHA Philippine News Agency MANILA — With only more than a month until Boracay Island reopens to the public, President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday emphasized the importance of limiting the tourist destination’s carrying capacity.

“Not all Filipinos and all tourists can go to Boracay. It cannot accommodate everyone,” Duterte said in Cebuano during his visit to landslide victims in Naga City, Cebu province.

“If it’s a house, it would be similar to having just one comfort room for a thousand people,” he added.

The President, however, assured the public that the interagency task force assigned to oversee the rehabilitation of Boracay is continuously studying the best way to manage the island.

Meanwhile, he also complimented the ongoing rehabilitation efforts in the island, noting that Boracay now looks better than before.

“Now it looks good,” Duterte said. He earlier said he intends to visit Boracay one of these days.

The task force is composed of the departments of environ-

ment, interior, and tourism.

“They are still trying to see, still studying how to best manage it,” Duterte said.

Earlier, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said Boracay’s carrying capacity for tourists will be limited to 19,215 a day.

This figure includes 6,405 tourist arrivals a day.

Malacañang has urged the task force to maintain the island’s carrying capacity to assure that its rehabilitation efforts would be sustained.

The task force also recommended evaluating the feasibility of using the extra available rooms, promoting the use of wetlands for filtering out waste from both soil and water, maximizing open spaces for vegetation, minimizing point source pollution, minimizing coastal erosion, and establishing permanent monitoring facilities in designated areas, among others.

Last April 26, Duterte ordered the closure of Boracay for six months after lamenting since February that the top tourist destination has turned into a “cesspool” for its poor sewerage system.

Boracay Island is expected to reopen as scheduled on October 26.

vices to the people by fighting graft and corruption.

Last month, Duterte fired at least 20 high-ranking officials MANILA — President Rodrigo and employees of the Armed R. Duterte has acknowledged Forces of the Philippines’ the efforts of medical special(AFP) Health Service Comists, particularly in gastroentermand over alleged corruption ology, in pushing for advanceat the V. Luna Medical Center ments in the country, noting in Quezon City. that intestinal disorders affectBased on a report from the ed many uniformed personnel.

Presidential Anti-Corruption “When I became President, I Commission (PACC) and noticed that about 40 percent AFP Chief of Staff Gen. Carof all my soldiers and policemen lito Galvez, the corruption suffer abdomiactivities innal disorder,” clude anomaDuterte said in lous purchases his speech durof equipment ing the Asia PaThe hospitals now…the military… and fraudulent cific Association have improved greatly. transaction, such of Gastroenteras ghost purology (APAGE) chases, splitting 3rd Inflammatoof contracts to ry Bowel Disease circumvent the (IBD) Clinical Forum in Lapu- added. mandatory bidding processes, Lapu City, Cebu on Friday.

Duterte, however, noted that and conceiving fictitious supSpeaking before 400 par- the government has improved pliers. ticipants of the event includ- the quality of health services in The APAGE forum focuses ing gastroenterologists, sur- the country, especially in state- on discussions on recent upgeons, scientists, and students, run hospitals such as the Phil- dates in the understanding of Duterte said there could be ippine General Hospital and V. the causes, diagnosis, and treatseveral conditions contribut- Luna General Hospital. ment of IBD. ing to soldiers’ having digestive “The hospitals now…the miliIt brings together internadisorders, which include the tary…have improved greatly,” tionally-renowned expert gasenvironment and changes in Duterte said. troenterologists and surgeons routine.

He then vowed to further im- from Asia, Australia, and the “I don’t know why. Maybe it’s prove the delivery of health ser- United Kingdom.

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the food. You know, when the soldiers…they go to the mountains, drink the water without purifiers. And just because it’s a spring in the mountain, you will just easily conclude that it’s clean, that it is pure,” Duterte said.

“I don’t think that is true because I said most of my [soldiers and policemen]…they have this — it’s in the gastroenterologist territory. Most of them are destroyed. Most of them die of something wrong there,” he

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Philippine News

Duterte vows permanent housing for Cebu landslide victims

BY LUEL GALARPE Philippine News Agency CITY OF NAGA, CEBU — President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday night visited some of the evacuees affected by last Thursday’s landslide here and pledged to provide them permanent housing through the National Housing Authority.

The President, in his visit to one of the five centers, told the evacuees that they will be relocated to a safer place as he forbade them from returning to the landslide-prone area in Barangay Tinaan.

He also promised to shoulder the hospitalization of the wounded victims and burial expenses of the 29 fatalities.

As of 2:45 p.m. Friday, 897 families and 2,836 individuals have been displaced because of the landslide. They are now spread throughout five evacuation centers in Naga.

The number of injured was placed at 15 while 50 people have been reported missing.

Although, nothing was said of the possible relocation site, Naga Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong reportedly proposed the Balili property.

The Chief Executive also dropped by at the badminton gym of this city to visit the mass wake of all those who perished in the disaster.

Duterte expressed his sympathy to the victims and occasionally cracked jokes, which brought laughter to the evacuees at the Enan Chiong Activity Center, letting them momentarily forget the tragic incident.

“I know how difficult the situation you are in right now and I’m sad because of the incident,” the President told the evacuees in Bisaya. “This is why I’m against mining.”

He advised every Filipino residing in the mountainside near any mining site not to be complacent in times of weather disturbances, as life is more important than livelihood.

The site of the massive landslide is near the Apo Land and Quarry Corp.

Duterte said if any of the military, police, governor, or mayor orders an evacuation of a certain area, the public should heed the call because it is for their good.

He said he has ordered Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu to assess the situation in Naga and re-evaluate all mining and quarrying operations in the country.

According to the President, Cimatu told him that a forced evacuation of residents within the 1-km. radius of ground zero in this city must be enforced.

“This is not to disturb your lives, but to give you protection, in simple words, from death.

That’s their (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) job,” Duterte said.

Meanwhile, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III said he has also issued a cease and desist order to all mining and quarrying operations in the entire province.

Davide, who welcomed the President together with Mayor Chiong upon his arrival, also called for an inquiry into the tragedy.

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

Palace won’t oppose if Ombudsman fires Uson over recent controversial video

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer IF THE Office of the Ombudsman decides to dismiss Communications Assistant Secretary (ASec) Margaux “Mocha” Uson over her controversial sign language video, Malacañang will not object the body’s decision. “‘Pag sinabi po ng Ombudsman na sibakin, hindi po natin tututulan ‘yan (If the Ombudsman said Uson should be dismissed, then we will not raise any objections to that),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Harry Roque.

YANCY LIM / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO Roque Jr. said in a Palace briefing on Thursday, September 20. the process),” the spokesman gize and change their minds.

This came after the Philip- said.

But this will really set a bad expine Federation of the Deaf Asked if the Office of the ample if it is not penalized,” she (PFD), also on Thursday, lodged President itself will issue the added. a complaint against Uson and dismissal order, Roque anDagani called on President blogger Andrew Olivar for vio- swered, “Sa ngayon po, hindi Rodrigo Duterte to dismiss lating the Magna Carta for Dis- (For now, no).”

Uson from service, just like abled Persons what De La Salleover their recent College of Saint video, mocking Benilde wants the sign language him to do. used by the deaf There’s so many deaf people that Uson and Olicommunity. It we have asked and I’d like to tell var were previalso said that you that they don’t accept [the] ously put in hot Uson violated apology. waters for their the Code of Concontroversial duct and Ethical ‘ipederalismo’ Standards for jingle in AuPublic Officials gust. Earlier this and Employees, as well as the Uson and Olivar had apolo- month, Communications AsCybercrime Prevention Act. gized for their actions, but the sistant Secretary Marie Banaag “Let’s wait for the decision of deaf community rejected it and that Uson was given a memo to the Ombudsman dahil meron sought sanctions against the remind her of the norms and na namang ganyang complaint two. conduct of public officials and (because there is another com“We don’t accept. There’s employees especially on proplaint). The Ombudsman can so many deaf people that we fessionalism. already order the dismissal have asked and I’d like to tell of anyone in the government you that they don’t accept [the] because it is both an admin- apology,” PFD president Caroistrative and a criminal case. lyn Dagani told reporters in Igagalang po ng Palasyo ang sign language. proseso (The Palace will respect “It’s easy for them to apolo-

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Philippine News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

11

Millennials urged to reject efforts to revise martial law story

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA — Former Senate president Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. on Friday urged the youth to reject any move to revise the true story of martial law.

Pimentel made this comment in reaction to the claim of Juan Ponce Enrile, former Senate leader, that no one was arrested for their political beliefs during the administration of the late former President Ferdinand Marcos.

“Ang masasabi ko na lang sa ating mga kabataan na huwag kayong magpadala sa mga opinion ng ibang mga tao who really have hidden agenda (What I can say to our youth, do not be influenced by opinions of people who really have hidden agenda),” Pimentel said in a Palace press briefing on federalism.

“And the hidden agenda is to justify the excesses of the martial law regime and to show that they should therefore be given a chance to serve our people through the elections that are forth coming, huwag nating pahintulutan iyan (do not allow them),” he added.

Pimentel did not name names but Enrile made such claim while being interviewed by Marcos’ son Bongbong Mar-

cos on the eve of the 46th anniversary of the martial law declaration.

Marcos, a former senator, ran but narrowly lost to Vice President Leni Robredo in the 2016 elections.

Asked to comment on Enrile’s remark, Pimentel said: “Siguro nakalimutan na niya ako. (Perhaps he’s already forgotten about me). That’s a part of aging, part of aging.”

“I do not take that against him and let the people judge who is right or who is wrong,” Pimentel said.

He disagreed with Enrile but added that ”Manong Johnny is entitled to his opinion. He has always been a defender of martial rule.”

During the martial law years, Pimentel said he was put into high security detention and mixed with hardened criminals for three months after he refused to sign a document expressing his support for Marcos.

“So, anyway, part of life and I look forward, I do not desire to take revenge against anyone. I’m only trying to say ’huwag nating gayahin iyong masamang mga leksiyon na napulot natin during martial law’. (Let’s not follow the bad lessons that we learned during martial law),” he said.

Pimentel agreed with Enrile that the

Palace defers to PNP on Olivar bomb scare case PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Malacañang is counting on the Philippine National Police (PNP) to address the filing of charges against proDuterte blogger Drew Olivar for spreading a bomb scare on social media.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde earlier said Olivar will be facing charges for violating Presidential Decree 1727 or the “Anti-Bomb Joke Law” but did not elaborate which cases will be filed.

Meanwhile, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said they will file charges as soon as possible.

Under the law, anyone who will make a bomb joke may face a fine of not more than PHP40,000.

He or she may also be imprisoned for not more than five years, depending on the court’s decision if a case is filed.

“Ang (Their) latest pronouncement nila is General Eleazar might hold him (Olivar) responsible for what he did,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque

said in a Palace briefing.

Roque said he had full trust that both Albayalde and Eleazar will deal with the matter accordingly.

“Bahala po sila diyan dahil alam naman ni General Eleazar at General Albayalde ang kanilang mga trabaho (It is up to them because General Eleazar and General Albayalde know their jobs well),” Roque said.

“I have nothing but the highest respect for both of them,” he added.

During the 46th anniversary of martial law declaration on Friday, Olivar, in a Facebook post, warned that a bombing in Edsa similar to what occurred in Plaza Miranda in 1971 might take place.

On the same day, protest rallies were held in Plaza Miranda, Mendiola and Rizal Park in the City of Manila, not on Edsa.

A day after, Olivar, together with Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, appeared at a press conference at NCRPO headquarters in Taguig to apologize.

A rallyist on September 21, 2018 at Rizal Park for the declaration of Martial Law anniversary.

GINNO ALCANTARA / PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER

situation was really chaotic when Marcos put the entire nation under martial law on September 21, 1972.

“But it does not mean that the entire nation should have been placed under martial law,” he said.

“Ang daming namatay, ang daming disappeared na mga kababayan natin.

So, iyan ang dapat ibigay natin siguro na

pangungusap sa mgamillennials na, uy dahan-dahan po kayo sapagkat (Many of our countrymen died and disappeared.

So that should be the statements that we have to give to the millennals, we should be careful because) you must always remember that the end never justifies the means,” Pimentel added.

NOTICE TO ALL LBC CUSTOMERS AND AGENTS Notice is hereby given that RC Flyer Force, Anarciso F. Ramos and/or any of its agent, representative or employee are not authorized agent of LBC Mundial Cargo Corporation.

The agency agreement of RC Flyer Force, as represented by Anarciso F. Ramos and LBC has been terminated effective immediately.

Please notify LBC at telephone number

4162927211 | 4162922478 if the abovementioned entity or person continues to represent themselves as agent of LBC.

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12

Philippine News

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

House to push for open-pit mining ban PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — House of Representatives Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is determined to ban open-pit mining following President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive against this type of mining during his State of the Nation Address (SONA).

During a House ways and means committee hearing on bills establishing the fiscal regime for the mining industry on Thursday, Arroyo proposed a provision prohibiting openpit mining and imposing excise taxes for such method.

“In other words, our bill will specifically, will explicitly prohibit open-pit mining as defined and give a grace period to be determined by the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) during which they pay the tax that you say will kill the industry,” she

said.

Arroyo said another provision seeks to impose royalty fees on mining firms operating outside mineral reservations.

The present law requires payment of royalty fees only in mining sites declared as mineral reservations.

Arroyo also ordered the Department of Finance (DOF) to craft its own draft bill within three days’ time, otherwise the panel would proceed with its own version.

“Unless DOF communicates with us in three days’ time, we will make our own,” she said.

Arroyo learned from her conversation with Filminera Resources Corp. director Gloria Tan Climaco two days ago that Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III claimed that the bill proposing a new fiscal regime for the mining sector is not a priority of the DOF, but rather of Arroyo’s.

Arroyo stressed that her job

House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

GLORIA MACAPAGAL ARROYO, BEAT THE ODDS / FACEBOOK

as Speaker is to carry out the President’s legislative agenda, noting that taxing the industry and banning open-pit mining were mentioned during Duterte’s SONA. “It is the President’s priority

as he said in the SONA. Therefore, we will come up with a Mining Bill,” Arroyo said.

In his third SONA, Duterte warned the mining industry not to destroy the environment, saying environmental protec-

tion is one of his government’s priorities.

“To the mining industry, I say this once again and maybe for the last time: Do not destroy the environment or compromise our resources. Repair what you have mismanaged,” Duterte said.

“Try to change management radically because this time, you will have restrictive policies — a prohibition of open-pit mining is one,” he added.

Duterte exhorted all concerned agencies and local government units to uphold the concept of inter-generational responsibility in the exploration of the country’s mineral resources “anchored on the right to a balanced and healthy ecology.”

“Expect reforms, radical ones. I cannot intend to quarrel with anybody, with the moneyed, but for as long as I am here I said: you will just have to contend with me,” Duterte said.

Paolo Duterte slaps Trillanes Duterte slams EU with libel suit anew for ‘int’l governing’

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer SENATOR ANTONIO “Sonny” Trillanes IV is facing yet another libel complaint filed by President Rodrigo Duterte’s eldest son before the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday, September 19.

The complaint, this time, accuses the opposition senator of committing libel during his media interviews on CNN Philippines on June 14 and DZMM on June 6.

Trillanes, in both interviews, accused former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte of involvement in the P6.4 billion worth of shabu (crystal meth) shipment from China that slipped into the country in 2017. The younger Duterte, however, had denied the allegation.

This new libel complaint came two weeks after the Presidential son and his brother-inlaw, Manases Carpio, filed separate libel complaints against their father’s vocal critic.

The Presidential son earlier

accused Trillanes of making “downright false, baseless, and unfounded” claims after the latter, in a radio interview with DYAB Cebu in September 2017, said the younger Duterte and Carpio conspired with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in extorting car-hailing company Uber and other similar companies.

Apart from this, the younger Duterte also said Trillanes linked their names on the corruption and extortion issue where the Road Board and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were also involved.

Trillanes’s lawyer Reynaldo Robles, also on Wednesday, said they will seek the dismissal of the complaints for lack of jurisdiction.

“Ang question ho namin d’yan bakit ho sa Davao City nakafile ‘yung kaso (Our question is why was the case filed in Davao City)? All of the allegations of the complaint we just received, ang elements nangyari sa Cebu, pati mga testigo sa Cebu. Sa tin-

gin ho namin walang jurisdiction ang piskalya ng Davao (All of the allegations of the complaint we just received, the elements happened in Cebu, even the witnesses are in Cebu. We think that the Davao City fiscal has no jurisdiction),” Robles told reporters.

While labelling such move as another way to ‘harass’ him, Trillanes earlier said he would fly to Duterte’s hometown to answer the complaints filed against him if it is needed.

The senator has been staying inside the upper chamber’s premises, after the Chief Executive issued on September 4 his Proclamation No. 527 that seeks to void his amnesty.

Trillanes previously said he will not step out of the Senate until the issue on the revocation of his amnesty is resolved.

www.canadianinquirer.net

BY AZER PARROCHA Philippine News Agency MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte took a swipe at the European Union (EU) anew, claiming that it is into “international governing” by criticizing his crackdown on illegal drugs.

“Who are you to run my country? That’s the problem with the European Union. They are into international governing,” Duterte said during the Asia Pacific Association of Gastroenterology forum in LapuLapu City, Cebu on Friday.

“They create an ICC (International Criminal Court), European community and they try to impose their values and the way they think how criminal is categorized and classified and want to impose it,” he added.

Duterte also lambasted the ICC for trying to send him to prison for human rights violations in relation to alleged extrajudicial killings during his term as mayor of Davao City.

The President has repeatedly defended his war on drugs, noting

that police personnel killing criminals in their line of duty is not considered crime against humanity.

“They want to send me to prison and try me for genocide.

It was not for a — it’s nothing for a race or… They’re bunch of criminals. They cannot even show me how they died? When did they die? Where? Nothing,” Duterte said.

Last March, Duterte announced that he has decided to withdraw the Philippines’ ratification of the Rome Statute, a United Nations (UN) treaty creating the ICC. This, after the ICC Office of the Prosecutor bared in February that it would begin preliminary examination on the crimes against humanity linked to the administration’s drug war.

Duterte has insisted that the ICC has no jurisdiction over him and cited “baseless, unprecedented and outrageous attacks” as reasons to withdraw as a state party.

Malacañang, however, noted that ICC can still proceed with its preliminary examination despite the withdrawal.

13

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

Duterte has legal basis to Lesser Pinoy families propose federalism: ConCom victimized by common crimes in Q2 — SWS

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA — A member of the Consultative Committee (ConCom) tasked to draft a federal Constitution said Friday President Rodrigo Duterte has legal basis to propose the shift in the form of government from unitary to federalism.

Lawyer Rodolfo Robles made this clarification after former senator Francisco Tatad wrote in his newspaper column last Sept. 17 that Duterte has no legal basis to push for a federal system of government.

“Anybody can propose but the proposal must go through a process. That is based on a freedom of speech. So there is legal basis,” Robles said in a Palace press briefing on federalism.

Robles, who was also member of the 1971 Constitutional Convention, said ConCom is just a committee created by Duterte to prepare a draft of the federal Constitution, which the President will submit to Congress, the body that will ratify a new Charter.

“When you propose, you are proposing to the people. The committee is to study and see what can be proposed to the people for their approval or disapproval,” Robles said.

Meanwhile, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya, said the Constitution does not prohibit the President from proposing amendments to the Constitution.

“Nowhere in the Constitution does it prohibit the President himself from proposing amendments to the Constitution,” Malaya said.

“In fact, that is (how) our system of government works — the President proposes or the Executive proposes; the Legislature legislates. And if there are questions asked to constitutionality, the Judiciary is the one that disposes it,” he added.

Malaya said Duterte has received a mandate in the 2016 elections to push for the federal system of government.

“Even before he ran for president, the federal system was already part of his campaign plat-

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Consultative Committee with Pres. Rodrigo Duterte.

KING RODRIGUEZ / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

form, which eventually led to his election to the presidency,” Malaya said.

“Therefore, we disagree with the contention of Francisco Tatad that the President’s push for a federal system has no legal basis. In fact, it has legal basis, because it is part of the fundamental workings of our government,” he noted.

ConCom member and former Senate president Aquilino “Nene” Pimentel Jr. clarified that the panel is not dividing the Philippines into federal states.

“We are only creating federal states in the Republic of the Philippines and pursuant to the recommendation of the Constitutional Commission,” Pimentel, one of the main advocates of federalism, said.

The ConCom has proposed 18 federal states or regions that will be given equal opportunities to design their respective development plans without relying too much on the central government.

“So, in effect, the power for the development will now be shared with the federal states’ concern and not only dependent on the wishes of the central government, which is more or less typified by the Presi-

dent, because he is the head of the executive department. He executes what policies are adopted by central government agencies relating to development,” Pimentel said.

He said even concerns on the possible rise of political warlordism can be prevented if Congress adopts ConCom’s provision on political dynasty.

He said political warlordism should be prohibited and spelled out not only up to the first or second civil degree but up to the fourth civil degree of consanguinity and affinity.

Under ConCom’s proposed Federal Constitution, Pimentel said the power of the President will also be reduced in terms of appointing people.

“But, the matter of overseeing the performance of this people still remains with the President, because he is the executive under that principle of three divisions of power, executive, legislative and judiciary,” he said.

Robles said federalism simply means division of power between the federal government and regional governments.

“Actually, it’s very simple — division of power and allocation of money. Give it to the experts,” Robles said. www.canadianinquirer.net

A recent survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed that the number of Filipino families victimized by common crimes over the past six months has dropped to an estimated 1.2 million.

From the 6.6 percent or about 1.5 million Filipino families last March, Filipino families who said they became victims of common crimes such as pickpocketing or robbery of personal property, break-ins, carjacking, and physical violence declined to only 5.3 percent, according to the Second Quarter 2018 Social Weather Survey.

The pollster said those who experienced losing property to street robbery, burglars, or carjacker decreased by 5.1 percent or an estimated 1.2 million families from the 6.1 percent or 1.4 million families in March 2018.

Those who were hurt by physical violence, the SWS said, fell to a “record-low” 0.2 percent or 45,000 Filipinos, a 0.4 point below the 0.6 percent or 145,000 families last March.

Since 1989, the SWS has been asking its 1,200 survey respondents nationwide if anyone in their household fell victim to street robbery, home breakin, or violence in the past six months. It was in 1992 when the pollster included motor vehicle theft to its list of crimes.

“Victimization by common crimes reported in SWS surveys is much higher than the number of crimes actually reported to the police,” the SWS said.

The recent survey, conducted from June 27 to 30, also revealed that 4.0 percent or 930,000 families were victimized by street robbery, while 1.8 percent or 431,000 Filipinos were victimized by break-ins.

It added that among those who own any kind of motor vehicle, 0.5 percent or 52,000 survey respondents said they were robbed of it in the past six months.

In terms of location, the SWS noted that the number of families robbed of their personal

property outside of their homes declined in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, and in the Visayas, except in Mindanao where President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law.

Meanwhile, Filipinos who experienced break-ins became lesser in both Balance Luzon and Metro Manila but increased in Visayas and Mindanao.

As of June 2018, the survey showed that none of its respondents in Metro Manila and the Visayas suffered from carjacking; however, the quarterly victimization by this crime rose in Balance Luzon and Mindanao.

In addition, the number of physical violence cases reduced in Metro Manila, while there were no cases recorded in the Visayas and Mindanao.

Malacañang, on its part, lauded the result of the latest survey.

“Bumaba pa po ang numero ng krimen at ang taumbayan na mismo ang nagsasabi nito (The number of crimes has decreased and it is the public who said it),” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said on Thursday, September 20.

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde also welcomed the results, saying that it is a proof that the Duterte administration’s campaign against crime and illegal drugs is effective.

“Actually itong crime rate natin, pababa naman ito… downtrend kasi ito. Although sabi ko nga, ‘di natin pwedeng gawing zero, at least ma-minimize natin ’yung problema natin on crimes (Actually, our crime rate is declining… It is on the downtrend. Although I said that we cannot make it zero, at least we were able to minimize our problems on crimes),” Albayalde told reporters yesterday.

“In the first two years na Duterte administration nasa almost 50 percent ang pagbaba ng crime volume natin.

So meaning, maganda ’yung programa ng administrasyong ito (In the first two years of the Duterte administration, the decline in the crime volume is at almost 50 percent. So meaning, the program of this administration is good),” he added.

14

Philippine News

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

Tribunal’s verdict on PRRD ‘political litter’: Palace

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA — Malacañang on Friday branded as “political litter” the findings of the International People’s Tribunal (IPT) that President Rodrigo Duterte is liable for concocted violations of human rights.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said the IPT is just another vulnerable organization being used by Duterte’s critics in a futile attempt to destroy his image and reputation both in the international and local communities.

Panelo said the verdict was based on a one-sided and shallow study of the true situation in the Philippines particularly Duterte’s war on illegal drugs.

“It is, therefore, to be treated as nothing but a piece of politi- Harry Roque.

PCOO cal litter,” Panelo said.

He said IPT, which he called against drugs, insurgency and a nation.” a kangaroo court, was the same corruption.

Meawhile, Presidential tribunal which declared former He assured that the Duterte Spokesperson Harry Roque president Gloria Macapagal- administration shall maintain also described the tribunal as Arroyo guilty of human rights its serious efforts in executing a “kangaroo court” that has no in 2005 and Duterte’s predeces- the law equally “but harshly mandate to make judgment sor Benigno Aquino III guilty of against those who violate it re- against anyone. gross and systematic violations gardless of social status and poRoque said even left-leaning of human rights. litical color.” groups in the country agreed “Given these, that IPT’s deciit is difficult sion has no legal to dismiss the effect and it is strong probjust propaganda. ability that this This (IPT) has no mandate. It’s only “When it manipulative propaganda. It should be thrown comes to interpractice by peraway and rejected. national law, sonalities from United Nations the left is being is the one givundertaken as ing mandate. another leverage This (IPT) has to succumb to no mandate. It’s their blue-sky demands,” PanHe warned that “unsanc- only propaganda. It should be elo said. tioned resort” of certain indi- thrown away and rejected,” Panelo encouraged Duterte’s viduals to foreign or pseudo Roque said in a radio interview. detractors to instead seek re- tribunals “must be denounced Roque assured the public dress from the country’s local as a practice which undermines that the Duterte administracourts if there are indeed abus- the sovereignty of our country tion will continue to uphold the es on government’s campaign and destabilizes our progress as rule of law.

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

Grace Poe retains lead in Pulse Asia 2019 senatorial poll survey

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer SENATOR GRACE Poe continues to occupy the top spot in Pulse Asia’s latest Ulat ng Bayan survey on the upcoming senatorial elections.

In its survey done from September 1-7, Pulse Asia said that if the May 2019 elections were held this month, of the 66 individuals included in the September 2018 electoral probe, 17 candidates have “a statistical chance of winning.”

It added that among the 17 probable winners, 13 of them are either incumbent or former members of Congress.

The latest survey revealed that 70.1 percent of the 1,800 survey respondents said they will vote for Poe. This, according to Pulse Asia, translates to a statistical ranking of solo first place.

Poe was followed by Senator Cynthia Villar with 57.7 percent, Taguig City Representative Pia Cayetano with 54.4 percent, and Senator Nancy Binay who is close behind them with 50.6 percent voter preference.

Completing the top five is President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter, Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, with 39.5 percent.

The Presidential daughter was followed by Senator Edgardo Angara, Jr. with 37.1 percent and former Senator Jinggoy Estrada with 34.6 percent.

The two were ranked fifth to seventh place and sixth to 10th place, respectively.

Meanwhile, the senatorial bets who shared a statistical ranking of seventh to 11th place

are Ilocos Governor Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos with 32.6 percent, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III with 32.4 percent, and former Senator Manuel “Lito” Lapid with 32.2 percent.

Senator Sergio Osmeña garnered 29.8 percent level of support, which landed him in the eighth to 17th place.

Other probable winners in the Pulse Asia’s latest survey are former Senator Manuel Roxas with 27.7%, actor Robin Padilla and former Senator Ramon Revilla, Jr. with 27.4%, broadcaster and columnist Ramon Tulfo with 27.0%, Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Chief Ronald dela Rosa with 27.0%, and Senator Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito with 26.7%. All of whom are ranked 11th to 17th place.

With about a month to go before the filing of certificates of candidacy for the upcoming polls, the Pulse Asia said that nearly half or only 49 percent of Filipinos have already completed their list of preferred senatorial candidates for the May 2019 elections.

“Only 3.6% of Filipinos do not support any of the probable senatorial bets included in this survey probe, refuse to name their preferred senatorial candidates, or still do not know whom they will vote for in May 2019,” it noted.

The nationwide survey used face-to-face interviews to its respondents whose age ranged from 18 years old and above. It has a plus or minus two percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.

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Canada News Indigenous eateries take centre stage in Canada thanks to increasing awareness

BY ALEKSANDRA SAGAN The Canadian Press VANCOUVER — Since Paul Natrall started serving Indigenous cuisine from his Mr. Bannock food truck in Vancouver nearly a year ago, the chef has hired several employees for his indemand fusion food business.

In recent years, Indigenousowned eateries like his have emerged in many Canadian cities serving traditional foods like bannock and buffalo. While it’s taken time to move into the mainstream, chefs say demand is high thanks to increasing awareness of Indigenous culture and desire for local foods.

“They’re enjoying it. Like, everybody is going a little crazy,” said Natrall of the reception to the bannock, tacos, chicken and waffles, and other dishes on his menu.

He’s worked in the industry for about a decade and launched the truck last January after diners at his pop-up events kept asking when the chef would open a more permanent location.

There are a number of reasons why Indigenous cuisine has taken some time to emerge in major Canadian cities where there’s a glut of other ethnic

food choices.

First, as Natrall is quick to point, it’s expensive to open a restaurant. He opted for a food truck because it was cheaper than servicing the big loan he’d need for a storefront.

While food is a big part of Indigenous culture — with the older generation teaching younger ones how to cook traditional fare — that opportunity was ripped away from the population for a long time, he said.

Government-funded, church-run residential schools operated in the country for more than a century with the last one closing in 1996. Indigenous children were forced to attend the schools where sexual, emotional and physical abuse was rampant.

The government also banned the potlatch, a ceremony practiced by some First Nations that includes feasting, for more than six decades in an effort to force assimilation.

Such policies prevented Indigenous people from practicing their food culture, Natrall said.

“So, it’s been missing for a long time.”

Food regulations can also make it difficult to serve authentic Indigenous cuisine as

restaurants in much of Canada are not allowed to sell game meat that is hunted rather than raised in captivity.

It can also be hard to find certain traditional ingredients in stores, Natrall lamented, explaining how when he teamed up with some friends for a popup event in the States, they had to forage for some of the products.

Despite these obstacles, businesses like Mr. Bannock are becoming more prevalent in cities.

In Toronto, chef Johl Whiteduck Ringuette opened a restaurant, NishDish, last year after a dozen years of running his catering service of the same name. He serves traditional Anishnawbe food. The city also boasts chef Joseph Shawana’s ku-kum and Ojibway taco spot the Pow Wow Cafe, among others.

But the scene is not limited to Toronto. Winnipeg’s Feast Cafe Bistro serves a variety of bannock pizzas and Indian tacos while Vancouver’s Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro says its current staff represent a number of different First Nations.

Indigenous chefs who have been cooking for some time now say they’re noticing more and more Indigenous chefs en-

Paul Natrall.

tering the industry.

In part, the growth comes from more Indigenous people living in cities, said chef David Wolfman of the Xaxli’p First Nation. Wolfman’s career spans more than 20 years and his resume includes teaching at George Brown College’s chef school, hosting a cooking TV program and publishing a cookbook, “Cooking with the Wolfman: Indigenous Fusion.”

On most reserves there’s usually a community kitchen and perhaps one restaurant, said Wolfman, and rarely enough business to justify multiple eateries. So Indigenous cooks have realized other towns and cities can be an avenue to showcase their foods, he said.

“I think, in our core, it’s about sharing our food and knowledge.”

PR BANNOCK FACTORY / WEBSITE

Social and traditional media have also helped make the public more aware of Indigenous food and culture, he said, raising people’s curiosity.

In general, people are more interested in where their food comes from nowadays, said Wolfman, giving Indigenous cuisine a boost as it is often considered local food.

For Natrall, who hopes to expand his food truck into a restaurant one day, “it’s about time” for Indigenous food to have its moment in the spotlight.

“We couldn’t concentrate on developing or perfecting Indigenous cuisine, so it’s taken longer than others, I guess,” he said.

“But, everybody’s hitting the right stride and it’s finally coming to, right. So, it’s awesome.” ■

Bellegarde says pipeline expansion may go forward if shipping terminal moved

BY MIA RABSON The Canadian Press OTTAWA — The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says the federal government would find it easier to get the Trans Mountain pipeline built if it moves the route and the marine shipping terminal to avoid Indigenous communities that are oppose the project.

Perry Bellegarde said many Indigenous communities believe in the need to diversify export markets for Canadian resources through work to transition to a clean energy economy.

However, he acknowledged there are some communities along the coast, notably the Squamish First Nation and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, that will never support the pipe-

line, which in its current format affects a marine terminal in the traditional territory of the Tsleil-Waututh, and would bring additional oil tankers through traditional waters of the Squamish.

“So why not move (the terminal)? Why don’t you move it to Tsawwassen?” Bellegarde said in a wide-ranging interview Monday with The Canadian Press. www.canadianinquirer.net

“They’re not going to change their mind, so why not find a different outlet? It might take a little longer, but it’s a win-winwin.”

Bellegarde said he spoke to chiefs who support of the idea of a terminal near Tsawwassen — but Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Bryce Williams said Monday he is not one of them.

His community neither supports the pipeline nor the idea

of moving the terminal to land that abuts his community, Williams said.

In 2015, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley pushed the idea of the Tsawwassen terminal in Delta, B.C., arguing it might get more local support than the plan to expand the existing Westridge Marine Terminal in Burnaby, B.C. The latter would ❱❱ PAGE 17 Bellegarde says

16

Canada News

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

Canadian sex assault survivors share #WhyIDidntReport stories amid U.S. scandal

BY CASSANDRA SZKLARSKI The Canadian Press

DiNovo said Monday she was reminded of the #BeenRapedNeverReported hashtag of 2014, which emerged in the wake TORONTO — Fresh debate surrounding of allegations surrounding Jian Ghoa sexual assault allegation involving a meshi. The former CBC Radio star U.S. lawmaker has spurred hundreds of was acquitted in March 2016 of sexuCanadians to offer support to silent sur- ally assaulting three women vivors by adding their names to trending following a high-profile criminal trial. online hashtags including #WhyIDidnDiNovo says she’s continually stunned tReport and #BelieveSurvivors. by the number of sex-assault allegations The wave of social media warriors in- she hears as a minister in the United cluded Ontario NDP member of provin- Church. cial parliament Jill Andrew and former “What is upsetting is that there’s a Ontario MPP Cheri DiNovo, who each new hashtag every year or couple years referenced the hashtag #WhyIDidntRe- saying the same thing and still the numport on Twitter in recent days to call at- bers (of allegations) are pouring in and tention to the reasons many assault vic- they’re young women,” says DiNovo. tims don’t speak out.

“A lot of these are recent assaults “Because I was 7. Because he said he and again, they’re not the kind of aswould cut my mother up, put her in a sault where it’s a stranger crawling in black plastic bag and put her body in your window at night with a knife or a a river,” Andrew tweeted from her ac- gun. These are what most assaults are: count ?JILLSLASTWORD. friends, lovers, relatives and you’re not “I didn’t report for the same reasons going to turn them in. Justice is not an they don’t — someone you care for. How option for3:45 youPMfor a variety of reasons.”

Joel_CanadianInquirer_print.pdf 1 2017-10-05 would the justice system help?” DiNoThe #WhyIDidntReport hashtag exvo tweeted from her verified account ploded following a tweet from U.S. Pres?CheriDiNovo. ident Donald Trump who asked why

Jill Andrew.

a woman accusing his Supreme Court pick did not report her decades-old claim of sexual assault.

Christine Blasey Ford, a California psychology professor, alleges that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh tried to sexually assault her when both were teenagers more than 30 years ago. Another accusation emerged over the weekend, when Colorado resident Deborah Ramirez alleged Kavanaugh thrust his penis in her face at a party during his first year at university. Kavanaugh has denied both allegations.

Meanwhile, thousands of women answered Trump’s question on Twitter in recent days, including many in Canada, where a concurrent social media campaign around #BelieveSurvivors also found some support. That movement urged people to wear black on Monday and participate in a “walk out” in solidarity with Ford.

Toronto resident Nicole Rajakovic shared a photo of herself on Twitter wearing black jeans and a black shirt on Monday, tagged #BelieveSurvivors.

“A lot of the reasons that this woman in the U.S. has spoken about were very, very similar to mine, which is why it’s become very top of mind for me,” says Rajakovic, identifying herself as a survivor, but noting she has not spoken to her family about the assault.

“I have a daughter. I want to be able to speak openly about it, to show her how important it is for women to speak up.”

Seeing scores of others reveal their experiences is “powerful,” she adds.

“The more people you meet, the more you realize how it’s really not that unique of a situation, that there are so many people who have experienced this,” she says.

Communication, media and film professor Jessalynn Keller, who has studied

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JILL ANDREW - MPP, TORONTO-ST. PAUL'S / FACEBOOK

digital feminist activism through her work at the University of Calgary, says people seem emboldened to participate in thorny debates around sexual misconduct as they increasingly unfold in public.

But any notion that it’s easy for victims to come forward and share their stories is false, she says.

“The predominant narrative is that everyone just jumps online and posts their story and in actuality, research is telling us that it’s not quite that simple.

A lot of women post it and then delete it. And then repost it again,” says Keller, noting that while it can be cathartic for some victims, many have said they agonized over whether to participate in #MeToo-related hashtags in the past.

“A lot of women thought for several days of whether they wanted to post — how their friends and family would react. The participants of these hashtags are quite self-reflective. This is not an easy decision to even decide to share their story online, even if it was years ago or even if their name isn’t attached.”

Keller says the Ghomeshi story resonated deeply in Canada and points to a sustained effort to keep the conversation going.

And she’s hopeful that today’s teenagers are much better informed on issues surrounding gender and consent, noting that many Ontario youth battling over a contentious sex-ed curriculum seem very plugged in to social issues.

“They have a very sophisticated language around these issues and a keen understanding about what consent is and it seems like adults don’t have this,” says Keller.

“These conversations we’re having — they’re filtering down, they’re making sense. But it takes a long time for us to see those changes in our institutions.” ■

Canada News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

Early returns show close race between Liberals and Tories in New Brunswick

BY MICHAEL MACDONALD The Canadian Press NEW BRUNSWICK’S Liberals and Progressive Conservatives were locked in a neck-and-neck race as the ballots were counted at the conclusion of an election campaign that appeared to be a referendum on Liberal Leader Brian Gallant’s reputation as a big-spending premier.

The 36-year-old, telegenic premier campaigned on a platform that includes 123 promises and $150 million in infrastructure funding. It also includes a promised four-year freeze on NB Power rates for residential and small-business customers and a pledge to raise the minimum wage to $14.

By contrast, Progressive Conservative Leader Blaine Higgs — a 64-year-old former Irving Oil executive — campaigned on a tight-fisted platform that calls for “common-sense ideas that don’t cost much.”

In early returns, the Liberals were leading or elected in 20 ridings, the Tories had 22, the People’s Alliance had four and the Greens with three.

The leader of the People’s Alliance, Kris Austin, won his seat in Fredericton-Grand Lake, a breakthrough for a third party that was contesting its third election.

The party has never won more than three per cent of the popular vote. However, the polls suggested the party was in third place this time.

Austin’s party has taken aim at official bilingualism, saying the dual systems in health care and school busing are costing the province too much money, and called for more efficiencies.

Higgs and Gallant were also winners in their own ridings.

On the campaign trail, Gallant and Higgs commanded most of the attention, and the two men couldn’t have been more different.

Gallant, a lawyer and the youngest premier in Canada, is a fresh-faced, fluently bilingual champion of gender equality, healthy eating and exercise.

Recently married, the former

tennis instructor was once crowned Mr. New Brunswick at a provincial competition.

Higgs is a dapper, grey-haired former finance minister and grandfather who has described citizens as customers, and has likened governing to running a business “and getting results.”

During the 32-day campaign, the unilingual Tory leader accused Gallant of using the public purse to buy votes.

Gallant countered by claiming Higgs would cut $500 million from the province’s budget while eliminating up to 2,000 public service jobs.

In a province where the third parties weren’t expected to win more than a few seats, the choice between the Liberals and the Tories was a stark one.

Still, the polls were suggesting a tight race that could be decided by a handful of seats.

Both the Liberals and the Tories appeared to lose support as the campaign progressed, with the third parties tapping into a sense of voter discontent.

At the close of the campaign, the Liberals held 24 seats in the 49-seat legislature, the Progressive Conservatives had 21 and the Green party had one seat. There was one Independent and two vacancies.

A total of 25 seats is needed for a majority.

Gallant is seeking a second consecutive majority government, but recent history isn’t on his side. No government has won two terms in office since 2003.

To be sure, the winning party will be faced with making some tough choices. The province has been saddled with 11 consecutive projected budget deficits.

Though the most recent budget was balanced, Gallant said a Liberal government would table budget deficits for two more years before returning to balance three years from now.

Higgs said he would balance the books in two years.

Meanwhile, the net debt is expected to reach $14.4 billion by the end of this fiscal year, and the province remains at the bottom of the list with Newfoundland and Labrador when

it comes to economic growth.

Higgs has repeatedly warned the province that its education test scores are nothing to be proud of, health-care wait times are the worst in the country and that New Brunswick has the lowest median income in Canada.

Historical voting patterns in New Brunswick have often seen francophone areas favour Liberal candidates while anglophone areas have leaned toward the Progressive Conservatives.

As a result, the Conservatives were considered a long shot in the 16 ridings where there is a francophone majority, mainly because of Higgs’ previous ties with the now-defunct Confederation of Regions Party.

The party, which held official Opposition status between 1991 and 1995 before disappearing, was committed to repealing the provincial 1969 Official Languages Act, which cost the party support among francophones.

However, Liberal support is typically concentrated in French-speaking ridings, which has led to so-called vote inefficiency. That means the Liberals could win the popular vote but lose the election.

The only other party coming into the election with a seat in the legislature is the Greens.

Leader David Coon made history by winning the party’s first-ever seat in 2014, and he was expected to hold the riding of Fredericton South.

Former Liberal Speaker Chris Collins, who was suspended from the party caucus in May over harassment allegations, is contesting Moncton Centre as an Independent, boasting an 11year record.

The NDP, led by Jennifer McKenzie for just over a year, failed to make much of an impression on voters. The party was in last place in the most recent opinion polls.

McKenzie ran in the same Saint John riding where Elizabeth Weir was the NDP member until 2005 — the last time the party had a seat in the legislature. ■

17

Bellegarde says... ❰❰ 15

see another six or seven oil tankers each week try to navigate the tricky Burrard Inlet and Vancouver Harbour, while the Tsawwassen location poses environmental risks from those additional tankers to the Fraser River Estuary.

Kinder Morgan Canada dismissed the Tsawwassen location because of those environmental concerns, as well as an estimated $1.2 billion cost needed to make the pipeline 14 kilometres longer and build a trestle in the Straight of Georgia to support it.

The federal government has yet to announce how it plans to re-engage with Indigenous communities after the Federal Court of Appeal overturned approval for the pipeline expansion, citing insufficient Indigenous consultations. The court also criticized the National Energy Board for failing to do a proper review of what impact additional oil tanker traffic would have on sensitive marine ecosystems and, specifically, the endangered Southern resident killer whales.

Last week Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi ordered the board to go back and do such a review of oil tanker traffic and provide a new recommendation on the pipeline before the end of February.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer said that plan only adds delays and argued Ottawa should instead appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court of Canada and legislate the project into existence. That includes supporting a private members’ bill from Alberta Se. Doug Black that reaffirms federal jurisdiction for the project.

Scheer also wants emergen-

cy legislation to use an existing Trans Canada review of oil tanker traffic in lieu of the NEB repeating that work, which he said would satisfy the court’s conditions. He added more Indigenous consultation does need to happen, and suggested the appointment of a ministerial special representative to oversee the process.

He also said many communities have signed benefit agreements as partners in the pipeline and no one community should be able to halt it entirely.

“We certainly don’t believe that the 30-plus Indigenous communities who had signed agreements, who are going to see real benefits in their communities, should have to go without those advantages because a smaller group of people are simply opposed to it,” he said.

Sohi’s press secretary, Vanessa Adams, said the Conservatives have no reason to complain given their shoddy environmental review was the one the court rejected in this case, and in previous ones the courts also rejected.

However, Sohi’s office has yet to respond to the idea of moving the marine terminal. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said two weeks ago he was open to the idea of moving the suggested route, but hasn’t been clear on what changes he is considering.

Canada now is in full charge of the pipeline, having purchased it from Kinder Morgan last month for $4.5 billion. Ottawa stepped in hoping that federal ownership would provide the political certainty to get it built, and the government intends to sell it to a privatesector buyer after the project expansion is completed. ■

TRANSMOUNTAIN / WEBSITE

www.canadianinquirer.net

18

World News

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

Republicans are digging in on Kavanaugh.

Here’s why.

BY STEVE PEOPLES AND LISA MASCARO The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The first allegation against Brett Kavanaugh left Republicans rattled and nervous. The second left them angry and ready to fight back.

The GOP punched back hard Monday, seeming to cast aside — for now — worries that President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee could turn off female voters and sink their hopes of holding complete control of Congress following the November midterms. Rather than peel away from Kavanaugh, many GOP senators seemed to stiffen their resolve.

The decision was in part based on the details of a new allegation. Many Republicans dismissed a report published late Sunday in The New Yorker magazine as weak and unsub-

stantiated — allowing them to turn their aim on the media, a well-worn and effective tactic.

And some Republicans worried that not doing enough to push Kavanaugh across the finish line would hurt their standing with the GOP base heading into the midterms.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., took the lead role in the fight. His resolve was evident in both public and private, according to those who were around him. He began his day at the University of Louisville in Kentucky, where he told confidants he didn’t intend to back down.

“I sensed absolute determination,” said Scott Jennings, a longtime McConnell strategist.

“He was not going to give up on Brett Kavanaugh.”

Back in Washington a few hours later, McConnell went to the Senate floor to blast “Senate Democrats and their allies” who he said “are trying to de-

stroy a man’s personal and professional life.”

GOP leaders were already grappling with an allegation from Christine Blasey Ford, who said Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her when they were both teenagers. But McConnell and some others were especially incensed by a second allegation in which a student who attended Yale with Kavanaugh said he exposed himself at a drunken dormitory party, thrust his penis in her face and caused her to touch it without her consent as she pushed him away.

The accusation was “another orchestrated, last-minute hit on the nominee,” McConnell said.

Kavanaugh has vehemently denied both allegations.

Jennings said The New Yorker story strengthened a consensus among many Republicans that they were contending with an orchestrated effort by Dem-

www.canadianinquirer.net

Brett M. Kavanaugh.

US COURT OF APPEALS DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT / WEBSITE

ocrats to take down Kavanaugh’s nomination.

“When that thing hit, rankand-file Republicans dug in and said, ‘We are not going to let the mob get away with this,”‘ Jennings said.

That sentiment was echoed

by Doug Deason, a prominent donor close to Trump.

“Certainly women deserve to be heard, but not 30, 40 years

later when there’s all the drinking and they don’t remember most of it,” he said. “It’s a conspiracy from the left-wing loonies.”

Ford and Kavanaugh are expected to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. The showdown comes six weeks before Elec❱❱ PAGE 20 Republicans are

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20

World News

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

Pope praises Latvia’s Christian roots in enduring occupation

BY NICOLE WINFIELD The Associated Press RIGA, LATVIA — Pope Francis travelled Monday to the Baltic nation of Latvia, seeking to recognize its suffering under Soviet and Nazi occupation and to encourage the Christian faith that nevertheless endured.

On the third day of his Baltic pilgrimage, Francis laid flowers at the monument to Latvian independence and joined Lutheran and Orthodox leaders at a music-filled ecumenical prayer in Riga’s towering Lutheran Rigas Doms cathedral. Choirs of young girls alternated with chanting ministers and were accompanied by the cathedral’s famous organ, one of the oldest and largest in Europe.

In his arrival speech to Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, Francis praised the Christian spirit that allowed the country to endure two Soviet occupations and the World War II-era occupation by Nazi Germany.

“You know all too well the price of that freedom, which you have had to win over and over again,” he said. He praised the co-operation among different Christian churches that he said “shows that it is possible to build communion within differences.”

Latvia’s population of some 2 million is about a quarter Lutheran, with Catholic and Orthodox minorities.

Later Monday, Francis was greeting elderly Latvians at the Catholic cathedral in Riga before heading to the Catholic

shrine at Aglona, near Latvia’s eastern border with Russia, that is a draw for the faithful across the region.

Francis is visiting Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to mark their 100th anniversaries of independence and to encourage the faith in the Baltics, which saw five decades of Soviet-imposed religious repression and state-sponsored atheism. In addition, the 1941-1944 Nazi occupation nearly exterminated their Jewish populations.

Francis on Sunday paid equal tribute to the partisans who fought the Soviets in Lithuania, as well as the Jewish community as it marked the 75th anniversary of the final destruction of the ghetto in the capital Vilnius. ■

Murkowski of Alaska, Flake’s views on the latest development may determine next steps.

Flake was central to weekend talks to ensure an agreement was reached for Ford to tell the committee her story, according to a GOP aide familiar with the talks but unauthorized to speak publicly. The aide spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Flake’s reaction to the new allegations will be central to whether the hearing Thursday proceeds.

Trump confidant Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina set the tone for GOP leaders with a series of tweets on Monday blaming Democrats for “wholesale character assassination” and urging fellow Republicans to push forward with Kavanaugh’s confirmation.

“What we are witnessing is the total collapse of the traditional confirmation process for a Supreme Court nominee,” Graham tweeted. “The process needs to move forward with a hearing Thursday, and vote in committee soon thereafter.”

Another Trump ally, Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, struck a similar script. “The Democrats are engaged in a campaign of delay and character assassination against Judge Kavana-

ugh. It’s time to vote this week,” he said.

Collins’ constituents in Maine warned the four-term senator that women were paying close attention.

“I’m speaking to people on a regular basis — people who have voted for her in the past and are very, very agitated,” said Eliza Townsend, executive director of the Maine Women’s Lobby.

Asked if she believed Collins was on the side of Maine women, Townsend responded: “It’s hard to tell.”

There were signs that Murkowski was also struggling under the weight of the Kavanaugh fight back home as well.

Jeff King, one of the world’s most successful professional dogsled racers, has campaigned alongside Murkowski before.

It’s unclear if he’ll do so again.

“Alaska stood firm for you, and I ask that you trust that we’ll have your back if you make the right decision,” said King, a fourtime Iditarod champion, during a recent Alaska protest calling for Murkowski to block Kavanaugh’s nomination. “You’re our senator, Lisa, not Trump’s.”

Neither Collins nor Murkowski is up for re-election this fall. But hundreds of other Republicans are. ■

Republicans are... ❰❰ 18

tion Day, with early voting already underway in a handful of battleground states. Some polls suggest Republicans are already likely to lose the House majority and increasingly confident Democrats now see a path to the Senate majority as well.

That’s helped fuel a hardline political strategy aimed squarely at the GOP base.

Evangelical conservative leader Ralph Reed said the accusations against Kavanaugh are “firing up conservatives and faith-based voters” across the country.

“We’ve had an enthusiasm gap,” Reed said. “This could close it.”

Shrugging off the risks, Republicans are digging in for a messy confirmation fight.

McConnell’s allies warned that any delay in the process would merely open the president’s pick to a never-ending loop of rumours and accusations. But holdouts, including retiring Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, whose vote on the committee is needed to ensure Kavanaugh’s nomination moves favourably to the full Senate, remain in flux.

Along with Republican Sens.

Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa

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Michel Temer.

MICHEL TEMER / FLICKR, CC BY 2.0

Brazil’s Temer denies graft, defends legacy

BY JENNIFER PELTZ AND PETER PRENGAMAN The Associated Press NEW YORK — Brazilian President Michel Temer said Monday that corruption charges against him were the result of his administration’s attempts to reform the country’s pension system, an explanation sure to raise eyebrows, if not hackles, in Latin America’s largest nation.

Last year, Temer, a career politician known for his ability to whip votes in an often chaotic, multi-party system, was twice charged by Attorney General Rodrigo Janot in corruption cases involving alleged bribes and obstruction of justice. While as a sitting president Temer has been able to avoid trial, many political and legal observers believe those cases will be taken up after his term ends at the end of this year.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Temer denied wrongdoing and said his administration had suffered an “indignity” because it was attempting to take on the pension system, long one of the country’s most thorny issues.

As part of that, Janot used all

the resources at his disposal, Temer said.

“On one hand, I was trying to combat privileges, and on the other hand this man was trying to protect those privileges,” said Temer, speaking at the Four Seasons hotel. Temer was in New York to participate in this week’s high-level meetings of U.N. General Assembly.

In a statement to the AP late Monday, Janot, who stepped down as attorney general when his term ended late last year, said Temer’s comments were an attempt to “divert attention and justify the unjustifiable.”

“Federal police reports, videos, recordings and witness testimony make it impossible to miss the truth,” he wrote.

As vice-president, Temer came to power in 2016 after President Dilma Rousseff was impeached and removed from office for illegally managing the federal budget. While Rousseff accused Temer of being part of what she called a “coup” against her, he denied the accusations and promised to bring about reforms that would pull Latin America’s largest economy from its worst recession in decades. ❱❱ PAGE 22 Brazil’s Temer

World News

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

21

Admired abroad, New Zealand leader faces hurdles at home

BY NICK PERRY The Associated Press WELLINGTON, NEW Zealand — Last Thursday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the high-profile interviews she’d be doing this week in New York, where she’s attending the U.N. General Assembly. Among her appearances: the Today show, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert and an interview with CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. She also exchanged tweets with the singer Rihanna about the importance of investing in education.

But by Thursday afternoon, Ardern was appearing sombre at a hastily called news conference in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital. She was firing a lawmaker from her ministerial role following an altercation the lawmaker had with a staff member that some people say turned physical.

In the year since she took office, Ardern, 38, has enjoyed unprecedented global attention for a leader from this nation of fewer than

5 million people. Yet at home, she’s faced political pressure as she tries to keep control of a coalition government that sometimes threatens to come apart.

Internationally, Ardern in many ways offers a counterpoint to President Donald Trump: She is young, liberal and espouses an empathetic approach to leadership. She’s also pushed the boundaries for women by becoming just the second world leader in modern times to give birth while in office.

Ardern will meet with other leaders at the General Assembly. On her agenda are combating climate change, promoting global trade and supporting the rights of women and children.

She’s travelling with her partner, Clarke Gayford, and their 3-month-old daughter, Neve.

Gayford joked in a tweet Monday that Neve had kept them awake until 3:45 a.m., without any regard to the changing time zones.

Ardern is certain to attract more attention than some of her predecessors. In 2013, New Zealand’s then-prime minister, John Key, was photographed

by the European Pressphoto Agency joking with his British counterpart at Nelson Mandela’s funeral. The caption?

“British Prime Minister David Cameron (R) laughs with an unidentified guest …”

Back in New Zealand on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters was filling in for Ardern. Peters, 73, is known for his contrarian streak and political combativeness.

Asked his thoughts on a proposal to change the name of a local university, Peters said he had an opinion but wasn’t telling.

“Otherwise you’ll be saying Winston Peters is going rogue,” he told reporters. “And you’re not going to get that chance again.”

Keeping her government on the same page has been a constant issue for Ardern, who needs not only the support of her Labour Party to govern, but also the support of two smaller parties: Peters and his more conservative New Zealand First Party, and the environmentally focused Green Party.

Ardern has also faced problems from within her own

party. Communications Minister Clare Curran resigned as a minister earlier this month after a series of blunders, including not disclosing meetings she held with industry figures.

And then on Thursday, Ardern removed Meka Whaitiri as minister of customs after the altercation. Whaitiri disputes what happened, and Ardern says she’s not going into details until an investigation is completed.

Opposition lawmaker Judith Collins said she was supportive of Ardern getting positive attention abroad because it was good for the image of the country as a whole.

“It’s really hard in New Zealand getting any coverage overseas at all, for anything that doesn’t involve a black shirt,” Collins said, referring to the country’s world-beating All Blacks rugby team.

But asked for her assessment of Ardern’s performance at home, Collins offered just two words: “Pretty dire.”

Despite the political obstacles, Ardern’s government has passed a number of measures over its

first year in office. It has raised the minimum wage, increased support to low-income families and new parents, banned most foreigners from buying homes, and announced an ambitious policy to combat climate change by making the country carbon neutral by 2050.

And during Ardern’s tenure, the economy has kept growing at a steady annual rate of 2.7 per cent, despite some surveys indicating a downturn in confidence among businesses and consumers.

The last leader to give birth while holding office was the late Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who gave birth to her daughter Bakhtawar in 1990.

“I accept that by being in office and being the second woman to have a child in office that that’s interesting, that’s unusual,” Ardern told Television New Zealand when asked about the international attention she’s getting.

“There will be a day when it’s not anymore, when it won’t be seen as an extraordinary thing, and I look forward to that day. But for now, it is what it is,” she said. ■

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22

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

PANGARAP : SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS

Paano ba ang mangarap?

BY BOLET AREVALO

TANONG #1 – PAANO BA ANG MANGARAP? Tanong #2 – KAILANGAN MO BANG MAG-ABROAD PARA MATUPAD ANG ISANG PANGARAP? Sabi-Sabi: Libre lang ang mangarap, lakihan mo na.

Oo nga naman. Mangangarap ka na rin lang, libre naman, bakit mo lilimitahan ang iyong sarili?

Naalala ko, may anak akong mahilig kumain ng fried fish noong batang paslit pa lang siya.

‘Pag tinanong mo siya, “Ano’ng gusto mong ‘maging’ paglaki mo?” Ang sagot niya, “Gusto ko pong maging fisherman.” Obvious ba? Gusto niya sigurong malibre na ang kanyang kakainin pang mga isda. Pero ‘di siya naging fisherman, naging film writer siya at nangangarap maka-produce ng isang hit to start his luck rolling.

So, mula sa isang humble at

musmos na pangarap, lumaki o lumawak na ang kanyang pangarap lalo’t ngayong nadala ko na sila sa Canada. Subali’t ‘di tulad ng aking anak, hindi lahat ng batang nangangarap ay may magulang na makapagdadala sa kanila sa ibang bansa. I mean, literally. Hindi lahat ay may pamilyang masasamahan upang mamuhay at manirahan sa abroad.

But we have gone global.

Ano ba ang ibig sabihin ng global?

Kapag sinabing global, patungkol ito sa katotohanang ang mundo ay paliit na nang paliit dahil sa kakayahan ng marami na maabot ito dahil sa siyensya at teknolohiya.

Ang isang kompanyang naglalayong maging global ay naghahanda o nagpaplano para marating ang global market o maka-compete sa mas malawak na global market.

So ang simpleng pag-iisip o pangangarap ng isang tao ay natural na ring mag-turn global dahil malayo na rin ang nararating ng kanilang kaalaman dahil sa siyensiya at teknolohiya; at sa kadahilanang ito ay maikukumpara niya ang kanyang

kalagayan at ang kalagayan ng kanyang bansa sa mas higit na maunlad na bansa o lugar.

That same phenomenon is true sa mga kababayan nating nasa probinsiya na nangangarap makaluwas papuntang “Maynila” upang maghanap ng magandang kapalaran. Sa kanilang mahigpit na paniniwala, may mas malaking mao-offer ang lungsod para mas umasenso sa buhay.

So, sa mga malakas ang loob, hindi mahirap mag-desisyong makipagsapalaran sa ibang lugar, kahit pa ito’y sa tawid-dagat. Sa mga tumututok sa galaw ng mundo, bukas ang kaalaman sa mga puwedeng mga oportunidad sa pangingibang-bansa.

Simple lang ang formula: mas malawak ang merkado, mas malawak ang oportunidad, mas maunlad ang ekonomiya, mas marami ang oportunidad ang bukas o magbubukas para sa mga nangangailangan.

So, sa simple pa ring formula: dahil sa pagkakaiba ng foreign exchange rates, ang mas maunlad na bansa ay may advantage sa palitan ng pera. Kaya kung dadalhin mo ang superior currency sa isang developing pa

mer aide who was carrying a suitcase with $150,000 in cash, allegedly a payout for Temer.

Because Temer is a sitting president, however, only the country’s supreme court can try him. And that can only happen if a super majority in the lower Chamber of Deputies, considered the conduit of the people, vote to allow for a trial to proceed. Both times Temer got enough votes to avoid trial, with many deputies saying they voted with the president simply to save the country from the political turmoil that another presidential removal would cause.

Temer’s approval rating has consistently been in the single digits — at one point it was 3 per cent — and presidential candidates, even one-time allies, have gone to great lengths to distance themselves from him.

Brazilians go to the polls Oct. 7, with a second round Oct. 28 if no candidate gets more than

50 per cent of the vote. The new president will take office Jan. 1.

“Temer has few friends left and has been attacked by all the candidates,” said David Fleischer, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Brasilia.

Fleischer said Temer’s best prospect to avoid being tried for corruption — police have since begun investigating two more potential cases against him — would be if he can get appointed to an ambassadorship by the incoming administration, which would give him partial immunity.

“I’m not sure if any of the potential new presidents would take that initiative,” said Fleisher.

In the interview, Temer said he believed his administration would be appreciated with time. He noted that his reforms “were not popular measures” and that “people react negatively” to attempts at change.

Meeting of mostly female, Filipino workers on a street in downtown Hong Kong, China.

IRYNA RASKO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

lamang na bansa, mas malaki ang iuuwi mong pera sa iyong pamilya.

Uulitin ko ang Tanong #2: Kailangan mo bang mag-abroad para matupad ang iyong pangarap?

Ang sagot ko: bakit naman hindi? Kung may pagkakataon sa matiwasay at malinis na paraan, ang kasagutan ng iyong pangarap ay maaaring nasa abroad.

Ang Totoo: Mangyayari ang mangyayari. Nguni’t kung may bukas at maayos na paraan para mas gumanda pa ang mang-

yayari, gawin mo. There is room enough for everyone in the world. ■

“History will recognize the achievements,” said Temer, who earlier in the day said he would try to get Congress to vote on pension reform in the lame duck session.

Prospects are slim, however, given Temer’s approval rating combined with the reality that reforming the pension would take super majorities in Congress, not easy even when a president is very popular.

In the interview, Temer lauded Brazil’s response to a growing immigration crisis on its northern border. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have crossed into Brazil, often famished and seeking medical attention, feeling economic and political turmoil at home.

Temer’s administration and higher courts have beat back repeated attempts of the northern state of Roraima to close the border. In the border city of Pacaraima and Boa Vista, the state capital, thousands of Ven-

ezuelans are sleeping on the streets.

Roraima Gov. Suely Campos has said state resources have been pushed to the max, and can no longer attend to all the needs. Suely has accused the federal government of lying about providing millions of dollars to the state to help with Venezuelans.

Temer said a program to relocate Venezuelans to other states was helping to alleviate the problems. As of last week, just under 2,000 Venezuelans had been relocated, a fraction of the estimated 50,000 to 80,000 in the country, mostly in Roraima.

And what about the funds?

“The governor, when she alleges the resources haven’t arrived, surely has not been visiting all the shelters” and not considering other resources the government is providing in Roraima, said Temer. ■

Bolet is a marketing communications practitioner and dabbles in writing as a personal passion.

She is author-publisher of the book: The Most Practical Immigrating and Job Hunting Survival Guide, proven simple steps to success without the fears and the doubts. book is available in Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, the Reading Room and other online bookshops worldwide.

Brazil’s Temer... ❰❰ 22

His administration did pass a spending cap and a major reform to the labour code, and the economy returned to modest growth last year, just over 1 per cent, after contracting nearly 4 per cent in both 2015 and 2016.

“When I took office in 2016, we found the country in a state of economic disaster,” he said in the interview. “… Obviously, there is a lot more to be done.

However, we enjoy peace of mind inasmuch as we’re leaving the government ready for the next administration.”

However, several of Temer’s Cabinet ministers, and Temer himself, have been at the centre of many scandals.

According to Janot, Temer allegedly orchestrated a scheme in which he would get payouts totalling millions of dollars for help resolving a business issue for JBS, a giant meat-packing company. Federal police caught on camera and arrested a for-

www.canadianinquirer.net

23

Entertainment Undeniable Chemistry: The magic of CarGel

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer IF LOYAL showbiz onlookers can come up with a list of couples with undeniable chemistry, ex-lovers Angelica Panganiban and Carlo Aquino may just top that list.

Fingers clasping, meaningful looks exchanging, and the subtle touching — host Vice Ganda may have mistaken two lovers flirting in a movie when he guested Angelica and Carlo in his weekly night show “Gandang Gabi Vice,” if he was blinded by their chemistry.

For a former couple who dub their relationship as something “special” until now, the smiles pasted on their faces and nature of their actions during their guest interview could make two things: 1) fans squeal, and 2) non-fans join the CarGel fanclub.

The host even teased the two who just seemed to be a real couple with their nuances towards each other, just like when Carlo leaned on Angelica and pressed his face to her back, Vice Ganda could not keep his mouth shut just like a keen commentator in a game.

Angelica, evidently having fun with the reaction of one of her close friends, casually brushed Carlo’s fringe. The ‘kilig’ combo attack made the crowd scream in joy, as if unable to believe the scenes unfolding before them.

Another really small gesture that may have gone unnoticed especially for those who watched the televised version was the fact that Carlo adjusted the seats just to be able to sit really close to Angelica. In the uncut version of the episode, as everyone prepares, Carlo can be seen going around the seats then, later on, subtly inching his seat to Angelica’s. He coolly places his hand at the backrest of her chair, making it seem as the most natural thing in the (their) world.

How about when Angelica stares at Carlo, laughing and ca-

sually taps his knee?

If that was not enough, perhaps that time when Carlo pulls Angelica towards him and presses his head to hers would be one of the best gifts a hardcore fan must see before they leave this planet.

We could come up with a whole list of the smallest yet biggest kilig moments throughout the episode, but this article aims to explore the roots of their chemistry. Just what is that spark of magic of CarGel that tickles all of our sleeping hearts?

Now that the two are cornerd in the hot seat, Vice took the effort to ask them the juiciest questions that may have remained unanswered in other interviews.

Do they love each other? Are they still in love with each other?

“Oo naman (Of course),” Angelica replied, with Vice commenting on how direct and fast she did.

When the question was directed to Carlo, he had an evident puzzled look as he mutters, “Kung mahal ko pa siya (If I still love her)?” Obviously caught off guard for a bit, all Carlo could do was pull Angelica closer (if possible) as Vice pressed on the question more.

“Hindi nga nawala, hindi nawawala ‘yun (It did not disappear, it does not disappear).

Ever since sabi ko nga, special talaga (as I always say, she is really special),” his reply came.

Carlo also gave a firm “Oo (Yes)” when Vice persisted on the question of whether he was in love with her.

But the next big question came, why are they not back together when they are clearly open to admitting their love for each other?

Angelica immediately laughed at the question, while Carlo stared at Vice.

“Siguro ano, natatakot lang ako masaktan siya uli (Maybe because I am scared of hurting her again),” a sincere Carlo answered.

“May pagmamahal kami sa isa’t isa, sobra, ‘di ko kaya ma-

@IAMANGELICAP / INSTAGRAM

saktan siya at ako ‘yung magcause (We have this massive love for each other, that I cannot take it to hurt him and for me to cause it),” came Angelica’s turn for sincerity.

Instead of the audience squealing though, the mood seemed more personal and sentimental, as if giving tribute to the emotions currently present in the air.

The unknown reasons on their breakup surfaced in the talk, putting Carlo in an awkward position. He soon admitted that one of the fears of taking a third shot on his romance with Angelica was the thought that he may commit the same mistakes again.

Though his ex-girlfriend teased him for being a flirt that soon brought third parties that ended their relationship, Angelica acknowledged that she feels that he is not one anymore.

Angelica, on the moment, also said that she does not like keeping grudges. Meeting Carlo, though things ended up going south between them, she said that because of him she learned how to forgive.

“Kung babalikan ko naman, mas okay na naghiwalay kami noon. Feeling ko ‘di kami magg-grow nang ganto.Feeling ko ‘di kami mag-w-work. Kung www.canadianinquirer.net

nagtuloy-tuloy, ‘di ko siguro ma-d-discover sarili ko, ‘di ako magiging independent. Ibang Angelica ako ngayon (Looking back, I think it is better that we separated before. I think we will not grow like. I feel like we will not work out. If our relationship went on, I may not have discovered myself, I will not be independent. I would have been a different Angelica today),” the 31-year-old actress confessed.

She added that if not for the breakup, she would not have discovered how he meant to her and how much impact he had on her.

The two admitted in the interview that they did not really take time to have such personal talks. With this, Vice encouraged them to tell each other the things they failed to say before through a question, a sana (I hope), and a sorry.

“Nung nagpaalam ka, pumayag na lang ako. Sorry kasi napagod ako (When you said goodbye, I just agreed. I’m sorry that I got tired of us),” Angelica’s apology made the audience awed, with Carlo appearing straight-faced before showing her his toothy smile.

For his turn, he chuckled at first, though he seemed to be teary-eyed. “Sorry siguro kasi napagod ka, dahil kasalanan

ko. Inaamin ko naman ‘yun na nagkulang ako. Nagkulang ako sa’yo. (Sorry because you got tired and it was my fault. I admit that I was the one who did something wrong. I wronged you),” Carlo said.

For her wish, Angelica with her voice shaking spoke, “Sana pagka nahanap mo na ‘yung para sa’yo, sana ganto pa rin tayo (I hope that when you find the right girl for you, we will still be like this).” Though she tried to laugh after her statement, her eyes were all teary as she said that she really appreciates Carlo, who is always sweet and caring for her.

Carlo agreed with Angelica’s wish saying, “Sana ‘wag na matapos ‘yung kung ano meron tayo. Kapag kasama kita, kampante ako, alam mo pa’no ako pakalmahin (I hope that whatever we have right now does not end. When I am with you, I am contented. You know how to calm me down).”

The two held hands as they faced each other, with the studio drawn to the sincerity of their words.

Though Angelica and Carlo are in the show on the September 23 episode to promote their upcoming movie “Exes Baggage,” it would be an understatement to simply say that they look ‘good’ together.

“Susuportahan namin kayo.

Gusto nga namin kayo ulit sana eh. (We will support you. Actually we really want you two to be together again) Pero (But) of course, we can only wish, we can never impose,” this was Vice’s words as he claimed to be one of the fans of the two, thankful that they were open on sharing their past experiences.

Given all of these confessions in an episode, is it really just a special friendship that will reign over the two?

Angelica said that for her, she is more open-minded on the possibility of the two of them getting back together ever since they worked side-by-side again.

Back then, she knew herself to be the type to let things reach ❱❱ PAGE 24 Undeniable Chemistry

24

Entertainment

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

Infinity Begins: Marvel-inspired wedding video goes viral

BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY AND JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer A DARK road. “Who are you?”

A dangerous encounter. “It doesn’t matter who I am, I’m here to ruin your fate.”

A couple.

This was how the viral wedding video began in its very first seconds — only to surprise its viewers with not only the upcoming popular comic hero references and lore, nor the graphics and sound effects that slapped in the threaded storyline, but the love that exuded from the video’s eight-minute run.

Enter Morris and Maria Chavez, who now share not only their last names on paper and in the eyes of legality but now share a life to be bonded together forever.

Their wedding video gained popularity among the netizens after being inspired with Marvel characters with the groom flaunting Doctor Strange’s mastery of mystic arts, to putting on the Iron Man suit of the “genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist” Tony Stark,

also to wielding the hammer of the God of Thunder, Thor. The Infinity War inspiration will not be complete without the villain which is a fusion of Thanos and Ronan the Accuser of the Guardians of the Galaxy.

In the video, it was revealed that it was Maria who was sketching the first scenarios as she was struggling to think of a way on how they will defeat the villain on her comic book story.

With all those superpowers that her groom used to counter the baddie only to end up as a series of failure scenarios, Maria asks herself, “What really makes one a great hero?”

From blowing the netizens away because of its magnificent visual effects, the video suddenly shifts the actionpacked mystery mood to a tearjerker as it slowly reveals what superpower can really defeat the enemy.

Letting the graphite of her pencil speak as she sketches her new concept, Maria said, “I think anyone can be a hero.

We may not have the special powers like those in the comics, but being there for someone when they need you the most or knowing that somebody’s always got

WONDERLAST FILMS / FACEBOOK

your back, for me, I think that’s enough.”

It was not the Mjolnir, the iron suit, nor the mystical energy, but it was the power that comes from within.

Apparently, none of the six stones of the Marvel Universe — power, space, reality, soul, time, and mind — mattered.

The video then shows that the only thing that can win against the enemy was their engagement ring or the “Heart Stone.”

Turning to reality, the video highlights Morris, this time not as a hero saving his beloved, but as a groom in his wedding suit.

“What we started was far from perfect. It was hard, difficult, we face a lot of challenges,” he starts narrating.

“I admit that there are times I would think, ‘I’ve had enough, I wanted it to end.

This is not the life I wanted for myself.’

But because we chose to be tough, we were tough. We chose to be strong, so became stronger. With all the struggles and hardships, we endured,” he continues.

Morris had no cape, no superpowers, and no epic soundtrack in the background.

It was her. What he had was Maria.

“Yes, Father.” Two words to bind two people forever.

Posted on filmmaker’s Wonderlast Films Facebook page, the Marvel-themed video has already garnered 138,000 reactions; 22,000 comments; 89,000 shares; and 3.1-million views, as of writing. The video was edited in six weeks by two of the Wonderlast Films editors.

Just to add to the Marvel fantasy, a

netizen pointed out that not only were the visuals inspired by the fictional universe, but the bride’s lines in the video were also related to the Avengers.

“If you listen carefully, the bride’s message actually somehow related to the Avengers that they did on the first part before the SDE (same-day edit), We may not always control the anger.

We will never let it control us. (This is obviously for Hulk) Time may not be on our side. It’s never too late to make things right. (Ant-man, when he’s stopped by the villain from suiting up.)

The truth may hurt us sometimes but, I’d rather be with you in pain than believe in lies. (Dr. Strange, when he’s making the mirror of dimension as an illusion).

We may not always have everything we need, We’ll always work on what we have.

(Ironman and his resourcefulness.)

And finally, even the strongest storm of our lives I just want you to know that I will always be by your side. (Thor),” Julie Ann Garcia wrote.

The comment was given a thumbs up by the Wonderlast Films, saying that “someone noticed it.”

With the newlywed couple pressing their foreheads together and looking at each other’s eyes as seen in the last part of the video, their road to infinity begins.

“What we started was far from perfect. It was hard, difficult, but the uphill start will not dictate the rest of our journey,” Morris ends. ■

Undeniable Chemistry... ❰❰ 23

their end as they are.

Carlo said that he is also open to the possibility, but part of him is still scared, especially that for him, Angelica deserves someone so great because she got hurt a lot of times already.

To lighten up the mood, Vice approached the two and pretended to wed them by imaginarily doing a wedding ceremony’s traditional stages.

Perhaps, people just cannot stop shipwww.canadianinquirer.net

ping these two because though their romantic relationship ended years ago, they managed to secure a stronger relationship that the chemistry just naturally comes to envelop them.

Just as what Vice said, fans can only hope for these two to end up in front of the altar one day, spending their lives together, but this can only be a wish.

Whatever happens to them is something only the future will hold and something for us to look forward to. ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

25

Mystery around disappearance of Chinese star Fan Bingbing

BY THOMAS ADAMSON The Associated Press BEIJING — X-Men star Fan Bingbing’s Beijing management office is dark and abandoned. Her birthday passed almost unremarked in China’s hyper-adrenalized social media environment.

For one of China’s best known stars and a rising Hollywood actress, Fan’s vanishing is stunning, coming amid vague allegations of tax fraud and possibly other infractions that could have put her at odds with Chinese authorities.

Fan has starred in dozens of movies and TV series in China and is best known internationally for her role as Blink in 2014’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” a cameo in the Chinese version of “Iron Man 3,” and star turns on the red carpet at Cannes as recently as May. She was booked to star with Penelope Cruz in the Hollywood film “355” and has a role in the upcoming Bruce WillisAdrien Brody feature “Air Strike.”

Yet for nearly three months, Fan hasn’t been seen or heard from in public in any verifiable way.

One of China’s wealthiest entertainers, Fan pulled down tens of millions of dollars for her roles, along with handsome sums in appearance fees and product endorsements. Some of those contracts may have landed her in hot water with the authorities.

Fan’s name has been mentioned in reports about a reportedly common entertainment industry practice — an actor having a public contract stating an official salary and a private contract detailing the true, much higher payday. A talk show host, Cui Yongyuan had said in May that Fan had such an arrangement — which allegedly helps facilitate tax evasion — and revealed details that sparked a public outcry. Cui later apologized.

At Fan’s management office in Beijing’s Dongcheng district, doors are locked, the lights are out and a calendar hanging alongside posters advertising Fan’s film appearances is still turned to July.

A worker at an office across the hall said she couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen anyone enter the company premises.

Fan turned 37 on Sept. 16, but only a handful of entertainment notables sent greetings online, a stark break from the past when her birthday celebrations were lavish, well-attended affairs, marked last year by a public marriage proposal from boyfriend Li Chen.

An automatic birthday greeting on her once-active account on Weibo, China’s main microblogging service, was apparently deleted by persons unknown.

Shi Shusi, a columnist and commentator on Chinese popular culture, suggests

Fan’s high profile was her undoing, having made her a target for officials wishing to set an example for would-be tax cheats amid China’s slowing economy.

“Such a famous actress and no one knows her whereabouts. And no authorities have made any clarifications. This is the real suspense,” Shi said.

Fan’s disappearance even brought a message of concern from Hu Xijin, editor of the Global Times tabloid known for its hard-line pro-Communist Party nationalist opinions.

“A timely clarification and public notification of Fan Bingbing’s status would also be beneficial to setting the record straight internationally,” Hu wrote on his Weibo account on Sept. 15.

Back in June, Fan’s production company denied Fan had ever a signed a “yinyang” contract, so named because of its dual natures. Fan, her production company and her agent could not be reached for more recent comment. Police rarely acknowledge such investigations are taking place until a conclusion has been reached.

Her disappearance had come as Chinese authorities seek to rein in high salaries for actors that can eat up much of the cost of a production. In June, regulators capped star pay at 40 per cent of a TV show’s entire production budget and 70 per cent of the total paid to all the actors in a film.

Though China has become the world’s second-largest film market, authorities keep tight control on local productions, exercising final say over choice of cast, director and script. If Fan had stepped on official toes, it would be a simple task to retaliate by destroying her career, with Chinese authorities wielding broad powers to detain, interrogate and accuse citizens out of the public eye.

Other celebrities have run afoul of authorities over drug use, excessive pay or tax issues, said Shaun Rein, managing director of China Market Research Group based in Shanghai.

“Then the government really cracks down hard and pretty much destroys their careers for several years if not forever,” Rein said. Companies that bet big on a-list Chinese celebrities incur a “huge political risk,” he said.

Known as a classical Chinese beauty with almond eyes and porcelain skin, Fan, 36, usually maintains a prominent presence on Weibo, where she has more than 62 million followers. Her account has been largely dormant for weeks, however, with a July 26 “like” about a posting on her charitable foundation being the last activity prior to the deletion of her birthday notice. Photos on social media also appear to show her visiting a pediatric cardiac ward at a Shanghai hospital for a charity event on July 1.

The strongest clue to Fan’s status may

DENIS MAKARENKO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

have been a Sept. 6 notice posted on the website of the Securities Daily, a newspaper published by the official Economic Daily. It stated that the local tax bureau had sent a notice to Fan’s studio that she had been “placed under control” — a legal term for being held under investigation. The article was later deleted from the website.

Fan’s disappearance has already taken a toll on her lucrative sideline as brand ambassador, throwing those companies’ plans into disarray. Australian vitamin brand Swisse issued a statement saying it was suspending use of her image and “continuing to monitor the situation and hope that it is resolved in the near future.”

British diamond giant De Beers, who signed with Fang just last year, appears to have already moved on: Another actress, Gao Yuanyuan, represented the company at a store opening last month in the ancient capital of Xi’an. Other firms she endorsed, from duty-free chain King Power to Louis Vuitton and Montblanc are also taking action.”

“There’s a lot more risk for celebrities in China than in the United States, because the government takes much more of a moral crackdown,” said China Market Research’s Rein. “So there’s a greater risk for celebrities to get in trouble with the law and never be able to get a chance at redemption.” ■

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26

Lifestyle Growth, nat’l pride inspire millennial artists in Calamba arts tilt

BY SAUL PA-A Philippine News Agency CALAMBA CITY, LAGUNA — Nine young artists slugged it out for the eight-hour on-thespot Art Painting Competition held here Thursday to promote this city’s art, culture and heritage tourism.

Sponsored by the city government, in partnership with the National Historical Commission and the Museo ni Jose Rizal sa Calamba, the homegrown muralists showcased their artworks rendered in acrylic and spray paint on 4×8 ft. plywood boards that served as canvas.

In an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA) following the awards ceremony that same evening, Marben Correje, who received PHP50,000 for bagging the grand prize, said the competition was a close fight among the budding artists, whose ages ranged from 18 years to 40 years, as they executed their concepts and ideas reflecting the theme, “Calamba, a Premiere City of Growth, Leisure and National Pride”.

“Medyo close fight. Ang theme ko kasi classic, ang pag-unlad ng Calamba. Around 30 years na ako dito at sentro po ng tourism ang Bahay ni Rizal, yung pag-usbong ng mga buildings through the years, patuloy na ang paglago ng tourism, productivity. Sana maging maunlad pa (It was a close fight and my theme is classic, the growth of Calamba. I have lived here for 30 years and the center of

tourism is the Rizal Ancestral House Shrine, the buildings that mushroomed through the years, the continuous growth of tourism, productivity. I hope the city would continue to develop),” Correje said.

Second prize winner Alvin Manalo, who received PHP30,000, said he was inspired by his four-monthold baby and wife, who were around as he did his winning artwork. Gilbert Olaez took home the third prize that came with PHP10,000.

Six other consolation prize winners received financial assistance from the city government.

City Cultural Affairs, Tourism and Sports Development Department head Larissa Malinao, in an interview, said the Art Painting Competition 2018 is one of the highlights of the 2018 World Tourism Month this September.

“This (art painting tilt) is part of our tourism month celebration where we produced our new tourism brochure to be distributed in the city’s tourist information center, in different towns and cities, convenient stores, NLEX and SLEX through our close coordination with the Department of Tourism,” Malinao said.

“These masterpieces will be exhibited first at the City Hall corridors so officials and employees, city hall clients and the public would get to see them.

And then, we could exhibit them at SM mall, Waltermart and other exhibit areas.

These actually would form

part of the city’s intangible heritage collections,” she added.

Malinao thanked Zarah Escueta, Senior Curator of the Rizal Shrine for hosting the day-long competition, which was originally planned as a graffiti and mural painting tilt in pre-identified city sites but was prevented by incessant rains.

The panel of judges consisted of University of the Philippines (UP) Los Baños Professor for Arts and Humanities and arts columnist Paul Zafaralla; Art Association of the Philippines (AAP) vice president Roger Santos; Marc Cosico, muralist, fine arts and SPED (Special Education) teacher at the Philippine High School for the Arts at the National Arts Center in Los Baños, Laguna; and Anthony Lawas, UP Diliman fine arts student and Philippine Women’s University-Calamba fine arts instructor.

The entries were judged according to concept and beauty of the artwork (40 percent); technique and skill (30 percent); and originality and uniqueness (30 percent).

Art juror Santos congratulated the home-grown artists and city organizers, noting that the competition wowed the judges because the artists were able to produce huge paintings in less than a day’s work.

“Nagulat po kami na siyam artworks ginawa sa isang araw lang. Lumalakas ang loob ninyo kasi ang pamahalaang lungsod ay tumulong sa inyo. Hindi tayo pinabayaan, laki pa ng premyo ninyo at yun ang ginawa niyong interaction (We were surprised

www.canadianinquirer.net

MUSEO NI RIZAL CALAMBA / FACEBOOK

that you executed nine artworks in just one day. You were inspired because the city government is helping. We are not left behind, the prize is big and that’s the interaction you did),” he said.

Zafaralla acknowledged that the judges resorted to a “bikini debate” during their deliberation to short-list the entries, which were lined up at the Museum Gallery corridor during judging hours at dusk.

“We were judging the paintings but at the same time, we too were being judged. Kaya nagdebate pa kami. Parang nag-bikini, kasi mas maliit ang bikini kaysa brief. (We had a debate to come up with the short list, like a bikini, which is skimpier than a brief.) So we had the ‘bikini’ debate and finally came up with the decision,” Zafaralla mused.

He lauded the millennial artists as “really endowed with

creativity and artistic sense,” marveling at how they depicted the themes on growth, leisure and national pride from an artist’s perspective.

“It’s because Jose Rizal was there to serve as inspiration — an intellectual giant and role model of the young ones,” Zafaralla said. “You (artists) must be (some) kind of genius, working less than 24 hours on a big canvas, like the huge plywood, to be able to put into that space the things that you have thought about, and how your dexterous sense was able to put substance to your particular work in only a couple of hours.”

He said all the participating artists were “already winners,” and that the cash prize was only icing on the cake.

Zafaralla advised them to “keep the fire burning” as the city of Calamba gives artists a lot of opportunities. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

27

Teacher Eds and the many faces of Alternative Learning System

BY ALLAN M. DELOS REYES Philippine News Agency MANILA — It has been said time and again that teaching is more than just a profession. To many, it is a calling, a vocation, and a mission, as it equates to honing, nurturing, and enriching the lives of children entrusted upon the teacher’s care.

But for Alternative Learning System (ALS) teachers like Ms. Ednalyn Estrella Fajardo, teaching is taking care not only of schoolchildren, but also of out-of-school youth and adults (OSYA) including jail inmates, persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples, reformists, and even guest relation workers.

Fondly called Teacher Eds by her learners, this 52-yearold educator is not content with teaching from Mondays to Fridays. She travels all over the province of Pampanga even during weekends to seek OSYA groups and encourage them to enroll in ALS. Even Mayor Dante Datu Torres of Guagua noticed her efforts and lent her his own service vehicle so she can further expand the reach of her advocacy.

A Master Teacher II at Pulungmasle Elementary School and the ALS Coordinator of

Guagua West District, Teacher Eds holds classes inside chapels, in barangay halls, under the bridges, and even in cemeteries. Since 2003, she has already helped 527 learners pass the Accreditation & Equivalency (A&E) Test, while a total of 6,947 has already been under her tutelage in informal education (InfEd).

Humble beginnings

Teacher Eds’ father was a taho vendor, and she herself has worked as a housekeeper and a babysitter. She also served as a canteen helper and a messenger while she was studying, and this did not deter her from finishing her two Bachelor of Science degrees in elementary and secondary education. She is also a Master of Arts graduate.

Her humble beginnings molded her to become the devoted, caring, and selfless teacher adored and revered by her students. This is also why she goes out of her way to perform speakership, trainer, and assessor duties at the various trainings spearheaded by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). These include massage therapy, food and beverage services, housekeeping, and carpentry, so that the OSYAs – even the reformists in the Bu-

reau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Guagua and in Central Luzon Rehabilitation Center (CLRDC) – can acquire the skills and competencies that can help improve their lives.

Going the extra mile

With 34 years in service, Teacher Eds shares that ALS has a special place in her heart.

She has embraced the program, as well as the many faces, stories, and struggles of her learners with all her life and soul.

This is why she deserves all the titles and accolades bestowed upon her including being the Regional Outstanding ALS Coordinator in 2008; a national semi-finalist in the Search for Most Outstanding District ALS Coordinator in 2010; the District Most Outstanding Teacher in 2011 and 2015; the Division Most Outstanding InfEd Trainer for the Youth in 2012; a Regional finalist in the Metrobank Foundation Search for Outstanding Teachers in 2014; the Division and Regional Most Outstanding ALS Teacher in 2015; the Most Outstanding Kapampangan Awardee for Youth Service in 2016; a Regional awardee of the Civil Service Lingkod Bayan (group category); and just recently, a National Awardee in

ALEXA JOYCE VIA UNESCO / SCHOOLNET / FLICKR, CC BY-NC_ND 2.0

the Antonio L. Cabangon Chua Gintong Parangal Para sa Edukasyon – Guro 2018.

Teacher Eds is likewise engaged in co-curricular endeavors. She served as a coaching staff for the Pampanga Little League Softball Youth which represented the Philippines in Michigan, U.S.A. some years back, where the team won silver medal. She is also musically inclined, and even composed the official hymn of ALS Pampanga. She teaches her learners how to play drum and lyre, and perform Ati-Atihan numbers

for extra income.

Not surprisingly, she has already been invited to share her best practices in teaching in various places including Bulacan, Davao, and Cebu.

This extraordinary teacher strongly believes in Mia Hamm, a retired American professional soccer player, who stated, “Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed.” ■ Allan M. Delos Reyes is a Master Teacher II/District ALS Coordinator.

UN: Excessive drinking killed over 3 million people in 2016 THE ASSOCIATED PRESS GENEVA — Drinking too much alcohol killed more than 3 million people in 2016, mostly men, the World Health Organization said.

The U.N. health agency also warned that current policy responses are not sufficient to reverse trends predicting an increase in consumption over the next 10 years.

In a new report Friday, the agency said that about 237 million men and 46 million women faced alcohol problems, with the highest prevalence in Europe and the Americas. Europe has the highest global per capita alcohol consumption, even

though it has already dropped by 10 per cent since 2010.

Around a third of alcoholrelated deaths were a result of injuries, including car crashes and self-harm, while about one in five were due to either digestive disorders or cardiovascular diseases. Cancers, infectious diseases, mental disorders and other health conditions were also to blame.

“Far too many people, their families and communities suffer the consequences of the harmful use of alcohol through violence, injuries, mental health problems and diseases like cancer and stroke,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of WHO. “It’s time to step up action to

prevent this serious threat to the development of healthy societies.”

The average daily consumption of alcohol by people who consume it is about two glasses of wine, a large bottle of beer or two shots of spirits. Globally, about 2.3 billion people are current drinkers.

The report, the third in a series after ones in 2010 and 2014, relies on information from 2016 — the latest data available. WHO said the trends and projections point to an expected increase in global alcohol per capita consumption over the next decade, particularly in Southeast Asia and the Americas.

“The policy responses which are currently in place in counwww.canadianinquirer.net

tries are definitely not sufficient to reverse the trends, which we observe in several parts of the world, or to improve significantly this situation,” Dr. Vladimir Poznyak, co-ordinator of WHO’s management of substance abuse unit, told reporters.

“When we look at the trends of alcohol consumption in many countries from 2000, you can see ups and downs — which are determined by different factors,” said Poznyak, citing countries’ levels of social development, economic backdrops, policy measures and cultural trends.

He said the data showed, for example, that alcohol consumption tends to drop in countries

facing an economic crisis.

Poznyak said it was “imperative for the governments to put in place measures that can mitigate the harms associated with this increase.”

The Distilled Spirits Council, which advocates for the industry in the U.S., said in a statement it supports the WHO’s goal to reduce the harmful use of alcohol.

“However, we are concerned that some policy recommendations such as increasing alcohol taxes are misguided and don’t effectively address harmful consumption,” it said. ■ Associated Press medical writer Maria Cheng in London contributed to this report.

28

Lifestyle

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

Dior and Gucci theatrically kick off Paris Fashion Week

BY THOMAS ADAMSON The Associated Press PARIS — Dance and theatricality were at the heart of Paris Fashion Week’s first day of spring shows, as American stars Blake Lively and Shailene Woodley gushed over Dior’s balletic presentation at the famed Longchamps racecourse.

While, Gucci held its evening spectacle at France’s answer to Studio 54, the iconic Le Palace — once the club that showcased fashion’s most dramatic looks.

Here are some highlights from Monday: Dior’s ode to dance

To clouds of falling white petals, dancers clad in patterned bodysuits twisted gracefully to the clicking sound of a metronome.

Before walking the Gucci SS19. @GUCCI / TWITTER This season, Dior turned to dance to produce the music and designer Maria Grazia Chiuri’s May resort show in The Alyvisuals for its spring-summer soft and supple 87-piece show scamps, a famed Roman necollection, infused with diapha- in monochrome and nude. cropolis near Arles, the Milannous, tulle-rich gowns.

Few risks were taken in this based powerhouse continued The house enlisted the tal- display. its year-long love affair with ents of choreographer Sharon But this didn’t matter since France by hosting its spring Eyal for a sublime and balletic the fashion, inspired by a danc- show in Paris, exceptionally. contemporary dance perfor- er’s wardrobe, was primarily The one-off venue was caremance that ran throughout the aimed at being simple and femi- fully chosen: Le Palace, the spring-summer show. nine. iconic club-turned-theatre It had the star of “Divergent” Jumpsuits, straps and cords that was inaugurated in 1978 by and “Big Little Lies,” Shailene featured on silhouettes that Grace Jones who sang La Vie en Woodley, floored. were either tight on the torso, Rose atop a pink Harley David“You marry dance with fash- evoking a leotard, or diapha- son. ion and movement and you nous and floaty, channeling a The opportunity to show in have a visceral, overwhelm- tutu. this legendary space wasn’t ing experience,” squandered by Woodley told superlatively The Associated flamboyant dePress. signer AlessanThe runway There is nothing more satisfactory dro Michele. hall was spacious than seeing your name on top of a Actress Salma enough to house masthead as publisher or editor or Hayek stared the dozen roving owner. through opera dancers thanks binoculars at the to a marquee stage from her constructed in balcony seat, as a the grounds of surreal arthouse the historic Longchamps raceBallet slippers evoked the film was projected on the stage. course, which dates to the 19th dance tradition very literally, Mid-way through the colcentury and has been the site of while open toe heels featured lection, French-English singer some of former Dior designer crisscross strapping in a take on Jane Birkin rose suddenly from John Galliano’s most memo- a ballerina’s shoe. one of the seats and began singrable couture shows.

There was a softness to the ing, then sat back down. entire show, accentuated by The colorful and wacky men’s Balletic looks the gentle round shoulders that and women’s looks well capAs ethereal as a layer of tulle, were set off romantically by tured the exuberance of the with the corset replaced by a dappled and misty lighting. place dubbed France’s Studio simple tank top.

54. It was once the stomping That’s how the House of Dior Gucci at Le Palace ground for figures such as Mick described the key idea behind Following on from Gucci’s Jagger, Andy Warhol and Yves www.canadianinquirer.net

Spring-Summer collection.

Saint Laurent.

The time dial was set to styles from between 1978 and 1985 — the heyday of the club.

Shades, large hats, oversize beads, sequins and glitter were ubiquitous.

Peaked-shoulder tuxedo jackets in white followed a loose leopard print gown with silver shoes.

Demonstrating that the collection didn’t take itself too seriously, at one point a model in a grey tuxedo and sneakers strutted out with a real parrot sitting on her shoulder.

Then, a male model with long ‘70s hair in a preppy striped knit sweater walked out with nothing but pink briefs on his bottom half.

This was perhaps the only instance in this indulgent collection, when less was more.

It was a sight to match even Grace Jones.

LVMH to revive Jean Patou

France’s luxury giant LVMH has told the AP it will revive the iconic fashion house of Jean Patou.

One of France’s most famous couturiers in between the two World Wars, Patou was credited with popularizing the cardigan, inventing the tennis skirt and killing the flapper style. His house was most closely associated with the perfume “Joy,”

@DIOR / TWITTER

a rival to Chanel’s No. 5 as one of the world’s most popular fragrances.

For the relaunch, designer Guillaume Henry, who once revived Carven and worked recently at Nina Ricci, has been appointed as artistic director.

It’s the latest in a series of iconic French house relaunches in recent years, including Schiaparelli, Courreges and Poiret.

Jaquemus

Striped bikinis and giant hessian bags provided the fun at Jacquemus’ simple clothes collection.

It was perhaps less fun for the scantily-clad models who braved the cold September weather on the outdoor catwalk in Paris’ Italian Embassy.

Loose silhouettes and large hoopla earrings gave the collection a confident swagger — a little like the 28-year-old wunderkind designer Simon Porte Jacquemus himself.

Oversized pieces of draped fabric that descended from the bust to floor, and giant skirt frills that ran diagonally down the body, provided the collection’s more creative moments.

The show perhaps lacked the feeling of luxury normally associated with the Paris catwalks, but it felt fresh and youthful. ■

29

Sports Philippine Asian Games medalists receive additional incentives

BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE ATHLETES who received medals from the recently concluded Asian Games received additional incentives for their hard work in representing the country. The financial awards were presented during the San Miguel-Ginebra basketball match at the Smart Araneta Coliseum last Sunday, September 23. The funds were a sum of donations given by MVP Group, San Miguel Corporation, and the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) combined.

All medalists were awarded, with those winning bronze receiving a total of P300,000,

silver medalists receiving P500,000, and gold medalists receiving P2,000,000. Those who won gold also previously received P7,000,000 from the private sector and the Philippine government.

Among the athletes present during the ceremony are Taekwondo athlete Pauline Lopez, Taijijian/Taijiquan athlete Agatha Wong, boxer Rogen Ladon, and weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz and golfer Yuka Saso, who both won gold in their respective events. The winning National Sports Associations were also awarded cash earlier that day.

Philippine Olympics Committee (POC) President Ricky Vargas was very supportive, but also very outspoken about his

PSA Cup officially begins

BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE PHILIPPINE Sportswriters Association (PSA) Golf Cup, which is presented by Manila Southwoods, San Miguel Corp., and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) has officially kicked off at 7:00 am in Carmona, Cavite. Tee-off began at precisely 7:30 am. The event is to raise funds for the PSA’s medical projects for its members.

The fundraiser gathered the entire Philippine sports community and had a star-studded list of players for the 18-hole event. Among its biggest names are Senate President Tito Sotto, former Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes, professional basketball player Kiefer Ravena, actor and head of Asian Games national delegation Richard Gomez, and Barangay Ginebra coach Tim Cone.

Golfer Yuka Saso, who won two gold medals at the games held in Jakarta last month, was one of the people to hit the drive commencing the ceremo-

ny, alongside ex-PSA president Lito Tacujan of the Star, Ernie Gonzales of the Inquirer, Jerome Delariarte of Southfoods, and Dodo Catacutatan, current president of Spin.ph.

Teams will battle representing the PSA, Philippine Basketball Association, and PSC-POC for the team trophy. The system 36 method counts the top 10 scores from each team. Winners of the tournament are to receive a round-trip ticket to London or the United States on the hole-in-one of no. 16 of the Jack Nicklaus designed-layout courtesy of Philippine Airlines.

Among the other sponsors of the event include ICTSI, Hermie Esguerra, Alaska, the Ciara Marie Abalos Foundation, Sunrise Events Inc., the National Golf Association of the Philippines, Lovell Gopez of Mizuno, SM Prime Holdings, the Cosco Oben Group of Companies, Rain or Shine, Mighty Sports, PATAFA, Philippine Superliga, Philip Ella Juico, Bong Lopez, Luigi Tabuena, Forest Hills, Srixon, J-Ten Sports and Oliver Gan. ■

thoughts on the dedication of the athletes in the recent Asian Games in Jakarta, adding the potential of Team Philippines in future international competitions.

“We got four golds, which was something we were very happy with. Also, we finished 19th.

Our goal is to be in 15th place.

We’ll get there. Or even better.”

He also mentioned the country’s responsibilities as host of the Asian Games during the next inaugural event, stating, “Last Thursday we had a meeting with the Southeast Asian council and we’re pleased with what has been happening, especially to the preparations of the venues at Clark and Subic. We are very competitive in Asia. We’ll sur-

2018 Asian Games PH gold medalists.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

prise you in skateboard. There are two other skateboard artists we’re looking at that will really play the game.”

He ended by saying, “They’re coming to our place. To our home. We will perform well in our home.” ■

PH sepak takraw team ready to defend world title PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

have done before,” said Go, Vice President of Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corporation.

Forming the women’s squad MANILA — The Philippines are Mary Melody Taming, Abeis ready to defend its title in gail Sinogbuhan, Gelyn Evora, the premier division of the Josefina Maat, Jean Marie Su33rd King’s Cup World Sepak calit, Jea Mae Pepito, Jocielle Takraw Championships.

Fernandez, Aisa Sabellita, AlRanged against the best sepak lyssa Bandoy and Lhaina Lheil players from 31 other countries, Mangubat. the Filipinos left Coaches Rofor Nakhon Radolfo Eco, Hecchasima in Thaitor Memarion, land during the Metodio Suico weekend in time We know that they will make our Jr. and Junmar for today’s opencountry proud like they have done Aleta will coach ing that will run before. the men’s team until September while Romulo 30.

Ruedas Jr., EsAside from peridion Roaiming to retain the crown in Joining the trip backed by driguez, Gena Mark Saavedra the men’s doubles category, Go For Gold and the Philip- and Deseree Autor will call the they will also vie for gold med- pine Sports Commission are shots for the women’s squad. als in other events—hoop, regu John Jeffrey Morcillos, Joeart According to Suico, the team quadrant and regu team.

Jumawan, Nestleer Bandivas, also brought home a pair of “We wish the Philippine Christian George Encabo and silver medals in team regu and sepak takraw team the best of Regie Reznan Pabriga. hoop and a bronze effort in the luck. We’re confident that they “We know that they will make regu during the 2016 edition of are capable of replicating the our country proud like they the worlds in Thailand. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

achievement,” Go For Gold top executive Jeremy Go said during the team’s send-off at the Mall of Asia on Sunday.

Seasoned players Rheyjey Ortouste, Ronsited Gabayeron, and Emmanuel Escote will spearhead the men’s team along with Joshua Gleen Bullo, Alvin Pangan, John Carlo Lee and John John Bobier.

30

Business Billionaires buying up media: Savior complex or civic duty?

BY BARBARA ORTUTAY The Associated Press NEW YORK — The Washington Post. Time Magazine. The Atlantic. The Village Voice. The Los Angeles Times. All American media icons, all bought by billionaires in the past half decade. Some are thriving. One died. On the rest, the jury’s still out.

Still, for beleaguered news organizations the prospect of a deep-pocketed saviour — even from the very same tech industry that has kneecapped the media’s traditional business model — is all but irresistible.

But success is not guaranteed. And risks run from industry outsiders making poor business decisions to exposure to undue influence on editorial operations.

For the billionaires, meanwhile, ownership of storied magazines or newspapers provides an alluring combination of a trophy property, a highprofile opportunity to demonstrate their business acumen and a chance to display highbrow civic-mindedness.

“There is nothing more satisfactory than seeing your name on top of a masthead as publisher or editor or owner,” said Samir A. Husni, journalism professor at the University of Mississippi.

While some new billionaire owners say they are doing it for civic purposes and to ensure that journalism will continue as an institution, at the end of the day these folks are still businesspeople, Husni said. If their investments don’t work out, it’s not guaranteed they’ll want to run publications as charities.

Billionaires are accustomed to success. But they also have enough money to fail. That includes tech magnates like Jeff Bezos, who bought The Washington Post in 2013 for $250 million, or Marc Benioff, the Salesforce CEO who just snapped up Time Magazine for

$190 million, and even Steve Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, who has acquired a majority stake in The Atlantic.

Benioff told the technology journalist and New York Times columnist Kara Swisher this week that he sees Time magazine as a startup that’s been “opportunity constrained.”

“But we are here to unshackle them,” he said.

Having these tech titans enter a centuries-old industry could help bring in fresh ideas and new blood, not only reinventing the magazines and the newspapers but also the agesold business model of relying on advertising for revenue, Husni said.

“What they see even more than even people in legacy owner of the Chicago Cubs, ership changes, staff deparmedia,” he said, is the need to shut down two popular New tures and losses in readership change the industry’s business York news sites last year citing and advertising that had left it model. business reasons — a week af- in a state of perpetual peril.

Still, a deep-pocketed news- ter their staffs voted to unionHe shuttered the print edipaper owner who has civic duty ize. He founded one of them, tion last summer in an attempt and a higher purpose in mind DNAinfo, in 2009 and bought to save money. It didn’t save the may be more forgiving if that New York’s Gothamist earlier Voice. newspaper doesn’t immediate- in 2017 (Gothamist was later “Like many others in publy turn a profit, or if that profit purchased and restarted by the lishing, we were continually opgrowth is in the low single dig- public radio station WNYC). timistic that relief was around its. the next corner,” Bezos has said Barbey wrote. that the Post is Longtime meprofitable. But dia analyst Ken even if it weren’t, There is nothing more satisfactory Doctor said the the world’s richthan seeing your name on top of a new wealthy est man — whose masthead as publisher or editor or owners someown company owner. times forget that Amazon.com it’s not the deInc. did not turn cline of an india profit for years vidual company, — would likely be but an entire inmore patient than a hedge fund “That was a pretty clear case dustry, they are witnessing. or even Wall Street. of a business person choosing “It has been on the decline for For many of the recently pur- to exit the business because of a decade and no one has turned chased media companies, it is the business problems with it,” that around,” Doctor said. too soon to tell whether their Edmonds said.

John Henry, the principal new owners are content waitNew York’s iconic Village owner of the Boston Red Sox, ing for years.

Voice closed down last month paid $70 million for The Bos“They want publications to after 63 years of Pulitzer Prizes, ton Globe in 2013, but five years be run in a businesslike way muckraking investigations and later he is still trying to turn the and not be throwing money its infamous personal ads. Its paper’s business around. Bioaround and owing money,” said publisher, Peter Barbey, whose tech billionaire Patrick SoonRick Edmonds, media business family made its billions in the Shiong bought The Los Angeles analyst at the Poynter Institute. textile and apparel industry, Times and other newspapers “That would sour them.” bought the alternative weekly this year for $500 million, sayJoe Ricketts, the founder and in 2015. Barbey wanted to save ing they are “more vital than CEO of TD Ameritrade and the Voice after a series of own- ever” and calling fake news “the www.canadianinquirer.net

cancer of our times.”

But Soon-Shiong also acknowledged that digital shifts “pose an existential threat to the traditional newspaper industry” and that the newspapers “must be run as a business in order to grow and thrive.”

Bezos didn’t want the Post at first, when a friend first approached him about buying it.

“I had no intention of buying a newspaper,” he said earlier this month at The Economic Club of Washington, D.C. “It never occurred to me. It wasn’t like a childhood dream.”

He said he changed his mind because he realized it was “an important institution.”

That purchase has received steady criticism from President Donald Trump, who says Bezos is using it as a mouthpiece to support Amazon. The newsroom says Bezos stays out of editorial decisions.

“It is the newspaper, in the capital city of the most important country in the world,” he Bezos said. “The Washington Post has an incredibly important role to play in this democracy.” ■ Associated Press news researcher Jennifer Farrar and AP Business Writer Joseph Pisani contributed to this story.

Business

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

31

PH must ‘future-proof’ economy 4-day work week vs. technological change: Pernia possible in BPO industry

BY LESLIE GATPOLINTAN Philippine News Agency

lose our momentum despite the onslaught of the rapidly changing environment and unnecessary distractions to boot,” noted Pernia, also director general of National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“We must future-proof our economy, given the complex confluence of pressures from rapidly changing technologies,

outlined in the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.

“We must upgrade our capabilities to produce and utilize MANILA — Socioeconomic technologies through capacPlanning Secretary Ernesto ity building and beefing up Pernia on Wednesday underof research and development scored the need to ‘futureprograms. It is also imperative proof’ the country’s growing to formulate sustainable roadeconomy against the impact of maps on selected disruptive rapidly changing technologies, technologies that will be useful as it is poised in the near futo become an ture and, at the upper-middlesame time, will income country not pose risks to by next year.

We must upgrade our future generaDuring the capabilities to produce and utilize tions,” he said. public policy technologies.

Pernia further conference of the emphasized the Philippine Instiimportance of tute for Developredefining the ment Studies (PIDS), Pernia said urbanization, climate change, role of the government in times the country is among the fastest protectionism, and conflict- of technological change. “The growing and most dynamic econ- driven extremism in some parts government must not stifle omies in the Asia Pacific. of the world, as well as political innovation in fact, it must enHe said that government is cacophony both local and inter- courage it strongly. Yet, it must fully committed to enable the national,” he added. also ensure that citizens are Philippines to join the ranks of The NEDA chief said there is protected against cybercrimes, upper-middle-income coun- thus a need to harness the ben- unintended job losses, greater tries by 2019, and reduce pov- efits of science, technology and inequality, and disillusionment erty incidence to 14 percent by innovation (STI) ecosystem as the nature of work changes,” 2022. “We must therefore not to the economy and society, as he added. ■

Book imports, purchases to remain tax-exempt: DOF PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Department of Finance (DOF) has assured the public on Tuesday that the purchase and importation of books will remain tax exempt under the second tax reform package of the Duterte administration.

Finance Undersecretary Karl Kendrick Chua, in a recent news forum, said the valueadded tax (VAT) exemption of books will remain as provided under the National Internal Revenue Code along with its importation as stated under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA).

Chua also assured the public that the Philippines will continue to abide by the provisions of the Florence Agreement, a 1950 United Nations (UN) treaty in which the signatory-states

agreed not to impose customs duties on the importation of certain educational, scientific and cultural materials, including books. The Philippines signed the agreement on Aug. 7, 1979.

The second package of the Duterte administration’s comprehensive tax reform program (CTRP) seeks to reduce the corporate income tax (CIT) rate and reform the convoluted system of incentives given to businesses.

Package 2 aims to attract more investments, create more jobs and level the playing field for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that are currently unable to compete with multinational companies receiving numerous and hefty tax incentives.

“First, under the tax code, the exemption of the purchase of books, we did not touch that. If

you buy a book from a bookstore, it will still be VAT-exempt,” Chua said. “Second, the importation exemption under the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act, we also did not touch that.”

He said the same goes for the Florence Agreement, “we also did not touch that.”

Chua said the only provision pertaining to the book industry under House Bill 8083 or the “Tax Reform for Attracting Better and High-quality Opportunities (TRABAHO)” bill involves the repeal of the tax provision under Republic Act 8047 — or the “Book Publishing Industry Development Act” — after two years from the effectivity of the law.

Thus, the inclusion of the book publishing industry in the TRABAHO bill’s repeal clauses does not mean that its VAT- and duty-free importation of books would be removed. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

BY KRIS CRISMUNDO Philippine News Agency MANILA — A four-day work week can be possibly implemented in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, stakeholders from the industry said.

Teleperformance Philippines senior vice president for human capital Jeffrey Johnson said the company is already implementing flexible work arrangements, and adjusting to a compressed work week will not be hard for the firm.

“We’re actually monitoring this, we’re looking at that and we are looking what options we have,” Johnson said Friday, commenting on the compressed work week bill passed in the House of Representatives.

“Currently, we have now flexible work arrangements. We have some employees that are working on four days a week, 12-hour shift, and that’s of course depending upon their availability,” he added.

He added that some workers prefer a four-day work week because of the poor traffic and commuting situation in Metro Manila, where majority of BPO offices are located.

“For the industry, it really depends on our clients, and we’re looking at our clients’ need. So obviously, we will respond what our clients need. Sometimes, clients would have certain days of the week, they have less call

volume. It can help us, we can adjust to that,” Johnson added.

“So there’s a lot of opportunities to adjust to that. In terms of that specific bill, we see that is something that we can work around and [it is] something we can evaluate,” he said.

For 27-year old Geraldine Donato, who has been with the industry for seven years now, said she welcomes the new legislation for a compressed work week.

She said an additional twohour work on her daily job would be like an overtime work.

“Personally, a four-day work week is better since expenses for fare and food would be lesser. With the hassle in commuting — traffic congestion and poor public transport system — workers will welcome this legislation,” she told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Donato’s sentiment was also echoed by another BPO employee, Patrick Legaspi, who has been working in the sector for over a decade.

“Extending work hours during the four days of their work week is something that can’t be felt. Instead being caught in the heavy traffic during rush hours, employees can work on these extra hours to earn additional money,” Legaspi said.

“This scheme can also lessen employees using up their leaves because this time they have three days out of work in a week,” he said, adding this promotes work-life balance in the BPO industry. ■

32

Technology Japan preschools using tablets to prep tots for digital age

BY YURI KAGEYAMA The Associated Press YOSHIKAWA, JAPAN — It’s drawing time at this suburban nursery school in Japan, but instead of crayons, tiny fingers are tapping on colours on iPad screens and taking selfies. Digital schooling has arrived in this nation long known for its zealous commitment to “three R’s” education.

Coby Preschool, in a small town northeast of Tokyo, is among nearly 400 kindergartens and nursery schools in Japan that are using smartphone software applications designed especially for preschoolers called KitS. That’s only about 1 per cent of this nation’s kindergartens and nursery schools. But it’s a start.

Coby is helping lead a national initiative in “digital play.”

Parents everywhere worry their children might fall behind, and Japan is no exception.

The government has recently made strengthening technology education national policy even as it struggles to meet its goal of supplying one digital device — computer or tablet — for every three children.

Digital play

With KitS, developed by Tokyo-based startup SmartEducation, children colour birds and flowers that appear to come alive as three-dimensional computer graphics. Children also draw various creatures that, when captured as computer images, swim or float around

in virtual landscapes.

In a recent session, children got a triangle image on their iPads and were asked to draw on it with digital colours, store that image, and draw another one to create a two-screen story.

The usually shy children burst into an uproar, brainstorming happily about what the triangle might represent: a sandwich, a rice ball, a dolphin, a roof, a mountain.

The children were then encouraged to come to the front of the class and explain what they had drawn as the images were shown on a large screen.

“There is no right or wrong answer,” said Akihito Minabe, the preschool principal leading the session.

The point is to nurture creativity, focus and leadership skills.

“They think on their own, they learn it’s OK to think freely, and it’s fun to come up with ideas,” said Minabe.

In the U.S., 98 per cent of children age 8 and under have a mobile device in their homes, while 43 per cent have their own tablet, according to The Genius of Play, a U.S. program that researches education and play.

That’s similar to Japan, where each adult has an average of more than one smartphone and about half of preschoolers have access to a mobile device, according to Japanese government data.

In many U.S., Asian and European preschools and elementary schools, teachers use technology to present stories, music

and other information. Educators are also studying children’s social development through how they learn to share digital devices.

Getting smarter?

Much of what’s driving the adoption of tablets in U.S. preschools is a belief, founded or not, that an early start will make kids smarter at technology, said Patricia Cantor, a professor of early childhood education at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.

However, early research into how tablets and apps affect learning for kids ages 2 to 5 is inconclusive.

“Touchscreen stuff is pretty intuitive. They don’t need training,” Cantor said.

Some studies show positive outcomes among young children using mobile devices to improve their literacy, science or math skills, but there’s little research comparing tabletassisted learning to more conventional teaching approaches, according to a review of 19 studies by Christothea Herodotou, a lecturer at The Open University in the United Kingdom.

Herodotou said it’s unclear which features might help or hinder learning. Devices and apps can also be misused — for instance, to keep children occupied so teachers can do other things.

“Even if it’s designed to encourage learning or exploration or curiosity, it may not be used in that way,” said Cantor. “There’s so much junk out there.”

www.canadianinquirer.net

Still, the target age for “digital play” is getting ever younger.

Experts have known for years that playing is how children learn, says Ken Seiter, Executive Vice-President at The Toy Association, a non-profit, which represents businesses that design, produce, license and deliver youth-entertainment products.

Toys can teach toddlers simple programming or use augmented reality to bring story characters digitally alive, said Seiter, whose organization spearheads The Genius of Play, a U.S.-based program that researches education and play.

Japan’s take

Japan’s classrooms tend to be more structured than in the West, with students often acting in unison as they line up, bow and chant together. Children tend to be passive, and the emphasis is on the group rather than individuals. Youngsters, even some preschoolers, attend extracurricular cram schools.

KitS’ designers have sought to make activities fun. One aim

appears to be nurturing outspokenness.

Yuhei Yamauchi, a professor of information studies at the University of Tokyo and KitS adviser, sees practical benefits.

By the time today’s 5-yearolds start work, most jobs will require computer skills. Given Japan’s shrinking population, people may work into their 80s, shifting jobs several times. Digital skills are more critical than ever, he said.

Digital tools deliver the equivalents of libraries and museums at a child’s fingertips, said Ron Shumsky, a child psychologist who works in Japan. That can be addictive, he cautions, and students must be taught safe and responsible “Digital citizenship,” he said.

It’s so compelling it pulls you in,” he said. “It keeps you wanting more.”

Experts warn that staring for too long at screens can damage eyesight and deter creative thinking. It’s a complex problem, since children may ❱❱ PAGE 36 Japan preschools

Technology

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

33

Too much screen time? New phone controls for you and kids

BY ANICK JESDANUN The Associated Press NEW YORK — Apple and Google want to help you spend less time on their phones — really. Like that time you checked Facebook at 3 a.m. Stats don’t lie.

Their new tools for managing screen time will let you see how often you picked up the phone after bedtime or how long you’re on Instagram at work (shame on you). Apple’s tools also let you control how long your kids spend on their devices, if you’re concerned that screens are taking time away from sleep, homework or exercise.

Apple’s tools launch Tuesday as part of the free iOS 12 software update for iPhones, iPads and the iPod Touch. Google’s controls are being tested on its Pixel-branded Android phones.

Here’s how the controls work.

For the kids

Apple’s new controls for kids let you manage their time on their own devices, such as an iPad or a hand-me-down iPhone. Once you’ve got them set up, you can use your iPhone to check when your children are on their devices and what apps or websites they’re using. You can restrict particular classes of apps and even establish a quiet period when most apps shut down.

That latter “Downtime” feature is promising, though it has

a few shortcomings. For one thing, it only lets you choose a single block of time each day, so if you’re blocking late-night hours, you can’t set a separate downtime for school hours.

Plus, your selection applies seven days a week; you can’t set different hours for weekends unless you want to manually change the settings every Friday and Monday.

A new “Screen Time” feature lets you establish time limits for categories of apps, such as entertainment or games. In this case, limits can be different on weekends. You can also set limits app by app, or for specific websites, but it’s tricky. From the Screen Time settings, tap the chart at the top to get a list of apps and websites. Tap on an app or site, and look for “Add Limit” at the bottom.

Songs or podcasts playing in the background don’t count toward limits. If your kid has both an iPhone and an iPad, Screen Time can track time spent on both devices against your limits.

When apps run out of time, their icons go dark and the apps won’t send notifications. You can exempt useful apps, such as e-books or homework sites — or messaging and phone service for emergencies — from downtime and other limits.

It’s best to configure all this from your own device using Apple’s “Family Sharing” feature.

You can set up limits directly on your children’s devices, though

remote monitoring features might not work properly. Either way, you’ll need a passcode specifically for Screen Time. Be sure to pick one that’s different from your phone’s passcode, which your kids probably already know.

Kids can ask for more time with a few taps. If you ignore or decline the request, Screen Time isn’t supposed to let them keep asking. But for the moment, kids can just reopen the app to bug you with another request. Get ready for a digital version of “Are we there yet?

Are we there yet?”

Apple already had parental controls for blocking R-rated movies, adult websites and podcasts with explicit language, but the settings were buried. In iOS 12, they’re part of Screen Time.

You’ll need to them on manually, or your kid can still watch R and NC-17 movies.

What you won’t get from Apple is any help in determining what kinds of limits to set.

In fact, the clock is initially set to zero, forcing parents to make choices right off the bat instead of working from default limits.

Apple says recommendations among experts vary.

Ultimately, it’s best to have a conversation with your kids about screen time. But having software block an app can be easier than pulling a device out of a child’s hands.

For the adults

You can set the same limits

for your own device, but it requires self-discipline. Want more Instagram? No problem — just tap for extra time. If you really need help, ask a friend or family member to set that Screen Time passcode and keep it secret.

Google has similar controls, called Digital Wellbeing, but they’re intended for adults (among other things, there’s no passcode, which limits their usefulness for setting limits on kids). This feature is currently only available on the company’s own Pixel phones, although Google plans to make it more broadly available in a forthcoming Android update called Pie. All about the screen

Another Android feature will let you leech the colour from your screen after a certain hour.

This option, called “Grayscale,” turns everything monochrome, rendering apps — and, heck, the entire phone to some extent — less appealing, presumably making it easier to put the phone down. Apple has a similar setting, although it’s buried in the Accessibility settings for disabled users.

Google and Apple features also let you turn your screen amber during designated times.

That reduces blue light, which can suppress melatonin and make it tougher to go to sleep.

Ultimately, though, technological tweaks can only go so far in helping you resist technology’s allure. It’s just like your desire to exercise more, eat better or get more sleep: It comes down to priority and discipline.

At most, these tools can nudge you in the right direction. ■

Ontario researchers use 3D printing tech to replace part of dog’s skull

BY LIAM CASEY The Canadian Press RESEARCHERS AT an Ontario university have used 3Dprinting technology to replace the majority of a dog’s cancerridden skull, a novel procedure they say marks a major advancement in veterinary medicine.

Michelle Oblak, a veterinary surgical oncologist with the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College, said she believes the procedure is the first

of its kind in North America and a substantive leap from one other known case.

“Our hope is this is something that could be more widely available on a broad scale,” Oblak said. “It went very well.”

Patches, the nine-year-old dachshund at the centre of the procedure, had a brain tumour the size of an orange that grew through her skull and would have been fatal if not treated, her owner said.

“We called her our little unicorn because she had this bump on her head, but it would have

killed her,” said Danielle Dymeck, who is from Willamsport, Pa. “It’s pretty amazing what they did for my girl.”

Dymeck said a small bump that Patches had on her head for years began growing aggressively some months ago.

Her vet pointed her to Cornell University, famed for its veterinary program, and a vet there reached out to Oblak.

The Guelph researcher has been studying using 3D-printing technology — also known as rapid prototyping technology — for dogs. www.canadianinquirer.net

Previously, Oblak said, for a dog like Patches, a tumour and part of the skull would be removed in surgery and then, while the animal was still under, a surgeon would fit a titanium mesh in place.

It was an imprecise, costly and lengthy procedure, she said.

A new kind of procedure, in which a 3D printer creates a custom-made titanium skull cap for a dog, is much better, Oblak said.

Patches was the perfect candidate, the researcher said.

The dog needed about 70 per

cent of her skull removed and replaced. Veterinarians in the U.K. have performed a similar surgery, but it was on a significantly smaller scale, Oblak said.

Patches’ owner said she had a tough time deciding whether to have her pet be at the centre of the research endeavour, but eventually went ahead.

“They felt she could recover from this,” Dymeck said. “And to be part of cancer research was a big thing for me — if they can learn something from ani❱❱ PAGE 36 Ontario researchers

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

34

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35

Travel Giant bong, huggable buds: Marijuana museum opens in Vegas

BY REGINA GARCIA CANO The Associated Press LAS VEGAS — A glass bong taller than a giraffe. Huggable faux marijuana buds. A pool full of foam weed nuggets.

Las Vegas’ newest attraction — and Instagram backdrop — is a museum celebrating all things cannabis.

Nobody will be allowed to light up at Cannabition when it opens Thursday because of a Nevada ban on public consumption of marijuana, but visitors can learn about the drug as they snap photos.

It’s a made-for-social-media museum where every exhibit has lights meant to ensure people take selfies worthy of the no-filter hashtag.

The facility — whose founder says has a goal of destigmatizing marijuana use — will likely land among the talking points officials and others use to try to draw gambling-resistant millennials to Sin City.

It will welcome its first visitors almost 15 months after adults in Nevada began buying recreational marijuana legally, with sales far exceeding state projections.

“Our goal when people come out of this is that they don’t fear the cannabis industry if they are not believers in the industry,” founder J.J. Walker told The Associated Press. “Cannabition is not about just serving people that like marijuana, it’s about serving the masses that want to learn about cannabis and or just have fun and go do a cool art experience.”

Guests will wander through 12 installations with rooms like “seed,” where

people can lie down in a bed shaped like a marijuana seed, and “grow,” which features artificial plants in sizes ranging from inches to feet tall placed under bright lights to represent an indoor cannabis grow facility.

Photo ops are also available under a glow-in-the-dark tree, next to a giant marijuana leaf meant to represent an edible gummy and by a 24-foot-tall (7.32-metertall) glass bong that’s dubbed “Bongzilla” and billed as the world’s largest.

There is a space with taller-than-you faux buds representing different strains and another room with gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s famous “Red Shark” Chevrolet Caprice.

This museum in Las Vegas’ downtown entertainment district is not the Smithsonian of marijuana, but it has some educational components. Guests get an introduction from museum guides and some graphics on walls explain how concentrates are made and the differences between indica and sativa cannabis strains.

Museums always evolve with the times to remain relevant, and audience engagement is an important goal for the facilities today, said Gwen Chanzit, director of museum studies in art history at the University of Denver. For those who remember very traditional, no-photography-allowed museums, she said, “that ship has sailed.”

“Once cellphones became ubiquitous, the culture of museum visiting changed,” Chanzit said.

Many of the facility’s exhibits are sponsored by cannabis companies, with

CANNABITION CANNABIS MUSEUM / FACEBOOK

their logos prominently displayed. It is common for museums to receive the support of corporations and to place their logo on a wall.

Only adults 21 and older will be allowed at Cannabition. The tour is designed to last up to an hour.

Walker, the founder, has invited real-

ity TV stars, models and other influencers to Las Vegas for the weekend with the charge of spreading the word about the facility.

As for those who buy a ticket but their Instagram followers are only in the dozens or hundreds, Walker said, “you’re still an influencer to your friends.” ■

Disney World changes flexible pricing with new tool THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ORLANDO, FLA. — Ticket prices at Walt Disney World will vary based on the date picked with a new online planning tool debuting next month.

Disney World officials said Monday that prices at the resort’s four theme parks will be tweaked next month so they’re the same instead of Magic Kingdom having a higher price.

Disney introduced flexible pricing at

U.S. parks three years ago as an incentive for guests to visit during less busy times. Each month was divided into value, regular and peak days.

Under the new plan, which debuts Oct. 16, prices will vary based on the particular day. Single-day tickets will range from $109 to $129, depending on how popular the day is expected to be.

Visitors can find the lowest-priced days by clicking on a calendar at DisneyWorld.com. ■

# 1 7 9 - 8 1 3 8 1 2 8 S t r e e t S u r r e y, B C

www.canadianinquirer.net

36

Travel

Japan preschools... ❰❰ 32

see their parents immersed in devices themselves.

KitS limits each session on the iPad to 15 minutes. Classes are held just 30 times a year.

Family dialogue

At the preschool in Yoshikawa, a sleepy Tokyo bed town ringed by lush rice paddies, the children have mastered timelapse photography using their iPads.

Japanese preschools like Coby are subsidized by local governments. Fees, including meals, are on a sliding scale based on income with the poorest families paying nothing.

Each preschool pays SmartEducation an initial 500,000 yen ($4,400), not including the cost of the iPads, and 30,000 yen ($265) more a month for maintenance. The cost for training teachers is included.

Students use the iPad message function to send their parents photos of themselves in action and share trailers of their upcoming performances.

The kids are keen to talk about it, and parents say the endeavour encourages communication beyond the usual daily stream of commands: Eat dinner, take a bath, go to bed.

“I realized I tend not to wait for what the children have to say,” said hospital worker Masami Uno, whose son, 5-yearold Ayumu, and 2-year-old daughter attend Coby. “It made me stop and think about that.”

The kids AP spoke with favoured the usual sorts of career goals, saying they wanted to be ballerinas and soccer players.

None said they wanted to be a computer programmer when they grow up.

But they like the KitS. “It’s fun,” said Yume Miyasaka, 6.

She noted with a little pride that her father uses an iPad for work. But, referring to her iPad creation, she said, “He usually doesn’t draw shaved ice.” ■ AP Business Writer Matt O’Brien in Boston contributed to this report.

Ontario researchers... ❰❰ 33

mals to help humans, that’s pretty important.”

The new method began with a CT scan taking an image of Patches’ head and tumour, Oblak said.

Using several different software programs on that image, Oblak and her team digitally cut out the tumour and disease-ridden parts of the dog’s skull. They then mapped out where a 3Dprinted replacement would fit and what it would look like, complete with the location of holes for screws to hold it in place.

Those digital plans were then sent to ADEISS, a medicalgrade 3D printing company in London, Ont., which made a customized titanium skull cap for Patches.

Oblak also had to create a “cutting guide” to follow during surgery.

“There’s very little room for error,” she said. “We’re talking less than two millimetres or else the plate wouldn’t fit.”

The entire procedure involved several veterinary surgeons, software engineers and an industrial engineer, Oblak said, but things moved quickly.

It took two hours to map out the plans and send them to the printer, and within two weeks, the titanium skull cap was ready, Oblak said.

It then took four hours for the surgery on Patches to be carried out on March 23. Within 30 minutes of waking up, the dog was walking outside for a bathroom break, said Oblak, who hopes to have details of the procedure published in the coming months.

For Patches’ owner, the procedure was nearly perfect.

“Her head looks great, other than her crooked ear,” Dymeck said of her pet’s post-operation look.

Patches is now cancer-free.

In a separate incident a week after the surgery, however, Patches suffered a badly slipped disc in her back and her hind legs are now paralyzed. But Dymeck said her dog remains in good spirits.

“She has a wheelchair that she refuses to use, so she pulls herself around on her two feet, but she’s pretty fast,” Dymeck said. “I feel lucky to be her owner, and she’s still the boss of the house.” ■

SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

FRIDAY

Hawaii volcanoes park to reopen after months-long eruption

BY CALEB JONES The Associated Press HONOLULU — The recent eruption of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has quieted to the point that federal officials are ready to allow people back to the dramatically changed summit crater, which has quadrupled in size, lost all of its lava and collapsed downward so far that the Empire State Building could now fit inside.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park will reopen its main gates Saturday. Officials are bracing for long lines and crammed roads as visitors flock to see Kilauea’s new landscape and the area where a well-known lava lake once bubbled. The reopening also coincides with National Public Lands Day, so admission is free.

“We are projecting well over 5,000 people just in one day,” Hawaii Volcanoes National Park acting spokeswoman Shanelle Saunders said.

While interest is high, accommodations will be somewhat limited. Damage to the park closed about 30 per cent of its former parking capacity.

“We’re really expecting long lines, and we hope people have plenty of patience when they’re trying to get parking spaces,” Saunders said. There’s still no access to clean drinking water in the park, and the summit’s Jaggar Museum remains closed, she added.

The national park — normally the state’s most-visited tourist attraction — has been closed for 135 days as volcanic activity caused explosive eruptions, earthquakes and the collapse of the famed Halemaumau crater.

Ash clouds shot skyward from the summit crater and blanketed the region in volcanic debris.

Kilauea has been active for decades. But the eruption that began in May has transformed both the park and the rural Big Island coastline that surrounds it.

Outside the park, lava flows consumed entire neighbourhoods, filled an ocean bay and created miles of new shoreline with fresh black sand beaches and jagged rocky outcrops.

Inside the park, molten rock www.canadianinquirer.net

View taken from the edge of Kilauea Iki. TIMBRAY / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 3.0

drained from the summit lava lake and vanished from view as the landscape underwent a monumental change.

The summit crater floor sunk 1,500 feet (460 metres), and the overall Kilauea caldera widened — expanding from about 200 acres to over 1,000 acres, or more than 1 square mile, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

“This eruption was really unprecedented in the historic record,” Ingrid Johanson, a research geophysicist at the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “The changes we’ve seen at the summit are much more dramatic than anything that’s happened in the last 200 years.”

The crater looks “completely different,” Johanson said. “I think people are going to be really awestruck when they see it.”

However, one of the park’s biggest draws — the radiant red light from the 2,000-degree lava lake that has been a Kilauea hallmark for over a decade — is completely gone.

“There is no glow at all,” Saunders said. “You can’t even see your hand in front your face it’s so dark in a lot of these areas. I mean, the stars right now are incredible, but there’s actually no flowing lava.”

The park will be open 24 hours a day, but visitors should be careful at night because of new cracks in trails and walkways. “Even if people are really familiar with those trails, they

may have changed since they’ve been here,” Saunders said.

Public access to the volcano remains limited because of damage to its infrastructure.

But visitors can once again hike around some parts of the summit area and see the aftermath of the historic eruption.

“The crater rim trail is open to a certain point,” Saunders said. “And from there, they can see down into the crater itself.”

The theme of this year’s National Public Lands Day is “resilience and restoration,” said Hawaii Volcanoes National Park spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane, who noted that park repair work had been pointing toward a late-September reopening.

“We really wanted to invite visitors back without them having to pay on that first day,” Ferracane said. “The theme was so uncanny that we thought it would be a real good fit.”

Regardless of when the park reopened, officials expected big crowds.

“If we reopened on a Monday in the middle of the school year, it would still be busy because people really want to come in and come back to the park,” she said.

While volcanic activity has slowed significantly in the past month and no lava is reaching the surface at Kilauea, scientists aren’t ready to declare the latest eruption over.

“There is still material that could feed into an eruption,” Johanson said. “I definitely expect that lava will return one day.” ■

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Food For Sunday supper, try something bold, classic and easy AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN PUTTANESCA, A classic Italian sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, anchovies, capers, and olives, offers bold flavour and comes together fairly quickly—perfect for a Sunday supper.

Cooking the tomato sauce in a skillet and then cooking the pasta directly in the sauce made things even speedier. For a lightly thickened sauce, we used whole peeled tomatoes, pulsed in the food processor, which gave us more consistent results than canned crushed tomatoes.

Sauteing the anchovies, garlic, and red pepper flakes at the outset provided a rich, savory foundation of flavour; finishing the dish with chopped kalamatas and capers preserved their briny notes and provided the big flavour we were after.

A sprinkle of nutty Parmesan and drizzle of fruity olive oil pulled everything together before serving. Be sure to simmer the tomatoes gently or the sauce will become too thick.

Skillet pasta puttanesca

Servings: 4 Start to finish: 45 minutes

• 3 (14.5-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for serving

• 6 anchovy fillets, rinsed and minced • 6 garlic cloves, minced • 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes • Salt and pepper • 2 cups water • 12 ounces thin spaghetti or spaghettini, broken in half • 1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, chopped coarse • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley • 3 tablespoons capers, rinsed • Grated Parmesan cheese Pulse tomatoes in food processor until coarsely ground and no large pieces remain, about 12 pulses.

Cook 2 tablespoons oil, anchovies, garlic, and pepper flakes together in 12inch nonstick skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in processed tomatoes and 1/2 teaspoon salt.

Simmer gently until tomatoes no longer taste raw, about 10 minutes.

Stir in water and pasta. Cover, increase heat to medium-high, and cook at vigorous simmer, stirring often, until pasta is tender, 12 to 15 minutes.

Stir in olives, parsley, capers, and remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with Parmesan and extra olive oil. ■

terol; 670 mg sodium; 79 g carbohydrate;

Nutrition information per serving: 544 calories; 151 calories from fat; 17 g fat ( 2 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 6 mg choles-

American expands inflight food options on domestic routes THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is expanding its inflight food options with the addition of a light and healthy Mediterranean menu.

The world’s largest carrier on Monday announced an agreement with the restaurant chain Zoe’s Kitchen.

American, which is based in Fort Worth, Texas, says the new Zoe’s Kitchen menu will be sold on most domestic flights longer than three hours begin-

ning Dec. 1.

Options will include hummus topped with olives, a turkey sandwich with specialty cheese and crunchy Mediterranean slaw, and a chicken wrap with roasted tomatoes, arugula and artichokes.

American currently serves cookies and mini pretzels for free during flights over 250 miles (400 kilometres). Sandwiches, wraps and snack boxes are also available for sale on most domestic flights. www.canadianinquirer.net

8 g fiber; 9 g sugar; 16 g protein.

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The secret to a deep dish apple pie?

Precooking the apples AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN THERE’S NO better way to enjoy fall’s abundant apple harvest than in a towering deep-dish pie. Unfortunately, this dessert often yields unevenly cooked, shrunken apples swimming in an ocean of their own exuded juices atop a pale, soggy crust.

We wanted each slice to be dense with juicy apples, framed by a buttery, flaky crust. A combination of sweet and tart apples, tossed with a little brown sugar, salt, lemon, and cinnamon, promised a perfectly balanced filling.

Precooking the apples solved the shrinking problem, helping them hold their shape in the oven while also eliminating any excess liquid, and thereby protecting the bottom crust. We mounded the cooled slices in our pie plate, covered them in the top crust, and baked.

Our sky-high apple pie emerged golden brown and chock-full of tender apples, filling our kitchen with the homey, comforting aromas of this autumn favourite.

Good choices for tart apples are Granny Smiths, Empires, or Cortlands; for sweet we recommend Golden Delicious,

Jonagolds, or Braeburns. Serve with vanilla ice cream.

Deep-dish apple pie

Servings: 8 Start to finish: 1 hour (plus 3 hours for chilling and cooling) • 1 recipe Basic Double-Crust Pie Dough (recipe follows) • 2 1/2 pounds firm tart apples (about

5 large), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4 inch thick • 2 1/2 pounds firm sweet apples (about 5 large), peeled, cored, and sliced 1/4 inch thick • 1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar • 1/4 cup packed (1 3/4 ounces) light brown sugar • 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest plus 1 tablespoon juice • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1 large egg white, lightly beaten Roll 1 disk of dough into 12-inch circle on lightly floured work surface, then fit into 9-inch pie plate, letting excess dough hang over edge; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Roll other disk of dough into 12-inch circle on lightly floured work surface, then transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Toss apples, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, lemon zest, salt, and cinnamon together in Dutch oven. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until apples are tender when poked with fork but still hold their shape, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer apples and their juice to rimmed baking sheet and let cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.

Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 425 F. Drain cooled apples thoroughly in colander set over bowl, reserving 1/4 cup juice. Stir lemon juice into reserved 1/4 cup apple juice.

Spread apples into dough-lined pie plate, mounding them slightly in middle, and drizzle with lemon juice mixture. Loosely roll second piece of dough around rolling pin and gently unroll it over pie. Trim, fold, and crimp edges and cut 4 vent holes in top. Brush dough with egg white and sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon sugar.

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Place pie on rimmed baking sheet and bake until crust is golden, about 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 F, rotate sheet, and continue to bake until juices are bubbling and crust is deep golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes longer.

Let pie cool on wire rack until filling has set, about 2 hours; serve slightly warm or at room temperature.

Basic Double-Crust Pie Dough

• 2 1/2 cups (12 1/2 ounces) all-purpose flour • 2 tablespoons sugar • 1 teaspoon salt • 1/2 cup vegetable shortening, cut into 1/2-inch pieces and chilled • 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces and chilled • 6-8 tablespoons ice water Process flour, sugar, and salt in food processor until combined. Scatter shortening over top and process until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal, about 10 seconds. Scatter butter pieces over top and pulse until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about 10 pulses. Transfer mixture to large bowl.

Sprinkle 6 tablespoons ice water over mixture. Stir and press dough together, using stiff rubber spatula, until dough sticks together. If dough does not come together, stir in remaining water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it does.

Divide dough into 2 even pieces. Turn each piece of dough onto sheet of plastic wrap and flatten each into 4-inch disk.

Wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. Before rolling dough out, let sit on counter to soften slightly, about 10 minutes. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 525 calories; 270 calories from fat; 30 g fat (14 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 73 mg cholesterol; 380 mg sodium; 62 g carbohydrate; 7 g fiber; 50 g sugar; 2 g protein.

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FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 2018

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