Philippine Canadian Inquirer #340

m

info@canadianinquirer.net

sales@canadianinquirer.net A (888) 668-6059 facebook.com/ Philippine

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER

CanadianInquirer twitter: @PhilCanInquirer

OCTOBER 5, 2018

www.canadianinquirer.net

VOL. 8 NO. 340

‘RED OCTOBER’ PLOT

Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff, Gen. Carlito Galvez (2nd from left), confirms to lawmakers the "Red October" plot to oust the present administration during the budget deliberation on the proposed FY 2019 budget of the Department of National Defense and its attached agencies at the plenary hall of the Senate in Pasay City. Story on page 3.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

Duterte’s satisfaction rating picks up to ‘very good’ in Q3: SWS

6

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

17

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte’s net satisfaction rating has recovered to “very good” in the third quarter from its record-low “good” in the second quarter, a Social Weather Stations (SWS) report showed on Saturday.

In the survey conducted from Sept. 15

to 23, the SWS found that 70 percent of Filipinos were satisfied with Duterte’s performance as President, 16 percent were dissatisfied, while 14 percent were undecided.

Gross satisfaction with Duterte’s performance improved by five points from 65 percent, gross dissatisfaction fell by

Communications ASec Mocha Uson leaves her post

ConGen Mei-An Austria: Living, Loving Vancouver on a Dream Tour-of-Duty

❱❱ PAGE 11 Duterte’s satisfaction

Get the latest news & updates www.canadianinquirer.net

❱❱ PAGE 14

How Canada can, and must, empower Indigenous communities

2

Philippine News

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

Uphold global community’s interest, Cayetano tells UN PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

direction, with which will be greater if all UN member-states are on board.

“The United Nations is the place, MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary the venue of great opportunity, of putAlan Peter Cayetano on Sunday called ting action to our Faith, of changing the on United Nations member-states to world for the better,” he said. “This is of uphold the global community’s inter- course if we can transcend our personal est as he underscored that today’s social and sometimes national interest, for contract is no longer confined to one’s the interest of the global community, or nation state. simply put, for the greater good.”

“We should therefore exert efforts to Cayetano’s view on upholding the connect, to emphasize commonalities global community’s interest puts him on and not differences, to think that we the same side as UN Secretary General are less Filipinos, Americans, Chinese, Antonio Guterres who pointed out that French, Russians, and to think more of the future rests on “solidarity.” ourselves as global citizens, the people The DFA chief’s statement also comes of the United Nations,” he told world as President Donald Trump informed leaders and foreign ministers at the 73rd the UN body that he and his administraUN General Assembly in New York. tion “reject the ideology of globalism” While states are not required to act in general and relation to international as a community, Cayetano said the fact justice and migration issues. that there are problems that can only be In his 73rd UN General Assembly solvedJoel_CanadianInquirer_print.pdf by a “united global community.” speech, Trump underscored that global 1 2017-10-05 3:45 PM In migration alone, Cayetano said the governance is another form of “coercion UN-convened Global Compact on Mi- and domination” that “responsible nagration is already a huge step in the right tions must defend against.” ■

SANTERI VIINAMÄKI / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 4.0

PNP warns public vs. ‘online love scam’ PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday advised the public anew to be wary of dealing with people whom they only met online.

PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde made the statement after the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) busted an online dating syndicate that defrauded an OFW of PHP600,000 through a pseudo ‘online love matching scheme’.

He added that seven members of the syndicate were arrested by ACG and Quezon City Police District (QCPD) operatives in an entrapment operation in Quezon City.

Nabbed were Angelica Calanog, 20; Richelle Casilla, 32; Jeanly Shane Boyore, 18; Juvy Ann Capino, 19; Arjay Balansayo, 27; John Luis Patrick Acol, 19; and Jim Anthony Besonia, 18 Albayalde said the online scam started when the victim Frederick Egea, 23, sent a friend request to Calanog on Facebook.

“OFW ito. Nag-friend siya ng somebody in the Facebook and then nagka relationship online. Pinapadalhan niya ng pera (He is an OFW. He added somebody as a friend on Facebook and they had an online relationship. He sent her money amounting to PHP600,000). When he came to file a complaint, hindi lang isang tao ang involved (there is more than one person involved). Hindi pa sila nagkikita personally (They haven’t met personally). Until such time na nagkaroon ng (that the police conducted) operations.

Yung PHP600,000, hindi naman onetime yun (The amount of PHP600,000 was not given one-time). Around two years. Yung nambibiktima are halo yan (The perpetrators are mixed). Pretends to be a woman,” he told reporters during the press briefing on Monday.

“Actually yung (the) report on the romance scam, ito ay (this is) increasing.

Maraming nabibiktima rito (Many have fallen prey to this scam). Some people

www.canadianinquirer.net

believe that they are having a relationship with a foreigner and sometimes, it’s too good to be true,” he noted.

He added that these online predators are using fake accounts in searching for victims.

“Tingnan ilan friends (Check how many friends they have), when it was created. Kung bago lang na-create, iilan lang friends magduda na(have doubts).

Kapag nagpapadala ng pera yung sinasabi pang ospital (When they are ask for money claiming it is for hospital expenses) or personal needs, try to verify muna (first). Why should you send money na hindi mo pa nakikita (when you haven’t met him/her) personally?” Albayalde said.

Albayalde added that the advancement in technology has also provided methods for criminals to prey on unsuspecting victims noting that the threat of online scams is real.

“Halos kung ilang millions of people nae-engage sa social media. Kaya napaka-serious nitong hacking. Very profitable na ito at napakahirap mahuli ang mga suspek. Ang dami ng nabiktima na na-hack yung credit card, nauubos laman ng banko. Yung nagbabangko online. (Millions of people are on social media. That is why hacking is a serious problem. This is very profitable and the suspects are hard to catch. There are those who had their credit card hacked and their money in their bank accounts gone, especially those who are using online banking),” he added.

While admitting that it is hard to control these kinds of crime, the PNP chief advised the public to ask for assistance from the ACG should they become victims of these scams.

Some precautionary measures to secure online accounts include having a strong and unique password, activating firewall and anti-virus to protect computer systems from intruders and look closely into one’s background before accepting an online friend request. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

3

Galvez: CPP ‘organizes’ students in 10 Manila universities for ‘Red October’ plot

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer ARMED FORCES Chief of Staff General Carlito Galvez, Jr. said the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) ‘organized’ students from 10 universities in Manila as part of the alleged “Red October” plot against President Rodrigo Duterte.

Galvez said this as he was asked by Senator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV regarding the plot during a budget hearing at the Senate on Tuesday, October 2.

The military official explained that the “Red October” plot is a combination of “armed struggle” and “legal struggle” which will be done by the CPP and its armed wing, New People’s Army (NPA), using “broad coalition” with the opposition and ‘infiltration’ of various youth sectors and the labor sector.

“In fact, they have already

organized 10 of the universities in Manila. Right now, they are making a lot of information drive wherein they will show high school, even college students, the different atrocities committed during the Marcos regime and equate that to the present administration,” he said.

Galvez did not name those 10 universities, however, he noted that CPP founding chairman Jose Maria “Joma” Sison has “conducted a lot of conferences” in the University of the Philippines (UP).

“Meron po kaming (We have) documents. I cannot reveal ’yon (that), but I can reveal it to the executive session,” he said.

The communist rebels, the official added, have “Operation Talsik” and “Operation Aklasan” wherein they will conduct labor protests as well as tactical offensives.

“It is a very elaborate plan wherein they started the

AFP Chief of Staff, General Carlito Galvez.

heightening of the agitation using the First Quarter Storm model,” Galvez said.

“Their plan is really to have a successive mass mobilization starting on September 21, then October, until such time that

they have also their 50th anniversary this coming December,” he added.

During the same budget hearing, Galvez also confirmed that there is no coalition between the Liberal Party (LP) and the

WE HANDLE ALL OF THE EXPENSES

Simpson, Thomas & Associates

TRIAL LAWYERS

ICBC CLAIMS ONLY

PTV PHOTO

CPP to remove the President from his post.

His remark was contrary to what Duterte earlier claimed where he said the public should watch out for the LP, Trillanes, and communist rebels as these three forces are trying to oust him.

In a press briefing also on Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. insisted this again, saying that the Palace is ‘convinced’ that some members of the LP might be working with the CPP. “I’m sure individual members of the Liberal Party, as the President said, may be in collusion with the CPP-NPA,” Roque said.

“It could be true that there is no formal memorandum of agreement between the party itself and the CPP-NPA, [but] it does not prevent leading personalities with the Liberal Party from having such collusion,” he added. ■

If no recovery, No Legal Fees or Expenses

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION

604-689-8888 -COMMENT BY THE CLIENT IN THE WEDDING ABBOTSFORD JAAGO TRAGEDY AS REPORTED THE LINK NEWSPAPER DATED MARCH 21, 2011

Simpson, Thomas & Associates

TRIAL LAWYERS

BRAIN INJURY QUADRIPLEGIA PARAPLEGIA SPINAL CORD INJURY WHIPLASH Reduced legal fees on brain injury paraplegia and quadriplegia cases. 20% including Trial

VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR THE ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR QUESTIONS RELATED TO YOUR ICBC CLAIM

WWW.SIMPSONTHOMAS.COM

Vancouver address: 1301-808 Nelson Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2H2

Delta office: 7253 120th Street, Delta BC, V4C 6P5

LOW LEGAL FEES 24% INCLUDING TRIAL

Translation Services Available NAIINTINDIHAN NAMIN ANG WIKA NIYO Burnaby (Room E, Suite 219, 4501 North Road (By Appointment only) 604-689-8888 Abbotsford; 33222 Old Yale Road (By appointment only) 604-689-8888 www.canadianinquirer.net

Cathy Rizzo Senior Counsel

Over 23 years of experience representing victims injured in car accidents, including the catastrophically injured

4

Philippine News

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

PNP backs Sotto bill lowering Bertiz to surrender age of criminal liability to 13 his MIAA access pass PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday expressed support to Senate President Vicente Sotto III’s bill pushing for the lowering of the age of criminal liability to 13, citing the rise in the number of crimes now being committed by minors.

“We are supporting the proposal of the good senator. We are just getting inputs from the different regions and legal service,” PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde told reporters in a press conference on Monday.

He added that inputs from regional offices are expected to collect police data that will help boost the arguments of those supporting the measure.

He added that other countries have a lower age of criminal liability.

“Remember, sa napakaraming (in many) foreign countries, una, wala nga silang (first, they do not even have any) limit. In some countries, there is even 6 years old, 7, may 10 pa nga sa ibang (in other) countries.

Some of them European countries. Sa (In) Mexico 6, in South Africa and UK, meron silang (they have) 10,” he said.

From the current age of 15, Senate Bill 2026 seeks to amend Republic Act 9344 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act by lowering the criminal liability exemption to 13.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly criticized Senator Francis Pangilinan, the author of the law, saying criminal accountability should be lowered since some children are already involved in various criminal activities.

In some viral videos for instance, some street children were seen engaged in beating up people and robbery and theft along the streets.

Local and international groups, however, have been opposing the plan, saying the measure would absolve the accountability of the parents who are supposed to guide children.

In filing Senate Bill 2026, Sotto noted that criminal syndicates are exploiting the pro-

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Senate President Vicente Sotto III proposed the lowering of criminal responsibility to 13 years old, during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

visions of Republic Act 9344 of the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 by using minors in the commission of crimes.

Citing a study conducted by the Child Rights International Network, Sotto pointed out that the average minimum age of criminal responsibility in Asia and Africa is 11. In the United States and Europe, it is 13.

In his explanatory note for Senate Bill 2026, Sotto said, “Due to the continuing challenge in the implementation of RA 9344, as amended, the aforesaid law must be further amended to lower the minimum age of criminal liability in order to adapt to the changing times.”

“This bill will finally give clarity to the true intention of the law. The amendment to the law will institutionalize the criminal liability of teenagers who committed serious criminal offense,” he added.

He said not only was the law abused by criminals but the innocence of these youngsters were deliberately taken from them.

Sotto cited several viral videos where children aged 15 and

below were seen beating each other to death, dragging an old man out of a public utility vehicle to steal his purse, and taking the earnings of a jeepney driver.

Senate Bill 2026 amends Sections 6, 20, 20-A, 20-B and 22 of RA 9344, as amended so that a child below 18 years of age but above 12 at the time of the commission of the crime would be held criminally liable and subjected to the appropriate proceedings, unless proven that he/she acted without discernment.

In cases where it is proven that a child acted without discernment, he/she would be exempted from criminal liability and shall be subjected to the appropriate intervention program under the law.

Under the bill, for serious crimes such as parricide, murder, infanticide, kidnapping and homicide, if the children who committed these are above nine years old up to 12 years old, they shall be deemed neglected children under Presidential Decree 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code, as amended and shall be placed in a special facility within the youth care facility or Bahay Pag-asa. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

checker’s face and then, later on, snatched the latter’s ID off his jacket.

Addressing the security AFTER HE was under fire for checker in his interview, Berhis viral video over the week- tiz uttered, “Patawarin mo ako end, ACTS-OFW Representa- doon sa aking inasal. Hindi tive Ancieto “John” Bertiz III tama ‘yun bilang isang kinaon Tuesday, October 2, said tawan ng gobyerno or empleyahe will ‘surrender’ his access do ng gobyerno (Forgive me for pass issued by the Manila In- the way I acted. It is not right ternational Airport Authority for someone who represents (MIAA). the government or a govern“Ipapa-surrender ko na ‘to (I ment employee).” will surrender this). To be fair, Bertiz already apologized for kasi (because) I don’t want my the way he acted at the NAIA fellow congressmen and other and likened his behavior to a holders of my ID (identification woman who is going through card) ay madamay pa (to get her monthly menstrual period. implicated),” Bertiz said in an This did not sit well with Gainterview on ABS-CBN’s Uma- briela Women’s Party Repregang Kay Ganda. sentative Emmi “Never ko de Jesus. naman pong “Kaming mga nagamit ‘yon eh, babae ay walang except only if it problema sa is official na may Forgive me regla. Ang isyu dumating na for the way ay ang arogansya bangkay ng OFW I acted. It is nya (We, wom(overseas Filinot right for en, do not have pino worker) or someone problems with may nagkaprobwho our period. The lema sa airport. represents issue here is his Pero on my twice the arrogance),” de a week or once government Jesus said. a week travel sa or a “ W o m e n mga regional ofgovernment should not be stefices natin, hindi employee. reotyped as arroko nagamit (I gant and entitled never use this, during their menexcept if a dead strual period. body of an OFW Huwag nyang was brought or there is a prob- idamay ang kababaihan kasi lem in the airport. But on my siya ang may problema (Do not twice a week or once a week involve women here because he travel to our regional offices, I is the one who has a problem),” do not use it),” he stressed. she added.

“It so happened [that] that’s Meanwhile, the House mithe only ID that I have in the nority bloc on Monday said it bag to present for boarding pass might file an ethics complaint and check-in counter,” he con- against Bertiz. tinued.

According to Minority LeadLast Saturday, September er Danilo Suarez, they are still 29, Bertiz drew the ire of many waiting for outside parties to after he confronted a security file an ethics complaint, but if checker, identified as Hamilton there is none, the lawmakers Abdul, at the Ninoy Aquino In- themselves will do it. ternational Airport (NAIA).

This was not the first time In a viral closed-circuit tele- Bertiz drew flaw. Just last week, vision (CCTV) video, Bertiz was he earned criticisms for joking seen passing through a metal that the new batch of agriculdetector at the airport when the tural and biosystems engineers security checker seemed to tell will not get their Professionhim to remove his shoes. Other al Regulations Commission passengers caught in the video (PRC) licenses if they do not were seen barefooted. know Special Assistant to the The lawmaker, however, then President (SAP) Christopher showed his ID to the security “Bong” Go. ■

5

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

www.canadianinquirer.net

6

Philippine News

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

Majority of Pinoys Communications ASec want gov’t to Mocha Uson leaves her post ‘immediately’ address inflation — Pulse Asia

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer MOST FILIPINOS want the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to focus more on addressing the surge in prices of basic commodities, according to Pulse Asia’s September 2018 Ulat ng Bayan survey.

The survey, done from September 1 to 7, revealed that a sizeable majority or 63 percent of Filipinos believed that among the national issues that the country is currently facing, it is the inflation that the government must ‘immediately’ address.

This figure is a 12-point jump from June which was only at 51 percent.

“This is the predominant opinion in all geographic areas and socio-economic classes (53% to 66% and 52% to 65%, respectively),” the Pulse Asia said.

Concern about inflation is most pronounced in Class D with 65 percent, followed by Class E with 60 percent, and Class ABC with 52 percent.

The survey also showed that half or 50 percent of Filipino also considered the need to improve the workers’ pay as an urgent national concern, a sentiment expressed by majorities in Metro Manila which is at 55 percent, the Visayas at 59 percent, and Class ABC at 52 percent.

Aside from pay hike and inflation, Filipinos also think that the Duterte administration should also focus on poverty reduction (32 percent), job creation (30 percent), fighting graft and corruption in government (26 percent), combatting criminality (23 percent), promoting peact (14 percent), protecting the environment (13 percent), reducing the amount of taxes paid by citizens (12 percent), and enforcing the rule of law (11 percent).

While these are the urgent national concerns, Filipinos seemed to be least concerned

about the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (six percent), rapid population growth (six percent), terrorism (five percent), national territorial integrity (five percent), and charter change (three percent).

As part of its survey, the Pulse Asia also asked its 1,800 respondents, whose age ranges from 18 years old and above and are registered voters, to evaluate the administration’s efforts on these issues.

The survey revealed that 83 percent of survey respondents approved the government’s effort to fight criminality, 75 percent on protecting the welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), 74 percent on responding to the needs of areas affected by calamities, 71 percent on fighting corruption, 69 percent on enforcing the rule of law and promoting peace, 65 percent on protecting the environment, 56 percent on defending national territorial integrity, 56 percent on creating more jobs, and 53 percent on increasing the pay of workers.

Fifty-one (51) percent of the participants, however, have a negative assessment of the government’s handling of the inflation issue.

The latest Pulse Asia survey is conducted using face-to-face interviews with its respondents nationwide. It has a plus or minus two percent error margin at the 95 percent confidence level.

The survey was done after the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) announced on September 5, that the country’s inflation hit 6.4 percent in August 2018, the highest in nine years and exceeded the forecast of the Department of Finance (DOF) and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) which was only at 5.9 percent. ■

AFTER CAUSING series of controversies and intrigues while she worked as assistant secretary of Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), Margaux “Mocha” Uson has an announcement to the public — that she is resigning from her post.

This decision was announced

by Uson on Wednesday, October 3, during a Senate hearing on the PCOO budget for next year. The House of Representatives deferred for the second time its plenary deliberations on the proposed budget for the PCOO because Uson was not present.

According to Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go, also on Wednesday, President Rodrigo Duterte accepted Uson’s resignation.

“Nirerespeto po naman angkanyang pagre-resignat nagpapasalamat rin kami kay ASec. Former Communications ASec Mocha Uson.

MOCHA USON BLOG / FACEBOOK Mocha sa kanyang naging serbisyo po sa gobyernong Duterte Public Officials and Employees, ing that he respects Uson’s free(We respect her resignation as well as the Cybercrime Pre- dom of expression. and we thank ASec. Mocha for vention Act. Despite her resignation, her service in the Duterte adBut before this, the two had Uson said her fight is not yet ministration),” Go told GMA. stirred up controversy for their over.

He added that Uson has been federalism jingle where Olivar Addressing her critics, Uson a “good ally” to the Duterte ad- was seen dancing and gestur- said, ”‘Wag kayong magkakaministration. ing to his crotch and chest areas maling isipin na nagtagumpay Since the Chief Executive ap- while chanting, “I-pepe, i-pepe, kayo. Hindi ako nagbitiw sa popointed her in 2017, Uson has i-dede, i-dede… ipederalismo!” sisyon dahil takot ako sa inyo. been earning the ire of not only The video was shared by Uson Gusto ko lang na kapag magkathe public but also her co-gov- on August 2 on her Facebook harap tayo, patas ang laban (Do ernment officials. page. not even think that you won.

She recently I did not resign made headlines from my posiwhen Uson, last tion because I’m September 13, afraid of you. I shared a conIt also said that Uson violated just want that troversial video the Code of Conduct and Ethical when we conto her five milStandards for Public Officials front each other, lion followers on and Employees, as well as the our fight will be Facebook, where Cybercrime Prevention Act. fair).” she and proOn the other Duterte blogger hand, Olivar Andrew “Drew” said, “Yehey Olivar made fun nagresign na si of sign language.

Uson also drew flak for MOCHA!!! SIMULA NA NG The Philippine Federation of spreading false information on LABAN!!! Magkakalabasan na the Deaf (PFD) earlier lodged her social media account. ng BAHO. TAPOS na ang paghia complaint against Uson and Due to these, various groups, hirap mo madam (Yehey, Mocha Olivar for violating the Magna several lawmakers and govern- finally resigned. The battle has Carta for Disabled Persons over ment officials urged her to re- just begun. Wrongdoings will their video. It also said that sign or called on Duterte to fire be exposed. Your struggle is fiUson violated the Code of Con- her. The President, however, nally over, madam).” ■ duct and Ethical Standards for earlier rejected these calls, saywww.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

7

Duterte appoints new gov’t corporate counsel PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA – President Rodrigo R. Duterte has appointed Elpidio Jumalon Vega as the new government corporate counsel replacing Rudolf Jurado who was sacked last May. Duterte signed Vega’s appoint paper of Sept. 27 but it was released to media on Monday.

Prior to his appointment, Vega was deputy government corporate counsel.

On May 28, Duterte announced that he has fired Jurado for allegedly favoring a gambling operator.

“May I call the government corporate counsel now. Are you here? Because if you are here, come out. You are fired,” Duterte said in his speech during the ceremonial signing of the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018 at Malacañang Palace.

Jurado has been accused of issuing a legal opinion that led to the approval of a 75-year permit to a casino operator inside the Aurora Pacific Economic Zone (APEC).

He has denied the allegations but accepted Duterte’s decision to fire him.

“I accept and respect our President’s decision. As an appointee who serves under his pleasure, I am honored to have been given a chance to serve un-

der his administration,” Jurado said in an earlier statement.

Meanwhile, Duterte also appointed the following: • Datu Ras Sinsuat Lidasan Jr. – Commissioner of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos • Ronald Cardema – member of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board Appeals Committee • Monica Prieto Teodoro – Special Envoy of the President to the United Nations Children’s Fund from Sept.

28, 2019 to Sept. 27, 2019.

• Dante Arevalo Ang – Special Envoy of the President for International Public Relations from Nov. 1, 2018 to Oct. 21, 2019.

• Jose Claveria de Venecia – Special Envoy of the President for Intercultural Dialogue and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) from Oct. 21, 2018 to Oct. 20, 2019 • Abdullah Derupong Mama-o – Special Envoy of the President to the State of Kuwait from Nov 1, 2018 to Oct. 31, 2019.

• Jesus Santos Domingo – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to New Zealand with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Fiji, the Kingdom of Tonga, and the Independent State of Samoa.

• Catalina Catral-Talatala – Senior State Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor General

TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

• Linda Mae Cajipe Aguirre – Senior State Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor General • Gilbert Ulit Medrano -Senior State Solicitor, Office of the Solicitor General • Leanne Maureen Seares Apolinar – State Solicitor I, Office of the Solicitor General • Maria Luz Antonette ToycoTan – Prosecutor III, Office of the City Prosecutor-Taguig City, National Prosecution Service, Department of Justice • Joselito Cabanela Bacolor – Prosecutor III, office of the City Prosecutor-Quezon City, National Prosecution Service, Department of Justice • Alessandro David Jurado –

Prosecutor III, Office of the City Prosecutor-Quezon CityNational Prosecution Service, Department of Justice • Luz Awayan-Macasinag – Prosecutor II, Office of the City Prosecutor-Manila-National Prosecution Service, Department of Justice • Merryl Ann Hermila Nanaois Rabe, – Prosecutor II, Office of the City Prosecutor-Makati City, National Prosecution Service, Department of Justice • Aileen Turla-Base – Prosecutor II, Office of the City Prosecutor-Caloocan City-National Prosecution Service, Department of Justice • Elvira Badillo-Adarlo – Prosecutor II, Office of the City

Prosecutor-Marikina City, National Prosecution Service, Department of Justice • Aurora Andrea Gallardo De Perdo – Local Government Operations Officer VII, Department of Interior and Local Government • Thelma Terciño Vecina – Director IV, Department of Interior and Local Government • Elpidio Aquino Durwin – Director III of the Department of Interior and Local Government • Douglas Allidem Rufino – Director I, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Finance • V Chewas Cadangen – Director I, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Department of Finance • Alibasa Gunting Andig – Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, Department of Agrarian Reform • Christine Pangilinan-Canlapan – Director III, Intellectual Property Office, Department of Trade and Industry • Ryan Sy Lita – Director IV, Department of Budget and Management • Jesus Antonio Zurbito Ros – Director III, Intellectual Property Office, Department of Trade and Industry • Saturnino Bueno Bello – Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer II, Department of Agrarian Reform • Ricardo Lopena Moldez – member, Social Security Commission, Social Security System ■

Military not coddling Palparan: AFP spox PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Monday vehemently denied that it is coddling retired Major Gen. Jovito Palparan.

“The AFP shares the aggrieved parties’ call for justice.

In deferring the transfer, the AFP is not protecting Major Gen. Palparan et al. It merely submits to the judicial processes already in place and running,” AFP spokesperson Col. Edgard Arevalo said in statement to the PNA Monday.

Arevalo said the AFP wants to

know which commitment order takes precedence in Palparan’s case and how the court will resolve the pending motion for continued detention at Camp Aguinaldo Detention Facility in Quezon City.

Once this is resolved, Arevalo said, the AFP will comply with the order of the relevant court.

“Note that Major Gen. Palparan et al. are facing two cases: one before Regional Trial Court Branch 15 of Judge Alexander Tamayo for Cadapan and Empeño case.

“The other case is with Regional Trial Court Branch 19 presided by Judge Francisco Felizmenio for Manalo Broth-

ers case,” he added.

In both cases, the courts ordered that the accused be committed to the Philippine Army Custodial Center (PACC) for custody.

“Major Gen. Palparan et al. were convicted for the Cadapan and Empeño case where the court ordered that the former be confined at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) in Muntinlupa.

Meanwhile, the Manalo case is pending and the accused’s continues commitment at the PACC stays by virtue of said Commitment Order,” the AFP spokesperson said.

Following his conviction, Arevalo said the lawyers of Palwww.canadianinquirer.net

paran and his fellow convicts have filed for motion for reconsideration last Sept. 18.

“Counsels also filed on Sept.

24 an urgent motion to defer the implementation of the order to transfer Major Gen. Palparan — the resolution of which they are awaiting hence the continued detention at the PACC,” he added.

He added that the military respects the law and pertinent judicial process and will not frustrate any pursuit for justice.

“The conviction and the new commitment order to NBP in the Cadapan and Empeño case now confuses with the hitherto existing commitment order to

the PACC in the Manalo Brothers case,” Arevalo said.

To resolve the conflicting issue on commitment orders, the PACC filed a manifestation with motion praying for court determination which commitment order prevails on Sept. 24.

It conducted its first hearing on the matter on Sept. 28, Arevalo said.

Last Sept. 17, the Malolos Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 15 found Palparan and two others guilty of kidnapping and serious illegal detention over the disappearance of UP students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in 2006. ■

Philippine News

8

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

BBC report on PH condition, ‘anti-Duterte propaganda’: Cayetano

BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Philippine News Agency Correspondent/Hosts Bea Kirstein T. Manalaysay Joanna Belle Deala Gianna Llanes Arianne Grace U. Lacanilao Violeta Arevelo Babes Newland Graphic Design Shanice Garcia Ginno Alcantara Colleene T. Singca Director/Producer Boom Dayupay Photographers/Video Ginno Alcantara Ronnie Garcia Maria Crizandra Baylon Sales Kristopher Yong Aireen De Asis Paul Acosta Dennis Cruz Margarita Perez Operations and Admin Victoria Yong Amelia Insigne Management Alan Yong Victoria Yong For photo submissions, please email editor@canadianinquirer.net For General Inquiries, please email info@canadianinquirer.net For Sales Inquiries, please email sales@canadianinquirer.net Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 11951 Hammersmith Way, Suite 108 Richmond, B.C. V7A 5H9 Canada

Email: info@canadianinquirer.net, sales@canadianinquirer.net Philippine Canadian Inquirer is published weekly every Friday.

Copies are distributed free throughout Metro Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Greater Toronto.

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

PCI reserves the right to reject any advertising which it considers to contain false or misleading information or involves unfair or unethical practices. The advertiser agrees the publisher shall not be liable for damages arising out of error in any advertisement.

Member

MANILA — Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Wednesday dismissed as mere “anti-Duterte propaganda” a documentary by the British Broadcasting Corporation that described the outlook of democracy in the Philippines as “bleak”.

In a statement, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano expressed his dismay on BBC’s September 29 feature “Our World—Philippines: Democracy in Danger?” which focused on President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s anti-drug campaign and alleged political persecution in the country.

Cayetano brands the episode as misleading, pointing out that Duterte’s antiillegal drug strategy “is actually making Philippine society safer, healthier, and more prosperous.”

“It fails to mention that the strategy is a diversified and community-based approach that includes enforcement, rehabilitation, and reintegration,” he said.

“The episode also makes little mention of the sheer magnitude of the drug problem in the Philippines, the enormous damage to millions of families caused by addiction, and the fact that police are under strict orders to follow the law in the conduct of our campaign against illegal drugs,” he added.

As of August 31, 2018, at least 576 government workers, including elected officials and uniformed personnel were arrested while another 498 are being investigated for drug-related cases, Cayetano said.

He added that 105 uniformed personnel were dismissed for drug-related offenses.

Moreover, a total of 235 drug dens and clandestine laboratories were dis-

Foreign Affairs Sec. Alan Peter Cayetano.

mantled; PHP24.12 billion worth of illegal drugs and drug-related items were seized; and at least 8,444 barangays or villages were cleared of illegal drugs from the campaign’s beginning on July 1, 2016 to August 31, 2018, he added.

He said the report also painted “a onesided picture” of Senator Leila de Lima, Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, and former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Cayetano underscored that the three staunch critics of the administration have been “given and continue to be given” their day in court.

“The rule of law has been upheld in all three cases. They are not, as the report unfairly alleges, victims of any crackdown on the political opposition. The report also failed to mention the obvious: all three remain free to criticize the Duterte Administration,” he said.

He also denied that the media in the Philippines is being persecuted.

“Those who read our newspapers,

ALAN PETER CAYETANO / FACEBOOK

watch our television programs, listen to our radio broadcasts, take part in dialogue through social media, and read online publications can observe that the press is anything but inhibited in the Philippines,” he said.

Cayetano emphasized that Duterte continues to enjoy the trust and support of the Filipino people.

“We are taking control of our economic future, making our society safer and healthier, and advancing the interests of Filipinos abroad,” he added.

“Filipinos know this and this is why seven out of 10 Filipinos trust President Duterte and three out of four approve his performance,” he added, citing a Pulse Asia poll released on September 25.

“In the interest of fair and objective reporting, therefore, we urge the BBC to present an accurate and balanced view of issues about the Philippines in the future so that its audience can make its own assessment of the health of our democracy,” he said. ■

Suspected ISIS member barred from entering PH PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Immigration officers barred anew a 36-year-old Pakistani national, suspected of being a trainer for the terrorist group Daesh, from entering the country at the Clark International Airport (CIA) in Pampanga last week.

BI OIC Deputy Commissioner Marc Red Mariñas identified the suspect as Naeem Hussain, who was intercepted last Sept. 22, when he arrived aboard an Emirates Airlines flight from Dubai.

The foreigner was immediately ex-

cluded and booked on the first available flight to origin for being included in the bureau’s list of suspected international terrorists.

“He was turned away because he is on our alert list of suspected international terrorists for being an alleged trainer of Daesh,” Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said in a statement.

Daesh, also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) or Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), is waging a fanatical and brutal war against the US and its coalition partners in Iraq and Syria where it wants to establish an Is-

www.canadianinquirer.net

lamic caliphate.

He has been on the watchlist of the military intelligence community which sought the BI’s help in monitoring the Pakistani’s possible entry or departure from the country.

According to Hussein, he had been working as a digital designer for the last 16 years and that he traveled to the Philippines to visit his Filipina girlfriend who lives in Olongapo City.

He has been denied entry last May when he attempted to enter the country, also from Dubai, via the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

9

Trillanes finally comes home

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

RENE LUMAWAG / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Duterte unsure peace talks can be resumed

BY AZER PARROCHA Philippine News Agency MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Wednesday said he was unsure if peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) would resume any time soon, admitting that he was “not ready” to talk to them yet.

“I don’t know if it could be revived. But I am not ready at this time to talk about talking to the communist(s),” Duterte said in his speech during a Bureau of Jail Management and Penology event in Calamba, Laguna.

He lambasted the NPA for “destroying the government” and killing soldiers, policemen, and civilians since they were established over 50 years ago.

The President, meanwhile, said that he has tried mending their relationship by allowing communists to work in government.

“In my desire really to just extend a helping hand maybe I can succeed talking to them, naipasok ko rin sa gobyerno (I allowed them in my Cabinet),” Duterte said.

He, however, said he was relieved that Congress rejected their appointments.

“Mabuti na lang ni-reject ng Congress ‘yung appointments

nila. It turned out to be na ayaw talaga nila ng — (It’s good the Congress rejected their appointments. It turned out to they really didn’t like) even the talks now are almost done,” Duterte said.

Duterte earlier appointed leftist leaders Judy Taguiwalo as Social Welfare Secretary and Rafael Mariano as Agrarian Reform Secretary but their appointments were rejected by the Commission on Appointments last year.

Earlier, Duterte claimed that communists, Magdalo Group, and other members of the opposition are conspiring to remove him from his post.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana added that the reported “Red October” ouster plot is confirmed to be the handiwork of the CPP-NPA and that military is taking it seriously.

According to Lorenzana, the with the cancellation of the peace talks, the implementation of the proposed ouster plot became more urgent for the rebels.

On Sept. 21, Duterte said he was hopeful that government is “winning the war” against communists, noting that many of the rebels have started laying down their arms. He added that he expected the war to be over by the second quarter of next year. ■

‘to — ’yung mga corruption allegations kay [Solicitor General Jose] Calida, corruption allegations kay [Special Assistant to AFTER STAYING at the Senate the President Christopher] Bong premises for more than three Go, at ‘yung involvement sa ilweeks, Senator Antonio “Sonlegal drugs ni Duterte mismo. ny” Trillanes IV finally decided ‘Yan ‘yung tututukan natin (I to come back home on Saturwill talk to the leaders of variday, September 29. ous committees where we have “For now, magpapahinga ako pending resolutions for investi(I will rest) and I’ll try to be gations on the anomalies of the with my family. We’ll see within current administration — the the next few days, I’ll visit my corruption allegations against mother who is confined right Calida, corruption allegations now,” Trillanes told reporters against Bong Go, and Duterte’s before he left the involvement in Senate building. illegal drugs. We To recall, the are going to focus senator has been on those issues),” staying at his There is always a silver lining to he said.

Senate office every dark cloud and this is just one Trillanes left since September of them that we have seen that we the Senate prem4, after Presihave felt that in the past few weeks ises at around 10 dent Rodrigo and we welcome that as a blessing a.m. boarding a Duterte made from the man upstairs. white van. public his ProcThe Makati lamation No. 572 RTC Branch 150, that revoked the which handles amnesty granted Trillanes’s rebelto Trillanes by the previous According to Trillanes, he lion case over the 2007 Manila administration. The proclama- will go back to work on Monday Peninsula siege, earlier ordered tion ordered Trillanes to be and will discuss to his fellow the former mutineer’s arrest arrested as the latter allegedly lawmakers his pending resolu- and barred him from leaving failed to comply with the am- tions on alleged anomalies of the country. nesty requirements and did not the Duterte administration.

However, the court still aladmit his guilt over the 2003 “Ako ay makikiusap sa lidera- lowed Trillanes to post bail Oakwood Mutiny and 2007 Ma- to ng iba’t-ibang mga committee amounting to P200,000 for his nila Peninsula siege. na may pending resolutions kami temporary liberty, to which Trillanes’s decision to leave for investigations ng mga anom- Trillanes had already complied the upper chamber building alya nitong administrasyon na with. ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

came after the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 deferred issuing a warrant of arrest and hold departure order (HDO) against him on the grounds of coup d’etat in connection with the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. The court set the next hearing on October 5, Friday, at 9 a.m.

“There is always a silver lining to every dark cloud and this is just one of them that we have seen that we have felt that in the past few weeks and we welcome that as a blessing from the man upstairs,” the senator said.

10

Philippine News

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

‘Yolanda’ survivor who served Pope now a priest himself PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

tal decided to leave the seminary.

DUMAGUETE CITY — It’s not every day that one gets to meet up close and personal the Supreme Pontiff of the Catholic Church, more popularly known as the Pope. For this young man in his mid-20s at the time, Alvin Villaflores, then a seminarian studying Theology in Palo, Leyte, it was more than a dream come true.

In fact, never in his wildest dreams did he expect to meet and to serve Pope Francis, a man whom he describes as “holy” and “saintly” that it was like meeting Jesus in person.

The now 29-year-old Villaflores, who hails from Tanjay City, Negros Oriental, was recently ordained as a priest.

In an interview a day after, he recalled two of the most unforgettable experiences in his life that have touched him to the core, inspiring him to become a “good and holy priest.”

After finishing Bachelor of Science in Philosophy at the St. Joseph Seminary College of the Diocese of Dumaguete in March 2012, Villaflores was one of two seminarians – the first from here – who proceeded to study at the St. John The Evangelist School of Theology in Palo, Leyte.

Although he had other choices such as in Cebu City, he chose to study in Palo because the former prelate of the Diocese of Dumaguete, John Du, D.D., was also transferred there to become the next archbishop of the Archdiocese of Palo.

It took awhile, he said, for him to adjust to the new environment, language barrier, and the local culture, and later, he was “left alone” because the other seminarian from Negros Orien-

Despite being alone, Villaflores continued his Theology studies, and during his 2nd year, on that fateful 8th of November, 2013, Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name Haiyan), one of the strongest and biggest storms ever recorded, pummeled Eastern Visayas, putting his faith to the test. time to time to make sure no“Abi nako mao na to ang akong body got separated, or worse, katapusan. Abi nako at the time drowned. mamatay nako. (I thought that Fr. Villaflores said he disenwas my last. I thought I was gogaged briefly from the group to ing to die),” the young priest reswim towards his room to recalled. trieve his wallet that had some He said he and other theocash and more importantly, his logians who were staying at identification cards. their formation house in the “Akong kuhaon akong walseminary compound, were litlet kay naa akong ID didto aron erally caught “flat-footed” and kung mamatay man gani ko, were not prepared for Yolanda’s mailhan ko sa akong mga giniwrath. kanan (I wanted to get my wal“Actually, gi-under estimate let with ID so that in the event namo ang Yolanda. No one inI perished, my parents would formed us to evacuate so we be able to recognize me),” the stayed at the priest explained. seminary,” he With no breaksaid. fast and lunch They also did and no water not expect the An innocent child, you took. And to drink, Villaworse, such as here I am, a sinner, but you gave flores and about flooding inside me a chance to live.

40 other theothe one-story logians held on formation house until the floodwhere they got waters started stuck for several to subside. By hours at the height of the super the time, I was already dumb- around 2 p.m. the water was typhoon’s onslaught. founded and thought my life has knee-deep.

On the eve of November 8, come to an end. I told God, ‘it’s 2013, the theologians stayed up to you now’),” he said.

Faith put to the test put at the formation house but Many priests thought that As soon as they deemed it safe by daybreak, ‘Yolanda” came the theologians all perished in to get out, the young priest said barreling through Eastern Vi- the flood because they could see they immediately buckled down sayas. The super typhoon made from another part of the semi- to work to rescue their neighits first landfall in Guian, Samar nary compound that the forma- bors after seeing many of them and passed by nearby areas in- tion house was already filled with trapped inside their homes. cluding Palo, Leyte, as it con- floodwater and nobody could They took the survivors to tinued to plow across several come and rescue them, he added. the nearby retirement home for islands, making four other landThey struggled to stay alive, priests, which was not damaged falls and leaving catastrophic even doing a headcount from by the typhoon.

Near-death experience with Yolanda

destruction in its path.

According to Villaflores, by 7 a.m. that day, as Yolanda unleashed its fury with strong winds and heavy rains, he and other theologians decided to leave the formation house, whose roof was already swept away, and scuttled over to the chapel nearby where they sought shelter.

But it was impossible for them to cross over, “kay paliron na mi sa hangin (the wind will blow us away)” and the chapel’s roof was also already gone.

They decided to stay inside the formation house instead, grabbing hold of blankets and other items that would keep them “fastened” together as they stayed in one room and later lined up in the corridor.

The floodwaters that flowed through the house started to rise and as hours went by, the water rose up to their necks.

“Kadto nga time, natulala na ko ug ingun ko mao na siguro ni akong katapusan. Ni ingun ko sa Ginoo na ikaw na ang bahala (at

www.canadianinquirer.net

But a heart-breaking and heart-changing experience met him that day, which put his faith to a test again.

“Ang pinakasakit nga akong na experience gud kana bang una nga nitugdon ning bata nga walay kinabuhi (my most painful experience was the first person that landed in my arms was a lifeless child, a girl of about three years old),” he recalled uneasily during the interview.

According to him, he wanted to scream and his heart was crushed, but silently, he asked: “Lord, as man ka?”

“Inosenteng bata imong gikuha. Ako mismo usa ako ka makasasala apan gihatagan nimo ug chance nga mabuhi (An innocent child, you took. And here I am, a sinner, but you gave me a chance to live),” he recalled to have told God. It was a very painful experience, he said. He struggled after that, losing hope and already entertaining thoughts of “not pursuing the priesthood, going on regency, transferring to another school,” Villaflores admitted.

The young girl who was unidentified, was separated from her parents and among those ❱❱ PAGE 13 ‘Yolanda’ survivor

Philippine News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

11

PH-China working on Xi Jinping’s state visit to Manila

BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Philippine News Agency MANILA — Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua on Thursday night said Philippines and China are preparing for President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the country by end of the year.

“The plan is that he will come to the Philippines for a state visit but the specific date and month have not been finalized yet so we’re in close coordination with the Filipino side to prepare for the, most likely, state visit,” he told reporters in Makati City.

Xi was invited to the Philippines by President Rodrigo R. Duterte when they first met in October 2016.

Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said the two sides are eyeing the month of November for the trip after a mutually accepted draft agreement on the joint exploration in South China Sea is signed.

An agreement, however, was stalled after the set official visit of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on September 16 was cancelled due to a typhoon that battered the Philippines.

Cayetano said the two sides’ talks on this partnership are on track.

Meanwhile, Zhao said Beijing and Manila have not come to a conclusion yet, but both parties are “serious” in the possibility of a joint exploration.

“I think both sides have realized that this will first and foremost maintain stability and peace in the South China Sea,” he said.

During his speech at the reception of the 69th Founding Anniversary of the

Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Pres. Xi Jinping.

People’s Republic of China in Makati Shangri-La, Zhao cited the “sustained betterment and growth” of relations between the two countries since Duterte assumed the presidency.

“Over the past two years, a series of dialogue and consultation mechanisms have been revived in areas such as foreign affairs, defense, energy, economy and trade, agriculture, fisheries, science and technology,” he said.

“There have been also increasing interactions and exchanges between local governments, media agencies, universities, think tanks and cultural institutions. In the meantime, China and the Philippines have maintained good communication and coordination on international affairs,” he added.

In tourism, he reported that the Philippines already received more than 760,000 Chinese tourists in the first seven months of 2018, achieving a 40 percent year-on-year increase and about 50 percent of the targeted arrivals by end of

Duterte’s satisfaction... ❰❰ 1

four points from 20 percent, and gross undecided decreased by one point from 15 percent.

According to the survey, Duterte has a net satisfaction rating of +54, which is classified by SWS as “very good.”

It also marks a nine-point increase, and one grade up, from his personal record-low of “good” +45 in June.

The survey cited the 9-point rise in Duterte’s net satisfaction rating to increases of 16 points in Balance Luzon, two points in the Visayas, one point in Metro Manila, and one point in Mindanao.

His net satisfaction rating stayed “good” in Balance Luzon, at +49 in September or up by 16 points from +33 in June; it stayed “good” in the Visayas, at +49 in September or up by two points from +47 in June; and it stayed “good” in

Metro Manila, at +36 in September, up by one point from +34 in June.

Duterte’s net satisfaction rating, however, stayed “excellent” in Mindanao, at +77 in September, up by one point from +76 in June.

Among the classes, the President’s net satisfaction rating rose from “good” to “very good” in class D or the masa, at +56 in September, up by 13 points from +43 in June 2018.

However, it fell from “very good” to “good” in class ABC, at +41 in September, down by 25 points from +66 in June.

It also fell from “very good” to “good” in class E, at +45 in September, down by seven points from +52 in June.

The survey was conducted using faceto-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide. ■

ACE MORANDANTE / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

the year.

“We have every reason to expect more than 1.5 million Chinese tourists to visit the Philippines this year and generate a revenue of more than 32 billion pesos,” the envoy stressed.

The two countries continue to work closely to combat illicit drugs, terrorism and cyber-crimes, he said.

During his short conversation with Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the reception, Zhao lauded China and the Philippines’ military-to-military re-

lationship which already “turned into a new phase.”

“First, I expressed my appreciation for his participation in our National Day celebration,” the envoy told reporters when asked what was discussed during his chat with the Defense chief.

“We have resumed our mutual trust and confidence. I hope with the efforts by both sides, (we) will further strengthen our mutual confidence and further strengthen military-to-military cooperation,” he 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.

www.canadianinquirer.net

12

Philippine News

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

Police slaps blogger Drew Olivar with criminal raps over bomb scare post

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer A CRIMINAL complaint was filed at the Department of Justice (DOJ) against blogger Andrew “Drew” Olivar after he made a bomb scare post on social media last September 20.

The Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) filed the complaint on Thursday, September 27, against Olivar for violating Section 1 of Presidential Decree 1727 which prohibits the malicious dissemination of false information or the willful making of any threat concerning bombs, explosives, in relation to Republic Act (RA) No. 10175 or the Cybercrime

Prevention Act of 2012.

Violators of the decree will be punished with imprisonment of not more than five years or a fine of not more than P40,000.

It was on the day before the commemoration of the 46th anniversary of the declaration of martial law in the country, when Olivar posted on Facebook, “Ayyy nakakatakot naman magRALLY sa EDSA (Epifanio de los Santos Avenue), kasi may kumakalat na baka maulit daw ‘yung pagbomba kagaya ng PLAZA MIRANDA!! Kung ako sa inyo hindi na ako pupunta (Oh, it is really scary to join the rally in EDSA because word is spreading that the bombing in Plaza Miranda might happen again! If I were you, I will not go there)!!”

The cops went back to the DOJ a few days after it advised them to provide additional evidence in its complaint, particularly the internet protocol (IP) address that Olivar used for posting the message.

Among the evidence submitted by the NCRPO are printed copies of Olivar’s now-deleted post, a news article, and certification from the PNP-Anti Cybercrime Group.

Olivar, who was once again in the hot waters for his bomb scare post, has earlier issued his apology for his actions.

“Ito, magsosorry lang ako kung may mga naalarma diyan na iba pagkakaintindi sa sinabi ko. Doon ako magsosorry (I will say sorry to those who were alarmed and who misunder-

Blogger Drew Olivar.

stood what I have said. I will say sorry to them). So, sorry po,” he said.

The blogger previously drew the ire of many along with Com-

ANDREW OLIVAR / FACEBOOK

munications Assistant Secretary Margaux “Mocha” Uson over their ’ipederalismo’ jingle and their video where they made fun of sign language. ■

Drilon dares Palace to sue LP CJ De Castro reorganizes members in Duterte ‘ouster plot’ electoral tribunals

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Forces Chief of Staff, General Carlito Galvez denied the accusation in a budget hearing at the Senate on Tuesday.

“I’m sure individual members of the Liberal Party, as the President said, may be in collusion with the CPP-NPA,” Roque said in a press briefing yesterday.

“It could be true that there is no formal memorandum of agreement between the party

stories to harass the critics of the President and the political opposition,” he stressed.

In defending the Chief ExSENATE MINORITY Leader ecutive’s controversial stateFranklin Drilon challenged ments, the latest was when the Malacañang to slap memlatter said his “only sin” is the bers of the Liberal Party (LP) “extrajudicial killings (EJKs),” with charges, who supposedly Roque had told the public on worked with communists rebrecent instances that Duterte els in a plot to overthrow Presiwas not serious. dent Rodrigo Duterte.

That is why this time, Drilon “I challenge would like to ‘borMalacanang, parrow’ the spokesticularly presiman’s own words, dential spokessaying “We should man Harry Roque Roque’s insistence shows that he is not take Roque seto file charges merely making up stories to harass riously.” against LP memthe critics of the President and the The senator bers who are alpolitical opposition. also urged the legedly in cahoots current adminwith the comistration to give munists to overmore attention throw the government,” Drilon itself and the CPP-NPA (Com- to bigger issues that the country said on Wednesday, October 3. munist Party of the Philippines- is facing such as increasing pric“In fact, I believe it is the re- New People’s Army), [but] it does es of goods, poverty, hunger, and sponsibility of Malacañang to not prevent leading personalities lack of jobs, instead of involving file the charges now because its with the Liberal Party from hav- itself on politics. credibility is at stake for issuing ing such collusion,” he added.

Duterte earlier urged the baseless allegations that are later However, Drilon dismissed public to watch out for LP, Sendenied by the military,” he added. Roque’s remarks, saying that ator Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes The senator said this after Galvez’s statement regarding IV, and the communists – whom Roque insisted that several LP the ouster plot “should put the he claimed to be conniving with members are part of the alleged issue to rest.” each other to unseat him.

“Red October” plot against “Roque’s insistence shows The three parties, however, Duterte, even after Armed that he is merely making up denied such accusations. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro has ordered a reorganization for Supreme Court Justices representatives on the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) and House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).

The SET and HRET are mandated by the 1987 Constitution to rule on electoral protests of senatorial candidates and congressional candidates.

In a one-page Special Order 2589, de Castro assigns the incumbent senior members of the High Court to represent them in the said electoral tribunals.

Justice Antonio Carpio will be the chairperson for the SET, with Justices Lucas Bersamin and Estela Perlas-Bernabe as members.

Justice Diosdado Peralta will be the chairperson for the HRET, while Justices Mariano del Castillo and Marvic Leonen are members.

“In the interest of the service, the regular members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal

(SET) and the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET) are hereby designated as follows, effective August 28, 2018,” read the special order signed by de Castro.

There is now a pending election protest at the SET, lodged

by Presidential Adviser for Political Affairs Francis Tolentino, former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Chairman, against detained Senator Leila de Lima.

Tolentino placed 13th, while de Lima placed 12th place during the May 2016 elections.

The SET was previously composed of Carpio, de Castro, and Bersamin.

The HRET was represented

by Presbitero Velasco, Peralta, and del Castillo.

Meanwhile, de Castro also issued Special Order 2590, designating Carpio as head of the SC en banc raffle committee, with Bersamin and Peralta as members.

For the Division Raffle of the SC, Peralta will be the chairman, while del Castillo and Leonen sit as members. ■

13

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

‘Yolanda’ survivor... ❰❰ 10

SAP Bong Go.

ALBERT ALCAIN / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

New PH maritime routes seen to boost economic opportunities PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY DAVAO CITY — Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Saturday urged seafarers to explore new routes in order to open more opportunities for the country’s marine industry.

“Hinihimok ko po kayo na pag-aralan ang pagbubukas ng mga bagong ruta para sa ating mga barko upang mas mapabilis ang paggalaw at pagpapadala ng kargamento (I encourage all of you to study the possibility of opening new routes for our ships to speed up the freight delivery),” Go said in his speech during the Mindanao Maritime Industry Forum held here today.

“Isang posibilidad rin ang pag-sasaayos ng mga proseso para mas mapaikli ang oras ng paglalakbay kapag sasakay ng barko ang ating mga kababayan at kargamento papunta sa ibang isla at kahit sa ibang bansa (One of the possibilities is the improvement of the process to shorten the sea travel time of fellowmen or freight deliveries to another island or country),” he added.

Go said improvements on maritime routes will result in our nation’s development.

“Sa paraang ito, mas mapalalakas din natin ang turismo

at mapabibilis ang progreso sa iba’t ibang parte ng Pilipinas (Through this, it will strengthen our tourism in the country and will also expedite the progress throughout the nation),” he said.

The forum highlighted and explored more of Mindanao with respect to its maritime industry development.

It primarily discussed on maritime safety, security and environmental protection.

Go was instrumental in the signing of Executive Order No. 63 by President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Sept. 21, 2018, which sought to strengthen the authority of the Marine Industry Authority (MARINA) as the Single Maritime Administration, ensuring the obligations of the Philippines under the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers.

The presidential assistant said the government is ready to allot enough funds for the betterment of infrastructures that would benefit the maritime industry.

Duterte’s aide also encouraged the seafarers to put their full trust and support to the 3-point campaign against corruption, crime, and illegal drugs of the Duterte administration for their investment and business’ safety. ■

buried in the mass graves later.

Later on, in the seminary compound, they found so many dead people scattered all over. A neighbor lost 12 family members while all 10 family members of another neighbor perished, Villaflores said.

He stayed on for two weeks in Palo, helping out in rescue and relief operations until he finally found a chance to go home.

In the aftermath of Yolanda, telecommunications were down, there were no trips to and from Leyte, and his parents and relatives were frantically trying to locate him.

His mother had even gone to local radio stations and national television stations with branches here to find out if his name was included in the lists of the dead, missing, and survivors but there was no information at all about him that they could get.

During this time, he had the opportunity to reflect and was overcome with grief for doubting the love of God. He said he was able to bounce back and asked for forgiveness from the Lord, and realized that God was indeed present in the midst of the tragedy.

“Kay sa wala pa ang bagyo duna man gisibya sa mga tawo nga dili basta basta ang bagyo (before the storm, there were already advisories and warnings to the public about how devastating it would be),” he said.

As he regained strength, he continued to help out in rescue and relief operations, not feeling any fatigue at all, but was still worried about his parents who still did not know of his whereabouts.

Finally, a priest gave him a ticket to Cebu so he could return home to Tanjay City.

In Tacloban City, he said he borrowed the cellphone of a friend and inserted his SIM card, and a call came in from someone from his hometown who had been trying to reach him all this time.

He spent his Christmas break at home and by January, was awaiting word of when they could return to school. It was highly considered that they be distributed to other theology schools but eventually, all of them who survived the harrowing encounter with “Yolanda” returned to Palo.

In the succeeding months, www.canadianinquirer.net

Villaflores said his faith became stronger as they were assigned on “immersion” visits to typhoon-stricken areas.

Face to face with God

When the Vatican announced that Pope Francis was scheduled to visit the Philippines in January 2015 and had included Leyte in the Pontiff’s itinerary, Villaflores was among those picked as Pontifical servers.

Already in his third year in Theology then, Villaflores said his first assignment was to help distribute Holy Communion during the mass of Pope Francis, but things changed later, much to his surprise.

“Nag sige na mi ug practice unya ang liturgist sa Palo niingon nga ilisan ang altar and microphone servers kay puro tag.as (we were already practicing when suddenly the liturgist of Palo said the Pontifical servers had to be replaced),” because of their height that would obstruct the Pope.

It was clearly stated in the liturgy that the height of the Pontifical servers must not be more than that of the Pontiff, he added.

At first, Villaflores said, he was assigned as a candle bearer during the mass but when the liturgist from the Vatican saw him during the dry run, he was once again removed as a candle bearer and this time, was assigned to be the microphone bearer for the Pope.

“I was stunned. I could not believe it. Syempre, taga Dumaguete gud ko. Dili ko hatagan ug priority kung dili ang taga Palo (Of course, I’m from Dumaguete and so the priority would be for the seminarians from Palo),” he said.

He admitted, though, that he was grateful, overjoyed and overwhelmed to have the opportunity to serve because “Santo Papa gud na (he is none other than the Holy Father),” he went on to say.

And then came another surprise, the best of all, he said.

On the day of the Pope’s visit to Tacloban amid stormy weather, Alvin was preparing the altar table for the Pontiff’s mass when suddenly, their liturgist came up to him and told him to meet Pope Francis at the sacristy.

“I was told to bring two candles with me and to meet Pope Francis at the sacristy where he will be changing his vestments for the mass.”

“I was nervous but proceeded to the sacristy, and there, up close and personal, I met Pope Francis and kissed his ring,” Villaflores smilingly said.

“Lisod ma describe unsa akong gibati adto nga time (it’s difficult to describe how I felt then), happy kaau ko ug nitulo gani akong luha (I was so happy and my tears fell),” the young priest recalled.

During the entire celebration of the Holy Eucharist, he stood on the right side of the Pope, with all of them wearing yellow raincoats and drenched. That did not dampen his spirits as he held the microphone for the Holy Father.

“Nangurog ko siguro, pero sa katugnaw ug dili tungod ky naa ang Santo Papa (I must have shivered due to the cold, but not because I was in the presence of the Holy Father),” he shared.

Asked how he would describe Pope Francis, he said, “He is very simple. Iyang vestment nipis ug dili arte (his vestment was made of light material and not fancy)” and even his watch looked like an ordinary one.

Journey to the priesthood

The encounters with Yolanda and Pope Francis, he admitted, have played significant roles in his decision to enter the priesthood.

“Nakatabang kaau ug dako ang akong experience sa Yolanda (my experience with Yolanda has truly helped me),” he said.

The simplicity and humility of the Pope have had an influence on him. “Makita gud nimo nga down to earth siya, pareho ba ni Jesus (and you can definitely see that he is down to earth, just like Jesus),” he said.

Last Sept. 18, Bishop Julito Cortes ordained Fr. Alvin Villaflores at the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Alexandria in Dumaguete City.

The eldest of 10 children of Serafin Villaflores and Alice Fe Almendra had this to say of his recent ordination: “Please pray for me. All I want is to be a good, sincere, and holy priest.”

In response to the call of many for a “priest to go down to their level and understand them”, as what Bishop Cortes shared during his ordination, Villaflores said he is prepared to take on the challenge.

Coming also from a not-soprivileged family, he said he can relate to them after all. ■

14

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

CANADIAN TOUR OF DUTY

ConGen Mei-An Austria: Living, Loving Vancouver on a Dream Tour-of-Duty

BY BOLET AREVALO

NO ONE said the job is easy.

More so, if for example, you find that the struggle is real for skilled professional Filipino immigrants in Canada as they hurdle the enduring challenge of getting the rightful recognition they so deserve for the education and proficiencies that they brought with them from the mother country.

“While Canada is a very welcoming environment, we see our kababayans unable to practice their profession and thus, accept jobs that they are overqualified for,” observed the freshly-installed Consul General Mei-An Austria in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Three (3) months into her office at the time of this writing, the ConGen is ironically faced with years-old issues that threaten to consume her perseverance and “creative problemsolving” ability as a leader. But the new ConGen is not backing down. Instead, she intends to move faster forward towards a solution, as she strives to work with both the Canadian provincial government and Fil-Canadian organizations who also like to see change somewhere along the way.

“I want the consular office to be more than a place for renewing passports,” quipped ConGen Austria.

She wants her office to be more pro-active in determining where help is needed and delivering that help with dispatch.

But as a true diplomat, she is earnestly trying to discover

“the path of least resistance,” where she can work with the local authorities, who are also interested in improving the lives of Filipinos and Fil-Canadians in Vancouver, and Canada, in general.

Love is Also Husband, Daughters and Vancouver

Feeling the Pulse of Caregivers, TFWs

The other focus of interest is the plight of caregivers and temporary foreign workers (TFWs) with whom she shares both short-term and longterm concerns. Short-term like whether their contracts are above board; or long-term like how long should their children or families in the Philippines Maria Andrelita Austria. really wait to be reunited with DANIEL K. INOUYE ASIA-PACIFIC CENTER FOR SECURITY STUDIES / FACEBOOK them in Canada? Or will they ever have that chance, espe- partment of Labor and Employ- vis-à-vis what can and cannot cially with the current restric- ment’s International Labor Af- be done within the parameters tion on permanent residency fairs Service (1986-1989). of the adoptive government’s for those who entered after NoShe played a pivotal role in policies and regulations. vember 2017? establishing the first set of WelConGen Austria is somehow With the Philippines having fare Offices and Filipino Work- saying that it is one thing to become one of the biggest ex- ers’ Centers in various parts of push for our kababayans’ issues porters of people to the world, the world. and it is another thing to avoid migrant issues will remain to The more challenging part antagonizing the mainstream, be in the daily dose of carb in when addressing such issues, or we may be pulled further the diet of Phildown and end up ippine ambasaccomplishing sadors anywhere nothing. around the While most of globe. ConGen We are always looking out at the the positions she Austria included. workforce to see where we can get assumed in the Thirty-one our people decent jobs and a living past seemingly (31) years in pubwage. entailed thinklic service, 25 tank roles and of which is with swivel-chair exthe foreign serecution, she said vice, the good Consul has had she recalled, is that the con- that at many points in these asher share of having to address sular office cannot be at the signments, she also had to roll pressing problems of Filipinos driver’s seat all the time, if not up her sleeves in the service abroad. Before her stint at the mostly always at the back seat. of her countrymen and love Department of Foreign Affairs, Notwithstanding how grandi- for her own country. In North she was, in fact, a Division Chief ose the office nomenclature America, she had worked hard at the Overseas Workers Welfare sounds, it can only play a sup- into cases of Filipinos facing Administration (1989-1992), porting role or even forced to death penalty and teachers who and Labor and Employment watch carefully in the back- are victims of illegal recruitDevelopment Officer at the De- ground as they mediate issues ment.

www.canadianinquirer.net

Love to ConGen is also her family of four (4) – three (3) daughters and a very supportive husband, Engr. Carlito Eduardo Austria, who she said had been lucky to be a private businessman and therefore, can conduct his business from anywhere the world takes their family. Engr. Austria is currently President of RGE AgriDev Corporation.

For now, Vancouver it is. And how the ConGen is beginning to love the city – the weather, the food, the even-tempered pace perhaps, the vibrant Filipino community, and as a bonus, the opportunities it may present to her own girls while the family is on this assignment.

The youngest, Gabe, 18 is a freshman student at the University of British Columbia; the second, Abby, 22 graduated from Ateneo de Manila University and intends to take some post-graduate studies in Vancouver; while the eldest Patrice, 26, had just finished her Master’s from Yale University.

While she does not see any of her children following in her footsteps in government service, ConGen Austria believes that the youth have multiple ways to participate in nationbuilding.

“A career in foreign service is very fulfilling. In the foreign service, (they can) also get to perform a variety of tasks, all of which contribute to the goals of national development and empowerment of our people.”

She added that “The best qualification for a career in public service is a deep and abiding love for our country, ❱❱ PAGE 19 ConGen Mei-An

15

Canada News Liberals hope relief at getting a deal will trump anger over concessions

BY JOAN BRYDEN The Canadian Press OTTAWA — The united partisan front maintained in Canada throughout 14 months of tortuous negotiations on NAFTA evaporated the moment a new agreement was announced, with political opponents scrambling Monday to ensure Justin Trudeau gets no credit for reaching a new continental trade deal — and reaps the maximum political damage for the concessions made.

Conservatives accused the prime minister Monday of “capitulating” to U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Now Justin Trudeau has to explain how we have a worse deal than NAFTA,” said Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer.

“Under this deal, Trudeau backed down on protecting Canada’s dairy farmers, he backed down on Canadian control on our auto industry, he backed down on Canadian sovereignty on setting prescription drug prices for Canadians.”

New Democrats similarly accused Trudeau of “caving in” to Trump and winding up with a worse deal than NAFTA. Meanwhile, the common front the Trudeau government had forged with provincial and territorial leaders was also unravelling — particularly

in Quebec where anger over the concession to allow more American access to Canada’s supply-managed dairy, poultry and egg sectors boiled over just as Quebecers were heading to the polls.

But while politicians hyperventilated, business leaders were largely heaving a sigh of relief that the deal, whatever its deficiencies, has averted an even worse scenario: no trade agreement at all with the U.S. and the prospect of Trump following through on his threat to impose economically devastating tariffs on Canadian-made autos and auto parts.

Even Canada’s chicken farmers, despite their disappointment at giving up market share to U.S. producers, expressed relief that “over a year of uncertainty” was finally over.

With the clock ticking down to a federal election next October, Trudeau is clearly hoping voters will be similarly more relieved at getting a deal than outraged at the concessions required to achieve it.

His biggest challenge will likely be soothing the anger of dairy farmers in Quebec, where his Liberals are hoping to make gains. But he is promising to compensate farmers for their loss of market share and has a year in which to make the case for the agreement in his home province.

As for his political opponents’ accusations that he caved in to Trump, Trudeau’s decision at the outset to involve prominent Conservatives and labour leaders in the negotiations is already helping to insulate him from the harshest partisan criticisms.

Scheer’s depiction of the deal as utter capitulation to Trump’s demands was starkly contradicted Monday by former Conservative prime minister Brian Mulroney, who negotiated the original free trade agreement with the U.S. and helped advise the Trudeau government.

He called the United StatesMexico-Canada Agreement “a highly significant achievement for Canada” that will benefit all three countries.

“I said at the beginning that there is no Conservative way or Liberal way to negotiate a free trade agreement — there is only a Canadian way,” Mulroney said in a written statement. “This has been the government’s approach as well and I commend all — from the prime minister on down — who contributed to writing this vital new chapter in the ongoing drive for greater Canadian strength and prosperity.”

Rona Ambrose, former interim Conservative leader and a member of Trudeau’s NAFTA advisory council, tweeted her “congrats to Team Canada,”

Andrew Scheer.

predicting that the deal will “help ease investor anxiety, stabilize trade-exposed sectors and reassure the world that North America remains committed to free trade.”

While the deal isn’t perfect, fellow advisory council member and former Conservative cabinet minister James Moore tweeted that the bottom line is, “free trade faced its greatest threat to date and free trade won.”

Unifor president Jerry Dias, whose union represents auto workers, noted that many of the key victories in the new deal were what’s not in it — a reference to radical demands initially made by the Trump administration and which ultimately were dropped, including demands for a five-year sunset clause and elimination of an impartial dispute-resolution

ANDREW SCHEER / FACEBOOK

mechanism.

Dias, Canadian Labour Congress president Hassan Yussuf and Teamsters Canada president Francois Laporte all welcomed enforceable labour standards and some other provisions in the new deal, while expressing concern about other aspects — notably the failure to persuade Trump to lift the crippling tariffs imposed last spring on Canadian steel and aluminum. That lapse prompted the United Steelworkers to blast the deal for selling out their sector.

However, Trudeau has a year in which to resolve that issue before he must face the electorate. And Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland expressed hope that the tariff issue can be resolved now that the new trade deal has put “a little wind in our sails.” ■

Canadian cities consider drinking in public parks ahead of cannabis legalization

BY NICOLE THOMPSON AND ALANNA RIZZA The Canadian Press AS ALL corners of the country prepare for a seismic shift in how and where people consume marijuana, several cities are considering whether it

would make sense to legalize drinking alcohol in parks as well — a move an expert said would bring antiquated laws in line with the way people already behave.

“I think a lot of people who want to have a bottle of wine in a public park on a Sunday are probably going to be doing that

anyway,” said Mitchell Kosny, interim director of Ryerson University’s School of Urban and Regional Planning.

The idea of legalizing alcohol in parks and on beaches has come up in Toronto and Vancouver, both of which are in the midst of municipal elections and both of which are in provwww.canadianinquirer.net

inces that will allow people to toke in public come Oct. 17.

Kosny said he suspects the idea is floating around now because election candidates and front runners may want to appear “open-minded.”

Toronto Mayor John Tory floated the idea at an event Thursday, pointing out that it

would seem counterintuitive to allow people to smoke pot in parks but not drink a beer — especially since people are already bringing wine and beer to their picnics.

“I know from being in the parks now that it’s quite a wide❱❱ PAGE 22 Canadian cities

Canada News

16

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

Legault and his Coalition make history as supporters bask in victory

BY GIUSEPPE VALIANTE The Canadian Press QUEBEC — Addressing Quebec for the first time as premier-designate Monday night, Francois Legault touched on a theme he returned to repeatedly during the 39-day election campaign.

On the hustings he promised to make Quebec stronger and richer and to rekindle a sense of pride, and he had just been given a mandate to follow through.

“We will build a stronger Quebec — a prouder Quebec!” he shouted, his voice almost cracking.

Monday’s election was third time lucky for the Coalition leader as the party won 74 of the province’s 125 ridings.

Seven years after creating his party and following two election attempts that fell short, Legault will become the first premier since 1966 to win a general election leading a party other than the Liberals or Parti Quebecois.

Legault has positioned his party as a federalist, economically minded alternative to the Liberals, and a nationalist replacement for the Parti Quebecois.

He says his government will be focused on protecting Quebec’s culture and negotiating more powers from Ottawa.

But he also says his party will be federalist and “never, ever,” hold a referendum on sovereignty.

During his speech, he addressed a few lines in English to the province’s anglophones.

“Fellow English-speaking citizens, during this campaign you’ve been exposed to a heated debate,” he said. “The election is over now. Let’s start working together for the benefit of all Quebecers.”

Legault, 61, the multimillionaire cofounder of Air Transat, chose to celebrate in the provincial capital, the centre of his political base, where his promise of lower taxes and a “business” approach to politics first gained traction.

The crowd was modest for the size of the convention centre — about 300 people — but they were loud.

Lorraine Simard, 65, said she has been involved in the party “since the beginning, beginning, beginning!”

“Young people don’t want to sepa-

PANDIT HANUMANJI ASTROLOGER PSYCHIC & PALM READER 18TH GENERATION TO GENERATION

NOW IN CALGARY

POWERFUL SPIRITUAL HEALER A GOLDEN CHANCE TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE VADIC SOLUTIONS ARE AVAILABLE FOR: BUSINESS EVIL SPIRITS REUNITE LOVERS STOP DIVORCE PSYCHOLOGICAL CHILDREN COURT CASES PROPERTY PROBLEM

FAMILY BAD LUCK DEPRESSION STOP DRINKING HEALTH EDUCATION JOB ETC.

100% RESULT GUARANTEED PRIVATE & CONFIDENTIAL

TO GET IMMEDIATE SOLUTIONS: BLACK MAGIC, EVIL SPIRIT, WITCHCRAFT, GENERATION CURSE, VOODOO, OBEAH ETC. EXPERT IN BRINGING YOUR LOVED ONES BACK CALL FOR APPOINTMENT - NORTH EAST CALGARY

403-975-9807

François Legault.

FRANÇOIS LEGAULT / FACEBOOK

rate from Canada — the wave is moving noisemaker and celebrating with a glass in another direction, and it’s time for of beer. something else,” she said, as images of “Let’s see what they can do!” he said winning Coalition candidates flashed on enthusiastically of the Coalition, adding the jumbo screens in front of her. that his main concern this election was “I used to be a sovereigntist, but now health care. that I see the young people, we need new “We gave a chance to (the Liberals) ideas, new people.” and look what they did — the health-care Samuel Massicotte, 22, said he’s been system is the same.” volunteering for the Coalition for the Legault used to be staunchly pro-inpast year and a half. dependence as a key member of former He’s always been nationalist, and Le- PQ governments. But he quit the party gault represented “a leader I wanted to and formed his own in 2011, vowing to follow in a party that extricate Quebec inspired me,” he said. from the federalist“Nationalism sovereigntist divide. means advocating The campaign was for Quebec’s interest tough on Legault, without wanting inwho began the politidependence. It’s the We are seeing cal race atop the polls best of both worlds.” that Quebecers only to see his lead Victorious Coalibelieve in us decrease steadily aftion candidates were — they wanted ter a series of gaffes on the floor of Quechange, and on the issue of immibec City’s conventhey saw us gration. tion centre barely 30 as the only He had difficulty minutes after polls possible defending his policy closed, smiling and avenue for that. of forcing newcomconfidently telling ers to pass a French reporters they were test or face expulsion ready to assume from the province. power.

Legault wavered and “I am not surevaded questions reprised, actually,” said Genevieve Guil- garding how immigrants would be rebault, who was re-elected in her Quebec moved.

City riding. Her 2017 byelection victory Despite the missteps on immigration, — when she grabbed a Liberal seat with Legault’s party benefited from an immore than 50 per cent of the vote — was portant factor. Successive Liberal gova harbinger of what was to come prov- ernments have been in power — except ince-wide Monday. for a 2012-14 PQ minority government “Mr. Legault called for a vote of con- — since 2003. Polls consistently indifidence and tonight we are having that,” cated a majority of Quebecers wanted she said. “We are seeing that Quebecers change. believe in us — they wanted change, and In one particularly touching part they saw us as the only possible avenue of his victory speech, Legault told the for that.” crowd how “I’ve told you this before: the A few steps away from Guilbault was first quality of a premier is to love Que73-year-old Emilien Caron, holding a becers. I will never forget that. Never!” ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

Canada News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

17

How Canada can, and must, New trade deal doesn’t empower Indigenous communities address climate change: environmentalists

BY WALID HEJAZI Associate Professor of International Business, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto, The Canadian Press THE FEDERAL government recently spent $4.5 billion dollars to purchase the Trans Mountain pipeline, a move that highlights the significant political risk underlying the project’s expansion.

The government purchase was required as a last resort because there’s no private sector appetite to bear the risks.

It’s culminated in a Federal Court of Appeal ruling, halting, at least temporarily, the expansion project.

That court ruling made reference to inadequate consultations with Indigenous peoples as a major factor in its decision.

This isn’t surprising. Many of Canada’s major infrastructure projects that have an impact on Canada’s Indigenous communities have resulted in protests, legal challenges and political road blocks.

It’s now time for federal and provincial governments to treat Indigenous communities with more respect and engage them as collaborators in infrastructure projects that impact their communities, rather than a simple obstacle to be dealt with after the deal is made. There are sufficient benefits to satisfy all stakeholders.

Effective engagement will result in a more timely and certain path to completion for critical infrastructure projects, thus advancing Canada’s best interests.

Closing the income gap

But there is another important outcome that frankly must be elevated in importance.

Canada’s Indigenous population numbers about two million, or five per cent of Canada’s population. The average income across this community is half that of the rest of Canadians.

Engaging these communities meaningfully would close this income gap, adding $50 billion to Canada’s annual GDP. This would empower Indigenous communities, promote economic reconciliation and correct a national tragedy that has

BY JOAN BRYDEN The Canadian Press

Transmountain pipeline.

impacted these Canadian communities.

In a powerful op-ed in the Globe and Mail, Sharleen Gale, head of the First Nations Major Projects Coalition wrote: “For generations, First Nations communities have been constrained by the Indian Act and decades of government paternalism and over-regulation.

We did not have the chance to break into the modern economy, and lacked the basic business tools available to other Canadians. We could not borrow money to buy and build our homes, let alone get the funds needed to make major investments.”

Improvements to financial and economic structures have been advanced that would now enable sustainable Indigenous economic participation in large infrastructure projects.

This would allow the establishment of a timely and certain path to consultation, approval and completion of projects, while providing Indigenous communities access to the financial resources needed to develop their local economies.

Municipal bonds

Consider the following systematic barrier.

Municipalities have predictable recurring revenues from their tax base, and can borrow money by issuing municipal bonds at low interest rates because those bonds are guaranteed by provincial governments.

In contrast, Indigenous communities do not have a predictable recurring revenue source that would enable planning and budgeting for local infrastructure, and federal legislation ex-

ALBERTA.CA / WEBSITE

plicitly states that Ottawa will not guarantee Indigenous bond issues.

Unlike other municipalities, Indigenous communities are unable to fund infrastructure and other needed investments.

In a recent infrastructure competition, we proposed an innovative solution to this problem.

The Indigenous Infrastructure Investment Trust, or 3IT financial framework, puts Indigenous communities on an equal footing with municipalities.

This structure allows for the mobilization of capital into Indigenous communities in a way that allows for the development of both critical infrastructure projects like Trans Mountain as well as local infrastructure within Indigenous communities.

A recent World Bank report on mobilizing global capital for participatory investment in infrastructure projects illustrates how this approach has proliferated across the developing world. As the 3IT framework demonstrates, it can easily work in Canada.

But bold leadership is required. Without it, critical infrastructure projects will continue to be delayed, natural resources will remain stuck in the ground and Indigenous communities will remain shut out of the modern economy. ■ David Robinson, executive director of The Techknowledgey Group, co-authored this piece.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Disclosure information is available on the original site. www.canadianinquirer.net

ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS say a new trade deal between the United States, Canada and Mexico continues to coddle a fossil fuel economy that needs to shift in the face of climate change. “(Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau went into (these talks) saying we’re going to have chapters on the environment. We’re going to have chapters on Indigenous rights. We’re going to have chapters on gender,” Greenpeace Canada spokesman Keith Stewart said Monday.

“All of that has disappeared and the focus has been on trying to protect and preserve the economic status quo.”

Trudeau, as well as Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Environment Minister Catherine McKenna, said repeatedly during the early days of the talks that Canada would pursue a “progressive agenda” on trade.

The deal does have a chapter on the environment, but critics such as the Council of Canadians call it weak and unenforceable.

It mentions pollution, marine traffic, endangered animals and ozone, but ignores what many call the world’s largest environmental challenge.

“The deal doesn’t even mention climate change,” Stewart said.

Freeland disagreed.

“This is in fact a very progressive trade agreement,” she said in Ottawa. “The environment chapter is enforceable. It is much stronger than previous environment chapters. That is a very progressive outcome.”

Scott Vaughan, from the Winnipeg-based International Institute for Sustainable Development, called most of the environmental provisions in the agreement “boilerplate.”

“A lot of it is standard text which has been used in environmental chapters in freetrade agreements for the last 20 years,” he said. “That text hasn’t had a significant impact on environmental quality one way or

the other.”

What has been thrown out is a provision in the old North American Free Trade Agreement that allowed corporations to sue governments for lost profits if they were injured by public-interest regulations such as environmental laws. The Council of Canadians pointed out that Canada was sued 37 times, mostly by American companies, under the old clause.

“One of the good things is that they’ve eliminated (that clause),” said Stewart.

Companies, however, will still be able to sue Mexico, particularly with regard to energy companies bidding on state contracts.

Also, the deal obliges all three countries to prevent overfishing and stop subsidizing fisheries.

“That’s a really welcome side of it,” said Vaughan.

But Ben Beachy, of the U.S. Sierra Club, said the proposed agreement will allow U.S. and Canadian companies to continue to exploit weaker environmental rules in Mexico. He also fears new provisions that allow companies to challenge tougher regulations before they’re even enacted.

“It would lock in Trump’s polluting legacy for years because it would make it that much harder to reverse the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks,” he said.

Beachy also criticized the deal’s weak language. While it recognizes air pollution as a public health threat, it lacks any binding rules to reduce such pollution.

Vaughan noted the deal’s environmental enforcement mechanism has still to be worked out. While the NAFTAera Commission on Environmental Enforcement will remain, its budget, mandate and agenda are unclear.

Concerned groups agreed the new trade deal does little to improve the likely environmental outcomes of such pacts.

“We actually need to change things,” said Stewart. “This agreement doesn’t help us do that. This is about trying to continue the economic status quo.” ■

18

Canada News

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

Indigenous underemployment persists but OECD report points to positive changes

BY KELLY GERALDINE MALONE The Canadian Press WINNIPEG — When Kevin Chief finished his university degree, he wasn’t sure how to land his first real job.

The vice-president of the Business Council of Manitoba and former NDP cabinet minister, who grew up in Winnipeg’s North End neighbourhood, saw the barriers many of his Indigenous friends faced.

Chief’s basketball skills got him through university, but he didn’t have connections that could get him hired. When he walked through the doors of the Centre for Aboriginal Human Resources Development, everything changed.

The centre connected Chief to an employment counsellor, prepared him for interviews and helped him build a resume.

“I wasn’t going to do very

good in a job interview because ment, business and finance. report said they do not experiI hadn’t done any,” Chief said.

Across Canada, the unem- ence the same success.

Most importantly, Chief said ployment rate of Indigenous Marileen Bartlett, execuhe finally had the confidence to people is well above non-In- tive director of the Centre for pursue his dreams. digenous people. The report Aboriginal Human Resources A new report looking at em- said gaps in labour market par- Development, said investing in ployment and skills outcomes ticipation between Indigenous Indigenous people is investing in Canada by the Organization and non-Indigenous people is in the future. for Economic Co-operation particularly high in Nunavut, An estimated 350,000 Indigeand Development shows Indig- Northwest Territories, Sas- nous youth will turn 15 between enous people still face numer- katchewan and Manitoba.

2016 and 2026 — something the ous barriers. But OECD called an that changes unprecedented when there are opportunity to Indigenous-led fill crucial laprograms like the We are always looking out at the bour shortages one that opened workforce to see where we can get in Canada. doors for Chief. our people decent jobs and a living The Manitoba The report wage. employment found Indigecentre has grown nous people are and changed a lot more likely to since it began in be in lower paying jobs such as Contributing factors include 1974 depending on what the job teaching, retail or social work. lower graduation rates, less ac- market and their clients need, While more than 25 per cent cess to skills training, as well as Bartlett said. Sometimes a cliof the Indigenous labour force insecure childcare and housing. ent needs a bit more education work in sales and service occu- But even when Indigenous and and training. Other times, they pations, they are significantly non-Indigenous people have may have a good job opportuniunder-represented in manage- the same level of education, the ty but can’t get childcare. Many

www.canadianinquirer.net

clients need both.

“We are always looking out at the workforce to see where we can get our people decent jobs and a living wage,” she said.

“If we want to have that Indigenous middle class, we have to help people to continue to move up the ladder in their education and training so they continue to have better opportunities for themselves.”

The report highlighted the Manitoba centre and three other Indigenous-run centres across Canada, stressing the importance of having staff who are Indigenous.

“This is critical in building trust with potential Indigenous job seekers, who often seek life skills coaching and counselling as well as other pre-employment supports to ensure that they can remain in employment once they have successfully found a job,” the report ❱❱ PAGE 24 Indigenous

World News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

19

Trump dominated UN, but US nationalism at odds with world

BY EDITH M. LEDERER The Associated Press CAMEROON, CAMEROON — U.S. President Donald Trump dominated this year’s gathering of global leaders that ended Monday, but his rejection of “the ideology of globalism” left America almost singlehandedly holding a nationalist banner against urgent calls from an overwhelming number countries for the world to work together.

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres opened the weeklong meeting last Tuesday declaring that global co-operation is the world’s best hope and warning that “multilateralism is under fire precisely when we need it most.” And General Assembly President Maria Espinosa Garces wrapped up the meeting, during which all 193 U.N. member nations spoke, saying that one of its major achievements was strong global backing for the U.N. and multilateralism.

The high turnout of leaders — 121 presidents, prime ministers and monarchs — “is because the world cares about the United Nations and the world cares about multilateralism, and the need to strengthen the multilateral agenda,” Espinosa Garces said in a news conference. And the General Assembly is the body “for international coexistence.”

But Trump’s speech, not long after Guterres’, poured scorn on multilateralism and touted his “America First” policy, saying his administration has achieved more “than almost any administration in the history of our country,” which sparked chuckles and outright laughter from some leaders.

“We will never surrender America’s sovereignty to an unelected, unaccountable, global bureaucracy,” the U.S. president said. “America is governed by Americans. We reject the ideology of globalism, and we embrace the doctrine of patriotism.”

One of the very few countries to speak out for nationalism was Hungary, which has erected razor wire fences to keep people out. Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called migration the greatest challenge in his-

tory, saying “migratory waves” are creating huge security risks, destabilizing countries, and bringing terrorism to a region where it did not exist before.

“The international community must respect sovereignty of the countries,” he said.

But speaker after speaker over the week stressed the importance of global co-operation, starting with French President Emmanuel Macron, a progressive, multilateralist, who told the General Assembly: “Nationalism always leads to defeat.”

Canada’s U.N. Ambassador Marc-Andre Blanchard told Monday’s final session that “the magnitude of the contemporary challenges the world is confronting” — including climate change, terrorism, economic inequality, irregular migration and protracted crises — “require the world to work together.”

“The U.N. is the only place where we all come together to tackle these challenges,” he said, but the U.N. and other institutions established after World War II must work together to make them “more efficient, fairer and more inclusive.”

Trump faced pushback on other U.S. policies he trumpeted, including his historic meeting in June with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his “push for peace.” At the same time, he insisted that tough sanctions would remain until the Korean peninsula is denuclearized.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov countered that the U.S. should consider matching Kim’s positive steps — including halting nuclear and missile tests and actions to dismantle related facilities — with an easing of sanctions.

Trump also faced pushback on Iran, which he called a “brutal regime” and a “corrupt dictatorship” whose leaders “sow chaos, death and destruction.”

He denounced the “horrible” 2015 nuclear deal with Iran which the Obama administration signed along with Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany, saying that’s why the U.S. withdrew and re-imposed sanctions on Tehran.

But in a rebuke to Trump, foreign ministers from the five countries that still support the

deal agreed at one of some 400 meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly to establish a financial facility in the European Union to facilitate payments for Iranian imports and exports including oil — a key move sought by Tehran to counter U.S. sanctions.

Another major issue at the global gathering was climate change — an issue not mentioned in Trump’s speech. It was raised not only by small islands that see an existential threat, but also by large countries with vulnerable coasts facing more deadly hurricanes and cyclones.

Dominica’s Foreign Minister Francine Baron, whose Caribbean island nation was decimated by Hurricane Maria’s 180 mile-per-hour winds last September, said her prime minister’s call to all countries days later at the U.N. “to come together to save our planet” hasn’t been heeded.

“Among and around us are many who still deny the reality of climate change,” she said, adding that there is still no plan to implement the 2015 Paris agreement to combat global warming, and “we have not mobilized the resources to capitalize the $100 billion per year, which was agreed upon, to assist the most vulnerable.”

The General Assembly meeting also put a spotlight on global conflicts and hotspots, large and small, from the seven-year-old conflict in Syria and the threeyear-old war in Yemen that has sparked the world’s worst humanitarian crisis to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict, the IndianPakistani dispute over Kashmir and the Armenia-Azerbaijan clash over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro accused the U.S. of attacking his country through sanctions and other means in the meeting’s longest speech — 48 minutes. The shortest was Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite at 5 minutes, according to Assembly president Espinosa Garces.

Syria’s Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem declared that a victory over “terrorism” is almost at hand and demanded that “occupation” forces from the U.S., France and Turkey leave the country immediately. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

ConGen with Keith Liedtke of the RCC. KEITH LIEDTKE RICHMOND COMMUNITY COALITION POLITICAL CANDIDATE / FACEBOOK

ConGen Mei-An... ❰❰ 14

as well as a genuine interest in serving our people, wherever they may be. From this conviction, you can develop the skills needed to perform to the best of your ability. A public servant also has to be committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and professionalism in the performance of our daily functions.”

“I have been fortunate to have been exposed to exemplary public servants and statesmen. I continue to admire my colleagues in the service, many of them are women, some of whom have already retired, who have always put the interest of the country above themselves. Their wisdom, professionalism, and elegance are always examples for us.”

Immediately before Vancouver, ConGen Austria was Assistant Secretary for American Affairs at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila from June 2014 to mid-June 2018; and the Political Officer and subsequently Deputy Chief of Mission at the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC from April 2009 – May 2014.

A Child of EDSA People Power

It has been a long journey to a career in foreign service for the Consul General, who graduated from Maryknoll College with a Bachelor’s degree in International Studies; and obtained post-graduate diploma in International Relations and Development from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, the Netherlands.

“I was in college when the

Filipino people came together in what became known as People Power. As an active participant in that effort, we were very much aware that overthrowing a dictatorship was the easy part, but the task of rebuilding the country would be arduous.

I joined government in August 1986, a few months after earning my bachelor’s degree, inspired by the desire to help rebuild the nation.”

She said she feels lucky that, “I have had the privilege of contributing to the promotion and protection of the Philippine’s national interest through six (6) administrations in various capacities. I continue to work towards my dream of helping rebuild the nation and improve the lives of our people.”

As of today, however, the good Consul could not think of anything or any other dream assignment than the beautiful British Columbia and its lovely city of Vancouver.

Retirement is also not in her radar at the moment. ConGen admits she is just too happy to be assigned in Vancouver, too new to be bragging at any achievement in this assignment as of yet; but hopefully, will not be too busy to enjoy the city’s best sushi and breath-taking sceneries. Most importantly, never too distracted from doing her Vancouver tour-of-duty the best way that she can, with the help of Fil-Can Vancouverites.

At the end of the day, if there is anything to accomplish at all, it is to see to it that “the presence of Filipinos will be felt and valued” in this Land of the Immigrants. ■

20

World News

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

Cloud of sex abuse scandal hangs over Vatican youth meeting

BY NICOLE WINFIELD The Associated Press VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis opens a monthlong meeting of bishops Wednesday on engaging young Catholics as his church is again under fire for the way it covered up for priests who raped and molested young people.

One American bishop suggested postponing or cancelling the synod, given the poor optics of assembling the church hierarchy to discuss a demographic harmed by the culture of concealment the same hierarchy has been accused of fostering.

A Dutch bishop, outraged that the Vatican hasn’t responded to claims that Francis himself rehabilitated a predator American cardinal, announced he was boycotting the meeting altogether. Another American bishop asked Francis to let him stay home to cope with the scandal’s fallout in his diocese.

Despite the dark cloud hanging over the synod, organizers said Monday they thought the rebirth of the scandal could still give the Vatican an opportunity to show that the Catholic Church isn’t just about sex abuse and coverups.

“The church isn’t represent-

ed by those who make mistakes.

The church is more important and fundamental than that,” said Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, who is organizing the Oct. 3-28 meeting.

The synod is bringing together 266 bishops from five continents for talks on helping young people find their vocations in life — be it lay or religious — at a time when church marriages and religious vocations are plummeting in much of the West.

It’s a follow-on synod to the meetings Francis organized in 2014 and 2015 on family life that inspired his controversial opening to letting divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive Communion.

No single pressing issue is facing bishops this time around, although the way they address homosexuality will be the most closely watched topic.

The Vatican’s preparatory document made what is believed to be the first-ever reference in an official Vatican text to “LGBT.” In addition, the role of women in the church will be watched, although no woman has any vote on the final document. Only a handful of women are attending as experts or as some of the 34 young people picked to attend — a structural

imbalance in the Vatican’s synod process.

On the eve of the synod, a parallel conference got underway across town in Rome organized

by Catholic women’s groups, which have long lobbied for a greater say in church decisionmaking.

Students from the Ursuline High School in Wimbledon, Britain opened the conference by reading the letter they wrote to Francis complaining about the prejudice they feel as young women in the church. They even criticized Francis’ frequent use of the term “feminine genius” to describe the qualities he says are so necessary to the church today.

“Initially, ‘feminine genius’ sounded complimentary, but then we asked ourselves what it really means,” the girls wrote.

“We think of the qualities it refers to which are supposedly inherent to womanhood, such as caring, nurturing and receptivity. We believe motherhood is really important, but for a number of reasons, focusing only on this does not relate to our ambitions as women.”

The synod’s working document says young people in many secularized parts of the world simply want nothing to do with the Catholic Church,

CARLO GRANISSO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

because they find it not only irrelevant to their lives but downright irritating.

“This request does not stem from uncritical or impulsive scorn, but is deeply rooted in serious and respectable reasons: sexual and economic scandals,” for which they demand the church enforce a zero-tolerance policy.

But at the same time, the Vatican itself has fueled the latest scandal by refusing to respond to claims by a retired ambassador, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, that Francis and a long list of Vatican officials before him covered up for ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, the for-

mer archbishop of Washington.

Francis removed McCarrick as a cardinal in July after a U.S. church investigation determined an allegation that he fondled a teenage altar boy in the 1970s was credible. But it was apparently common knowledge in the Vatican and U.S. church that McCarrick pressured seminarians to go to bed with him.

The one bright spot for the meeting is that for the first time, two bishops from mainland China are participating in a synod, the first tangible result of last month’s breakthrough agreement between the Vatican and Beijing over bishop appointments. ■

Problems for Pentagon’s immigrant recruit program

BY LOLITA C. BALDOR The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Stricter Trump administration immigration policies have stymied Pentagon plans to restart a program that allowed thousands of people with critical medical or Asian and African language skills to join the military and become American citizens, according to several U.S. officials.

The decade-old program has been on hold since 2016 amid concerns that immigrant recruits were not being screened well enough, and security threats were slipping through the system. Defence officials shored up the vetting process, and planned to relaunch the

program earlier this month.

But there was an unexpected barrier when Homeland Security officials said they would not be able to protect new immigrant recruits from being deported when their temporary visas expired after they signed a contract to join the military, the U.S. officials said. They were not authorized to publicly describe internal discussions and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The program is called Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program, or MAVNI. The plan to restart it was backed by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, who believes that noncitizens can bring key skills, language abilities, and cultural knowledge to the military.

Mattis, a combat veteran of

multiple war tours, has fought with and commanded foreign nationals, and he believes their service adds to the lethality of America’s fighting force, according to the officials.

The Pentagon chief told reporters late last month that the program is designed to enlist immigrants with needed skills.

“We need and want every qualified patriot willing to serve and able to serve,” Mattis said. At the time, he said the department was working diligently to address the security screening problems.

When asked about the latest developments, Air Force Maj. Carla Gleason, a Pentagon spokeswoman, said, “the unique skill sets these individuals bring is one of the reasons the U.S. www.canadianinquirer.net

military is the world’s premier fighting force.” She had no comment on the internal discussions to relaunch the program.

The officials familiar with the discussions said Homeland Security told the Pentagon that it would not be able sign any agreement blocking the deportation of the immigrant recruits brought in under the program.

In previous years, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service used an informal process to give MAVNI recruits protection when their temporary or student visas expired because they were entering military service. In addition, Congress included new restrictions in the 2019 defence bill that limit each military service to 1,000 such recruits per year.

President Donald Trump has made tighter controls on immigration, both legal and illegal, an important element of his administration.

Asked about the issue, a Homeland Security official said recruits without legal immigration status would be subject to deportation, but each case is reviewed individually. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations.

Over the past 10 years, the military services have recruited more than 10,000 immigrants through the program.

In recent years, however, the program has been mired in controversy amid grow❱❱ PAGE 22 Problems for

World News

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

21

New Tesla chair must rein in CEO Musk at key moment

BY CHRISTOPHER RUGABER The Associated Press WASHINGTON — It won’t be an easy job.

Whoever becomes the new chairman of Tesla Motors will face the formidable task of reining in Elon Musk, the charismatic, visionary chief executive with an impulsive streak, while also helping Musk achieve his dream of turning Tesla into a profitable, mass-market producer of environmentallyfriendly electric cars.

Musk is giving up the chairman’s role under a settlement announced Saturday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Besides a new chairman, Tesla was also ordered to appoint two new, independent members to its board. A more assertive board could provide the kind of tighter oversight that many legal experts, and Tesla investors, say is overdue

for a company of Tesla’s market value.

The settlement stemmed from a lawsuit the SEC filed charging Musk with misleading investors in August with a tweet that said he had “funding secured” for taking the company private.

Yet a more forceful board, coupled with a domineering CEO like Musk, could create conflicts at a risky time for the company. Visionary CEOs such as Apple’s Steve Jobs and Twitter’s Jack Dorsey have been forced out by strong boards of directors, though both eventually returned to their companies.

Even with the settlement, Tesla faces a daunting array of challenges.

The Justice Department has opened its own investigation into Musk’s Aug. 7 tweet, in which he said he would take the company private at $420 a share. The SEC’s lawsuit charged that the tweet, which

caused Tesla’s shares to jump, was misleading because he did not actually have the funding lined up for such a move.

Tesla is also under heavy pressure to turn a profit because it is burning through $1 billion in cash every three months and, as of the end of June, had just $2.2 billion in the bank.

Musk has said the company needs to produce 7,000 cars a week to make money, a target he aimed to reach in the July-September quarter. The company is likely to report production numbers this week and financial results from that quarter in early November.

Another concern: About $1.3 billion in Tesla debt is due to be repaid by March, including $230 million in November.

Some investors might want more than a new chairman.

Tesla has no chief operating officer, a critical No. 2 executive in most companies. That’s a stark contrast to other startups, such as Facebook, where

Elon Musk.

THOMAS HAWK / FLICKR, CC BY-NC 2.0

Mark Zuckerberg hired Sheryl Sandberg as a highly influential COO. In the lawsuit filed Thursday by the SEC, the agency said it was seeking to remove Musk from Tesla management altogether. Many investors have ar-

gued that keeping Musk as CEO is critical at such a time.

“I do not doubt the value of Musk to Tesla,” John Coffee, a Columbia University law professor and corporate gover❱❱ PAGE 24 New Tesla

0% FINANCE UP TO 84 MONTH!

2018 CLEAROUT! 0% Finance up to 84 month!

ALL NEW

2018 RVR SE Only $73/weekly*

ALL NEW

0% Finance up to 84 month!

2018 Mirage ES Plus Automatic Only $50/weekly* "Disclaimer: All prices plus applicable tax. 2018 RVR SE 2WD $26,598 0% finance 84 month, 2018 Mirage ES Plus Auto $17,548 0% Finance 84 month (oac, On approved Credit). $598 Documentation fee, freight & destination charge are INCLUDED in the payments/price. Promotion ends October 31st, 2018. Images shown may be different model. Please visit call us for details! 604-434-2488 DL:#7672 Metrotown Mitsubishi"

METROTOWN MITSUBISHI 5965 Kingsway (5 mins away from Metrotown Mall)

Ezekiel: 778-320-2773

Phone: 604-434-2488

www.metrotownmitsubishi.ca

www.canadianinquirer.net

22

World News

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

Problems for...

New Tesla...

❰❰ 20

❰❰ 21

Still, Elon Musk is different than many CEOs because he owns roughly 20 per cent of the company’s stock. That gives him more influence.

“In a typical case, the CEO is a high-priced employee” of the board, Gordon said. “Musk will still be more powerful than the board chair.”

There will be other constraints on Musk’s behaviour: As part of the SEC settlement, his tweets and other comments will have to be vetted by the company before they can be released to the public.

“This humiliation — that Elon can’t go outside unless he’s on a leash — that will bother him the most,” Gordon said.

He called it an “extraordinary measure.”

Gordon thinks the SEC should have gone further and sought to add as many as four new board members and remove some old ones.

Still, Gordon said, “I think this experience has shown him that however smart he is, or however powerful he thinks he is, the government is also powerful too.”

Musk may want to keep a close eye on the new chairman, however. Musk himself was the chair of the board, after investing in the company, before firing the chief executive and taking over as CEO. ■

he expects if cities allow public drinking, they’ll need to worry more about the mess than public drunkenness.

“Over in the (United Kingdom), I notice on Saturday and Sunday mornings, there is a hell of a lot of mess. There are bottles overflowing public trash cans in parks and there’s extra cleanup needed,” said Kosny.

For 27-year-old Tara Pollak, who is from Toronto, drinking in public parks could save her some cash. She said she wouldn’t have to go to a patio or restaurant, where alcohol is usually more expensive, in order to have a drink with friends.

“I’m a poor student paying back loans,” said Pollak. “It would be nice to share some sangria or beers with friends in the park and just hang out.” ■

ing concerns about security threats and struggles to develop a proper screening process.

According to court documents, more than 20 people in the program have been the subject of FBI or Pentagon counterintelligence or criminal investigations since 2013.

Gleason said the Defence Department suspended the program in 2016 after several classified assessments concluded that it “was vulnerable to an unacceptable level of risk from insider threats such as espionage, terrorism, and other criminal activity.”

Army Secretary Mark Esper, another advocate of the program, said recently that about of 80 per cent of MAVNI recruits who have gone through screening were approved and enlisted into the service. But he added that the Army must “exercise due diligence, to make sure we understand who is coming into our ranks and just do that. The process is never quick enough, certainly for them, and for me as well.”

Since the program’s suspension in 2016, hundreds of immigrants have been stalled in the intake process, waiting a year or more to get through the updated screening.

Dozens of the immigrant recruits were discharged or had their contracts cancelled as the

background checks dragged on, leading to complaints and lawsuits. Defence officials said the delays were likely because the remaining applicants required more complicated security checks that take longer to complete.

In response to the suits, the Army stopped processing discharges last month and reinstated at least three dozen recruits who had been thrown out of the service.

Officials said the Pentagon is exploring other ways to adjust or replace the program in order to bring immigrants with those skills into the military. But the officials said it will be difficult and that it probably will take a good deal of time.

The struggle with the program comes as the administration has imposed more strin-

gent rules for immigration, aimed largely at the country’s border with Mexico.

Those moves reflect Trump’s calculation that his promise to end illegal immigration and build a wall along that border fueled his election, and that stressing the same issues will drive voters to the polls and help the GOP retain its majorities in the Senate and House.

The MAVNI program, however, is not targeted at Spanish speakers, because the military has a large number of those. Instead, according to the Pentagon, the top languages spoken by recruits brought in through the program are Korean, Chinese Mandarin, Nepalese, Hindi, Swahili, Tagalog, French, Yoruba, Russian and Portuguese Brazilian. ■

nance expert, said.

“Without him, they are just a struggling start up that is burning cash at a hopeless rate and is facing a debt refunding crisis in the near future.

“Musk is an iconic entrepreneur but he needs adult supervision,” Coffee added.

That’s where the new board members come in. The current board, which includes Musk’s brother, Kimbal Musk, is widely seen as subservient to Musk.

They have publicly expressed support for many recent moves, such as his rejection last week of an early SEC settlement offer.

“The board is truly the alpha chapter of the Elon Musk fan club,” said Erik Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

Teresa Goody, a former SEC attorney and founder of The Goody Group, a consulting firm, said that many startups begin with a powerful CEO who typically puts “friendlies” on the board.

As a company grows and becomes more sophisticated, Goody said, more independent directors are typically brought on board to provide better oversight.

“That’s happening a little later in the life cycle of the company in the case of Tesla,” she said.

“The laws here in Canada on this field are much more conservative,” said Kosny, adding that in parts of Europe as well as Australia, drinking in public is accepted and common.

“There’s much more openness to drinking in public parks than we see in Canada.”

In Vancouver, a proposal to sell beer and wine through concession stands at two beaches next summer will be discussed at a meeting on Monday.

Michael Wiebe, chairman of the Vancouver Park Board, said the pilot project at English Bay and Third Beach following public consultations would permit people to enjoy alcohol responsibly — although bringing your own alcohol to parks and beaches would still be illegal.

“The main goal we’re looking for in Vancouver is to respect the person who’s respecting the

drinking laws and is going to enjoy a bottle of wine and have a picnic,” Wiebe said, adding more people living in condos are using beaches as backyards to gather with friends and drink anyway.

Last year, the B.C. government introduced legislation allowing approval for drinking in larger spaces beyond a 200-person beer garden, and Wiebe said that meant up to 1,200 people could consume alcohol on a beach that is licensed for that purpose.

“It meant parents having a casual beer with kids playing in playgrounds,” he said.

Mariana Valverde, a professor at the University of Toronto’s Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, said the currents laws in Canada for drinking in public don’t distinguish between responsible drinkers

and excessive drinking causing unruly behaviour.

“The existing rules don’t differentiate between things that are a problem and things that are not a problem. Bylaw officers often just turn a blind eye to things that are not a problem,” she said.

Valverde said she believes most people having picnics in parks will responsibly drink, and that they should be allowed.

Kosny said if cities allow drinking in public parks, he predicts the difference in the amount of people drinking will be “marginal.”

“There may be a few more people that will openly have that bottle of wine out there,” he said.

Kosny said based on what he’s observed in other parts of the world during his travels,

James Mattis.

JAMES N. MATTIS / FLICKR, CC BY 2.0

Canadian cities... ❰❰ 15

spread practice of people having a glass of wine, and it doesn’t seem the world has come to an end as a result of that,” Tory told reporters following a graduation ceremony for police recruits.

But the issue isn’t up to him alone.

“Anything that has to do with drinking in the province is immensely complicated,” Tory noted.

A spokesman for Toronto’s Municipal Licensing and Standards department said the question of drinking in public spaces isn’t up to the city — it’s governed by the Ontario Liquor Licence Act. Premier Doug Ford has said he plans to sit down with Tory, whom he described as being “all for drinking in the parks now,” to consult on the issue.

www.canadianinquirer.net

23

Entertainment Stars dazzle during Health update: Kris Aquino ABS-CBN Ball 2018 says all tests for any tumor markers were negative

BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer

SOCIAL MEDIA generated a lot of buzzes last Saturday, September 29 as Kapamilya stars walked the red carpet of Makati Shangri-La hotel for the ABSCBN Ball 2018.

A total of 5.6 million tweets from Filipino and international fans raved about their favorite looks, among the most popular being Miss Universe Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray, Gandang Gabi Vice host Vice Ganda, and Ang Probinsyano star Yassi Pressman. Fans even got to vote for their favorite love teams using the hashtag #ABSCBNBallFanFave.

The event’s theme was “Share the Love” in honor of the foundation benefiting from the proceeds, Bantay Children’s Village.

Numerous stars like Anne Curtis, Bea Alonzo, Carlo Aquino, Gerald Anderson, and Nadine Lustre sported a blue ribbon in their dazzling suits and gowns in honor of what the relaunched foundation stands

for. According to Bantay Bata 163 program director Jing Castaneda, “This is actually the international color for child abuse. Child abuse is a worldwide phenomenon. It’s not just a problem in the Philippines; it’s a problem in several countries. This is our way of promoting prevention of child abuse.”

He further explained what the opening of their Children’s Village in Norzagaray, Bulacan saying, “It’s a place where we bring the children we rescue.

We call it a ‘home that heals,’ a home that gives hope. Because that’s what the children we rescue lose — the sense of hope, and that’s where we teach them to dream again.”

The night’s peak ended as numerous stars were awarded for their looks. Angelica Panganiban and Carlo received Oppo Couple of the Night, while Maymay Entrata bagged The Belo Beautiful Star Award.

Metro’s Best Dressed Female was awarded to Erich Gonzales, Jericho Rosales won Metro’s Best Dressed Male, and Chienna Filomeno received The Bar Next Generation Star. ■

Jericho Rosales and Erich Gonzales as Metro's Best Dressed awardees.

ABS-CBN / FACEBOOK

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer AFTER SHE announced that she will be flying to Singapore for medical treatment, Kris Aquino now has an update regarding her health.

Over the weekend, Kris revealed that she will go to Singapore because the medical tests she previously took in the Philippines require a “more comprehensive” set of tests, which are unfortunately not available in her motherland.

In a statement by lawyer Sigfrid Fortun that was posted by Kris on Saturday, the “Queen of All Media” is currently taking maintenance medicine for her hypertension, severe allergies, and migraine.

This, after she opened up to the public that she lost weight due to “financial abuse” and the ‘betrayal’ she had experienced from someone she “had complete trust and faith in.” This unnamed individual, according to Kris, has obtained ‘millions’ from running her production company, Kris Aquino Cojuangco Productions (KCAP), and negotiating her endorsements.

So what is Kris’s condition now? The actress, on her Instagram post today, October 2, assured everyone, especially her fans, that all tests for any tumor markers resulted ‘negative.’

However, Kris said she still needs to consult a specialist for her hypertension, severe allergies, and migraine as these ailments are needed to be immediately addressed “for me to have the best chance to regain my health.”

The actress also shared that she and her youngest son, Bimb were reading her medical tests which dated back September 2015, but they found out that some of the tests she went through just last week in the www.canadianinquirer.net

@KRISAQUINO / INSTAGRAM

Philippines “had results no longer as good as those from San Francisco in March 2018.”

She added that they are also google-ing several medical terms so her son will understand what is going to be in the store for them.

“My 11 year old needed the assurance that his mama would fight bravely because my tests start tomorrow,” Kris wrote.

In her post, Kris also said that what she has been going through now has reminded her of her mother, former President Corazon “Cory” Aquino, who suffered from cancer.

“The words our Mom said near the end of her life are vividly recalled in my mind ‘I fought for my life because I knew you weren’t ready,’“ Kris shared.

“Our mother braved the surgeries, treatments, and extreme physical pain of terminal cancer because she loved us so much that she wanted to give us what our dad’s assassination stole from us- enough time to prepare and accept God’s will,” she added.

Kris did not ask the public

to pray for her good health because she “now completely surrender to God’s merciful care.”

Instead, she asked everyone to pray for her two sons, Josh and Bimb.

“Kahit sinong magulang maiintindihan po ako, gagawin natin ang lahat wag lang masaktan, ma-agrabyado, o mahirapan ang mga pinakamamahal nating mga anak. Isasakripisyo natin ang lahat masiguradong okay sila (Any parent will understand me, we will do everything so that our beloved children will not be hurt, taken advantage, or suffer. We will sacrifice everything to make sure that they are okay),” she said.

Apart from Kris’s fans who wish her well, Megastar Sharon Cuneta sent her prayers and support to her friend.

“I KNOW THAT OUR ALMIGHTY FATHER STILL HAS BIG PLANS FOR KRIS TO DO HIS GOOD WORK AND SHE HAS TWO SONS SHE LIVES FOR. FOR THEM AND FOR US, SHE SIMPLY CANNOT BE SICK,” Sharon wrote. ■

24

Entertainment

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

For Gaga, Cooper, cast, ‘A Star Is Born’ hits close to home BYJAKE COYLE The Associated Press TORONTO — When Bradley Cooper saw Lady Gaga perform “La Vie en Rose” at a fundraiser at the home of entrepreneur Sean Parker, it wasn’t one of the important moments along the road to making “A Star Is Born.”

It was, Cooper says, THE moment.

“She demolished the room,” he recalls, still wide-eyed about it. “I knew that was plutonium.”

The next day, Cooper went to Gaga’s home in Malibu to confirm that what he had seen the night before was real. He arrived hungry. Gaga — whose friends call her by her real name, Stefani — fed him some leftover spaghetti, and the two East Coast, Italian Americanraised performers (Cooper is from Philadelphia, Gaga New York) felt an immediate, natural connection. “Instantly,” says Gaga. “When I saw his eyes, when I opened the door.”

Within minutes, they were singing by Gaga’s piano and “A Star Is Born” was, well, born.

“And when I heard him sing!

My God! I stopped playing the piano and I was like, ‘Bradley you can sing!”‘ said Gaga, sitting next to her co-star and director.

“And he was like, ‘Really?’ And then he said, ‘Let’s film it.’ He started filming it on his phone.”

Cooper shakes his head. “It was nuts.”

It can be hard to separate the already mythologized transformations — Cooper directs!

Gaga acts! — that fueled “A Star Is Born” from the fictional fable of fame, itself. In both the movie’s creation and in the finished product are lessons of bold chances and artistic integrity, of personal frailty and popular success. “A Star Is Born” is a movie mirrored by its making.

“A Star Is Born” is the fourth version of the story (or fifth, depending on how you count).

First was George Cukor’s “What Price Hollywood?” in 1932, followed by William Wellman’s 1937 remake. Later came one with Judy Garland and James Mason in 1954 and one in 1973 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson.

A new “A Star Is Born” has been in development for about two decades at Warner Bros., with various incarnations once planned around Will Smith and Whitney Houston, or Beyonce and Leonardo DiCaprio with Clint Eastwood directing.

Cooper, who starred in Eastwood’s “American Sniper,” first discussed acting in the film for Eastwood before deciding to direct, too. For encouragement, Eastwood visited the set on the first day of shooting.

“I remember he said he liked my boots,” says Gaga. “I turned bright red.”

Cooper, though, put his own imprint on “A Star Is Born,” retailoring the story and — he hopes — launching himself as a writer and director. With meticulous preparation, Cooper — ever the student — threw himself into the new role. Often, he could be found under a table in a scene with a monitor so as to be as close as possible to the actors. “He was tireless,” says Sam Elliott, who plays Cooper’s brother in the film. “He never quit on it, from beginning to end. It probably drove the studio nuts at some point that he wouldn’t quit on it.”

“Being 39 when I started this journey, I just realize: Time is the biggest currency. If I don’t do what I keep feeling inside, constantly seeing shots in my head,” Cooper says, trailing off. “I always knew that at some point I had to stop critiquing other movies and just make one.”

Cooper stars as Jackson Maine, a hard-drinking, country-rock ‘n’ roll star in the vein of Gregg Allman. (Maine’s band is played by Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Neil Young’s regular backing band.)

When Jackson ducks into a drag bar for a drink, he’s blown away by Ally (Gaga), who’s there singing — what else — “La Vie en Rose.”

A naturally talented singer who has essentially given up on her music dreams, Ally has always been told her look (and her nose) isn’t quite right. She and Jackson quickly fall in love, even as Jackson’s drinking problem worsens, but not before they can together forge something honest and beautiful through music, catapulting Ally to stardom.

“When I’m watching it back, I see myself as a much younger girl, more like when I was 15 writing songs at the piano,” says Gaga. “What Jackson is trying to teach her is something that I still want to give more of in my music now and in the future.

It’s the nakedness of talent.”

A rare fervour has greeted Cooper’s “A Star Is Born.” Its trailer has been watched more than 10 million times, many of them repeat, misty-eyed views.

And if there’s one thing that accounts for its swoon-inducing power it’s this self-empowering message of fame coming to those who are true to themselves.

It’s something that resonates for many in the cast, too, like Anthony Ramos, who plays Ally’s best friend. The 26-yearold actor, who grew up in the projects of Bushwick, Brooklyn, caught his big break when Lin-Manuel Miranda cast him in “Hamilton.”

“I’ve had teachers tell me, ‘You have to be this or you have to be that to be successful. You have to change the way you speak. You have to grow your hair out.’ I’ve had people tell me all kinds of things to give me the formula for success,” says Ramos. “But what I realize, which you find by the end of this movie, all you gotta do is love yourself and believe in yourself, and continue to be your truest self.”

For even the 74-year-old veteran actor Elliott, “A Star Is Born” has been cause for reflection on his own path. For decades, Elliott, with his sonorous drawl and trademark moustache, has been resolutely himself, in any role.

“Nobody’s ever going to confuse me with a chameleon. I’m

just not one of those kind of actors,” says Elliott. “Ben Johnson told me one time: ‘I might not be a very good actor, but nobody else can play Ben Johnson better than I can.’ And that somehow resonated with me.

It was about character. It was about integrity. It was about what makes up the man.”

Gaga, who has rallied her fans (“little monsters”) around a message of self-acceptance, says she identifies equally with her character and with the more troubled Jackson. The pop star has previously been forthright about her struggles with mental health, and has said she was raped at age 19.

“Jackson’s plight in the film and his substance abuse, it really stays with me. The mental health aspect, the substance abuse aspect, the trauma aspect. I told Bradley right after we watched it in Venice that I had to take 30 minutes to myself in a back room somewhere,” says Gaga. “If I act again, the experience has to be as deep as this one or it wouldn’t be fulfilling to me.”

Cooper, too, says “A Star is Born” has altered him.

“I find myself thinking of lines Jackson says often, just in terms of taking on a new project: What am I trying to say and how am I going to say it?” the 43 year-old says. “Any other project that comes after this, I just have to be brutally honest with myself and listen to Jackson.”

Ramos’ success recently inspired his own older brother to — like Ally does in the film — quit his job and “go for it.”

After “A Star Is Born” opens in theatres Friday, more walkouts may follow, more stars ready to be born.

“Everybody quit their job!” jokes Ramos. “Naw, not everyone can quit. We need some people working.” ■

consistent with the OECD recommendations and was developed with Indigenous partners.

Bartlett said she is optimistic about the government’s new program, especially since it will allow the Manitoba centre to work with younger children. It also appears to remove some red tape.

She also hopes it will expand the centre’s flexibility to build partnerships with the local business community.

It’s been a long time since Chief first walked through the centre’s doors, but now he connects some of Manitoba’s top employers with the organization that helped him start his career.

“If you have the youngest and fastest growing demographic, there is no question we should have the fastest growing middle class here,” he said.

“You need good public policy.

You need good programs and services and you need really good partnerships with the private sector.” ■

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga.

A STAR IS BORN / FACEBOOK

Indigenous underemployment... ❰❰ 18

said.

The OECD made eight recommendations for the federal government including providing more autonomy to Indigenous communities to manage their labour market and supporting targeted work-experience programs.

Ottawa is currently developing a new Indigenous skills and employment training program for next April which it has promised will get more than $400 million per year to close employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Josh Bueckert, a federal government spokesman, said it is

www.canadianinquirer.net

Entertainment

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

25

Maja Salvador sparks public interest with cryptic message

BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Journalists Jeff Canoy and Chiara Zambrano at the 9th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards. @JEFFCANOY / INSTAGRAM

Marawi documentary “Di Ka Pasisiil” brings home Gold Dolphin from Cannes

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

everyone.

The documentary, she said, is for “all the people in Marawi whose lives were taken in horrible ways. For their loved ANOTHER TROPHY is added to the ones, who will never be the same. For the country’s collection of accolades as ABS- soldiers who agreed to enter the nightCBN’s documentary about the Marawi mare, and stay in the nightmare until siege happened in 2017, “Di Ka Pasisiil the skies were dark no more.”

(Never Shall Be Conquered),” bagged “This is for the Philippines, crazy and the Gold Dolphin for Best Documentary imperfect, but ours, heartwarmingly under the Current Affairs, Human Con- ours. Tonight, the world heard our story. cerns, and Social Issues Category at the Let’s keep telling more,” she added.

9th Cannes Corporate Media and TV Even after the declaration of Marawi Awards.

City’s liberation in October 2017, Jeff, It was on September 27, Thursday, in his post, believes that the story of the when ABS-CBN journalists Jeff Canoy war-torn city is still far from over. and Chiara Zambrano received the “The Filipino journalists across variaward in Cannes, ous newsrooms, who France. will continue to give “Tonight, we won their very best to the first ever Gold make sure that toDolphin for the Philmorrow will be a bit ippines in Cannes,” better than yesterJeff wrote in an InThis is for the day,” he vowed. stagram post as he Philippines, “Di ka Pasisiil” shared the good news crazy and tugged at the hearts to his fellow Filipiimperfect, of many as it tells stonos. but ours, ries of struggle and Jeff shared that heartwarmingly survival of both the the Europeans domiours. government troops nated the said comand civilians during petition, but for a few the month-long batbreathtaking mintle laid by local terror utes, the crowd was groups in the country able to see two ‘“funny kids from Ma- on May 23, 2017. nila” coming up to the stage and sportThis was not the first time the docuing a piña barong and inaul dress as they mentary won an award. In April, it won receive the award. the 2018 Gold World Medal in the New “It felt great to hear our country’s York Festivals under Continuing News name. And it felt even greater when peo- Coverage category. ple came over to ask us about the PhilipAccording to ABS-CBN News, it also pines and the story of Marawi,” the Ka- won the Best Documentary award at the pamilya correspondent said.

Gawad Tanglaw, Certificate of Creative Meanwhile, Chiara, who apparently Excellence from the 2018 U.S. Internastill on cloud nine, said she even had to tional Film & Video Festival Awards, wait for her hands to stop shaking just and the Philippine Movie Press Club so she could write a heartfelt message to (PMPC) Star Awards. ■

ACTRESS MAJA Salvador has posted a cryptic caption on a photo posted on her social media accounts that sparked discussion between netizens.

The former Wildflower star shared a photo of herself in an orange dress accompanied by the quote, “Things I Sway: My Hips and Your Opinion.”

Many are saying that this is her reaction after being under heat for supposedly being the cause of Carlo Aquino and Angelica Panganiban’s breakup many years ago. Carlo and Angelica guested on ABS-CBN’s Gandang Gabi Vice (GGV) last Sunday, September 23, where Carlo admitted that around the time of their breakup, Carlo had interest in Maja.

However, Angelica clarified the statement and said that she and Carlo had broken up before he got in a relationship with Maja.

Maja has yet to make a public state-

ment of her side of the story.

Numerous netizens reacted to the statement in Maja’s recent caption with numerous opposing views. One user said in Filipino, “Is that how beautiful Maja Salvador is to be, every couple’s third party? No pun intended.”

Many sympathized with Angelica, who also previously guested on Tonight With Boy Abunda last Tuesday, September 24, after admitting that her breakup with Carlo was the most painful and difficult to compare to her previous relationship. She said in Filipino, “That’s why when we broke up, it was like I needed to find myself and what I really wanted.”

Maja’s fans were quick to come to her defense from the negativity, one commenting in Filipino, “Hi Maj. Like you often say in interviews, you’re not afraid of the scandals about you because you know yourself and that’s enough for you to be strong. We always love you Majal.” Many called her an “unbothered queen.” ■

PSYCHIC FAITH Reader, Healer and Adviser TELL PAST, PRESENT & FUTURE specializes on removing all types negative energy, bad luck and evil influences

helps in all life problems such as love life, business matters, immigration and family issues A l l i n P r i v a t e a n d C o n fi d e n t i a l Call today for a better tomorrow

99% ACCURATE

www.canadianinquirer.net

778-379-4070

OVER 30 YRS EXP

26

Lifestyle L’Oreal hosts 1st show on Seine in Paris; Valentino delights

BY THOMAS ADAMSON The Associated Press PARIS — As Paris Fashion Week heads toward the finish line, Sunday’s shows went up a gear as L’Oreal Paris held what the beauty giant called the first ever runway display to be held on the Seine river.

Game of Thrones’ Nikolaj Coster-Waldau took a turn as a model on a floating podium alongside actress Eva Longoria and Andie MacDowell who spoke to AP about ageism.

The star-filled extravaganza that halted traffic had spectators clambering around barriers to get a free glimpse.

Here are some highlights: L’Oreal goes in-Seine

dia, so said L’Oreal, to some 30 different countries.

Cheers erupted as a speedboat splashed down the Seine and began the collection by docking some glamorous freight — model Doutzen Kroes, who stepped out.

L’Oreal ambassadors flooded the runway.

British signer Cheryl appeared in a provocative in thigh-high boots and oneshoulder split-leg minidress with reflective paillettes that sparkled in the blazing sun. Elle Fanning smiled sweetly as she walked in a pastel shoulderless embroidered gown and bright red heels. Meanwhile, American actress Aja Naomi King made her L’Oreal modeling debut in a draped pink number.

But it was Nikolaj CosterWaldau, 48, and Eva Longoria, 43, who were king and queen of the show. The “Desperate Housewives” star stepped out in a regal looking gunmetal lay-

@LOREALBEAUTYFORALL / INSTAGRAM

would see the day, neither did my children but you know it’s just going to be fun,” CosterWaldau said.

Andie MacDowell

The clothes were designed by Ahead of the L’Oreal show, some of the great houses of ParAndie MacDowell, 60, spoke is fashion including Balmain, to AP about ageism and on the AMI, Off-White, Giambattista longevity of being a L’Oreal Valli, Elie Saab. ambassador for some three deBut this fashcades and countion show — much ing. like L’Oreal’s “I think the display on the timing right now Champs-Elysees How we treat women as they get is really fiery last year — was older, I think it’s important to be as far as accepalways more inclusive and also have a deep tance. And ageabout the show, respect for them. ism is part of that than the fashion. acceptance,” she A giant 60-mesaid. ter floating podi“I have to say um was flanked by hundreds of ered mini-gown with 2-meter- you have to give L’Oreal credit champagne-sipping VIP guests long train. Coster-Waldau was for being one of the first people on the river bank and on deck in all smiles and looked slightly to take on all ages and to take on a specially-hired boat — as traf- surprised at some moments in mature people like Jane Fonda, fic along the Seine was halted a long-tailored coat and white Helen Mirren and Diane Kefor the show’s duration. shoes. aton … and keeping me,” she Drones buzzed overhead to “I was surprised to be doing added, humbly. stream the action via social me- a catwalk. I never thought I MacDowell praised the Paris

www.canadianinquirer.net

cosmetics giant for being trailblazers when it comes to “recognizing that there is no expiration date on beauty.”

“How we treat women as they get older, I think it’s important to be inclusive and also have a deep respect for them,” MacDowell added.

Valentino Delights

“A work in substraction,” so said the house, was the spirit behind Pierpaolo Piccioli’s accomplished — and pared down — display for Valentino.

Cactuses and cleanly shaped plants lined the foot of the runway, presumably in reference to the clean lines and minimalist styles that opened the show.

Deceptively simple black looks began the collection: a shoulderless baggy jumpsuit with cape and Elizabethanstyle sleeves and a gown with an exaggerated peplum hem.

Their beauty lay in the subtle detail.

An unstructured minidress

with giant flounce looked beautifully off-kilter as it hung delicately from the model’s shoulder, as if it could fall off at any point.

White looks then came, and were, alongside black, a dominant theme — speaking to the ubiquitous spring-summer trend.

Artistry was found in some of these white looks: gowns with delicate pressed pleats that seemed to fan around the belly button.

But Valentino is a couture house at heart, and despite this being a ready-to-wear show, the work of the “petites mains,” or seamstresses of the age-old atelier, were on display.

A giant veiny couture-style, with a delicate organic feel and billowing feathers, had guests reaching for their cameras.

Freida Pinto finds time to step out ❱❱ PAGE 36 L’Oreal hosts

Lifestyle

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

27

Ironman parents: O’Donnell, Carfrae adapt to life with Izzy

BY DAVE SKRETTA The Associated Press LAWRENCE, KAN. — Two of the world’s most accomplished endurance athletes, three-time Ironman world champion Mirinda Carfrae and her husband, Tim O’Donnell, are relaxing on a plush white couch in an otherwise quiet house on a tree-lined street near the University of Kansas campus.

Against one wall are their time-trial bikes, awaiting their next session. A plastic bin full of Hoka One One running shoes sits nearby. Water bottles and energy drinks are scattered about the kitchen.

In the next room? A mountain of baby toys piled in the corner.

This is hardly the typical training-camp setup for elite athletes, but little about Carfrae and O’Donnell is typical.

The fact that they’re married is novel enough, but the fact that they’re juggling the training for the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, with changing diapers, feeding and entertaining their 1-year-old daughter, Isabelle, makes them quite possibly one-of-a-kind.

“Being two professionals in a very time-demanding sport like triathlon, we’re kind of used to being loose and going with the flow and not being too stressed about the little stuff, like who is making dinner and stuff like that,” O’Donnell says. “A lot of our competitors have a spouse that’s dedicated to making sure they can perform — do dishes, the laundry, make a hot meal.

We were used to having to juggle that.

“Then when Izzy came along,” O’Donnell says with a smile, “it just made it more of a circus.”

This is a well-tuned circus, though. It has to be.

The Ironman, held Oct. 13 this year, consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike and a 26.2-mile run — a full marathon — and that alone takes precise nutrition, training and recovery plans. When you add a rambunctious little girl to the mix, keeping all the balls in the air at once becomes that much more difficult.

“I mean, it’s just nonstop,” Carfrae says. “There’s no break.

The days just fly by and it’s amazing — people say as you get older, the days fly by. I think as you have children the days fly by. There’s not a moment we’re not training or entertaining Isabelle, or feeding her or doing what she needs. There’s not really any down time.”

Especially considering Carfrae chose to breastfeed. Those long, six-hour training blocks on the bike? They had to be split into two-hour windows based on Izzy’s feeding schedule.

But it’s not as if O’Donnell and Carfrae didn’t know what they were getting into.

The couple first met in 2008, when they were both getting IV fluids to treat dehydration after a half-Ironman race in Texas.

Their first date came when they returned to Colorado, where both lived and trained, and when they married in 2013 they instantly became the first family of Ironman triathlons.

O’Donnell is a long-distance world champion who finished third at Kona in 2015, while Carfrae has appeared on the Kona podium seven times . She held the course record of a hair over 8 hours, 52 minutes until 2016, when it was broken by three-time and reigning world champion Daniela Ryf. All along, O’Donnell and Carfrae knew they wanted children. But they also were at the top of their game, with personal goals and sponsorship obligations. And with O’Donnell’s family on the East Coast and Carfrae’s family in her native Australia, it wasn’t as if grandma and grandpa could help out.

Carfrae began to think seriously about having children in 2015, when she arrived in Kona to defend her most recent title.

She was sideswiped by a car during one of her final training rides on the big island of Hawaii, and the injuries forced her to drop out on race day. That bitter taste lured her back the next year. She finished second and that was good enough.

“She hugged me,” O’Donnell recalls, “and the first thing she said was, ‘Can we have a baby now?’ Literally the first thing.

I was like, ‘Heck yeah!’ I was waiting. We both wanted to

Mirinda Carfre and Tim O’ Donnell.

start a family, but since it was Rinny that had to hit the pause button her career, it was a decision in her court.”

Pregnancy followed quickly, and there were no complications when Izzy arrived two months before last year’s world championships.

O’Donnell competed in the race, finishing in the top 20, and Carfrae was there with their daughter to greet him at the finish line.

Fast-forward a year and Izzy has already seen the world.

She visited her family in Australia for the first time and accompanied O’Donnell and Carfrae to a race in Europe. She’s been all over the U.S., including a recent tuneup in Georgia, where O’Donnell and Carfrae made it a family sweep of a halfIronman race to show their Kona training was on point.

O’Donnell and Carfrae document many of their travels, races and family experiences on social media and their Youtube channel, which they’ve dubbed “The Tim and Rinny + Izzy Show.”

In some ways, travelling is more stressful than even the most grueling training session.

“We were going to Australia in June,” O’Donnell says, “and we rolled into the airport hot and heavy, bags everywhere — Izzy is there and everyone’s carrying bags. We have bike boxes and all this luggage, and everyone is carrying two or three bags.” www.canadianinquirer.net

@TONINTRI / INSTAGRAM

Then, across the terminal, they spotted Olympic triathlete Flora Duffy.

“Her jaw just dropped,” O’Donnell says, laughing. “We were like, ‘This could be you, Flora!”

Carfrae always planned to return to Kona, and she began training seriously earlier this year. But the first few days and weeks were tough. She was quite naturally a bit heavier than normal, and some of the fitness she had built up over a decade of racing had disappeared.

Her coach, Siri Lindley, devised a training plan that put her on course to compete Oct. 13, and Carfrae kept hitting every benchmark. And after every tough training session, good or bad, Carfrae knew that Izzy would be waiting for her when she got home.

“The end of the day,” O’Donnell says, “when you’re just really tired, and you want everything to be a little calm, she comes buzzing by and just starts ripping stuff apart.”

“But it’s so fun,” Carfrae adds, “you can’t be upset. She’s so healthy and happy.”

Those quiet nights at home might be where things have changed the most.

“Pre-Izzy, you look at it, ‘What did I do with all my spare time before?”‘ Carfrae says. “TV is gone. We used to finish training, turn on whatever show and go to bed. Now we finish train-

ing, we have dinner, Izzy time and then it’s time to put her to bed. Then it’s kind of like, ‘Time to go to sleep!’

“If I’m lucky,” she says, “I have a few minutes to write a couple emails, get back to a sponsor, but there’s really no extra time.

I think recovery has suffered a little bit, but I feel fine.”

Most couples in such an unusual situation would be happy just to qualify for Kona, but O’Donnell and Carfrae have high expectations. Yes, there are more obstacles in the way of their training, and the recovery that is so crucial to their sport may have suffered. But both of them insist they’ve never been happier, and that has been reflected in their performances.

O’Donnell won the 70.3 race in Georgia last weekend by more than two minutes, and Carfrae finished the family double when she held off Jeanni Seymour by more than a minute.

Now, they’re off to Kona where two years ago they embraced at the finish line and decided to start a family. And you can bet Izzy will be waiting for them at the finish this year.

“It’s so fun,” Carfrae says.

“She’s at all the finish lines, and I mean, most of the race I’m thinking about getting to the finish line so we can see Izzy and hug Izzy, and her face just lights up. She thinks everyone is cheering for her. We’re excited for that moment.” ■

28

Lifestyle

OCTOBER 5, 2018

We all put too much emphasis on test scores

Tips to prevent rabies in dogs

BY LIYING CHENG Professor and Director of Assessment and Evaluation Group Queen’s University Ontario, The Canadian Press

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

WE LIVE in testing times. We also live in a time of globalization, immigration and the internationalization of schools and universities around the world. Our current obsession with school accountability and student learning outcomes has resulted in the increased use and abuse of test scores — in particular language test scores.

Language test scores are now an admission ticket for postsecondary education and for skilled immigrants trying to gain entry into new countries.

Test scores serve as the key to learning opportunities and professional success, impacting millions of lives. They also play a crucial role in political, social and educational policies.

Despite the considerable consequences of language testing, what exactly do test scores indicate? What can we tell about someone and their achievement or professional capability from a single test score? What are the implications when bureaucrats and education officials misinterpret test scores when making policy decisions on immigration or attracting more international students?

In my role as director of the Assessment and Evaluation Group in the Faculty of Education at Queen’s University, I’ve been involved in research on how students are tested for language proficiency and the consequences of such testing.

Second language is essential

It’s an important topic because evidence shows that an ability to speak a second language can determine so many things about an immigrant’s future, including economic success, social integration and their overall ability to contribute to society. My research looks at the prevalence and impact of language testing. A key issue is how test scores are used or misused by policy makers.

We should not be using a single test score to make decisions that can have a huge impact on

someone’s life. However, governments and organizations tend to do this because it is cheaper and they believe it offers a more clean-cut case on immigration, university entrance and professional certification.

According to the latest census data, Canada has more than 7.5 million foreign-born individuals who arrived as immigrants. That represents about 22 per cent of the population.

All skilled workers and professionals who wish to immigrate to Canada need to demonstrate their English or French language ability via a language test, no matter where in the world they come from.

The results of their test scores determine whether they are permitted to settle and to practise as recertified professionals in Canada.

Increase in international students

There has been a rapid increase in the number of international students who wish to study at Canadian universities.

The latest federal government data shows Canada had roughly 500,000 international students at the end of 2017. Canada’s international student population has nearly tripled over the past decade and now ranks fourth behind the United States, the United Kingdom and China.

Canada retains many of these international students as skilled workers through Express Entry.

All international students are required to take a language test as part of the application pro-

cess and their scores must meet the entrance requirements for Canadian universities.

It’s natural to assume anyone taking those tests would be nervous, anxious or even frustrated. That is what we call highstakes testing, which affects the lives of millions of people, all over the world, every day.

An incomplete picture

For example, when the stakes are high, research suggests that test-takers’ motivation and anxiety are significant factors associated with their test performance. Judging someone’s test score without taking those factors into account presents an incomplete picture of the person taking the test.

Successfully evaluating someone’s English- or Frenchlanguage abilities through various language tests has a direct impact on millions of lives of people who come to Canada to study and settle.

Education and government decision-makers should not rely solely on test scores when making decisions about admitting people to schools or the country. That’s why test validation — ensuring accurate uses and interpretations of the test scores — has become so important and has grown into a major field of research.

Our research at Queen’s is intended to raise public awareness of the intended and unintended consequences of how test scores are used and to make the case that policy-makers need better training on how to properly interpret scores. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

MANILA — Most dog owners in the country still lack proper knowledge about rabies.

This is the observation of Rey del Napoles, program manager of Humane Society International-Philippines, when he visits one community after another to vaccinate dogs and cats against rabies.

“Hindi po totoo ang pinaniniwalaan ng ilan nating kababayan na nakukuha ang rabies sa pagkain o sa hangin. (The belief of some of our countrymen is not true na that rabies is acquired through food or air.)

We have to be clear also (that) dogs and cats are born with rabies, that is a common myth,” del Napoles told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Adoracion Dare, resident of District 1 in Quezon City, told PNA that she once had a pet dog which acquired rabies. “Hindi ko sigurado kung saan nakuha ng aso namin iyon. Pinapalabas lang naman iyon para tumae tapos bumabalik din dito sa bahay (I’m not sure where our dog got it. We let it go out to poop then it comes back home),” she said.

Dare added that she noticed that her dog suddenly lost appetite and started attacking other members of the family.

“Sa akin mabait siya pero sa iba para siya nabaliw na umaatake. Wala naman akong napansin sa kanyang sugat o anuman kaya ihiniwalay namin

FRIDAY

siya sa isa pa naming aso at hinyaan na lang namin din siyang mamatay dahil hindi na nga kumakain (The dog is good to me but it attacks others like crazy.

I did not notice any wound on it or whatever so we separated it from other dogs. We just let it die because it doesn’t eat anymore),” she said.

Del Napoles explained that rabies is acquired by dogs through direct transmission.

“Nakukuha po ito ma’am sa kagat ng kapwa aso na may rabies (This is acquired through the bite of another dog with rabies),” he said.

He said a dog infected with rabies dies within three weeks.

If the dog is pregnant during the infection, he said the puppies inside its womb won’t survive as well.

“Mananamlay ang aso, classic na may sakit, hindi makakain (The dog is indisposed — like the classic symptom of sickness, it won’t eat) later on the dog will attack anything that moves for example falling leaf, moving curtain, rolling vehicle, he’s starting to become vicious.

It will enter to next stage — paralytic, where it can’t swallow its saliva and eventually dies,” he said.

Del Napoles advised dog owners to keep themselves from being bitten by their infected dogs because they would suffer the same fate as their dogs.

“Symptoms are the same as the dog’s, the person is scared ❱❱ PAGE 36 Tips to

BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY / PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER

29

Sports Champion Pinoy paddlers seek Palace aid

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA – Members of the Philippine Canoe Kayak Dragon Boat Team has asked Malacañang that they be given well-deserved incentives for winning the overall title of the 2018 International Canoe Federation (ICF) World Dragon Boat Championships held in Georgia, United States on Sept.

13-16.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Monday introduced the triumphant Filipino paddlers during his regular Palace press briefing.

“Dumating po sila sa aking tanggapan, para humingi ng tulong. Kasi humihingi sila na bigyan din sila ng incentive ng Philippine Sports Commission.

(They went to my office to ask help because they are asking that they will also be given incentives by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC),” Roque said.

“So nanawagan tayo sa PSC, nanalo naman po sila ng world

championship, sana mabigyan din sila ng incentive ng mga atleta na nanalo po sa Asian games (So we appeal to the PSC that since they also won in the world championships, I hope they will also be given incentives like our athletes who won in Asian Games),” he added.

The Philippine dragon boat team upset their taller and well-built opponents from 12 powerhouse countries, including host US squads, to emerge overall champion with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals.

The paddlers surpassed their best finish of four golds and one silver in Moscow, Russia in 2016.

“Natutuwa po kami kasi siyempre ang lalaki po ng kalaban namin, hindi po ine-expect na mananalo kami, saka mga Amerikano po iyon, kami ang liliit po namin (We are very happy because we won against our taller opponents, we did not expect to win, they were Americans. We lacked in height),” veteran Filipino paddler Hermie Macarañas told Palace report-

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque, Jr. with the paddlers.

PHILIPPINE CANOE KAYAK DRAGONBOAT FEDERATION - PCKDF / FACEBOOK

ers.

“Laking karangalan na nanalo po kami. Nai-angat po namin ang banderang Pilipinas po sa Georgia, USA po (It’s a big honor that we won and raised the Philippine flag in Georgia, USA),” he added.

Reymart Nevado, another team member, thanked the Filipino community in Georgia for cheering for them during the competition.

“The Filipino community there were very proud of us,” Nevado said.

Roque said he will ask President Rodrigo Duterte if he could also give incentives to the Filipino dragon boat team.

Last month, Duterte gave PHP2 million additional incentives — PHP1 million each from the Office of the President and the PSC — to the gold winners of the prestigious 18th Asian

Games held recently in Indonesia.

The PHP2 million was on top of the PHP2 million that gold winners got under Republic Act 10699, also known as “National Athletes and Coaches Benefits and Incentives Act”.

The Asian Games gold winners received at least PHP8 million each, including PHP2 million from the Philippine Olympic Committee, another PHP1 million from Siklab Foundation head Dennis Uy, and PHP1 million from Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Lee Hiong Tan Wee. The Philippines won four golds, two silvers and 15 bronzes in the Asian Games, besting its 1-3-11 finish in 2014 meet in South Korea.

RA 10699 also provides PHP1 million incentive for gold winners of world-level competitions being held at least every two years but the sports event should have at least 45 participating countries.

The World Dragon Boat Championships in Georgia was participated by 12 teams. ■

Angara, Jucutan settle for runner-up TNT sizzles in Q4 for finish in Malaysia tennis tourney comeback win vs NorthPort

BY JEAN MALANUM Philippine News Agency MANILA – Filipinos Edgardo Manuel Angara and Exequiel Jucutan lost to top seeds Vishal Prakash of India and Lin En Tan of Malaysia, 0-6, 6-4 [1214], in the boys’ doubles final of the PREC 14 and Under Championships at the Kelana Jaya Tennis Complex in Selangor, Malaysia on Sunday.

On the way to the championship round, the Filipino tandem defeated Hong Kong’s Muk Chau Jiang and Curtis Hong Tseng Tan, 6-3, 6-0, and South Koreans Woo-hyuk Chang and Tae-woo Joo, 6-2, 6-4.

Prakash and Tan, on the oth-

er hand, downed South Koreans Si-hoo Kim and Seung Min Park, 6-4, 6-1, and Filipinos Marc Andrei Jarata and Axl Lajon Gonzaga, 6-3, 6-4.

In the boys’ singles category, the fifth-seeded Joo downed sixth-ranked Chang, 7-5, 6-4, in the final. Park beat his compatriot, Si-hoo Kim, 6-2, 6-3, in the battle for third place.

Tan won by default over Malaysian Quang Duong to finish fifth while Malaysian Muhammad Zhahin Lelyas Kamarul Zaman prevailed over Jiang, 6-3, 5-7 [11-9] for seventh place.

Meanwhile, Ji Woo Choi of South Korea pulled off a 6-1, 6-3 upset win over second seed compatriot Gio Jang to capture the girls’ singles title. Lim Lim

Zan Ning of Malaysia outplayed Erica Hagi of Hong Kong, 7-5, 6-4, to settle for third place.

In the consolation round, Cheunk Ying Shek of Hong Kong rallied past Iman Syuhada Abdullah of Malaysia, 7-5, 5-7 [11-9] to finish fifth while Sze Xuan Lim of Malaysia placed seventh following her 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory over compatriot JoLeen Saw. Tiffany Claire Nocos was 10th, Marielle Alexi Jarata was 13th while Nina Angeline Alcala was 18th.

In the girls’ doubles final, second seeds Hagi and Gio Jang clobbered third seeds Shihomi Li Xuan Leong and Sze Xuan Lim of Malaysia, 6-1, 6-3. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

BY IVAN STEWART SALDAJENO Philippine News Agency MANILA — TNT scored a huge fourth quarter blast to turn back NorthPort, 104-102, in the PBA Governors’ Cup at the Smart Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City on Sunday night.

The KaTropa recovered from the Batang Pier’s hot first half and completed the comeback with a Marqus Blakely layup with 6.8 seconds left.

Blakely then picked Mo Tautuaa’s pass for the game-saving swipe.

Blakely finished with 23 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block,

while Terrence Romeo led TNT, which outscored NorthPort, 33-15, in the final 12 minutes, with 25 points, two rebounds, eight assists, and three steals.

Tautuaa (18 points and 14 rebounds), Rashad Woods (19 points and 11 rebounds), and Stanley Pringle (18 points and 12 rebounds) each tallied double-doubles for the Batang Pier.

Pringle even flirted with a tripledouble after dishing nine assists.

However, they once again blew a huge lead, letting a 23-point advantage go away, although they came close to forcing overtime after Paolo Taha soared high for the tip-in on Sean Anthony’s missed free throw only to let Blakely soar for his game-winning lay-in. ■

30

Business PSEi seen to recover after inflation peak

BY JOANN VILLANUEVA Philippine News Agency MANILA — The local bourse as reflected by the Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi), is expected to make a comeback in coming weeks, if inflation has indeed peaked last August, an economist of the Landbank of the Philippines (Landbank) said.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is scheduled to release its report on September 2018 inflation on Friday, October 5, and some economists forecast another uptick due to the impact of the recent typhoon on agricultural products as well as the continued spike in oil prices in the international

market.

Landbank market economist Guian Dumalagan told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) that the inflation figure for September “might climb above seven percent.”

Rate of price increases went up to 6.4 percent last August from month-ago’s 5.7 percent, bringing the average to date at 4.8 percent. The government’s target is between two to four percent until 2020.

Monetary officials remain optimistic that inflation for the year will peak in the third quarter, although the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) forecasts the September rate to range between 6.3 to 7.1 percent.

At the end of Monday’s trad-

ing, PSEi gave up 0.75 percent, or 54.74 points, to 7,222.08 points, which traders point to general risk-off sentiment ahead of the inflation report at the end of this week.

Dumalagan noted that if inflation further rose for September, the PSEi is not expected to be on uptrend in the near term. “Next quarters if it (inflation) peaks the index can trade higher, 7,600-7,800. But if it still climbs we may (see it at) 6,8007,000,” he added.

Authorities have traced the current inflation environment primarily to the increases in the global oil prices and to supplyside factors, with elevated prices of rice, fish, and vegetables pointed to lack of supply.

To address concerns on supply of food commodities, Malacanang came out with several issuances to address supply constraints and these include Administrative Order (AO) No. 13, which removes non-tariff barriers and streamlines administrative procedures on the importation of basic agricultural commodities.

The Office of the President has also issued Memorandum Order (MO) No. 26, which directs the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) to implement measures that will reduce the gap between farm-gate and retail prices of agricultural products.

It has also issued Memoran-

dum Order (MO) No. 27, which directs the DA, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ensure efficient and seamless delivery of imported agricultural and fishery products from ports to markets.

Memorandum Order (MO) No. 28 was also issued ordering the National Food Authority (NFA) for the immediate release of about 230,000 metric tons (MT) of rice in its warehouses nationwide and the immediate distribution of the 100,000 MT of rice that have been contracted and was expected to be delivered by endSeptember. ■

PH growth to resume in 2019: ADB

BY LESLIE GATPOLINTAN Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) expects Philippine economic growth to pick up next year amid the tapering off of inflationary pressures and the government’s infrastructure push.

In an update of its flagship annual economic publication, Asian Development Outlook (ADO), the ADB on Wednesday said the Philippine economy can accelerate to 6.7 percent in 2019 after growing 6.4 percent this year.

The Bank’s revised outlook for the Philippines –from 6.8 percent in 2018 and 6.9 percent in 2019– “reflects a moderation in agricultural output and exports, as well as higher inflation and continued global monetary tightening.”

In a press briefing, ADB Country Director for the Philippines Kelly Bird said he considers the 6.4-percent still a “very robust” economic growth rate for this year amid the country’s strong economic fundamentals.

“It’s in line with the Philippine long-term growth seen

in the last several years driven by private investment. We also believe that prediction for next year is around 6.7 percent again, that will be driven by investment. And we expect that to further pick up because a lot of the flagship projects under the government Build, Build, Build program will start to come on stream next year,” he said.

Bird said the country’s inflation rate is also expected to start moving towards the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ target range of 2 to 4 percent next year, as policy measures take effect.

The multilateral development bank stressed that “as monetary tightening begins to kick in, inflation will likely moderate in 2019 to 4 percent, the forecast revised up marginally from 3.9 percent.”

“The removal of administrative constraints and non-tariff barriers on food imports and implementation of productivity enhancement programs for agriculture should help stem supply side constraints on rice over time,” the ADB said in its ADO. Headline inflation rose to average 4.8 percent in the first

ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK - ADB / FACEBOOK

eight months of 2018, which the Bank attributed to supply-side factors such as poor crop production, higher international oil prices and peso depreciation.

Bird thus cited ADB’s analysis showing that the excise taxes on automobiles, petroleum products, sugar-sweetened beverages and tobacco under the Duterte administration’s first package of the comprehensive tax reform program, the www.canadianinquirer.net

Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN), have a “relatively minor impact” on the consumer price index (CPI).

The CPI, most widely used in the calculation of the inflation rate and purchasing power of the peso, is an indicator of the change in the average retail prices of a fixed basket of goods and services commonly purchased by households relative to a base year.

“So it (TRAIN) is not the cause of the surge in inflation in the past few months. If you look at it, it’s food price inflation that is across-the-board.

It really does tell me that the inflation is because of issues on the supply side also, oil price is now above USD80 (per barrel),” he explained.

Bird stressed that the Philippine government has taken “very proactive” measures vital in addressing inflation in the country.

He said the BSP lifted the policy rate by 100 basis points to slow down credit growth, while the government also removed administrative restrictions on imports of food items and other commodities.

“What the government has been doing in response to inflation are the right policies. They are not imposing price controls rather they are removing those restrictions to allow for a more efficient trade policy,” he added.

Bird further cited the country’s Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program that provides compensation to poor households for some of the price increases in food. ■

Business

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

31

Canada’s housing affordability has reached the worst level in 28 years: RBC

BY TARA DESCHAMPS The Canadian Press Sec. Benjamin Diokno.

DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT / FACEBOOK

Diokno discounts change in 3% of GDP budget deficit cap

BY JOANN VILLANUEVA Philippine News Agency MANILA – Philippine economic managers are sticking with their original three percent budget deficit cap for 2018 and 3.2 percent for 2019 in anticipation of higher infrastructure spending, amid a suggestion from International Monetary Fund (IMF) to cut this to 2.42.5 percent of domestic output.

Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin Diokno told reporters Monday that the administration’s economic team is okay with a deficit of below three percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

He said government needs to spend more to finance the rehabilitation of areas heavily damaged by the recent typhoon but stressed that even with this “we’ll still be under three percent. Next year 3.2 (percent).”

“We decided not to follow them,” he said.

Last week, the multilateral lender came out with a report on its Article IV Consultation with the Philippines. Part of the suggestions it made is for the government to contain nonpriority spending like special purpose fund to lower the budget deficit cap.

Diokno, however, said calamity fund and contingency fund are part of the special purpose fund that President Rodrigo R. Duterte wants in place.

He added that a budget gap that accounts for three percent of gross domestic product (GPD) is “reasonable.”

“We are not extravagant,”

he said, citing that if the government cuts deficit cap in the middle of the year it might create fear among officials of the various agencies and they would not spend their budget.

The inter-agency Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) will convene this month and Diokno said they will revisit their current economic targets, noting that revenue growth is good.

He said there is also a need to spend, especially with the “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program as well as projects initiated by past administrations.

“We’ll look up things and all the aspects but we’ll keep the deficit manageable – 3 to 3.2 (percent),” he said.

In terms of domestic growth, Diokno said the seven to eight percent remains their target.

In the first half of the year, the economy grew by 6.3 percent, with the first quarter output at 6.6 percent and the second quarter at six percent.

With the slowdown in the second quarter of the year, some economists and multilateral lenders cut their growth forecasts for this year and the next.

Diokno, however, remains optimistic of the economy’s performance.

“Medyo mahirap nga ma-attain yung lower bound because meron tayo typhoon…but that still makes us one of the fastest growing (It is admittedly hard to attain the lower bound of the target because we have typhoons but (at six percent level growth) that still makes us one of the fastest growing (economy in the region),” he added. ■

country’s affordability is being dragged down by the Vancouver, Toronto and Victoria markets, where affordability has hit 88.4, 75.9 and 65 per cent respectively.

Vancouver’s rate is at a “never-seen-before level anywhere in Canada” and “calling it is a crisis is no exaggeration,” Hogue and his fellow economists noted in the report.

They found that buying a single-detached home in the city is becoming something only

August was $765,270, while the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver said its composite benchmark price for the time TORONTO — Canada’s housperiod was $1,083,400. ing affordability has reached Both markets were coinciits worst level in 28 years and is dentally identified by the Union bound to deteriorate even furBank of Switzerland on Friday ther, say Royal Bank of Canada as having some of the world’s economists. biggest housing bubbles, with The share of income a houseaffordability risks that were on hold would need to cover ownpar with Hong Kong, Munich, ership costs hit 53.9 per cent in London and Amsterdam. the second quarter of 2018, the RBC’s economists are preeconomists said in a report redicting that affordability levels leased Friday. will continue to Based on their deteriorate if inanalysis, the terest rates keep cost of owning rising, but they a home in the The lack of affordability can largely expect housecountry hasn’t be blamed on rising interest and hold income inbeen this bad mortgage rates, he said. creases to soften since 1990, when the blow for buythe share of iners. come a houseThe RBC rehold would need port also reto cover ownership costs was the rich can afford because it vealed the share of income a 56 per cent. would take almost 120 per cent household would need to cover “After years of worrying of a typical household’s income ownership costs was 28.4 per about deteriorating affordabili- to cover ownership costs. Set- cent in Edmonton, 38.6 per ty, this trend has continued and tling for a condo is increasingly cent in Ottawa, 43.9 per cent unfortunately, when you look become a luxury for many, they in Calgary and 44.1 per cent in at where interest rates are go- added.

Montreal. ing ownership affordability will In Toronto, they discov“We have seen deterioration continue to deteriorate for at ered that the relief buyers got over the past year in affordabilleast the next little while,” said around affordability late last ity, but still in the vast majority Robert Hogue, a senior econo- year and early this year was of markets outside of Toronto, mist at RBC. “small and short-lived,” be- Vancouver and Victoria, we The lack of affordability can cause the market continued its don’t see affordability being at largely be blamed on rising in- upwards trajectory. an unmanageable level,” Hogue terest and mortgage rates, he The Toronto Real Estate added. said.

Board previously said the aver“Generally, affordability is He also found the entire age selling price in the region in okay.” ■

Invest in technology, PH water sector urged

BY JOANN VILLANUEVA Philippine News Agency MANILA – Amid the challenges confronting the Philippines in the area of water resource management, the country’s policy-makers have been urged to invest in water technology to make the sector more efficient.

In a media round table on Wednesday, Xylem President www.canadianinquirer.net

and Chief Executive Officer Patrick Decker said investing in water technology would help the country reduce operation costs for wastewater treatment, as well as wastage in producing potable water.

The executive of the New York-based water technology firm said there are now available technologies focusing on efficiency in energy consumption for wastewater treatment

facilities.

Decker said the biggest challenge for wastewater plants is mitigating their voracious energy consumption.

On the other hand, he said there is also the risk of losing revenue in the business of producing clean drinking water faced by water utility companies. ❱❱ PAGE 35 Invest in

32

Technology What comes next in Facebook’s major data breach

BY MATT O’BRIEN AND MAE ANDERSON The Associated Press NEW YORK — For users, Facebook’s revelation of a data breach that gave attackers access to 50 million accounts raises an important question: What happens next?

For the owners of the affected accounts, and of another 40 million that Facebook considered at risk, the first order of business may be a simple one: sign back into the app. Facebook logged everyone out of all 90 million accounts in order to reset digital keys the hackers had stolen — keys normally used to keep users logged in, but which could also give outsiders full control of the compromised accounts.

Next up is the waiting game, as Facebook continues its investigation and users scan for notifications that their accounts were targeted by the hackers.

What Facebook knows so far is that hackers got access to the 50 million accounts by exploiting three distinct bugs in Facebook’s code that allowed them to steal those digital keys, technically known as “access tokens.” The company says it has fixed the bugs.

Users don’t need to change their Facebook passwords, it said, although security experts say it couldn’t hurt to do so.

Facebook, however, doesn’t know who was behind the attacks or where they’re based. In a call with reporters on Friday, CEO Mark Zuckerberg — whose own account was compromised — said that attackers would

have had the ability to view private messages or post on someone’s account, but there’s no sign that they did.

“We do not yet know if any of the accounts were actually misused,” Zuckerberg said.

The hack is the latest setback for Facebook during a tumultuous year of security problems and privacy issues . So far, though, none of these issues have significantly shaken the confidence of the company’s 2 billion global users.

This latest hack involved bugs in Facebook’s “View As” feature, which lets people see how their profiles appear to others. The attackers used that vulnerability to steal access tokens from the accounts of people whose profiles came up in searches using the “View As” feature. The attack then moved along from one user’s Facebook friend to another. Possession

of those tokens would allow attackers to control those accounts.

One of the bugs was more than a year old and affected how the “View As” feature interacted with Facebook’s video uploading feature for posting “happy birthday” messages, said Guy Rosen, Facebook’s vice-president of product management. But it wasn’t until mid-September that Facebook noticed an uptick in unusual activity, and not until this week that it learned of the attack, Rosen said.

“We haven’t yet been able to determine if there was specific targeting” of particular accounts, Rosen said in a call with reporters. “It does seem broad.

And we don’t yet know who was behind these attacks and where they might be based.”

Neither passwords nor credit card data was stolen, Rosen said.

www.canadianinquirer.net

He said the company has alerted the FBI and regulators in the United States and Europe.

Jake Williams, a security expert at Rendition Infosec, said he is concerned that the hack could have affected third party applications.

Williams noted that the company’s “Facebook Login” feature lets users log into other apps and websites with their Facebook credentials. “These access tokens that were stolen show when a user is logged into Facebook and that may be enough to access a user’s account on a third party site,” he said.

Facebook confirmed late Friday that third party apps, including its own Instagram app, could have been affected.

“The vulnerability was on Facebook, but these access tokens enabled someone to use the account as if they were the

account-holder themselves,” Rosen said.

News broke early this year that a data analytics firm once employed by the Trump campaign, Cambridge Analytica, had improperly gained access to personal data from millions of user profiles. Then a congressional investigation found that agents from Russia and other countries have been posting fake political ads since at least 2016. In April, Zuckerberg appeared at a congressional hearing focused on Facebook’s privacy practices.

The Facebook bug is reminiscent of a much larger attack on Yahoo in which attackers compromised 3 billion accounts — enough for half of the world’s entire population. In the case of Yahoo, information stolen included names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates and security questions and answers.

It was among a series of Yahoo hacks over several years.

U.S. prosecutors later blamed Russian agents for using the information they stole from Yahoo to spy on Russian journalists, U.S. and Russian government officials and employees of financial services and other private businesses.

In Facebook’s case, it may be too early to know how sophisticated the attackers were and if they were connected to a nation state, said Thomas Rid, a professor at the Johns Hopkins University. Rid said it could also be spammers or criminals.

“Nothing we’ve seen here is so sophisticated that it requires a state actor,” Rid said. “Fifty million random Facebook accounts are not interesting for any intelligence agency.” ■

Technology

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

33

Opening up the future of psychedelic science

BY THOMAS ANDERSON PhD student, University of Toronto and Rotem Petranker, PhD student in Clinical Psychology, York University, Canada, The Canadian Press

chedelics is through “open science.” Researchers should preregister their plans and share their data, as we have in our own research.

Open science

For statistics in science to work properly, scientists need to guarantee that what they have studied is no more and no less than what they intended to Science must be consistent study.

Science needs to have a strong Instead of hiding inconveATTEMPTS TO replicate clas- foundation, but right now a lot nient results or adding unsical scientific studies have of the research isn’t replicating. planned research conditions, been failing. These alarm- In 2015, the Reproducibility scientists can use open science ing failures have hit psychol- Project tried to replicate 100 to demonstrate their integrity. ogy, the life sciences and other high quality psychology find- Open science involves prefields, calling major findings ings. Only 39 of these findings registering hypotheses before into question. Scientists agree: were replicated — that’s less doing research, and publishing questionable research practic- than half! the entire data set once the rees are rife in many disciplines.

This phenomenon isn’t lim- search is done.

We are two psychology PhD ited to psychology: findings Pre-registration happens students with experience re- from disciplines such as biolo- online. The content of the regsearching mindfulness. We gy, medicine and chemistry can istration is locked and time echo the scathing criticisms be hard to believe. For example, stamped, then kept confidenlevelled against poorly de- almost 500 authors were found tial until a set date, when it is signed studies within the field guilty of misconduct by the released for the public to see. of mindfulness research.

Chinese government last year, This is done so that the reAs science is only trustwor- several cancer research papers searcher can show they did thy when consistent, we need have been retracted recently exactly what they planned to to make sure future work can be and a recent report indicated do, which is how we all learned replicated. As such, we have de- that as much as 80 per cent of we are supposed to do science. cided to spread the word about chemists have trouble replicat- Pre-registration is not even difproper open scientific practice. ing findings from the literature. ficult, but researchers need to This is especially learn how to do it important in the and adjust. nascent interdisOnce the study ciplinary field of has been pubpsychedelic sciOpen science involves prelished, the data ence, in which registering hypotheses before set can be made we are now condoing research, and publishing the public. This way, ducting research entire data set once the research is the entire scieninto the practise done. tific community of “microdosing” can examine the substances like data, serving at LSD (lysergic least two puracid diethylamide) and “magic” Several great pieces on The poses. First, the scientific commushrooms (psilocybin).

Conversation have tackled this munity can verify that the data There is a growing research issue so there is lots to review if supports the conclusions made literature suggesting psyche- replicability is new to you. in the study, ensuring no misdelics hold incredible promise Psychedelic research is an in- takes were made. Second, other for treating mental health ail- terdisciplinary field combining scientists can explore for new ments ranging from depression psychology, biology and medi- patterns in the data to create and anxiety to PTSD. But how cine and so is an especially im- new hypotheses for new studdo we know for sure? portant field in which to imple- ies, moving science forward The way forward for psy- ment “open science.” faster.

Making the data public makes scientists publicly accountable, and is good for the scientific community at large.

Co-operation over competition

So far, most psychedelic research has not been pre-registered, which means it should be considered exploratory and, unfortunately, inconclusive.

Some findings may have been by chance rather than clearly caused by the substances used, and these findings need to be replicated by independent labs to ensure they hold up.

A recent call for “Cooperation Over Competition” has been made, but its impact remains to be seen. For now, we take the results on psychedelics that scientists have found on faith.

Pre-registration is the only way to ensure psychedelic science is conducted with a high

level of integrity. Psychedelic science is in its infancy, much as mindfulness research was some few decades ago. We must learn from past mistakes if we do not wish to see the same harsh criticisms levelled upon this field in the future.

This will improve and maintain public trust in the scientific endeavour, especially important for these storied substances. As public consumers of science, we should all be critical of new research and remember the Sagan Standard: “Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.” ■ This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/opening-up-thefuture-of-psychedelic-sci

Philippine inventor debuts ‘flying sports car’ creation

BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer FILIPINO INVENTOR Kyxz Mendiola launched his flying car creation in Batangas last Sunday, September 23. He called the vehicle “Koncepto Milenya,” which can fly as high as 20 ft. and as fast as 60km/h.

His debut air time lasted 10 minutes with photographers

and media personel present to catch the moment.

Mendiola shared with Reuters about his first experience with his invention, saying, “It was amazing. All the hard work paid off. Everything worked perfect.”

He modelled the car after ‘multicopter’ technology, which is used for drones. The single-seater is powered by six lithium-ion batteries and is

instructed by a portable radio frequency controller. He said using the 100kg item is easy to maneuver. “Press a button and it will go up, then push the stick forward, it goes forward. It’s very smart, that’s why I’m saying it has a lot of potential,” he shared in the interview.

The idea behind making the vehicle is to avoid the land traffic of Manila, Mendiola hoping to take a few hours off. He www.canadianinquirer.net

joked, “When we have to go somewhere about an hour’s drive, this can take you there in five minutes.”

Star8, which is an innovative technology company based in Australia, is partnering up with Mendiola to continue developing his creation. They discovered him after going viral on social media, with Chief Executive Jacob Maimon saying that he’s interested in mass produc-

ing the car worldwide, like in different parts of Europe, Australia, and Hong Kong. He stated, “We will get there very fast now, what with the help that we can give him.”

Mendiola is currently working on perfecting the “Koncepto Milenya,” adding a safety feature to the craft’s 16 rotary motors so that even if one or two fail, it continues to fly. ■

OCTOBER 5, 2018

34

CANADA

AMP PROMATIC IS LOOKING FOR PRODUCTION WORKERS Sheet metal manufacturing company is looking to hire workers with some experience on metal cutting machines, plus general labor.

If you don’t have experience but are hard worker we will train and will oer you good wages.

This can be a full-time or part-time position and we are located in Vaughan, Hwy 7 and Weston Rd.

Contact: Walter at 416-991-1007 or send e-mail ampincwf@gmail.com

HIRING

NANNY/BABYSITTER

LOCATION: BRAMPTON Employer: Romelo Perez for 2 children (15 & 11 y.o.), Mon-Fri, $14/hr for 40 hrs/wk. 3 year-contract Requirements: LanguageEnglish. Education- Completion of secondary school (min.)

Experience- 1-2 yrs. child care/babysitting exp; criminal record check, in good health. Duties: Supervise and care for children, prepare and serve meals, assist with feeding, grooming, hygiene, homework and school projects. Perform light housekeeping & cleaning duties including wash/iron clothes and household linens.

Take children to and from school and appointments, travel with family if needed.

LUCKY SUPERMARKET 10628 King George Blvd, Surrey B.C is hiring all positions such as: store manager, grocery manager, produce manager, office administration, file maintenance clerk, head cashier, cook, BBQ chef, meat cutter, baker, bakery clerk, grocery clerk, frozen clerk, meat clerk, produce clerk, cashier, truck driver and kitchen helper.

APPLY BY EMAIL: melo.perez@outlook.com

Please email resume to: hrsurrey@luckysupermarket.ca

Electronic Technicians Needed Experience in Low Voltage Electrical System installation and Servicing Computers with Networking Email resume to suda@alarmboss.com Call 416-432-1902

www.canadianinquirer.net

35

Travel Better condition, core of ‘more fun in PH’ drive PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Potential tourists from Hong Kong were assured that improving the general condition of the Philippines is encompassed in the government’s “It’s more fun in the Philippines” campaign.

“Tourism promotion, particularly rural tourism, is an important mission of President Rodrigo Duterte and is included in his 10-point socio-economic agenda,” Philippine Consul General to Hong Kong Antonio Morales said during a lunch reception on September 13, when the Department of Tourism conducted a business mission in Tsim Sha Tsui.

“When we say ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’, improving the general conditions in the country, including connectivity and security, is a top priority of the current administration,” he added.

The mission in Hong Kong is the last leg of a four-city tourism business mission that included Nanjing, Wuhan and Guangzhou in mainland China.

Around 170 travel agents, guests as well as Philippine hotel, tourism and travel industry representatives attended the mission, which was led by Tourism Attaché Ireneo Reyes of the DOT Shanghai Office.

The half-day program kicked-off with business-to-business meetings between Philippine sellers and Hong Kong travel agents.

The morning session was followed by the lunch reception attended by VIP

N8ALLEN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

guests led by Hong Kong Tourism Board Deputy Executive Director Becky Ip, Philippine Airlines Regional Manager Sindy Lin and Country Manager Leah Nicolas, Cebu Pacific Distribution Manager Bryan Ang, and Hong Kong Travel Agent Owners Association Chairman Freddy Yip. During his remarks, Morales also underlined the longstanding and robust relations of the Philippines and Hong Kong, marked by historical significance, trade relations, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural ties.

In further enhancing tourism exchanges, the envoy said the Philippines should maximize Hong Kong’s repu-

tation as a tourist destination, which draws more than 58 million visitors

from mainland China and around the globe, to partner with the city and promote multi-destination tourism.

Hong Kong tourism and travel stakeholders, on the other hand, should take advantage of its proximity to the Philippines, and offer new and exciting itineraries that will string together tourist sites in the city with various destinations in the Philippines, he noted.

Reyes, meanwhile, presented the tourism opportunities in the Philippines, including the following areas in meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions as a cruise ship port of call, diving, English as second language education, medical tourism, rural tourism, and as a retirement destination.

Filipino artists including opera singer Jonathan Badon gave their renditions of well-known Filipino songs such as “Anak” and “Kalesa” as well as the famous Chinese pop song “The Moon Represents My Heart,” to the audience’s delight during the lunch reception. ■

Invest in... ❰❰ 31

“In Asia alone, 40 percent of that water in revenue is lost, were not built,” Decker said. “And that’s driven by leaks in the pipeline, which are usually underground, they can’t see them. It can be caused by people hijacking or stealing water off the network or inaccurate billing or metering of the consumption of water.”

He also cited the rising impact of climate change that further challenges the water resource.

“In the coming years, experts predict that demand for freshwater, energy and food will increase dramatically due to a wide range of factors like population growth and mobility, economic development and trade, urbanization, new tech-

nologies, and climate change,” Decker said during the WaterLinks Forum.

“Meanwhile, the global supply of fresh water continues to decline – down 26 percent per capita over the last 25 years due to pollution, climate change and other factors. And as clean water becomes more scarce, water consumption is accelerating, with water demand estimated to double every 20 years,” he added.

Decker welcomed the government’s initiative to invest in the water sector.

“There is more and more pressure on political leaders to address the water issue,” he said. ■

# 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

Tips to... ❰❰ 28

of air and water because the nerve endings become sensitive, it’s painful, then yung tao hirap lumunok, nangangagat at umaatake (the person has difficulty swallowing, bites, attacks) then eventually he will die. While a rabies-stricken dog can no longer be saved, del Napoles said there are many things which dog owners can do to keep their pets from contacting rabies.

“Una sa lahat dapat may bakuna, tapos siguraduhing updated ang bakuna. Dapat din iwasang gumala-gala sa kalye ang alaga para hindi siya makagat ng ibang aso na may rabies.

At siyempre, ang maayos na pag-aalaga sa aso ay makakatulong (First of all, it must be vaccinated, then ensure that the vaccination is updated. Keep it from roaming on the streets to avoid your pet from being bitten by other dogs with rabies.

Also, proper dog care could help), he said. Philippines is not yet declared rabies-free thus, dogs nationwide must be vaccinated yearly. Rabies vaccines are free at baranggay (community)

halls and city veterinary offices.

“Ang gobyerno ay nagbibigay ng libreng bakuna, walang rason para hindi sila makakuha nito dahil ang kailangan nalang nila malaman ay kung saan at kailan sila pwedeng kumuha ng libreng bakuna. Kung sa private naman PHP300 lang iyan, parang fast-food meal lang ang presyo (The government provides free vaccines, there’s no reason for dog-owners not to have them because they simply need to know where and when to get them. In private clinics that’s only 300 pesos, it’s like a fast food meal price only),” del Napoles said.

Del Napoles added that cats are also susceptible to rabies but based on studies, only 2 percent of rabies cases come from them.

“So small fraction lang iyon.

Ang pusa na may rabies ay nagtatago hindi kagaya ng aso na nababaliw at ang pusang naapektuhan ng rabies ay hind umaatake (That’s a small fraction. A cat with rabies hides unlike dogs which go crazy and cats infected with rabies don’t attack),” he said. ■

L’Oreal hosts... ❰❰ 26

Indian actress Freida Pinto rocked a beautifully tailored menswear jacket look on the Valentino front row — the first time she’s been seen at one of the couture house’s displays.

“I’m super excited. This is really my style. It makes me feel really comfortable,” she said.

“This is my first ever Valentino show… We’ve been trying for some time to make it work but with my schedule it’s been hard,” she added.

Pinto, who shot to fame with “Slumdog Millionaire,” blamed her busy schedule on several “exciting” films she’s starring in.

It includes the BritishAmerican fantasy adventure “Mowgli,” based on the Rudyard Kipling fable set in India, in which she plays Messua, who decides to adopt the wild Mowgli, believing that he is their long-lost son Nathoo. It also features Christian Bale and Cate Blanchett.

Commotion at Valentino

When fashion insiders tried

to leave the Valentino venue at the Army Museum inside Les Invalides, a commotion beyond the metal barriers on the street forced the security to close off the exit.

As the crowd of fashion guests swelled into the hundreds, one French editor muttering she was too important to wait pushed past angrily.

After vocal protests over being squashed, an employee of KCD PR agency explained that the police had given them instructions to stop the guests exiting the show, after someone in a vehicle had tried unsuccessfully to swerve into people on the street.

Two police officers on the scene who wouldn’t give their names said an unknown person in a vehicle had tried “to ram” police officers outside the Valentino show, but didn’t hurt anyone and was detained.

The fashion crowd was directed to exit via the south entrance, past the big Celine show venue — in unfortunate bad optics. ■

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

PH among world’s top 15 travel, tourism powerhouses: WTTC

BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Philippine News Agency MANILA — Out of 185 countries, the Philippines ranked 13th among the top 15 tourism powerhouses that recorded “absolute growth” within the last seven years.

The Philippines’ ranking was identified in the 2018 World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) “Power and Performance Report,” wherein 185 states were assessed based on its travel and tourism sector’s performance from the period of 2011 to 2017 after the financial crisis ended.

The report highlights the scale of growth of a country’s travel and tourism in four key areas: contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), international visitor spend, domestic spend, and capital investment.

The country also ranked 15th in terms of “performance” or based on its compound annual growth rates between the period in WTTC’s four indicators.

tions whose travel and tourism has grown most from 2011 to 2017, listed 30 top performers.

The top 10 countries were China, United States, India, Mexico, United Kingdom, Spain, Turkey, Canada, Indonesia, and Australia and United Arab Emirates which tied for the 10th spot.

The Philippines and Malaysia shared the 13th slot.

Meanwhile, the report’s “Performance” ranking listed the folDomestic spending lowing top 10 countries: MyanContribution to GDP As in the first two indicators, mar, Iraq, Georgia, Rwanda, The Philippines ranks 8th the Philippines is in both the Iceland, Nicaragua, Qatar, Conamong states that have seen power and performance league go, Armenia, and Ivory Coast. the largest growth in travel of domestic spending.

DOT secretary Bernadette and tourism’s contribution to The Philippines placed sixth Romulo-Puyat earlier noted GDP from 2011 to 2017, with in the power rankings for hav- that the Philippine tourism is a USD66.3 billion “booming” inshare in 2017 dustry. alone.

During the Growing at Ministerial an annual rate The Philippines ranked 13th among Round Table of of 14.2 percent, the top 15 tourism powerhouses Tourism EXPO it placed 7th that recorded “absolute growth” 2018 in Japan on among states within the last seven years.

September 20, where travel and she revealed that tourism contrithe country is bution to GDP “more than five grew fastest. ing USD45.7 billion in last year’s years ahead” of its domestic The WTTC noted that the domestic travel and tourism tourism targets.

Philippines is “the only coun- spending, an “actual growth” In 2017, the tourism industry try” in the top ten that is in both of USD26.2 billion from 2011 to alone accounted for 12.2 per“power” and “performance” 2017, according to WTTC. cent of the Philippines’ GDP, rankings of GDP contribution.

This makes the country third a figure which exceeds the among 185 states in terms of 10-percent share of GDP the International visitor spending highest annual growth rate. government targeted for 2022.

A total of 9 countries, on the In all four indicators, the In the same year, at least 96.7 other hand, reached the top 30 Philippines only fell below the million domestic tourist arrivin both size and speed of visi- top 30 in investment after plac- als were recorded, exceeding tor export growth namely Co- ing 44th in the power ranking the 86.2 million target set for lombia, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, of capital investment and 87th 2022. A total of 6.62 million Mexico, Philippines, Qatar, Sri in its performance ranking. international arrivals in 2017 Lanka and Thailand.

WTTC’s overall “Power” were seen, an 11.3-percent inThe Philippines landed on ranking, which positions na- crease from 2016, she added. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

the 21st spot for posting a 3.7 percent increase in the last seven years in terms of visitor export growth, or the spending by foreign visitors in a country.

In 2017, WTTC said the country earned USD7.5 billion from international visitor spendings.

On the other hand, it ranked 23rd among states with fastest growing international visitor spend or an 11.9 percent in visitor export growth per annum.

37

Food Robust grilled cheese sandwiches for adults, not just kids AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN GRILLED CHEESE has a kids’ menu reputation, but just a few tweaks make it a sophisticated dinner option.

To create a sandwich with more robust flavour and personality without going overboard on toppings and additions, we focused on the cheese. Our recipe began by mixing flavourful aged cheddar with a small amount of Brie and some wine in a food processor. Those two ingredients helped the cheddar melt evenly without becoming greasy.

A little bit of shallot increased the sandwiches’ complexity without detracting from the cheese, and a smear of mustard-butter on the bread

added a sharp bite. Look for a cheddar aged for about one year (avoid cheddar aged for longer; it won’t melt well). To bring the cheddar to room temperature quickly, microwave the pieces until warm, about 30 seconds.

Grown-up grilled cheese with cheddar and shallot

Servings: 4 Start to finish: 30 minutes

• 7 ounces aged cheddar cheese, cut into 24 equal pieces, room temperature • 2 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed • 2 tablespoons dry white wine or dry vermouth • 4 teaspoons minced shallot • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

• 8 slices hearty white sandwich bread Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 200 F. Process cheddar, Brie, and wine in food processor until smooth paste forms, 20 to 30 seconds.

Add shallot and pulse to combine, 3 to 5 pulses; transfer to bowl. In separate bowl, combine butter and mustard.

Brush butter-mustard mixture evenly over 1 side of each slice of bread. Flip 4 slices over and spread cheese mixture evenly over second side. Top with remaining 4 slices bread, buttered side up, and press down gently.

Heat 12 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat for 2 minutes. Place 2 sandwiches in skillet, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until both sides are crisp and golden brown, 6

to 9 minutes per side.

Transfer sandwiches to wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet and keep warm in oven. Wipe out skillet with paper towels and cook remaining 2 sandwiches. Serve.

Variations: — Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Comte and Cornichon: Substitute Comte for cheddar,

minced cornichon for shallots, and rye sandwich bread for white sandwich bread.

— Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Gruyere and Chives: Substitute Gruyere for cheddar, chives for shallots, and rye sandwich bread for white sandwich bread. ❱❱ PAGE 38 Robust grilled

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds can be plain or spicy

BY SARA MOULTON The Associated Press WHEN LIFE gives you lemons, make lemonade, right? In the same vein, I propose that when fall gives us pumpkins, we should make toasted pumpkin seeds. We have to scoop them out anyway when we cook the squash, so why not turn them into something delicious instead of tossing them into the garbage?

I’ll admit that separating the seeds from the vegetable’s stringy membrane can be messy.

The seeds are sticky, the membrane in which they are embedded is sticky, and your hands will get sticky as you do the work.

The solution? Pull the seeds out of the pumpkin’s cavity, put them in a large bowl of water, then swish them around. The strands of membrane are much easier to pull off in water. Remove any of the seeds’ residual stickiness by rinsing them once or twice. Now they’re good to go.

Anyone who has ever roast-

ed winter squash seeds knows they don’t cook evenly. The skin remains kind of chewy even as the seeds’ innards become tender. Here’s how to ensure even cooking: Start by simmering the seeds in boiling salted water. This step not only tenderizes the seeds’ hard skin, it also deeply seasons it.

Once the seeds have been boiled and drained, they need to be dried. I used to do it by plopping them onto a towel and patting them dry. Predictably, and annoyingly, all the seeds then stuck to the towel. It was during the testing of this recipe that I finally figured out a way around this problem. Given that we’re going to bake the seeds anyway, why not start by drying them out first in the oven? Then add your fat of choice — oil or butter — and continue to bake them, stirring occasionally, until they’re almost crispy and golden, which takes a while. I say “almost crispy” because the baked seeds don’t achieve complete crispiness until they cool

off completely.

Be sure to season the seeds while they’re still hot out of the oven, using either a tad more salt or the spice blend of your choice, such as creole seasoning. (Don’t season the seeds before putting them into the oven.

The spices will burn as the seeds bake.) Those folks who decline to spice up the seeds will still have their deeply nutty flavour to enjoy.

So there you go. Eat these toasted seeds straight up, like nuts, or add them to soups or salads. www.canadianinquirer.net

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds — Plain or Spicy

Start to finish: 1 hour, 30 minutes (20 active) Servings: 8 • Kosher salt • 1 cup cleaned fresh pumpkin seeds (from a fresh pumpkin) • 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil or melted unsalted butter • 1 teaspoon Creole spice seasoning (such as Zatarains) or more to taste, for the spicy version • Preheat the oven to 300 F.

In a pot of boiling salted water, boil the seeds for 10 minutes. Drain well. On a rimmed sheet pan lined with aluminum foil, spread out the seeds so they don’t overlap. Bake them on the middle shelf of the oven for 5 minutes. Remove and stir well. Bake for another 4 to 5 minutes or until most of the seeds appear white.

Remove the seeds from the oven, drizzle with the oil or butter and bake for 50 minutes, stirring several times. Sprinkle the seeds with salt or Creole spice seasoning while still hot.

Let cool completely (they will continue to crisp as they cool) before using. If you don’t use them right away, store them in an airtight container. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 201 calories; 147 calories from fat; 16 g fat (4g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 125 mg sodium; 4 g carbohydrates; 3 g fiber; 1 g sugar; 9 g protein.

38

Food

OCTOBER 5, 2018

FRIDAY

The star of our beef barley soup is a rich, intense stock AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN THE STAR of our beef barley soup is a rich, intensely flavoured beef stock. We were able to make a from-scratch stock in about 2 1/2 hours thanks to a lot of browned beef (we preferred shank) and a few small bones.

As a bonus, the shank meat turned soft and gelatinous, perfect for shredding and adding to the soup. Mushrooms complement beefy flavour, so we used them for an even meatier-tasting soup.

Mulling over the choice of what barley to use, we settled on pearl barley because it is a quicker-cooking grain.

Adding fresh thyme early on allowed its robust flavour to infuse the broth evenly while diced tomatoes added complexity and some acidity and helped balance the heartiness of the barley.

Making a beef noodle soup variation turned out to be a cinch: We simply swapped hearty wide egg noodles for the barley and simmered them right in the broth. You will need the stock and 2 cups of cooked beef (either from the shank or from the chuck) from Rich Beef Stock

(recipe follows) for this recipe.

Beef barley soup with mushrooms and thyme

Servings: 6 Start to finish: 1 hour 15 minutes

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil • 1 onion, chopped • 2 carrots, peeled and chopped • 12 ounces white mushrooms, trimmed and sliced thin • 1 recipe Rich Beef Stock (recipe follows) plus 2 cups meat, shredded into bite-size pieces • 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained • 1/2 cup pearl barley • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme or 1/2 teaspoon dried • 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley • Salt and pepper Heat 1 tablespoon oil in stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add onion and carrots and cook until vegetables are almost soft, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil and mushrooms and cook until mushrooms soften and liquid evapo-

JEFFREYW / FLICKR, CC BY 2.0

rates, 4 to 5 minutes longer.

Add beef stock and meat, tomatoes, barley, and thyme. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low; simmer until barley is just tender, 45 to 50 minutes. Stir in parsley, season with salt and pepper to taste, and serve.

Rich Beef Stock:

This recipe for a rich traditional beef stock delivers a stock with great body, lots of beefy flavour, and a generous amount of meat. It took 6 pounds of beef and bones to make it. Here’s why: Roasting and simmering just beef bones with some aromatic vegetables yielded beef stock that tasted like bone-enhanced vegetable liquid. We figured out that it was going to take more meat than bones to get deep beef flavour. We tested different cuts of beef and shanks, a common supermarket cut with exposed marrow bones, were our favourite, followed by marrow bone-enhanced chuck.

Not only was the shank meat soft and gelatinous, it was perfect for shredding and adding to our beef soups. We used one lone onion as our vegetable and enlivened the stock with a modest 1/2 cup of red wine. Unlike other traditional stocks, ours was done in about 2 1/2 hours and was a one-pot, stovetop-only affair. Note that you need only 2 cups of the cooked beef for our soups, but the leftover beef is delicious and also good for sandwiches.

Use a Dutch oven or stock pot that holds 6 quarts or more for this recipe. Cooled stock and meat can be refrigerated separately for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 1 month before being used to make soup.

Makes about 8 cups stock and 6 cups meat Total time: 2 hours, 45 minutes • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1 large onion, chopped • 6 pounds beef shanks, meat removed from bones and cut into large chunks, bones reserved, or 4 pounds beef chuck, cut into 3-inch chunks, plus 2 pounds marrow bones • 1/2 cup dry red wine • 8 cups boiling water • 2 bay leaves • 1/2 teaspoon salt Heat 1 tablespoon oil in stockpot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to large bowl.

Brown meat and bones on all sides in 3 or 4 batches, about 5 minutes per batch, adding remaining oil to pot as necessary; do not overcrowd. Transfer to bowl with onion. Add wine to pot and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until wine is reduced to about 3 tablespoons, about 2 minutes.

Return browned beef and onion to pot.

Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook until meat releases its juices, about 20 minutes.

Increase heat to high; add boiling water, bay leaves, and salt. Bring to boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer slowly until meat is tender and stock is flavourful, 1 1/2 to 2 hours, skimming foam off surface. Strain stock through fine-mesh strainer and discard bones and onion; reserve meat for soup or other use.

Let stock settle for 5 to 10 minutes, then defat using wide, shallow spoon or fat separator. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 439 calories; 199 calories from fat; 22 g fat (2 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 59 mg cholesterol; 540 mg sodium; 21 g carbohydrate; 5 g fiber; 4 g sugar; 36 g protein.

Robust grilled... ❰❰ 37

— Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Asiago and Dates: Substitute Asiago for cheddar, finely chopped pitted dates for shallot, and oatmeal sandwich bread for white sandwich bread.

— Grown-Up Grilled Cheese with Robiola and Chipotle: Substitute Robiola, rind removed, for cheddar; 1/4 teaspoon www.canadianinquirer.net

minced canned chipotle chili in adobo sauce for shallots; and oatmeal sandwich bread for white sandwich bread. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 566 calories; 298 calories from fat; 33 g fat (20 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 90 mg cholesterol; 840 mg sodium; 45 g carbohydrate; 0 g fiber; 6 g sugar; 20 g protein.

39

FRIDAY OCTOBER 5, 2018

Get the latest News & Updates

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

www.canadianinquirer.net

40

OCTOBER 5, 2018

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY