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OCTOBER 12, 2018
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VOL. 8 NO. 341
President Rodrigo R. Duterte flashes his signature pose with the House Speaker Gloria Arroyo, Commission on Higher Education Commissioner Prospero de Vera III, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and other officials from the education sector after the presentation of the Republic Act 11079 or “An Act Mandating the Integration of the Maasin City College into the Southern Leyte State University.” REY BANIQUET/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
I’m not cancerous: Duterte BY AZER PARROCHA Philippine News Agency MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Tuesday said he is cancerfree, following the release of results of his medical exam in a private hospital last week. “Hindi pa ako (I’m not yet) cancerous so do not be afraid to go near me, I will not contaminate you,” Duterte said after administering the oath of Malacañang
Press Corps officers at Malacañang Palace. Duterte said he underwent colonoscopy and endoscopy at Cardinal Santos Hospital in San Juan City on Oct. 3 for at least an hour. The 73-year-old President said the findings showed that his Barrett’s esophagus was “badly eroded” due to alcohol intake. “Was I found positive of cancer? It’s
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SWS: Pinoy families rating themselves as ‘poor’ rise to 52%
16 Tanong #3: May dahilan ka ba para umalis?
❱❱ PAGE 2 I’m not
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Philippine News
OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
Ending insurgency equates with social healing: Lorenzana PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Ending insurgency is a means of achieving social healing, Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said during a high-level meeting with Task Force “Balik Loob” lead and partner agencies last Friday. The task force, which is chaired by DND Undersecretary Reynaldo B. Mapagu, has five lead agencies as its members: the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of National Defense (DND), the National Housing Authority (NHA), the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace Process (OPAPP), and the Office of the President. “Ending the insurgency is actually not an end but rather a means towards achieving higher national objectives of social healing, reconciliation, unity among our people, and eventually, attaining lasting peace — a legacy which the President (Rodrigo R. Duterte) wants to bequeath to the nation and to our people,” Lorenzana said in a state-
ment. In line with this objective, Lorenzana said the task force must work closely with each other for a whole of government approach in providing benefits and services to former rebels. Also, the DND chief said Task Force “Balik Loob” cannot afford to fail the people and the President. In the same meeting, DILG OICSecretary Eduardo M. Año, expressed the need for lead and partner agencies, including local government units, down to the Provincial E-CLIP Committees to work together and faster, considering that the allocated funds for various programs have to be utilized before the year ends. He stated that the former rebels view the E-CLIP as a “light at the end of the tunnel,” serving as the best option for the nation to finally achieve peace. E-CLIP refers to the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program and is the Duterte administration’s flagship program that seeks to address social healing and national unity towards the higher objective of having just and lasting peace.
DND Secretary Delfin Lorenzana.
It aims to provide social equity to former members of the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s ArmyNational Democratic Front (CPP-NPANDF) and the Militia ng Bayan in order to reintegrate them into mainstream society. Unlike the previous government reintegration programs, the E-CLIP provides a wide array of benefits based on the particular needs of the former rebels and their families such as financial assistance, shelter, education, skills training, healthcare, legal assistance, among others through a convergence of various national and local government agencies. These benefits are not the “end” but just means or tools to aid the former rebels while in the process of transitioning into the mainstream society. “In order for us to really solve insurgency, it is still impossible to wipe them (insurgents) all out completely or eliminate them through force. Even if
JOEY O. RAZON / PNA
you look at all other insurgencies in the world, they did not end by fighting but rather, through negotiation or by a winwin solution like in Cambodia where everyone was given a chance to go back to the mainstream part of the government or society… and this is what we’re doing now,” the DILG chief added. Mapagu, meanwhile, thanked all the attendees and reminded them that the Task Force “Balik Loob” is foremost an exercise and a platform to develop teamwork towards realizing the “whole of government” approach to help former rebels, their families and their communities. “As separate line agencies of the government, we can only do so much. But as one government with different agencies, working hand-in-hand, we can achieve more. We can make our cooperation work to demonstrate good governance worthy of emulation of E-CLIP committees at the local government level,” he added. ■
I’m not.. ❰❰ 1
not the colon, it’s my Barrett. It’s badly eroded because I was told to stop drinking years ago,” Duterte said. Duterte, meanwhile, denied that he also underwent a medical checkup in Hong Kong last Oct. 6 after joking that that his medical tests in Philippine and Hong Kong hospitals showed different results. “You believe that I had a checkup in Hong Kong?” Duterte said, stressing that he was there to shop for clothes. In a Palace briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque refrained from answering questions about the www.canadianinquirer.net
President’s health, noting that he had no information. He, however, assured that the President will comply with the Constitution and divulge the state of his health if it is a “serious” or life-threatening condition. “The President will comply with the Constitution, unless serious, he will treat medical condition as private,” Roque said. “We take it that whatever the President has is not serious,” he added. Interior and Local Government Officer-In-Charge Secretary Eduardo Año also confirmed that Duterte tested negative for cancer. ■
Philippine News
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
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Palace denies PRRD aide used ‘bundle of cash’ in HK trip PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Malacañang on Monday denied a news report, which claimed that one of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s bodyguards was “carrying a bundle of cash” for purchases made during the Chief Executive’s quick break in Hong Kong over the weekend. Journalist Ellen Tordesillas wrote about the said bundle of cash in her Vera Files article “Duterte in Hong Kong with Honeylet and daughter Kitty” published on Saturday (Oct. 6). “Hindi ho totoo yan. Wala po may hawak na bundle-bundle na pera. Intriga ‘yan (That’s not true. Nobody was holding a bundle of cash. That’s all intrigue),” Duterte’s top aide, Christopher “Bong” Go, told reporters in a telephone interview. “Wala naman silang pruweba. Wala hong katotohanan ‘yan
(They don’t have any proof. There’s no truth to that report),” he added. On Saturday night, Go uploaded photos of him with Duterte, who was joined by his common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña and daughter Kitty. Go told reporters in a text message that the President arrived in Hong Kong early Saturday morning to take a “muchneeded break” and was set to return on Sunday. He denied that Duterte went to Hong Kong simply to shop, but to mainly get rest and bond with his youngest daughter, which he rarely had a chance to do for the past two and a half years in office. “Yung bonding with his daughter na nami-miss na niya na di niya nagagawa (he missed it because he hasn’t done it) for the past two and a half years,” Go said. Duterte’s medical results
Meanwhile, Go was mum on
SAP Bong Go.
PCOO
the results of recent medical tests on the President. “Hindi ko masasagot ‘yan. Yung sakit niya di talaga mahanap (I can’t answer that question. I know they can’t identify an illness),” Go said. Asked if Duterte was willing to release the results to the public, Go said it was for the President to decide.
“Si Presidente lang po makakasagot niyan. Sinabi ko kung serious, di ba nasa Constitution naman na kung serious kailangan i-divulge. Wala namang serious illness ang Pangulo (It’s only the President who can answer that question. But if it’s serious, isn’t it in the Constitution that he needs to divulge if it’s serious? The President doesn’t have a
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serious illness),” Go said. Earlier, the 73-year-old President bared that he underwent an endoscopy and colonoscopy and was advised to have repeat tests. Duterte said he did not know his current state of health but vowed to tell the public if it was cancer. ■
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OCTOBER 12, 2018
SC stresses importance of charity in today’s society PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — A Supreme Court (SC) ruling stressed the significance of charity in modern society. In a decision written by Associate Justice Andres B. Reyes Jr., the SC underscored that charitable work is “an important social fabric that eliminates inequality” and pointed out that “charitable giving must be encouraged through support from society and the courts.” “Donation is an expression of our social conscience, an act rooted purely on the goodness of one’s heart and the intent to contribute,” the ruling added. The High Court’s ruling upheld the legality of a donation to a charitable institution for the abandoned and neglected elderly by a spinster, Purificacion Alzona, who died seven years ago. Alzona was the registered owner of two parcels of land and co-owner of another lot in Calamba City in Laguna. She devoted the rest of her life in helping others through the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Fatima (MSOLF), known as the Peach Sisters of Laguna, headed by Mother Ma. Concepcion R. Realon as superior general. Alzona herself originally intended to become a nun. In a letter dated Oct. 11, 1999, Alzona informed Realon that the she was donating her house and lot and a riceland in Banlic, Calamba City to the Peach Sisters of Laguna through MSOLF. Alzona then introduced Realon to her nephew, Francisco del Mundo, and her niece, Ma. Lourdes Alzona Agusto Africa. She instructed del Mundo to give a share of the harvest to Realon for the Peach Sisters and informed Africa that she has given her house and lot to the nuns. On the request of Alzona in August 2001, Realon talked to lawyer Nonato Arcillas who asked the former if MSOLF was registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). Since the missionary group was not registered with SEC, Realon filed a registration application on Aug. 28, 2001. On Aug. 29, 2001, Alzona executed a deed of donation for the two properties and her undivided share in the riceland. The deed was notarized by Arcillas in the presence of Alzona and witnessed by her nephews Francisco and Diosdado (both surnamed del Mundo) and grandnephew lawyer Fernando Alonzo. The donation was accepted by Realon and it was exempted from donor’s tax by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. But the register of deeds denied the registration of the donated properties because of the affidavit of adverse claim filed on Sept. 26, 2001 by Purificacion’s brother, Amando Y. Alzona. Alzona died on Oct. 3, 2001. On April 9, 2002, Amando filed a complaint with the regional trial court (RTC) to annul the deed of donation on the ground that when the donation was made, MSOLF was not registered with the SEC. The case reached the Court of Appeals (CA), which reversed the trial court and voided the deed of donation in a decision dated Jan. 7, 2016. In reversing the CA ruling, the SC said “there is no question that the true intent of Purificacion, the donor and the owner of the properties in question, was to give, out of liberality the subject house and lot, which she owned, to the petitioner” (MSOLF).”The Court finds that for the purpose of accepting the donation, the petitioner (MOSLF) is deemed vested with personality to accept, and Mother Concepcion is clothed with authority to act on the latter’s behalf,” it added. “Accordingly, the acceptance of Mother Concepcion for the sisters comprising the congregation is sufficient to perfect the donation and to transfer the title to the property to the petitioner,” the SC said. ■
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Duterte negative for cancer — Año BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer
bothering me since, ever since, dahil nga sa inom rin (because of drinking alcoholic beverages),” he said. When he revealed this information to THE MEDICAL tests that President the public, Duterte was still uncertain Rodrigo Duterte underwent to resulted about the state of his health but he said negative for cancer, according to De- he will tell everyone if he has cancer. partment of the Interior and Local GovStated in Section 12 of Article VII of ernment (DILG) officer-in-charge Edu- the 1987 Constitution, “In case of seriardo Año. ous illness of the President, the pubAño told reporters on Tuesday, Oc- lic shall be informed of the state of his tober 9, that the President himself dis- health. The members of the Cabinet in closed this development during their charge of national security and foreign Cabinet meeting yesterday night. relations and the Chief of Staff of the “He disclosed to us that the result of Armed Forces of the Philippines, shall the test was negative, not be denied access the one where they to the President durtook samples from ing such illness.” his intestines,” the Duterte’s mouthofficial said. piece, Presidential Upon hearing the Spokesperson Harry good news, the CabiHe disclosed Roque, Jr., earlier net officials then conto us that said a “growth” was gratulated Duterte, the result of found in the Presiwho even managed to the test was dent’s digestive tract. utter a joke. negative. “I think endoscopy “Nag-joke pa nga was recommended siya sabi niya, ‘Alam from his own words niyo itonghealth natin ha, in the general parang baterya ‘yan staff command coneh, minsan negative, minsan positive’ (He ference, because they wanted just to be even cracked a joke saying, ‘Our health sure that there was a growth, and they is like a battery, sometimes it is negative, wanted to know more about the growth,” sometimes it is positive’),” the acting Roque said. DILG secretary said. Endoscopy is a procedure wherein a The 73-year-old Chief Executive, last doctor will examine one’s digestive tract week, admitted in a speech before mem- using an endoscope, a long flexible tube bers of the Philippine Military Academy with a camera attached to it. Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI) Roque added that Duterte had underthat he went to Cardinal Santos Medical gone a “general exam,” but after which, Center for some medical tests. doctors “wanted a more specific exam, He added that his Barretts’s esopha- zeroing in on something.” gus, a complication of gastroesophageal Duterte’s critics have been calling on reflux disease (GERD), became ‘worse.’ the President to be transparent on the “I have this Barrett and it has been real score of his health condition. ■
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FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
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Philippine News
OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
SWS: Pinoy families rating themselves as ‘poor’ rise to 52% BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE LATEST survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) revealed that more than half or 52 percent of Filipino families consider themselves as “poor.” In its third Quarter 2018 Social Weather Survey, the pollster asked its survey respondents, “Where would you place your family in this card?” referring to a showcard with choices of “Hindi mahirap (not poor), Sa linya (on the line), Mahirap (poor).” Among the 1,500 respondents, an estimated 12.2 million families rated themselves as poor. This figure, the SWS said, is a four-point jump from the 48 percent in March 2018 and the “highest” since the same 52 percent recorded in December 2014.
“This is the second consecutive increase in Self-Rated Poverty in 2018. Since the 42% recorded in March 2018, SelfRated Poverty has increased by 10 points in total,” it noted. The same survey also found that among the 52 percent Self-Rated Poor families, eight percent of them are “newly poor” or those who used to be non-poor one to four years ago, while six percent of those families are “usually poor” or those who used to be non-poor five or more years ago. The remaining 39 percent, on the other hand, are “always poor” or those who have never experienced being non-poor. Meanwhile, of those 48 percent Self-Rated Non-Poor families, the SWS said 10 percent of them are “newly non-poor,” 13 percent are “usually non-poor,” and 25 percent are “always non-poor.” According to the pollster, the
BRIAN EVANS / FLICKR, CC BY-ND 2.0
four-point increase in Self-Rated Poverty (SRP) in the third quarter of 2018 was because of the “sharp increase” in Balance Luzon and Mindanao. The SRP rose in Balance Luzon and Mindanao by 12 points from 35 percent in June 2018 and five points from 60 percent in the same month, respective-
ly. However, the SWS noted that the SRP dropped by 17 points in Metro Manila from 43 percent in its previous survey. It was unchanged in the Visayas which is at 67 percent in June and September. The latest survey, done from September 15 to 23, used face-
to-face interviews on its respondents who are 18 years old and above. It has sampling error margins of plus or minus three percent for national percentages, plus or minus four percent for Balance Luzon, and plus or minus six percent each for Metro Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao.
Bong Revilla to run NBI joins probe on missing for senator in 2019 smuggled rice in Zamboanga BY FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES Philippine News Agency
constituents and political leaders,” he added. Romualdez said the party would also support the senatorial candidates to be endorsed MANILA — Detained former by Hugpong ng Pagbabago, the senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla regional party of presidential Jr. is running for a Senate seat daughter and incumbent Davao in the 2019 midCity mayor Sara term elections. Duterte Carpio. Former Leyte Revilla is deRep. and Lakastained at the Christian MusThis decision Philippine Nalim Democrats was reached tional Police (Lakas CMD) after a series of Custodial Center president Marconsultations for his alleged tin Romualdez with his family, involvement in made the anclose friends, the multi-billion nouncement on constituents peso anomaly inFriday. and political volving the Pri“I am pleased leaders. ority Developand honored ment Assistance to officially anFunds, or pork nounce the canbarrel funds, didacy for the that were supSenate of Sen. Bong Revilla Jr., posedly misappropriated under our party chairman,” Romual- the direction of businesswomdez said. an Janet Napoles. “This decision was reached after a series of consultations With reports from Joyce Ann Rowith his family, close friends, camora
BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CALIWAN Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to join the ongoing probe on the sacks of smuggled rice in Zamboanga City which went missing last September 30. “I have directed the NBI to assist the Bureau of Customs (BOC) and the National Food Authority (NFA) in the investigation of the missing 23,015 sacks of confiscated smuggled rice in Zamboanga City,” Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said in a statement Sunday. “I will leave it to the NBI Director Gierran to determine if his agents down south could do a credible investigation or the Anti-Smuggling Task Force at the head office should do it,” Guevarra said. The NBI is one of the atwww.canadianinquirer.net
tached agencies of the DOJ. The BOC has already started looking into the facts and incidents that led to the disappearance of the 23,013 sacks of alleged smuggled rice. It was reported that President Rodrigo Duterte was upset upon learning of the missing 23,015 sacks of rice that were intercepted from three vessels by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (ISAFP) and turned over to the BOC — for inventory and issuance of a warrant of seizure and detention. Last Oct. 4, two Customs officials in Zamboanga City have been placed under “administrative relief” pending investigation of the missing sacks of smuggled rice. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said BOC Chief Isidro Lapeña has ordered the preventive suspension of Port of Zamboanga District Collec-
tor Lyceo Martinez and Customs police district commander Filomeno Salazar. Roque said the two officials were suspended so that they could not “tamper with evidence and cannot influence the investigation.” “I got a text from the Executive Secretary (Salvador Medialdea) asking me to inform the nation that President (Rodrigo Duterte) was visibly upset with the missing 23,015 sacks of apprehended smuggled rice in Zamboanga City,” Roque said in a Palace briefing. Roque said the incident showed that there is smuggling, that smuggled rice is being sold in the market, and that there are warehouses that are hoarding rice. At present, he said officials of the BOC could be held liable for the missing sacks of smuggled rice. To date, 16,000 sacks have been recovered from various privately-owned warehouses.
Philippine News
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
7
Andanar awaits Duterte decision Anakbayan to on possible new post offer AFP: Not only 18
schools are against Duterte admin
PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Monday said he will wait for President Rodrigo R. Duterte to make an announcement on a possible new post, which will be offered to him, should the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) be reverted to the Office of the Press Secretary (OPS). Andanar bared this in an interview, noting that he had no plans to seek for public office amid reports that some members of Duterte’s Cabinet will be running in next year’s midterm elections. “I will wait for the President to divulge the information. And you know, it’s difficult to say that I want this and I want that,” Andanar told news anchor Karen Davila over ANC Headstart. Andanar reiterated that all Cabinet members “work at the pleasure of the President” and he felt that as long as he could handle the position offered to him, he is ready to accept it. “If I feel that the position that can be offered to me is a position that I can work on and I can be good at, then yeah, sure,” Andanar said. Following reports showing that Andanar may be offered to replace Francis Tolentino as Duterte’s political affairs adviser, the PCOO chief said it was a task he felt he is able to take on. “I’ve been a fan of political advisers. And it’s essentially talking to the different politicians throughout country, the governors, the mayors, the congressmen, the senators; and creating that bridge that link between the Executive branch and the politicians,” Andanar said. “Well, it’s a job that I think I can do,” he added. On Saturday, Andanar bared that Duterte has offered to give Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque the press secretary post should the PCOO be reverted to the OPS. Duterte earlier advised Roque against running in next year’s midterm elections since he was not likely to win.
BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer
PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar.
Roque, who filed a leave of absence, is yet to make a decision on the matter. At present, Andanar said that Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea is currently studying the proposal to replace the PCOO with the OPS. “I’ve already given the draft executive order to Executive Secretary Bingbong Medialdea. He has the draft already from our office, and they’re studying it right now,” Andanar said. Andanar said reverting back the PCOO to OPS is a sacrifice he is willing to make to keep Roque working for the government and shelve his plans to seek a senatorial post. “He (Roque) said that he would think about it over the weekend. The reason why I’m willing to take the sacrifice is because we were trying to convince Harry not to run anymore by 2019 because we need him in the communications arm,” Roque said. However, Andanar also welcomed the proposal to revert the PCOO to OPS since it could also revive functions of the OPS, which were lost when it turned into the PCOO during the previous administration. “The reason why I want to revert it to the Office of the Press Secretary is that apart from the reorganization, there are some functions of the Office of the Press Secretary that were slowly lost along the way,” Andanar said. He cited the presence of press attaché as an example of functions, which the previous administration removed.
PCOO
“We don’t have any press attaché. For example, the United States, they have a press attaché here,” Andanar said. “I’ve asked the embassies overseas, in different missions, and they are all in one in saying that they lack the staff also so it’s difficult for them to handle communications for the government. And I believe that the Office of the Press Secretary should be able to bring this position back on the table,” he added. During the previous administration, the OPS was split into the PCOO and the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO). The PCDSPO functions were already transferred to the PCOO. Future plans
Although Andanar said he had no plans in running for public office anytime soon, he is open to running should the country shift to a federal system of government. “It depends. If it becomes a federal government, then I’ll consider — in the province,” Andanar said. “I feel that I’ll be more effective as a politicians or as a campaigners if it becomes a federal government, if I’m make a politician because I’m better versed in Bisaya than Tagalog and English,” he added. Asked if he would return to the private sector if Duterte did not have a post to offer him, Andanar, a former TV5 news anchor, joked about working for ABS-CBN. www.canadianinquirer.net
YOUTH GROUP Anakbayan found it ‘appalling’ that the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) only identified 18 schools that are against the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte. The military, through Brigadier General Antonio Parlade, Jr., disclosed their list of Metro Manila schools where it said the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) has been recruiting students for the supposed “Red October” plot against the Chief Executive. Among the schools included in the list is the University of the Philippines (UP) in Diliman and Manila, Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), University of Santo Tomas (UST), De La Salle University (DLSU), and Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP). However, Anakbayan believes that there are more schools which are against the Duterte administration but are not included in the AFP’s list. “We find it appalling that they have only identified 18 schools. Definitely, the list is longer because youth and students all over the country are fed up with this atrocious regime!” Anakbayan Secretary General Einstein Recedes said on Friday, October 5. Recedes added that the AFP does not need to waste the taxpayer’s money by spending millions of their intelligence funds to look for those who are against Duterte’s regime. Instead, Recedes said the military just has to search on social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, “to see how furious the youth are against price hikes, killings, and tyranny and how willing the youth are to mobilize against Duterte’s dictatorship.” In a separate statement, Recedes also hit back at Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde
who earlier slammed students of state universities and colleges (SUCs) who are “going against” the government. “In state universities, you are given free education by the government and yet hindi ka pa nag-gra-graduate (have not graduated), you are already going against the same government that gives you free education,” Albayalde told reporters on Thursday. In response to this, Recedes said that those youth who are upholding the rights and welfare of the Filipino people are “way nobler than that of this corrupt institution.” He explained that the said institution serves and protects “the interests of Duterte and the ruling elite.” He reminded the PNP chief that the money used to pay for the SUCs’ students is not coming from Duterte’s pocket but from the Filipino people. AFP spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo had maintained that some schools in their list have been and widely known to have been used “as fora for communist recruitment.” But despite saying this, he admitted that several of them are still subject of continuing validation. Arevalo also stressed that in disclosing the names of the Metro Manila schools, they did not mean to brand them as communists, but the military just wanted to “create awareness among our people especially parents who were complaining and asking for our help.” Meanwhile, some officials and organizations of the schools included in the AFP’s list had denied that there is an alleged communist recruitment on their respective campuses.
Philippine News
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OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
Student activism is okay, taking up arms vs. gov’t is not: PNP PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
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MANILA — The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said there is nothing wrong with student activism but it must not reach the point of taking up arms against the government. “The police recognized that student activism is a healthy sign of a vibrant democracy which our country now have. But to the extent of taking up arms or inciting to take up arms against government is definitely in conflict with the law that the PNP is duty-bound to address with appropriate police response,” PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said during the press conference after the Monday’s flag ceremony. Albayalde made the clarification as the PNP started coordinating with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to address the alleged recruitment of students by the New People’s Army (NPA) in some universities and colleges. “For our part, we have initiated consultations with the Commission on Higher Education and started opening lines of communication with school authorities to help discount the possibility of campus infiltration by extremist groups with their violent ideas. Surely we can learn from each other on how to best deal with this security concern and to try to help each other protect and secure the future of our youth who are considered to be our nation’s hope,” he stressed. “Actually si (National Capital Region Police Office Regional Director Guillermo Eleazar) and our (Public Information Office head, Chief Supt. Benigno Durana) have started coordinating with Dr. Popoy De Vera (of CHED). It’s a very fruitful meeting na magkakaroon tayo ng (that we will have) close coordination with CHED. Hindi yung basta basta kami pupunta sa mga (We will not easily barge into) campuses. No, we will never do that. Baka mamaya ma-misinterpret na naman yung punta natin sa mga schools (If we go to schools, it might be misinterpreted). So we will coordinate closely with CHED tungkol dito (about this),” Albayalde said. The PNP Chief also assured that the “coordination” with colleges and universities will not equate to the suppression of academic freedom. “Let me point out that human rights advocacy is an institutional policy in the PNP that is deeply-rooted in our doctrine, systems and procedures,” he said. Albayalde added the continuing education on human rights has been constantly afforded to all 180,000 police personnel through periodic training
Students joining the anti-martial law declaration rally. GINNO ALCANTARA / PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER
programs and follow-on seminars, while human rights training modules are now incorporated in all PNP mandatory training and specialization courses from recruitment and onwards along the entire career in the police service. He also reaffirmed his earlier pronouncements about the reported infiltration by front organizations of the leftist underground movement, to radicalize and recruit young students in some state colleges and universities. “Although this has been their standard strategy for years, I felt responsible to forewarn once again my fellow parents and our students of the serious danger it poses to their future. With all due respect to members of the academe, on the heels of the international observance of world teachers’ day over the weekend, I know that many of them remain faithful to their chosen vocation as role models and educators of the youth, and I firmly believe that the teachers’ role in educating our youth is so critical as that of ‘second parents’ to their students,” he said. “As such, they need to be cautious of the standard practice of the leftist underground movement to exploit academic freedom to infiltrate and radicalize some students to serve, wittingly or unwittingly, their political ends to undermine, destabilize or even overthrow the government,” he added. Although the strength and capability of its armed wing have been effectively diminished, it is still important to be
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conscious of its persistent schemes to undermine our country’s stability, he said. While stressing that academic freedom is important to promote critical thinking in educational institutions, the PNP chief said it does not give anyone the right to abet, encourage or violate laws and regulations much more, to take advantage of the students’ idealism to propagate hatred, violence and armed struggle against the government. “I just hope that patriotism and nationalism that promote values of love, sacrifice and service to country would be taught more in our schools especially in state colleges and universities,” he noted. Meanwhile, NCRPO head, Police Director Guillermo Eleazar confirmed that he met with CHED Officer-in-Charge Prospero de Vera III on Saturday. “Dr. De Vera intends to consult with presidents or leaders of universities not only in NCR (National Capital Region) but in other regions to discuss the issue and eventually hold dialogues with them and the PNP leadership,” Eleazar said. “We are hoping that within the week based sa sinabi ni (on the remarks of ) Dr. Popoy De Vera na magkakaroon siya ng (that he will hold) initial discussion with the presidents of some universities and then kokontak sila amin and haharap tayo sa kanila (they will contact us and we will meet them) and we will be inviting the chief PNP para harapin ito (to tackle this matter),” he added. ■
Philippine News
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
Duterte to cite PH’s SDGs achievements in ASEAN leaders meet in Bali PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte is set to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Leaders Gathering on October 11 in Bali, Indonesia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced Monday. “The President will be attending the meeting at the invitation of Indonesian President Jokowi Widodo,” DFA Assistant Secretary for ASEAN Junever Mahilum-West said in a Palace pre-departure press briefing. West said Duterte will join other ASEAN leaders in the one-day event, where they will showcase the region’s solid leadership and intensify cooperation in managing economic growth that will create better prosperity and equity as well as delivering meaningful progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “On the part of the Philippines, the President would highlight the government’s efforts to improve its performance in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” West said. West said Duterte will urge all parties to strengthen support for micro, small and medium enterprises and call for economic resilience amidst prevailing global economic uncertainties. Duterte will also encourage deeper cooperation between ASEAN, United Nations, International Monetary Fund and World Bank to implement the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. She said Duterte is also expected to emphasize the roles of the IMF, WB and the ASEAN+3 (China, Japan and Korea) Macroeconomic Research Office in building the capacity of countries to reach their sustainable development targets. The ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering will be a two-hour informal roundtable, which is bannered by theme, “Achieving SDGs and Overcoming Development Gap Through Regional and Global Collaborative Actions.” West said the ASEAN leaders
will affirm the region’s commitment to IMF, WB, and the UN’s role in “addressing development challenges.” “The ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering will serve as a platform at the highest levels for further engagement of the ASEAN leaders with the IMF Managing Director, the WB President and the UN Secretary-General,” West said. “The gathering will discuss key issues related to building synergy in strengthening financial stability in the region and accelerating economic development and regional integration as well as exploring potential collaboration to achieve development goals.” Aside from ASEAN leaders, other participants to the meeting will be IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde, WB President Jim Yong-kim, UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres and ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi. The meeting, which will be co-chaired by Widodo and Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will take place on the heels of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the UN Secretary-General last Sept. 28 in New York. During the New York meeting, the ASEAN and UN noted the importance of ASEAN-UN cooperation particularly in cross-sectoral areas to contribute to the implementation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “The areas covered include minimizing the adverse impact of climate change, alleviating poverty, tackling inequalities and promoting women’s empowerment, energy connectivity and technical solutions for energy efficiency, promoting and greening micro, small and medium enterprises, agriculture, education, health, food and nutrition, enhancing social security and promoting decent work for all,” West said. West said the no document will be issued but the outcome of the discussions during the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering is expected to set the tone for the 2018 Annual Meetings of the IMF and WB to be held on Oct. 12-14 also in Bali, Indonesia. ■
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Duterte: I never fired Mocha BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer PRESIDENT RODRIGO Duterte confirmed that former Communications Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson resigned from her post, dismissing a news report that he fired her from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO). On Tuesday, October 9, Uson uploaded on her Facebook page a video of her conversation with Duterte in Malacañang. In the video, Uson was telling the President the report that she was sacked from her post, to which Duterte replied, “No, you resigned.” “I never fired Mocha, siya ‘yung nag-resign(she was the one who resigned),” he reiterated. Uson said she did not want to “disturb” the President, who has a jam-packed schedule, but the former assistant secretary just wanted to clarify the issue about her resignation. “The supporters would just like to know the truth,” Uson said. Duterte then replied, “I will be angry if you will not disturb me.” Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea and Special Assistant to the President (SAP)
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Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and former Communications Secretary Mocha Uson. MOCHA USON BLOG / FACEBOOK
Christopher “Bong” Go earlier said it was not true that Uson was fired by Duterte. Uson announced last week her resignation, saying that she gave up her position to ease the way for the Communications agency’s budget for next year. Despite this, Uson warned her critics that her fight is not yet over. “Wag kayong magkakamaling isipin na nagtagumpay kayo. Hindi ako nagbitiw sa posisyon dahil takot ako sa inyo. Gusto ko lang na kapag magkaharap tayo,
patas ang laban (Do not even think that you won. I did not resign from my position because I’m afraid of you. I just want that when we confront each other, our fight will be fair),” she previously said. The former Palace official, then, on Monday, confirmed that she will run for public office in the upcoming midterm elections to “give voice to ordinary Filipinos.” However, she refused to disclose what position she is eyeing for. ■
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Philippine News
OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
ROBINSON NIÑAL / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
Roque yet to decide on Duterte’s press secretary post offer PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
SWS: Public satisfaction with Duterte admin declines in Q3 of 2018 BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer FILIPINOS’ NET satisfaction with the performance of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration dropped by eight points, according to the latest survey of Social Weather Stations (SWS). In the Third Quarter 2018 Social Weather Survey, done on September 15 to 23, the Duterte administration obtained a “very good” net satisfaction rating of +50, an eight-point decrease from June’s +58 “very good” rating. The pollster found that among their 1,200 survey respondents, 65 percent said they are satisfied, 19 percent said they are neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and 16 percent said they are dissatisfied with the performance of the administration. The Duterte administration’s net satisfaction rating fell by one grade from “excellent” to “very good” in Mindanao, a
nine-point decrease from the +76 in September. It also fell from a “very good” to “good” in Balance Luzon and in Visayas, which is now only at +48 from +54 and +42 from +56 in June, respectively. However, the government’s rating remained “good” in Metro Manila, although it decreased by seven points from +47 in June. Report card
Among 14 specific performance subjects rated, the Filipinos said the Duterte administration was “very good” on five subjects, “good” on seven subjects, “moderate” on one, and “neutral” on one subject. The public believes that the government was “very good” on building and maintenance of public works (+66), helping the poor (+63), reconstructing Marawi City (+58), protecting human rights (+54), and fighting terrorism (+53). Meanwhile, it was “good” on fighting crimes (+43), reconciling with communist rebels
(+42), reconciling with Muslim rebels (+41), foreign relations (+40), fulfilling commitments in international treaties (+40), defending Philippine sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea (+39), and eradicating graft and corruption (+38). The Duterte administration got a “moderate” rating of +23 on ensuring that no family will ever be hungry, while it got a “neutral” rating of +8 on fighting the inflation. The September 2018 survey used a face-to-face interview on its respondents, whose age ranges from 18 years old and above, nationwide. It has a sampling error margin of plus or minus three percent for national percentages and plus or minus six percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. “The area estimates were weighted by Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) mediumpopulation projections for 2018 to obtain the national estimates,” the SWS said. ■
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Roque was also apparently uninformed about Duterte’s unannounced trip to Hong Kong. He earlier told media MANILA — Presidential that the President was in Davao Spokesperson Harry Roque City, where he usually spent has yet to decide whether he weekends. will accept or reject the press Earlier, Roque said he will secretary post being offered to announce his decision on him by President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s suggestion for him Duterte, Special Assistant to to stay as presidential spokesthe President (SAP) Christo- person instead of joining next pher “Bong” Go said Monday. year’s midterm elections. “Parehong hindi pa tinatangap Duterte, however, said he will at hindi niya pa offer Roque a pormal na idininew post, which decline so antayin he did not elabonalang po natin rate on. yung sagot niya “For me, mamaya after For me, personally, he nila mag-usap ni personally, (Roque) is still Pangulo (He neihe is still weighing his opther accepted or weighing his tions,” Go said. decline so let’s options. On Saturday, wait for his anCommunicaswer later after tions Secretary he has spoken to Martin Andanthe President),” ar bared that Go said over a Duterte offered phone interview with report- Roque to be the next press secers. retary should the Presidential The presidential top aide Communications Operations made this disclosure just hours Office (PCOO) be reverted to after Roque went on leave of ab- the Office of the Press Secresence citing no specific reason. tary (OPS). Despite being on a leave, Go Earlier, Senate President Visaid Roque will still attend the cente “Tito” Sotto III raised scheduled Cabinet meeting lat- the suggestion of reverting the er in the afternoon and person- PCOO to the OPS since the ally speak to the President. former was only created to “acGo also clarified that the commodate political friends of presidential spokesperson was the previous administration.” not sulking despite being kept According to Sotto, Duterte in the dark the past week. has expressed support to his On Wednesday, Roque de- proposal. ■ nied that Duterte went to the hospital only to be contradicted by the President himself the following day. Duterte had a checkup at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City.
Philippine News
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
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JBC opens application for SC justice post BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CALIWAN Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Judicial and Bar Council (JBC) has opened the application for Associate Justice post in the Supreme Court, for the replacement of Associate Justice Noel Tijam who will retire on Jan. 5, 2019. In an announcement posted on the JBC website,, SC Clerk of Court and JBC Ex Officio Secretary Edgar Aricheta said, “Interested applicants shall submit two complete sets of application or recommendation with conforme, together with all the documentary require-
ments to the JBC Office, 2nd Floor, Centennial building, Supreme Court, Padre Faura, Manila, not later than 4:30 p.m. of 5 November 2018.” Aricheta reminded the applicants that, “the date of actual receipt by the JBC of the complete documentary requirements shall be deemed as the date of filing. The qualifications of applicants shall be reckoned from the said deadline.” Among the documentary requirements that have to be submitted are the sworn statement of assets, liabilities and networth (SALNs) for the last 10 years. For those who are current-
ly in government service, all SALNs for the past 10 years must be submitted. If the government service is less than 10 years, only SALNs for the years while in government service need to be submitted. While for those who are currently employed in the private sector but were in government service within the past 10 years, all SALNs for those years in government service must be submitted. As for those applicants from the private sector, who have never served in government, only SALN as of Dec. 31, 2017 must be submitted. He added that if the applications are incomplete and/or have out-of-date documentary
requirements, or those submitted beyond the deadline would not be given due course. Tijam was the second justice to be appointed by President Rodrigo Duterte to the High Court last March 8, 2017 as the 176th SC magistrate, replacing Associate Justice Arturo Brion. In 1994, he was appointed as judge of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 221. In 2003, he was promoted to the Court of Appeals. Tijam, a classmate of President Duterte at San Beda College of Law, is a native of Manila City and was born on Jan. 5, 1949. He graduated magna cum laude from San Beda College in
1967 with a degree of Bachelor of Arts, Major in Philosophy and Political Science. At the age of 20, while earning his Bachelor of Laws degree on full scholarship, he was already a lecturer at the Philippine School of Business Administration. In 1971, he graduated cum laude and class salutatorian from the San Beda College of Law. He passed the 1971 Bar Examinations at the age of 22. He worked at the Senate and the General Service Insurance System (GSIS) before becoming the corporate secretary of the Manila Hotel Corporation and the Westin Philippine Plaza, and director of the Comsavings Bank. ■
Robredo hits Duterte: Do not Nat’l ID to be rolled use your illness to belittle me out in March: PSA BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer
BY LESLIE GATPOLINTAN Philippine News Agency
VICE PRESIDENT Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo slammed President Rodrigo Duterte after he belittled anew the leadership skills of his constitutional successor. In a speech before members of the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association, Inc. (PMAAAI) last Thursday, Duterte admitted that he went to a hospital to undergo some medical tests. The President is not certain about the status of his health but he said he will let the public know if he has cancer. Duterte, in the same speech, also did not forget to talk about his Vice President as he once again found a way to attack her. “I will not resign to give it to… I do not mean to offend the lady. She’s very good. She’s gentle. Pero mahina talaga si Leni (but Leni is really weak),” Duterte said. “Hindi mahina ‘yung utak, pumasa ng bar eh. Mahina sa diskarte (She is not weak in terms of intelligence because she was able to pass the bar exams. She is weak in terms of strategy),” he added. In response to this, Robredo said the President does not need to use his illness as an ex-
MANILA — The government has put a March 2019 timetable to roll out the national identification (ID) system. “That’s March next year for the start of the registration of one million individuals under the Unconditional Cash Transfers but our timeline to start the registration of 25 million (Filipinos) will be around September,” Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) head Lisa Grace Bersales told reporters on Friday. Bersales said they will start enrolling citizens who do not have any government-issued ID, including the poor who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens. She said the PSA will publish the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) of the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act on Saturday. The PhilSys Act, or Republic Act No. 11055, creates a central identification platform for all citizens and resident foreigners in the Philippines. The PSA is the primary implementing agency. Bersales said the agency will
Vice President Leni Robredo.
cuse to belittle her. “Wala namang may gustong magkasakit ang Pangulo. Pero hindi dahilan ang sakit para maliitin na naman ako (Nobody wants the President to get sick. But that should not be used as a reason to belittle me again),” she said in a statement on Friday, October 5. The Vice President reminded Duterte that they were elected in the position because the public believes that with their capabilities as the leaders of the country, the lives of all Filipino people will get better. Unfortunately, Robredo
VP LENI ROBREDO / FACEBOOK
stressed, Duterte’s strategic skills in the past two years did not achieve the public’s expectation but the opposite. “Tumaas ang presyo ng mga bilihin, lalong humirap ang buhay, dumami ang alegasyon ng korapsyon, at libo-libong mga Pilipino ang pinatay (The prices of goods have increased, life becomes more difficult, there are more allegations of corruption, and thousands of Filipinos were killed),” she said. Robredo added that instead of engaging herself in political ❱❱ PAGE 13 Robredo hits
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announce the opening of bid procurement for the national ID system by the third week of October. “We will publish the technical specifications. We hope that by December, we will already be able to finish the procurement. This means we will have already awarded the PhilSys,” she added. Bersales noted they will conduct a competitive bidding process for procurement. “If we do competitive bidding, we will be able to manage our timeline of procuring the system and awarding it before the year end,” she said. Under the law, the Philippine lD will contain the registrant’s biometric information, along with seven demographic data such as full name, sex, date of birth, place of birth, blood type, address, nationality, and three optional information specifically marital status, mobile number, and email address. The PhilSys Act requires this personal information be kept in a resilient data system to ensure that the people’s right to privacy, confidentiality and other basic rights, such as those guaranteed by the Data Privacy Act of 2012, are upheld. ■
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Philippine News
OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
Fate of other Magdalo soldiers’ amnesty up to PRRD: Guevarra BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CALIWAN Philippine News Agency MANILA — It is up to President Rodrigo Duterte if he would grant executive clemency to 277 other soldiers since their amnesty records are missing from the archives of the Department of National Defense (DND), Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said. “For now, the focus is on Senator (Antonio) Trillanes’ amnesty grant. It is up to the President what he wants to do with the grant of amnesty to
other individuals,” Guevarra said in a text message to reporters Saturday. “Executive clemency involves the exercise of discretion, and the president as chief executive and commander-inchief enjoys a lot of freedom in exercising this prerogative,” he said. During last Friday’s hearing of the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148 on the motion to issue an alias warrant of arrest and hold departure order (HDO) against Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, DND officials admitted that the agency has no records of the ap-
plications for amnesty of 277 soldiers involved in three incidents of uprisings from 2003 to 2007. Two of these uprisings, the Oakwood mutiny in July 2003 and the Manila Peninsula siege in November 2007, were led by Trillanes, who was then a Navy lieutenant senior grade. In 2011, the trial court dismissed the case against Trillanes and the other Magdalo soldiers by virtue of the amnesty given by former president Benigno S. Aquino III through Proclamation 75 issued in November 2010. State prosecutors said with
the proclamation issued by President Rodrigo Duterte, the court’s order of dismissal issued seven years ago is considered void. In President Duterte’s Proclamation 572 issued on Aug. 31, Trillanes’ amnesty was declared void ab initio (from the beginning). Duterte said Trillanes failed to present the necessary requirements in the application of the amnesty for the Oakwood Mutiny, the Marine stand-off and the Manila Peninsula siege. On Sept. 25, Makati RTC Branch 150 Judge Elmo Alameda granted the motion filed
by DOJ in connection with the rebellion case against Trillanes and other Magdalo soldiers over the Manila Peninsula siege in 2007. With Alameda’s granting of the DOJ motion, Trillanes was arrested and booked for the rebellion case. He was, however, allowed to post a PHP200,000 bail. Alameda said the Sept. 7, 2011 dismissal of the rebellion case against Trillanes can be considered void and has no legal and binding effect considering the issuance of Proclamation 572. ■
UNICEF recommends child-friendly laws, policies BY PERFECTO RAYMUNDO, JR. Philippine News Agency MANILA — The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday recommended a range of measures to address deprivations and vulnerabilities that prevent children from accessing their rights. These include creating childfriendly laws and policies that are effectively implemented; increasing government spending for quality social services; improving gathering and use of data on vulnerable groups of children; and conducting more research on the implications of social norms on children’s rights and promoting positive social norms. During the launch of the situation analysis of children in the Philippines, summary report based on data gathered in 2017 with focus on the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of children, the government and the UNICEF was presented with the following findings: Some 31 percent of children live below the basic needs poverty line, with a much higher figure (63 percent) in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM); • Although the Philippines has reduced the overall child mortality rates between 1990 and 2015, under-five mortality is
still high in ARMM at the rate of 55 per 1,000 live births, a long way still from the national targets of 15 for infants and 22 for children under five; • Poor nutrition in very young children is a major problem when compared to the regional average of 11 percent in East Asia and the Pacific; 33 percent of children under five are stunted or too short for their age; and 21 percent are underweight. Significantly, more children in ARMM are stunted at 45 percent; • The Philippines is close • Children in the Philippines, by the target year of 2015. to universal access to safe regardless of socio-economic “The situation analysis will drinking water (90 percent in status, experience high levels guide the Philippines to address 2015). Those without access of violence: 2 in 3 are physi- key issues, such as how to chanbelong to the poorest housecally and psychologically nel the dividends of economic holds with only 80 percent abused. Cyberviolence has growth to every Filipino child, having basic drinking water, emerged as a serious threat especially the one in three living compared to in poverty and 99 percent of those who fall the wealthiest off the radar for households. living in remote, Only 62 perThe spirit of partnership, especially marginalized cent of people with UNICEF, is invaluable in communities in ARMM have ensuring (an) enabling environment or due to their access; for the children to achieve their full socio-economic, • Access to edupotential. religious, ethnic cation is enidentity,” UNIcouraging, yet CEF Philippines an estimated Representative 2.85 million children aged with the Philippines becom- Lotta Sylwander said. 5-15 remain out of school. As ing a source, transit and desShe said the report offers a of 2015, only 91 percent were tination country for com- framework for a wide range of enrolled in primary school, mercial sexual exploitation issues affecting children, so we and 68 percent in secondary. and trafficking; and are able to support the governARMM reported substantial- • The Philippines also failed to ment to improve the systems ly lower rates at 75 percent meet the Millennium Devel- and services to reach children and 29 percent, respectively; opment Goals in these areas in need. www.canadianinquirer.net
ISLA YELO / FLICKR, CC BY-SA 2.0
Meanwhile, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Assistant Secretary Carlo Bernardo Abad Santos congratulated UNICEF for the initiative and support in putting together the situation analysis. “The spirit of partnership, especially with UNICEF, is invaluable in ensuring (an) enabling environment for the children to achieve their full potential,” Abad Santos said. He expressed hope that the report would serve as a guide to address the issues and concerns faced by children. The NEDA was UNICEF’s key partner in holding the research along with a large number of line departments. The launch of the situation analysis report was done in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. ■
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FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
Mocha Uson’s candidacy in 2019 PH will not join US polls draws mixed reactions military drills in WPS, Duterte tells China
BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer FORMER COMMUNICATIONS Assistant Secretary Esther Margaux “Mocha” Uson continues to be the talk of the town, this time after she confirmed that she will be running for office in the 2019 elections. Uson made this announcement on Monday, October 8, as she denied that she was fired by President Rodrigo Duterte from the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), branding the report as “fake news.” “Naniniwala po ako na paninira iyan sa pulitika dahil akala nila ako’y tatakbo. Kaya siguro, challenge na po sa akin ‘yan na bibigyan ko po ng boses ang ordinaryong Pilipino kaya… oo, tatakbo na ako (I believe that those attacks were made because they think that I will run. That is why I think this is a challenge for me to give voice to ordinary people and with that being said… yes, I will run),” Uson told reporters at the Senate. Upon hearing this news, several netizens could not hold themselves back from commenting to Uson’s announcement, with some expressing their disapproval on the former assistant secretary’s candidacy. One Twitter user, @selwater_alena, said this latest news about Uson is even funnier than GMA’s gag show, Bubble Gang, and the network’s comedy series, Pepito Manaloto. “Aasa ka pa Ms.Mocha eh kahit pro Duterte AYAW sayo!!! Pinahiya mo na sarili mo ngayon huwag mo ng i-extend hanggang 2019 (You are still hoping to win Ms. Mocha despite being disliked by those who are proDuterte. You have already embarrassed yourself now, do not extend it until 2019),” he wrote. Meanwhile, the month of October has just begun but netizen @Nots0nicer has already decided what she wants to be for #Halloween2018. “SENATOR MOCHA USON,” she said. “Now that’s scary.” Twitter user @aRakista55 said he “cannot imagine” what future awaits the Philippines if Uson would win the upcoming elections.
PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
MOCHA USON BLOG / FACEBOOK
“The good news is that Mocha Uson has resigned as PCOO assistant secretary. The bad news is that the DDS (Duterte die-hard supporters) can’t wait to vote for her as a senator this 2019,” he stressed. Netizen @http_migs echoed this, adding “welcome to PH government’s version of Series of Unfortunate Events,” referring to the book/series/film of the same name. Twitter user @astonmartin0323, on the other hand, said he will not be surprised if Uson will win in the elections since “our government is a joke like that.” Another social media user @etrainwondrlnd urged voters not to waste their precious votes to Uson as the resigned Palace official “doesn’t deserve any position in the government.” While several netizens were not approved of having Uson in Congress, some of them were also quick to defend her, saying that everyone has the right to run for the upcoming polls. Netizen @erklmdmd thinks that people should not ‘degrade’ Uson just because of her past. “People change and sometimes for the better — ‘better’ for herself. Let’s be brutally honest na lang na (that) she is not capable of being a Senator because of her perspectives but not of her past,” she said. For @EdelizaCarlile, she believes that Uson is “far better than those senators whose interest is just to ruin our coun-
try.” Moreover, @raineserene tweeted that the former assistant secretary will be their “big protest vote” against trapo (traditional politician) senators “who forgot to put the country first before their own businesses or their own interests.” Other netizens said they will continue to support Uson and vote for her in the 2019 elections. While confirming that she will seek public office, Uson refused to say what position she will be running for. Uson, last week, resigned from her post, saying that she made a ‘sacrifice’ for the swift approval of PCOO’s budget proposal for the next year. Shortly after announcing her resignation, she said she is open to run for the 2019 midterm elections. Uson has been stirring up controversy since she was appointed by Duterte as Communications assistant secretary. She recently made headlines, along with her blogger friend Andrew “Drew” Olivar, over their controversial video mocking the sign language and their lewd federalism jingle video. Uson, who has over five million followers on Facebook, also drew flak for spreading false information on her social media account. The Office of the Ombudsman earlier said despite Uson’s resignation, they will continue with its investigation on the complaints filed against the former official. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte said the Philippines will not participate in the military exercises the United States will be conducting in the disputed West Philippines Sea (WPS). Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte made this remark after Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua informed the Filipino leader about China’s concerns over US military movements in the WPS. He said Zhao paid a courtesy call to Duterte on Monday to discuss the upcoming visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping in Manila next month. “China, of course, expressed concerns over a naval military exercise the US will be conducting in the area at about the same time that President Xi will be in the Philippines,” Roque said in a Palace press briefing. “The President said we’ll not take part in the US military exercise,” he added. He said the general consensus is to prepare for the fruitful and productive visit of the Chinese leader in November. “We do not want to mar the visit of President Xi and we’re
hoping the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) will make sure the visit would be fruitful and productive,” Roque said. “We want a seamless visit of President Xi.” Roque said Zhao has also reiterated that China does not desire any military confrontation “as the results of the WPS either with other claimant states or with any other power because China is the biggest user of WPS.” “Any military confrontation in WPS will have dark consequences as far as Chinese commerce is concern,” Roque said. Roque said Duterte and Zhao agreed that Xi’s visit in Manila would further cement the already improving PhilippinesChina relations. During his courtesy call, Zhao had also discussed with Duterte the joint exploration in the WPS, as both agreed that the proposal would be for the interest of the two countries. Recently, Roque said the proposal to conduct exploration with China follows the Constitution, which provides that foreigners can participate in a 60-40 deal in favor of the Philippines. The contested WPS is believed to have large deposits of oil and natural gas. ■
Robredo hits... ❰❰ 11
activities, she would rather do her work quietly. “Ang tapang, lakas at diskarte, hindi nadadaan sa mapanirang salita. Ang kailangan ng taumbayan ay tapang sa gawa (Courage, strength, and strategic skills are not shown through insults. What the Filipinos need is the courage to take action),” the Vice President said. She then urged the government that they should work hard to address the country’s problem and not to focus on throwing insults at one another. “Sinumpaan naming mga lider na magtatrabaho kami para sa mga kapwa naming Pilipinong bumabangon
araw-araw para mabigyan ng mas magandang buhay ang kanilang pamilya. Bumabangon ako araw-araw para gawin ‘yan (Us, leaders, vowed to work for our fellow Filipinos who wake up every day to give their families a better future. I wake up every day to do the same),” she said. Duterte has repeatedly said he does not want Robredo to take over his position as she lacks leadership skills. He said he would rather prefer the son of the late dictator, former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., and Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero to succeed him if he resigns. ■
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Canada News Experts express concern about refinery safety in wake of Irving blast BY HINA ALAM The Canadian Press OIL REFINERIES and other large industrial operations that are surrounded by residential communities need to work harder to ensure safety and protect their own bottom lines, multiple experts say. A massive refinery blast shook Saint John, N.B., on Monday, sending flames and black smoke into the sky but causing only minor injuries, leaving officials relieved it wasn’t far worse. Kevin Scott, Irving Oil’s chief refining and supply officer, told reporters at an afternoon briefing that the company was “very grateful today — and being Thanksgiving, I think it’s appropriate.” He said there had been a problem with the refinery’s diesel treating unit, which removes sulphur from diesel fuel, but it wasn’t yet clear exactly what caused the malfunction. Sean Tucker, an associate professor at the University of Regina who specializes in occupational health and safety, said there’s a lot of public concern in Canada about how oil is transported, but not much attention is paid to refineries themselves. “We need more attention there, and it would lead to safe proximity for residential communities,” he said. Giving one example from Regina, Tucker said a new residential expansion was planned near the Co-op Refinery Complex. Health and environmen-
tal authorities, along with the refinery itself, were opposed, but city council approved the development in 2016. “What’s problematic is that these refinery capacities will grow over time and the residential community will remain in the same place,” Tucker said. Tucker said one issue is that large refineries and similar businesses often operate in smaller jurisdictions in provinces such as Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. “My concern is that there’s a power imbalance between the power regulator and these large refining companies,” said Tucker. Compounding the issue is aging infrastructure, which Tucker said can lead to “fires at these refineries every two years or so.” He said what’s needed are rigorous safety programs, where pipes are visually inspected and seals are checked. Irving did not immediately respond to a request for comment on its own measures, but the company’s website describes safety as a “way of life” and says the refinery strives to be a “good neighbour.” The company’s community liaison committee meets on a quarterly basis to provide an opportunity to for neighbours, government officials and refinery staff to discuss projects and address questions and concerns. Irving also holds an annual open house with community members, where the company
discusses odour, noise and sight impact reduction programs, safety programs and displays, and offers tours of the refinery. “Our aim is to grow our community programs, so we can continuously improve this vital relationship,” the website says. Tucker said it’s in companies’ financial interest to make refinery safety a priority. “If they have these incidents, it can lead to significant loss of production for some time,” he said. “And if it’s a larger accident … they could lose hundreds of billions of dollars.” The Irving facility in Saint John was shut down on Monday while investigators looked for the cause of the blast. According to the Irving website, the refinery produces more than 320,000 barrels of “finished energy products” every day, with more than half going the U.S. northeast. Scott said the company hoped to minimize the impact on clients. In addition to the potential loss of production, companies that have safety issues could face legal concerns as well. Shafik Bhalloo, a lawyer and professor at Simon Fraser University, said anyone adversely affected by a refinery explosion could potentially launch a civil claim against the company involved — if they are able to prove damages. While he said Monday’s blast “pales” to the deadly explosion on BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil rig off the Louisiana coast in April 2010, Bhalloo added: “We can draw from that experience
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VERNE EQUINOX / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 3.0
what could happen.” In the BP case, billions of dollars worth of property was damaged and numerous lawsuits were filed. BP settled most of the cases, paying out close to $8 billion in damages, he said. Last fall, Irving was ordered to pay $4 million after pleading guilty to 34 counts stemming from the investigation into the Lac Megantic disaster in 2013. Those charges under the Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act resulted from a joint investigation by Transport Canada and the RCMP that was prompted by the deadly Quebec train derailment. Bhalloo said it’s also impor-
tant for governments and regulators to make sure the business does not pose any unusual or serious threat to people in the area, and that the business has viable plans in place for potential serious accidents. “Where a business is engaged in a potentially or inherently dangerous business activity near to residential communities, the business should be concerned about the safety of residents nearby, and should have plans in place to protect individuals in the event of an accident,” he said. ■ with files from Adam Burns
Canada News
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
15
No change to Canada’s climate plans as UN report warns of losing battle BY MIA RABSON The Canadian Press
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. SIMONP / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 3.0
CAMH reaches settlement with former head of gender identity clinic BY ALANNA RIZZA The Canadian Press TORONTO — Canada’s largest mental health centre has apologized to one of its former psychologists and said it will pay him more than half a million dollars years after it published a report that erroneously described the doctor’s interactions with patients. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health released a statement acknowledging that there were errors in an external review of its Gender Identity Clinic, which also detailed the practices of the head of the clinic at the time, Dr. Kenneth Zucker. “The purpose of the review was to identify best practices and determine how CAMH can best serve children and adolescents with gender dysphoria and their families. The review was not intended to examine Dr. Zucker’s behaviour or specific clinical practices,” said the statement. The Toronto-based centre said the report wrongly stated that Zucker referred to a patient as “hairy little vermin” among other errors. It noted the report was made public without Zucker’s review or comment. “CAMH apologizes without reservation to Dr. Zucker for the flaws in the process that led to errors in the report not being discovered and has en-
tered into a settlement with Dr. Zucker that includes a financial payment to him,” the statement said. According to the settlement documents, the centre will pay him $586,000 in damages, legal fees and interest. The review, which was completed in 2015, was sparked by criticisms that the clinic was practising conversion therapy on transgender young people. The independent reviewers said in their report that they were unable to ascertain whether the clinic was in fact practising reparative therapy, but that the clinic focused on intensive assessment and treatment, while current practice favours watchful waiting, and educating and supporting parents to accept a child’s gender expression. After the review was published, CAMH announced it was “winding down” the clinic’s services and that Zucker was no longer at CAMH. “CAMH stands by its decision to close the child and youth gender identity clinic following an external review which concluded the clinic was not meeting the needs of gender expansive and trans children and their families,” the centre said in a statement on Sunday. “We believe our modernized approach to delivering services to youth better supports diverse patients through best practice and timely care.” ■
“Effectively, what they’re saying is the probability of them living up to what they committed to under the Paris OTTAWA — The world is going accord is negligible to zero,” to blow past its most stringent said Feltmate. climate goal in less than a quarThe takeaway for Canadians ter century unless the politiin the report should be the need cal will erupts to act faster and to not just accelerate emissions more directly to curb greencuts, but also to accelerate efhouse gas emissions. forts to protect their homes That’s the key message in a and businesses from the floods, new report released Sunday by forest fires and storms that clithe United Nations Intergovmate change is already bringing ernmental Panel on Climate with more frequency and more Change, which says meeting force than before, he said. the ambitious goal “would reThe IPCC report comes just quire rapid, far-reaching and days after German environunprecedented changes in all mental non-profit Urgewald aspects of society.” published its latest update on The report is a scientific the world’s addiction to coal. blueprint for how the world can That report says there are 1,380 meet its climate change targets. new coal plants being planned However, it shows that right or already in development in 59 now the world is on track to countries around the world. If warm up by 1.5 degrees Celsius they’re all built, the amount of above pre-industrial levels by electricity produced from coal 2040. will grow by one-third. The world is currently warmUrgewald lists six Canadian ing up at about 0.2 C each definancial companies among cade, and has already warmed the top 100 investors in new by more than 1 C compared to coal plants, including the Canthe mid-19th century. ada Pension Plan Investment The 2015 Paris Board. climate change Abreu said agreement set Canada could a goal to reduce play a role inemissions by the Every country in the world needs ternationally on end of this cento take action, and then we need the coal front tury enough to to be more ambitious about the through its joint keep the world action we are willing to take. anti-coal initiafrom warming tive with the up more than 2 United Kingdom. C compared to Many of the pre industrial times. But there But Canada has no immedi- countries adding coal power was also a stronger goal to aim ate plans to increase its own are doing so to bring electricity for 1.5 C. ambition. Instead, the focus is to people who don’t have access Catherine Abreu, executive on implementing the current to secure power sources now. director of the Climate Action plans, which include a national Abreu said telling India it can’t Network Canada, said the dif- price on carbon, eliminating build power to lift people out ference between 1.5 C and 2 C coal-fired power plants, making of poverty is not the solution, may not seem like much but it is homes and businesses more en- but countries like Canada could actually “huge” when it comes ergy-efficient, and investing in step up to help India build to climate change. clean technologies and renew- cleaner sources of power. Carbon Brief, a United King- able energy. Canada last week announced dom-based website focused Blair Feltmate, head of the it was going forward with a on climate science and policy, Intact Centre on Climate Adap- $40-billion liquefied natural reviewed 70 peer-reviewed cli- tation at the University of Wa- gas project in British Columbia. mate studies. Based on that, it terloo, said the UN report may Although many environmenestimated Friday that at 1.5 C of “serve as a wake-up call” for talists don’t want more natural warming, global sea levels will some governments. However, gas produced or burned either, rise an average of 48 cm — but he was a bit disheartened at a exporting it to places like China at 2 C that goes to 56 cm. recent meeting of the G20 cli- to replace some of their coal Furthermore, the group es- mate group in Argentina, where would help emissions go down. timated the chances of having he found most countries were Coal is considered the dirtian ice-free summer in the Arc- committed to cutting emissions est source of power, causing tic rises to 16 per cent at 2 C of only “at their own pace, without greenhouse gas emissions nearwarming from three per cent at affecting their economies.” ly twice that of natural gas. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
1.5 C. And the frequency of extreme rainfall events in eastern Canada will go up 26 per cent at 1.5 C, and 55 per cent at 2 C. Next year the signatories to the Paris agreement are supposed to take stock of progress in meeting their national emissions goals. Canada is aiming by 2030 to curb emissions to 30 per cent below what they were in 2005. A year ago, Canada told the UN it was 66 million tonnes shy of that goal, despite all the policies and programs in place or planned. That’s about what 14.5 million cars emit in a single year. In an interview with The Canadian Press recently, Environment Minister Catherine McKenna said she knew the IPCC report would say “we’re not on track to be hitting 1.5 degrees.” “We acknowledge this and we all know we need to do more,” she said. “That’s why the Paris agreement is set up the way it is. Every country in the world needs to take action, and then we need to be more ambitious about the action we are willing to take.”
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Canada News
OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
Quebec elects more than 40 per cent women candidates, most in Canada: analysts BY GIUSEPPE VALIANTE The Canadian Press
the province are gaining “confidence in themselves” to run for office. “Now we have more and more role models,” she said in an interview Friday. MONTREAL — Quebec elected a record Ghazal said it helps to see other womnumber of women in Monday’s elec- en on the debate stage who aren’t engagtion, reflecting a trend on the continent ing in aggressive arguments with other toward greater female involvement in men. The leader of her party, Manon politics. Masse, was lauded for her debate perThe 52 women elected — representing formances, during which she refused to 41.6 per cent of the province’s 125 seats take part in what Ghazal described as — is the highest percentage in Canada, “cock-fighting” between the three male said Esther Lapointe director-general of candidates. Groupe Femmes, Politique et Democra“It was a different way of doing politie, which lobbies for a greater political tics,” Ghazal said. “That’s not saying role for women. women aren’t combative — Manon Quebec stole the title from Ontario, Masse can be very combative.” where 39.5 per cent of candidates electGhazal said her role models include ed last June were women. Francoise David, a founding member South of the border, American media of Quebec solidaire who quit politics in are regularly reporting on the “historic 2017 after representing the Montreal surge” of women candidates vying for riding of Gouin since 2012. spotsJoel_CanadianInquirer_print.pdf in the congressional midterms 1be- 2017-10-05 Another role model is Valerie Plante, 3:45 PM ing held in November. she said, who became Montreal’s first Ruba Ghazal, newly elected member of Quebec solidaire, said women in ❱❱ PAGE 19 Quebec elects
Doug Ford and Jason Kenney in Calgary.
@FORDNATION / TWITTER
Raucous crowd hears Ford, Kenney rail against carbon tax at Calgary rally BY LAUREN KRUGEL The Canadian Press CALGARY — A raucous crowd of more than 1,500 crammed into a Calgary convention centre Friday night to hear Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Jason Kenney, leader of Alberta’s Opposition United Conservative Party, rail against the federal carbon tax. “It’s really, my friends the worst tax ever, a tax we can’t afford, a job-killing tax that hikes up the price of services and goods and drives up the price of heating your homes,” Ford told the anti carbon-tax rally. The crowd frequently rose to its feet waving signs that said “Renew The Alberta Advantage” and “Scrap The Carbon Tax.” Many jeered when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s name was mentioned. So many people showed up that some had to listen from the hallway so as not to run afoul of fire codes. Ford made no secret of who he will root for in Alberta’s provincial election next spring. “Let’s elect a new United Conservative government in Alberta,” he said. “A new day has dawned in Ontario and a new day will dawn in Alberta.” Kenney has said the repeal of Alberta’s $30-a-tonne carbon tax will top his agenda if his party wins the election. “There is no compassion in telling seniors on modest fixed incomes that they can’t have an active life just so you can feel virtuous by imposing this carbon tax on Albertans,” he said.
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“It isn’t progressive and it’s not compassionate.” Kenney said the “multibillion-dollar job killing carbon tax” was not in the NDP’s 2015 election platform. “It is not just the biggest tax hike in Alberta history. It is the biggest lie in Alberta history,” he said. “Why are we engaged in this act of economic masochism when it will not make one whit of difference for the environment?” Heavy equipment operator Steve Spackman came to Calgary from Okotoks, just south of the city, for the rally because he’s fed up. “We’d probably hire more people at work I bet you, if they didn’t have that carbon tax every month coming in for gas,” he said. Alberta’s NDP government introduced the provincial levy before Ottawa required it. With the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion in limbo, Premier Rachel Notley is now refusing to raise it in line with federal requirements. Ottawa passed legislation last spring to give it authority to impose a carbon price on any province without its own beginning Jan. 1, 2019. It is starting at a minimum of $20 per tonne, rising $10 per year until 2022. Ontario’s new Progressive Conservative government scrapped that province’s cap-and-trade system in July and launched a challenge of the federal carbon plan. Provincial resistance to Ottawa’s carbon policy has been ramping up. ❱❱ PAGE 19 Raucous crowd
Canada News
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
17
Entrepreneurs cook up edible pot products despite legalization delay BY LAURA KANE The Canadian Press
labels and banning product forms, ingredients and flavouring agents that appeal to kids, said spokeswoman Tammy Jarbeau. Previously introduced regulaVANCOUVER — Yannick Craigwell tions already require marijuana to be in doesn’t need to guess how large the Ca- child-resistant packaging. nadian appetite will be for edible pot The effects of edibles take longer to be once it’s legal. He already knows — it’s experienced and last longer than those huge. caused by smoking cannabis, she said, The Vancouver entrepreneur whips putting users at risk of overconsumpup marijuana-infused cookies, brownies tion. And since edibles can look like and fudge that he sells online through normal food, there’s a risk that children his company Treatsandtreats. and pets will accidentally eat them, she “Once it becomes legal, I think the added. only thing that’s going to change is “These two issues point to the need to you’re going to get the people who were control the amount of THC in edibles, as raised to think … ‘Weed is bad, it’s the well as the need for measures to ensure devil’s lettuce,’ and they’re going to be that edibles are appropriately packaged open to trying,” he said. and labelled,” she said. “It’s not really anything to be afraid of, It’s illegal for anyone other than a libut we are stigmatized by the laws that censed producer to sell medical pot, but we have on the books.” Craigwell said he operates in the “grey.” Businesses across Canada are cook- He requires online buyers to agree to ing up weed-laced goodies to prepare for terms and conditions that state they their legalization next year. Companies need cannabis for medical reasons and are betting on a big market and hope to he also sells his edibles in dispensaries avoid some of the pitfalls seen in U.S. ju- in Vancouver, where police have chosen risdictions when edibles were legalized. not to crack down. The only legal marA standard dose of ijuana on Oct. 17 will THC in Colorado is be fresh or dried bud, 10 mg, but Craigwell’s oil, plants and seeds. goodies range from The federal govern90 mg to 175 mg. He ment has promised It’s not really said he’s open to the to develop regulaanything to government mantions to support the be afraid of, dating a lower dose, sale of edibles and but we are but it should conconcentrates within stigmatized by sider what customers a year and will launch the laws that want. consultations later in we have on the “All you’re doing is 2018 and 2019. books. risking them going Canada’s cautious into the black marapproach stands in ket,” he said. “My contrast with Colorabusiness model won’t do, which had practisucceed if I don’t cally no restrictions when pot treats hit have customers.” stores in 2014. The Rocky Mountain PoiCraigwell advised first-timers to eat a son and Drug Center received 87 mari- small piece and wait to feel the effects. juana exposure calls about children that “Start off with a quarter. Work your year, nearly doubling the previous year’s way up to a half, and then a whole,” he total, though no children died. said. The statistic grabbed headlines and Experts predict edibles will eat up a pushed the state to introduce regula- major chunk of the market once legal. tions in 2015. Edibles must now be Six out of 10 likely pot consumers will contained in child-resistant packages, choose edibles, according to a Deloitte stamped with a universal symbol and survey of 1,500 Canadians. divided into servings of 10 or fewer milThe format has less stigma than smokligrams of THC, pot’s psychoactive in- ing, said Deloitte partner Jennifer Lee. gredient. They also can’t be shaped like “We found that it was really a product animals, fruit or people. category — baked goods, chocolate, canThe dangers of edibles hit close to dy, beverages, honey, (ice pops) — that is home last week when a young child on much more accessible,” she said. Vancouver Island ate pot-infused gumSome companies are banking on alcomy bears. She was rushed to hospital in hol-free cannabis beverages rising to the medical distress, RCMP said, but was top of the pack. expected to fully recover. The Coca-Cola Company has reportHealth Canada is considering requir- edly been in talks with Aurora Cannabis ing a standardized cannabis symbol on Inc. about beverages containing a non-
psychoactive pot component. Molson Coors Canada teamed up with HEXO Corp. to sell marijuana-infused drinks, while Constellation Brands Inc., which makes Corona beer, invested $5 billion in Canopy Growth Corp. Bruce Linton, Canopy’s CEO, noted it’s already common to socialize over a beverage. “At five o’clock, do you want to meet for a gummy bear or a glass of wine?” he asked. Canopy has developed calorie-free drinks that deliver a high within seven
to 12 minutes, rather than the usual delayed onset of an edible, Linton added. Province Brands CEO Dooma Wendschuh said his company has also created a way to speed up the onset of a high from its beers brewed from the cannabis plant. But Wendschuh said developing a product prior to its legalization has its challenges. He can’t currently taste-test the beers in this country. “It’s been absurd,” he said. “In Canada, we can make this product … but no one’s allowed to drink it.” ■
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18
World News
OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
Suspended West Virginia justice testifies at own trial BY JOHN RABY The Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.VA. — A suspended West Virginia Supreme Court justice took the witness stand Monday at his criminal trial and denied using state vehicles for his own benefit. Allen Loughry responded to questions for more than three hours after federal prosecutors rested their case. Loughry is accused of 22 counts related to using his office for personal gain. Before the defence started its case, the judge denied a defence motion for a directed verdict of acquittal. Loughry said he was offered a state car like other high government officials when he became a justice in 2013, but he refused. Instead he used state ownedcars made available to the justices for what he said was a variety of reasons, including public outreach. “It’s important that you constantly be out there in the
public, and I agree with that,” go back and re-create time.” because the vehicle was covLoughry said. He said during the book sign- ered with bird droppings. Most charges against ings at the Greenbrier resort, When asked by Carr about gas Loughry are wire fraud allega- he stood in front of a small shop receipts alleged by prosecutors tions that he used state vehicles and talked to people about the to be for his own use, Loughry and gas cards for personal use. state and its government. He said he’s looked at the records Others contend Loughry made said during the signings there and “would not agree” to some false statements, tampered was other court-related busi- of them. He said he never used a with witnesses and committed ness occurring at the same lo- state fuel card to put gas in anymail fraud. cation, including meeting with one else’s vehicle. Asked twice by his attor- others about one of his initiaLoughry also answered nuney John Carr about the trips, tives, a “Leaders of Tomorrow’ merous questions about an anLoughry denied he benefited program. He said he wasn’t paid tique desk that he transferred personally from them. to attend the signings. from the court offices to his Assistant U.S. home. The inAttorney Phildictment accusip Wright said es him of lying to records show federal investiLoughry took a I know what I did with a vehicle. But gators by saying government car I can’t go back and re-create time. he was unaware to a wedding, about the historfour signings for ical significance his book, and and value of the “loads it up with $42,000 stateChristmas presents” to visit He also recalled attending a owned desk. relatives. A neighbour testified judge’s funeral and took trips “That was my impression, Monday that she saw Loughry to his home county to speak to that it was an old government pack presents in a car with a high school students and meet desk,” Loughry said. state government license plate with probation officials to disThe desk was moved out of around the holidays. cuss judicial system matters. the home after media inquiries “I know what I did with a ve- He acknowledged spending $13 about it. hicle,” Loughry said. “But I can’t for a car wash after the funeral Loughry, 48, and three other
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justices were impeached in August over questions involving lavish office renovations that evolved into accusations of corruption, incompetence and neglect of duty. Justice Beth Walker was cleared last week in a trial before the state Senate. Loughry, Justice Margaret Workman and retired Justice Robin Davis face impeachment trials later. The charges stem from questions involving lavish renovations to their offices that evolved into accusations of corruption, incompetence and neglect of duty. A fifth justice, Menis Ketchum, resigned before impeachment proceedings began. Loughry was suspended from his seat earlier this year after the state Judicial Investigation Commission said he kept secret a December federal subpoena served on the Supreme Court. He was replaced as chief justice in February after the other justices received another subpoena and found out about the first one. ■
19
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
PANGARAP: SO, OUR JOURNEY BEGINS
Tanong #3: May dahilan ka ba para umalis? BY BOLET AREVALO
SABI-SABI: Nasa ibang bansa ang “greener pasture” na tinatawag o mas maunlad na kabuhayan. Yaong nga nakaaangat o nakaririwasa ay hindi marahil 100% sold sa idea na ang mas luntiang kabukiran ay matatagpuan lamang sa mas malawak na panig ng mundo, sa labas ng apat na sulok ng ating sariling bansa. Sila ‘yung may naabot, sila ‘yung may edukasyon. Sila ‘yung dahil may edukasyon din ang mga magulang ay may namana o naipasang kaginhawahan sa buhay. Hopefully, nagkakaisa tayo na ang edukasyon ang tanging siguradong paraan para maiangat natin ang ating sarili at ang ating pamilya. Pero look around you, marami ring edukado at angat na tao ang nagkukumahog mangibang-bansa para sa sinasabing greener pasture. Mas madali ang pagpunta nila kasi may perang pampasahe or pambaon.
KC WONG / FLICKR, CC BY 2.0
Maybe. Pero sa totoo lang, mas mahirap ang pagpunta kasi mas mahirap mag-decide ang sector na ito. Maraming factors na dapat isaalang-alang. Maraming dapat pag-isipan. Ang maiiwang ari-arian, ang career, ang estado, ang kaginhawahan, in general. On the other hand, ang mas mahirap o wala, o hindi pa umaangat masyado, mas mabilis maka-decide kasi wala masyadong maraming pag-iisipan.
Raucous crowd... ❰❰ 16
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Ford met in Saskatoon on Thursday, where the two conservative leaders said they will continue to fight the tax together. To that end, Moe announced Saskatchewan will file for intervener status in Ontario’s court challenge. Ontario had already pledged to support Saskatchewan’s court challenge when the premiers met in New Brunswick in July. Moe’s government has asked Saskatchewan’s Court of Appeal to rule on whether the federal plan is constitutional. Ford and Moe gained another ally Wednesday when Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister announced his province will not go ahead with a $25-a-tonne levy that was to come into effect in December. “We’ll all be at the premier’s table defending common sense and Canadian taxpayers to fight
Pero wala namang pera o pampasahe man lang. Mag-iipon pa o maghahanap ng mauutangan para may pampasahe or baon. Ang irony nga naman ng buhay. Mahirap o mayaman, mababa o mataas man ang pinag-aralan, ang bottomline reason sa pagalis ay hindi nagkakaiba – to seek greener pasture for oneself or may be for the family. Mayaman o mahirap, anuman ang level of education na
naabot, dalawang bagay lang ang importante: Una, dapat malinaw sa iyo ang dahilan kung bakit gusto mong umalis. Pangalawa, dapat may personal ka ring dahilan, dahilan na ikalulugod ng puso mo at pagkatao mo. Hindi naman masama magmahal ng anak, asawa, kapatid, magulang, at iba pang miyembro ng pamilya pero ‘wag kang magkakamaling kalimutan ma-
halin ang iyong sarili at ang sariling kapakanan. Masyado nang maraming sob stories at pang-telenovelang episodes ang paulit-ulit nating naririnig o maaaring nasaksihan sa mga nag-a-abroad kaya huwag na nating ambisyuning magkaroon pa nang ganoong istorya ang sarilli nating buhay. Hindi na dapat madagdagan pa ang mga malulungkot na kuwentong ganun. Ang Totoo: Hindi minamadali ang pangarap. Lalung hindi dinadaya. So, kung sa pagtupad ng iyong pangarap makapag-abroad, may elemento ng pagmamadali at pagbaluktot ng kaya o hindi kaya, think again. May mali kapag ganun. ■ Bolet is a marketing communications practitioner and dabbles in writing as a personal passion. She is author-publisher of the book: The Most Practical Immigrating and Job Hunting Survival Guide, proven simple steps to success without the fears and the doubts. Book is available in Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Chapters/Indigo, the Reading Room and other online bookshops worldwide.
Quebec elects... against Trudeau’s carbon tax,” Ford said Friday. Trudeau said earlier in the day that Canadians gave his government a mandate in the last election to implement a national carbon price and that is exactly what it is going to do. “Pollution should not be free anywhere across this country,” he said at an event in Windsor, Ont. Alberta Education Minister David Eggen said earlier Friday that Albertans should be disturbed by Ford and Kenney working together. “Certainly we know how to solve our issues in Alberta and we don’t need someone form Ontario coming and telling us what to do,” he said. “Our climate action plan is very effective up to now in creating jobs, helping to diversify the economy and quite frankly is helping to reduce pollution as well.” ■
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female mayor in 2017. In a recent interview with The Canadian Press, Plante said “it’s fantastic” so many women were elected Oct. 1. “It absolutely shows that when parties decide to take this issue seriously and invest — which means taking all the measures necessary to make sure there’s a lot of women being selected as candidates — then it works out,” Plante said. Half of Projet Montreal’s candidates in 2017 were women, and the city’s executive committee now has six women and seven men. Plante said she expects premier-designate Francois Legault, leader of Coalition Avenir Quebec, to live up to his pledge to form a gender-balanced cabinet. Of the 74 Coalition lawmakers who won office, 28 are women. “Women represent 50 per cent of the population overwww.canadianinquirer.net
all, so it’s important to have a strong voice from women,” Plante said. “A big test will be: Will women have access to powerful positions with decision-making opportunities as well?” Some in Quebec have lobbied for a law forcing parties to run at least 50 per cent women candidates. But Ewan Sauves, spokesman for the Coalition, said his party has always opposed quotas. “Monday night, we elected 28 female members of the legislature,” he said in a text message. “We therefore will have the government that has elected the highest number of women in Quebec history. It’s a major sense of pride for our team.” Masse, however, said a law setting a quota is necessary. On Friday, she presented her 10-member caucus to journalists for the first time since the election. Half of them are wom-
en, and she said that is no coincidence. “In Quebec solidaire, it’s already in our rules, it’s a practice,” she said, regarding parity between men and women. “And that’s why you have (parity). Of course we think it’s important for there to be a law, a rule for the parties.” Lapointe of Groupe Femmes, Politique et Democratie agrees, especially since Quebec’s political parties are funded with public money. “Right before the start of the (2018) election, there were fewer women in office than in 2003,” Lapointe said. “Why? Because there are advances and steps backwards. If there is no law, there is nothing guaranteeing that in four years, there won’t be fewer female candidates.” ■ With files from Christopher Reynolds
World News
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OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
Trump apologizes to Kavanaugh during swearing in ceremony BY MARK SHERMAN AND JILL COLVIN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh was sworn in —again, for the cameras, this time — Monday night at a White House ceremony, but not before President Donald Trump slammed Kavanaugh’s opponents for a “campaign of personal destruction.” In a ceremony that could have been a unifying moment for the nation, Trump instead delivered remarks that even he acknowledged began “differently than perhaps any other event of such magnitude.” “On behalf of our nation, I want to apologize to Brett and the entire Kavanaugh family for the terrible pain and suffering you have been forced to endure,” Trump said, addressing the bitter partisan fight over Kavanaugh’s nomination that became a firestorm after the emergence of sexual misconduct allegations, which Kavanaugh emphatically denied. With all the sitting justices in attendance, along with Kavanaugh’s family and top admiration officials, Trump said Kavanaugh had been the victim of a “campaign of political and personal destruction based on lies and deception.” But, he told the new justice, “You, sir, under historic scrutiny, were proven innocent.” Critics have argued the investigation was not thorough enough to merit that conclusion. Kavanaugh officially became a member of the high court Saturday and has already been at work preparing for his first day on the bench Tuesday. In his own remarks, Kava-
naugh, who has faced criticism that he appeared too politicized in his Senate testimony, tried to assure the American public that he would approach the job fairly. He said the high court “is not a partisan or political institution” and assured he took the job with “no bitterness.” “The Senate confirmation process was contentious and emotional. That process is over. My focus now is to be the best justice I can be,” he said. It was the end of a deeply contentious nomination process that sparked mass protests, an FBI investigation and a national reckoning over power, gender, sexual assault and the line between violence and adolescent transgression. And it comes less than a month before pivotal midterm elections that will determine which party controls Congress. Ceremonial swearing-ins are unusual for new justices. Only Samuel Alito and Stephen Breyer participated in White House events after they had been sworn in and begun work as justices, according to the court’s records on the current crop of justices. Kavanaugh and his law clerks already have been at the Supreme Court preparing for his first day on the bench Tuesday, when the justices will hear arguments in two cases about longer prison terms for repeat offenders. The new justice’s four clerks all are women, the first time that has happened. The clerks are Kim Jackson, who previously worked for Kavanaugh on the federal appeals court in Washington, Shannon Grammel, Megan Lacy and Sara Nommensen. The latter three all worked for other Republican-nominated judges. Lacy
had been working at the White House in support of Kavanaugh’s nomination. In his Senate testimony last month, in which he denied allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in high school and accused Democrats of orchestrating a partisan campaign against him, Kavanaugh promised: “I’ll be the first justice in the history of the Supreme Court to have a group of all-women law clerks. That is who I am.” Trump’s ceremony speech hammered a theme he has been hitting on all week: hoping to energize Republicans by attacking Democrats for opposing Kavanaugh. Kavanaugh was “caught up in a hoax that was set up by the Democrats,” Trump said as he left the White House earlier in the day for a trip to Florida. “It was all made up, it was fabricated and it’s a disgrace,” he said. Later, in Orlando, he called Kavanaugh “a flawless person” and said “evil” people had tried to derail him with “False charges” and “False accusations. Horrible statements that were totally untrue that he knew nothing about.” “It was a disgraceful situation brought about by people that are evil. And he toughed it out,” Trump said at the International Association of Chiefs of Police meeting. The climactic 50-48 roll call vote Saturday on Kavanaugh was the closest vote to confirm a justice since 1881. It capped a fight that seized the national conversation after claims emerged that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted women three decades ago. Kavanaugh emphatically denied the allegations.
The accusations transformed the clash from a routine struggle over judicial ideology into an angry jumble of questions about victims’ rights and personal attacks on nominees. Ultimately, every Democrat voted against Kavanaugh except for Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Kavanaugh was sworn in Saturday evening in a private ceremony as protesters chanted outside the court building. Trump has now put his stamp on the court with his second justice in as many years. Yet Kavanaugh is joining under a cloud. Accusations from several women remain under scrutiny, and House Democrats have pledged further investigation if they win the majority in November. Outside groups are culling an unusually long paper trail from his previous government and political work, with the National Archives and Records Administration expected to release a cache of millions of documents this month. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who was welcomed at the White House with a standing ovation, on
Sunday praised his party’s senators, whom he said reestablished the “presumption of innocence” in confirmation hearings. “We stood up to the mob,” he said. McConnell signalled he’s willing to take up another high court nomination in the 2020 presidential election season should another vacancy arise. He tried to distinguish between President Donald Trump’s nomination of Kavanaugh this year and his own decision not to have the GOPrun Senate consider President Barack Obama’s high court nominee, Merrick Garland, in 2016. McConnell called the current partisan divide a “low point,” but he blamed Democrats. Two years ago, McConnell blocked a vote on Garland, citing what he said was a tradition of not filling vacancies in a presidential election year. But when asked again Sunday about it, he said different rules might apply if the same party controls the Senate and White House. Republicans hold a 51-49 majority in the Senate, with several seats up for grabs in November. ■
law that opens police misconduct records to the public, criticized departing Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown’s decisions on parole and said he would concentrate on keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill over other gun control measures. He also urged the media to
stop publicizing the names and photographs of mass shooters. Newsom said he would expand Brown’s criminal justice reforms, which reduced sentences for some offences, particularly drug crimes. A September poll by the Public Policy Institute of California showed Newsom with a com-
fortable but shrinking lead over Cox — 51 per cent to 39 per cent with 7 per cent of likely voters undecided. The survey had a margin of error of 4 percentage points. Campaign finance records show Newsom had $16 million in the bank on Sept. 22, compared with $1.7 million for Cox. ■
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Governor candidates... ❰❰ 22
rights, immigration, abortion and health care. Both candidates agreed that tackling issues such as housing affordability, homelessness and California’s cost of living should be the priority of the next governor, but they presented vastly different visions
for how to proceed. Cox said he’d roll back environmental regulations to make housing construction cheaper and faster, while Newsom points to tax reform to spur governments to approve more housing. They also differed on criminal justice. Cox opposed a new
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World News
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
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UN report on global warming carries life or death warning BY SETH BORENSTEIN The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Preventing an extra single degree of heat could make a life-or-death difference in the next few decades for multitudes of people and ecosystems on this fast-warming planet, an international panel of scientists reported Sunday. But they provide little hope the world will rise to the challenge. The Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change issued its gloomy report at a meeting in Incheon, South Korea. In the 728-page document, the U.N. organization detailed how Earth’s weather, health and ecosystems would be in better shape if the world’s leaders could somehow limit future human-caused warming to just 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit (a half degree Celsius) from now, instead of the globally agreedupon goal of 1.8 degrees F (1 degree C). Among other things: — Half as many people would suffer from lack of water. — There would be fewer deaths and illnesses from heat, smog and infectious diseases. — Seas would rise nearly 4 inches (0.1 metres) less. — Half as many animals with back bones and plants would lose the majority of their habitats. — There would be substantially fewer heat waves, downpours and droughts. — The West Antarctic ice sheet might not kick into irreversible melting. — And it just may be enough to save most of the world’s coral reefs from dying. “For some people this is a life-or-death situation without a doubt,” said Cornell University climate scientist Natalie Mahowald, a lead author on the report. Limiting warming to 0.9 degrees from now means the world can keep “a semblance” of the ecosystems we have. Adding another 0.9 degrees on top of that — the looser global goal — essentially means a different and more challenging Earth for people and species, said another of the report’s lead
authors, Ove Hoegh-Guldberg, director of the Global Change Institute at the University of Queensland, Australia. But meeting the more ambitious goal of slightly less warming would require immediate, draconian cuts in emissions of heat-trapping gases and dramatic changes in the energy field. While the U.N. panel says technically that’s possible, it saw little chance of the needed adjustments happening. In 2010, international negotiators adopted a goal of limiting warming to 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) since pre-industrial times. It’s called the 2-degree goal. In 2015, when the nations of the world agreed to the historic Paris climate agreement, they set dual goals: 2 degrees C and a more demanding target of 1.5 degrees C from pre-industrial times. The 1.5 was at the urging of vulnerable countries that called 2 degrees a death Polar heritage. WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION / FLICKR, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 sentence. The world has already ity of doing the one and a half” er. “This is our chance to decide more likely to get hit hardest. warmed 1 degree C since pre- and even 2 degrees looks un- what the world is going to look Princeton University climate industrial times, so the talk is likely, said Appalachian State like. “ scientist Michael Oppenheimer really about the difference of University environmental To limit warming to the lower said extreme weather, especialanother half-degree C or 0.9 de- scientist Gregg Marland, who temperature goal, the world ly heat waves, will be deadlier if grees F from now. isn’t part of the U.N. panel but needs “rapid and far-reaching” the lower goal is passed. “There is no definitive way to has tracked global emissions changes in energy systems, land Meeting the tougher-tolimit global temperature rise to for decades for the U.S. Energy use, city and industrial design, reach goal “could result in 1.5 above pre-industrial levels,” Department. He likened the transportation and building around 420 million fewer peothe U.N.-requested report said. report to an academic exercise use, the report said. Annual ple being frequently exposed to More than 90 scientists wrote wondering what would happen carbon dioxide pollution levels extreme heat waves, and about the report, which is based on if a frog had wings. that are still rising now would 65 million fewer people being more than 6,000 have to drop by exposed to exceptional heat peer reviews. about half by waves,” the report said. The “Global warm2030 and then deadly heat waves that hit India ing is likely to be near zero by and Pakistan in 2015 will bereach 1.5 degrees This is our chance to decide what 2050. Emissions come practically yearly events C between 2030 the world is going to look like. of other green- if the world reaches the hotter and 2052 if it house gases, of the two goals, the report said. continues to insuch as methane, Coral and other ecosystems crease at the curalso will have to are also at risk. The report said rent rate,” the drop. Switching warmer water coral reefs “will report states. Yet report authors said they away rapidly from fossil fuels largely disappear.” Deep in the report, scientists remain optimistic. like coal, oil and gas to do this The outcome will determine say less than 2 per cent of 529 of Limiting warming to the could be more expensive than whether “my grandchildren their calculated possible future lower goal is “not impossible the less ambitious goal, but it would get to see beautiful corscenarios kept warming below but will require unprecedent- would clean the air of other pol- al reefs,” Princeton’s Oppenthe 1.5 goal without the tem- ed changes,” U.N. panel chief lutants. And that would have heimer said. perature going above that and Hoesung Lee said in a news the side benefit of avoiding For scientists there is a bit somehow coming back down in conference in which scientists more than 100 million prema- of “wishful thinking” that the the future. repeatedly declined to spell ture deaths through this cen- report will spur governments The pledges nations made out just how feasible that goal tury, the report said. and people to act quickly and in the Paris agreement in 2015 is. They said it is up to govern“Climate-related risks to strongly, one of the panel’s leadare “clearly insufficient to limit ments to decide whether those health, livelihoods, food secu- ers, German biologist Hanswarming to 1.5 in any way,” one unprecedented changes are rity, water supply, human secu- Otto Portner said. “If action is of the study’s lead authors, Jo- acted upon. rity and economic growth are not taken it will take the planet erj Roeglj of the Imperial Col“We have a monumental task projected to increase with glob- into an unprecedented climate lege in London, said. in front of us, but it is not im- al warming” the report said, future.” ■ “I just don’t see the possibil- possible,” Mahowald said earli- adding that the world’s poor are www.canadianinquirer.net
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World News
OCTOBER 12, 2018
Missing Saudi journalist once a voice of reform in kingdom BY SARAH EL DEEB The Associated Press
pushed back against his criticism of the powerful religious police and Ibn Taymiyah, a medieval cleric viewed as the spiritual forefather of Wahhabism, the conservative interpretation of Islam that is the founding tenant of the kingdom. Khoshaggi then served as media adviser to Al-Faisal, the former spy chief, who was at the time the ambassador to the United States. Khashoggi returned to AlWatan in 2007, where he continued his criticism of the clerics as the late King Abdullah implemented cautious reforms to try to shake their hold. Three years later, he was forced to resign again after a series of articles criticizing Salafism, the ultra-conservative Sunni Islam movement from which Wahhabism stems.
Syrian opposition television station last month, just days before he disappeared. He also criticized his governBEIRUT — Jamal Khashoggi, ment’s diplomatic break with the Saudi journalist who disapQatar and war on Yemen as well peared last week after a visit to as Riyadh’s policy toward its his country’s consulate in Turarchenemy, Iran, whose influkey, was once a Saudi insider. ence has grown in neighbourA close aide to the kingdom’s ing Yemen and in Syria. former spy chief, he had been In the Sept. 23 interview, a leading voice in the country’s he called Saudi Arabia’s forprominent dailies, including eign policy “narrow minded,” the main English newspapers. and ridiculed its crackdown Now the 59-year-old jouron political Islam, urging the nalist and contributor to The kingdom to realign its policy Washington Post is feared dead, to partner with Turkey, a close and Turkish authorities believe Qatar ally. he was slain inside the Saudi “Saudi is the mother and Consulate in Istanbul, somefather of political Islam. It thing Saudi officials vehementis based on political Islam,” ly deny. Khoshaggi said. “The only recThe U.S.-educated Khashoggi ipe to get Iranians out of Syria was no stranger to controversy. — it is not Trump or anyone A graduate of Indiana State else— it is through the support U n i ve r s i t y, of the Syrian revKhashoggi beolution. … Saudi gan his career in Arabia must rethe 1980s, covturn to supportering the Soviet The Arab world had waited for this ing the Syrian occupation of moment of freedom for a thousand revolution and Afghanistan and years. partnering with the decade-long Turkey on this.” war that followed Eight days for the Englishlater, on Oct. 2, language daily Saudi Gazette. In 2010, Saudi billionaire Al- he disappeared while on a visit He travelled extensively in the waleed bin Talal tapped him to to the consulate in Istanbul for Middle East, covering Algeria’s lead his new TV station, tout- paperwork to marry his Turk1990s war against Islamic mili- ed as a rival to Qatari-funded ish fiancee. The consulate intants, and the Islamists rise in Al-Jazeera, a staunch critic of sists the writer left its premises Sudan. the kingdom. But the new Al- alive, contradicting Turkish ofHe interviewed Osama bin Arab station, based in Bahrain, ficials. Laden in Afghanistan before was shut down hours after it Before his disappearance, al-Qaida was formed, then launched, for hosting a Bah- Khoshaggi had been living met him in Sudan in 1995. Fol- raini opposition figure. since last year in the U.S. in selflowing bin Laden’s rise likely Khoshaggi’s final break with imposed exile, after he fled the helped cement Khashoggi’s ties the Saudi authorities followed kingdom amid a crackdown on with powerful former Saudi spy the Arab Spring protests that intellectuals and activists who chief, Turki Al-Faisal. swept through the region in criticized policies of Crown Khashoggi rubbed shoulders 2011, shaking the power base Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. with the Saudi royal family and of traditional leaders and giv“As of now, I would say Mosupported efforts to nudge the ing rise to Islamists, only to hammed bin Salman is acting kingdom’s entrenched ultra- be followed by unprecedented like Putin. He is imposing very conservative clerics to accept crackdowns on those calling selective justice,” Khashoggi reforms. He served as an editor for change. Siding with the op- wrote in the Post last year after for nine years on the Islamist- position in Egypt and Syria, he fled the kingdom, saying he leaning al-Madina newspaper Khashoggi became a vocal feared returning home. and was frequently quoted in critic of his own government’s He described “dramatic” the Western media as an expert stance there and a defender of scenes of arrest of government on Islamic radicals and a re- moderate Islamists, which Ri- critics accused of receiving Qaformist voice. yadh considered an existential tari funding. They included a However, he was fired from threat. friend of Khashoggi’s who had his post as an editor at Al“This was a critical period just returned from a trip to the Watan, a liberal paper founded in Arab history. I had to take U.S. as part of an official Saudi after the 9-11 terror attacks, a position. The Arab world delegation. just two months after he took had waited for this moment of “That is how breathtakingly the job in 2003. The country’s freedom for a thousand years,” fast you can fall out of favour ultra-conservative clerics had Khashoggi told a Turkey-based with Saudi Arabia,” he wrote. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY
Governor candidates spar on vision for California BY JONATHAN J. COOPER AND KATHLEEN RONAYNE The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO — Republican John Cox entered the only scheduled debate in the campaign for California governor on Monday as an underdog in need of a race-altering breakthrough. He didn’t get it. Instead, at a time when politics in Washington and across the nation are marked by bitter partisan fights, the hour-long radio debate between Cox and Democrat Gavin Newsom remained civil, with the candidates sparring on policy and mostly avoiding personal attacks. Cox, a businessman from the San Diego area, batted away questions about his past statements opposing gay marriage and declined to take a position on the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court. He stuck closely to the central theme of his campaign, laying the high cost of living in California at the feet of Newsom and the Democratic policies he supports. The debate — staged on the same day that early voting began in the state — appeared to do little to change the trajectory of the race that heavily favours Newsom. With the debate broadcast only on the radio during working hours, Cox needed a moment that would get repeated play in the media, said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College in Southern California. “His chance for a breakout would’ve been some kind of rhetorical master stroke that put Newsom on the defensive and cast (Cox) as a champion of ordinary Californians,” Pitney said. He did not listen to the debate but said media coverage suggested Cox’s performance was “underwhelming.” Cox said the campaign is about change versus the status quo. “I represent change,” Cox said in arguing that the policies of Democrats have made California unaffordable. He repeatedly blamed the influence of special interests in Sacramento for driving up costs, though he identified them only
as “environmental groups that fund the Legislature as well as Gavin’s campaign.” After the debate, Cox complained that too much time was spent on national issues that the next governor won’t influence. He then rushed to an elevator and declined to take questions from reporters. Newsom, the lieutenant governor and a former San Francisco mayor, tied his rival to President Donald Trump, whose endorsement was crucial to Cox surviving the primary. Since then, Cox has not talked much about Trump, who is popular among Republicans but viewed negatively by Democrats and unaffiliated voters in California. “We represent the vast majority of Californians that reject John Cox’s absolute allegiance to Trump and Trumpism,” Newsom said during what’s likely to be the only one-on-one contest between the two men before the Nov. 6 election. Cox stuck with Trump on issues such as ending California’s sanctuary state policy and building a wall along the Mexico border. He declined to weigh in on the bitter fight over Kavanaugh’s nomination, even as Republicans nationwide are celebrating his confirmation. Kavanaugh’s confirmation was in doubt after Christine Blasey Ford, a professor from the San Francisco Bay Area, said Kavanaugh assaulted her at a party when both were in high school. Kavanaugh denies the allegation. Cox issued a call Monday for “more comity, more kindness” in politics, adding “Dr. Ford needed to be heard and should’ve been believed.” Cox did not elaborate. He declined to say whether he would have voted to confirm Kavanaugh had he been in the Senate. “I’m not going to get in the middle of that. I’m focused on the issues in California,” Cox said. Newsom opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination and says the justice could cast a pivotal vote on cases important to Californians that involve property ❱❱ PAGE 20 Governor candidates
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Entertainment Alex Gonzaga receives backlash over ‘insensitive’ drug user joke BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer WHEN ACTRESS and television host Alex Gonzaga allegedly made drug users as a subject of her joke, many netizens were fumed over it because the issue was supposed to be a sensitive topic, especially now that the government is having an antiillegal drugs crackdown. Just last week, Alex and her friends were at the Cubao Expo for a vlog or video blog to feature the place which houses art galleries, various restaurants, and vintage shops. As she was walking in the area, Alex was seen stopping in a group of men who were sitting outside a store and said, “Anong pinagpupulungan natin (What are we talking about)?” She continues, “Oh ngayon, mag-ihi tayo, drug test tayo (Now, let’s urinate, let’s take a drug test).” While some of them laugh at her joke, a man in a white shirt seems like he did not find it
funny and maintained his poker face. Seeing the man’s reaction, Alex said, “Galit na siya sa’kin, parang papatayin niya ako (He is already mad at me, he seems like he is going to kill me),” adding “Joke lang, ito naman oh (It was only a joke).” This part of Alex’s vlog was shared to Twitter by netizen @jerichorayel as he called out the actress for her “insensitive” joke. “This is a clip of the Cubao Expo vlog of Alex Gonzaga. This is so insensitive on so many levels especially now that the government is out there killing people tagged as drug users,” he tweeted He added, “Second, hindi siya (It is not) funny. Hindi nakakatawang pagbintangan kang adik (It is not funny to be tagged as drug user).” The Kapamilya actress then replied to the netizen via Twitter, but she, later on, removed it. In her now-deleted tweet, Alex said sorry to those who
find her humor “annoying and insensitive.” “How I wish you may never see or click any of my videos again,” she wrote. Alex then tagged the netizen who called her out saying, “Lalo na sayo @jerichorayel kasi sobra na galit mo at tinag mo pa ako (Especially to you, @jerichorayel because you were extremely mad at me that even tagged me).” “Pero sa mga natutuwa, tuloy tayo (But for those who find it funny, then let’s continue)!!!” she further said. A screenshot of Alex’s tweet was shared by Twitter user @ kaeofficial, who said the reason why Alex tagged @jerichorayel on her tweet was for him to get ‘bashed’ by the actress’s fans. Replying to this, Alex explained that she deleted her tweet because @jerichorayel told her that he was being “attacked” on social media. “I tagged him because he’s been tagging me with his negative words. He was RT-ing (retweeting) criticisms and
ALEX GONZAGA OFFICIAL / FACEBOOK
people bashing me but ayaw pala nya tumanggap ng salitang binato (he does not like to accept criticisms) so I deleted it for him,” Alex told the netizen. According to the TV host, she and the guy she mentioned on her tweet already discussed the matter via direct message, noting that they “have [a] good conversation explaining our sides.” Alex last May drew flak over
her “Japan, Japan, sagot sa kahirapan (answer to poverty)” remark as several netizens thought the actress was making fun of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). Before this, Alex also irked some social media users after her video where she was caught on-cam touching the upper part of the breast of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach during an interview went viral. ■
Sunshine Cruz speaks out about sexual assault in marriage with Cesar Montano BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer ACTRESS SUNSHINE Cruz finally speaks out to the media about the issues in her marriage with Cesar Montano that led to the couple’s four-year battle for an annulment. In an exclusive with the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph), Sunshine describes her marriage as “dark and chaotic” elaborating on how she already saw signs of Cesar’s temper during their engagement. Her wedding in 2000 was almost cancelled, as she shares in Filipino, “He said something
to me that surprised me. It was the first time I heard that, because, with my family, not being a showoff, I never heard my dad say anything like that to my mom, I never heard them yell at each other or pull each other or do something like that.” She didn’t specify on what he said but only hinted in Filipino, “Pigs are pigs. It’s not nice, It wasn’t nice, it wasn’t pleasant.” They still pursued with the wedding, however, Sunshine, 23 at the time and Cesar 15 years older. During their marriage, she admits Cesar was “more often temperamental than calm. She said she had no choice but
@SUNSHINECRUZ718 / INSTAGRAM
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to deal with it because she was already married, thinking to herself, “Maybe you just have to prove your worth as a person.” Cesar has yet to speak out on his side of the story. His only statement to the public reveals, “I believe God allows everything to happen for a purpose. Marriage is one of the most expensive schools of highest learning in life. But more valuable than money is time. God didn’t let me get out of it without learning something. God is good, all glory to Him.” The two celebrities have three daughters together: 17-year-old Angelina Isabelle, 14-year-old Samantha, and 11-year-old Cheska. ■
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Entertainment
OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
Chesca Garcia-Kramer surprises Taylor Swift husband Doug with vow renewal breaks political
silence, backs Tennessee Dems
BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer SHOWBIZ COUPLE Chesca Garcia-Kramer and Doug Kramer renewed their vows in front of friends and family at the Grand Hyatt Manila on October 9 in honor of their 10-year anniversary. The couple reported that Doug was initially planning to surprise his wife with a ring and band, but was surprised himself when Chesca brought him to a celebration. Upon sight of his wife, Doug told Chesca, “You’re so dressed up! It’s like we’re getting married again!” to which Chesca responded, “You always surprise me. But this time around, it’s my surprise for you!” as they entered the venue. Even the couple’s kids Kendra, Scarlett, and Gavin were in on the secret! The basketball player shared a photo of him and his wife on Instagram that captioned, “We celebrated our renewal of vows with all our loved ones! Crazy! I’m still in shock!” He continued with a photo
BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI The Associated Press
Chesca and Doug Kramer.
of him in tears, sharing how their planned celebration went through a whirlwind, wanting to have it in Boracay, Tagaytay, and Baguio but those locations not pushing thru. He finished with a message to his wife that said, “I love you so much honey, I also know how much this 10th year means to you!” Event planner and coordinator Teena Baretto told Cosmopolitan, “If you know Chesca, she’s not the type to plan or give surprises,” further elaborating that the preparation took only
@CHEKAKRAMER / INSTAGRAM
ten days because “she wanted an intimate celebration on the exact day of their anniversary.” The theme consisted of greens and candles – something “effortless and elegant,” with details consisting “lounge seating, hurricane lamps all around, garden breeze, and their theme song, ‘Of All The Things.’” Among the celebrity guests were photographer Pat Dy, It’s Showtime! host Anne Curtis, and former Side A vocalist Joey Generoso, who performed during the celebration. ■
Former AsnTM contestant takes home MWP 2018 crown BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer MODEL/HOST Katarina Rodriguez bested out 39 other candidates last Sunday, October 7 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay as she was crowned Miss World Philippines 2018. For the question and answer portion, Katarina was asked, “There are people who believe that beauty pageants are a form of women exploitation. What can you do to change their opinion?” She answered, “I’d like to think that one should live by example. And I actually would like to admit that I was one of those before, until I learned more about what beauty pageants are about. One thing I can tell you is that you may think it’s very
competitive, but it’s not. You understand beauty pageants when you know that it is actually not competitive against other women. It’s actually competitive towards yourself. And in a sense, it’s all about women empowerment. And you can feel that in this group of girls… each girl knows that we are all individually beautiful.” Among the winners were also Reina Hispanoamericana Filipinas 2018 Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez, Miss EcoInternational Philippines 2018 Maureen Montagne, Miss Multinational Philippines 2018 Kimi Mugford, First Princess Chanel Morales and Second Princess Pearl Hung. Miss World Philippines 2017 Laura Lehmann, Reina Hispanoamericana 2017 WynWyn Marquez, Miss Ecointernational 2017 Cynthia Thomal-
la, and Miss Multinational 2017 Sophia Senoron were present to crown their successors. Miss World 2013 Megan Young, Miss World 2016 Stephanie De Valle, and Miss World 2017 Manushi Chillar were also at the event as judges. Before the coronation, Katarina shared a photo on Instagram captioned, “My heart cannot be fuller than tonight, to walk the stage again for all of our nation, competing to wear the Philippine sash over my heart one more time – and this time for the world.” This is not Katarina’s first victory in a pageant, representing the Philippines in January 2018 for Miss Intercontinental in Egypt where she landed first runner-up. She began her career as a contestant for Asia’s Next Top Model Cycle 2. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
NASHVILLE — Music superstar Taylor Swift announced Sunday she’s voting for Tennessee’s Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen, breaking her long-standing refusal to discuss anything politics. “In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now,” Swift wrote in an Instagram post . Swift has faced criticism for not speaking about political issues despite having a global platform. Yet in 2017, she appeared on the cover of Time magazine as one of the “silence breakers” for her countersuit against a radio DJ who was fired after allegedly groping her before a concert. Swift won the lawsuit in a verdict that awarded her $1, which according to the suit served as “an example to other women who may resist publicly reliving similar outrageous and humiliating acts.” The pop star — who grew up in later years in Tennessee — also slammed Republican candidate and U.S. Rep. Marsha
Blackburn in her lengthy post on Sunday, citing Blackburn’s opposition to certain LGBTQ rights and voting against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013. “As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me,” Swift wrote. Blackburn’s campaign did not immediately return a request for comment. Swift said she’s not only voting for the former Tennessee governor for Senate, but also Democrat Jim Cooper for the House. However, Swift didn’t acknowledge Bredesen’s recent endorsement of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, but said people may never find a candidate or party with whom they agree completely on every issue. “Thank you for the kind words … I’m honoured to have your support and that of so many Tennesseans who are ready to put aside the partisan shouting and get things done. We’re ready for it,” Bredesen tweeted Sunday in response to Swift’s post. ■
@TAYLORSWIFT / INSTAGRAM
Entertainment
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
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Karen, Bianca react to Gretchen Fullido’s sexual harassment complaint vs ABS-CBN execs BY ARLNIE COLLEENE TALAIN SINGCA Philippine Canadian Inquirer FELLOW NETWORK personalities Karen Davila and Bianca Gonzalez finally speak up after some netizens took to social media to seek for their opinions regarding Entertainment reporter Gretchen Fullido’s sexual harassment complaint against some ABS-CBN execs. Netizens called out the Kapamilya personalities for their ‘silence’ about the surfacing issue despite their vocal advocacy on women rights. Karen Davila, on October 7, tweeted on her personal account, “NO to SEXUAL HARASSMENT. NO to any form of VICTIM SHAMING. Without prejudice to any of my colleagues, these values are eternal to my person.” One netizen @LiveMyLyf88, however, replied to the reporter, saying Gretchen’s choice of clothing invites sexual harassment. Karen replied, “Hello @LiveMyLyf88 – a woman’s wardrobe or how she looks for that matter can never be cited as a reason for sexual harassment
Gretchen Fullido files criminal cases against news executives and reporter for sexual harassment. MARVIN B. ACERON / FACEBOOK
or a sexual crime. I am not fully aware on details of the case but wanted to correct you on this one item Have a good day!” However, in another tweet from @bilyonaryo_ph, Karen stresses that she is not backing any side. She tweeted, “Hello Sir/Maam: Just to clarify, I said “with-
out prejudice to any of my colleagues” which means “without judgement.” I do not have all details & info to this case.” Another Filipina host, Bianca Gonzalez, who is also a known advocate of women rights, admired Gretchen for her bravery in revealing the supposed hap-
Why Coleen Garcia almost didn’t make the ABS-CBN Ball BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer KAPAMILYA ACTRESS Coleen Garcia revealed to her social media followers why she almost did not attend the ABSCBN Ball that happened last Saturday, September 29. After attending Paris Fashion Week a few days before, the 26-year-old actress immediately flew back for Manila. On her flight from France to Thailand, eventually connecting to Manila, Coleen got terrible food poisoning and “did not sleep AT ALL and kept vomiting on the way back. “It was so bad,” she wrote in an Instagram post, “Once I landed in BKK, I didn’t have much time but I was STRUGGLING to not pass out while walking in the airport!” Coleen, alone at the time, elaborated on how the situation continued to get worse, saying, “My vision was a blur, my body felt like it was melting & my head was spinning so bad, so I went straight to
the nearest restroom & collapsed in the cubicle before continuing to throw up what was left of my guts. I inched my way to the lounge & the same thing happened until I heard my name being called, so with all my energy, I ran to the gate.” As a result, she missed her flight but was able to change it at no additional cost. She arrived in Manila at 7 pm, just one hour later than the ABS-CBN call time, but had not fit her gown ahead of time. She said, “On top of that, I was told that one of my bags got left behind. All of this after Paris, where I had multiple events per day.” Ending her post on a high note, however, Coleen concluded by stating, “The reason why I’m sharing this is because I’m blessed to know wonderful people who gladly came through when I needed it the most.” Coleen successfully arrived at the carpet without showing any tiredness with her husband Billy Crawford. She captivated the press in a form-fitting gold gown by Patricia Santos. ■
pening behind the camera. She tweeted, “Hanga ako sa tapang ni Ms. Gretchen Fullido. Sana’y lumabas ang katotohanan sa kaso at mabigyan ng hustisya (I admire Ms. Gretchen Fullido’s courage. I hope the truth comes out and justice is served.)” Bianca sees the issue to be very sensitive and hard considering both parties involved are women. In the end, she just wishes for the truth to prevail. She said, “Yes, women should support women. But when its women involved both sides, nawawala ang ’babae ako’ at nagiging ‘babae tayo.’ Mahirap. Ang mga involved lang ang tunay na nakakaalam ng katotohanan. (‘I am a woman’ should disappear and become ‘we are women.’ It’s hard. Only the involved know the truth). But still, we do our best so that women support women.” Gretchen filed the sexual harassment complaint against her former and current colleagues in ABS-CBN on October 5. Amid the issue, Gretchen thanked the public for their support, and wished for prayers. She said, “Please just pray for me in these difficult times.” ■
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Lifestyle Keeping the fire of curiosity burning for the Burning Man BY BEA KIRSTEIN T. MANALAYSAY Philippine Canadian Inquirer FOR PEOPLE who hear the “Burning Man” for the first time will probably find themselves in the most bizarre expressions in their own history of facial reactions in their whole life. Days after the main event, the Burning Man does not really leave the news section of news sites for a while, but why and what exactly is it? Fortunately, no, it does not include burning men alive. Traditionally speaking though, it involves burning of the “man” — an effigy made of wood to mark the end of the annual event. Contrary to popular belief, it is also not a ‘festival’ as what other people often called it before. “Burning Man is not a festival. Burning Man is a community. A temporary city. A global cultural movement based on 10 practical principles,” this is what welcomes a reader to the Burning Man website’s FirstTimer’s Guide. This in itself can already answer a lot of questions thrown to the ember of ignited curiosity among non-participants. But let us have a closer look at the Burning Man event. Expect the unexpected
Perhaps the Burning Man experience if to be described in one word, the best to fit would be “ephemeral” as used in theater.
While staged plays follow a fixed script, direction, and plot, with the same characters and scenarios, no performance is ever the same. This applies well to the Burning Man event as anything goes depending on its participants called the “burners.” Situated in the temporary erected Black Rock City of Black Rock Dessert in Western United States, the event values the participation and role of each for everyone’s uniqueness. Burners are to spend days in this dry lake called the playa” — to express themselves, be with the community, and survive. As the community spends days in the desert, one can only expect the unexpected from the weather conditions that could possibly occur, to the rising and lowering temperatures as the hour passes. “We don’t book acts or provide entertainment. What happens here is up to you! There is no corporate sponsorship. You are entering a ‘decommodified’ space that values who you are, not what you have. You are expected to collaborate, be inclusive, creative, connective, and clean up after yourself,” the community’s website reminded its dear online lurkers. Sounds vague? The event is meant to be vague to give lots of space for the creative mind to do its part of exuding colors and visions of art — “the ways to participate are as unlimited as one’s imagination.” The Burning Man encourages its burners to participate in the guidance of ten principles
written by co-founder Larry Harvey, namely: radical inclusion, gifting, decommodification, radical self-reliance, radical self-expression, communal effort, civic responsibility, leaving no trace, participation, and immediacy. Leave no Trace
The leave-no-trace movement is probably one of the cores that the community is highlighting. As per the Burning Man Journal on October 1 this year, it seems that the events last August 26 to September 3 already turned into desert dust… almost literally. The Playa Restoration team fills the post-event clean-up job. Though everyone is expected to try their best in keeping the playa clean, this is a very essential task as being unable to keep the playa from its state before the event would mean the cancellation of the annual event next year. “Resto is 180 people wandering in rough lines across each and every square inch of Black Rock City, all of them looking down at the playa, inspecting every square foot that’s inside the nine-mile perimeter of the city,” the Burning Man Journal wrote. Burners
As a citizen of Black Rock City, a burner is expected to follow the ten principles. But more than these, a burner has to know how vital their role and participation in the community is.
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An art installation in Burning Man 2018.
“Burning Man isn’t your usual event. It’s a vibrant participatory metropolis generated by its citizens,” says the website. Not necessarily leaning to the moral of the cliché “no man is an island,” the event literally sets its gears moving depending on what the burners wish to do. While the event has its organizers and the community has its leaders serving as guides, everyone’s participation still deeply affects the whole outcome of the Burning Man. Like a typical city, Black Rock City also has its own census done annually. For the preliminary results that were released on October 4, the community found that for 2018, “the average burner is around 33 to 34 years old” and most burners identified themselves as men at 59 percent.
THOMAS KIM
I, Robot
Though the event is meant to be ephemeral, each year gives birth to a new theme, with 2018 falling on “I, Robot.” Burners, inspired by the science fiction series by Isaac Asimov, filled the Black Rock City with a whole plethora of interactive art installations and sculptures that explored, of course, robot arts, effigies, and androids. As a whole, the Burning Man is not just the event that people look forward to every year. It is not a festival that simply revolves around the burning of effigies. It is a culture that invites anyone to be part and this is what makes the Burning Man a community that is alive up to this day. ■
Lifestyle
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
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5 tips on saving money and time on Halloween costumes
Teaching: Vocation for the patient and virtuous
BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO The Associated Press
BY AZER PARROCHA Philippine News Agency
NEW YORK — Shopping for Halloween costumes doesn’t have to be scary. This year, shoppers can find more ways to save time and money. Discounters like Walmart and Target are expanding their costume offerings and creating designated sections where customers can find more of their Halloween needs in one place. And for the first time, Party City is offering an assortment of Halloween costumes on Amazon. Party City and others are either revamping their appsor launching new ones to make shopping easier. And of course, pop-up shop pioneer Spirit Halloween, the largest Halloween store franchise, is a reliable option. It now has about 1,400 temporary locations in the U.S. and Canada, with more of a presence in the malls. Meanwhile, crafts chain JoAnn Stores Inc., is now catering to procrastinators with a bigger assortment of ready-made costumes. “More retailers are getting into the game,” said Marshal Cohen, chief industry adviser at NPD Group, a market research firm. “Stores are creating broader assortments. And you can get an instant costume from start to finish.” Halloween costumes are a big business for retailers. Americans are expected to spend $9 billion on Halloween, slightly down from the $9.1 billion spent last year, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group. The 2018 spending estimate includes $3.2 billion on costumes, according to the survey. Goodwill says Halloween is its biggest season in terms of sales. Here are five tips:
Go to your closet and you’ll most likely find leftovers from past Halloweens such as a witch’s hat or a feather from a flapper’s costume. Or turn your regular clothes into costumes. Shoppers should also turn to thrift stores like Goodwill, which offers both used and new Halloween costumes. Goodwill’s website has a special page devoted to Halloween. The site offers makeup tutorials and shows how shoppers can create a costume with up to three items from the thrift chain. Shoppers can purchase a costume in its entirety including wig, shoes, and headbands for an average price of $30, according to Lauren Lawson-Zilai, a Goodwill spokeswoman.
BAGUIO CITY — For eight hours, Augustina Agmaliw has to walk her way to teach at the Es-esa S. Alodos Elementary School in upland Barangay Tacadang in Kibungan town, Benguet province. She has no choice but to go on foot, as she needs to cross over several mountains to reach her workplace, which she also calls home. Because of the distance, Ma’am Agmaliw, as her students call her, stays at the school on weekdays and starts to walk back home on Friday afternoon, then back again on Sunday afternoon for Monday’s classes. “What I do is never easy,” she admits. “When I go to school, I carry loads of supplies of food, including learning materials.” But with teaching as her passion, she says she’ll do whatever it takes to give high-quality education to her kailians or townmates on the mountains. Ma’am Agmaliw wants them to be educated, too, like herself. Teaching children from a far-flung community is a joy to her. She never thought of it as a tedious job, despite the regular long trek. “I eat together with the students, sharing whatever there is like vegetables, root crops, fish, and even the canned goods I bring along with me,” Agmaliw says. At times, she relates, she also got to give the students some money if they are broke. Sometimes, the school, itself asks for donations, particularly school materials for the school children.
Do it yourself
Honoring teachers
Shop discounters
Last year, Target launched a Halloween destination called Hyde & Eek where customers can find Halloween decor and costumes all in one place. It added candy to the shop this year. It also increased its costume assortment by nearly 30
per cent. Online, the bulk of the prices for Halloween costumes range from $15 to $50. Walmart is also pulling together more Halloween items into one destination. It used to only have costumes, decor and makeup in one section; now, it’s adding Halloween candy. And for the first time, Walmart created an online shop in the beauty section to help customers find complete makeup looks for Halloween costumes inspired by DC comics, including Wonder Woman or an Ice Princess. Take advantage of new apps
Stores are revamping their apps or adding new ones to make it easier to shop for Halloween costumes — and to share. Jo-Ann’s revamped app allows shoppers to share their Halloween costumes with friends on social media. And Party City launched a new app called Spookify that lets customers virtually try on their costumes and makeup. Shop late or shop early
If you don’t need to get the hottest costume of the season, it’s best to shop right before Halloween to get the best deals of the season. Discounts can be up to 50 per cent. But as NPD’s Cohen says, “Truly the best time is right after Halloween and store it for next year.” That’s when costume prices are
slashed by 75 per cent. Use what you have or buy used
You don’t have to have the skills of Martha Stewart to make your own costume. Get ideas from Pinterest or Etsy, or go to the online sites of JoAnn’s and Michael’s for ideas. Jo-Ann’s has broadened its assortment to include more ready-made accessories like tutus. On Jo-Ann’s online site, customers can find costumes that can be made in an hour or take three weeks and it separates the project by age and skill level. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net
Early this week, the Department of Education (DepEd) in Cordillera celebrated its firstever Regional Teachers’ Day to honor educators who commit themselves to building up others by selflessly sharing their knowledge. “This is to honor the teachers, whether they are teaching in private or public schools. This is also to make Teachers’ Day a celebration as big as other special occasions, like Valentines Day and Christmas Day,” said
Georaloy Palao-ay, chief of the Public Affairs Office of DepEdCordillera. Palao-ay said this is also the first time Teachers’ Day was celebrated on a regional scale. He said the event is a prelude to the national celebration of World Teachers’ Day on October 5. Unequaled satisfaction
Palao-ay said the entire Cordillera region has a total of 16,767 teaching personnel, with Baguio City and Benguet having the most number of teachers. He noted, though, that there are more educators who opt to teach in public schools, rather than in private schools. Probably because of the benefits that the government provides, he said. But not quite, if one hears what Divine Grace Abella, a teacher in Abra, has to say. Ma’am Divine used to teach in a known private Catholic school in the province. But after several years, she decided to teach in a public school. Her reason, though, was more than what Palao-ay said. “I believe that in public schools, there are more challenges to encounter, which can enhance or develop my skills and potential as an educator,” she explains. “It’s not only in terms of sometimes poorer academic performance of the students. Dito mo rin makikita ang tunay na buhay ng isang estudyante (Here in public school, you will see how the students really live) that sometimes, they need to absent themselves from their classes just to attend to the needs of their family, like tutulong sa pagsasaka (helping in the farm).” Saturnina Garcia, a teacher from Baguio City National High School (BCNHS), says being an educator is never easy, but seeing the students learning and later on attaining success in life is an achievement and personal fulfillment in itself. “I’ve been teaching for 18 years now and every time a student of mine visits, it makes me feel proud, because I had an impact on that student,” she says. Ma’am Garcia says there are times her former students visit ❱❱ PAGE 28 Teaching: Vocation
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Lifestyle
OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
How I became ‘instant migrant’ in QC at age 9 PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY MANILA — While Quezon City officials and residents are celebrating the 79th foundation day of the erstwhile capital city on Oct. 12, I am recalling how I and members of my immediate family have become instant migrants in Quezon City since 1948 without moving even a meter away from our former house in a barrio of Novaliches, Caloocan, then a town of Rizal province. The readers would likely say it’s impossible since the dictionary defines the noun migrant this way, more or less: “A person who moves from one place to another…” Corollary to this, the verb migrate is defined as: “To move from one place to another or from one climate to another.” Since the operative word in both definitions indicates movement, it is natural for some people to argue that migration without transferring from a certain place to another is not possible. But, at least in my case and that of my family, it became possible. Let me narrate how it happened. I was born on May 20, 1939 and baptized eight days later at the then 83-old-year Our Lady of Mercy Parish Church in Novaliches, the seat of the town of the same name created during the Spanish occupation in September 1855. (I wish to state briefly that Novaliches suffered the sad fate of being reduced to a barrio during the American regime in the Philippines. As if this misfortune was
not enough, it was partitioned later between Quezon City and Caloocan, which became a city in February 1962). It was while Novaliches was under the Caloocan jurisdiction that I was born before Quezon City was created by President Manuel L. Quezon under Commonwealth Act No. 502 he signed on Oct. 12, 1939. I was therefore four months and 22 days older than Quezon City. Nine years later, or on July 17, 1948, the then two-year-old Congress of the Philippines passed Republic Act No. 333 which made Quezon City the new capital of the country in place of Manila. That law was signed by President Elpidio Quirino who then had his summer resthouse built atop a hill overlooking the scenic La Mesa dam in Novaliches. This law relocated northward the boundary of Quezon City, slicing Novaliches in half. This meant that the southern half of Novaliches became part of Quezon City, while the northern half remained with Caloocan. As a result, the house of my parents was among those enclosed by the relocated boundary of Quezon City and the lot where it was located became part of Quezon City. My parents, four brothers and one sister thus became instant migrants from Caloocan to the then newly declared Philippine capital city. I am making clear here that our family became Quezon City residents without moving away from our old house. It was entirely due to the relocation of the QC boundary. To this day, I just need to walk
about 300 meters away from our house to be in the neighboring North Caloocan City. It must also be noted that several of most of our relatives, as well as other families from the old Novaliches town, suddenly became residents of Quezon City without optioning for such status since 1948. RA 333 doubled to 15,359 hectares the original area of Quezon City which only totaled 7,355 hectares as stated in Commonwealth Act No. 502. The relocation of the boundary also caused the division of several Novaliches barrios (now called barangays) such as Caybiga, Talipapa, and Baesa. At present, more than half of the voters of these barangays are voting in Quezon City; the rest in Caloocan. With the implementation of RA 333, Novaliches has become known as the only area in Metro Manila at present with the
most unrealistic, obsolete and confusing laying of boundaries. It is not surprising to find in Novaliches today a subdivision or a factory partly belonging to either city. In fact, there was also a time when some houses in Novaliches lay right on the boundary of the two cities. Such situations were corrected only after the house owners constructed new structures and decided to locate these on the city of their choice. Many lot owners in Novaliches still pay part of their real estate taxes to Quezon City and the rest to Caloocan. In the divided Barangay Baesa, there used to be a unique old house owned by relatives of the famous World War II veteran pilot Col. Jesus B. Villamor after whom Villamor Air Base in Pasay City was named. According to my late lawyer friend, Alfredo B. Villamor, what made the house unique was that
while its sala was located in Quezon City, its kitchen and dining room were situated in neighboring Caloocan. In Sitio Damong Maliit, Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon, Novaliches, there is a subdivision named Jordan Heights which partly belongs to QC and the rest to Caloocan. The former old signboard of the subdivision, located at its boundary along the Damong Maliit-Llano Road, indicated its address as “Novaliches, Q.C.” and “Novaliches, Caloocan City.” Also owing to the unrealistic laying of the northern boundary of Quezon City in Novaliches, people going to Novaliches for the first time from any part of Metro Manila or the provinces are likely “to get lost” along the way. This is because a vehicle-riding visitor, traversing for instance the old Novaliches-Polo Road (renamed Gen. Luis St.) branching out of the North Luzon Expressway or MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City, will eventually find himself in the Caloocan portion of Novaliches in Barangays Bagbaguin and Caybiga. After a few more minutes and barring any traffic snarl on the same route, the traveler will find himself on the Quezon City section of Novaliches in Barangay Nagkaisang Nayon. If he continues his travel beyond the Novaliches town proper through Quirino Highway going to San Jose del Monte City and Norzagaray in Bulacan, he is sure to find himself on the Caloocan territory in Novaliches once more after traversing about five kilometers. ■
dillera tries to catch up with the times. “The regional office provides training and seminar for our educators to adapt with the 21st century teaching standards because this will also help them prepare the learners to be competitive,” Palao-ay said. He is glad teachers are very receptive and do their best to cope with fast-moving technology and pass this knowledge on to their students in the countryside. Palao-ay notes that such situation tests the creativity of
teachers in remote communities, like in teaching the topic of computers without electricity and internet connection. “They simply have to make the most of the available resources to update students of the technologies,” he said. Johann Felise Agoot, a 4th year Education student, major in Special Education at Saint Louis University, says she decided to take up the course before graduating in high school because she had heard of the high demand for teachers locally and abroad.
Johann grew up in an environment filled with educators. Her maternal grandfather, father, aunt and even her mother all finished the Education course. But she nears finishing the course now, herself, she has learned to love the profession, more than the employment prospects it offers. “I came to realize that as a teacher, you will not just work, but you have to love the work,” she said. Johann’s academic major focuses on students with special needs. ■
UNITED NATIONS PHOTO / FLICKR, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
Teaching: Vocation... ❰❰ 27
to update them, their teachers, on their current situation, where they are, and what they do for a living. This, she says, never fails to give the teacher pride, for contributing to what the students have become. Ma’am Garcia says teaching presents educators many challenges, but remembering the reason for their existence will make them grounded and focused. “Remembering why you got into this profession in the first
place will help you stay focused, when those challenging days come around,” she points out. Ma’am Garcia says it was never her plan to become a teacher. She took Political Science as an undergraduate degree. “I think it was God’s plan not to let me practice what I had finished in college,” she mused. “Perhaps, He wanted me to help mold the youth, help society to create future leaders.” Educating teachers
Although cases of Ma’am Agmaliw still exists, DepEd-Cor-
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Sports Netter Nayre to open Team Philippines lands 9th PH campaign in Youth place in FIBA 3×3 World Cup Olympic Games BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer
PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY
the athletes. “Every athlete is different. We all come from different parts of the world but we are BUENOS AIRES — Jann Mari united through sports,” added Nayre will open the Philippine the 1976 Montreal Olympics campaign in the 2018 Youth gold medalist in fencing. Olympic Games (YOG) late Golfer Yuka Saso, the counSunday at the Table Tennis try’s Asian Games double-gold Arena of the Technopolis here. medalist, carried the flag durThe 18-year-old takes on ing the parade of nations as the Nicolas Ignacio Burgos of Chile third edition of the YOG unfoldin Group B of the men’s singles ed in full view of the Argentinian preliminary stage before facing public, the first time in Olympic Maciej Kolodziejczyk of Aus- history that the opening certria six hours later. emony was held on the streets. Nayre, the first Filipino table Filipino-Norwegian Christian tennis player to secure a spot Tio is set to kick off his medal bid in these Games featuring the in kiteboarding, a new discipline best 18-under under sailing in athletes in the the youth Olymworld, will wrap pics on Monday up the elimi(Tuesday, Manila nation round I’m here time), while fencagainst Khanak to give er Lawrence EvJha of the Unitmy best, erett Tan will beed States the regardless gin his campaign following day, of whom I’m in the men’s foil hoping he could facing. event the followadvance to the ing day. round of 16 on Saso and felTuesday. low golfer Carl “I’m here Jano Corpus are to give my best, regardless of due to see action on Tuesday whom I’m facing,’’ said Nayre, at the Hurlingham Club in the who made the trip to this Ar- women and men’s individual gentinian capital after winning stroke play events that will run the Rarotonga qualifiers in the for three days. Cook Islands in June after failOn the same day, Nicole ing to earn a medal in the recent Oliva will swim in the heats of Asian Games in Indonesia and the women’s 100-meter freethe 2017 Southeast Asian Games style, one of four events that in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. the Sta. Clara, California-based Argentina President Mau- swimmer will compete in. The ricio Macri declared the be- 18-year-old said she decided to ginning of the YOG during pull out from the backstroke the opening ceremony at the and butterfly races. Obelisco de Buenos Aires where Capping the Filipinos’ camover 4,000 athletes from 206 paign is archer Nicole Tagle, countries are set to compete in who will shoot for medals in 32 sports for the next 13 days. the women’s recurve individual International Olympic Com- event and mixed internationmittee president Thomas Bach al play, the event where Gab graced the welcoming rites that Moreno captured the country’s featured an impressive display first gold medal when he paired of lights and fireworks. with China’s Li Jiaman during “You gave your best and this the 2014 edition in Nanjing, is why you are here,” Bach told China. ■
TEAM PHILIPPINES lands ninth on the podium among 20 teams as the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) 3×3 Under-18 World Cup came to a conclusion on October 7 in Xi’An, China. The team consisted of current University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroon Ricci Rivero, former University of Santo Tomas (UST) Growling Tiger team captain Jeepy Faundo, former University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) star RJ Abarrientos, and Rhyann Amsali from San Beda-Taytay. Meralco Bolts assistant coach Ronnie Magsanoc led the team as coach. The Filipino team was the youngest team to compete, ending their performance on a high note beating out the host China 21-15 for their final game. Prior to that, they lost against Slovenia and Serbia, and won against Turkmenistan. Amidst Coach Ronnie’s message of gratitude to Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) President Al Panlilio, he also expressed his hopes for the up-
FIBA 3×3 Philippine team members Ricci Rivero, Rhayyan Amsali, Jeepy Faundo, and RJ Abarrientos. SAMAHANG BASKETBOL NG PILIPINAS
coming performances of his team, sharing with ABS-CBN Sports, “We believe that we are on the right track and ultimately will be able to compete toe to toe against the top teams in the world in the near future. I cannot ask for anything more from a group players who made things happen for flag & country in less than 14-days of being together.” He continued, “In a span of 72-hours, these four boys turned to men in their bid to make the knockout round. Team Philippines eventually
ended the FIBA World Cup under-23 competition 9th among the 20 teams.” During the span of the FIBA 3×3 Under-18 World Cup, Abarrientos was also able to make a name for himself as he beat Aleksandr Antonikovskii of Russia and Laura Zdraveska of Germany during the threepoint shoot-out. The 5’11” guard totalled nine points in the final round to take home gold, Antonikovskii finishing with the same, but not being fast enough. ■
Swimmer Ernie Gawilan wins historic gold for PH in Asian Para Games BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES has officially received their first-ever gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Para Games on opening day of the tournament in Indonesia by swimmer Ernie Gawilan on Sunday, October 7. The event happened at the Gelora Bung www.canadianinquirer.net
Karno Aquatic Stadium in Jakarta. The 27-year-old from Davao received first in the SM7 category with a time of two minutes and 52.43 seconds for the 200M Individual Medley. He was followed by Liang-Da from Chinese Taipei, who took silver, and Jadhav Suyash Narayan from India, who took bronze. With Gawilan’s gold in 200M,
he also received a silver in the men’s 50M freestyle with a time of 31.93 seconds. Gawilan was born with underdeveloped extremities, resulting in a lack of both legs and an underdeveloped left limb. (ending for filming) He previously set the record for Olympic Qualifying time at the ASEAN ❱❱ PAGE 31 Swimmer Ernie
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Business As joblessness falls, skilled workers might be hard to find BY JOSH BOAK The Associated Press ARE AMERICA’S employers at risk of running out of skilled people to hire? The U.S. economy has become a seemingly perpetual job-generating machine, having steadily added workers for nearly eight years. Even with the unemployment rate now at 3.7 per cent — its lowest point since 1969 — hiring hasn’t stalled. So far this year, job growth has averaged a robust 208,000 a month, up from a pace of 182,000 for all of 2017. The trend has defied the predictions of most economists. Many have long warned that as hiring surged and unemployment fell, the pool of potential hires would shrink and trigger a bidding war that would ignite wage gains. It hasn’t happened. Many people are still being hired each month. And pay raises, though rising, remain modest “Every single time that we predict job growth is going to start slowing and wage growth is going to start picking up in recent years, we haven’t gotten that right,” said Martha Gimbel, research director for the jobs listing site Indeed. To try to explain why employers are still managing to hire skilled workers at a steady pace, Gimbel paraphrased a line from the 1971 movie “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory”: “There’s no knowing where we’re going, but it shows no sign of slowing.” In July, America’s employers posted a record 6.9 million job openings, which actually exceeded the number of unemployed people. The abundance of openings suggests that companies expect to keep hiring. Even the Trump administration, for all its brash public confidence, acknowledges uncertainty about how much further unemployment can fall.
“It’s a tricky question, because I don’t think we know,” Larry Kudlow, the president’s top economic adviser, told reporters Friday. At some point, many employers will likely feel they’re running out of skilled workers to hire. Just not yet. Here will be five signals that a labour shortage may finally be at hand: Pay raises spike
Average hourly wages have risen 2.8 per cent in the past 12 months. That’s basically keeping pace with the inflation rate for consumer prices. But the theory is that as economy keeps expanding and employers find they need to pay more to attract employees, pay could jump, especially in some sectors of the economy that require heavily skilled workers. Some companies are already taking action. Consider Amazon’s just-announced boost in its minimum hourly wage to $15 starting in November. Amazon’s rival retailers and warehouse operators, in particular, may feel pressure to raise pay, too. For now, many employers appear to be raising pay only modestly while in some cases also offering short-term bonuses not included in the government’s gauge of hourly earnings. American Textile, a 93-yearold manufacturer of pillows, sheets and comforters based in Pittsburgh, has found it a challenge in recent months to add and keep workers for its 800-person staff. It’s been raising pay by 3 per cent to 4 per cent annually for years. But it’s now introducing the perk of paying bonuses as soon as three months after a worker joins the company. “Just show up — you’ll get something extra,” said Pete Marsalis, the company’s director of human resources. Lots more people seeking work
One of the best measures
of available workers is what’s called the participation rate. That’s the proportion of working-age adults who either have a job or are actively looking for one. The participation rate for people defined as prime age — 25 to 54 years old — was 81.8 per cent in September. That is below the peak of 84.6 per cent in January 1999. The rate increased in 2016 and 2017, but it’s fluctuated this year. Because the rate remains below its peak, it suggests that a pool of people exists who could potentially start looking for work or return to school to obtain specialized skills or training for a job. To return to the peak participation rate would require roughly an additional 4 million people to start looking for a job and potentially find one. Sharper mismatch between openings and skill sets
If there already were a severe shortage of skilled workers, a broad mismatch would likely exist between the types of jobs available and the types of jobs people are seeking. But research published last month by the job listing site Indeed suggests that the degree of the mismatch has actually narrowed www.canadianinquirer.net
since 2014. In examining resumes posted to Indeed, the researchers found that roughly one-third don’t match the available jobs. Though that’s a relatively high proportion, it’s less than in 2014, when the proportion was closer to 40 per cent. A shortage of skilled workers, like nurses, might now exist in certain sectors of the economy, Gimbel said. But a shortage doesn’t necessarily exist across the entire economy. If it did, the pressures to raise wages would be stronger. A slowdown in job growth
When Joe Brusuelas scanned the September jobs report, he saw signs that a shortage of skilled workers could emerge in the near future. He’s the chief economist for RSM, a consulting firm that specializes in midsize businesses. “Over the past 12 months, we should start to see the pace of hiring grind down,” he said. Brusuelas sees fewer people entering the labour force, a consequence of lower birth rates and other demographic changes as the vast baby boom generation retires. In June, the growth of the labour force was 1.2 per cent compared with a year earlier. By September, the
12-month growth in the labour force had more than halved to 0.52 per cent. Fewer people entering the job market could cause employers to slow their pace of hiring because they couldn’t find enough skilled workers. Formerly undesirable groups being hired
The Trump administration’s drive to limit immigration could worsen any shortage of qualified workers. Brusuelas suggested that employers who foresee a lack of qualified workers might broaden their searches to groups they wouldn’t have previously considered for hires. He estimated, for example, that 8 million to 10 million people with felony records can’t fully participate in the job market now. Bringing these people into the job market is among the priorities of President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka. On the White House lawn Friday, Kudlow, the director of the White House National Economic Council, also endorsed the initiative. “I’m all for it,” he said. ■ AP Economics Writer Christopher Rugaber contributed to this report.
Business
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
PH still ‘interesting market’ for ITBPO firms: IBPAP BY KRIS CRISMUNDO Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Philippines continues to be an interesting market for information technology and business process outsourcing (ITBPO) companies, IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) President Rey Untal said. Untal said in a briefing Tuesday that there are incoming locators in the Philippines, proving that investors still see what the country’s ITBPO industry has to offer. “I think from an interest standpoint, we continue to be interesting for locators,” said Untal. Aside from new locators, Untal added that existing investors continue to grow in the Philippines. He explained that in the last two years, protectionist statements by the U.S. government and jitters about the Philippines’ tax reform program have affected the decision of ITBPO investors to enter or expand their local operations. However, uncertainties created by these anticipated policy shifts have since been put to rest, the IBPAP chief said. With the slower pace of investment activities in the past years, Untal expects the industry’s job generation and revenue to fall short of its targets at end-2018. But he mentioned that the country’s pool of talents remain to be its competitive advantage, and the industry continues to develop the workforce skill sets to meet evolving demand from the global market. “One of our
mandates is to really cultivate talent for the jobs now and the jobs of the future,” he noted. This was also stressed by Philippine Software Industry Association President Jonathan de Luzuriaga, noting that the Filipino workforce has evolved to meet the different demands of its sub-sectors. “Even you look at the history of the entire BPO sector of the Philippines, it safe to say that it is heavily anchored from the availability of talented Filipinos. And that still remains an attraction point especially for multinational companies,” he said. Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP) Chairman Jeff Williams pointed out
that the industry’s priority has gone from looking for low-cost labor to getting the right talents. Technology has also helped the local ITBPO industry get involved in value-added services, Williams said. “What we are doing really, among different sectors, are mid- to higher value services, no longer we’re doing the basic ones,” Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP) President Jojo Uligan echoed. Meantime, Untal also mentioned that in order for the local business environment to remain attractive to new ITBPO locators, the industry group must help government shape favorable policies. ■
the games. Gary Bejino, also a swimmer, won bronze in men’s 100M backstroke S6, while powerlifter Achelle Guion won silver in the women’s -45kg. Arthus Bucay won bronze in Para Cycling Men’s Time Trial during the second day, while Kim Ian Chi was awarded the second gold for the Philippines in Mixed Singles TP B10 bowling. The Philippine Sports Com-
mission (PSC) also announced their excitement in watching para powerlifter Adeline Dumapong-Ancheta and para table tennis player Josephine Medina perform in the tournament. With a total of six medals, the Philippines is currently in eighth place while China leads first with 31 medals overall. ■
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PH T-bill rates up again BY JOANN VILLANUEVA Philippine News Agency MANILA — The rate of Philippine Treasury bills (T-bills) rose across the board on Monday, with the auction committee awarding in full the 91-day paper after three consecutive weeks of rejection. The rate of the bellwether 91day T-bill rose to 4.404 percent from 3.549 percent during the auction last September 10. The Bureau of Treasury (BTr) offered the debt paper for PHP4 billion and tenders reached PHP6.086 billion. The average rate of the 182day paper rose to 5.684 percent from 5.206 percent during the auction last October 1. It was offered for PHP5 billion but was partially awarded for PHP3.548 billion even as tenders reached PHP5.898 billion. The rate of the one-year Tbill averaged at 5.883 percent, higher than the 5.648 percent last week. BTr made a full award of PHP6 billion while tenders amounted to PHP8.102 billion. National Treasurer Rosalia de Leon said the auction committee awarded in full the 91day T-bill because the spike in rates asked by banks are acceptable compared to the previous weeks. She attributed this development to the 6.7 percent inflation rate last September, which is lower than the consensus projection of 6.8 percent. Amid the lower-than-expected inflation rate in the ninth month this year, it is higher
than the 6.4 percent last August. De Leon said market players are heeding the government position that inflation will peak in the third quarter and then return to the two to four percent target band by next year. “Because they are also seeing (deceleration of inflation) given the (latest) print and the indications that inflation must have reached its peak last September so there is no reason for them to be asking for high bids,” she said, citing that “it would be on a downward trajectory.” With interest rate seen to normalize in the coming months, de Leon said they are open to the issuance of retail treasury bond (RTB). “We’ll see depending on liquidity,” she said, noting that this is among their options. The National Treasurer said they will be considering their options based on, among others, the result of the auction for five-year Treasury bond (Tbond) Tuesday as well as the developments in the secondary market. “So tomorrow would be a good indication of market sentiments in terms of at least in the intermediate part of the curve because it’s five years,” she said. “Just to conclude we have been rejecting for three weeks. We still have a good buffer for the Treasury because we’ve done Samurai (bond) and Panda (bond). And more importantly is the collections of the BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) and BOC (Bureau of Customs) both of which are performing very well,” she added. ■
Swimmer Ernie... ❰❰ 29
Para Games in Singapore back in 2015. He also competed in the 2016 Summer Paralympics that was held in Rio de Janeiro, where he participated in 400M freestyle, 100M freestyle, and 100M backstroke. Other than Gawilan’s achievements, Team Philippines received three more medals during the opening day of
BUREAU OF THE TREASURY / FACEBOOK
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Technology Google brings camera twists, bigger screens to Pixel phones BY ANICK JESDANUN AND MICHAEL LIEDTKE The Associated Press NEW YORK — Google’s new Pixel phones mirror an industry trend toward lusher, bigger screens and add twists on the camera for better pictures. The third generation of Pixel phones unveiled Tuesday at an event in New York features screens that span from one edge to another. It’s the first time Google has embraced the format, which Samsung has had for a few years and Apple adopted last year. But Google is undercutting Apple on price. The Pixel 3 will be available Oct. 18 starting at $799 — $200 below the least expensive iPhone XS. A larger version, the Pixel 3 XL, costs $100 more. Google is also hiring photographer Annie Leibovitz to take pictures with the new Pixel in an effort to persuade consumers that its camera is superior. The camera, for instance, promises better low-light and close-up shots by using artificial-intelligence software to combine multiple shots taken in succession. It will also warn you if someone blinked or if the shot is otherwise poor. The camera automatically takes about three seconds of shots, at lower resolution, and will recommend an alternative. The Pixel joins LG’s V40 in sporting a second front lens to fit more people into selfies. But it lacks a zoom lens on either side, something available
on some iPhones and Samsung two years, almost imphones. Instead, Google uses perceptible next to software to mimic that effect. the 3.6 billion phones Beyond the camera, Google shipped during that is using artificial intelligence time, according to to help screen calls. Just tap on IDC. Apple alone sold a button for Google’s voice as- 388 million iPhones sistant to ask the caller about during the same pethe purpose of the call. You see riod. a transcript of the response on Tuesday’s anthe screen. You can choose to nouncements come pick up or ignore the call. Call- a day after Google ers are warned that they are disclosed a flaw that talking to a robot and that a could have exposed transcript would be made. personal informaAlthough the Pixels have tion of up to 500,000 barely made a dent in the mar- users of its Plus ket since their debut two years social network. ago, Google uses them to high- Google declined light what it considers to be to address that the best features of its Android further Tuesday, operating system. A previously though execuannounced feature in which tives emphasoftware will call businesses to sized privacy make appointments and res- and security taurant reservations for you t h r o u g h o u t will debut on the Pixel first, the event in New for instance — initially in New York. York, Atlanta, Phoenix, ArizoFor instance, the camera’s na, and the San Francisco Bay features for better shots will the most sensitive informaArea. take advantage of software on tion, including those needed IDC analyst to unlock the Ramon Llamas phone and desaid the Pixel 3 scramble stored doesn’t break data. Many other new ground on The Pixel 3 will be available Oct. 18 phones already hardware, but starting at $799 — $200 below the have similar “software is a least expensive iPhone XS. hardware for sedifferent story. curity. It’s mostly about Google also convenience rolled out Home here.” Hub, which couAs usual, the Pixel phones fo- the device itself, so that noth- ples a small display screen with cus heavily on Google’s search ing gets sent to Google’s servers an internet-connected speakengine, maps, digital assistant — unless you enable a backup er. That’s similar to Amazon’s and YouTube video service. feature with Google Photos. Echo Show and a new Facebook Google has sold an estimated The Pixel 3 will have a new chip, device called Portal. In another 7 million Pixels over the past called Titan, to store keys to apparent nod to privacy con-
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cerns, Google didn’t put a camera on its Home Hub like Amazon and Facebook did with their respective devices to enable video calls. Again, Google is attacking its rivals on price. The Home Hub will sell for $149 when it comes to stores Oct. 22. The new version Echo Show starts at $229, while the least expensive Facebook Portal sells for $199. There’s also an upcoming tablet featuring Google’s homegrown Chrome OS system. It will run Android apps, but offer functionality that’s closer to a desktop. The Pixel Slate starts at $599; a keyboard costs $199 more and a stylus another $99. ■
Technology
FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
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Facebook wants people to invite its cameras into their homes BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE AND BARBARA ORTUTAY The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO – Facebook is launching the first electronic device to bear its brand, a screen and camera-equipped gadget intended to make video calls easier and more intuitive. But it’s unclear if people will open their homes to an internet-connected camera sold by a company with a questionable track record on protecting user privacy. Facebook is marketing the device, called Portal, as a way for its more than 2 billion users to chat with one another without having to fuss with positioning and other controls. The device features a camera that uses artificial intelligence to automatically zoom as people move around during calls. Since Echo’s release nearly four years ago, both Google and Apple have followed Amazon in releasing smart speakers designed for use with their other digital services – some of them, at least. These speakers can serve as hub-like controllers for ”smart” homes as people install appliances, lighting and security systems that can be controlled over the internet.
Portal represents Facebook’s entry into that fray. But pointing an artificially intelligent camera into peoples’ homes could well raise other privacy questions. “The first thing consumers are going to wonder is ‘how much sensitive data is this collecting about me?”‘ said John Breyault, vice-president of public policy of telecommunications and fraud at the National Consumers League, a Washington-based consumer advocacy group that has received donations from Facebook and other tech companies. On Monday, Twitter users were quick to point to Facebook’s privacy fallacies and what they saw as the company’s impudence in asking people to trust it with a camera called Portal inside their homes. Some compared it to the always-on, always-watching telescreens in George Orwell’s dystopian novel ”1984.” Others saw the gadget’s appeal – but not if it comes from Facebook. It’s a particularly trying time for Facebook to release a home camera. Earlier this year, the company had to acknowledge that as many as 87 million people may have had their data accessed by Cambridge Analytica, a data mining firm that worked
for the Trump campaign and aimed to use the data to influence elections. More recently, Facebook revealed that hackers managed to pierce its security to break into 50 million accounts . Facebook says it won’t ”listen to, view or keep the contents ” of video calls, adding that the Portal camera won’t use facial recognition or identify people in the video calls. The device will allow users to disable the camera and microphone with a single tap and to lock it with a numerical passcode. There’s also a physical camera cover to prevent recording. Portal will not display Facebook ads ”at this time,” the company said, although it noted that third-party services such as music streaming might embed their own ads the same way they do on other devices. The company says Facebook’s privacy policy applies to Portal, since it uses Messenger for voice and video calls. Facebook executives have repeatedly said that the company does not use the contents of messages or calls for advertising purposes and will not do so in the future. Still, there are other, less direct possibilities for the future. “This is going to gain (Facebook) not only a place in the
smart home, but also data they may not have been able to collect before or understand before,” said ABI Research analyst Jonathan Collins. This includes people’s location, activities and interests – ”all the reasons companies want to get into the home.” That said, Facebook says Portal does not collect any information about people’s home, listening only for voice commands. The camera, when enabled, detects people as they walk into the room but does not identify specific people or record anything about people’s homes, according to Facebook. Facebook will offer Portal in two sizes – a $199 model with a
10-inch horizontal screen and a $349 ”Plus” version with a 15.6inch screen that can switch between vertical or horizontal orientations. Both models also include an internet-connected speaker that features Amazon’s voiceactivated digital assistant, Alexa. Portal connects calls through Messenger, meaning that it can reach people who don’t have a Portal themselves. And since Messenger can be used without a Facebook account, Portal users won’t need a Facebook account to use it – only Messenger. ■ Ortutay reported from New York.
Google Plus to close after bug leaks personal information BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO – Google is shutting down its long-shunned Plus social network for consumers, following its disclosure of a flaw discovered in March that could have exposed some personal information of up to 500,000 people. The announcement came in a Monday blog post , which marked Google’s first public description of the privacy bug. Google deliberately avoided disclosing the problem at the time, in part to avoid drawing regulatory scrutiny and damaging its reputation, according to a Wall Street Journal story that cited anonymous individuals
and documents. The Mountain View, California, company declined to comment on the Journal’s report, and didn’t fully explain in its blog post why it held off on revealing the bug until Monday. The Google Plus flaw could have allowed up to 438 external apps to scoop up user names, email addresses, occupations, genders and ages without authorization. The company didn’t find any evidence that any of the personal information affected by the Plus breach was misused. The timeline laid out by Google indicates the company discovered the privacy lapse around the same time that Facebook was under fire for a leak in its far more popular social net-
work. Facebooks’ breakdown exposed the personal information of as many as 87 million of its users to Cambridge Analytica, a data mining firm affiliated with President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. Congress summoned CEO Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to be grilled about his company’s privacy issues in April. Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently declined to an invitation to travel to Washington to testify before the Senate about foreign governments’ manipulation of online services to sway U.S. political elections. His absence incensed some lawmakers, who left an empty chair for Google alongside the Twitter and Facebook executives who appeared before the www.canadianinquirer.net
Senate committee in September. “With this breach announcement, the empty seat bearing Google’s name just became a lot hotter,” said Mike Chapple, an associate professor of information technology, analytics and operations at the University of Notre Dame. Pichai went to Washington to mend political fences with lawmakers in late September and agreed to participate in a White House roundtable on technology that President Trump intends to attend. He also will appear in House hearings after the midterm elections in November. Google has a strong incentive to position itself as a trustworthy guardian of personal infor-
mation because, like Facebook, its financial success hinges on its success to learn about the interests, habits and location of its users in order to sell targeted ads. The desire to peer into people’s lives is one of the reasons that Google launched Plus in 2011. It was supposed to be a challenger to Facebook’s social network, which now has more than 2 billion users. But Plus flopped and quickly turned into a digital ghost town, prompting Google to start de-emphasizing it several years ago. But the company kept it open long enough to cause an embarrassing privacy gaffe that could give Congress an excuse to en❱❱ PAGE 38 Google Plus
OCTOBER 12, 2018
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CANADA
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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.
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Travel How to see the world in your 20s without racking up debt BY CLAIRE TSOSIE The Associated Press IT’S A dilemma many 20-somethings face: You badly want to travel the world. But if your bank account could talk, it would say, “Are you kidding?” When you’re just starting out, even a weeklong vacation might seem like a one-way ticket to credit card debt — especially if you have a modest income or lack access to paid time off. But with the right moves, you can budget for travel without going into the red. Start saving
ample, you might opt to stay at hostels, which are more like college dorm rooms. Often, staying in a hostel means sharing a room and bathroom with others and sleeping in bunk beds rather than on queen-size mattresses. But they’re a good way to meet other travellers and can be startlingly cheap. “A nice co-working hostel in Chiang Mai in Thailand is like $10 a day,” says Aoki, who says she spends most of her time in Thailand. “I’ve been to two, and they’re really clean and pretty comfortable, and they include breakfast and a working office.” If you’re willing to sacrifice some privacy, staying at one might make it easier to pay your credit card bill in full when you return from your trip.
For Krista Aoki, the key to avoiding debt while travelling is simple: Save. Before a big trip, “I try to always start Use credit card rewards with a big cushion. I always save up beWhen Leah Gervais was 24, she travforehand, and I try elled in Southeast to save up more than Asia for four months I need to,” says Aoki, without going into 26, an online busidebt, in part by using ness manager who credit card rewards does consulting and By spending to pay for her flights. virtual assistant serless in certain “It’s not that I had a vices for other online areas now lot of savings ready to businesses. She esand setting go,” says Gervais, now timates it takes her aside money 26, founder of lifeabout three months consistently, style website Urban to save up for a big you might have 20 Something. “What trip. She now travels enough to I did have was a lot of full time and is curcover a small frequent flyer miles.” rently in Kealakekua, getaway in a She got the miles in Hawaii. few months. college by earning To save for travel, sign-up bonuses on she spends less on airline credit cards; other items, such she didn’t carry balas clothes. She also ances on them. With hasn’t owned a car in 2 1/2 years and of- those miles, she was able to fly from New ten relies on public transportation. York City to Siem Reap, Cambodia, and You might not be able to pay for a back to New York City from Bangkok for vacation in full right this second. But just the cost of taxes and fees. (She paid that doesn’t mean you need to choose cash for other shorter flights she took between taking on credit card debt or throughout Southeast Asia, which were being a hardcore homebody. By spend- quite affordable, she says.) ing less in certain areas now and setting If you’ve been using a rewards credit aside money consistently, you might card, log on to your online portal to tally have enough to cover a small getaway in your miles or points. It might be enough a few months. to cover part of your trip. Decide where to minimize costs
The best vacation isn’t necessarily the most expensive vacation. By aggressively reducing your basic costs — flights, transportation, lodging, food — you might be able to squeeze in more exploring for a smaller price. Instead of booking hotels, for ex-
trip, noting that the cost of living in Cambodia was significantly lower than it is in Manhattan, where she live s. On that trip, she also worked as a bartender for a short time. Because she was travelling frugally, her income from these jobs was enough to support her abroad. If travelling is a priority, look for jobs that can be done remotely, such as
freelance graphic design or writing. Or consider jobs that require you to take business trips. Working while travelling isn’t exactly “vacation,” but it’s a financially sustainable way to satisfy your wanderlust. While you’re exploring, you can make sure money’s flowing into your bank account faster than it’s flowing out. ■
Make money while travelling
Both Aoki and Gervais have something in common: They work while they travel. That gives them flexibility to visit more places and stay on the road longer. “I started doing some freelance writing work while I was (in Southeast Asia),” Gervais says of her four-month
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Travel
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OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
Hike, drive or ride to New England summits for foliage BY LISA RATHKE The Associated Press FOR AN ever-changing perspective on the fall foliage, try viewing the colours from a higher elevation by hiking, driving or taking a ski lift up one of New England’s mountains. The foliage starts to turn orange, deep red and gold first in the mountains and other colder spots. The colour emerges as the days shorten and leaves lose their green chlorophyll pigments. Stress like cold temperature or drought also trigger some tree species to generate a red pigment. Oranges, reds and yellows are already visible in the mountains and in northern Vermont, northern Maine and the top tip of New Hampshire. To plan the best viewing, visit the states’ fall foliage maps or trackers. Drive or ride to the summit
MAINE: MOUNT BATTIE, Camden Hills State Park, Camden, Maine The 5,700-acre (2,307-hectare) Camden Hills State Park near the Maine coast offers diverse hiking trails as well as an auto road to the top of the 800-foot (244.84-meter) Mount Battie with wide views of Penobscot Bay that inspired a poem by Edna St. Vincent Millay. If you go… Cost is $6 for adults, $2 for seniors 65 and older. The road is open daily from 7 a.m. to sunset through
Oct 31. MASSACHUSETTS: Mount Greylock, Lanesboro Mount Greylock is the highest spot in Massachusetts at 3,491 feet (1,064 metres). On a clear day, visitors can see as far as 90 miles (145 kilometres) away from the summit. There is a wide range of hiking trails at Mount Greylock State Reservation for various skill levels. For those who don’t want to hike, they can drive up to the top for the sweeping views. If you go… Parking at the summit costs $5 for Massachusetts residents; $10 for others. The road to the summit is open daily through Nov. 1. NEW HAMPSHIRE: Mount Washington Auto Road, Gorham The drive up the highest peak in the Northeast passes through four climate zones and sometimes changing weather on patches of narrow roads. From the top of the 6,280-foot (1,914-meter) summit, visitors get a panoramic view of mountains and valley. They also have access to a gift shop and cafeteria. Crisp clear days can get busy so visitors are advised to arrive early. Some vehicles are prohibited. If you go… the cost is $31 for car and driver; $9 for adult passenger; and $7 for children aged 5-12. The road is open daily 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Oct. 21, weather permitting. Mount Washington Cog Railway, Bretton Woods
If you’d rather not drive, the Mount Washington Cog Railway chugs leaf-peepers to the summit by train. The narrated trip takes about an hour each way. Passengers get an hour to explore the summit, including several short hiking trails, the Mount Washington Observatory, gift shops, restrooms and a snack bar. Reservations are recommended. If you go… The train ride costs $78 for the steam engine and $72 for the biodiesel train for adults; $41 for either train for children; $72 for the steam engine train and $68 for biodiesel for seniors. A one-way hiker ticket is $51. VERMONT: Stowe Auto Toll Road, Stowe Leaf-peepers can drive instead of hike up Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest mountain, on the historic Toll Road. The trip offers sweeping vistas of the central Vermont valleys and mountains including views of Lake Champlain and New York’s Adirondack Mountains in the distance. Some vehicles are prohibited. If you go … The cost is $24 for car and driver; $9 for additional passengers aged 5 and up; and children aged 4 and under are free. The road is open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Oct. 14, weather permitting. Aerial views: Take a gondola or chairlift to the top
NEW HAMPHIRE: Loon Mountain, Lincoln
View of Camden, Maine from Mt. Battie Road. CHRISTOPHER RAMIREZ / FLICKR, CC BY-NC 2.0
Loon Mountain’s Gondola Skyride runs to the top of the 2,733-foot (833-meter) summit daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. On top visitors can take in the view from a 360-degree observation tower, walk on a nature trail or check out prehistoric glacial caves. If you go… The cost is $18 for adults; $13 for juniors aged 6 to 12; and $16 for seniors aged 65-79. Children 5 and under are free. The gondola runs daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 14. VERMONT: Mount Snow, West Dover Get whisked into the air for a scenic chairlift ride to the top of Mount Snow in southern Vermont. If you go… The cost is $15. Children 6 and under are free
with a parent or guardian. The Bluebird Express scenic chairlift ride operates Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Oct. 14, depending on the weather. The lift also will be open Wednesday, Oct. 3, Thursday, Oct. 4 and Monday, Oct. 8 for the foliage season. Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe Ride the Stowe Gondola Skyride to the top of Mount Mansfield, Vermont’s highest mountain, where you can hike or have lunch at the Cliff House Restaurant. If you go… The cost is $29 for adults; $20 for children aged 5-12; and children aged 4 and under are free when accompanied by a paying adult. The gondola runs daily 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Oct. 14, weather permitting. ■
Online travel booking apps vow to share stats with DOT, PSA BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Philippine News Agency MANILA — Online travel booking companies on Tuesday committed to partner with the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in providing them travel and tourism statistics allowed for sharing. During the 29th National Statistics Month reception in
Pasay City, DOT-accredited online travel booking platforms TravelBook PH, Tralulu, and Bliimo Technologies said basic demographics may be extracted from their applications. “As long as it’s not covered by the data privacy law, we don’t mind cooperating if there’s a request,” Tralulu founder and chief executive officer Andrew Cua said. TravelBook PH’s head for customer operations department John Ray Lomugdang
shared similar sentiments. “For our site, TravelBook.ph, we are willing to collaborate. I think the survival of this industry would depend on how we would collaborate with each other and try not to focus much on market share but in making the whole tourism pie bigger,” he said. DOT Assistant Secretary Roberto Alabado III welcomed the offer, saying statistics from these online travel booking platforms “will be very usable www.canadianinquirer.net
once it has been processed and analyzed.” The offer was made in celebration of the National Statistics Month (NSM) focused on reflecting the relevance of statistics in achieving sustainable tourism in the country. This year’s NSM’s theme is “Exploring Philippine Wonders in Numbers: Statistics Towards Sustainable Tourism Development.” During the reception, the PSA and DOT also awarded media
practitioners with the 8th NSM Media Awards for promoting official statistical information through their reports and stories on print, online, radio and television. The recipients were Jasper Arcalas from the Business Mirror, Michael Joe Delizo from Bandila and DZMM Teleradyo, and Pauline Macaraeg from Entrepreneur Philippines. ■
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Food Pasta loaded with tender bites of sausage, kale and beans
with a lightly spiced topping AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN
AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN WE HAD our hearts set on a one-pot pasta loaded with tender bites of browned sausage, hearty kale, and creamy cannellini beans. To streamline the recipe, rather than boil the pasta separately or remove the sausage from the pot once it had browned, we built flavour in layers, allowing the addition of each component to form a creamy sauce that tied the dish together. After browning the sausage, we added chopped onion and a can of cannellini beans and cooked them alongside the meat. Some of the beans broke down, creating an effortlessly creamy sauce, and those that held their shape absorbed lots of meaty taste. To boost the sausage’s robust seasoning, we stirred in minced garlic, fennel seeds, oregano, and red pepper flakes, blooming their flavours in the hearty base. When it came to the pasta, orecchiette’s ear-like shape promised to trap the sauce without getting too entwined with the kale. We added the orecchiette along with both water and chicken broth and brought the mixture to a simmer. Incorporating the chopped kale in stages worked best, as adding it all at once caused the pasta to cook unevenly by forming an unwanted insulating barrier around the orecchiette. Plus, the longer-cooked kale blended into the sauce, while the kale added later contributed nice texture. Our finished dish boasted perfectly al dente pasta with plenty of flavour–an ideal weeknight dinner. You can substitute 8 ounces of other pasta shapes for the orecchiette; however, the cup amounts will vary as follows: 2 1/2 cups for ziti, penne, and campanelle; 3 cups for medium shells; and 3
Make a buttery crumb cake
1/4 cups for farfalle. Pasta with sausage, kale and white beans
Servings: 4 Start to finish: 1 hour
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 1 pound hot Italian sausage, casings removed • 1 onion, chopped fine • 1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, rinsed • 6 garlic cloves, minced • 1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh oregano or 1/2 teaspoon dried • 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes • 3 cups chicken broth • 1 cup water • 8 ounces (2 1/4 cups) orecchiette • 12 ounces kale, stemmed and chopped • 1 ounce Pecorino Romano cheese, grated (1/2 cup), plus extra for serving • Salt and pepper Heat 1 tablespoon oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat until just smoking. Add sausage and cook, breaking meat into
1/2-inch pieces, until lightly browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in onion and beans and cook until onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in garlic, oregano, fennel seeds, and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in broth and water, increase heat to high, and bring to boil. Stir in pasta and half of kale. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and simmer vigorously for 4 minutes. Place remaining kale in pot without stirring, cover, and cook until kale is just tender, about 4 minutes. Stir to incorporate kale and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until most of liquid is absorbed and pasta is tender, 3 to 6 minutes. Off heat, stir in Pecorino and remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste; serve, passing extra Pecorino separately. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 644 calories; 229 calories from fat; 25 g fat (8 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 40 mg cholesterol; 903 mg sodium; 74 g carbohydrate; 10 g fiber; 7 g sugar; 31 g protein. www.canadianinquirer.net
THE ESSENCE of crumb cake is the balance between the buttery cake and the thick, lightly spiced topping. Starting with our favourite yellow cake recipe, we realized we needed to reduce the amount of butter or the richness would be overwhelming. We also wanted our crumb topping to be soft and cookie-like, not a crunchy streusel. Don’t be tempted to substitute all-purpose flour for the cake flour, as doing so will make a dry, tough cake. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute an equal amount of plain low-fat yogurt. Take care to not push the crumbs into the batter. This recipe can be doubled and baked in a 13-by-9-inch pan. If doubling, increase the baking time to about 45 minutes. We did not like the result when we froze this cake. New York-style crumb cake
Servings: 8-10 Start to finish: 1 hour, 15 minutes (Active time: 30 minutes) Crumb Topping: • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted • 1/3 cup (2 1/3 ounces) granulated sugar • 1/3 cup packed (2 1/3 ounces) dark brown sugar • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/8 teaspoon salt • 1 3/4 cups (7 ounces) cake flour Cake: • 1 1/4 cups (5 ounces) cake flour • 1/2 cup (3 1/2 ounces) granulated sugar • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces and softened • 1/3 cup buttermilk • 1 large egg plus 1 large yolk • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • Confectioners’ sugar
Adjust oven rack to uppermiddle position and heat oven to 325 F. Cut 16-inch length of parchment paper (or aluminum foil) and fold lengthwise to 7-inch width. Spray 8-inch square baking pan with vegetable oil spray and fit parchment into pan, pushing it up sides; allow excess to hang over edges of pan. For the crumb topping Whisk melted butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together in medium bowl to combine. Add flour and stir with rubber spatula or wooden spoon until mixture resembles thick, cohesive dough; set aside to cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes. For the cake Using stand mixer fitted with paddle, mix flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, and salt on low speed to combine. With mixer running, add softened butter 1 piece at a time. Continue beating until mixture resembles moist crumbs, with no visible butter chunks remaining, 1 to 2 minutes. Add buttermilk, egg and yolk, and vanilla and beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute, scraping down bowl as needed. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Using rubber spatula, spread batter into even layer. Break apart crumb topping into large pea-size pieces and spread in even layer over batter, beginning with edges and then working toward centre. Bake until crumbs are golden and toothpick inserted in centre of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Let cool on wire rack for at least 30 minutes. Remove cake from pan by lifting parchment overhang. Dust with confectioners’ sugar just before serving. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 410 calories; 150 calories from fat; 17 g fat ( 10 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 82 mg cholesterol; 138 mg sodium; 60 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 28 g sugar; 5 g protein.
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Food
OCTOBER 12, 2018
FRIDAY
Our sweet, butterscotch like sauce makes these cakes tasty AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN WHAT THE Brits call a “pudding” is not pudding by American standards. Rather, it’s a rich, spongy date cake that’s steamed to give it a dense, moist texture. What makes these individual-size cakes special is the sauce that they get smothered in after steaming: an unapologetically sweet, butterscotch-like sauce made from butter, cream and sugar. We decided to use our Butterscotch Sauce here; its balanced toffee notes made the dessert less cloying but still beautifully rich. To pack our cakes with lots of deep, fruity date flavour, we ground half of the dates in the food processor with the sugar, while soaking the remaining dates in water with baking soda to tenderize them; we then added the flavourful soaking liquid right to the batter. To steam the cakes, we cooked them in a covered water bath in the oven. Poking the cakes with a skewer allowed the sauce to be thoroughly absorbed. It is important to form a tight seal with the aluminum foil before baking the
cakes so that the steam is trapped inside the roasting pan. You will need eight 6-ounce ramekins for this recipe. Individual sticky butterscotch pudding cakes
Servings: 8 Start to finish: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• 8 ounces pitted dates, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices (1 1/3 cups) • 3/4 cup warm water (110 F) • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda • 1 1/4 cups (6 1/4 ounces) all-purpose flour • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 3/4 cup packed (5 1/4 ounces) brown sugar • 2 large eggs • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted • 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract • 1 recipe Butterscotch Sauce (recipe follows) Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour eight 6-ounce ramekins. Set prepared ramekins in large roasting pan lined
MIKEY / FLICKR, CC BY 2.0
with dish towel. Bring kettle of water to boil. Combine half of dates, water, and baking soda in 2-cup liquid measuring cup (dates should be submerged beneath water), and soak dates for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, whisk flour, baking powder, and salt together in medium bowl. Process sugar and remaining dates in food processor until no large date chunks remain and mixture has texture of damp, coarse sand, about 45 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Drain soaked dates and add soaking liquid to processor. Add eggs, melted butter, and vanilla and process until smooth, about 15 seconds. Transfer mixture to bowl with dry ingredients and sprinkle drained soaked dates on top. With rubber spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold wet mixture into dry mixture until just combined and date pieces are evenly dispersed. Divide batter evenly among prepared ramekins. Pour enough boiling water into roasting pan to come 1/4 inch up sides of ramekins. Cover pan tightly with aluminum foil, crimping edges to seal. Bake until cakes are puffed and surfaces are spongy, firm, and moist to touch, about 40 minutes. Immediately transfer ramekins to wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Using skewer, poke 25 holes in top of each cake and spoon 1 tablespoon sauce over each cake. Let cakes sit until sauce
is absorbed, about 5 minutes. Invert each ramekin onto individual plates or shallow bowls; lift off ramekin. Spoon remaining sauce over cakes and serve immediately. Butterscotch Sauce:
Makes about 1 1/2 cups
• 1 cup packed (7 ounces) brown sugar • 2 teaspoons light corn syrup • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter • 1 tablespoon water • 1/2 cup heavy cream • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Heat sugar, corn syrup, butter, and water in medium saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring often, until sugar is fully dissolved, about 2 minutes. Continue to cook, without stirring, until mixture begins to bubble, 1 to 2 minutes. Off heat, carefully stir in cream and vanilla; mixture will bubble and steam. Continue to stir until sauce is smooth. Let cool slightly. (Sauce can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks; gently warm in microwave, stirring every 10 seconds, until pourable, before using.) ■ Nutrition information per serving: 561 calories; 211 calories from fat; 24 g fat (15 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 119 mg cholesterol; 298 mg sodium; 86 g carbohydrate; 3 g fiber; 67 g sugar; 5 g protein.
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act tighter controls on data collection. “Every data mishap strengthens the bipartisan case for Congress to take action on data protection,” said Jonathan Mayer, an assistant professor at Princeton University who formerly worked in the Federal Communications Commission’s enforcement bureau. www.canadianinquirer.net
Europe began to impose tougher online privacy regulations in May. Those rules also include disclosure requirements for data breaches. Those rules don’t apply to the Plus problem because Google discovered it before they took effect. ■ AP Technology Writer Frank Bajak in Boston contributed to this story.
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FRIDAY OCTOBER 12, 2018
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OCTOBER 12, 2018
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