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DECEMBER 21, 2018

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VOL. 12 NO. 351

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray during the evening gown competition during the Miss Universe 2018 preliminary round. Catriona, who won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe crown earlier in the year, already had competed in international pageant Miss World in 2016 where she landed in the Top 5, but was overall defeated by Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Del Valle.

SEK SAMYAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD Catriona Gray is officially the fourth Filipina to bring the Miss Universe crown back to the Philippines as she reigns victorious

at the 67th Miss Universe coronation night that happened Monday morning, December 17 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Many Filipino pageant fans gathered at the Impact Arena, Muang Thong Thani to watch Catriona be crowned

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BART LENOIR / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Filipino-Australian Catriona Gray is crowned the country’s fourth Miss Universe

DOTr pursues various transpo projects to tackle PH traffic woes

26 A journey through 2018’s top pop culture moments

❱❱ PAGE 4 Filipino-Australian

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❱❱ PAGE 25

‘Videoke’ highlights Pinoy Yuletide bonding

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Philippine News

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DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

House claims vs. Diokno a ‘diversionary tactic’: Palace

BY AZER PARROCHA Philippine News Agency MANILA — Malacañang on Tuesday said it agrees with Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s statement that allegations of some lawmakers in the House of Representatives (HOR) hurled against him were to divert public attention from “insertions” in the proposed PHP3.8trillion national budget for 2019.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo made this remark pointing out that after Senator Panfilo Lacson exposed certain insertions in the proposed budget, congressmen were put “on the hot seat.”

“I was just following the line of Secretary Diokno. According to him, this started because Senator Lacson exposed certain amendments or insertions. And because the members of Congress or two of them were in the hot seat, according to him most likely they tried to put him on a hot seat instead of them. So, in a way, it’s diverting the issue — from them to him,” Panelo said in a Palace briefing.

Panelo also rejected claims that the

quarrel between some House lawmakers and Diokno would cause “constitutional crisis.”

Lawmakers earlier called for Diokno’s resignation after accusing him of allowing PHP75 billion worth of “insertions” contained in the proposed 2019 budget without the President’s consent.

The DBM chief was also accused of having links to CT Leoncio Construction and Trading, a contractor who bagged billions of pesos in government projects, an allegation which he denied.

Panelo clarified that Palace was not questioning the lawmakers’ authority to interrogate Diokno, but rather the “manner” which they asked questions.

“It’s a question of how you treat a fellow worker. We are not questioning the authority to question Mr. Diokno.

What we were complaining against is the manner by which the Question Hour was conducted — he was mocked in that Question Hour,” Panelo said.

Asked if he believed there were insertions in the proposed 2019 budget, Panelo insisted that it was the job of the Congress to go over the budget and realign them as necessary.

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Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno (right) shakes hand with Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta during the plenary deliberations of the proposed 2019 budget of the Judiciary at the Senate in Pasay City.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

“Congress has the authority to review, to scrutinize the budget. The budget is just a proposal — it’s for them to go over it, if they see any irregularity, it’s for them to correct it. And if such irregularity amounts to a crime, then it is its duty to recommend filing and charges against the wrongdoer,” Panelo said.

Panelo reiterated that Diokno still enjoys the trust and confidence of President Rodrigo R. Duterte and stood by his integrity and competence.

“The reputation of Secretary Diokno is solid. In 32 years of his service, there is nothing that we can throw at him. He was known to be one who says ‘no’ to any irregularity or any favor that is asked of him — and he has been consistent with that,” Panelo said.

Meanwhile, Panelo bared that Duterte

may “presumably” be the reason why Diokno will be skipping an upcoming House probe on January 6 next year in Naga City.

“There is only one who cannot make him go there, it’s the President. So presumably it’s coming from the President,” Panelo said, explaining that the basis for not attending would be the rude treatment he previously received from an earlier probe.

“The basis would be the rude treatment that he has received. And another reason is that, if you will be submitting questions to the resource person and you’ll not be asking them, so what’s the use of going there?” he added.

Panelo said if the House lawmakers sought for courtesy, they should also give the same. ■

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by predecessor Miss Universe 2017 Demi Leigh Nel Peters of South Africa. The final portion of the competition was during the Top 3, where the girls were questioned, “What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life and how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?”

Catriona referred to her work with Philippine organization Young Focus located in Tondo, where “life there is poor and very sad,” answering, “I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty of it, to look for beauty in the faces of the children and to be grateful. And I would bring this aspect as a Miss Universe, to see situations with a silver lining, and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson.” She concluded, “If I could teach also people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster,

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and children would have a smile on their faces.”

Catriona, who won the Binibining Pilipinas Universe crown earlier in the year, already had competed in international pageant Miss World in 2016 where she landed in the Top 5, but was overall defeated by Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Del Valle. She wanted to redeem herself in the Miss Universe stage, attempting to insert Filipino culture in all aspects of the competition, including her national costume, evening gowns, and event attire — her final gown she wore when crowned representing a symbol from her hometown of Albay, the Mayon Volcano. Catriona landed in the Top 2 with South African representative Tamaryn Green.

The model/singer joins 1969’s Gloria Diaz, 1973’s Margie Moran, and 2015’s Pia Wurtzbach in the list of Filipina Miss Universe winners. ■

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DECEMBER 21, 2018

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The management and staff of PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER wishes to take this opportunity to thank all our readers, advertisers, contributors, and everyone else who makes PCI happen.

We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Joyous New Year.

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FRIDAY

Philippine News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

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Palace says Tagle’s homily about ‘bullies’ does not refer to Duterte

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

VALERIE ESCALERA / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Duterte to sign bill abolishing Road Board

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte will sign into law a bill abolishing irregularities-ridden Road Board “as soon as” it is submitted to him, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

“Yes. That has been the position (of the President),” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said when asked during a Palace press briefing if Duterte intends to sign the bill once he receives it.

Panelo said the Palace is still against the release of the PHP45-billion road user’s tax or known as the motor vehicle user’s charge (MVUC).

“Ganun pa rin. Di pa nagbabago. (It will remain. It has not changed). We are against it, the release,” he said.

The Road Board was created in 2000 through Republic Act 8794 to efficiently manage the MVUC funds.

Panelo said the road user’s tax should be returned to the Treasury and “then let Congress appropriate again for specific purpose.”

He said the Palace’s support for abolition of the Road Board was based on Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno’s conversation with the President about the alleged corruption in the Board.

“That is the explanation of Secretary Diokno,” Panelo said.

Panelo, however, clarified he is not privy on the details of what Diokno had discussed with the President about the alleged misuse of MVUC funds.

Meanwhile, Panelo refused to give “categorical statement” on former House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s claim that the Road Board abolition has something to do with some congressmen’s call to fire Diokno over alleged insertions in the PHP3.7-trillion proposed 2019 national budget.

“It could be. We don’t know exactly the reason why. That’s the statement of former speaker Alvarez. We can only speculate,” Panelo said.

Last September, the Senate passed and adopted the House bill filed by Alvarez, seeking the Road Board’s abolition.

Alvarez reportedly said lawmakers have been earning huge kickbacks from road projects funded by the road user’s tax.

He said House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s allies, who recently filed House resolution asking Duterte to “reconsider” the appointment of Diokno, wanted to control the proceeds of the MVUC. Arroyo, former president and now Pampanga congresswoman, ousted Alvarez in a power play that broke out before Duterte’s 3rd State of the Nation Address last July.

Panelo reiterated that the Palace stands by the integrity and competence of Diokno as public official for the last 32 years.

“The reputation of Secretary Diokno is solid. In 32 years of his service, there is nothing we can throw to him. He is known to be one of those who say “no” to irregularities or to any favor he asked of it and he has been consistent that,” Panelo said. ■

not use your power to be vulgar.

Do not use your power to coerce others. Do not use your arms to spread distorted truths).”

During the press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo was asked if he thinks Duterte felt “alluded” to Tagle’s homily, to which he answered, “No, because he doesn’t bully people.”

“He expresses his sentiment

ferred to government officials, but also to those in the Church.

“If you use the pulpit for bullying people then it’s the same.

MALACAÑANG ON Tuesday, If the message is in the generic December 18, said Manila Archor general term, then I agree,” bishop Cardinal Tagle’s homily Panelo said. about “bullies” who abuse their “You cannot be using power power to belittle others was not to bully or coerce people. The pertaining to President RodriPresident is against that, too,” go Duterte. he continued.

On the first night of the tradiTagle did not mention names tional Simbang of any political Gabi in preparafigure, but his retion for Christmas mark came after Day, Tagle said Duterte’s verbal that even though If you use the pulpit for bullying attacks against the a person obtains people then it’s the same. If the members of the a position, it does message is in the generic or clergy, most renot give him or general term, then I agree. cently was when her the right to he said that “usedestroy other less” Catholic bishpeople. ops critical of his Quoting St. John the Bap- on a particular matter, situa- administration should be killed. tist, Tagle stressed, “Huwag tion. He expresses dislike and Prior to this, Duterte also mong gagamitin ang iyong ka- he explains it. He threatens blasted Caloocan Bishop Virpangyarihan mambastos. Hu- criminals, yes, to make them gilio David, a vocal critic of the wag mong gagamitin ang iyong feel threatened and stop doing government’s drug war, claimkapangyarihan para piitin o their criminal acts,” he added. ing that the prelate is into drugs i-coerce ang iba. Huwag mong The spokesman stressed that and that he steals from Church gamitin ang iyong armas para those people in power who offerings. The latter, however, magparatang ng hindi totoo (Do abuse others cannot be only re- denied the accusations. ■

Albayalde orders PNP units to intensify ops vs. NPA

BY CHRISTOPHER LLOYD CALIWAN Philippine News Agency MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde, on Tuesday ordered all police units to stay vigilant and intensify operations against the terrorist New People’s Army (NPA) despite the latter’s declaration of a unilateral ceasefire.

Albayalde said he directed all police units to beef up internal security and intelligence operations against the leftist group to ensure peace and order during the Christmas holidays.

“Kaya nga ang sabi natin yung ating mga kapulisan (I told our police force), they should be always alert and vigilant. Kamakailan lang merong harrassment na nangyari kaya ito yung sinasabi natin na (Recently www.canadianinquirer.net

there is a harrassment incident that’s why I’m telling) they should maintain their alertness and of course, (their) camp defense plan,” Albayalde told reporters on Tuesday in ambush interview.

Earlier, the CPP-NPA said they will observe a temporary holiday ceasefire on 12:01 a.m. of December 24 until 11:59 p.m. of December 26; and at 12:01 a.m. of December 31 until 11:59 p.m. of January 1, during the Christmas holidays.

The CPP-NPA will also be celebrating their 50th founding anniversary during the period.

Asked if there have monitored threats from the NPA, Albayalde answered: “Actually meron na (there is a) threat.”

“In Sorsogon, so we expect na meron pa rin mangyayari na ganyan kaya (that there are occurrences so) we have to be on guard lagi (always). Alam na-

man natin na (We know that) this leftist group, lalo na yung (especially their) armed wing are really trying to show that they are still a force to reckon with. These are very isolated and being perpetrated (in) remote areas (especially in what we call) soft targets,” he added.

Police mobile strike forces were earlier deployed to 10 provinces in Eastern Visayas, Negros Island and Bicol region and have linked-up with their AFP counterparts in an active defense posture to strengthen community defenses against the NPA, the CPP’s armed wing.

Albayalde said that while the PNP maintains a stiff and decisive stance against the CPP/ NPA, it is keeping the doors open to all rebels deceived by the false promise of a just society under communist rule, and now want to lead normal lives with their families. ■

Philippine News

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DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

DOTr pursues various transpo projects to tackle PH traffic woes Correspondent/Hosts Bea Kirstein T. Manalaysay Joanna Belle Deala Gianna Llanes Arianne Grace U. Lacanilao Violeta Arevelo Babes Newland Graphic Design Shanice Garcia Ginno Alcantara Arlnie Colleene Talain Singca Account Manager Kristopher Yong Director/Producer Boom Dayupay Photographers/Videographers Ginno Alcantara Ronnie Garcia Maria Crizandra Baylon Aldyn R. Soriano Sales Aireen De Asis Paul Acosta Dennis Cruz Margarita Perez Operations and Admin Victoria Yong Amelia Insigne Management Alan Yong Victoria Yong For photo submissions, please email editor@canadianinquirer.net For General Inquiries, please email info@canadianinquirer.net For Sales Inquiries, please email sales@canadianinquirer.net or contact 778-788-4998 Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 11951 Hammersmith Way, Suite 108 Richmond, B.C. V7A 5H9 Canada

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BY AEROL JOHN PATENA Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has implemented various transportation projects this year aimed at ensuring ease of travel among commuters and improving the traffic situation in the country.

These projects are part of the “Build, Build, Build” program of the Duterte administration, which aims to build vital infrastructures seeking to provide connectivity in various areas of the country to promote economic growth and decongest Metro Manila.

In November 5, the agency inaugurated the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX), which is the first integrated and multi-modal terminal in the southwestern part of Metro Manila.

The facility will serve as transfer point between provincial buses of Cavite and Batangas, as well as in-city modes of transportation.

It will also provide interconnectivity between different transport modes and services that will ensure efficient and seamless travel for commuters.

Located along the Coastal Road, the PITX is expected to reduce the number of provincial buses plying Metro Manila, specifically on Taft Avenue-Pasay and Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa).

“So, I am impressed, I am proud na ginawa nila itong magandang (that they built this beautiful) structure. And it will serve the Filipino and that is what’s very important to me,” President Rodrigo Duterte said when he graced the inauguration rites.

“As the first integrated and multimodal terminal in the southwestern part of Metro Manila, PITX is a landmark project — a ‘landport’ that feels and functions like an airport,” he added.

PITX will have world-class facilities like those of an airport such as departure and arrival areas and baggage handling facilities that can accommodate over 100,000 passengers per day.

It also has automated ticketing and bus monitoring systems and multiple terminals for bus, jeepney, UV express, taxis and transport network services.

Buses coming from provinces near Metro Manila must pass through the terminal to pick up and drop off passengers.

“All buses will utilize PITX,” DOTr officer-in-charge Undersecretary for Road Transport Mark de Leon said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

However, the DOTr has issued Department Order 2018-025, which converted the franchises of buses in selected areas

INCREDIBLETHOTS / FLICKR, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

in the provinces of Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna into city operations not to end their routes at PITX and directly traverse through Metro Manila.

These buses operate along commuter routes within the Greater Manila Area which have high passenger demand.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has likewise allowed 60 additional buses traversing the following routes: PITX to Ayala via Buendia in Makati City; PITX to NAIA Airport Loop; PITX to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and PITX to Plaza Lawton in Manila to address passenger demand for transportation going to Metro Manila.

It has also issued special permits to 500 UV Express units with routes from Paliparan to PITX via Molino and Bacoor to PITX via Molino as well as 40 jeepney units with routes from Paliparan to PITX via Molino and Dasmarinas to PITX via Aguinaldo Highway.

The DOTr has assured that it will conduct a review on the operations of PITX to address concerns on the lack of available transport to ferry passengers to and from the terminal.

More terminals

Meanwhile, the department has conducted last January the groundbreaking of the Taguig Integrated Terminal Exchange (ITX) which is expected to ease traffic congestion in Edsa.

Taguig ITX is projected to accommodate 4,000 buses and 160,000 passengers per day. It will likewise feature a pedestrian walkway connecting to the PNR FTI station and the proposed Mega Manila subway system.

The DOTr is also eyeing to construct

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the North Integrated Terminal Exchange in Bocaue, Bulacan which will serve as a stop for buses coming from the provinces along the northern part of Metro Manila.

The department is likewise pushing for the implementation of an integrated transport system (ITS) to address the traffic congestion in Metro Cebu.

The system will include various transportation modes such as a bus rapid transit system; point to point bus system; a monorail in Lapu-Lapu City, and the Light Rail Transit (LRT) lines from Carcar to Danao and the Mandaue to Airport Line.

“The ITS was developed after due consideration of Metro Cebu’s road profile, and the fast-growing need of efficient mass transport systems in bigger, interconnected cities. Habang papaunlad ang ating mga lungsod ay kailangan din nating tugunan ang pangangailangan para sa mas episyente na pampublikong transportasyon (As our cities progress, we need to address the need for an efficient public transportation),” Tugade said in a statement last July.

Under the transport plan, a Common Station is being considered in two areas: a coastal district and a city center.

Passengers will be ushered to an interlink terminal where connecting transit systems of all the components (bus-toLRT, bus-to-BRT, or BRT-to-LRT) are located.

The DOTr aims to achieve partial operability of the multi-modal transport system within the next one and a half to two years.

“Once implemented, Cebu will be❱❱ PAGE 12 DOTr pursues

Philippine News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

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Andanar vows to boost gov’t, media links

BY JELLY MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA – Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar has promised to take advantage of his position to strengthen and deepen the cooperation between the government and media.

“Gagamitin po natin itong pwesto para lalo pang mapalakas natin ang ugnayan ng gobyerno at ng media at solusyonan ang napakaramingproblem (I will use my position to strengthen the relationship between government and media to help thresh out so many problems),” Andanar said in a meeting with local journalists last Sunday in San Pablo, Laguna.

Andanar said he has been going around the country to look for the real situation of the media and to help in addressing their concerns.

“It’s a herculean task, sabi nga nila. Mahirap pero kung hindi natin gagawin, sino ang gagawa nito? (As they said, it’s a herculean task. It’s difficult but if we will not act, who will do it?),” he said.

Before his Laguna meeting, Andanar said he met members of different media groups in Maguindanao, Sorsogon, Bohol, Kalibo, Cagayan de Oro, Tacloban and Metro Manila.

Andanar said he found out that at least 40 percent of media members in the provinces have no passports.

With this, Andanar said a Press Freedom Caravan will be launched early next year to help journalists in getting passports through the “Passports on Wheels” program.

Andanar said the “Passport on Wheels” will also cater to one immediate family member of the journalists, through the help of the National Press Club (NPC), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster sa Pilipinas (KBP)

and Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

“That will happen next year.

Our partners are NPC, KBP and PIA. They will be finalizing mechanism how this will happen,” he said.

He told the local journalists that the PCOO will also address other issues such as the medical needs and health problems of media.

“I have a mission to reach out our media members specially in the regions to at least assess some of the challenges,” Andanar said.

NPC Paul Gutierrez, meanwhile, thanked Andanar for his efforts to address the needs, not only of the members of government media but also of those in the private media.

Gutierrez also attributed to Andanar the creation of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) and the Freedom on Information (FOI) program.

PTFoMS, headed by Execu-

PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar.

tive Director Joel Sy Egco and co-chaired by Andanar and Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, was created through President Rodrigo Duterte’s Administrative Order No. 01, signed on Oct. 11, 2016.

On the other hand, the FOI

OLIVER MARQUEZ / PNA

was established to cover agencies under the Executive Branch of government through Executive Order No. 02, which Duterte signed a few days before he delivered his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) in July 2016. ■

Child rights group urges Miss Universe Catriona Gray to continue fighting children’s rights

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer SALINLAHI ALLIANCE for Children’s Concerns on Monday, December 17, urged Catriona Gray to continue advocating and fighting for children’s rights.

This, after Gray bagged the Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe crown on Monday during the coronation event held in Bangkok, Thailand.

“While we congratulate you for your hard-earned victory, we encourage you to continue advocating and fighting for the rights of the Filipino children,” the child rights group said.

Salinlahi commended Gray for helping many Filipino children whom they said suffer from poverty, hunger, homelessness, abuses, and violence.

“This situation has been further aggravated by the ‘lack of child support’ primarily from the government who fails to do its mandate in upholding and protecting the rights of chil-

Catriona Gray.

dren and implements programs that place them in a very vul-

@CATRIONA_GRAY / INSTAGRAM

nerable situation and incomparable misery,” it stressed. www.canadianinquirer.net

Salinlahi, however, agreed with Gray that there is a silver lining despite the dreadful situation.

“We see hope in the eyes of children and it gives us so much strength and courage to aspire and work for a better world where every child is respected and cared for,” it said.

Having the same vision, the group even offered Gray to take their children’s work orientation that will provide her with further knowledge and understanding of the situation of Filipino children and their marginalized families.

“We believe that through our partnership we will be able to see the most genuine smiles from the Filipino children, our nation’s hope and treasure,” Salinlahi said.

During the final portion of the competition, the top three candidates — Gray, Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green, and Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutiérrez — were asked, “What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your life and

how would you apply it to your time as Miss Universe?”

To this, Gray shared that she has worked a lot in the slums of Manila’s Tondo district, where she was able to witness how “poor” and “sad” life is for residents there.

“I’ve always taught myself to look for the beauty of it, to look for beauty in the faces of the children and to be grateful.

And I would bring this aspect as a Miss Universe, to see situations with a silver lining, and to assess where I could give something, where I could provide something as a spokesperson,” the newly-crowned Miss Universe said.

“If I could teach also people to be grateful, we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and foster, and children would have a smile on their faces,” she concluded.

While Gray’s winning answer was lauded by many Filipinos, others, however, were disappointed by it, saying that her response “romanticized” poverty. ■

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Philippine News

DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

Andaya cites need for oversight duty on fund disbursement

BY FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES Philippine News Agency

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

TOTO LOZANO / PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

Martial law extension can stand SC scrutiny: DOJ

BY BENJAMIN PULTA Philippine News Agency MANILA – Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Monday expressed confidence that any fresh petition before the courts questioning the extension of martial law in Mindanao will be unsuccessful.

“For as long as the government can clearly show that there is factual basis for the further effectivity of martial law, I guess that petition [that will be filed] is bound to fail,” Guevarra told newsmen.

The DOJ chief noted that the government has explained all necessary facts justifying the measure.

“So, I suppose the Supreme Court will have to bank on the same set of facts already laid before Congress before they overwhelmingly voted to extend the effectivity of martial law in Mindanao for another year. If the government would find that the factual basis for martial law in 2019 has ceased to exist by let’s say June or July of next year Congress has all the power to cut short the effectivity,” he added.

Opposition solons earlier

said they will question the validity of the third martial law extension before the Supreme Court .

In a joint session on Dec. 12, the Senate and the House of Representatives for the third time granted President Rodrigo Duterte’s request for the extension of martial law and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao for a period of one year, from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2019.

Last year, the SC turned down appeals against its ruling on the declaration of martial law in Mindanao in a suit filed by opposition lawmakers and Mindanao residents.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared martial law in Mindanao on May 23, 2017, after Maute terrorists attacked Marawi City.

On July 22, 2017, the 60-day period lapsed, and Congress approved a request from the President to extend martial law until the end of the 2017.

In another joint session on Dec. 13, 2017, lawmakers approved the President’s request for a year-long extension of martial law in the region until the end of 2018. ■

ects from 2017 to 2018. Halos PHP54 billion ang itinaas na pondo pero tuloy pa rin ang pagbaha sa mga kabayanan (That’s probably the reason why DBM increased the funds for flood mitigation projects from 2017 to 2018. It saw an increase of PHP54 billion, but areas continue to be flooded),” Andaya said.

He said more “whistleblowers” are coming out in the open regarding the “parking scam,” noting that insiders within DBM provided information related to “questionable budget allocations in the Bicol region.”

“These DBM insiders intimated to me that under the

Earlier, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Diokno still enjoys the trust and confidence of the President after the House adopted ResoluMANILA — House of Repretion No. 2365, urging the chief sentatives Majority Leader Roexecutive to reconsider the lando Andaya Jr. on Tuesday budget chief’s appointment. stressed the need for Congress Diokno was accused of beto exercise its oversight funcing responsible for the altion over the disbursement leged PHP75-billion worth of of government funds in light “insertions” contained in the of the so-called “pork parking PHP3.757-trillion proposed nascheme” in the budget allocational budget for 2019 without tions. the President’s consent.

In a statement, Andaya said He was accused of having the House would still pursue links to CT Leoncio Construcits investigation on the alleged tion and Trading, a contractor anomalous allocations in the that bagged billions of pesos in proposed 2019 national budgovernment projects, an alleget regardless of gation which he whether or not denied.

Cabinet memPanelo also bers appear at said at least eight the hearing on Diokno was accused of being Cabinet memJanuary 3. responsible for the alleged PHP75bers threw their It was earlier billion worth of “insertions” support and reported that contained in the PHP3.757-trillion slammed the Department of proposed national budget for 2019 House members Budget and Manwithout the President’s consent. for their display agement (DBM) of “disrespect Secretary Benjaand utter lack min Diokno, who of courtesy” tois at the center ward Diokno of controversies surrounding leadership of Secretary Diokno, during the recent Question the 2019 budget and previous billions of projects in Sorsogon Hour. years’ appropriations, was not for 2018 started to be bid out as “To use the congressional allowed to attend the congres- early November 2017. The bid- process to bombard Sec. Diosional inquiry. ding took place even as Con- kno with pre-considered ques“Definitely, we will task the gress was still deliberating on tions and answers in aid – not of DBM for these questionable the 2018 budget submitted by legislation – but of persecution allocations. We will not stop in the DBM,” Andaya said. and excoriating him with baseour investigation, whether CabAndaya accused Diokno of less allegations is a mockery inet members appear or not in allegedly using his influence to of standard democratic proceour hearings,” Andaya said. approve PHP10-billion worth dures,” they said in a letter subHe said the House would zero of road and flood control proj- mitted to the President. ■ in on flood mitigation projects, ects in Casiguran and Sorsogon where the questionable alloca- as a favor to his daughter, who tions are “parked.” is married to the son of Casigu“Mukhang dito itinatago ran Mayor Edwin Hamor and ang mga (I think this is where Sorsogon Vice Governor Esther they hide the) ‘parked funds’ Hamor. for those involved in the scam.

Diokno’s in-laws are running Kaya pala pinalobo ngDBM ang for public office in the 2019 pondo sa flood mitigation proj- elections.

www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

11

Resilience, rehab mark PH tourism in 2018

BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA Philippine News Agency MANILA — With the Philippine government commitment to sustainable tourism, several vacation destinations experienced rehabilitation this year.

In April, the government shut down the idyllic Boracay, which has turned into a “cesspool” due to alarming water pollution in its beaches, stringed with unhampered developments by establishment owners.

Several observers both from the international and local community once grew apprehensive on the fate of the Philippine tourism with its top tourist-draw closed down for six months.

October passed, growth of foreign tourist arrivals remained relatively stable, with some months after the closure even reflecting above 10 percent increase in international visitors.

Department of Tourism Secretary Bernadette RomuloPuyat said the Boracay shutdown somewhat instilled a sense of discipline to Filipinos and foreigners alike visiting the resort island.

“When Boracay opened, the netizens would text me when they witness environmental violations being committed,

Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.

BERNA ROMULO PUYAT / FACEBOOK

they themselves also know how Boracay was cleaned,” she said.

“I’ve noticed that a lot of peo-

ple I don’t know really want to maintain Boracay and you can’t imagine the number of texts

I receive from people I don’t know asking that their places be rehabilitated also,” she added.

Puyat said this only shows that people are actually concerned about their environment.

She noted that Japan, the fourth top visitor market of the Philippines, has even praised the country’s rehabilitation efforts to bring back the pristine beauty of Boracay.

Overall, she said the image of the Philippine tourism improved “not only around the country but abroad,” as it showed the government’s commitment to promote destinations that are ecologically sustainable.

Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) President Marlene Dado Jante regarded the Philippine tourism industry as “resilient and growing.”

“I believe we are growing.

While there had been challenges we’ve faced in the past, it’s proven that our tourist arrival increases. Though we have political issues, security concerns, it (arrivals) grew,” she told the Philippine News Agency.

On Boracay facelift, she affirmed that their clients remain faithful to Philippine destinations.

‘A tourism powerhouse’

In September 2018, the Philippines was named one of the 15

travel and tourism powerhouses by the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) “Power and Performance Report.

Manila ranked eighth among states that have seen the largest growth from 2011 to 2017 in travel and tourism’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP), with USD66.3-billion share in 2017 alone.

It also placed seventh among states where travel and tourism contribution to GDP grew fastest, growing at an annual rate of 14.2 percent.

The country’s tourism is rapidly growing that the government is also five years ahead of its domestic tourism targets.

In 2017, the DOT recorded around 96.7 million local tourist arrivals, exceeding its 86.2 million target set for 2022.

About 6.62 million foreign tourists, on the other hand, visited the Philippines in the same year.

The 2018 figure is expected to surpass this record after the January to October arrivals reached 5,880,895, at least 7.43 percent higher than the same period last year.

The DOT, targeting 7.4 million tourists by end of December, however, said the mark would have to be lowered down to around 7 million or 7.2 million to cope with the impact of Boracay closure. ■

Duterte trusts Balangiga folks will ensure bells’ protection

BY AZER PARROCHA Philippine News Agency MANILA — President Rodrigo R. Duterte on Saturday said he trusts that the residents of Balangiga town in Easter Samar will ensure the protection and preservation of the three bells seized by American soldiers over a century ago.

The President made this remark during the official handover of the Transfer Certificate of the Balangiga bells from United States Deputy Chief of Mission John Law to Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana in a ceremony at the Balangiga Auditorium in Eastern Samar.

The three bells arrived 10:28 a.m. at Guiuan Airport in East-

ern Samar onboard a Philippine Air Force C-130 plane from Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

“More than just a part of the Balangiga Church, these bells are a significant element in our country’s religious and historical narrative. They are an enduring symbol of our history and treasure,” Duterte said in his speech.

“I therefore trust that our ‘kababayans’ in Balangiga and the rest of the country will ensure the protection of these gems and will continue to preserve and promote our culture and history,” he added.

He said the bells’ homecoming does not only bring back the glory of the town of Balangiga, but also contributes to the full restoration of all Filipinos’ dig-

nity.

He described the turnover of the three church bells as a “truly sentimental” event especially since efforts of both Philippine and American governments to push for their return have been long and tedious.

“Today’s gathering is indeed a time to be truly sentimental as we welcome back our Balangiga Bells. It has been 117 years since these bells were taken away from us. Yet, we never lost hope that someday, these treasures will be returned to where they belong,” Duterte said.

“We know fully well that several efforts to return the bells have been made by both America and the Philippines. It has been indeed a long and tedious process, to the point that www.canadianinquirer.net

the outcome was disappointing sometimes,” he added.

With the bells back home, the President said the victory is the result of “optimism and solidarity and patriotism” of both Philippine and US governments and its people.

He compared efforts to push for the bells’ return to how forefathers fought for the country’s freedom against foreign domination more than a century ago.

Meanwhile, he reiterated that nobody could claim a singular credit for the bells’ repatriation.

“You know, the bells are returned and it was really because of the fervent prayers of the entire Filipino nation,” Duterte said.

“Nobody but nobody can

claim a singular credit for the generous act of the Americans.

The bells are returned. The credit goes to the American people and to the Filipino people, period,” he added.

He described the bells’ homecoming as having heralded a new and more vibrant chapter in Philippines and U.S. bilateral relations.

Duterte has repeatedly aired his call on the return of the bells during his second State of the Nation Address in 2017.

Prior to their return, two of the three bells used to be enshrined at Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming while the third bell was at Camp Red Cloud in South Korea. ■

12

Philippine News

DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

DOTr pursues... ❰❰ 8

come beautiful and more livable. The ITS will encourage interoperability and interconnectivity of land, air, and sea transportation,” according to Tugade.

MRT rehab, other railway projects

A major achievement for the railway sector this year is the signing of the PHP18-billion loan agreement between the Philippines and Japan for the rehabilitation of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) last November 8.

The loan agreement covers the repair and maintenance of the MRT-3’s electromechanical components, power supply, rail tracks, and depot equipment and the overhaul of its 72 light rail vehicles.

Sumitomo-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will take over the rehabilitation and maintenance of MRT-3. The consortium signed and built the railway system from 1998 to 2000 and maintained the system from 2000 to 2012.

“Transition is already ongoing up to December; the full mobilization will be by January,” DOTr Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan said in an earlier interview to the PNA. The upgrade of the MRT-3 will take about 43 months, with the first 26 months focused on the rehabilitation of the entire system.

Meanwhile, the MRT has deployed the initial set of trains that were purchased from Chinese firm CRRC Dalian.

The first train set which consists of three cars was deployed to the MRT line last October while another train set was deployed this December.

A total of 48 Dalian light rail vehicles were delivered to the country in 2016 but were not deployed to the MRT line due to compatibility issues. Supplier CCRC Dalian eventually agreed to absorb the costs for the adjustments of the trains.

The Dalian trains must first undergo the 1,000-kilometer test run for 150 hours before these are deployed during peak hours of the MRT-3’s operations, according to the DOTr. Unloading incidents in the railway system have declined to 56 from January to November this year compared to 440 and

562 for the same period in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The MRT management attributed this to the ongoing maintenance works on the MRT and the delivery of vital spare parts.

The MRT-3 currently runs an average of 15 trains daily with headway time of seven minutes serving around 300,000 passengers.

The DOTr has likewise said that the construction for the Metro Manila Subway is slated to begin next year and have its partial operability by 2022.

The subway system aims to have partial operations in three stations: North Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, and Tandang Sora with its full operations in 2025.

Last March, the Philippine and Japanese governments signed a loan agreement for the subway project with the initial tranche amounting to 104.53 billion yen or roughly PHP49.45 billion.

The first phase of the 25km underground railway, which has an estimated cost of PHP356.96 billion, will have a total of 14 stations from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Parañaque City.

The succeeding phases will involve extending the subway system to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and Dasmariñas, Cavite.

The department has also awarded the project management consultancy contract for the Philippine National Railways (PNR) South Rail Project to the China Railway Design Corp. (CRDC) and Guangzhou Wanan Construction Supervision Corp. (WACC) last November 17.

The railway project would be financed through the Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) from the government of China.

The CRDC-WACC Consortium will conduct all pre-construction surveys (topographic, geotechnical, hydrological, parcellary, environmental, etc.), preparation of designs for bidding, preparation of bidding documents, bidding assistance, construction supervision, and defects liability period (warranty) supervision.

The 639-kilometer PNR Bicol Project covering Manila to Matnog town in Sorsogon is expected to be partially opera-

tional by 2022.

Furthermore, the Philippines and Japan have signed an exchange of notes over the North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR) Extension Project last November.

The NSCR Extension Project will be financed through an ODA loan from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Asian Development Bank.

The railway project which has a total cost of PHP 777.75 billion, will integrate the PNR Clark Phase 1 from Tutuban to Malolos, PNR Clark Phase 2 from Malolos to Clark International Airport and from PNR Solis to Calamba. It will consist of 36 stations and a doubletrack elevated railway system that will connect the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon; and enable seamless transfer of passengers with the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), LRT-2, the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) and the Mega Manila Subway.

Dev’t of regional airports

The DOTr is also pursuing the development of airports outside Metro Manila to decongest NAIA, which has recorded around 42 million passengers — exceeding its capacity of just 31 million passengers.

The department is eyeing to utilize Clark International Airport as an alternative gateway to the country.

Its new passenger terminal building which broke ground on December last year was awarded to the consortium of Megawide and GMR Infrastructure.

The new terminal is expected to accommodate up to 8 million passengers per year.

Meanwhile, a consortium between Singapore’s Changi Airport and local conglomerates JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Filinvest Development Corp will likely secure the operations and maintenance of Clark Airport, according to Tugade.

The bidder, known as North Luzon Airport Consortium, emerged as the sole qualified group after the only other challenger, dubbed X-Droid Consortium, was disqualified during the bidding which was conducted last November.

The consortium that will bag the O&M contract shall manage and operate Clark airport’s www.canadianinquirer.net

existing terminal and the New Terminal Building according to the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) who is in charge of the implementation of the project.

The BCDA is targeting to award the project, a so-called hybrid Public Private Partnership project with a 25-year concession.

The DOTr is also seen to award two key airport projects in Bulacan and Manila by early 2019.

These projects namely San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) P800billion international airport in Bulacan province and NAIA Consortium’s PHP102-billion offer to modernize and operate NAIA had yet to be cleared by the Investment Coordination Committee of the NEDA (NEDA-ICC), according to the department.

The approval of the NEDAICC will be followed by the approval of the NEDA Board, which is chaired by President Duterte. As unsolicited proposals, the final step is a bidding process known as Swiss Challenge, which requires at least 60 days.

NAIA Consortium and SMC were awarded the original proponent status for their respective projects.

NAIA Consortium’s members are Ayala Corp., Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Alliance Global Group Inc., Asia Emerging Dragon, Filinvest Development Corp., JG Summit Holdings Inc. and Metro Pacific Investments Corp. Its technical partner is Changi Airports International.

The consortium’s proposal to rehabilitate NAIA involves the expansion and interconnection of the existing NAIA terminals, upgrade of airside facilities, development of commercial facilities to ensure efficient airline and airport operations, enhancing passenger comfort and experience, and elevating the status of NAIA as the country’s premier international gateway.

On the other hand, SMC is planning a brand-new airport in Bulakan, Bulacan that will have as many as six parallel runways and a capacity of over 100 million passengers yearly.

Currently, there are 13 domestic airports and 12 international airports across the country that are either completed or have ongoing improvements and upgrades, according to the DOTr.

The department has also completed the night-rating of 20 out of 42 airports, making them capable of handling nighttime flights.

Maritime industry dev’t program

The DOTr, together with the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), reopened the Davao to Manila passenger shipping route last October 28.

The shipping route is envisioned to enhance connectivity and mobility between Luzon and Mindanao, providing people more travel options and lowering the prices of goods and commodities through the access of freight containers traveling from Davao to Manila and vice versa.

The MARINA has completed the formulation of its projects to be implemented under the 10-year Maritime Industry Development Program (MIDP), which aims to establish a safe and modernized maritime sector in the country.

The priority programs to be implemented under the MIDP are the upgrading of domestic shipping in support of the nautical highway development; development of shipping services for maritime tourism; development of Coastal and Inland Waterways Transport (CIWT) system; strengthening of safety standards of Philippine Registered Fishing Vessels; development of global maritime hub; enhancement of maritime safety in the Philippines; modernization of maritime security in the Philippines, and the establishment of a maritime innovation and knowledge center.

The 10-year MIDP seeks to achieve a nationally integrated and globally competitive maritime industry through developing and supporting an organizational culture and practice of leading in maritime education, innovation, technology, and sustainability.

A major initiative being pursued under the MIDP is the modernization of domestic ships such as turning woodenhulled motor bancas into either steel, aluminum, or fiberglass boats. It also involves strengthening of the capability of local shipyards and promoting the development of locally-made ships. ■

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

Philippine News

DOTr, DILG urged to hold forum for trike drivers, operators

A journey...

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

August

MANILA — Former Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go urged the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to work together and organize a summit for all Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association (TODA) in the country.

“Nananawagan ako sa DOTr at DILG na magtulungan para magdaos ng isang summit para SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES / FACEBOOK sa lahat ng TODA sa ating Former SAP Bong Go. bansa. Sana maisagawa ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” Go registration of their vehicles ing patas sa lahat at maging said on Wednesday (Dec. 12) are responsibilities that remain maayos ang kanilang serbisyo during his visit to fire victims in with the Land Transportation sa kanilang lugar,” Go said.

Makati City.

Office.

He noted that TODAs proGo usually takes time to talk According to a Supreme vide crucial transportation serto TODA members whenever Court (SC) ruling, removing vices to the public. he visits fire victims, not only to such functions from the LTO “Mula sa mga syudad hangremind them to stay away from would result to a surge in theft gang sa malayong barangay sa drugs but also to hear their con- of tricycles as stolen tricycles ating bansa, sila yung nagsescerns. can simply be registered in an- erbisyo kung saan walang jeep He said the concerned na- other local government unit. at walang bus. Sila yung nakational government agencies In the same way, allowing kapasok pag maliliit ang eskimust respond to the needs and LGUs to issue licenses for tricy- nita. Sa mga probinsya ang mga recommendations of tricycle cle drives could lead to the pro- tricycle ang karaniwang inaoperators and drivers. liferation of fake licenses as a asahan mula sa pagdadala ng According to Go, inputs from driver who fail the LTO test, or paninda hanggang panghatid the TODA members during the whose license was confiscated, sa mga eskwela. Hindi matatasummit can help improve the can simply get a replacement waran ang kanilang serbisyo sa regulation of tricycles all over from one municipality, the SC bayan,” Go said. the country that would, in turn, said.

Earlier, Go said he decided to ensure the viability of the liveliGo noted that the lack of a run for the Senate because he hood of tricycle operators and uniform set of rules on tricycle wants to serve the people with drivers. the same honest “Marami siand sincere publang mga hinaing lic service shown na dapat marinig by his mentor, ng national govGo said he decided to run for the President Rodriernment. At sila Senate because he wants to serve go Duterte. na rin mismo ay the people with the same honest Go has admaraming mga and sincere public service shown opted a 12-point suggestion kung by his mentor, President Rodrigo legislative agenano ang mga Duterte. da that includes dapat gawin para improved health maging maayos services, robust ang takbo ng agriculture, kanilang hanapbuhay at serbi- regulation and the grant of per- stronger fight against illegal syo sa ating mga kababayan,” mits and franchises had created drugs and criminality, better said Go, who is running for sen- a situation where some LGUs housing program, increased ator in the 2019 elections. subjected TODA members to support for education, nationUnder the Local Government unreasonable fees and require- wide youth and sports developCode of 1991, the regulation of ments. ment, intensified anti-corruptricycles and the granting of There are also different rules, tion drive, conduct of localized franchises for their operation he said, in determining the peace talks, better fire protecare carried out by local govern- routes available for the TODA. tion and prevention, the crement units (LGUs) through “Sana magkaroon tayo ng ii- ation of a Department of OFW, their respective Sanggunian. sang batayan para sa mga regu- improved barangay welfare, On the other hand, the licens- lasyong ipapatupad natin para and additional support to sees of tricycle drivers and the sa mga TODA para naman mag- nior citizens. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

❰❰ 25

an investigation — a claim Moonves’ attorney denies.

Farewell to the Queen of Soul: ARETHA FRANKLIN’s death sparks worldwide mourning, and the singer is hailed not only for her talent — the greatest of a generation — but her lifelong demand for “RESPECT,” as a woman and an African-American. She is eulogized in an epic eight-hour funeral. Another longtime great, PAUL MCCARTNEY, does carpool karaoke with JAMES CORDEN, and their visit to McCartney’s hometown of Liverpool that has many fans crying sweet tears of nostalgia.

September

“Believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything,” says a new NIKE ad that makes waves because of the man speaking the lines: COLIN KAEPERNICK, the former San Francisco quarterback who began a wave of protests among NFL players against police brutality and racial inequality. At the EMMYS, the awards themselves are upstaged by a surprise marriage proposal. And happy birthday, HARRY POTTER! Wow, you’re 20 years old.

October

Usually DONALD TRUMP has the spotlight in the Oval Office, but apparently not when KANYE WEST visits.

The rapper, ostensibly there to discuss prison reform, delivers a 10-minute speech about the president, politics, and of course himself. “You are tasting a fine wine,” he says, referring to, er, his truly. “It has multiple notes to it.” Onscreen, the ultimate chameleon, LADY GAGA, reinvents herself yet again with

13

a stunning turn in BRADLEY COOPER’s acclaimed “A STAR IS BORN. “ And some fine-art news: The elusive BANKSY pulls a stunt for the ages with his self-shredding painting at a Sotheby’s auction. But was that him, in the audience? Maybe.

November

Three broken ribs might sideline a football player, but RUTH BADER GINSBURG? Nah. Days after her injury from a fall, the 85-year-old Supreme Court justice is back on the job, capping a year in which she’s emerged as a true pop culture heroine. Already in the spotlight for “RBG,” the documentary in which she’s shown doing push-ups among other things, she’s also the subject of a popular SNL rap video, and by year’s end a new feature film, “On the Basis of Sex.” Oh, and she’s back at the gym, too.

December

Wanna be the new Oscar host? They’re hiring! (Unless you’d prefer to be Trump’s chief of staff.) KEVIN HART is forced to step down — two days after being named — when past homophobic tweets are aired.

And remember all the talk over the first lady’s Zara coat? Now it’s NANCY PELOSI’s MaxMara coat we’re discussing, a fiery red number that she wears — with Armani shades — emerging from a tense showdown with the president. The fashion label immediately reissues the discontinued garment. And speaking of cool overcoats: A stylish new MARY POPPINS is on the block, thanks to BLUNT, who proves a worthy successor to Julie Andrews in the Disney sequel. At the end of a tough year, it feels nice to indulge with just a spoonful of sugar. ■

Good boy... ❰❰ 19

dogs to come up to you and let the dog choose you,” Hawley said. “Some dogs were scared of the wheelchair. Griffin jumped right into my lap and licked me across the face.”

Hawley and Griffin worked at Fort Bragg in North Carolina during an internship, helping soldiers with mobility impairments as well as psycho-social disorders. Brushing a dog can

help improve a patient’s range of motion, and stroking him helps ease anxiety, Hawley said.

“My patients would say, ‘My therapist today is Brittany and Griffin,’” she said.

When she applies for jobs, she and Griffin will be a package deal, Hawley said.

“I couldn’t participate in anything without him,” she said. “I’m so used to him being there.” ■

14

Canada News Canada’s robust credit rating should calm fears about federal deficits: Trudeau

BY ANDY BLATCHFORD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Canadians worried about federal deficits should look at the country’s strong standing with international credit-rating agencies for some reassurance, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says.

In a wide-ranging interview, Trudeau said Canada’s tripleA rating with agencies like Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s should provide comfort to taxpayers who fear his government has been accumulating too much debt.

Trudeau insisted Canada’s high rating scores mean experts have confidence in his government’s approach to the economy.

He made his argument as critics, and especially the Conservatives, warn Ottawa should be curbing deficit-spending in the stronger-than-expected economy.

Debate over the state of Canada’s books could turn into a key ballot-box issue ahead of next October’s federal election — and it could become particularly interesting if the Liberals are forced to navigate a downturn between now and then.

“This question around deficits, obviously, has been one that has led to a lot of conversations, a lot of attacks or critiques from our political opponents, the legitimate questions from journalists and, quite frankly, worries from Canadians,” Trudeau said in an interview last Friday with The Cana-

dian Press.

“Who are the experts in terms of sustainability of a fiscal plan? I’d suggest that the international bond ratings agencies — S&P, Moody’s and those folks know what they’re talking about … The fact that the international ratings agencies are giving us a thumbs up right now should reassure people.”

Asked about the next downturn or recession, Trudeau argued his government’s moves to boost immigration and to make investments in areas like skills training, infrastructure and a lower-carbon economy have made Canada more resilient against future shocks.

He also said his government’s child-benefit enhancements and income-tax reductions for middle earners have also improved the resilience of Canadian households.

The Trudeau Liberals were elected in 2015 on a pledge to run modest annual shortfalls of no more than $10 billion and to balance the books by 2019.

Instead, they’ve posted yearly deficits almost double that size and no longer have a timetable to return to balance.

After taking office, the Trudeau government shifted its focus to keeping the government’s debt burden — as measured by Ottawa’s net debt-to-GDP ratio — on a slight downward track.

Experts, however, have cautioned that the debt-to-GDP ratio will be thrown off course in a downturn, leaving Ottawa to search for another so-called “fiscal anchor” to keep spend-

JUSTIN TRUDEAU / FACEBOOK

ing in check.

Trudeau said the debt-toGDP is a “benchmark we’re going to stick to.”

He was also asked if the public should expect the next Liberal election platform to focus on debt-to-GDP rather than another promise to balance the books.

“We’re certainly going to be making decisions about how to demonstrate our fiscal responsibility and nothing has been finally decided yet, but I think the debt as a share of GDP is a very handy and important way of measuring how sustainable a fiscal plan is,” he said.

Conservative MP Pierre Poilievre said Trudeau’s comments raise doubts about the Liberals’ debt-to-GDP anchor.

“He is shifting the goal posts…

He called the debt-to-GDP ratio a ‘handy’ tool — he didn’t say it was the anchor to which he remains committed,” Poilievre said Monday.

www.canadianinquirer.net

“Now he’s making a new promise, which is I’ll try not to get our finances downgraded by the ratings agencies.”

Poilievre also argued there’s no evidence to support Liberal assertions that deficit spending has helped boost Canada’s growth.

He credited the improvements to big external factors like the booming American and global economies, rock-bottom interest rates and housing bubbles in Vancouver and Toronto.

Canada is now ill-prepared for economic trouble, he insisted.

“He’s squandered everything we had in the name of sunny ways and now we’re not ready for the stormy days,” Poilievre said.

Doug Porter, the Bank of Montreal’s chief economist, cautioned about paying too much attention to credit agencies because their long-term focus means ratings often lag developments. They usually

make changes only after there’s been a problem for a while and “things have deteriorated fairly extensively,” he said.

“If you’re going to hang your fiscal hat on the credit ratings, then the story can change pretty abruptly if the credit-ratings agencies have a rethink,” Porter said.

Porter said he’s a “bit concerned” Ottawa’s deficit outlook hasn’t improved more, given the health of the economy. The federal government, he added, will need fiscal room to cushion the blow from the next downturn.

Canada has had a triple-A credit rating with Moody’s since 2002 — a time period that has spanned both Liberal and Conservative governments in Ottawa.

A report last month by the agency said the rating was due, in part, to “stable” debt ratios for all levels of government, which were supported by a low federal debt burden that’s expected to gradually decrease over the next few years.

Ottawa projects the federal debt-to-GDP ratio to gradually fall from 30.9 per cent in 201819 to 28.5 per cent in 2023-24.

The government is predicting annual deficits of $18.1 billion in 2018-19, $19.6 billion in 201920 and $18.1 billion in 2020-21.

Last week, Moody’s announced a downgrade to the Ontario government’s rating to Aa3 from Aa2. It cited the province’s $14.5-billion deficit projection for 2018-19 and an outlook of more shortfalls in the coming years. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

15

Women more likely than men to experience workplace harassment: StatsCan study

BY MIA RABSON The Canadian Press OTTAWA — A new study suggests women are more likely than men to experience workplace harassment, and that it’s more common in health-related fields.

The Statistics Canada report, “Harassment in Canadian workplaces,” suggests most people don’t experience abuse on the job but that a significant number do — including verbal abuse, humiliating behaviour, threats, physical violence, and unwanted sexual attention or sexual harassment.

Among roughly 9,000 respondents, 19 per cent of women and 13 per cent of men said they had been harassed at work.

The findings come from 2016 data from the General Social Survey on Canadians at Work and Home, which asked Canadians between the ages of 15 and 64 about incidents of harassment during the previous 12 months.

Senior researcher Melissa Moyser notes much has changed in society since the poll was conducted, pointing to increased general awareness of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour.

“This is definitely preMeToo,” said Moyser, based in Ottawa but reached in Gatineau, Que., on Monday.

“We would expect that with the sort of growing awareness

of sexual harassment, unwanted sexual attention, etc, the results could look different when we do the next version of this.”

Both men and women said clients or customers were the most common source of harassment, including 53 per cent of women and 42 per cent of men.

But Moyser said women appear especially vulnerable to this type of abuse because they work in jobs that tend to have a high degree of public interaction such as health care, social services and the education sector.

Overall, those in the health field — including nurses and doctors — had a 23 per cent probability of reporting harassment, including 27 per cent of women and 21 per cent of men.

In contrast, those in natural and applied sciences — such as engineers and computer and information system professionals — had a 9 per cent probability of reporting harassment.

“A lot of that is exposure, because women are interacting with these customers and clients more frequently,” said Moyser. “That is who they are being harassed by, and that’s also why we see that women are more likely to be harassed than men.”

Researchers also linked workplace harassment to workplace well-being, such as job dissatisfaction and level of motivation. Women who reported harassment were three times

more likely to say they were unhappy with their job, at 14 per cent, than those who did not.

Similar results were found for men.

But Moyser said not enough is known to determine if harassment was a causal factor in less job satisfaction.

“It could be that workplace harassment occurs in the context of workplaces where there are other sorts of toxic elements. It’s just generally a negative situation at work.”

Harassment by a supervisor or manager was also associated with more negative effects on workplace well-being than harassment by someone else.

The study also linked workplace harassment to personal well-being, with 18 per cent of men and 16 per cent of women who reported incidents saying they had poor mental health, compared to 6 per cent of men and 8 per cent of women who had not been harassed.

Moyser says the general social survey is being “modernized” with possible future questions including more detail on the race of the worker and the sex of the perpetrator. The survey is usually done on a cycle of five to seven years, but future work-related questions could be integrated into another general social survey before that.

Pat Armstrong, an expert in long-term care at York University, found the report’s data on health care incidents lower

than expected.

Research she conducted about 10 years ago suggested 43 per cent of personal support workers in Ontario, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia experienced physical violence more or less daily at the hands of residents or family members.

“It can be worse in places like residential care, in part because there’s more violence going on in general in long-term care for a whole lot of reasons,” said Armstrong, a sociology professor at York University, noting the StatCan study was broader than the scope of her research.

The report’s other findings include: -After clients or customers, the next most common source of harassment for men was their supervisor or manager at

39 per cent. Among women, it was colleagues and peers at 34 per cent; -13 per cent of women and 10 per cent of men reported having experienced verbal abuse; -6 per cent of women and 5 per cent of men reported experiencing humiliating behaviour; -Men and women were equally likely to report having experienced threats in the workplace, at 3 per cent.

-About 4 per cent of women and less than 1 per cent of men reported having experienced sexual harassment or unwanted sexual attention in the workplace; -About 3 per cent of women reported having experienced physical violence, versus about 1 per cent of men. ■

Canada caught between 2 powers, feeling alone in the world

BY ROB GILLIES AND PAUL WISEMAN The Associated Press TORONTO — First U.S. President Donald Trump attacked Canada on trade. Then Saudi Arabia punished it for speaking up for human rights. Now China has the country in its crosshairs, detaining two Canadians in apparent retaliation for the arrest of a top Chinese tech executive on behalf of the United States.

Canada is caught between two super powers and taking

the punishment — and its ally to the south has been conspicuously absent in coming to its aid.

“We’ve never been this alone,” historian Robert Bothwell said. “We don’t have any serious allies. And I think that’s another factor in what the Chinese are doing. … Our means of retaliation are very few. China is a hostile power.”

The two Canadians, Michael Kovrig, a former diplomat in China, and Michael Spavor, an entrepreneur who lived in northeastern China near the North Korean border, were

taken into custody Monday on suspicion of “engaging in activities that endanger the national security” of China, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said. Canadian consular officials have had no access to them.

Their detentions ratchet up pressure on Canada, which arrested Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of telecommunications giant Huawei, on Dec. 1 at the request of the United States. The U.S. wants her extradited to face charges that she and her company misled banks about the company’s www.canadianinquirer.net

business dealings in Iran. A Canadian judge released Meng on bail Tuesday.

The case has set off a diplomatic furor among the three nations in which Canada has been stuck in the middle.

Until now, Canada had a largely good relationship with China, forged by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s father, late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who helped establish the one-China formula that enabled many other countries to recognize China in the 1970s. Canada acknowledged there is one government

of China and does not officially recognize Taiwan.

China has since become Canada’s second-largest trading partner, after the United States. Chinese investment has powered real estate booms in Vancouver and Toronto. And one-third of foreign students in Canada are Chinese. Justin Trudeau has even talked about a possible free-trade agreement with China in a bid to diversify Canada’s trade, which relies on the U.S. for 75 per cent of its exports. ❱❱ PAGE 22 Canada caught

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Canada News

DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

Ottawa to announce $1.6 billion boost Tuesday for battered energy sector

BY MIA RABSON The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Canada’s battered energy industry will get a $1.6-billion boost from Ottawa on Tuesday to try to slow the political and economic bleeding.

Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi and International Trade Diversification Minister Jim Carr will be at an Edmonton college campus to unveil a support package for oil and gas companies, which are reeling from record-low oil prices.

A source who provided the figure to The Canadian Press says funds will be divided among several different programs, including money to help companies invest in clean growth, loans, and other financial supports to help companies find new markets away from the United States, as well as investments in training and new technology.

It is a package based, in some ways, on those offered to softwood, steel and aluminum producers after the United States dealt them direct blows with new import tariffs.

Canada’s oil patch isn’t facing that kind of pressure, but it is still the U.S. behind much of its pain.

With pipelines at capacity and some major refineries down for maintenance this fall, the price for Alberta crude plummeted in the fall, hitting a panic-inducing $11 a barrel in late November.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s plan to buy more rail cars to help ship additional oil, as well as her decision to force a production cut from the biggest oil producers starting in January, helped push the price back up, trading above $26 a barrel at the end of last week.

But that is still significantly less than the U.S. price and Canada’s economy is losing as much as $80 million a day because of

the discount.

Canada’s almost total reliance on the U.S. as an export market contributes to the problem. Almost every drop of oil that is not refined and used in Canada is exported to the United States. Without more pipelines to the coasts where oil tankers could theoretically then ship oil overseas, Canada’s oil producers are at the mercy of the Americans.

The only current proposal to increase pipeline capacity to the coasts is the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which is in limbo following a court ruling overturning its federal approval. Ottawa is trying to get that project back on track with more consultations, but if that does happen, it will be several years before oil actually starts to flow.

The impasse has left a sharp divide between Alberta and Ottawa.

Although Tuesday’s announcement comes in the Al-

Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi.

berta capital, neither Notley nor anyone from the Alberta government is scheduled to be there for the announcement.

Premier Notley has made no secret in recent weeks of her desire to have Ottawa help the province buy new rail cars to ship two additional trains full of Alberta crude out of the province every day.

Alberta is already negotiating with an as-yet-unnamed third party to buy the rail cars, but Canada has not indicated any willingness to share the cost of

AMARJEET SOHI / FACEBOOKCOM

the purchase yet, and rail cars are not part of Tuesday’s announcement.

Earlier this month, Sohi asked the National Energy Board to do a review of existing pipeline capacity to make sure it is being used in the most efficient way and also to figure out whether there are any shortterm steps that could maximize rail capacity to ship more oil.

Days later, the NEB responded to Sohi and said it will provide him with a full report in February. ■

Trudeau lashes out at Conservatives over migration “misinformation”

BY TERESA WRIGHT The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Warning against the “dangers of populism,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says using immigration as a wedge political issue puts Canada’s future at risk.

During a wide-ranging interview with The Canadian Press, Trudeau said he believes a broad Canadian consensus holds that immigration is good for the country, in the face of growing opposition to it in other places.

The Liberal leader’s line suggests a theme for next year’s election campaign.

“The decision that the Conservatives have taken recently to, for example, go after the global compact on migration in a way that is deliberately and knowingly spreading falsehoods for short-term political gain and to drum up anxiety around immigration is irresponsible, is not the way we should be moving forward

in a thoughtful way on one of the big issues that is facing our country,” Trudeau said.

The prime minister says he welcomes debate and discussion about immigration — as long as it sticks to meaningful areas of policy, such as the right number of immigrants to bring to Canada each year and how to properly integrate newcomers within the country.

“But the fearmongering, and the misinformation that is being deliberately and knowingly put out by the Conservative party right now, is very dangerous to something that has been an extraordinary advantage and benefit for Canada for generations,” he said.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer’s press secretary Brock Harrison said Trudeau’s comments demonstrate that he is failing to take responsibility for Canadians’ concerns about the border.

“He resorts to personal attacks and phoney arguments whenever he’s criticized for it,” Harrison said. “Conservatives

will continue to hold him to account over the lengthy delays in processing and billions in added costs caused by his failure to secure the border.”

Last week, Canada joined 164 countries in signing the UN Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. It is the first large-scale agreement to cover all dimensions of international migration and is aimed at improving co-operation.

But the pact has incited protest, particularly in Eastern Europe, where a number of far-right groups and political parties have used the compact to fan public concern over a historic increase in the number of migrants and displaced people fleeing wars, persecution and violence in their home countries — or, in some cases, seeking better economic opportunities.

Scheer came out strongly against the compact on the grounds that it would give foreign entities influence over Canada’s immigration system, claims that have been rejected by many www.canadianinquirer.net

immigration-law experts.

The Conservatives have also been hammering the Liberals over the influx of asylum seekers crossing into Canada “irregularly,” away from official entry points, over the last two years.

The issue has led to clashes with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Quebec Premier Francois Legault, who each want Ottawa to fork over $200 million or more to cover costs the two provinces have borne to house and provide services to asylum seekers.

They say the federal government is too slow to assess refugee claims and while claimants wait, the provinces have to support them.

Over 38,000 irregular migrants have arrived in Canada since early 2017.

Trudeau might face a steep challenge if migration turns out to be an election issue. An Angus Reid Institute poll conducted this fall suggested the Liberals are vulnerable on the issue of asylum seekers. Shachi Kurl, executive director of the Angus Reid Institute, told The

Canadian Press at the time that concerns about the border resonate across the political spectrum every time the Conservatives bring the issue up.

Trudeau said he plans to address the Canadian public’s growing fears by emphasizing that Canada has a robust immigration system that ensures incoming refugee claimants pose no security risk and meets international obligations that Canada has agreed to uphold.

“This process is working to keep us safe,” he said. “There is a careful approach (by the Conservatives) to try and scare people, and as we’ve said, it’s always easier to try and scare people then to allay fears in a time of anxiety.”

Anti-immigrant rhetoric is helping some political parties, Trudeau acknowledged, pointing specifically to Eastern Europe and the United States.

These views have gained traction online in Canada, he added, noting this as an area “that I think requires us to be more vigilant.” ■

Canada News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

Freeland says corners could not be cut with U.S. arrest request of Huawei exec

BY MIKE BLANCHFIELD The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Cutting corners to avoid arresting a Chinese executive at the request of the Americans simply was not an option to keep Canada out of a difficult political situation, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said Monday.

In an interview with The Canadian Press, Freeland said that type of tactic would erode Canada’s commitment to the rule of law at a time when it is under threat across the globe.

“I think people need to be very careful when they start to suggest that corners be cut when it comes to the rule of law and when it comes to international treaty obligations,” said Freeland.

“That is one of the core foundations of everything that’s great about our country, one of the core foundations of our democracy,” she added.

“It’s not an accident that among our heroes are the RCMP.” Two Canadians have been detained in Beijing since the Dec. 1 arrest of Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Huawei Technologies, by the RCMP. Some business leaders and analysts have suggested Canada should have found a way to circumvent its treaty obligations with the United States under the Extradition Act to avoid the current political turmoil with China and the U.S. Freeland rejected that notion outright, saying it would undermine Canada’s credibility with other countries, including Canada’s “extradition partners.”

The Chinese government and state-run media have vilified the Canadian decision to arrest Meng, and ridiculed the ruleof-law argument. U.S. President Donald Trump also undermined Canada’s position when he mused in an interview last week he might intervene in the Meng case if it would help him get a trade deal with China.

“You might call it a slippery slope approach; you could call it a salad bar approach,” Freeland said.

Canada’s ambassador meets with second detainee, Michael Spavor, in China

BY JIM BRONSKILL The Canadian Press

Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland.

“The rule of law is not about following the rule of law when it suits you.”

Freeland said it is important that John McCallum, Canada’s ambassador to China, has been able to meet in recent days with the two detained Canadians, the entrepreneur Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig, who is on a leave of absence from Global Affairs.

But she said the access is only a “first step” in providing assistance to them and their families.

“It’s important to Canada that we were able to see them.

We know where they are,” Freeland said. “We are really throwing everything we have at this.”

Freeland said she has also spoken personally to families of the two men.

“I also hope that Mr. Kovrig and Mr. Spavor will hear my comments too, ultimately. We are incredibly seized with this case.”

Former diplomats said the fact that Canada was granted access to the two men relatively quickly is a positive sign.

Gar Pardy, a retired director general of the consular affairs bureau of Canada’s foreign ministry, has said it was “quite extraordinary” for Canadian officials to gain access to citizens detained in China within a matter of days.

Meng has since been released on bail and is to return to court in February for what most legal observers predict could be a long, drawn out legal process.

The Meng incident has cast a shadow over the Trudeau government’s desire to deepen

CHRYSTIA FREELAND / FACEBOOK

trade with China as the cornerstone of a broader strategy to diversify into Asian markets.

On Friday, Tourism Minister Melanie Joly cancelled a planned trip to China to mark the end of a special year of tourism exchanges.

But that same day, China’s ambassador to Canada, Lu Shaye, sounded a more conciliatory note about the bilateral relationship, saying there was potential for Canada to take part in his country’s massive international infrastructure project known as the Belt and Road Initiative.

“Although achieving a ChinaCanada Free Trade Agreement faces new obstacles due to reasons known to all, the two sides can strengthen policy co-ordination and adopt trade and investment facilitation,” Lu said in a speech at Ottawa’s Carleton University that was posted on the Chinese embassy’s website.

“It is also of great significance for China and Canada to strengthen people-to-people co-operation by promoting exchanges so as to enhance mutual understanding and trust of the two peoples.”

Lu’s tone was far more positive than the column he wrote in the Globe and Mail newspaper the previous day when he called Meng’s arrest in Canada “a miscarriage of justice” that has “chilled” the feelings of the Chinese people towards Canada. Lu said Canada was complicit in a U.S. “witch hunt.”

The Chinese embassy has said Lu is not available for interviews. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

17

OTTAWA — China has now granted Canada access to both of its recently arrested citizens — a move one former Canadian consular official sees as an encouraging sign.

In a statement, Global Affairs Canada said John McCallum, Canada’s ambassador to China, met with entrepreneur Michael Spavor on Sunday.

On Friday, McCallum saw detainee Michael Kovrig, who is on a leave of absence from Global Affairs.

Both men are being held for allegedly endangering China’s national security.

Global Affairs said Canadian consular officials will continue to provide services to Spavor, Kovrig and their families, but provided no other details.

It is “quite extraordinary” for Canadian officials to gain access to citizens detained in China within a matter of days, said Gar Pardy, a retired director general of the consular affairs bureau of Canada’s foreign ministry.

“The Chinese are notorious for delaying access,” he said in an interview.

“The most important issue at this point is trying to get in, and seeing them and talking to them.”

Ensuring the two Canadians are treated properly by the Chinese justice system is key, said Ben Rowswell, a former diplomat and current president of the Canadian International Council, a non-partisan thinktank.

“That’s really the short-term imperative for Canada, is to secure due process for those two and ideally a release.”

Spavor and Kovrig were taken into custody just days after Canadian authorities in Vancouver arrested Meng Wanzhou, a senior executive with Chinese firm Huawei Technologies, so she can be extradited to the U.S. to face fraud charges.

Experts note Canada had no choice but to make the arrest, given its extradition treaty with the United States.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt whatsoever that this is straight retaliation that is playing out here,” Pardy said of the arrests of the two Canadians.

“Even when the Chinese comment about all this, you can almost see the smile on their face when they say, ‘No, no, no, these are national security concerns.”‘ Spavor is director of the Paektu Cultural Exchange and one of the few people from the West to have met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. He also helped arrange a visit to North Korea by former basketball star Dennis Rodman.

Kovrig served as a diplomat in China until 2016 and has been working for the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental agency.

Rowswell said he is familiar with Kovrig’s work, having served in Canada’s foreign ministry at the same time as him.

“I certainly read his reports and respected him, and knew that he was an admired colleague and a very serious player as well — not someone who would get up to any activities that would warrant him being thrown in jail,” Rowswell said.

He also noted the International Crisis Group has an open and transparent relationship with China.

“That’s not a great way to build trust in international relationships — to hold citizens of a country hostage to any dispute that might happen between the two national governments. Because disputes will always happen. They’ll come and go. That’s a normal feature of international relations,” Rowswell said.

“Almost every international organization must now be wondering, ‘If China is unhappy with us, will they be arresting our employees the next time they go to Beijing or Shanghai?’” ■

World News

18

DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

Little if any progress as partial government shutdown looms

BY LISA MASCARO, MATTHEW DALY, AND CATHERINE LUCEY The Associated Press WASHINGTON — The fight over President Donald Trump’s $5 billion wall funds has deepened, threatening a partial government shutdown in a standoff that has become increasingly common in Washington.

It wasn’t always like this, with Congress and the White House at a crisis over government funding. The House and Senate used to pass annual appropriation bills, and the president signed them into law. But in recent years the shutdown scenario has become so routine that it raises the question: Have shutdowns as a negotiating tool lost their punch?

Monday brought few signs of progress.

A partial shutdown that could occur at midnight Friday risks disrupting government operations and leaving hundreds of thousands of federal employees

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furloughed or working without pay over the holiday season. Costs would be likely in the billions of dollars.

Trump was meeting with his team and getting regular updates, said White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Trump was also tweeting Monday to keep up the pressure.

Exiting a Senate Republican leadership meeting late Monday, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota said, “It looks like it probably is going to have to build for a few days here before there’s a solution.”

The president is insisting on $5 billion for the wall along the southern border with Mexico, but he does not have the votes from the Republican-led Congress to support it. Democrats are offering to continue funding at current levels, $1.3 billion, not for the wall but for fencing and other border security.

It’s unclear how many House Republicans, with just a few weeks left in the majority before relinquishing power to House Democrats, will even show up midweek for possible votes. Speaker Paul Ryan’s office had no update. Many

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Republicans say it’s up to Trump and Democrats to cut a deal.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Trump talk most days, but the senator’s spokesman would not confirm if they spoke Monday about a plan.

McConnell opened the chamber hoping for a “bipartisan collaborative spirit” that would enable Congress to finish its work.

“We need to make a substantial investment in the integrity of our border,” McConnell said. “And we need to close out the year’s appropriation process.”

Meanwhile more than 800,000 government workers are preparing for the uncertainty ahead.

The dispute could affect nine of 15 Cabinet-level departments and dozens of agencies, including the departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, Interior, Agriculture, State and Justice, as well as national parks and forests.

About half the workers would be forced to continue working without immediate pay. Others would be sent home. Congress often approves their pay retroactively, even if they were ordered to stay home.

“Our members are asking how they are supposed to pay for rent, food, and gas if they are required to work without a paycheque,” said a statement from J. David Cox, Sr., president of the American Federation of Government Employees, the large federal worker union. “The holiday season makes these inquiries especially heart-wrenching.”

Many agencies, including the Pentagon and the departments of Veterans Affairs and Health and Human Services, are already funded for the year and will continue to operate as usual, regardless of whether Congress and the president reach agreement this week.

Congress already approved funding this year for about 75 per cent of the government’s discretionary account for the budget year that began Oct. 1.

The U.S. Postal Service, busy delivering packages for the holiday season,

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wouldn’t be affected by any government shutdown because it’s an independent agency.

Trump said last week he would be “proud” to have a shutdown to get Congress to approve a $5 billion down payment to fulfil his campaign promise to build a border wall.

During his 2016 presidential campaign, Trump promised that Mexico would pay for the wall. Mexico has refused.

Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, in a meeting last week at the White House, suggested keeping funding at its current level, $1.3 billion, for improved fencing. Trump had neither accepted nor rejected the Democrats’ offer, telling them he would take a look.

Schumer said Monday he had yet to hear from Trump. Speaking on the Senate floor, Schumer warned that “going along with the Trump shutdown is a futile act” because House Democrats would quickly approve government funding in January.

“President Trump still doesn’t have a plan to keep the government open,” Schumer said Monday. “No treat or temper tantrum will get the president his wall.”

One option for lawmakers would be to provide stopgap funding for a few weeks, until the new Congress convenes Jan. 3, when Pelosi is poised to become House speaker.

Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, who is in line to become the No. 3 Republican in the Senate, suggested a stopgap bill could be one way to resolve the issue or a longer-term bill that includes money for border security.

GOP leaders, though, were frustrated as the clock ticked away. Leaving the weekly leadership meeting, Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said any planning was a “very closely held thing. That’s why we should never let this happen. We should pass the bills the way we’re supposed to pass them.” ■

World News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

CBS denies former CEO Les Moonves $120 million severance

BY ALEXANDRA OLSON The Associated Press NEW YORK — CBS announced Monday that former CEO Les Moonves will not receive his $120 million severance package after the board of directors concluded he violated company policy and was unco-operative with an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations.

The decision, which came after a five-month outside investigation, capped the downfall of one of television’s most influential figures, the biggest entertainment powerbroker to see his career derailed amid the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct.

A lawyer for Moonves said the board’s conclusion “are without merit” but did not say whether the former CEO would challenge it in arbitration.

Moonves was ousted in September after allegations from women who said he subjected them to mistreatment includ-

Les Moonves.

ing forced oral sex, groping and retaliation if they resisted.

“This is an important reminder that harassment happens everywhere, and that in this moment, even someone who has been perceived as untouchable will be held accountable,” said Fatima Goss Graves, a co-founder of the Time’s Up Legal Defence Fund, which provides legal assistance to victims of assault, harassment or abuse.

“I hope other corporations are learning that lesson.”

New York-based CBS Corp. said at the time of Moonves’ departure that it had set aside $120 million in severance for him but warned that he would not get the money if the board concluded it had cause to terminate him.

“We have determined that there are grounds to terminate for cause, including his wilful and material misfeasance, violation of company policies and breach of his employment contract, as well as his wilful failure to co-operate fully with the

THOMAS HAWK / FLICKR, CC BY-NC 2.0

company’s investigation,” the CBS said in a statement.

The board did not provide details. Earlier this month, The New York Times said a draft report from the outside investigation found that Moonves deleted numerous text messages and was “evasive and untruthful at times.”

Andrew Levander, an attorney for Moonves, said his client “vehemently denies any nonconsensual sexual relations and co-operated extensively and fully with investigators.”

“Consistent with the pattern of leaks that have permeated this ‘process,’ the press was informed of these baseless conclusions before Mr. Moonves, further damaging his name, reputation, career and legacy,” Levander said.

Moonves had been widely admired for turning around the fortunes of CBS when he took over as entertainment chief in 1995 with hits as “Two and a Half Men” and “Survivor.” He was also one of the highest-paid executives in the nation, making about $70 million in each of the past two years.

Attorney Gloria Allred, who represents four women who have accused Moonves of misconduct, called on CBS to publicly release the details of the investigators’ findings and compensate those with provable misconduct claims.

“The public has a right to know who at CBS was aware of Mr. Moonves’ alleged misconduct and when they knew of it,” said Allred, whose clients all spoke to the investigators.

“Instead of keeping this money and rewarding their corporation for Mr. Moonves’ alleged

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misconduct, they should share these many millions with those who can prove that they are victims.”

Three major figures at CBS have lost their jobs over misconduct allegations: Moonves, “60 Minutes” top executive Jeff Fager, and news anchor Charlie Rose.

Last week, CBS acknowledged that it reached a $9.5 million confidential settlement last year with actress Eliza Dushku, who said she was written off the show “Bull” in March 2017 after complaining about on-set sexual comments from its star, Michael Weatherly.

The board said the investigation, which was conducted by two outside law firms, “concluded that harassment and retaliation are not pervasive at CBS.” Still, the board said investigators “learned of past incidents of improper and unprofessional conduct” and that CBS has not placed a “high institutional priority on preventing harassment and retaliation.”

The 11-member board, which includes six new members who came aboard during a shake-up following Moonves’ ouster, said it has “already begun to take robust steps to improve the working environment for all employees.”

In a move criticized by women’s rights activists, CBS had previously said Moonves would stay on as an adviser for up to

two years, providing him with office and security services. The board did not say whether that decision remained in effect.

CBS declined to comment beyond its statement.

Last week, the CBS revealed a list of 18 women’s rights organizations that would receive $20 million donations with funds the company had previously said would be deducted from Moonves’ severance.

The groups, which included Time’s Up, praised the donations but called on CBS to publicly disclose the results of the Moonves investigation. It was unclear if CBS would do so.

Some activists involved in the #MeToo movement have praised CBS for hiring outside legal firms to conduct the investigation, a decision that contrasted with NBC’s handling of sexual misconduct allegations against Matt Lauer, who was fired last year as host of the “Today” show host. NBC’s investigation, which was overseen by the company’s general counsel, concluded that there was no culture of harassment at the news division.

A search for a new CEO is ongoing to replace interim CEO Joe Ianniello. Strauss Zelnick, filling Moonves’ role as board chairman on an interim basis, said at a shareholders’ meeting last week that a recruiting firm has been hired to conduct the search and that a decision will be made in due course. ■

Good boy! Service dog gets honorary diploma

BY MARY ESCH The Associated Press ALBANY, N.Y. — Whenever Brittany Hawley went to class, her loyal service dog Griffin was there. If she needed her cellphone, Griffin would fetch it. Even when she assisted patients as part of an internship,

Griffin was there helping out as well.

So it’s only fitting that when Hawley was honoured for receiving her master’s degree in occupational therapy from Clarkson University over the weekend, Griffin was once again at her side — with an honorary diploma of his own.

“I pushed for him to gradu-

ate from Day One,” Hawley said Monday. “He did everything I did.”

The board of trustees of the Potsdam, New York, school honoured the 4-year-old golden retriever at a recognition ceremony Saturday, saying he demonstrated “extraordinary effort, steadfast commitment and diligent dedication to the www.canadianinquirer.net

well-being and student success” of Hawley.

Hawley, 25, of Wilson, North Carolina, uses a wheelchair and has chronic pain. She said Griffin does a wide range of physical tasks for her including opening doors, turning on lights and bringing her items she indicates with a laser pointer. But perhaps more important is the

comfort the dog provides amid her relentless, severe pain that causes anxiety and depression.

Hawley got Griffin through “paws4prisons,” a program that teaches inmates at West Virginia prisons to train and place high-level assistance dogs.

“The inmates allow many ❱❱ PAGE 13 Good boy!

20

World News

DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

Kentucky gov calls legislature in session for pension vote

BY ADAM BEAM The Associated Press FRANKFORT, KY. — Days after losing at the state Supreme Court, Kentucky’s Republican governor called the legislature back in session Monday to try again to reshape the state’s troubled public pension system.

Surprised lawmakers from both parties scrambled to make it to the state capitol for the 8 p.m. start time. After hours of closed-door negotiations, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives introduced two bills written by Bevin’s office that would overhaul the pension system and adjourned for the day. They plan to debate the bills this week.

The president of the state’s largest teachers union put out a call on social media for people to “get in your cars and drive here tonight,” and hundreds did so. They sang modified Christmas carols, changing the words of “O Christmas Tree” to “O Governor O Governor, your bill was overturned.” They heckled

lawmakers from the gallery, passed the bill in the final days conversations with Republiwith one man shouting “Nixon of the legislative session. Law- can legislative leaders over the was more honest!” makers introduced and passed weekend but did not say if they “I don’t care what it takes, we the bill in just over six hours. had come to an agreement. will show up and we will make Democratic Attorney Gener“I have absolute confidence our voices known no matter al Andy Beshear, Bevin’s politi- that they have what it takes to what the cost,” Kentucky Edu- cal rival who is also running for get this done. Whether they do cation Association President governor in 2019, sued to block or not, I have no control over,” Stephanie Winkler said. the bill. He argued the legisla- Bevin said. “I believe they will Kentucky has one of the worst tive manoeuvr lawmakers used because I believe they must.” funded public pension systems in to pass the bill so quickly was Republican state Rep. Jerry the country. State officials are at unconstitutional.

Thursday, Miller sponsored both bills introleast $38 billion short of the mon- the state Supreme Court unani- duced on Monday. He said the proey required to pay posals are largely retirement benwhat lawmakers efits over the next passed earlier this three decades. year, plus one new Earlier this We are trying to help. We’re trying proposal from year, the Repubto rescue the system.

Bevin that would lican-controlled eliminate a more legislature passed generous bena law that made efit calculation for changes to the pension systems, mously sided with Beshear and teachers with more than 30 years including moving all new teacher struck down the law. of experience. Miller said he did hires into a hybrid plan, restrictWhile Bevin has the author- not expect that proposal to pass. ing how teachers can use sick ity to call lawmakers back to “We are trying to help. We’re days to calculate retirement ben- the Capitol, he can’t force them trying to rescue the system,” efits, and changing how the state to vote on anything. Lawmak- Miller said. pays off its pension debt. ers could adjourn the session Republicans have super majorWhile the law had little im- and take no action. In a brief ities in both the House and Senpact on current employees, news conference announcing ate, totals that were unchanged teachers were outraged at the the decision, Bevin said he has by the midterm elections. Acting speed in which lawmakers had “remarkable amounts” of GOP House Speaker David Os-

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borne said lawmakers had “very little input” in the timing of the legislative session or what was put into the bills. He made no promises that they would pass, saying he expects lawmakers to examine the proposals closely beginning with a committee hearing on Tuesday afternoon.

“Where that process will lead us as far as changes, whether we actually even take the legislation up, (is) yet to be determined over the next couple of days,” Osborne said.

House Democratic Leader Rocky Adkins pointed out the state legislature was scheduled to convene on Jan. 8th for a regular session. He questioned why Bevin would call lawmakers back for an expensive special session that cost taxpayers at least $65,000 per day.

“I just think basically it’s an abuse of power,” said Adkins, who is running for governor in 2019.

Bevin said urgency was needed because he believed credit rating agencies are preparing to downgrade the state’s rating in response to the Supreme Court ruling. ■

21

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

From Prime Minister Justin Trudeau & Liberal MPs Mula sa Punong Ministro Justin Trudeau at mga Liberal na MPs

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Maligayang Pasko At Manigong Bagong Taon!

Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau

Randeep S. Sarai M.P.

Hon. Judy A. Sgro M.P.

Sonia Sidhu M.P.

Omar Alghabra M.P.

Gary Anandasangaree M.P.

Hon. Navdeep Bains M.P.

Hon. Bill Blair M.P.

Randy Boissonnault M.P.

Shaun Chen M.P.

Ali Ehsassi M.P.

Ken Hardie M.P.

Hon. Kent Hehr M.P.

Gordie Hogg M.P.

Hon. Ahmed Hussen M.P.

Iqra Khalid M.P.

Kamal Khera M.P.

Michael Levitt M.P.

Hon. John McKay M.P.

Marco Mendicino M.P.

Hon. Mary Ng M.P.

Rob Oliphant M.P.

Yasmin Ratansi M.P.

Ruby Sahota M.P.

Hon. Harjit Sajjan M.P.

Gagan Sikand M.P.

Hon. Amarjeet Sohi M.P.

Geng Tan M.P.

Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, M.P.

Hon. Jody Wilson–Raybould, M.P.

Jean Yip M.P.

Salma Zahid M.P.

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World News

22

DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

Canada caught... ❰❰ 15

But the Canadian prime minister has said little since news of this week’s arrests became public. Opposition Conservative leader Andrew Scheer said Trudeau isn’t being forceful enough with the Chinese.

“This situation demonstrates that Justin Trudeau’s naive approach to relations with China isn’t working,” Scheer said.

It’s Canada’s second dispute with a major power this year.

In June, Trump vowed to make Canada pay after Trudeau said he wouldn’t be pushed around in talks to hammer out a new North American trade agreement, an unprecedented attack on America’s closest ally.

Trump called Trudeau weak and dishonest, words that shocked Canadians.

Then Trump said this week that he might intervene in the Huawei case if it would help clinch a trade agreement with China, upending U.S. efforts to separate the court proceeding from U.S.-China trade talks and contradicting Canadian of-

ficials who said the arrest was not political.

Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland took a swipe at Trump, saying it was “quite obvious” any foreign country requesting extradition should ensure “the process is not politicized.”

“Normally, Canada can count on the United States to back them up on such an issue,” said Laura Dawson, a former economic adviser at the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa and director of the Canada Institute at the Wilson Center thinktank in Washington. Dawson said it’s unusual for Washington to “leave Canada hanging high and dry.”

“President Trump has made it clear that old alliances don’t matter so much anymore,” she said. “He has made no secret of his preference for a go-it-alone approach and his lack of regard for traditional alliances.”

In years past the U.S. might have defended Canada when came it under attack and other countries would know the U.S. had Canada’s back. Not

now. In August, the Saudi government expelled Canada’s ambassador to the kingdom and withdrew its own ambassador after Canada’s foreign ministry tweeted support for an arrested Saudi activist. The Saudis also sold Canadian investments and ordered their citizens studying in Canada to leave. No country, including the U.S., spoke out publicly in support of Canada.

And now the stakes are much higher. Canada is one of the few countries in the world unabashedly speaking out in defence of human rights and the international rule of law. And Chinese trade with Canada is increasingly key as Canada looks to boost its exports in Asia as its trade with the U.S. is threatened by Trump’s tariffs on Canadian goods.

“At the beginning of Trump there was this idea that maybe the Chinese would replace the Americans” as Canada’s preeminent trade partner “but that’s just nuts,” said historian Bothwell, a University of Toronto professor. “Relations for

any smaller country with China are really grave.”

Derek Scissors, a China specialist at the conservative American Enterprise Institute, called China’s actions toward Canada “thuggish.”

“You detain a Canadian because the Canadians can’t do anything. It’s bullying behaviour,” he said.

Noting Canada was just following a routine extradition process with the United States, Scissors said America should be saying: “‘Why are you picking up Canadians? You have a problem with us.’”

David Mulroney, a former Canadian ambassador to China, said not only the U.S. but other Western nations should be standing up for Canada.

“It would be nice if publicly and also behind the scenes if countries like the United States, the U.K., Australia and France would put in a word on our behalf and let the Chinese know how damaging this is to their reputation and to the notion that China is a safe place to work and pursue a career,”

Mulroney said.

“I think a lot of foreigners in China are looking over their shoulder right now,” he added.

Christopher Sands of the School of Advanced International Studies in Washington said the world took note of how Trump treated Canada during trade negotiations and how the U.S. stayed silent when Saudi Arabia overreacted to Canada’s expression of human rights concerns over treatment of the Saudi dissident.

“In normal times, the U.S. sends a signal, usually discreetly, to allies to cut it out and play nice,” Sands said.

“What makes this worse is that China is lashing out at Canada not for Canada’s initiative, but for Canada’s honouring of a U.S. warrant. The damage done by our silence in terms of alliance relations is truly awful,” he said. ■ Associated Press writer Rob Gillies reported this story in Toronto and AP writer Paul Wiseman reported from Washington.

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23

Entertainment Police visit ‘Saturday Night Agot Isidro on Revilla’s Live’ star after Instagram post plan if re-elected as senator: Is that really your agenda?

BY MARI YAMAGUCHI The Associated Press NEW YORK City police were concerned about Pete Davidson after he wrote “I don’t want to be on this earth anymore” on Instagram. And they visited the “Saturday Night Live” star to make sure he was OK. A police spokesman declined to say where officers met with Ariana Grande’s ex-fiance on Saturday. But his Instagram posting was deleted and NBC did not cancel its live show.

On the show, Davidson introduced a performance of John Lennon’s song “Happy Xmas (War is Over)” by musical guests Miley Cyrus, Mark Ronson and Sean Ono Lennon.

What alarmed Davidson’s fans and authorities was the tone of the entertainer’s post: “I’m doing my best to stay here for you but I actually don’t know how much longer I can last. All I’ve ever tried to do was help people. Just remember I told you so.” He added a heart emoji.

Social media erupted with words of love for the 25-year-old comedian and native New Yorker who first appeared on “Saturday Night Live” in 2014. And his name is trending on Twitter.

One admirer tweeted “hang in there. There is a lot of help out here. Surrender to some love … I’m praying for you Pete.

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Pete Davidson.

I’ve been there. It gets better.”

Earlier this month, Davidson wrote on Instagram that he has spoken about borderline personality disorder from which he says he suffers, “and being suicidal publicly only in the hopes that it will help bring awareness and help kids like myself who don’t want to be on this earth.

“No matter how hard the internet or anyone tries to make me kill myself. I won’t. I’m upset I even have to say this.”

Davidson and Grande were engaged in June, but broke up earlier this fall.

In November, Davidson apologized for mocking the appearance of a veteran who lost an eye in Afghanistan.

He said Lt. Com. Dan Cren-

GA FULLNER / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

shaw, now a congressman-elect from Texas, “deserves all the respect in the world.”

On SNL’s “Weekend Update” segment , Davidson was joined

by Crenshaw, a Navy SEAL. Davidson had mocked Crenshaw a week earlier, saying viewers might be surprised he’s “not a hit man in a porno movie.”

Crenshaw, a Republican who won a House seat in the 2018 midterm elections, took some joking shots at Davidson. And when his cellphone rang, the tone was “Breathin” by Grande.

Crenshaw got serious at the end, encouraging civilians and veterans to connect and paying tribute to heroes like Davidson’s father, a firefighter who died in the 9-11 terror attacks. ■

Miss USA issues apology over viral video allegedly mocking other Miss U hopefuls’ English

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer AFTER RECEIVING backlash, Miss USA Sarah Rose Summers issued an apology over her viral video supposedly mocking

other Miss Universe candidates’ ability to speak English language.

The video that recently surfaced on social media showed Sarah commenting and imitating the way Miss Vietnam H’Hen Nie responds in an Eng-

lish conversation.

“She’s so cute, and she pretends to know so much English, and then you ask her a question after having a whole conversation with her, and she goes ❱❱ PAGE 24 Miss USA

www.canadianinquirer.net

ACTRESS AGOT Isidro did not mince words as she reacted on Senatorial hopeful Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr.’s legislative agenda to go after those who accused him of plunder.

Known for voicing out her opinions especially on political matters, Agot on Friday, December 14, quoted a tweet from GMA News that read, “Bong Revilla should he win as Senator in 2019: I have legislative agenda against my false accusers. Dapat may pang-counter (There has to be a counter).”

In her caption, the 52-yearold actress wrote, “‘Yan talaga ang agenda mo? Dedma lang talaga sa mga naghihirap (Is that really your agenda? You really do not care about the poor?)”

Shrugging off Bong’s remark, Agot then said, “Ok, copy po.

Bye.” The Sandiganbayan earlier acquitted Bong from plunder charges after it was not proven that he amassed a P224.5 million worth of kickbacks through the pork barrel scam.

The former senator had spent four years in detention at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

Reacting to Agot’s tweet, some netizens agreed with the actress as they also expressed their hot takes about the Senatorial candidate.

“Siya na itong nagnakaw siya pa ang galit at gustong gumanti (He was the one who stole the money but he has the guts to be angry and take revenge),” netizen @_baruroy tweeted.

Meanwhile, Twitter user @ KvinLee1 said, ”Bob* lang ang boboto dito… mga Pinoy matuto naman tayo (Only idiots will vote for him… We, Pinoys,

should learn).”

Social media user @Iamjes_ urbano, on the other hand, said he if Bong will win in the May 2019 election, he will just fly to another country instead of staying in the Philippines.

Netizen @yohanvader, on his tweet, wrote, “These are the times I’m happy [na] Canadian na ako (that I’m already a Canadian). God bless the Philippines.”

Twitter user @RobinsonTuna shared that he rarely agrees with Agot’s opinion, but her comment on Bong’s agenda has a point.

Also throwing strong words to Bong, netizen @ Kataleia6 tweeted, “Sobra na kapal ng mukha niyan. Grabe!!! Wala na talaga pupuntahan bansang ito ‘pag puro kriminal na mapapa upo. Mula sa Presidente. Magsigising naman kayo (He is so thick-skinned. This country won’t go anywhere if criminals will obtain a seat in the government, starting from the president. Please wake up)!!!!”

Bong earlier said he will not return the P124.5-million to the national treasury, claiming that he did not steal anything from the country.

“Ano ang isasauli ko? Wala naman akong kasalanan. Nagsalita na ang korte na wala akong kasalanan (What will I return. I am not at fault. The court already cleared me),” he said.

Although cleared of plunder charges, Bong still faces 16 other cases of graft before the Sandiganbayan in connection to the pork barrel scam. He, however, already posted a P480,000 bail bond for his temporary liberty. ■

24

Entertainment

DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

Miss World Organization ‘Signal Rock’ fails congratulates Catriona Gray for to land on Oscars’ winning Miss Universe 2018 foreign language

film shortlist

BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR- OLD Catriona Gray was crowned the Philippines’ fourth Miss Universe titleholder last Monday, December 17 in Bangkok, Thailand, which shows a story of determination admired by many.

Catriona is initially known for representing the Philippines in Miss World 2016 held in Washington D.C., where she finished within the Top 5. However, the Miss World Organization did not shy away from congratulating their previous candidate.

In a post shared almost immediately after Catriona’s win, the Miss World Organization bids a “Well done!” to Catriona, saying, “Congratulations from all of us at Miss World to Catriona Gray on being elected Miss Universe 2018!” They also reminisce, “Catriona was a Miss World Top 5 finalist and Beauty with a Purpose Winner in Miss World 2016, and we are delighted to see her win the Miss Universe crown! Catriona’s brilliant Smokey Mountain Beauty with a Purpose project captured all our hearts as it revealed her dedicated vision to support the most vulnerable in our society.” In a message to the Miss Universe Organization, the Miss World Organization led by British businesswoman

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray.

SEK SAMYAN / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Julia Morley concludes, “You have a great winner!”

Many netizens were quick to reply to the post, believing that Catriona was “robbed” of the international title and that “justice is served on a gold platter,” as one comment states. Another user wrote, “Miss Universe see her worth as a true queen which, unfortunately, Miss World failed to see.“ “The WORLD rejected Catriona because she’s destined to conquer the UNIVERSE!” another profile shares.

However, after Puerto Rico’s Stephanie Del Valle reigned victorious for Miss World 2016, Catriona during the time, remained optimistic sharing to her fans that the pageant “was never just a beauty contest to [her].” In Catriona’s words, “The crown represented a jour-

ney, one that grew from being an independent endeavor to one that became more than me.

A journey that rallied the support and love of my countrymen. A journey that forced me to look into myself and discover what I was made of. A journey that found its heart in the children in one of the poorest slums of my country. Yes, the crown represented a journey…until I realized that the journey could continue and exist without it.”

Now, the entire country is celebrating Catriona’s victory winning the top title for the longest-running pageant in the world. Wearing the Miss Universe crown, she states, “Philippines, what an amazing honor it has been to carry your name across my chest and to embody you in all aspects.” ■

Francesca Hung and Miss Colombia Valeria Morales, who were seen laughing and agreeing with Sarah’s remarks.

But having no will to make this incident grow any bigger, Sarah on Thursday, December 13, apologized to both Miss Vietnam and Miss Cambodia via an Instagram post.

“In a moment where I intended to admire the courage of a few of my sisters, I said something that I now realize can be perceived as not respectful, and I apologize,” Sarah wrote, sharing a photo of her hugging Sinat and Francesca hugging H’ Hen.

“My life, friendships, and career revolve around me being a compassionate and empathetic woman. I would never intend to hurt another,” she added.

Sarah was also thankful that she was able to talk with the H’ Hen and Sinat regarding the issue, adding that those were “the moments that matter most to me.”

H’Hen and Francesca, on the other hand, also posted photos with those who are involved in the issue on their Instagram accounts. ■

Miss USA... ❰❰ 23

[smiles and nods],” Miss USA said, laughing.

“She’s adorable,” she added.

But it seems that Sarah did not have enough so then turned her attention to another Miss Universe hopeful, Rern Sinat of Cambodia.

“Miss Cambodia is here and doesn’t speak any English and not a single other person speaks her language. Can you imagine?” she said.

She went on and said, “Poor Cambodia.”

Also in the video along with Miss USA were Miss Australia

PHILIPPINE BET Signal Rock ended its Oscars journey after failing to land on the shortlist of the 91st Oscars under the Best Foreign Language Film category.

Chito Roño’s Signal Rock was among the 87 films originally considered in the Foreign Language Film category, however, it was not included to the top nine movies chosen to advance to the next round of voting.

According to the list that Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released on Monday, December 17, those films that still have a chance to bag the title are as follows: • Colombia’s Birds of Passage • Denmark’s The Guilty • Germany’s Never Look Away • Japan’s Shoplifters • Kazakhstan’s Ayka • Lebanon’s Capernaum • Mexico’s Roma • Poland’s Cold War • South Korea’s Burning Members of the Los Angeles-based Academy from all branches screened all entries under the said category between mid-October and December 10.

“The group’s top six choices, augmented by three additional selections voted by the Academy’s Foreign Language Film Award Executive Committee, constitute the shortlist,” it said.

Last September, Chito expressed how glad he and his team were when they heard that his “passion project” was among the films chosen by the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP) to compete for the Best Foreign Language Film award.

“Hindi namin akalain na kami ang mapipili sa dami nang isinabmit (We did not expect that our film will be chosen among many other films that were submitted),” he told ABSCBN. “But to be chosen to be the one to represent us sa (in the) Academy [Awards] sa (in) America, although submission pa lang ito, sobrang honored na siyempre kasi (it is just a submission, we are really honored because) among the other films, we were chosen,” he continued.

Signal Rock revolves around the story of a boy named Intoy, who is left to take care of his parents when his sister, Vicky, went abroad for work.

Unlike those who live in urban areas where people can communicate well and have modern technologies, Intoy has to climb a high rock in order to get a good signal for his clunky mobile phone which he uses to converse with his sister.

The film was starred by Christian Bables, Daria Ramirez, Nanding Josef, Mon Confiado, Elora Españo, Keanna Reeves, Francis Magundayao, among others. The cast and crew shot the film in Biri, Samar. ■

SCREENSHOT FROM THE MOVIE SIGNAL ROCK

www.canadianinquirer.net

Entertainment

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

25

A journey through 2018’s top pop culture moments

BY JOCELYN NOVECK The Canadian Press AND THE top pop culture moments of 2018 are ... Wait. WAS there any pop culture this year? Of course there was, but you could be forgiven for forgetting, because more than ever it was politics, politics, and more politics occupying the zeitgeist and sucking the proverbial air out of the room. Still, if you wanted a break from that, there was a royal wedding with something for everyone, some groundbreaking movies, the return of Mary Poppins (to the screen) and Harry Potter (to Broadway), a goodbye to some favourite celebrities, a tale of two coats that were more than just coats, and more. Join us on a highly selective chronological journey through a year in pop culture: January

The first awards shows reflect a changed Hollywood, only a few months after the #MeToo movement engulfed the industry. At the GOLDEN GLOBES, the red carpet becomes a sea of glittering black gowns in solidarity with victims of sexual misconduct, and OPRAH WINFREY gives a barn-burner of a speech , looking to a day “when nobody ever has to say ‘Me Too’ again!” At the GRAMMYS, stars don white roses, and singer Kesha dedicates a tearful performance of “Praying” to the #MeToo movement.

February

Welcome to WAKANDA: The latest Marvel hero to jump off the page into his own movie is the “BLACK PANTHER,” and RYAN COOGLER’S film is universally acclaimed. “Tell them who you are” is a catchphrase of the film, but it might as well be a pre-Oscar motto for Coogler and a starry cast including CHADWICK BOSEMAN, MICHAEL B. JORDAN, LUPITA NYONG’O and a slew of others.

Ten months later the film will be nominated for a Golden Globe and generating serious Oscar buzz.

March

Speaking of OSCAR, it’s that time, and we’re still talking about #MeToo, not to mention “Time’s Up!” Appearing onstage to mark the moment is a powerful trio of Harvey Weinstein’s accusers: ASHLEY JUDD, ANNABELLA SCIORRA, and SALMA HAYEK. And when FRANCES McDORMAND says she has “some things to say,” people listen: The best actress winner asks all the women nominees in the room to stand, and instructs Hollywood to tell their stories.

April

Times are changing at the PULITZERS, too, where rapper KENDRICK LAMAR wins the music prize for

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West (left) and the #MeToo movement.

“DAMN.” He’s the first rapper to win the prestigious laurel and the first winner who’s not a classical or jazz musician. In film, director JOHN KRASINSKI energizes the horror genre with the creepy, silent “A Quiet Place,” also starring wife EMILY BLUNT. On Broadway, the enduring magic of HARRY POTTER is conjured with the hit London transplant, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”

May

Let’s say “Do Svidaniya” to our favourite Soviet spy couple as “THE AMERICANS” ends its six-season run on FX with an elegant, surprising and moving series finale. At the annual glittery MET GALA, the theme is “Fashion and the Catholic Imagination,” and imaginations are running rampant — we’re talking about you, KATY PERRY and your giant angel wings! But perhaps the most memorable fashion statement comes when the very American MEGHAN MARKLE weds the very British PRINCE HARRY in a refreshingly unadorned white gown. A gospel choir sings “Stand

By Me,” and an American bishop, MICHAEL CURRY, almost steals the show with a spirited improvisational sermon before saying: “We gotta get y’all married!” Also this month, “THIS IS AMERICA” by CHILDISH GAMBINO, aka multi-talented DONALD GLOVER (also having a big year with “Atlanta”) opens at No. 1 on the Billboard chart, accompanied by a viral video of nonstop dancing punctuated by shocking scenes of shootings. And goodbye, ROSEANNE: The show’s reboot is cancelled following her racist tweet.

June

What was she thinking? MELANIA TRUMP doesn’t say, but the writing on her Zara jacket has everyone talking. “I don’t really care. Do U ?” reads the garment worn by the first lady on parts of her trip to visit detained migrant children in Texas. Four months later she’ll explain it was “for the people and for the left-wing media who are criticizing

JSTONE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM | SUNDRY PHOTOGRAPHY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

me.” In music, JAY-Z and BEYONCE continue to exert their unique influence with a surprise joint album, “Everything is Love.” On a sad note, two admired celebrities are mourned after taking their own lives: global culinary chronicler ANTHONY BOURDAIN and colorful itbag designer KATE SPADE. July

Last year, it was WEINSTEIN. This year, it’s LES MOONVES, one of the

most powerful men in television. Reporter RONAN FARROW breaks the explosive story of sexual misconduct on the part of the CBS chief executive; in September, with accusations escalating, Moonves will step down. And at year’s end he’ll lose his $120 million severance when CBS says it has grounds to fire him for cause, concluding he violated company policy and was uncooperative with ❱❱ PAGE 13 A journey

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26

Lifestyle ‘Videoke’ highlights Pinoy Yuletide bonding

BY PRIAM NEPOMUCENO Philippine News Agency MANILA — For most Filipinos, Yuletide specialty foods like “lechon” (roasted pig), “halayang ube” (purple yam), leche flan, “puto” (rice cake” and “pansit” of various flavors, and the extremely delightful and sweet “sapin-sapin” would be incomplete and rendered tasteless without “videoke” singing during the coming Christmas and New Year’s Day reunions.

In fact, “videoke” singing and its various forms, have became one of the typical joyous images of the Christmas holidays in the Philippines.

Singing, in its most positive aspect, is synonymous with happiness and good will, hence Filipinos can whole-heartedly relate with this tradition of passing around the mike and singing their favorite songs to the best of their choral capabilities.

Allan Bergonia, a businessman from Villasis, Pangasinan, said Yuletide bondings are strengthened further by singing as the annual “videoke” escapade gives more emphasis to the season.

“May sine-celebrate kasi, family gatherings, ang mga iba ay (sa) Yuletide lang nagkikita ang mga mag kakaibigan and (magkakamaganak) (We celebrate something. Family gatherings.

It is only during the Yuletide season when most families and friends reunite),” he added.

Meanwhile, Charlene Manuel, an entrepreneur based in San Carlos, Pangasinan, said Filipinos like to entertain by nature, hence their very close

affinity to singing especially during the holidays.

“Siguro kasi (Maybe its because) Filipinos are entertainers by culture hehe. Part ng tradition sa isang bahay ng Filipino families ang videoke kahit anong okasyon lalo na pag holidays.

Nag-evolve na lang from kahit anong musical instruments to karaoke to videoke. Maylove affair ang Pinoy sa singing (Videoke is a part of Filipino families’ tradition during occasions, but most especially during the holidays. It just evolved from musical instruments to karaoke to videoke. Filipinos have a love affair with videoke),” she added.

“Way-way back pa mga Filipinos, from humming to lullabies to chants. Sensitive and emotional mga Filipinos. Thru singing nilalabas.Modern times, videokes na ngayon. Bigay na bigay mag videoke, natural na lang. Sa sobrang passionate kumanta, kailangan na ng control (Way back, Filipinos, have humming to lullabies to chants. Filipinos are sensitive and emotional. We release emotions through singing. In modern times, it’s videoke. We give our all in videoke, just being natural. We are so passionate that sometimes, it needs control),” Charlene emphasized.

Manuel’s observation was also echoed by Aileen Cruz, a resident from Meycauyan, Bulacan.

To Aileen, Filipinos are always ready to sing and are just looking for a handy excuse to so. With the coming Yuletide reunions, it will give them one reason to do so “Kasi mahilig kumanta mga Pinoy tapos sabayan pa ng sea-

Singing, in its most positive aspect, is synonymous with happiness and good will.

son (Yuletide holidays) so yung spirit ng happiness lalong na uplift, mas masaya sila tapos ’videoke’ mag kakanta sila, kahit na very annoying (dahil sa ingay) na minsan (Filipinos really love to sing and with this, the spirit of happiness brought by the holiday season is uplifted. They are happy and then they will sing in the videoke, even if it’s annoying because sometimes, it becomes noisy),” Cruz stressed.

Time to create memories

Meanwhile, Terry Ching Rodriquez from Taytay, Rizal, said the Filipinos’ penchant for singing is always there regardless of the coming Christmas or not.

“Naku kahit hindi holiday season mahilig talaga mga Pinoy mag-videoke. Sa mga kapitbahay na lang namin kabi-

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kabila mga nagbi-videoke kapag may birthday. Sa tingin ko mahilig kasi mga Pinoy sa musika at gusto lang nilang magsaya (Even if it is not holiday season, Filipinos really love videoke. In our neighborhood alone, there’s videoke everywhere whenever it is someone’s birthday. I think it is because Filipinos are music lovers and they just want to enjoy ,” she added.

Beth Camia Julian, of Imus, Cavite, believes that “videoke” singing during the Yuletide reunions is a good way to store up memories of togetherness and bonding among friends and loved ones.

“Nakagawian na nating mga Filipino tuwing Yuletide season ang pagbi-’video(ke’) dahil ito ang panahon madalas nabubuong magkakasama-sama ang buong pamilya nang may pag-

kakasayahan. Dito ang pagkakataon na magkaroon ng good memories kaya bigay na bigay kanilang pagdiriwang (We Filipinos have become used to videoke during the Yuletide season because this is the time when families flock together to celebrate. We make good memories with the festivities),” she added.

For University of Santo Tomas masters student Nicole Manano, “videoke” singing highlights the Filipinos’ capacity for good humor and positive attitude in life despite the hardships.

“Likas na masayahin ang mga Pilipino. Kaya kahit bumagyo o umaraw, lagi pa ring nakangiti ang mga Pinoy kahit wala nang bubong ang bahay at nakukuha pa ring tumawa.

Pag okay ka, kumanta ka; pag malas ka, kumanta ka; pag wala kang pera, kumanta ka — at pag may okasyon, kumanta ka! Kaya todo-bigay ang mga Pinoy na kumanta dahil dito nila naipapakita kung bakit nakakaaliw ang Paskong Pinoy. Naipapakita nila ito sa score sa karaoke!

Kaya nga hindi rin mawawala dyan yung magkakaibigan at magka-kamaganak na nagkakantsawan at nag-aasaran (Filipinos are indeed happy people. Rain or shine, Filipinos always have that smile and laughter even if their roofs are blown away. If you’re fine, sing.

If you’re unlucky, sing. If you don’t have money, just sing.

And if there’s occasion, sing.

Filipinos are very passionate in singing because this shows the happiness of the Filipino way of celebrating Christmas. They show it through the scores in ❱❱ PAGE 28 ‘Videoke’ highlights

Lifestyle

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

27

Simbang Gabi: An enduring Filipino Christmas tradition

BY AEROL JOHN PATENA Philippine News Agency MANILA — Attending “Simbang Gabi” or Misa de Gallo (dawn mass) for nine consecutive days is one of the most distinctive traditions of Christmas in the Philippines.

From December 16 to 24, Filipinos from all walks of life make an effort to wake up every dawn to attend the novena masses which start as early as 4 a.m. to pray to God for a healthy life, successful career, stronger family ties, among others.

However, as the days for the Simbang Gabi fall in the middle of the so-called holiday rush with the ubiquitous Christmas parties, heavy traffic and malls packed with shoppers buying gifts for their loved ones, one begins to wonder if the people still have time to observe this tradition.

It is encouraging to note that most Filipino Catholics still attend Simbang Gabi despite their busy schedules because they believe that when they complete the nine masses, their wishes will come true.

Cherry Rose Datiles, an overseas Filipino worker in Spain, said her wish to work abroad

was granted after she was able to almost complete attendance in the nine-day masses.

“Bago ako pumunta ng Spain, nagsisimbang gabi ako kahit na pagod ako sa paghahanap ng trabaho. Kapag nakumpleto mo daw kasi yungnine na misa, matutupad yung wish mo. Wish ko kasi talaga dati pa na makapagtrabaho ako sa ibang bansa.

May kulang nga ako na isa, pero natupad pa din yung wish ko after ng taon na yun (Before I went to Spain, I always attend the Simbang Gabi even though I’m tired from job hunting.

Your wish will be granted if you were able to complete the nine Masses. I really wish before that I will be able to work abroad.

I missed a single Mass but my wish was granted a year after that),” Datiles told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Others believe that attending Simbang Gabi is not about fulfilling wishes, but it’s part of their family tradition and faith in God. “Ang Simbang Gabi ay parte na ng tradition ng family at syempre yung faith natin kay God. Kapag nakasanayan na din kasi ng pamilya, lagi na siya gagawin. Importante ang pagsisimba sa ating mga Katoliko kasi dito natin mabibigyan ng oras ang

Panginoon at syempre para din makasama ang pamilya. Always have time for God no matter how busy you are. Di ba nga may kasabihan na kung gusto may paraan, ,ung ayaw laging meron dahilan. Yung mga pasok naman namin ay maaga, kaya kahit busy kami, may time pa rin kami mag Simbang Gabi after ng mga pasok namin (The Simbang Gabi is part of family tradition and our faith in God. If families get adapted to this practice, they will always do this. Going to Mass is important for us, Catholics because this is where we give time to God and of course to be together with family. Always have time for God no matter how busy you are. We have a saying: If there’s a will, there’s a way. For us that have classes early, even though we are busy, we have time to attend the Simbang Gabi after classes),” Irish Collene Caña, a graduating student from Centro Escolar University Manila, said.

Fortunately, a good number of parishes in the country have decided to hold advanced Masses on the evening usually starting 8 p.m. to accommodate students and employees alike.

One of them is Rosemarie Quimbao, a private sector employee, who usually attends the

ERVIN MALICDEM (SCHADOW1) / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

nine-day masses at the National Shrine of the Sacred Heart in Makati City after her work.

She said she prays that her brother who is a diabetic and regularly undergoes dialysis will be able to recover from his illness.

“I make it a point to attend the Masses after office as this gives me the opportunity to be closer to God. I hope that the Lord will be able to comfort my brother get through his illness.

I also pray that my mother who is now in her 70’s will be able to have good health,” Quiambao

said.

The stories of these people only prove that despite the holiday rush with all its possible distractions, Filipinos still make it a point to sustain a tradition which is said to have originated from the Spanish period for farmers to go to Mass before they go to work early in the morning.

Simbang Gabi is still an enduring tradition in the Philippines. ■ With reports from Catherine Datiles

Funding unveiled for new $13 million arts centre in downtown Halifax

BY KEITH DOUCETTE The Canadian Press HALIFAX — A proposed $13-million arts centre in downtown Halifax is closer to fruition, with the announcement of more than $10 million in federal and provincial funding.

The Link Performing Arts Centre would be an arts and culture hub at the former World Trade and Convention Centre across from Halifax City Hall and the Grand Parade.

The proposal includes an 1,800-person performance hall, a media production studio, two dance studios, a 160-seat cinema, a creative entrepreneurs centre, a storefront box office and a cafe on Argyle Street.

“It became obvious that this was something extremely important for the community,” Federal Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez told reporters Monday about the decision to fund the project.

Rodriguez appeared with his provincial counterpart Leo Glavine to make the funding announcement at a news conference.

Rodriguez said $4.5-million would come from the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund, while Glavine said the province would contribute $2.79 million.

Another $2.9 million was also committed through the province’s Invest Nova Scotia Fund.

Rodriguez said he believes the proposal of a “hub” has the potential to grow the arts within the city and province as

a whole.

“The way it works in different cities is the interaction between the groups, between people from different fields — you can do magic with this.”

Developer Armco Capital, which owns the property, has contributed more than $2 million for capital improvements, while the last piece of the funding puzzle is a $1-million commitment that is expected to be voted on by Halifax Regional Council on Tuesday.

“I think it will happen,” said Glavine. “I think the City of Halifax from the mayor down realize that the cultural economy has been growing over the last decade and this is going to give it even greater momentum.”

The Link Performing Arts Sowww.canadianinquirer.net

ciety says the centre would provide 16 full-time jobs, present over 900 events a year, and numerous opportunities for the employment and promotion of local and visiting artists.

Marc Almon, of Culture Link CIC, said although the funding over three years would get the centre on its feet, it is expected to be self-sustaining from 2021 onwards through a blend of non-profit and for-profit use.

“This is going to be an extraordinary venue that we think will be a really good opportunity for us to work with the private sector in garnering funds for not only the facility itself, but also the programming,” said Almon.

Almon said the centre would cover 82,000 square feet — about half of the building’s ex-

isting space.

“They (Armco) have agreed to below-market rent, which is another key element to us having a self-sustaining complex. We have in place a plan to operate here for 20 years so we become a reliable tenant for them.”

The operational funding from Invest Nova Scotia is meant to support business startups for cultural entrepreneurs. The money will support 10 new office spaces, workshops, and business advisory services.

Invest Nova Scotia vice-chair Colette O’Hara said the arts hub is exactly the kind of project the fund is meant to support.

“We are looking for ideas that are rooted in collaboration and that will ultimately make an entire sector more competitive or more productive,” O’Hara said. ■

28

Lifestyle

DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

Where you live in Canada may affect your ability to make healthy choices: study

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO — Where a person lives in Canada may affect their ability to make healthy choices due to a significant difference in environmental factors such the price and availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in their community, a study suggests.

The study led by McMaster University looked at 2,074 communities in all 10 provinces to identify a standard set of elements that could affect residents' ability to practise a healthy lifestyle in effort to mitigate the risk of developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or certain cancers.

The researchers have listed those factors on an interactive online map based on postal codes, which will allow individuals to check the status of their own community and to compare it to others.

“We found there are significant differences in environmental factors that may contribute to health, and that these differed between urban and rural communities, as well as when we compared eastern with western, and northern with southern communities,” said lead author Russell de Souza, an assistant professor in McMaster's department of Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact.

“We believe that this information shows there are factors outside of a person's control that influence the individual's health, and these factors likely differ depending on where they live,” said de Souza, noting that the study did not include communities in Canada's three

Lifestyles factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking can contribute to cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

BENOIT DAOUST / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

northern territories due to geographical limitations for the research team.

The study, published Tuesday in the journal Cities and Health, was based on data collected by on-the-ground auditors who assessed access to fresh produce in grocery stores, the availability and prices of cigarettes and alcohol, the promotion of healthy foods in restaurants, and access to public transit for each community between 2014 and 2016. Almost 84 per cent of those communities were urban.

“The goal was to profile communities across the country to see if there were differences in environmental factors that we think may influence disease risk,” de Souza said Monday in an interview from Hamilton.

“For example, if we tell people to go and eat five to 10 fruits and vegetables a day, we wanted to know whether or not it was easy for people to access those fruits and vegetables in all communities across Canada, and whether or not there may be

differences in the prices.”

Among the findings: • There is generally lower access to fresh produce in rural grocery stores compared to urban, with the former marked by less variety, seasonal availability and higher prices.

• There tend to be fewer healthy meal options in restaurants based in rural communities than in city eateries.

• In-store advertising for sugar-sweetened drinks and junk food are more frequent in both rural and urban stores than for healthier food choices.

• Cigarette prices are lower and the variety of brands is greater in urban outlets than in rural tobacco stores; alcohol prices are lowest in Quebec.

Many previous studies have looked at geography-related determinants of health, including whether people living in neighbourhoods with fresh produce sold in stores within walking or cycling distance have a better overall health status than

those where a vehicle is needed, or whether easier access to fastfood restaurants has a negative effect on a local population's health.

De Souza said this study differs because it used a standardized auditing tool to assess multiple factors in communities, with “apples compared to apples.”

“What we think we've been able to do is assess multiple aspects of this built environment and then use the data in a way that can help both public health people and city planners to make joint decisions to make healthy communities,” he said, adding that having access to the data may encourage more people to advocate for healthier places to live.

“If you don't have enough information to make healthy choices, we think that may influence whether or not you develop certain conditions,” said de Souza.

“So it sort of gets at taking some of the burden off the individuals and understanding that

sila sa mga pumalpak sa biritan o sa mga nag-trying hard na singer ‘daw’. Syempre, hindi mawawala dyan yung mamimiss nila ang mga taong nakasama nila sa Pasko na bihira lang nila makita lalo na kung malayong kaanak ito o kaibigan. Kaya nga the best ang Paskong Pinoy kasi uso ang reunion

— at the more the merrier, mas maraming alaala ang masarap balikan (at mas maraming score ang pagtatawanan) (Because Filipinos always have smile in their faces, they want to have memories which they can look back into especially when they want to show throwbacks of those who didn’t make it to the

high notes or those trying hard to sing. Of course, they will miss the people who are with them during Christmas which they rarely see, especially when these are living somewhere far.

Filipino Christmas is the best because this is the season for reunions — the more merrier, there are more memories to

we live in communities which may or may not support healthy decisions.”

Lifestyles factors such as poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking can contribute to cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers.

The study is a component of the Canadian Alliance for Healthy Hearts and Minds led by McMaster's Dr. Sonia Anand, a multi-ethnic research project that aims to understand the link between socio-environmental factors and the risks of cardiovascular and other chronic diseases.

“This study is unique because it will enable comparisons between communities within a region, province and across the country,” Anand said.

Anne Simard, the Heart and Stroke Foundation's chief mission and research officer, said the study shows that rural and remote communities “continue to face inequities with respect to access to healthy food options ... This underscores the need for policies to improve nutrition in these communities.”

As for the best place to live in Canada based on the study's findings, de Souza said it depends on which health behaviours are most important to an individual.

“For example, if you wanted to stop smoking, I'd not want to live somewhere where cigarettes are cheap and smoking is more permitted,” he said. “If you need to eat more fruits and vegetables, I'd want to live somewhere where fruits and vegetables are available in large varieties and at a reasonable costs.

“I would want to live somewhere that makes it easiest to change any behaviour that may be harming my health.” ■

‘Videoke’ highlights... ❰❰ 26

karaoke. You’ll see there friends and relatives teasing one another),” Manano added.

“Dahil laging nakangiti ang mga Pilipino, gusto nila na may babalikan silang memories kapag wala silang magawa or kung gusto lang nilang matawa lalo na kung magto-throwback

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reminisce),” Manano said.

With these reasons, it seems apparent that “videoke” singing in Filipino Yuletide reunions will last for a long, long time as the Christmas Season has only highlighted the need on why we need to be merry during the occasion. ■

29

Sports Gerald Anderson returns to home General Santos, faces Xian Lim in MPBL match

BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer KAPAMILYA ACTOR Gerald Anderson returns to his home province General Santos, but this time representing Marikina at the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) match that happened last Saturday, December 15, where he aided the Shoemasters in reigning victorious against the team of fellow actor Xian Lim, the Mandaluyong El Tigre-Dataland.

The first quarter saw positive signs for Marikina, as they limited their opponents only eight points in ten minutes. However, El Tigre performed during the second quarter, entering half time at a 30-28 advantage.

Marikina fired back with 27

points in the next period, finishing the third at 55-46, then maintained that lead.

This was the first time the Shoemasters received a backto-back win as the score finished at 76-62. Anderson felt the love during his homecoming at the Lagao Gym, contributing nine points, six rebounds, and two assists for his team.

At the last few seconds of the fourth quarter, he contributed a three-pointer.

Teammate JR Ng Sang led the way with 17 points and nine rebounds. Also performing with double digits for Marikina are Ryan Costelo, Ronald Roy, and Yves Sazon who provided 15, 14, and 13 points respectively.

Ex-pro Jondan Salvador didn’t score any points but crashed the boards at 15 rebounds. In the meantime, El Tigre’s Gian

Abrigo tried to give his team an 8th win with 16 points, 11 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and two blocks, but it was not enough for Team Mandaluyong to catch up to their opponents.

The Marikina Shoemasters are now currently standing at 10th/11th in the Southern Division of the league as they have the same 6-10 win-loss record as the Zamboanga Valientes.

Meanwhile, on the same day, the two games proved to be a double-header as the GenSan Warriors played in front of their home crowd against the Navotas Clutch, home court advantage proving to be of effect as they won at 80-73. Homegrown player Leomar Losentes fed off the energy and finished with 19 points (5/10 shooting from the arc), one rebound, and two steals, pushing his team

Gerald Anderson.

into a sixth-place standing in the Southern Division at eight wins and ninelossess.

The next MPBL matches are in Rizal Memorial College in Davao City, first game with

@ANDERSONGERALDJR / INSTAGRAM

the Cebu City Sharks facing the Caloocan Supremos and the second game with the San Juan Knights trying to defeat the Davao Occidental Tigers on their home court. ■

SMB acquires Terrence Romeo 2 Pinoy youngsters rule from TNT, trades Heruela, Semerad Dubai swimming tourney

BY GIANNA LLANES Philippine Canadian Inquirer IN ANTICIPATION for the upcoming season in January 2019, the Philippine Basketball Association’s (PBA) San Miguel and Talk N Text have made an agreement to trade Beermen’s previous round one picks Brian Heruela and David Semerad for Katropa’s Terrence Romeo. San Miguel has also given up their first-round draft pick in 2020 to TnT. Numerous PBA teams were interested in the 26-year-old guard Romeo after Katropa put him on the trading block.

The three-time scoring champion had issues with his management in Katropa, as they were upset that the former Far Eastern University (FEU) player went away without leave (AWOL) for the past month and

missed their Christmas party last week. Initially, Romeo was actually with Pido Jarencio-led NorthPort, until he was sent to TnT this past season for his outbursts, which included the infamous brawl between Gilas Pilipinas and Australia during a 2019 FIBA World Cup qualifier match.

The two teams, as well as the players, have been waiting for the approval from Commissioner Willie Marcial in order to pursue the trade. With the Commissioner’s go signal, Semerad will be reunited with brother Anthony in Katropa, as Heruela will have a new experience as his first time in the PBA was alongside Alex Cabagnot and Chris Ross in Blackwater Elite.

Among the ongoing trades also include NLEX and Blackwater, as they are trading rookies Paul Desiderio, Abu Trat-

ter, and Poy Erram. Desiderio and Tratter were just acquired

by NLEX in the recent PBA Rookie Draft that occurred last Sunday, December 16 and were spotted at the Road Warriors’ practice the day after entering the pros.

However, Blackwater owner Dioceldo Sy confirmed, “Yes, we already sent the trade papers and we’re now waiting for the PBA to approve it,” also adding that big-man Mike Miranda was also requested from NLEX. Paul Zamar, on the other hand, was released to the San Miguel Beermen in exchange for their second-round picks in 2021 and 2022. ■

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BY JEAN MALANUM Philippine News Agency MANILA — Marc Bryan Dula and Micaela Jasmine Mojdeh both lived up to their billing anew as among the country’s best junior swimmers after a successful campaign in United Arab Emirates recently.

The two athletes from the Philippine Swimming League topped their respective divisions and were named Most Bemedalled Swimmers in the 2018 Hamilton Aquatics Winter Long Course Championships held at the Hamilton Aquatics Center in Dubai.

Dula, a Grade 12 student at the Masville Elementary School in Parañaque, scooped eight golds and one silver in the boys’ 11-year-old category.

The 11-year-old Dula won the 50m backstroke (32.85),

100m butterfly (1:07.63), 200m butterfly (2:36.17), 200m backstroke (2:35.55), 400m freestyle (5:00.35), 50m butterfly (30.37), 100m backstroke (1:11.92), and 50m freestyle (28.85) events. He also got the silver in the 200m IM (2:36.71) event.

“I always give my best in every competition,” said Dula, who together with Mojdeh, graced the Tabloid Organization in Philippine Sports (TOPS) “Usapang Sports” weekly forum at the National Press Club on Thursday.

The swimmers were accompanied by Jasmine’s mother, Joan, who also serves as PSL regional director for Luzon, and coach Alex Papa, the brother of two-time Olympics basketball player Adriano Papa Jr. Dula started to swim at two ❱❱ PAGE 31 2 Pinoy

30

Business GOP power play in Michigan must go through pragmatic Snyder

BY DAVID EGGERT The Associated Press LANSING, MICH. — Michigan Republicans determined to dilute the authority of newly elected Democrats could see the power play thwarted by a moderate GOP governor, who is not certain to go along with the Legislature like Wisconsin’s more partisan Gov. Scott Walker.

Term-limited Rick Snyder is not tipping his hand on whether he will sign the legislation if it is sent to him in the final days of a frantic lame-duck session.

In contrast, Walker let it be known early in the Wisconsin process that he was likely to be on board with Republican lawmakers there.

Snyder, like Walker, has weakened unions in the industrial Midwest with right-to-work laws, cut taxes and enacted other conservative policies. But he also has a more centrist streak — expanding Medicaid eligibility under the federal health care law and vetoing some GOP-sponsored gun and abortion bills.

“Scott Walker is more conservative, more of an insurgent Republican reformer type than Rick Snyder, and he’s got more of an edge just in his personality and his approach to things in general. Rick Snyder has tried

to characterize himself as being this kind of above-it-all, almost nonpartisan governor who doesn’t make deals and makes every decision based on logic and common sense and what works,” said Bill Ballenger, a political analyst and former Michigan Republican lawmaker.

Snyder infuriated Democrats by signing bills Friday to significantly scale back minimum wage and paid sick leave laws .

They began as citizen-initiated ballot initiatives but were adopted by the GOP-led Legislature in a manoeuvr to allow them to be weakened after the election. Snyder’s decision to sign them was not surprising because he has long been in sync with their main backers in the business community.

Now Republicans are considering whether to give final approval to a bill that would strip campaign-finance oversight from Democratic Secretary of State-elect Jocelyn Benson.

Another bill would let the full Legislature or individual chambers automatically intervene in lawsuits, a power that until now has been reserved for the state attorney general. The move could affect Democratic Attorney General-elect Dana Nessel, who has said she probably will not defend a law allowing faithbased groups to refuse to serve

same-sex couples who want to adopt children.

An additional measure would make it harder to launch ballot drives , following voter approval of three Democratic-backed proposals last month. And a bill very close to Snyder’s desk would hamper the ability of Democratic Gov.-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s administration to set environmental and other regulations that are stricter than federal rules.

“If I believe it’s in the best public policy interest of our state, I will sign it. If it’s not, I won’t sign it,” Snyder said last week.

Democrats in Michigan are warning Snyder that signing the bills could tar his legacy, a repeat of pleas that did not sway Walker. The Wisconsin governor said his legacy will be the record he left behind that includes all but eliminating collective bargaining for public workers and getting rid of the state property tax.

Snyder is more pragmatic and has not always gotten behind GOP lawmakers’ agenda in his eight-year tenure. He said he does not think about his legacy.

There is little doubt that the defining moments of Snyder’s tenure will include the crisis over lead-tainted drinking water in Flint, which was a disaster for his administration, and the economic turnaround of

Michigan Governor Rick Snyder.

SPC. BRANDON AMES, MICHIGAN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Detroit after it emerged from bankruptcy, for which Snyder has received credit.

Republicans contend that the proposals to limit the powers of Democrats and voters have been overblown, while Democrats say they are undemocratic and flout the will of voters who elected them in November.

“He talks a good game and then he signs everything that goes in front of him, for the most part,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich of Flint, who said he is not “overly hopeful” that Snyder will veto the measures. “If he signs all these right-wing bills, then that’s who you are. That’s what your legacy is. It’s not what you say it’s going to be. It’s what you do.”

Whitmer, who is meeting

regularly with Snyder during the transition, told Michiganbased radio host Michael Patrick Shiels on Friday that she is “hopeful” that Snyder will “go out and show that he’s a statesperson” by protecting the executive branch.

The bills have passed one chamber or the other, but it is uncertain if they will win final legislative approval this final week of the lame-duck session or if changes will be made.

Tom Shields, a veteran Republican strategist, said Snyder historically has vetoed some bills at year’s end.

“I think this year will be no different. He’s going to find some things that he just can’t live with,” he said, before adding: “He’s been pretty close to the vest.” ■

ADB sets USD1.3-B assistance for long-term Mindanao dev’t

BY KRIS CRISMUNDO Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has earmarked some USD1.3 billion in financing assistance for the long-term development of southern Philippines.

Apart from the USD408 million worth of loans and grants that the ADB approved as Emergency Assistance for the Reconstruction and Recovery

of Marawi last week, ADB Principal Country Specialist for the Philippines Joven Balbosa said the institution has allocated USD1.3 billion for Mindanao under the Country Partnership Strategy.

“In the next three to four years or 5 years, the Philippines Country Partnership Strategy has a pipeline of projects which totals to about USD1.3 billion,” Balbosa said.

He said these projects in Mindanao supported under the

Country Partnership Strategy are related to infrastructure, regional development, and investment in people.

Under this assistance, Balbosa said ADB is funding USD300 million for the improvement of road corridors, which is an ongoing development in Mindanao, to build connectivity in the region.

The funding program will also finance the Integrated Flood Risk Management Project that involves three river bawww.canadianinquirer.net

sins in Mindanao.

The ADB will also support regional development project in Mindanao, eyeing South-Central Mindanao as the first area to be developed under this project.

Balbosa said the funding would likewise develop livable cities in Mindanao.

It will also support other projects such as irrigation development and agro-enterprises development in the southern part of the country.

Balbosa noted that this effort

is in line with ADB’s Strategy 2030 that aims to support projects that will reduce poverty, fight climate change, promote rural development, support regional development, advocate gender equality, aid governance and institutions, and develop livable cities.

“We also recognized that to bring about longer lasting peace, it also requires longerterm development,” said ADB Country Director for the Philippines Kelly Bird. ■

Business

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

31

Miniso Canada China will ‘never seek hegemony,’ reaches preliminary Xi says in reform speech deal after court case threatened operations

BY YANAN WANG The Associated Press

BY TARA DESCHAMPS The Canadian Press TORONTO — Miniso Canada says it has reached a preliminary agreement with Miniso Guangzhou LLC in a case that has threatened to force the Chinese discount retailer’s Canadian operations into bankruptcy.

In a statement posted to its Instagram page on Monday evening, Miniso Canada said the two parties are currently in the process of settling their business issues and finalizing details on the agreement.

“Miniso Canada will continue to provide quality products and services to Canadian consumers,” the statement promised.

Miniso Canada’s remarks stemmed from a Dec. 12 application that he China-based Miniso Guanzhou LLC filed with the Supreme Court of British Columbia, seeking to begin bankruptcy proceedings for the brand’s Canadian business.

The company is accusing Miniso Investments Inc., Migu Investments Inc. and Miniso (Canada) Store Inc. — the operators of about 50 stores selling Miniso products in Canada and have another 10 locations in the process of opening — of fraudulently transferring registered trademark rights to third-party corporations, disposing of inventory and ceasing to meet liabilities as they came due.

The filings also say Miniso

Guangzhou LLC is owed the Canadian equivalent of $2.4 million (US) in loans and $13.3 million in inventory.

An affidavit filed by Miniso Guangzhou LLC’s senior legal counsel Ting Shi says the trio of companies that Miniso Guangzhou LLC has made a filing against have “committed acts of bankruptcy,” are insolvent and do not have sufficient assets to pay what they owe.

The lawyer said the company filed the application because it is particularly “concerned that it has lost control of the Canadian operations and, in particular, the Miniso Brand, the integrity of which is likely to be irreparably damaged by the insolvency.”

The accusations Miniso Guangzhou LLC and Ting Shi have levelled have yet to be proven in court.

The proceedings come as Miniso is staging an ambitious expansion across the country, with locations continuously popping up in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec.

Miniso first entered the market last year with its wide range of household, beauty, technology and food products that it sells for low prices.

At the time, it promised to open 500 locations within three years and industry watchers expected it to threaten Montrealbased bargain brand Dollarama Inc., which has long had a hold on the discount goods market in Canada. ■

Miniso is a Chinese low-cost retailer and variety store chain.

SORBIS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

BEIJING — China will never seek hegemony, President Xi Jinping said Tuesday as global concerns persist over the country’s growing economic influence.

During a speech to mark 40 years of market reforms, Xi repeated China’s commitment to a multilateral trading system and further opening of its economy. However, he did not announce any new initiatives to counter a slowing economy and trade frictions with the United States.

The Chinese leader said China would not develop “at the expense of other countries’ interests.”

China’s expanding footprint worldwide — from Asia-Pacific to Africa and beyond through a broad network of infrastructure projects called the Belt and Road Initiative — has led some nations to raise alarm over what they call China’s long arm of influence, which has been criticized for being political as well as economic.

While Xi said China is “increasingly approaching the centre of the world stage,” he also noted that the country pursues a defensive national defence policy.

President Xi Jinping.

FREDERIC LEGRAND - COMEO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

“China’s development does not pose a threat to any country,” Xi said. “No matter how far China develops, it will never seek hegemony.”

Xi chronicled at length the country’s recent achievements, giving special credit to former leader Deng Xiaoping, whose reforms Xi said saved China from the brink of economic collapse following the tumultuous Cultural Revolution.

Other celebrations of reform and opening up have been criticized for downplaying the role of Deng, widely considered the architect of the changes, in favour of elevating Xi. This time around, Xi spared

no praise for Deng, as he began by remarking on the significance of 1978 — the year Deng implemented his first reforms.

Throughout, Xi emphasized the absolute rule of the Communist Party and its upholding of Chinese sovereignty.

“No one is in a position to dictate to the Chinese people what should or should not be done,” he said.

The address won’t assuage concerned private entrepreneurs and foreign businesses, who had hoped Xi would use the occasion to announce concrete industry-opening measures to shift dominance away from state corporations. ■

2 Pinoy... ❰❰ 29

years old. His idols the girls’ 12-year-old category. in Parañaque set a new Philipare American Michael She dominated the 100m but- pine junior record in the 200m Phelps and Singapor- terfly (1:05.17), 400m Indi- butterfly after eclipsing the ean Joseph Isaac Schooling. vidual Medley (5:23.49), 50m 2:25:82 mark she established Phelps is the most success- breaststroke (36.34), 200m at the Middle East Open Swimful and most decorated Olym- IM (2:31.81), 200m butterfly ming Championship, also in pian of all time Dubai, last Febwith a total of ruary.

28 medals be“I am happy fore he retired to bring honor after the 2016 I am happy to bring honor to the to the country Rio Olympics, country again. again. I hope to while Schooling win more medgave his country als in the future,” its first Olympic said Mojdeh, medal in swimming when he (2:21:31), 100m breaststroke who looks up to Sarah Fredriwon the gold in the 100m but- (1:19.09) and 50m butterfly ka Sjöström, the first Swedish terfly event. His time of 50.39 (30.17) events and took the sil- woman to win an Olympic gold seconds is a National, Asian, ver in the 200m breaststroke medal after winning the 100m and Olympic record.

(2:55.10) event. butterfly event in Rio de JaneiMeanwhile, Mojdeh bagged The 12-year-old student at ro two years ago. ■ seven golds and one silver in the Immaculate Heart of Mary www.canadianinquirer.net

32

Technology ‘They’re coming:’ Flying cars may appear in urban skies by 2023

BY CHRISTOPHER REYNOLDS The Canadian Press THE FLYING cars depicted in science fiction classics such as “Blade Runner” and “The Fifth Element” have long been seen as flights of fancy, but their arrival is closer than you think.

At least a dozen companies are prototyping or testing flying cars or passenger drones, according to a Deloitte report from January.

Air taxis will number 15,000 and become a global market worth $32 billion by 2035, with aerial delivery and inspection services adding on another $42 billion, a study by Porsche Consulting predicts.

Vertical takeoff and landing craft (VTOLs) carry the promise of delivering people and goods across congested urban and suburban areas in a fraction of the time a driver would need, taking cars off the road in the process.

But technological and regulatory hurdles remain. And whether aerial vehicles can substantially change commuter behaviour and emissions — or overcome questions of safety and public perception — is still up in the air.

Most VTOLs — or eVTOLs if they are electric-powered — resemble an oversize drone, sporting a halo of small rotors around a passenger pod and taking off and touching down like a helicopter. But they will be quieter, cheaper and greener than their heli-cousins, experts say.

“Instead of this deep, guttural, penetrating-through-walls

sound, you have a much more acceptable sound, similar to a ceiling fan,” said Nikhil Goel, head of product at Uber Technology Inc.’s aviation team, dubbed Uber Elevate.

Uber hopes to start hauling passengers in five-seat, hybrid VTOLs above Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth and a third city outside of the U.S. by 2023.

“The vehicles are real.

They’re coming. I think it’s going to be faster than anybody thinks is possible,” Goel said.

He sees the first wave of aerial taxis providing a shuttle service between major airports and downtown vertiports that integrate into the mass transportation system, rather than leapfrogging from block to block — a hub-to-hub travel option akin to a monorail.

“We are not building this product for the elite,” Goel said.

A few years after the launch of Uber Air, as it’s dubbed, the cost of an aerial trip will be the same as one on the asphalt, he said.

He calculates that an aerial taxi would cut a 90-kilometre commute between the downtowns of San Francisco and San Jose to 15 minutes, down from an hour and 40 minutes.

Uber is not alone in setting its sights on VTOLs. Chinese drone manufacturer Ehang carried out flight tests with a single-passenger drone earlier this year, according to the company’s website. German startup Volocopter has produced an air taxi prototype, taking to the skies above Dubai in 2017. And Kitty Hawk, a California-based company funded by Google

founder Larry Page, produced a sleek, one-seat VTOL prototype this year.

Bell (formerly Bell Helicopter), is one of five companies Uber has teamed up with, along with Karem, Pipistrel and aerospace rivals Embraer and Boeing’s Aurora Flight Sciences.

Scott Drennan, Bell’s vicepresident of innovation, sees 2025 as a more realistic commercial launch target than Uber’s goal of 2023.

Battery life is one area that needs to advance, with lithiumion packs today lasting for between 50 and 100 kilometres on a multi-rotor electric propulsion system, he said.

Regulations are another obstacle. To avoid crowding urban skies, VTOLs could trace existing airplane takeoff and landing routes, but at a lower altitude, buzzing along at between 150 and 330 km/h.

Western aviation regulators bar out-of-sight drone operations for the most part. Discussions are ongoing with the U.S. Federal Aviation Authority and the European Aviation Safety Agency, said Drennan, who said he has also met three times with Transport Canada regarding VTOLs. Mark Cousin, chief executive of Airbus’s A3 unit, stressed the traffic management hurdles on the horizon.

“The vehicle is the easy bit,” he said. “The real challenge lies in integrating thousands of these vehicles into an urban air mobility system within cities.”

A3 has put out an electricpowered VTOL dubbed Vaha-

www.canadianinquirer.net

Transport of the future?

na. The autonomous prototype launched its first vertical flight in February.

Drones would typically beat other modes of transportation, such as taxis, at distances of 20 kilometres or more in congested areas, according to the Porsche study.

The report notes the technology’s limited potential, stating that it can relieve some pressure from congested urban hot spots — “but only some.”

“If one tried to solve all traffic problems on the ground by moving into the air, the myriad takeoff and landing spots would become the new choke points.”

A city with more than five million inhabitants will likely have no more than 1,000 passenger drones in operation by 2035, the study predicts. That would make a relatively small dent in ground traffic.

Uber cited Los Angeles as an appealing launch city in part because of the abundance of flat roofs there — a long-standing fire safety regulation required helicopter landing pads atop tall buildings.

“But they’re actually not that well suited, because it’s not just a pickup and drop-off point,” said Robin Lineberger, head of aerospace and defence at Deloitte.

“It has to be a place where people come, get ready to get on the aircraft…the vehicle has to land, recharge, refuel, maybe light maintenance and inspection going on. If you think about it, it really needs to be a small, multifunction airport service area.”

Large parking lots downtown are ripe for conversion into vertiports, complete with conveyor belts, charging stations and hangars, he said.

Insurance would function in ways similar to a helicopter manufacturer or transport service, Lineberger said, with premiums hinging on the probability and severity of accidents.

However, public perception will be an issue for the foreseeable future. Fewer than half of respondents in a Deloitte global survey of 10,000 people this year were convinced that aerial passenger vehicles would be safe, with one-third undecided and one in five disagreeing. ■

Technology

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

33

Artificial intelligence’s rise exposes gaping gender gap

BY MATT O’BRIEN The Associated Press THE CHALLENGES of making the technology industry a more welcoming place for women are numerous, especially in the booming field of artificial intelligence.

To get a sense of just how monumental a task the tech community faces, look no further than the marquee gathering for AI’s top scientists. Preparations for this year’s event drew controversy not only because there weren’t enough female speakers or study authors.

The biggest debate was over the conference’s name.

The annual Conference and Workshop on Neural Information Processing Systems, formerly known as NIPS, had become a punchline symbol about just how bad the gender imbalance is for artificial intelligence. Thousands of AI researchers convened in Montreal last week under a slightly tweaked banner — NeurIPS — but with many of the same problems still under the surface.

AI’s challenge reflects a broader lack of diversity in the tech industry. At major tech companies, women account for 20 per cent or fewer of the engineering and computing roles.

By some accounts, AI’s gender imbalance is even worse: One estimate by startup incubator Element AI shows women making up just 13 per cent of the AI workforce in the U.S. The challenge has repercussions far beyond career recruit-

ment. Artificial intelligence and a self-training discipline known as machine learning can mimic the biases of their human creators as they make their way into consumer products and everyday life.

“The more diversity we have in machine learning, the better job we will do in creating products that don’t discriminate,” said Hanna Wallach, a Microsoft researcher who is a senior program chairwoman of the conference and co-founder of an associated event for women in machine learning.

AI systems look for patterns in huge troves of data — such as what we say to our voice assistants or what images we post on social media.

These systems can share the same gender or racial prejudices found there.

Such misfires have increasingly attracted attention. A rogue Microsoft chatbot spouted sexist and racist remarks.

A Google app to match selfies to famous works of mostly Western art lumped many non-whites into the same exoticized figures. In another example, a study looking at several prominent AI systems for recognizing faces showed that they performed far better on lighter-skinned men than darker-skinned women.

This year, Google tests of an email feature designed to predict what someone wants to write turned up evidence that its algorithms were making biased assumptions — refer-

ring, for instance, to a nurse as “her” and an engineer as “him.”

The company said it ended up removing all gender pronouns before launching the feature in May. And while a growing number of researchers and product designers are devoting attention to solving these problems, Wallach said it didn’t help to have an “off-putting” name marring an important gathering for sharing new research and recruiting new people.

The conference dates back to 1986 and the name didn’t raise as many eyebrows for its first few decades, especially with even fewer women working in tech.

But as the nerdy summit’s headcount and its public reputation exploded in recent years, the nickname became increas-

ingly embarrassing. Critics said it added to a hostile environment that for some women also included unwelcome advances and other forms of harassment.

“This name change has opened up so many of the issues that women and minorities face in tech,” said longtime conference attendee Animashree Anandkumar, who directs machine-learning research at chipmaker Nvidia.

Startup booths hawked Tshirts and other promotional freebies with sexist slogans riffing off the acronym. The connotations became more problematic as the conference attracted corporate giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook as sponsors and attendees — and tried to promote more women and other underrepresented groups in its ranks.

Conference leaders this year acknowledged “incidents of insensitivity at past conferences” and issued stricter rules banning harassment, bullying and sexualized clothing and activities.

But they resisted changing the name as recently as October, when they released a survey of more than 2,000 attendees — mostly men — that found most were OK with it. That led Anandkumar to start a Twitter hashtag to step up the pressure.

Katherine Heller, a Duke professor and Google researcher who helps lead a new conference committee on diversity and inclusivity, said it helped

that some of the industry’s leaders also weighed in. Google AI chief Jeff Dean, for instance, tweeted that “enough people are made to feel uncomfortable by the current name.”

The conference board relented and announced on Nov. 16 that the new acronym would be NeurIPS. It urged participants to respect it and get back to focusing “on science and ideas.”

Organizers moved the conference to a new website, printed new signs and booklets and hired a branding company to design a new logo, though the transition isn’t complete. At the same time, it offered more amenities — such as child care — and more panels devoted to addressing bias and inclusion — both in the industry and the technology it creates.

The changes prompted Anandkumar to tweet that she experienced a “feeling of belonging” for the first time in years. She said she hopes it signals a “return of civility” to the field.

Heather Ames Versace, who had criticized the board for being “tone deaf,” said the rebranding will help change the world’s perception of the tech industry and encourage young women to join it. Versace, cofounder of AI startup Neurala, said that despite improvements, a lot more needs to be done to make AI reflective of society, not just the small group of people working on it.

“With AI, we’re creating technologies that learn and make decisions in the real world,” Versace said. “We need to make sure they represent a diverse set of opinions.” ■

Apple upstages Amazon in selecting new tech hub locations

BY MICHAEL LIEDTKE, MATT O’BRIEN AND WILL WEISSERT The Associated Press AUSTIN, TEXAS — One tech giant strung dozens of North American cities through a circus-like contest that led mayors and governors to desperately pitch their regions — and offer huge sums of public money — in hopes of landing a gleaming new corporate campus. The other swept in quietly before

making its big move.

The outcome was largely the same: Amazon and Apple are running out of room in their West Coast hometowns and establishing a major foothold in a handful of U.S. cities already known as second-tier technology hubs.

But this week, at least, Apple may have won the prize for completing its search with the fewest hurt feelings.

Apple announced plans Thursday to build a $1 billion campus in Austin, Texas, that

will create at least 5,000 jobs ranging from engineers to callcentre agents while adding more lustre to a city that has already become a destination for tech startups and bigger companies.

The decision comes 11 months after Apple CEO Tim Cook disclosed plans to open a major office outside California on the heels of a massive tax cut on overseas profits, which prompted the company to bring about $250 billion back to the U.S. www.canadianinquirer.net

The company said it will also open offices in Seattle, San Diego and Culver City, California, each employing at least 1,000 workers over the next three years. Apple also pledged to add hundreds of jobs each in New York; Pittsburgh; Boston; Boulder, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon.

“They are just picking America’s most established superstar cities and tech hubs,” said Richard Florida, an urban development expert at the University of Toronto.

Apple’s scattershot expansion reflects the increasing competition for engineers in Silicon Valley, which has long been the world’s high-tech capital. The bidding for programmers is driving salaries higher, which in turn is catapulting the average prices of homes in many parts of the San Francisco Bay Area above $1 million. Many high-tech workers are thus choosing to live elsewhere, causing major tech em❱❱ PAGE 38 Apple upstages

DECEMBER 21, 2018

34

CANADA

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Desired Qualification minimum 5 years for Plumber minimum 3 years for Apprentice G License with clean Driving record.

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km.ali@senergyheating.com

NANNY/BABYSITTER

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Take children to and from school and appointments, travel with family if needed.

APPLY BY EMAIL: melo.perez@outlook.com

AMP PROMATIC IS LOOKING FOR PRODUCTION WORKERS Sheet metal manufacturing company is looking to hire workers with some experience on metal cutting machines, plus general labor.

If you don’t have experience but are hard worker we will train and will offer you good wages.

This can be a full-time or part-time position and we are located in Vaughan, Hwy 7 and Weston Rd.

Contact: Walter at 416-991-1007 or send e-mail ampincwf@gmail.com

HIRING FOR 8 TIM HORTON STORES IN VANCOUVER Food Service Supervisors, Bakers, and Food Counter Attendants Permanent/Full Time. 6 mos.to 2 yrs. experience Salary range $13.00 to $14.70 per hour + benefits Willing to work shifts; Spoken English knowledge Anyone who is authorized to work in Canada can apply.

Send application w/complete work history and references to:

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HIRING 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.

Please email resume to: hrsurrey@luckysupermarket.ca

Electronic Technicians Needed Experience in Low Voltage Electrical System installation and Servicing Computers with Networking Email resume to suda@alarmboss.com Call 416-432-1902

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www.canadianinquirer.net

35

Travel Quezon’s famous Borawan beach getaway island now energized PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY PADRE BURGOS, QUEZON – Two island villages of Lipata and Tulay-Buhangin in this laidback and 4th class town in the Bondoc Peninsula are now energized, after electricity was brought here via submarine cables.

Padre Burgos Mayor Roger A. Panganiban on Wednesday said local officials, townsfolk and villagers were jubilant with the completion of the local electrification project after it got stuck for more than two decades in the drawing board.

Panganiban, with Vice Mayor Pablito Flores and officials of Quezon Electric Cooperative 1 (QUEZELCO 1), National Electrification Administration (NEA) and Asia Philippines and the two village chiefs, led the Switch-On Ceremony of the 3-Phase Submarine Cable and Energization Project last Monday (Dec. 10) in the island-village of Lipata.

The idyllic Lipata Island is home to the now famous Borawan Beach, a contraction from the words Boracay – because of its fine sand, and Palawan, due to jutting of rock-cliff formations on the island shoreline.

The island inhabitants are mostly fisher folks and some engaged as boatmen and tour guides for swimming excursions, beach camping and arranged boat rides and island-hopping adventures by tourists and visitors.

Panganiban recounted how he sought Manila Electric Company’s help as having the nearest grid in its power service distribution to nearby Pagbilao’s Grande Island, which is now connected

via a land bridge.

He said the plan was put on hold pending compliance with several documents required for the interconnection.

This time however, Panganiban expressed gratitude to NEA, which spearheaded the project in collaboration with Quezelco 1, through the support of the Suarez family.

“Bagama’t mas magastos ang pagpapadaloy ng kuryente sa dalawang barangay dahil kailangan pang maglatag ng dalawang kilometro submarine cable sa dagat ay hindi naman ito naging hadlang sa dalawang ahensya na ituloy ang nabanggit na proyekto (although the electrification project entails higher costs which requires some two-kilometer submarine cable to reach the two villages, but this did not hamper the two agencies to continue the project),” Panganiban said.

He said NEA set aside some PHP 50 million for the energization project of the two barangays.

The town mayor also mulled the construction of a bridge by December next year, hopefully set for completion at the end of his third mayoral term.

Meanwhile, Jose O. Avedillo, marketing manager of Asia Philippines, the company behind the submarine cable and underwater works for the electricity connection to the two islands, described the project a huge step point for the two island villages.

“Dahil ito ang simula na magtataasan ang presyo ng lupa rito dahil sa posibilidad na pagtatayo ng mga hotel dito dahil na rin sa ganda ng islang ito, katulad sa nangyari sa Boracay after na rin malinyahan ng kuryente (this is the start for

BORAWANISLAND.COM

the land appreciation value as hotels would be constructed in the beautiful island, similar to what happened to Bo-

racay after putting in place its electricity connection),” Avedillo said. ■

Cyprus set for record number of tourist arrivals THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NICOSIA, CYPRUS — Cyprus is on course for its best tourism year in terms of arrivals after official figures showed that the number coming to the east Mediterranean island nation has surpassed 3.8 million for the first time.

The Cyprus Tourism Organization

said Monday that arrivals in November were up nearly 10 per cent from a year ago to 160,000, a record for the month.

Overall, arrivals are 7.8 per cent up over the year.

Cyprus relies heavily on tourism, particularly from former colonial power Britain. One notable increase was the 180 per cent increase in tourist numbers from Ireland. ■

# 1 7 9 - 8 1 3 8 1 2 8 S t r e e t S u r r e y, B C

www.canadianinquirer.net

36

Travel

DECEMBER 21, 2018

FRIDAY

Scuba diving Santa A move to ban many vacation brings holiday cheer rentals in New Orleans to fish, museumgoers

BY KEVIN MCGILL The Associated Press

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS SAN FRANCISCO — It’s a busy time for Santa Claus, but he’s making time to feed some fish in San Francisco.

The California Academy of Sciences launched its holiday festivities Thursday by having a scuba diver dressed as St. Nick submerge into a coral reef exhibit while dozens of children watched from behind the glass.

The “Scuba Santa” show runs

through Christmas Day. It takes place during the morning feed at the Philippine Coral Reef tank at the San Francisco museum.

Volunteer diver George Bell donned his Santa suit, from hat to coal black boots, and scuba gear for a recent feed and fielded visitors’ questions from inside the tank.

The Philippine Coral Reef tank has thousands of reef fish representing about 100 species.

People can watch Santa’s appearance online by webcam. ■

Military personnel carefully pull out one of the three Balangiga bells from a crate upon arrival at the Villamor Air Base in Pasay City.

JOEY O. RAZON / PNA

Tourism in Eastern Samar seen to boost due to return of Balangiga Bells — DOT

BY JOANNA BELLE DEALA Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE DEPARTMENT of Tourism (DOT) on Saturday, December 15, is expecting that tourist arrivals in Eastern Samar will increase, following the return of the historic Balangiga Bells in the country after more than a century.

“We, at DOT, are so happy for the people of Eastern Samar as the homecoming of Balangiga Church bells may yet turn not only Balangiga town but the whole of Eastern Visayas (Region 8) into an emerging tourist destination,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said in a statement. ❱❱ PAGE 38 Tourism in

NEW ORLEANS — A ban on “whole home” short-term vacation rentals in New Orleans was proposed Thursday by a City Council member, a move long-awaited by critics who say investors were helping drive up housing costs and marring the character of historic neighbourhoods by buying up properties and renting them to outof-towners.

Kristen Gisleson Palmer’s measure had also been awaited with dread by some property owners who own short-term rental properties. And it drew rebukes from Airbnb and HomeAway, two of the best known online platforms for short-term rentals.

Airbnb’s emailed statement said the plan would “devastate” KONOPLYTSKA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM some New Orleans property owners who depend on short- have sometimes noisily pushed best to regulate short-term term rental revenue. the limits of the city’s tolerance rentals for years.

HomeAway spokesman Phil- for revelry.

In November, for instance, ip Minardi said the proposal “If you kill the neighbour- news outlets reported that was an “extreme” measure that hoods you kill the reason peo- Washington’s city council voted would penalize property own- ple come here,” Palmer told re- to restrict short-term rentals to ers who have invested in the porters Thursday. primary residences, and limit community.

Palmer’s proposal also ex- rentals in which the owner is “This framework would jeop- tends an existing ban on short- absent to 90 days per year. In ardize those responsible home- term rentals in the French South Portland, Maine, the owners without cause, decrease Quarter to include the city’s Portland Press Herald reported tax collections, and prevent Garden District. And it requires that a ban on non-owner-occutourism dollars from being that building owners in some pied short term rentals takes spread across the city,” Minardi commercial areas match their effect Jan. 1. said in a news release. Backers short-term rental units with San Diego City Council’s Ocof non-owner-occupied short- an equal number of affordable tober vote to repeal its reguterm rentals also lations that, say the practice among other can help revithings, barred talize blighted the short-term neighbourhoods.

If you kill the neighbourhoods you rentals of second A homeowner kill the reason people come here. homes. who wanted to Airbnb’s staterent out parts of ment says its his or her home polling indicates to vacationers residents supcould still do so under the pro- housing units. port short-term rentals, inposal, as long as that owner Opponents of short-term, cluding those used as full-time remains on the premises. But whole-home rentals won coun- Airbnb rentals. The company Palmer aims to stop inves- cil approval in May of a tempo- said Palmer’s proposal was tors from buying up houses in rary ban on the issuing of any “crafted in a backroom without neighbourhoods strictly for the new licenses for whole-home input from key stakeholders.” purpose of making them into rentals, a precursor to Thurs- Palmer countered that there vacation rental spots. day’s proposal. The council is were months of meetings and Complaints about short-term expected to get its first official public input that went into renters taking the place of long- look at Palmer’s proposal next the proposal. And there will be term residents have been espe- week. A final vote is expected in more public hearings and study cially strong in the Marigny and April. before the proposal comes up Treme neighbourhoods, where Cities and states have been for a final vote. ■ critics have said vacationers grappling with the issue of how www.canadianinquirer.net

37

Food Let out your inner artist: Grab the kids to make pancakes AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN PANCAKES ARE a blank canvas, so bring out your inner artist. You can work your magic at the table with maple syrup, honey, confectioners’ sugar, cinnamon sugar, fresh fruit and/or softened butter. Or you can cook your artistry right into the pancakes by adding chocolate chips, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, sliced bananas, or raspberries instead of the blueberries. Use 1 tablespoon of add-ins per pancake. Have fun and try your own combinations.

Pancakes 101: If you have an electric griddle, it’s perfect for this recipe. Just set the griddle

to 350 F. You should be able to make all eight pancakes in one batch. This recipe can be doubled if you want to cook for a big crowd. Follow this recipe with your kids.

Anytime fluffy blueberry pancakes

Serves 2-4 (Makes 8 pancakes) Start to finish: 35 minutes (Active Time: 15 minutes) • 1 cup all-purpose flour • 2 tablespoons sugar • 2 teaspoons baking powder • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 3/4 cup milk • 1 large egg • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract • Vegetable oil spray • 1/2 cup blueberries In medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In small bowl, whisk milk, egg, oil, and vanilla until well combined.

Add milk mixture to flour mixture and stir gently with rubber spatula until just combined (batter should remain lumpy). Let batter sit for 10 minutes before cooking.

Spray 12-inch nonstick skillet with vegetable oil spray and heat over medium heat until hot, about 1 minute.

Use 1/4-cup dry measuring cup to scoop 1/4 cup batter into

skillet. Repeat 2 more times, leaving space between mounds of batter (you want 3 pancakes to cook up separate from one another).

Sprinkle each pancake with 1 tablespoon blueberries. Cook until bubbles on surface begin to pop, 2 to 3 minutes.

Use spatula to flip pancakes and cook until golden brown, 1

to 2 minutes. Transfer pancakes to plate. Repeat with remaining batter in 2 more batches. Turn off heat. Serve. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 260 calories; 87 calories from fat; 10 g fat (2 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 58 mg cholesterol; 681 mg sodium; 37 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 10 g sugar; 6 g protein.

A flavourful, flourless chocolate cake without all the fuss AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN INCREDIBLY RICH and impossibly smooth, flourless chocolate cake is elegant, refined, and universally beloved.

But recipes for this intense, deeply chocolate dessert typically require complicated techniques. Our take on this indulgent cake minimizes fuss without sacrificing flavour or texture.

We began by gently melting chocolate and butter in the microwave before incorporating the remaining ingredients. In the absence of flour, we called on eggs for structure, cornstarch for body, and water for a moist, smooth texture. Vanilla and espresso powder underscored the chocolate flavour and deepened its impact.

Ensuring a crack-free surface was as easy as straining and resting the batter before tapping out bubbles that rose to

the surface. Baking the cake in a low oven produced a perfectly smooth top.

This cake needs to chill for at least 6 hours, so we recommend making it the day before serving. An accurate oven thermometer is essential here. We prefer this cake made with 60 per cent bittersweet chocolate; our favourite brands are Ghirardelli and Callebaut. To slice, dip a sharp knife in very hot water and wipe dry before and after each cut.

Flourless chocolate cake

Servings: 10-12 Start to finish: 1 hour 45 minutes (Plus at least 6 hours to chill) • 12 ounces bittersweet chocolate, broken into 1-inch pieces • 16 tablespoons unsalted butter • 6 large eggs • 1 cup (7 ounces) sugar • 1/2 cup water • 1 tablespoon cornstarch

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 1 teaspoon instant espresso powder • 1/2 teaspoon salt Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 275 F. Spray 9-inch springform pan with vegetable oil spray. Microwave chocolate and butter in bowl at 50 per cent power, stirring occasionally, until melted, about 4 minutes. Let chocolate mixture cool for 5 minutes.

Whisk eggs, sugar, water, www.canadianinquirer.net

cornstarch, vanilla, espresso powder, and salt in large bowl until thoroughly combined, about 30 seconds. Whisk in chocolate mixture until smooth and slightly thickened, about 45 seconds. Strain batter through fine-mesh strainer into prepared pan, pressing against strainer with rubber spatula or back of ladle to help batter pass through. Gently tap pan on counter to release air bubbles; let sit on counter for 10 minutes to allow air bubbles to

rise to top. Use tines of fork to gently pop any air bubbles that have risen to surface. Bake until edges are set and centre jiggles slightly when cake is shaken gently, 45 to 50 minutes.

Let cake cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes; run thin knife around edge of pan to loosen cake. Let cake cool on rack until barely warm, about 30 minutes. Cover cake tightly with plastic wrap, poke small hole in top, and refrigerate until cold and firmly set, at least 6 hours or up to 2 days. Remove sides of pan and slide thin metal spatula between cake bottom and pan bottom to loosen, then slide cake onto platter. Let cake stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 460 calories; 318 calories from fat; 36 g fat (21 g saturated; 1 g trans fats); 178 mg cholesterol; 158 mg sodium; 38 g carbohydrate; 4 g fiber; 30 g sugar; 7 g protein.

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DECEMBER 21, 2018

We packed tons of flavour into our spinach dip with herbs AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN SPINACH DIP can feel like the responsible, healthy choice on an appetizer buffet but that doesn’t mean it has to be bland or boring. For a spinach dip to really taste good, we found that both theingredients and the method were key.

We packed tons of flavour into our spinach dip with herbs, red bell pepper, scallions, garlic, and even a little kick of hot sauce. For the mixing method, we used the food processor to help distribute the spinach evenly throughout the dip.

This method also made it easy to add other flavours to the dip for our creative variations.

The garlic must be minced or pressed before going into the food processor or the dip will contain large chunks of garlic.

Serve with crudites.

Herbed spinach dip

Servings: 4-6 Start to finish: 1 hour

• 10 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and

squeezed dry • 1/2 red bell pepper, chopped fine • 1/2 cup sour cream • 1/2 cup mayonnaise • 1/2 cup fresh parsley leaves • 3 scallions, sliced thin • 1 tablespoon fresh dill or 1 teaspoon dried • 1 garlic clove, minced • 1/4 teaspoon hot sauce • Salt and pepper Process all ingredients with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 tea-

spoon pepper in food processor until well combined, about 1 minute. Transfer to serving bowl, cover, and refrigerate until flavours have blended, at least 1 hour. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving. ■ Nutrition information per serving: 179 calories; 153 calories from fat; 17 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 16 mg cholesterol; 425 mg sodium; 4 g carbohydrate; 1 g fiber; 2 g sugar; 2 g protein.

Tourism in... ❰❰ 36

“In time for the Christmas season, this is one of the best gifts the region could ask for,” she added.

According to DOT Region 8 Director Karina Rosa Tiopes, the Tourism department has been assisting the local government unit (LGU) of Balangiga town in its tourism development projects.

“Foremost of these is the improvement of the Balangiga Incident Marker, funded under DOT-Yolanda Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Project worth PhP9.7 million, which was downloaded to the LGU,” Tiopes said.

Other improvements, she noted, also include landscaping and beautification of the park and the small museum at the back of Balangiga Incident Marker so that it will become “more presentable” to the tourists as well as to pilgrims.

The DOT also trains several locals to become mangrove paddling guides, waiters, community tour guides, and mountain guides, among others.

It also allocated a P629,000 fund to the LGU for the procurement of livelihood gears such as kayak with paddles, personal flotation device, fisherman’s hat, rash guards, first aid kits, tents, solar lamps, beach umbrella, plastic tables, monoblock chairs, abseiling ropes, harness, carabineers and various office supplies.

“Enhancing other tourist destinations in Balangiga will make visitors stay longer, giving them the opportunity to get to know our people, experience our culture, taste our cuisine and discover the Infinite Escapes in Eastern Visayas,” The DOT Region 8 Director stressed.

The Balangiga Bells, which were seized by the American

troops in 1901 during the Philippine-American war as war trophies, were finally back at its home in Eastern Samar.

On Saturday, President Rodrigo Duterte led the turnover ceremony of the historic bells, where Balangiga Mayor Randy Graza received the bells’ transfer certificate given by United States (US) Deputy Chief of Mission John Law. “The bells are returned and it was really because of the fervent prayers of the entire Filipino nation,” the Philippine leader said.

“The credit goes to the American people and to the Filipino people, period,” he added.

Duterte earlier said the Balangiga Bells were returned to the country because of the demand of Filipinos and that no government officials can claim credit for the success of its return. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY

Apple upstages... ❰❰ 33

ployers such as Apple, that Apple opened five years Amazon and Google ago. Apple currently employs to look in new places about 6,200 workers in Austin, for the employees they need to making it the company’s largest pursue their future ambitions. hub outside Silicon Valley even “Talent, creativity and to- before the expansion. morrow’s breakthrough ideas The new jobs are expected aren’t limited by region or ZIP to mirror the same mix Apple code,” Cook said in a statement. already has at its Cupertino, Cities around the country California, headquarters, offered financial incentives in ranging from jobs in technolan attempt to land Apple’s new ogy and research that pay well campus, but Cook avoided a over $100,000 to lower-paying high-profile competition that positions in customer call pitted them against one anoth- centres. er, as Amazon had before decidCities have been eager to ing to build huge new offices in bring in more tech employers New York and Virginia. because their hires often make Amazon could receive up six-figure salaries. That can to $2.8 billion in incentives in ripple through the economy, New York, depending on how with new employees filling many it ultimately hires there, restaurants and theatres, buyand up to $750 ing property and million in Virpaying taxes. ginia. Apple will But an influx receive up to $25 of affluent tech million from a workers can jobs-creation Talent, also drive up fund in Texas creativity and rent and home in addition to tomorrow’s prices, making it property-tax rebreakthrough more difficult for bates, which still ideas aren’t those in lowerneed approval. limited by paying jobs to The figure is exregion or ZIP make ends meet. pected to be a code.

“When tech small fraction of companies inwhat Amazon revest in a place ceived. and try to hire The governthousands of ment incentives offered to workers, it is of course good Apple seem “more in the line news for tech workers who are of normal business site selec- already there and want to be tion” compared with Amazon’s there,” said Jed Kolko, chief public “shakedown,” said Mark economist for employment Muro, a senior fellow at the website Indeed.com. “But it Brookings Institution’s Metro- can put a strain on the housing politan Policy Center. market and transportation.”

“There’s a growing backlash Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in the country against the entire hailed Apple’s new campus as process of subsidies and reloca- a milestone development that tion inducements,” Muro said. “truly elevates Austin as one of “That said, the Apple numbers the premier technology hubs in for a very significant increase in the entire world.” jobs are much less eye-popping Apple’s move was cheered than the Amazon numbers.”

Friday by President Donald The spots where Amazon and Trump, who thanked Cook in a Apple decided to expand were tweet for “agreeing” to expand obvious choices, based on an its U.S. operations. It was sharp analysis released earlier this change in tone from Septemyear by CBRE Research. Wash- ber, when Trump responded ington, D.C., ranked as the third to Cook’s concerns about tarbest place in North America iffs by telling Apple to make for tech talent, behind Silicon its products in the U.S. instead Valley and Seattle. New York of China. Apple uses plants in ranked fifth and Austin sixth. China and elsewhere to proNo. 4 was outside the U.S.: To- duce components and assemble ronto. its products. ■ The new Austin campus, with about 3 million square feet Liedtke reported from San Ra(nearly 280,000 square meters) mon, California, and O’Brien reof office space, will be about a ported from Providence, Rhode mile from another large office Island.

39

FRIDAY DECEMBER 21, 2018

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40

DECEMBER 21, 2018

Canada

FRIDAY

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