Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #15

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER VOL. 5 NO. 15

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

CANADA NEWS Premier ends mission focused on energy, tech, labor ( On page 16 )

Marianne Bermudez

Word from Mayor Robertson: Caring for Seniors with Dementia in our communities ( On page 17 )

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrive in Toronto ( On page 17 )

ECONOMIC PRESSURE. Pineapples from the Bicol region are unloaded at the Balintawak market where they are snapped up by the public. China has imposed a ban on several fruits from Manila allegedly due to pest infestation.

GUILTY! Corona accepts fate after Senate’s 20-3 vote

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA and CATHY C. YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer GUILTY. But beyond that vote of 20 of the 23-member Senate ousting Chief Justice Renato Corona for dishonesty in submitting his statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNS), Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano pointed to a “new paradigm” in good governance.

He said that he admired Corona’s submission of an unconditional waiver during his second appearance before the Senate impeachment court on May 25 allowing the government to scrutinize all his assets, not just the bank accounts.

Saying the Corona waiver “has set a new standard” among public officials, Cayetano said that President Aquino should now instruct his Cabinet to do the same “or resign and leave government.”

“Lead by following, or get out of the way,” he said, noting that the same standard should be applied from the executive branch down to the barangay level. “We should all follow this standard.

The standard for one should be the standard for all.”

The 20-3 vote ousting the 63-year-old Corona came after 43 riveting days of the nationally televised impeachment trial for culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust.

In a statement issued from his hospital bed, Corona said he was accepting his “calvary” and left unanswered the question of whether he would still go to the Supreme Court to seek relief, possibly a declaration of mistrial. His lawyers said they were still to meet with Corona later in the evening.

The senators took Corona to task for his failure to include some $2.4 million

in bank deposits—on top of an allegedly commingled amount worth P80.7 million— in his SALNS from 2002 to 2010.

“The Senate, sitting as an impeachment court, having tried Renato C. Corona, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, upon three articles of impeachment charged against him by the House of Representatives, with a guilty vote by 20 senators representing at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate, has found him guilty of the charge under Article 2 of the said articles of impeachment,” Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile announced after four hours of voting.

“Now, therefore, be it adjudged that Renato C. Corona is hereby convicted of the charge against him in Article 2. So ordered,” he continued, before banging the gavel to signal the end of the impeachment trial.

More on page 5

Tiara: An honest documentary on the draw of beauty pageantry ( On page 18 )

Kenney says Canada not tossing would be immigrants aside ( On page 21 )

Higher duty free thresholds expected to boost cross border shopping ( On page 28 )

Dalvay by the Sea Hotel in Prince Edward Island Full of history ( On page 36 )

To subscribe, please send an email to

info@canadianinquirer.net Applicable postage shall be charged.

News-Phils

3 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Cuevas denies Corona’s ‘walkout’ was planned

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer FORMER Supreme Court Justice Serafin Cuevas said he disagreed with the abrupt departure of Chief Justice Renato Corona from the witness stand and dismissed as a “lie” media reports he had quit as lead defense counsel.

Speaking with reporters, Cuevas admitted that he had offered to resign a few weeks into the impeachment trial, which began Jan. 16, over a “conflict of opinion” with other members of Corona’s legal team. He said Corona rejected his resignation.

“That’s not true,” he said of the text messages circulating that he had resigned from Corona’s legal team after the dramatic events in the Senate tribunal.

“Sometimes I feel bad when we have a conflict of opinion. So I told the Chief Justice that it would be best if he would allow me to resign because he no longer needs me,” Cuevas said.

He said each time his resignation was rejected.

Cuevas sought to dispel speculation that Corona, who was reported to have suffered a stroke during his three-hour testimony, “faked his illness.”

“If you want, you can go and see him in the hospital so you can check his real condition,” Cuevas said.

Surprised He said he honestly believed that the surprise exit was not planned. “Had I known of that supposed plan, I would not affix my imprimatur to that kind of setup because that’s unbecoming. I would rather resign or withdraw from the case,” he stressed. “I would not let my credentials be destroyed.”

Cuevas said he himself “did not like” the way the Chief Justice left without being discharged by Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile.

“I was surprised that he was already gone when I was still making a manifestation to continue with the direct examination,” Cuevas said. “What I actually expected was for the Chief Justice to be heard and investigated before somebody condemns him and not condemnation before investigation.”

He said he could have asked Enrile to allow Corona to leave had Corona told Cuevas that he was not feeling well.

“I could have told him that it won’t do us any good if he considers walking out. Some say he was just avoiding being cross examined (by the prosecution). But those are mere conjectures.”■

Asean, US open Manila meet on strengthening cooperation

BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA played host to the inaugural meeting of the Asean-US Eminent Persons Group (EPG) in an effort to strengthen the growing cooperation between the United States and the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

J. Stapleton Roy, former US Ambassador to Singapore, China and Indonesia and one of the three US delegates to the meeting, said in a statement that they “look forward to further deepening our current partnership and building a framework for continued growth in Asean-US relations, to contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia and the broader East Asia region.” Roy and former Ambassador Rodolfo Severino, the Philippines eminent person, cochaired the meeting.

Aside from Roy, the United States was represented by Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky, a former US trade representative, and Muhtar Kent, chair and CEO of the Cocacola Company.

According to the US Embassy in Manila, “the objective of the EPG is to recommend actions to the US and Asean leaders that will strengthen their relationship into the future.”

The EPG meeting participants discussed “strategies in areas, such as improving development and cooperation in regional integration of Asean and review key elements of the Asean-US partnership, including opportunities to improve people-to-people ties, enhance trade and investment, deepen security cooperation and improve coordination in natural disasters, as well as respond to the global challenges of climate change, energy and food security,” the embassy noted.

Agenda points For its part, the Department of Foreign Affairs said the EPG meeting, which it called a “recommendation of Asean-US leaders,” had the following agenda points: Review Asean-us relations and recommend future actions, including opportunities to enhance cooperation on regional and global issues; Strengthen cooperation and coordination in specific sectors, such as trade and investment, disaster response and energy security; and

Identify new steps for the effective implementation of the decisions of previous Asean-us leaders’ meetings and the Plan of Action to implement the Joint Declaration on Asean-us Enhanced Partnership.

The Philippines will also host the 25th Asean-US dialogue, a regular meeting between Asean and US senior officials.

The meeting will be co-chaired by Foreign Undersecretary for Policy Erlinda Basilio and Kurt Campbell, US State Assistant Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific.

They will join other senior officials of the Asean and the United States in exchanging views on regional and international developments, including preparations for the 4th Asean-us leaders’ meeting in November.

Aside from the Philippines, Asean also groups Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

The Philippines is the country coordinator for Asean-US dialogue relations from 2009 to 2012.

The United States, on the other hand, has been a longstanding dialogue partner of the regional bloc since Washington established relations with the multilateral body in 1977. ■

Bumped off? Airlines now have to pay you more Passengers on domestic flights will be entitled to a full refund of their ticket plus compensation of P3,000, AIRLINE passengers bumped up from the previous compensation off flights due to the practice of rate of P150 that was set in the 1970s.

International passengers that are overbooking by carriers will now bumped off would also get a refund receive higher compensation for their trouble, the Civil Aeronautics Board and compensation of P5,000, up from the previous P500.

(CAB) has ordered.

“If accepted by the passenger, Amid increasing passenger the compensation shall constitute complaints about budget carriers bumping off passengers arbitrarily, liquidated damages for all damages the CAB on Monday published incurred by the passenger as a result Economic Regulation No. 7 defining of the carriers’ failure to provide the passenger with confirmed reserved the rights of ticket holders.

The main provision covers an space,” the CAB said.

The new rule also states that before increase in compensation for passengers who, through no fault an airline can bump off a passenger of their own, are denied boarding a due to lack of space, the company should first ask for volunteers to flight.

“Carriers shall pay passengers give up their seats. Airlines should holding confirmed reserved space— give those who volunteer priority who had presented themselves for boarding on the next available flight.

The CAB said that in cases where carriage at the proper time and place and fully complied with the carrier’s check- the number of volunteers is not in and reconfirmation procedures—but enough, passengers who would still who had been denied boarding for lack be bumped off should be compensated based on the above rates. of space,” the new rule says.

BY PAOLO G. MONTECILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer

The new CAB rule also says that passengers who are bumped off should be provided with refreshments or meals and hotel accommodations if the next flight leaves the next day, as well as transportation to and from the airport, free communications such as phone calls or Internet access and first aid, if necessary.

Passengers affected by flight delays of more than two hours that are an airline’s fault are also entitled to the same benefits. A passenger that opts out of his or her flight due to protracted delays should be given a full refund, the CAB said.

The airlines’ rights are protected by the new rule as well.

The CAB said airlines would be exempt from liability if trip delays are caused by safety and security reasons, “acts of God,” weather, labor strikes and other reasons beyond a company’s control.

The airlines are also absolved if it is the passenger’s fault that he missed his flight. ■

News-Phils Keep us out of CJ issue, says INC

BY CATHY C. YAMSUAN and CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO Philippine Daily Inquirer IGLESIA ni Cristo (INC) leaders told President Aquino to leave them out of any publicity stunts aimed at defeating efforts by Chief Justice Renato Corona to get himself acquitted in his impeachment trial.

The meeting between the President and the leaders of the 3-million-strong, bloc-voting INC came on the eve of Corona’s testimony in his own defense at the Senate and amid reports of INC lobbying for his acquittal.

A reliable INC source, who requested not to be named because he was not authorized to speak to the press, said the Iglesia elders bluntly told the President during a meeting at the church’s headquarters in Diliman, Quezon City, that they “do not appreciate” being dragged into the fray.

“President Aquino was initially asked whether the report that INC leaders were approaching senator-judges to lobby for Corona’s acquittal came from Malacañang,” the source said.

“And the Sanggunian (Council of Elders) stressed that they had nothing to do with any effort to acquit Corona,” the source said.

Veiled threat And then the elders issued a veiled threat.

“The INC leaders stressed that although they are forbearing, their patience is not inexhaustible,” the source said.

The source’s exact words in Filipino: “Mahaba ang pasensiya namin, pero darating sa punto na madadarang na kami.”

“The elders asked that they be left out of the controversy surrounding the Chief Justice. [They have nothing to do with it],” the source said.

INC Executive Minister Eduardo Manalo led the council at the meeting with the President, which lasted 30 minutes, the source said.

The INC has been linked to Corona’s impeachment trial principally because the leader of Chief Justice’s defense team, Serafin Cuevas, is an Iglesia follower.

Last week, a congressional source told the INQUIRER that INC leaders Resty Lazaro and Dan Orosa had met with Senate leaders to ensure Corona’s acquittal in his impeachment trial.

Nothing to do with lobby But Mr. Aquino’s spokesperson, Edwin Lacierda, said the meeting between the President and Manalo had nothing to do with the reported INC lobbying for Corona’s acquittal.

“The purpose of the President’s meeting was to touch base with Ka Eduardo and the Iglesia ni Cristo,” Lacierda told a press briefing in Malacañang. He reminded reporters that the INC supported Mr. Aquino when he ran for senator and for president.

Lacierda said Mr. Aquino had met with Manalo only once since coming to office in June 2010.

Fending off questions about the timing of the meeting, Lacierda said the two men were supposed to meet before Holy Week but met only when their schedules finally “jibed.”

Slew of topics’ Lacierda said the President and Manalo discussed a “slew of topics” that included the impeachment of Corona “because it’s one of the burning issues of the day.”

“The President explained to Ka Eduardo the reasons for the impeachment—that this is part of his reform agenda and basically it was just to touch base with the INC,” Lacierda said.

Asked whether the President asked Manalo about the reported INC lobbying for Corona, Lacierda said he had no other information from the meeting, only that Mr. Aquino “only mentioned the reason why there was an impeachment against Chief Justice Corona and he explained his reasons.”

‘No lobby’ But Lacierda reminded reporters that Palace officials had already denied there was an INC lobby.

Told that the INC nevertheless wielded influence over groups, Lacierda said, “We don’t believe that there is an INC lobby for the Chief Justice.”

But even if the INC is lobbying the Senate for Corona’s acquittal, there is nothing wrong with it, according to three senators.

Senators Edgardo Angara, Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Ralph Recto said in separate interviews that the Iglesia lobby was part of the political character of Corona’s impeachment trial.

The three made it clear, however, that they were not among the senators the Iglesia emissaries had been seeing.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile evaded questions about the Iglesia lobby. Reports said he was among the senators whom the emissaries tried to convince to vote for Corona’s acquittal.

“No one, no one has approached me. I quarantined myself,” Enrile said before walking away from television cameras.

Angara said even media entities lobby for certain causes so the Iglesia lobby was “not objectionable.”

Trial is political “This is a political body,” Angara said, referring to the Senate impeachment court. “Such moves are considered part of the political nature of an impeachment trial.”

“What is bad is being partisan—when the presentation of evidence is not yet finished, one is already determined to vote a certain way. Or if your vote is based on who your friends are,” he said.

Angara played down suggestions that the INC may be targeting reelectionist senators who would need the Iglesia’s support in next year’s midterm elections.

“That should not be our conclusion,” he said. “All sectors, whether religious like the INC or a civilian group, or a nonsectarian group, can talk to concerned parties or lobby for [either] side of this issue.”

“But if a lobby group approaches you, there is a need for disclosure and transparency. You should not hide this,” Angara said.

‘Harmless’ Marcos said he had had several talks with INC followers, but none about Corona’s trial.

“But if they want to talk about the impeachment trial, just talking to them is harmless. Let’s put it this way, no one has approached me, not about the trial,” he said.

Still, Marcos said it would be part of the INC’S right to express their views to senators.

“They believe in something and they want it brought to the attention of senators,” he said. “If they are citizens, they have every right to express their opinion. They are also Filipinos.”

Recto denied any meeting with the INC but likened such an encounter to his regular talks with his constituents in Batangas.

“People in Batangas come to me and express their views about the trial. They take the time so I listen to them but it does not mean they can influence me,” Recto said. “In the case of the INC, it would be the same but it hasn’t happened.”

Clear the air In the House of Representatives, Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales III said the President’s decision to meet with INC leaders on the eve of Corona’s appearance in the Senate trial was part of Mr. Aquino’s emphasis on good government.

“I don’t see anything wrong even on the assumption that the President went there for purposes including to state his position regarding this impeachment,” Gonzales said.

“The President has never kept his sentiment on the impeachment. It will not be good if a president is insensitive to the position of his former allies or ignores contrary opinions.”

Gonzales said meetings to clear the air among leaders were “not uncommon.”

“But I don’t suppose that the President went there to stop the INC from what it is doing, assuming that reports of its lobbying are true,” he said.

House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez said the President’s last-minute visit to INC leaders belied the “panic” among prosecution members. “Why would he go there if he was confident of a conviction?” Suarez said. ■

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 4

Morato: I broke no laws with my TV program

BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer FORMER Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) Chair Manuel Morato is disputing a Commission on Elections (Comelec) order for his prosecution for breach of election laws in 2010, asserting that “there is no clear line dividing press freedom and the ban on electioneering.”

In an e-mail to the INQUIRER, Morato asked, “Is there a Supreme Court doctrine on this?”

“Why was I not reprimanded during the 2010 campaign period if they thought I was violating the law? Where was Director James Jimenez of Comelec who was in charge of monitoring campaign violations? Where was the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, which is also tasked with monitoring all TV programs for poll-related violations?” he said.

Morato, also a former chair of the MTRCB said, “It proves they saw nothing really wrong, because most of the time I cracked jokes and made the public laugh.”

He explained: “To some viewers, Dial M was both a public service and comedy show. There was no malice. We poked fun at candidates who were lying or doing foolishness. Is that wrong? If they didn’t want to be criticized, they should have behaved properly.”

The Comelec said Friday it had found probable cause against Morato for violation of election laws when he used his television show “Dial M” (on state-run television NBN-4 and IBC-13) in 2010 to endorse the candidacies of then Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and actor Edu Manzano for president and vice president, respectively.

In a full-commission order, the Comelec directed its law department to file criminal charges against Morato in court.

The Comelec charged Morato with violating Section 261 of the Omnibus Election Code when as a member of the PCSO board, he authorized the release of public funds to air his TV program on May 3 and 5, 2010, and which he used to support the candidacies of Teodoro and Manzano, as well campaign against opposition senatorial candidates Teofisto Guingona III, Francis Escudero and Risa Hontiveros-baraquel.

As Dial M cohost, the Comelec said, Morato “played a very important role during the May 2010 elections. His comments could change the political setup and influence the outcome of the elections. We can’t simply ignore the impact of his comments on the electorate during the May 2010 elections.”

The Comelec said Morato had the “responsibility to safeguard public funds and not allow his program to be used for partisan political activity.”

The Omnibus Election Code prohibits the use of public funds, equipment and facilities owned or controlled by the government for an election campaign.

Morato explained that he was only one of five directors of the PCSO during the term of President Gloria Macapagal-arroyo. “As a director, I had no power of the purse,” he said.

“I was only a director and I could not do that.

That power belonged to higher authority so much so that whenever a patient would come to me for help, I always sought approval from the PCSO chair or general manager who was always empathetic to the poor,” he said. ■

5 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Guilty!...from page 1 Subdued applause The announcement was greeted by subdued clapping from the gallery, despite restrictions imposed by the Senate sergeant at arms.

Copies of the verdict were ordered transmitted to President Aquino, who campaigned for Corona’s removal, the Supreme Court en banc, Corona’s camp, the House of Representatives, and the Judicial and Bar Council, which would provide the President with a short list of candidates as the next Chief Justice.

The conviction puts an abrupt end to Corona’s stint as the country’s highest magistrate, which began in May 2010 with his disputed appointment by the outgoing President, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

House prosecutors got the crucial 16th vote to remove Corona when Sen. Ramon Revilla Jr. took the floor and rendered a guilty verdict.

Four more senators—Vicente Sotto III, Antonio Trillanes IV, Manuel Villar, and Enrile— followed suit, bringing to 20 the number of senator-judges who found the Chief Justice guilty.

Only Senators Joker Arroyo, Miriam Defensor-Santiago and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. voted to acquit Corona. They all agreed that Corona’s failure to disclose assets in his SALNS was not an impeachable offense.

History is final judge As presiding officer, Enrile cast the final vote with Corona’s fate already sealed. He provided an overview of the entire trial, its curious twists and turns and legal and “moral dilemmas.”

“I have constantly held that those who face the judgment of imperfect and fallible mortals like us have recourse to the judgment of history, and, ultimately, of God,” he said.

News-Phils “And so, with full trust that the Almighty will see us through the aftermath of this chapter in our nation’s history, I vote to hold the Chief Justice, Renato C. Corona, guilty as charged under Article 2, Paragraph 2.3, and that his deliberate act of excluding substantial assets from his sworn statement of assets, liabilities and net worth constitutes a culpable violation of the Constitution.”

Majority of the senators did not buy Corona’s position that he was precluded from declaring his dollar deposits—purportedly his family savings of nearly four decades—in his SALNS because of the “absolute” confidentiality provision of the Foreign Currency Deposit Act (Republic Act No. 6426).

Enrile, in particular, rejected Corona’s reason that he did not declare some P80.7 million worth of deposits in three peso accounts because they were “commingled” with his family’s savings, including money from Basa Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI).

“Assuming that any part of such deposits in truth belonged to third parties, the respondent could have indicated such thirdparty funds as corresponding liabilities in his SALN. That would have reflected his real net worth,” the Senate President said.

Grossly misplaced Enrile described as “grossly misplaced” the Chief Justice’s “reliance on the absolute confidentiality” provided under RA 6426. He cited the constitutional requirement for all government employees to submit SALNS. “Are we now to say that this constitutional command is limited to a public official’s assets or deposits in local currency? If so, would we not be saying, in effect, that the Constitution allows something less than a full, honest and complete disclosure?” he asked.

Enrile said Corona could have converted his dollar deposits into peso and reflected them in his SALNS. “The nondisclosure of these deposits, in both local and foreign currency, would naturally result in a corresponding distortion of the Chief Justice’s real net worth,” he said.

Because Corona was already found guilty of the second article of impeachment, the court no longer voted on the two other charges—article 3 on the alleged flip-flopping SC decisions, and Article 7 on the Supreme Court’s temporary restraining order against a justice department order preventing Arroyo from seeking medical treatment abroad.

Hypocrisy A recurring issue throughout the trial was the matter of “hypocrisy.”

Enrile acknowledged the question as to why Corona should be punished for an error—the failure to make full disclosure of assets in Salns—when others in government were most likely doing it as well.

“I believe it is our duty to resolve this ‘dilemma’ in favor of upholding the law and sound public policy,” said Enrile, one of the richest members of the upper chamber.

“If we were to agree with the respondent that he was correct in not disclosing the value of his foreign currency deposits because they are absolutely confidential, can we ever expect any SALN to be filed by public officials from here on to be more accurate and true than they are today?”

Macho bloc The House prosecution’s campaign to oust Corona gathered the support of all blocs in the Senate, including most members of Sen. Manuel Villar’s Nacionalista Party group.

Enrile’s socalled “macho bloc” consisting of Sotto, Estrada and Honasan all voted against Corona.

Not long ago, Villar waged a bitter campaign against Mr. Aquino during the 2010 presidential election. Thus, his vote was closely watched, considering that the President was considered the main architect of Corona’s removal.

Technicalities He spent most of his speech, not to explain his vote, but to recall the vilification he had likewise suffered in public. In the end, his vote turned out to be to Mr. Aquino’s liking.

“I believe that CJ Corona is a good man,” he began, “but in this issue of the (Foreign Currency Deposit) account, he was wrong.

I believe that the law applies equally to all, whether rich or poor, a member of the Supreme Court or an ordinary citizen.”

Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano sought to simplify the issue against Corona and the Chief Justice’s invocation of the absolute confidentiality provision.

“Why do we complicate what is so simple?

Technicalities should protect the rights of the people. I don’t blame this court for sticking to technicalities because this is supposed to protect the rights of the people. But, somehow in this country, it is being used to protect people who plunder this country,” he said.

“If you did not disclose, we have to depose.

If you are not fit, you cannot sit.”

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III also pounced on the issue of equal application of the law.

“The law that applies to Juan is the same law that applies to Renato,” he said in Filipino. “If you don’t want to disclose your real net worth, don’t enter government.” ■

News-Phils

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 6

BFAR lays traps to help fishermen affected by Panatag ban

BY KRISTINE FELISSE MANGUNAY Philippine Daily Inquirer THE BUREAU of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) announced it would step up the deployment of aggregate fishing devices in the waters off western Luzon to help local fishermen who were adversely affected by the declaration of a two-month closed fishing season in the disputed Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal.

If all goes well, 160 of the fishing devices, or “payao” as they are called, will be floating off the provinces of Zambales, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur by the end of June, according to BFAR Director Asis Perez.

The “payao,” each composed of a metallic float—an “anchor” made of stone, rope and leaf fronds—would enable small-scale fishermen who

can no longer fish around Panatag by virtue of Fisheries Office Order No. 143 to catch big fish such as tuna in a maximumof four hours, Perez said.

FOO No. 143, which took effect on May 16, declared a “closed season” for municipal and commercial fishing in the area in the wake of the heated territorial dispute between the Philippines and China. The prohibition on fishing will be lifted on July 15 “until further notice,” according to the order.

Perez said that of the estimated 10,000 fishermen in the coastal municipalities, “only a small percentage,” or “less than a hundred,” would be affected by the restriction.

Based on his own tally, he said, only a maximum of seven fishing vessels and a minimum of two each day used to fish in the disputed area.

His figures, he said, were based on his own observation. “Last week, I was in Masinloc (Zambales)…I asked around 200 fishermen how many went to fish at (Panatag

Shoal), and only three raised their hands,” he said.

His figures are much smaller than the reported 2,000 fishermen in the municipality whowould not have a source of livelihood as a result of the “closed season.”

According to a statement to reporters, some 30 to 40 marginal fishermen can benefit from each “payao.”

Ten “payao” have been deployed in the vicinities of Masinloc, Candelaria, Sta. Cruz and Palauig in Zambales; and in La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.

The 150 remaining “payao,” Perez said, would be similarly installed about 15 kilometers, or 7.8 nautical miles, from the shore.

He said the “payao,” which attract the small fish which the bigger fish eat, could help local fishermen catch the bigger fish without having to go to the reef.

He added that it would only take a week or two for the device to be populated with fish catch. ■

PH is best lab for extreme weather chasers

BY KRISTINE L. ALAVE Philippine Daily Inquirer A COUNTRY that gets hit by 20 typhoons every year may not be the best place to live for most people. But for weather enthusiasts and storm chasers, the Philippines’ reputation as storm central has made it the best place to witness the power of nature.

Dr. Olavo Rasquinho, head of the Typhoon Committee office in Macau, said the Philippines, with its active weather and geological systems, has become a valuable source of knowledge for meteorologists and other scientists studying volcanoes, floods and people’s responses to them.

“The Philippines is a country prone to natural disasters.

We have learned a lot from the Philippines and with Pagasa ... The Philippines is the best laboratory for natural disasters,” Rasquinho said in a recent interview.

Rasquinho, along with scientists from South Korea and Sri Lanka, visited Cagayan de Oro City recently to study the aftermath of Typhoon “Sendong.” South Korea, the team said, will help the Philippine government install weather equipment in the region to prevent another disaster.

James Reynolds is a 27-year-old videographer from London who lives in Hong Kong. He has criss-crossed Asia and has traveled to the Philippines several times to film the strongest typhoons in recent years as a freelance videographer for CNN and other news networks.

Reynolds, who also uploads his videos to Youtube under the handle Typhoonhunter, witnessed the destruction wrought by Typhoons “Pepeng” and “Santi” in 2009 and “Juan” in 2010. Those typhoons are considered among the most destructive cyclones to hit the Philippines, sinking central and northern Luzon as they crossed the island.

Reynolds also records volcano eruptions and the aftermaths of earthquakes. He grew up in London, where the weather is more stable. Abnormal weather from the

Atlantic such as wind and snow storms had always piqued his interest. He moved to Asia in 2006 to study in Taiwan, where he saw his first tropical storm. Like the Philippines, Taiwan is in the path of storms that form in the Pacific.

“The eye of the storm passed quite far south, but the wind and rain were still ferocious in Taipei city,” Reynolds said.

“After witnessing that once, I wanted to get much closer to the heart of the next typhoon to witness the most ferocious conditions of the eyewall surrounding the eye of the storm,” he said.

‘Very humbling’ His videos show the forces of nature to people who have not seen tropical cyclones. His pictures of uprooted trees, rushing floods, and surging seas show the awesome power of nature at work.

“Typhoons are an incredible force of nature unleashing far more power than mankind could ever achieve,” Reynolds said. “To be able to witness one deliberately is not easy and is sometimes quite dangerous. However it’s awe-inspiring to see what nature is capable of. It’s also very humbling and puts mankind in its place, especially so when there is unfortunate damage to people’s lives and property.”

Reynolds is not the only one who has found the Philippines attractive for extreme weather. Scientists have flocked to the country too to observe typhoons and other natural disasters.

To balance world weather Rasquinho said typhoons are often seen as enemies because of the destruction they cause in communities that are not prepared to cope with them. But they are part of nature and are needed to balance world weather.

Typhoons also help in transferring energy from the lower latitudes to the higher altitudes, he said. “They help break droughts, they fill our dams,” he said.

Without typhoons, countries in the lower latitudes will warm up, while those in the north will get colder.

Rasquinho stressed that Filipinos must be prepared to face extreme climactic events. While climate-change studies have yet to prove conclusively that the Pacific will see more and stronger typhoons in the long-term, the concept of climate variability in this part of the world has been observed, he said. This means that the Philippines should expect to see extreme typhoons in the years to come.

Rasquinho said the government should put early warning signals in vulnerable places. He noted that in the case of Sendong, which dumped 181 millimeters of rain in 24 hours in Cagayan de Oro, there were no rain gauges in the river systems and in the mountains that could have alerted the people downstream of the possibility of floods.

False sense of security The communities should also be educated about the risks and be warned of incoming typhoons, Rasquinho said. The fact that typhoons rarely visit northern Mindanao has given residents there a false sense of security, which led to the loss of hundreds of lives when Sendong came last December.

In chasing storms across Asia, Reynolds said he had seen how people often undermined the threat of severe weather.

“The biggest threat is when tropical storms hit areas which are not used to them, for example in December last year when Sendong hit Mindanao, it killed many people, partly because the area is not [used] to getting as many storms as, for example, northern Luzon,” he said.

The changes, Reynolds said, usually comes after the fact.

“Sadly it normally takes a catastrophic event for people to change or improve their reactions to severe weather,” Reynolds said. “In 2010, Typhoon Juan killed over 20 people in Taiwan when their bus was swept off a mountain road. Now the Taiwanese police close most mountain roads during a typhoon to help prevent similar catastrophes.”■

7 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

News-Phils

Tony Magdaraog / Shutterstock.com

97,000 global Pinoys sign up for 2013 polls

BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer NEARLY 97,000 Filipinos across the world have registered in the past six months to vote in next year’s elections, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

In a report posted on its website, the DFA said the Philippines’ more than 90 embassies and consulates

abroad accounted for 62,312 new overseas absentee voters (OAVS).

Philippine nationals based in Los Angeles, California, topped the list of registrants with 5,677, followed by those in Kuwait, 4,106; Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 3,669; Milan, Italy, 3,436; Tel Aviv, Israel, 3,296; San Francisco, California, 3,257; Singapore, 2,906; Hong Kong, 2,861; Rome, Italy, 2,718, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2,379.

Rounding out the top 20 places were London, United Kingdom, 2,355; Vancouver, Canada, 1,965; Toronto, Canada, 1,824; Manama, Bahrain, 1,630; New York City, 1,328; Washington, D. C., 1,290; Macau, 1,215; Chicago, Illinois, 1,150; Honolulu, Hawaii, 1,142, and Beirut, Lebanon, 1,140.

By region, the Americas topped the list with 19,807 new OAVS, followed by the Middle East and Africa, 18,824; Europe, 12,868, and Asia Pacific, 10,813.

Registration centers at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminals 1 and 2 accounted for 13,448 and 5,077 OAVS, respectively, while the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas registered 9,312 and 6,819 voters, respectively.

All told the new registrants totaled 96,968.

The 12-month OAV registration, which began on Oct. 31 last year runs until Oct. 31 this year. The elections will be held on May 13, 2013, although absentee voters are given a longer period to vote.

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario has directed the foreign outposts to intensify the OAV registration.

Raul Hernandez, the DFA spokesperson, earlier said Philippine diplomatic posts abroad “continue to exert all possible efforts to increase the number of OAV registrants and voters for the 2013 national elections.” ■

News-Phils Impeachment trial a parody, says Lipa bishop

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer LIPA CITY Archbishop Ramon Arguelles dismissed the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona as a “parody” that was doing nothing good for the country.

“Privately, [the bishops] are talking about the impeachment,” Arguelles told reporters after celebrating Mass for Corona at the Supreme Court. “Most of us think this is a parody,” he said.

“The Church received an uppercut [when the controversy about] the ‘Pajero bishops’ came out,” Arguelles said. “But it was a complete misinformation. We didn’t accept it … We are still licking our wounds.”

Arguelles was referring to the scandal involving some Roman Catholic bishops who received luxury cars and sports utility vehicles from the Arroyo administration through the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO).

“This is a parody of impeachment,” Arguelles said, referring to Corona’s trial in the Senate. “I don’t know whywe still watch it. [This is foolishness]. You saw how they raised good arguments only to falter in the end.”

He said the government should instead concentrate on other pressing problems of the country. “The poor people are getting poorer,” he said.

In his homily, Arguelles said Corona’s impeachment trial was “not the last recourse.”

“There is a final tribunal that we will have to answer to. There, our evil deeds will be the witness against ourselves and our good deeds will be the witness for our salvation,” he said.

Arguelles also asked Corona and his supporters to be “steadfast and pray hard.”

“He needs the help of heaven so all those who wanted him down will be enlightened and pray for his enemy,” he said.

Is the Catholic Church taking the side of Corona?

Fr. Robert Reyes, the so-called running priest, is afraid that’s what the Masses being held at the Supreme Court mean.

The organizers—supporters of Corona—claim the Masses are being held “for truth and justice.” But they pray not for truth and justice but for Corona’s acquittal, Reyes said.

Reyes said the Masses being held at the Supreme Court compound gave the impression of “partisan” purposes.

“The Supreme Court is the place where the Chief Justice works,” Reyes said in an interview. “People will not take [these Masses] as nonpartisan.

Celebrating Mass there is doubleedged.”

Reyes said God should not be dragged into Corona’s troubles with the law.

“God is bigger than politics,” Reyes said.

Arguelles said he celebrated Mass at the Supreme Court compound because Corona was from Batangas and he supported the Chief Justice. ■

Ecowaste warns consumers on toxic school supplies

BY JAYMEE GAMIL; ANN CLARIZ YAP and JULLIANE DE JESUS, TRAINEES Philippine Daily Inquirer ENVIRONMENTAL group Ecowaste Coalition warned consumers against toxic school supplies being sold in Divisoria, Manila, after government officials conducted an inspection in the area and approved the bargain buys.

But a price monitoring operation in Tutuban Mall conducted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Education, the Department of Health-food and Drug Administration and the Manila city government, yielded no such threats.

In fact, the government officials, led

by DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo and Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, hailed the Divisoria stock as “reasonably priced” after discovering that they were priced P2 to P3 lower than the state-suggested retail prices.

Prices of school supplies in Divisoria, including notebooks, pencils, sharpeners, ball pens, and crayons, ranged only from P40 to P150.

But Lucero insisted consumers still have cause for worry. After three separate testings with an X-ray Fluorescence spectrometer, Ecowaste found nine out of 25 school supplies, and 11 of 14 raincoats, registered lead content ranging from 229 parts per million to 9,475 ppm. Three of the raincoats also registered for cadmium up to 254 ppm.

Four of five school supplies subjected to laboratory Gas Chromatographic-mass Spectrometry overshot the phthalate safety limit, with one sample having 35.86 percent of di-iso-nonyl phthalate, she added.

Under the US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, the limit for total lead concentration in products is 90 ppm, 75 ppm for soluble cadmium, and 0.1 percent for phthalates, Lucero said.

Lucero urged consumers to read labels carefully and avoid plastic polyvinyl chloride items since phthalates are usually added to PVC for more elasticity.

Another simple rule of thumb is to “refrain from buying products with strong chemical smell and painted parts,” she said.

Domingo had said their inspections were meant to ensure that supplies were sold

within the suggested retail prices; that they comply with quality standards and labeling requirements; and that their chemical contents are within safe limits.■

Vets reminded free, quality med care available to them

BY NANCY CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer

QUALITY medical care is now available to war veterans, wherever they are, and for free.

The Aquino administration introduced the improved medical care service to war veterans on April 9, Araw ng Kagitingan, as part of its social priority program.

But most veterans may not know about it, as few are applying for medical assistance, said Dr. Nona Legaspi, director of Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC).

“This is like a miracle,” Legaspi said in an interview. “After years of neglect, war veterans now have access to quality medical care wherever they are. But still we have a slow turnout.”

But applications for medical assistance have always been few. Last year, only 2,000 of the more than 20,000 registered veterans applied for medical assistance, Legaspi said.

One reason could be distance, which the improved assistance program solves by making medical services available to veterans in their provinces.

Another reason could be the cost of health care. This too has been solved with

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 8

the government paying for all the medical expenses of war veterans.

Legaspi said all eligible war veterans and their dependents were entitled to free medical care.

“They should not spend a single centavo, all the medicines including the so-called maintenance meds, they could avail [themselves of] and their allotment is up to three months,” Legaspi said.

The government, she said, will mount an information campaign to make all veterans aware of the new medical care program.

Under the program, Legaspi said, veterans who live in the provinces need not come to Manila or to VMMC to receive medical attention.

“War veterans living in the remotest areas of the country can avail themselves of medical attention in their areas or nearest to their areas, and this will all be paid for by the government,” Legaspi said.

She said nearly 600 hospitals across the country had been accredited to the program

by VMMC. Veterans and their eligible dependents could go to these hospitals for treatment and medical benefits, she said.

Among the medical benefits that have been added to the veterans program are expensive heart ailment procedures like angioplasty and heart bypass, Legaspi said.

VMMC, she said, now subsidizes cataract surgery, hernia treatments, hearing impairment, and supplies maintenance medicines.

Legaspi said veterans living in Manila could be reimbursed only for selected medical treatments, like dialysis, or in emergency cases. ■

News-Phils

9 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

PH willing to share Spratlys bounty–P-noy

BY NORMAN BORDADORA with LEILA SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT Aquino is willing to share with other countries in the region the benefits of the natural gas deposits in the disputed territories in the West Philippine Sea. But he said he will not be a party to the ceding of portions of the Philippine archipelago to a foreign power like China.

Speaking before a general assembly of alumni of US universities late Wednesday, Mr. Aquino said the Philippine government continues to talk with the Chinese for a mutually beneficial solution to their standoff over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal as well as other disputed territories in the area.

“I am not empowered to give up any of our territory,” the President said in answer to a suggestion that “a win-win solution” might be for the two countries to split the $35 trillion worth of natural gas that another disputed territory, the Recto Bank, is believed to hold.

The Recto Bank (international name: Reed Bank), which lies within the Philippines’ 200 nautical-mile (370 kilometers) economic zone, is located about 150 kms east of the Spratly chain of islets, which is claimed in whole or in part by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, as well as the Philippines and China.

The Recto Bank, which is said to have oil and gas deposits that reach deep into the Cuyo Islands in Palawan, has been the subject of numerous exploration campaigns by the Philippines in the past.

The Philippines last year filed a diplomatic protest against China after two Chinese ships reportedly

harassed a vessel that had been contracted by the government to undertake oil exploration activities in the bank.

Mr. Aquino acknowledged that the huge benefits from the resources in the disputed territories could free the region from dependence on fossil fuel from Middle Eastern and North African countries.

“If we are able to exploit these resources, that redounds to benefits for the entire region,” he said.

He said the parties to the dispute “should work towards easing the problems and the concerns of our respective peoples in the here and now and not in some future date where, you know, it is not a fair solution.”

“If it’s clear that we have a 200-mile economic zone, exclusive economic zone, designated by the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Seas, and both of us are parties to it, is it too much to ask that our rights are respected by our neighbors in the same token that we respect their rights?” he said.

The President said the Philippines doesn’t have to be “the sole winner of exploitation of resources” in the disputed areas. He said the country has always been a good neighbor to other countries in the Asia Pacific.

However, it has to draw the line when it should look after its rightful interests, he said.

“Recto Bank is 80 miles from us. There are areas that are even closer… So if we keep on subtracting about 30 percent—and not to be flippant about it— if you don’t draw the line somewhere, will we be having claims against us on the Pasig River or other rivers?” he added.

Call to the

He stressed that the Philippines was resolved on a peaceful and diplomatic solution to the disputes with China, noting that it cannot afford to engage Beijing militarily.

“So we are exploring ways and means to resolve the conflict. We keep on reemphasizing that we are not for conflict. We do not want to present a threat to them in any shape, manner or form, or whatsoever in terms of military action,” he said.

“If it were just a boxing match, they’re 1.3 billion and we’re 93 million. We will not prevail.

That is not the route and our Constitution actually prohibits it,” he said.

Parañaque Rep. Roilo Golez said there is an upside to the tension between the Philippines and China over the Panatag Shoal dispute.

He said the Philippines’ refusal to bow down to China has united many Filipinos against a common enemy and earned the country respect from other groups and nations.

“This extended standoff, with the Philippines not buckling down against the world’s second most powerful country, is gaining for us international respect and moral support,” Golez said in a statement.

“It is a unifying and rallying force. Even Filipino groups outside the country have mobilized themselves in support of our cause,” he said.

It also shows the world that the Philippines has a strong and steadfast foreign policy that does not crumble under economic pressure and veiled military threats, Golez said. ■

PUSONG PINOY

Philippines

as low as

No Hidden Charges.

No connection fees.

Online statement with call details.

Guaranteed clear quality.

6

¢

/min

Sign up now and get 2 free tickets to Historama. Exclusive Offer expires June 9!! *Long distance call to the Philippines 6 cents per minute for the first 30 minutes every month. 11 cents for landline and 13.5 cents for mobile per minute, thereafter.

Tickets are limited in supply and first come first serve. Additional terms and conditions will apply, visit www.philindependence-van.ca/ for more details.

Call now: 1-888-980-8380 Or Visit us at: timestelecom.ca/Six-Sense

News-Phils

‘We’ll get back what is ours’

BY CYNTHIA D. BALANA Philippine Daily Inquirer HONOLULU—CHIEF Justice Renato Corona, whether found guilty or innocent in his Senate impeachment trial, will be made liable, along with his wife Cristina and daughter Carla, for usurping Basa-guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI) from its stockholders and squandering its finances, according to an heir of the corporation’s majority stockholders.

“He and Cristina and Carla will not be off the hook after the impeachment (trial). We will not let this go away. We will get back what is rightfully ours,” said Ana Basa, second of nine children of Jose Maria Basa III, who was one of the original stockholders of BGEI. Corona is also facing forfeiture proceedings in the Office of the Ombudsman for unexplained wealth.

Speaking from Las Vegas, Nevada, Ana called up this reporter here and talked about her family’s course of action against the Coronas with respect to the BGEI ownership in light of revelations in the Senate trial about what really happened in the corporation.

Ana said the Coronas probably did not expect the Basa family and the rest of her relatives to fight back after years of prosecution and persecution allegedly inflicted on them by the Corona couple given the Chief Justice’s position in the judiciary.

Lately, Us-based members of the Basa family have been consulting with their lawyers both in the United States and in the Philippines on their possible course of action against those responsible for the pillage of the corporation.

Challenge Ana said the Basa family would challenge the transfer of BGEI ownership to her niece, Carla, for a measly sum of P28,000 and the sale of a BGEI property in Sampaloc, Manila, by the Corona couple to the city government of Manila.

Ana said her family had been informed by its lawyers that all three Coronas, the regional trial judge and the court sheriff who executed the order to garnish her parents’ majority shares in BGEI without the Basa family’s knowledge and allowed their transfer to Carla were all liable under the law.

Following the death of her husband Jose Ma. Basa II, Rosario Guidote Basa formed BGEI on May 30, 1961, and served as treasurer. The shares were divided between her and five children and their spouses, namely Sister Concepcion, Mario Basa and wife Cecilia, Asuncion Basa-roco and husband Vicente, Sister Flory, and Jose Ma. Basa III and wife Raymunda.

Asuncion and Vicente were Cristina’s parents, while Jose Ma. III and Raymunda were Ana’s parents.

Concepcion was corporate secretary, while Vicente, being a lawyer, was made president.

How feud began The feud between the families of Jose Ma. III and Asuncion began when Rosario and Mario died in 1983.

At that time, the tenants at the BGEI building had complained to Jose Ma. III that the building was falling apart, but the management was not addressing the issue, Ana said.

She said the stockholders had sent demand letters to inspect corporate books, but Cristina instead wanted the corporation to convene an emergency meeting to resolve all issues involving the tenants’ complaints. Jose Ma. III was dissatisfied and commissioned an independent accounting firm to see if they could make sense of what was going on.

Ana said that some of the audit findings were astounding—one tenant was paying P132,000 annually, but the amount reflected in the book of accounts only showed P124,000, outrageous salaries of those running the corporation and exorbitant fees being paid to certain firms hired to provide services.

In 1986, Cristina, acting as assistant secretary, submitted a general information sheet (GIS) to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) questioning whether Sister Concepcion and Sister Flory were actually stockholders.

She later claimed in court that she was merely acting on the request of Rosario.

In 1987, a second demand letter was sent to Vicente and Asuncion by lawyer Michael Laub from Lake Tahoe, Nevada, on behalf of the Basa family, but to no avail.

In 1989, Jose Ma. III was elected BGEI board chair; Mario, vice president; Sister Concepcion, treasurer; and Melissa Basa (Mario’s daughter), secretary.

Absent at meeting Vicente and Asuncion were absent at the meeting. A GIS submitted to SEC in 1990 by the new officers showed the BGEI board of directors as follows: Jose Ma. III, Raymunda, Sister Concepcion, Sister Flory, Asuncion and Vicente Roco.

According to Ana, the names of Mario and Cecilia and their heirs no longer appeared because her father had bought their shares, including Cecilia’s bowling alley, making Jose Ma. III and Raymunda the majority owners with more than 90 percent of the shares.

Vicente and Asuncion filed Civil Case Nos. 01-99613 and 01-99620 in the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 46, seeking on behalf of BGEI the cancellation and annulment of the stockholders’ meeting that elected Jose as chair.

The SEC then directed the corporation to organize a management committee to oversea BGEI until cases were resolved. Jose Ma. III, Raymunda, Cecilia, and Sisters Flory and Concepcion submitted two names as designated representatives, while Vicente, Asuncion and Cristina did not submit names.

Probate case Vicente, Asuncion and Cristina likewise filed a probate case, claiming that Rosario still owned 87 percent of BGEI and that Cristina was entitled to 10 percent of the shares through a deed of assignment from her mother, thus leaving only 3 percent of outstanding shares.

But Ana said there was no record in the corporation of Cristina as a stockholder and as a corporate officer.

A writ of preliminary injunction was later issued by the SEC, which ordered the new board officers to refrain from representing themselves as the new management of BGEI until further orders to resolve the dispute.

Acting on the complaints from BGEI tenants, however, the Basas led by Jose Ma. III filed a case of estafa against Cristina for allegedly misappropriating P224,000 in payments to the corporation. They also placed a paid notice to the public in newspapers asking BGEI tenants to refrain from making payments to Cristina until the case was resolved.

The case, however, was dismissed by the city prosecutor’s office.

Humiliated Feeling humiliated, Cristina struck back. She sued Jose Ma. III, Raymunda, her sisters and other relatives for libel in Manila and Quezon City, and succeeded in getting holddeparture orders against them.

She won the libel case in 1997. A court found Jose Ma. III, Raymunda and Virgilio Macaventa guilty, and awarded Cristina P500,000 for moral damages. Sister Flory, Cecilia and Betsy Tenchavez were acquitted in another case.

In 1993, Vicente died, but Asuncion did not report this to the SEC, Ana said. She claimed that whatever assignment given by Vicente to his daughter Cristina as administrator in his capacity as BGEI president should be null and void after his death.

In 1995, Asuncion abandoned her position in BGEI and moved to California where she died. Sister Concepcion also passed away.

The SEC served a show-cause letter to BGEI for failure to file its GIS for 1981 to 1985, 1987 to 1988, and 1991, and financial statements up to 1991.

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 10

The SEC also issued a certification that the corporation’s records did not show any board resolution authorizing Cristina to represent and collect rental payment for and in behalf of the corporation, Ana said.

Concepcion died in 1995, Jose Ma. III in 2003 and Asuncion in 2006.

Writ of execution Of the two counts of libel in which Ana’s parents were convicted, one court awarded Cristina P500,000 in damages. Ana said her parents were convicted for failure to attend the promulgation as they were in the United States.

A writ of execution was issued in 2001, enabling Cristina. to levy her parents’ shares in BGEI to cover the P500,000 monetary award in her favor .

At the senate impeachment court on May 8, Sheriff Joseph Bisnar of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 216 said under oath that he delivered both the writ of execution and garnishment on the same day they were issued at an address provided by Cristina.

Ana said her parents never received any notice because it was issued to the wrong address—the house of Asuncion Roco, nicknamed Monina and Cristina’s mother.

“That was the address of Tita Monina. That’s the house of Cristina’s parents. She grew up there. That’s not our house,” Ana said.

Sole bidder Bisnar, who implemented the public auction and sale of shares of Jose Ma. III and Raymunda in BGEI in September 2003, said Cristina’s daughter, Carla CoronaCastillo, was the only participant in the auction and bought the shares of Jose Ma. III and Raymunda [representing 91 percent of BGEI] for P28,000.

“Dad would have never allowed BGEI shares to be auctioned off because that was his promise to my grandmother,” Ana said. “We can afford to buy the shares, but my parents never received any type of notice. [My father] would have figured out another way to pay it.”

Ana believes that with the impeachment trial of Corona, her family has a fighting chance to pursue cases in court against the Coronas “without obstruction and harassment,” unlike before when Corona was close to two former Presidents—fidel Ramos and Gloria MacapagalArroyo.

“Our lawyers said all three Coronas, especially Cristina, are liable to the stockholders for gross negligence and bad faith in directing the affairs of BGEI and for allowing the shares to go for a mere P28,000.

They said she is also guilty of acquiring personal or pecuniary interest in conflict with her duty as a trustee,” Basa said.

Ana said her family was relieved that people have come to realize about the “true colors” of the Coronas because of the impeachment.

“You know what they did to us. It shows they have no morals. If they can hurt us, if they can do this to our little family like what my aunt, Sister Flory, said, ‘What more to the rest of the nation?’” she said.

The sale of the BGEI property in Sampaloc itself without the knowledge of Jose’s heirs, Ana said, was highly questionable since up to now, there was still no decision on the probate case that Cristina had filed against them.

There’s still a pending case regarding this, she said, because the stockholders’ right to inspect the corporate books had been denied and violated even with demand letters sent to Asuncion and Cristina.

Other properties Ana said other BGEI properties in the same area that were levied by the Coronas were in the name of her father. So, up to now the Coronas cannot sell these properties, she said.

“I wanna ask Cristina: ‘Are you satisfied? Did that make you happy? You know the reason for all these?’ To us, it can’t just be money because she also has money.

They (Coronas) are just out to hurt us because she was shamed by Dad when he filed an estafa [case] against her.

She could not take it and so that’s her mission in life—to make my parents miserable,” Ana said. ■

Historama will be on June 9, 2012, from 2 - 5 p.m. at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 630 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2P1. Door opens at 1:00 p.m.

For ticket inquires, please visit www.philindependence-van.ca

Opinion THERE’S THE RUB

BY CONRADO DE QUIROS Philippine Daily Inquirer IN FAIRNESS, it wasn’t entirely unsolicited.

Manny Pacquiao was asked the question by a reporter probably with a view to provoking a controversial remark from him—boy, did he get one—and Pacquiao took the bait. It’s a lesson again on being wary or circumspect in answering provocative questions from reporters, whether local or foreign.

It has happened even to people who do not open their mouths as unthinkingly as Pacquiao.

Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens, was asked by a reporter if he approved of Iran’s fatwa or death sentence on Salman Rushdie for writing “The Satanic Verses,” and Yusuf lengthily sifted through Islamic laws. That was interpreted as evasion and Yusuf was depicted to be a supporter of the fatwa. It took him more than a decade, much denunciation of the misreporting, and a more categorical condemnation of the fatwa to dispel the suggestion.

Did Pacquiao really quote that part of the Bible that said men who lie with other men should be put to death? I don’t know, though that is easily resolved by the reporter producing the recorded exchange. I myself suspect he did. Reporters in that part of the world are not naturally given to manufacturing quotes. The United States is a litigious country, lawyers waiting in the wings to pounce on mistakes like that. And Pacquiao himself has been spouting fiery verses from the Bible of late after his not

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 12

KO

very biblical behavior last year made him look like a resident of Sodom and Gomorrah in the eyes of his wife.

But whether he did or not, that was really stupid expressing his disapproval of Barack Obama’s gay marriage policy on religious grounds. How hard could it have been to say, “I will not comment on it, I have my beliefs, you have yours. I respect your beliefs, respect mine.”

But that is expecting finesse from someone who has never exhibited it outside the ring. You drop to your knee and bow your head in prayer before a fight, the world will be impressed and call you devout. You drop Bible verses and bow to your desire to make pasikat about your devoutness, the better to make up for less than devout conduct for much of your waking hours, the world will be pissed off and call you a lout.

Imagine if a Muslim imam were to go to America and lecture Americans about the sinfulness of their ways, specifically expressed in their treating their women as equals. When in the eyes of Allah, as shown in the Koran, women are there to serve men for the greater glory of heaven. Or when in the eyes of the ummah, as shown by traditional practice, men may have many wives but women may show only absolute fidelity to their husbands on pain of stoning. How do you think he will be received? Well, look at Pacquiao—whom a famous mall in Hollywood has banned from its premises and who stands to lose his commercial endorsements, chief of them Nike—and weep. It’s an object lesson, if a painful one, in respecting other cultures.

Pacquiao himself says he has nothing against gays, he has a cousin who is one, but that his religious beliefs compel him to not accept gay marriage. Fine, but at the very least you don’t go around prescribing that for others, particularly others of a different culture. But far more than that, that doesn’t make things better, that makes things worse.

It’s cringingly patronizing. It’s like saying, “I have nothing against women, it’s just that my religious beliefs compel me to not accept them as equals. To be given equal rights, equal freedoms, equal opportunities, under the law.”

It’s not likely that we ourselves are going to have gay marriage in this country in the near, or probably even far, future. Hell, we can’t even have divorce, the only country left in the world that doesn’t have it. It has made for a great deal of hypocrisy. The Church frowns on divorce only to turn a blind eye on the practice of mistress-keeping which it has spawned. And we do not lack for Biblespouting religious fanatics like Pacquiao who regard gays as deviants, if not perverts, but who lap up the movies, telenovelas, and show biz programs they produce. Oh, yes, they’re the heart of the entertainment industry. Take them out and ABS-CBN, GMA 7, Channel 5 and the entertainment section of newspapers would collapse.

But that’s another story. The point is respect for other cultures and other beliefs.

You do not go abroad thinking to inflict your own on another people, whether solicited or

not, whether provoked or not. That is a fight you won’t win. It’s no small irony that in the end, Pacquiao fought his greatest fight not against Juan Manuel Marquez, whom he can’t seem to find a way to beat, or Floyd Mayweather, who keeps dodging him—and who just as ironically is fighting the fight of his life against his own demons in a jail cell— but against himself. And lost.

No, Pacquiao will never be the greatest.

I already said that a couple of years ago at the height of his fame. Several boxing pundits were saying at the time he might even surpass Muhammad Ali, having already moved up several weight divisions, having won against much bigger opponents, having broken records. I said he might be the greatest boxer that ever lived but he would never surpass Ali. Ali fought a fight against the most awesome opponent of all, an opponent that had never lost before, an opponent that had crushed challengers along the way. That opponent wasn’t Sonny Liston or George Foreman or Joe Frazier. That opponent was government, that opponent was bigotry, that opponent was oppression. And he had brought it down. While Pacquiao had only propped up a fake president, while Pacquiao had only helped to sustain oppression, while Pacquiao had only endured the torments of karaoke.

And now this. The gay person who cuts my hair summed it up perfectly: Si Pacquiao na-KO ng bading. ■

AS I SEE IT

How CJ can explain his immense wealth

BY NEAL H. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer IS THERE really an Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) lobby to have Chief Justice Renato Corona acquitted by the Senate impeachment court?

Malacañang doesn’t believe so, but I think it is very likely. The Palace said “it wouldn’t be surprised” if some people affiliated with the INC would lobby for Corona, but it doubted that the lobbying would be instigated or have the approval of INC’S leadership.

The evidence so far indicates that there indeed was lobbying by the INC, at least by some of its members. Some senators confirmed that a few influential members of the religious sect have talked to them at a dinner and lobbied for the acquittal of Corona. Others said there were similar feelers to them but they did not accept the invitation to dinner.

Curiously, there is no denial from the INC itself, only silence. If there is no such lobby, wouldn’t the INC leadership issue a vehement denial? So why is there only silence from the INC? Some observers say that Corona would use every help and every trick to have himself acquitted. And the INC, because of its reputed clout in elections, would be a very strong help. I am not saying that he actually asked for INC’S help, but it is very likely that some members sympathetic to Corona would, on their own, try to help.

Names of some senators have been mentioned as having been approached,

particularly Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Majority Leader Tito Sotto. Enrile refused to be interviewed on the subject and Sotto denied he had been approached. Other senators also said they had not been lobbied, but how much value can we put on the words of politicians?

Anyway, how much effect would an INC lobby have on the senator-judges? Senators who will be running for reelection in 2013 would surely be affected. After all, INC’S block voting could spell the difference between winning or losing in the polls.

Reports say that the candidates of Vice President Jejomar Binay’s UNA have been targeted by the lobbyists. This is not surprising. There is an apparent link among the propagandists of Binay and Corona. The same mouthpieces are working for both Binay and Corona. A breakfast forum in Quezon City is blatantly pro-Corona and pro-Binay. Only lawyers of Corona’s defense team are being invited to the forum, although a media forum is intended primarily to give members of the press a balanced view of any issue. Prosecution lawyers are seldom invited. It is left to members of media to provide a balance between the prosecution and the defense in the forum.

How many reelectionists are there in the UNA senatorial ticket? So far, only Senators Koko Pimentel and Gringo Honasan. So we will know whether or not there was indeed such an INC lobby and how effective it was by how Koko and Gringo would vote.

On the other hand, how can there be a vote for Corona’s acquittal when the

evidence against him is so damning, especially the testimony of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales? The defense was obviously caught flatfooted by Morales’ testimony that Corona had a number of dollar bank accounts. It didn’t know that the Ombudsman had the numbers on it.

Television footage showed the shocked faces of the defense lawyers. Chief defense counsel Serafin Cuevas was caught with his mouth open in shock for several minutes.

The usually voluble Cuevas didn’t know what to say.

Obviously, Corona didn’t tell the truth even to his own lawyers. He didn’t tell them he had those dollar accounts. If he did, they could at least have been prepared.

Remember, the Ombudsman is the defense’s own witness. It was the defense who asked the impeachment court to subpoena her to testify as a hostile witness for the defense.

It had her summoned because it thought she had nothing on Corona. It was confident that the Supreme Court’s restraining order could not allow the opening of the dollar bank accounts. It turned out that the Antimoney Laundering Council (AMLC) had already done its job, opened the bank accounts, and gave a copy of its report to the Ombudsman.

Its findings: Corona had at least 82 dollar bank accounts with total deposits of $12 million. Investigators of the Ombudsman and the Commission on Audit (COA) reported that Corona’s wealth totaled P677 million! Wow!

The defense says that Corona could not have 82 dolllar bank accounts but perhaps only four.

Corona is not accused of having many dollar accounts. He is accused of not declaring under oath all his assets in his statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) as mandated by law, and he has very clearly not declared all of them. Even if he failed to declare only $10, that is already a violation of the law.

Corona will testify tomorrow on where and how he acquired his fabulous wealth. How he will explain them is anybody’s guess. On account of the great weight of evidence against him, I can see only a few tricks that Corona can pull to explain them: 1. He can use the “Mike Arroyo trick”: that the dollar accounts are not really his but that of his brother given to him for safekeeping.

2. That he won in the lotto. 3. That he won in the casinos. 4. That he bet on Pacquiao in his boxing matches. 5. That he found a bagful of money in a taxicab. He wanted to return the money to its owner like a good citizen but didn’t know who the owner was. So he deposited the money in several banks. Why did he deposit them in so many accounts in so many banks? With so many bank robberies in the Philippines, he was afraid that if he kept the money in one bank, that bank might be robbed, or closed by the Bangko Sentral, and all the money would be gone. Kawawa naman ang rightful owner. With the money distributed in many banks, there would be some left even if some of the banks were robbed or failed. ■

13 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Opinion

ANALYSIS

The last witness: Prelude to mistrial?

BY AMANDO DORONILA Philippine Daily Inquirer THIS ARTICLE presents a summary of the extralegal interventions impinging on the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona as it winds down on May 30. It does not address legal issues stemming from the trial, an examination of which is better left to lawyers in both the prosecution and defense panels. It is more about the highly charged atmosphere surrounding the climactic phase of the trial.

Corona will have his day in court on Tuesday.

He will appear for the first time to confront his accusers as the last witness for the defense.

As he prepares to take the witness stand, he runs into a deluge of damning evidence dumped by prosecutors, backed by the resources of the entire machinery of the administration of President Aquino, into the impeachment tribunal, as well as into the mass media, in the all-out trial by publicity of a total annihilation campaign to remove Corona from the high court.

Corona’s turn to defend himself comes after four months of no-holds-barred vilification of the Chief Justice in the impeachment court and in the public media in what is clearly an unequal combat between the head of the weakest branch of the government, in a supposedly democratic political system, and the President of the Republic, the most powerful official of the land, backed by the police powers of the state and the patronage resources at the disposal of the Chief Executive.

Clearly, the defense panel faces an uphill battle to save Corona from dismissal, and has no

illusion about the huge odds stacked against it and its chances of winning his acquittal.

The purpose of this article is to assess the balance of the deployment of forces on the scales of this epic trial, so the public won’t have false and unrealistic expectations of its outcome, despite the often brilliant on-court performance of the talented defense panel, led by former Supreme Court Associate Justice Serafin Cuevas.

At the same time, this article serves to emphasize the point that since the start of the trial on Jan. 16, I have argued that I had no quarrel with the administration’s actions to prosecute officials of the previous administration to hold them accountable, including the impeachment of Corona, who is accused of betrayal of public trust for offenses spelled out in the articles of impeachment on the condition that Corona is given a fair trial under the regime of the rule of law and due process within the framework of the rules of impeachment outlined by the presiding judge, Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, in his opening policy statement.

Up to this stage of the trial, this concern for fairness has remained the position of this space and the reason why it has refrained from comment on evidence sub judice, introduced in the media outside the jurisdiction of the impeachment court.

Integrity of trial I believe that this view of allowing the tribunal to reach a fair and impartial decision without undue interference from outside forces, including the Aquino administration, is shared by many in

the public as an important means to ensure a fair trial. Consequently, it is erroneous and unfair to accuse anyone of taking this position as being pro-Corona.

The outcome—either conviction or acquittal— is less important than the integrity of the trial.

Recent opinion surveys showed that most Filipinos would accept either a guilty or not guilty decision provided the trial process is seen as fair.

The trial has arrived at a juncture where every instance of outside interventions in the functions of the senator-judges in an effort to influence their vote is closely watched by the public. At this point, questions have been raised that such undue interference could compromise the integrity of the trial.

Such event could also lead to the political disaster of a colossal mistrial that could trigger the collapse of the impeachment process with worse consequences than the breakdown of the impeachment trial of former President Joseph Estrada following the suppression of evidence on his bank transactions. The suppression halted the trial and triggered people power demonstrations that forced him out of office.

Prosecutors in Palace On the eve of Corona’s appearance, three prosecutors—Quezon Rep. Lorenzo Tañada III, lawyer Mario Bautista and Cavite Rep. Joseph Emilio Abaya—were sighted by Inquirer photographers in Malacañang, raising questions on what they were doing there or whether they were seeking instructions from the Palace.

Palace officials admitted that the prosecutors had met with Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda told reporters that he didn’t know what the prosecutors discussed with Ochoa.

On the side of the defense, emissaries associated with Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) were reported by the Inquirer, quoting an unidentified legislative source, to have been lobbying senator-judges to try and sway them to acquit Corona. The reports said the emissaries sought meetings with some senatorjudges, but they rejected the request ostensibly in the effort to remain independent in their decisions on the case.

In February, the religious sect held a large rally at Rizal Park in Manila, attended by an estimated half a million members, in a show of force and political clout to manifest its support for Corona.

Cuevas is an INC member.

Since January, the President has been overtly interfering with the independence of the impeachment trial by declaring Corona guilty in public statements even before the defense had presented its case to the tribunal.

The trial by publicity was the administration’s strategy of bringing its case directly to public opinion, undermining the impeachment process in the effort, apparently intended to put pressure on the senator-judges to vote “on the side of the voice of the people” or “on the right side of history.”

This was a pitch for building up the rule of the lynch mob instead of the rule of law based on evidence.

The impeachment tribunal has no place in this dangerous scheme.■

PUBLIC LIVES

Corona’s word

BY RANDY DAVID Philippine Daily Inquirer IN MANY WAYS, tomorrow’s (Monday) caucus of the senator-judges is probably as crucial to the impeachment case as the muchawaited testimony of the accused Chief Justice Renato Corona. We may recall that some of the senators, after hearing the explosive testimony of Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales, expressed a need to verify her findings by summoning the head of the Anti-Money Laundering Council or the bank managers themselves.

That need may not have the same urgency now because of Corona’s decision to finally take the witness stand. But summoning the bank managers and asking them to disclose the accounts of the accused remain a live issue.

And it is a potent one, given the complications it could trigger—including a possible headon collision between the Senate impeachment court and the Supreme Court. The high court had earlier issued a temporary restraining order on the disclosure of Corona’s foreign currency accounts. The Senate opted not to challenge the TRO, but my sense is that it is not averse to going against it if the need arises.

A lot depends on what information Corona himself is prepared to provide in his testimony.

He will be asked to confirm the existence of dollar accounts under his name. His lawyers will object, citing the absolute confidentiality of

such accounts. He will then be challenged, as a public official on trial, to authorize the banks to disclose all his accounts. He will decline—as humbly as possible—citing his constitutional rights.

There is a big downside to this strategy.

Corona’s lawyers may be able to score legal points by invoking their client’s constitutional rights, but only at the cost of making him appear evasive. If he stonewalls in his answers, the public will take it against him. Concealment is the worst thing one can do in a very public impeachment trial. The defense knows that it has the urgent task of disputing the Ombudsman’s findings. It is hard to imagine how this can be done by merely denying that the Chief Justice had anything to do with the transactions documented by the AMLC. Corona’s lawyers have been telling the media that Ombudsman Morales’ testimony is of dubious probative value. They are saying that a scientific interpretation of the raw data from the AMLC would yield a very different picture. Up to this point, this rebuttal is being performed outside the courtroom. When the trial resumes on Tuesday, will they present their reading of the AMLC data using Corona’s testimony as platform? But how would they do this without their client admitting that some of these transactions are his?

My expectation is that, if and when he gets to the point of testifying at all, Corona will admit to owning a few, not 82, dollar accounts.

He will try to show that these funds all came from legitimate sources. He will argue that these assets are not his personally but belong to his whole family. He will then say he felt no obligation to declare them in his annual statements of assets, liabilities and net worth because these are covered by the absolute confidentiality of foreign currency deposits. He might even challenge his detractors in Congress to show if any of them have declared dollar deposits in their SALNs. The prosecution and the senator-judges will, however, not let the issues raised by Ombudsman Morales’ testimony be dismissed so easily. In view of competing interpretations of the same set of raw data, they will argue that the best way to determine which one is valid would be by opening the bank accounts themselves. The Senate clearly wishes it did not have to come to this point. But if the accused refuses to authorize the disclosure of his bank assets, there may be no choice but for the impeachment court to subpoena them.

What this case comes down to, in the last analysis, is the credibility of the Chief Justice’s explanation of the assets found under his name—where they came from and why he did not report them in his SALNs. If the sums involved turn out to be not as staggering as the Ombudsman’s report shows them to be, he will definitely earn public sympathy. If, beyond this, he volunteers to authorize the banks to disclose all his deposits even before he is asked

to do so, he will gain the public goodwill that has so far eluded him. The public might then be inclined to treat the nondisclosure of these deposits in his SALNs as nothing more than a lapse in judgment, rather than as a grievous impeachable offense.

As I have repeatedly pointed out in previous columns, because impeachment is as political as it is judicial, it is impossible for the senatorjudges to ignore public opinion. Where there is plausible deniability of wrongdoing, the senators who are presently vacillating will go for an acquittal. But if the accused’s muchanticipated testimony amounts to nothing more than a clever exercise in using the law to suppress evidence, not even the most sympathetic senator-judge will find it easy to justify a vote of acquittal.

The Chief Justice is not like an ordinary citizen who is vulnerable to all kinds of criminal suits. A difficult process, impeachment is the only way to make him accountable. But the moment the occupant of this high office reaches the point of being impeached, the burden of showing his fitness to remain in this exalted position rests heavily on him. Unless he faces the charges squarely and explains himself adequately, he will forever remain tainted even if there may not be enough votes to actually take him out. As Chief Justice, his word would mean nothing.■ *** public.lives@gmail.com

Business PH budget surplus at record high in April

BY RONNEL W. DOMINGO Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE GOVERNMENT posted a record budget surplus of P31.02 billion in April as both revenues and expenses registered double-digit growth year-on-year, according to the Bureau of the Treasury.

April’s figure brought the deficit for the first four months of the year to P2.88 billion. This is less than 3 percent of the 109.34 billion the government intends to spend on top of the national budget in the first semester.

The four-month deficit was a reversal from P62million surplus reported in the same period of 2011.

From January to April, expenses reached P517.13 billion, accounting for 58 percent of the program for the first half of the year. The expenses during the period was also 12.1 percent higher year-on-year.

Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad admitted that spending, especially on priority programs and projects, needs to grow at a much faster pace.

“We in DBM will work closely with key departments in the remainder of the second quarter to troubleshoot implementation bottlenecks, address capacity constraints, and accelerate disbursements,” Abad said in a statement.

Even then, the budget chief pointed out that disbursements would continue to grow and “reverse the contraction of disbursements last year.”

Also, four-month revenues reached a total of P514.24 billion, which was 66 percent of the goal for the first semester. It was also 11.4 percent higher than that of last year.

In April alone, expenditures reached P122.24 billion—91 percent higher than the P112.08 billion spent in the same month last year.

Revenues reached P153.27 billion, an increase of 10.8 percent from P138.34 billion.

The April revenue performance proves that there is

still room “for tax collections to grow considerably through process re-engineering and efficient tax administration marked by a sustained campaign against smuggling and tax evasion,” Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said in a separate statement.

“Moving forward, the Aquino administration will continue to plug loopholes in the Philippine tax system, one of which has seen progress after 15 years of continued delay,” Purisima added, referring to excise tax reforms.

From January to April, the Bureau of Internal Revenue contributed P345.06 billion to the national coffers. It was 64 percent of the collection target set for the first half, but 13.9 percent higher than that of last year.

The Bureau of Customs chipped in P94.9 billion, which was 57 percent of the target set for the first semester but 11.6 percent better than last year’s collection.

The Bureau of the Treasury turned in P41.85 billion, exceeding its own first-half target, but 5.7 percent less than that of a year ago.

Other government offices yielded P32.43 billion, which was 78 percent of the first-half goal, and 11.7 percent better year-on-year.

The government wants to keep the deficit at 2.6 percent of gross domestic product in 2012, trimming it to 2 percent by 2013, and keeping it at that level until 2016 when President Aquino’s term ends. ■

PNB net income skyrocketed to P1.2B in Q1

BY DORIS C. DUMLAO Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE PHILIPPINE National Bank chalked up a first quarter net profit of P1.2 billion, 11 times more than the bottom line yielded in the same period last year, due to large gains from securities and foreign exchange trading.

Treasury earnings accounted for 45 percent of PNB’S total operating income for the period although the bank stressed that it also continued to strengthen its core lending business.

Net gains from trading and investment securities amounted to P1.76 billion, a dramatic turnaround from the P153.49-million loss in the first quarter of 2011.

On the other hand, gross interest income on loans and receivables went up by 10 percent to P1.94 billion from the same level in the previous year.

Owing to improved volume and spreads, net interest income improved by 2 percent to P1.86 billion year-on-year.

“The robust growth of the bank’s consumer loans and middle market portfolio provided significant buffer to temper the squeeze in spreads from large corporate loans due to stiff competition,” PNB said in a statement.

The bank led by taipan Lucio Tan grew its loan book during the period by 2.6 percent year-on-year to end March at P129.5 billion while deposit base dipped by 4.4 percent to P227.1 billion over the same period.

But PNB tempered its cost of funds by 16 percent year-on-year as it focused on the generation of lowcost deposits (current account/savings accounts) while deliberately letting go of high-cost time deposits. ■

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 14

PDIC starts paying small EIB depositors

Record shows 29,314 bank accounts to be covered

BY MICHELLE V. REMO

Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE PHILIPPINE Deposit Insurance Corp. said it would start paying small deposits placed in Export & Industry Bank, which the central bank ordered closed last month.

In a statement, PDIC said depositors with accounts of P10,000 and below could expect to receive deposit insurance payments starting today through postal money orders. Mailing of payments for small deposits is expected to be completed by June 1, it added.

“The initial batch of deposit insurance payments is for holders of accounts who have no outstanding loans with EIB and who have updated their addresses with the bank in the past year. These account holders were not required to file deposit insurance claims,” PDIC said.

There are 29,314 bank accounts in EIB with deposits of P10,000 or below, said PDIC, citing results of its evaluation of the records of the closed bank.

Under PDIC rules, clients of closed banks with accounts of P10,000 or less, as long as they do not have unpaid loans, will be automatically paid by the state insurer.

For those with deposits worth more than P10,000 must file insurance claims.

Under the law, deposits of P500,000 or less are covered by deposit insurance. Any amount in excess of P500,000 may or may not be returned depending on the amount to be raised by PDIC from the sale of the remaining assets of the closed bank.

Clients of the closed EIB with deposits worth at least 10,000 may expect to have their deposit insurance claims serviced starting June 19.

“The exact schedules (of payments) per branch and the venues will be announced through notices to be posted in the bank premises and other public places, and through the PDIC website (www.pdic. gov.ph), newspapers and radios,” PDIC said.

PDIC was shut down by the Monetary Board of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last month amid reports of insolvency.

The Monetary Board said the bank had to be closed “on account of its inability to meet its obligations as they become due, insufficient realizable assets to meet its liabilities and its inability to continue business without involving probable losses to its depositors or creditors.”

The central bank said the decision to close EIB came after the bank issued a notice stating its intention to go on a bank holiday.

EIB has 50 branches that carried P14 billion in deposits.

The bank was headed by its president Jaime Gonzales and chair Juan Victor Tanjuatco.

According to a disclosure it made earlier, EIB posted a net loss of more than P700 million in the first three quarters of 2011. ■

Sports

s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

Roach: Manny will win easily

BY FRANCIS T.J. OCHOA Philippine Daily Inquirer

TIMOTHY Bradley says he’s a whole lot better than Juan Manuel Marquez and that Manny Pacquiao could be in for a surprising night when they clash in Las Vegas on June 9. Freddie Roach isn’t biting.

“I think that Manny will beat Tim Bradley pretty easily,” Roach told Ringtv.com recently.

The Hall of Fame trainer likened Bradley to Ricky Hatton, who Pacquiao crushed in a spectacular second-round Koin 2009.

“Bradley got mad when I said that he’s no better than Ricky Hatton, but he’s never impressed me,” said Roach.

Bradley, though, feels that he has what it takes to defeat the poundfor-pound icon.

“Sometimes I think that Freddie Roach is really naive about his fighter,” Bradley told Ringtv.com.

“Freddie has confidence in his

fighter, and that’s great, but I don’t think that they realize what they’re getting into, to be honest with you.”

Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 knockouts) will battle Bradley (28-0, 12 KOS) at the MGM Grand looking to end a string of victories without a knockout.

Pacquiao defeated nemesis Marquez (53-61, 39 KOS) by majority decision, a controversial result that added fuel to the Pacquiao-marquez rivalry instead of setting with finality the issue between both fighters.

Pacquiao and Roach have acknowledged that Marquez indeed poses a problem for Manny—and Bradley is picking up from that cue.

“They may think that Marquez just has Manny’s number, but whatever Marquez can do, I can do 10 times better.

He’s great at counter-punching, and I’m devastating at counterpunching,” said Bradley.

“My counter-punching is unbelievable.” “I’m really not worried,” said Roach. “It doesn’t matter what Bradley does. Whether he’s coming forward or moving backward, he can’t beat Manny Pacquiao.

“I’m not going to predict a knockout round. He’s a tough, durable guy. He gets in very good shape, but I don’t think that it’s going to go the distance. We’ll get him before it’s over.” ■

Vivas leads PH bets’ advance

BY MARC ANTHONY REYES Philippine Daily Inquirer

TOP SEED Paul Vivas cruised past Rusty Rodriguez to barge into the third round along with six other members of the national team in the men’s singles open category of the Philippine National Open-ming Ramos Youth Camp badminton championships at the Rizal Memorial Badminton Hall.

The 20-year-old Vivas dominated Rodriguez, 21-10, 21-10, in just 17 minutes to advance against Kevin Alfred Dalisay, who booted out Kingsley Go, 21-16, 21-12.

The tournament not only serves as a display of the Nationals’ talents but also as a major tryout for the squad under a new stewardship.

New coach Rexy Mainaky has been watching the matches and taking notes of the players seeing action in the week-long tournament.

“I have seen a lot of promising players,” said Mainaky. “Especially in the 13-years-old matches, you can already see their skills.”

Also making progress in the meet sponsored by VICTOR/PCOME, Bingo Bonanza, Sun Cellular and the Philippine Sports Commission are PH mainstays Christopher Flores, Marvin Cudiamat, Peter Gabriel Magnaye, Jofer Escueta and John Monterubio.

“They should be able to show they are worthy to be in the national team,” said Mainaky of the Philippine team members who have trained with him. ■

Britain shows strength in rowing ahead of Olympics with 3 golds, 5 medals at World Cup regatta John Kropewnicki / Shutterstock.com

15 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LUCERNE, Switzerland - Britain justified its status as rowing’s powerhouse heading into the London Olympics by winning three golds on its way to a table-topping haul of five medals at the World Cup regatta in Switzerland on Sunday.

China also placed first in three finals on the Rotsee course in Lucerne, which attracted the world’s top crews two months before the Olympic regatta begins on Dorney Lake outside London.

The men’s four and the women’s pair and double sculls all won for Britain, with the Olympic host’s overall haul completed by a silver in the men’s eight and lightweight four.

Germany and New Zealand, who are expected to challenge Britain strongly at the London Games, also claimed five medals but couldn’t match Britain’s three golds. ``We have had some outstanding performances and I’m really pleased with how it has gone,’’ said David Tanner, performance director of British Rowing.

The most exciting of Britain’s wins came in the men’s four, when the reigning Olympic champions overhauled an Australia crew featuring triple Olympic gold medallist Drew Ginn only in the closing stages. ``This race reminded me a lot of the Olympic final in Beijing,’’ said Britain’s Peter Reed, who rejoined the four with Andrew Triggs Hodge this year after a spell in the pair.

During that stint as a pair, Triggs Hodge and Reed failed to beat the New Zealand combination of Hamish Bond and Eric Murray in 14 races and the Kiwis extended their unbeaten record in the event since 2009 by winning here ahead of Canada and Greece. ``This year the field is very strong and it’s a little bit of a wake-up call for us,’’ Bond said.

That was New Zealand’s only gold at Lucerne, with five-time world champion Mahe Drysdale surprisingly beaten in a fiercely competitive men’s single sculls by Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic.

In another surprise result, Stany Delayre and Jeremie Azou of France won the lightweight men’s double sculls, with Olympic and world champions Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter of Britain way down in sixth.

The United States’ women’s eight narrowly maintained its six-year winning streak by edging Canada by 3/100th of a second and Germany continued its hold on racing in the men’s eight by beating a rejuvenated British crew by a second. ■

Debt Help Centre Gabundok ba ang iyong mga utang?

Hindi ka na ba nakakatulog?

Sapilitan na bang kakaltasan ang iyong sahod?

Ihahabla ka na ba sa Korte dahil hindi ka na makabayad?

Wala ka na bang malapitan na magpapautang sa iyo para ibayad sa mga credit cards, line of credits or etc.?

Nais mo bang magkaroon ng fresh start, na para bang kararating mo lang sa Canada?

Get your life back!

Live happier and healthier!

Maganda at masagana pa rin ang bukas.....

Makakatulong po kami sa mga sumusunod:

FOR YOUR FREE CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION,

Erase Unsecured Debt Consumer Proposals ConsolidationLoans High Interest Credit Card Debts debthelpcentre@gmail.com Second Mortgages Credit Ratings Removal of Garnishees Bayview Debt Help “Kababayan po Income Tax, ICBC & Centre kami...

Medical Plan Debts Downtown Vancouver Makakaasa po Collection Calls BC kayong ang Proposals to Eliminate Secured serbisyo namin ay Convenient location, few Loans steps from the Burrard para lang sa inyo Bankruptcy Skytrain Stn at hindi sa mga Student Loan Options pinagkakautangan

604-800-5617

***no walk-ins, need to book a time as our service is strictly confidential***

16 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Premier Ends Mission Focused on Energy, Tech, Labour VICTORIA - Building on the momentum of the first Jobs and Trade Mission to China and India, Premier Christy Clark’s Jobs and Trade Mission to Japan, Korea and the Philippines focused on promoting British Columbia’s natural resources, as well as clean and high technologies to Asian investors.

“Our government knows that we need to keep our economy growing by strengthening and diversifying our trading relationships,” said Premier Clark. “Japan and Korea need our vast liquefied natural gas (LNG) resources to meet their energy demands, and we are opening up new markets for our biomass sector creating jobs in places like Prince George and the North Shore.

“And our mining industry continues to garner investor interest creating high-paying, long-term and skilled jobs for B.C. families. We are also being increasingly recognized as a hub of digital-animation technologies, a new and exciting area of trade with Japan and Korea.

I was also particularly pleased to be the first B.C. Premier to visit the Philippines and make progress on labour mobility with our Joint Communique.”

During the BC Jobs and Trade Mission, 25 business deals and partnership agreements were signed or announced, with a value of over $500 million. Premier Clark attended approximately 40 events and meetings with business and political leaders, including large investors in B.C. such as Mitsubishi Corporation, Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS), and Korean mining company POSCO.The trip also provided Premier Clark with the opportunity to meet with companies with investments in B.C.’s technology sector, such as DeNA, a mobile game producer, and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited,

BILATERAL MEETING with Secretary of Labour and Employment. Premier Clark met with Secretary of Labour and Employment, Rosalinda Baldoz, where they signed a Joint Communique.

Japan’s largest pharmaceutical company.

Many of the announcements involved B.C.’s clean-energy industry, including an agreement between the Province and Japan Oil Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC) to co-operate and share information on natural gas activities in B.C., and an agreement between Nelson BioEnergy, Princeton CoGen and Korea Welds Co. for the purchase of 6,000 tonnes of wood pellets this year, worth $1.26 million.

“We feel bioenergy is a real growth area for B.C.,” said Premier Clark.

“It’s one that has the potential to provide value-added jobs in areas of the province hit by the pine-beetle epidemic.”

Premier Clark’s Jobs and Trade Mission coincided with the announcement by Shell Canada Limited, KOGAS, PetroChina Company Limited and Mitsubishi Corporation that they have partnered to jointly develop an LNG facility near Kitimat, which is expected to

handle 12 million tonnes of LNG a year and create thousands of jobs for British Columbians. Premier Clark was able to discuss this project with both KOGAS and Mitsubishi in bilateral meetings, and was joined on the mission by representatives of Shell Canada Limited.

“Being able to talk with these companies about their demand for LNG, being able to see first-hand what an LNG facility looks like, and learn how important LNG is to their long-term energy security provided us with such great perspective on the role B.C.’s LNG can play in Japan’s future,” said Premier Clark.

During the mission, Premier Clark also visited the Philippines, signing a Joint Communique with the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment on areas of mutual benefits with respect to labour mobility. This visit to Manila also gave government the opportunity to strengthen B.C’s economic partnership with a country with which a strong cultural relationship already exists.

Other agreements on the trade mission involved B.C.’s mining sector, including a three-year extension of an agreement between Imperial Metals Corporation and Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. worth $150 million, and a $35-million investment by JX Nippon Oil for a feasibility study for Xstrata Coal’s Suska Project near Dease Lake.

“We are extremely pleased with the outcomes from this trade mission and the ongoing support from the B.C. government,” said Brian Kynoch, president, Imperial Metals Corporation. “To have Premier Christy Clark lead this trade mission to open doors, seek new markets and build on current relationships, confirms that British Columbia is a place to do business.”

Approximately 104 delegates representing 75 companies, organizations and community groups accompanied the Premier on the BC Jobs and Trade Mission.

“In Asia, it’s very important to show that government and companies are working together,” said Premier Clark. “That’s why our government is proud to work with B.C. organizations to build longterm stable relationships with Asia Pacific that will lead to jobs here at home in British Columbia.”

Premier Clark left Vancouver on May 12. While in Japan the mission visited both Sendai and Tokyo. In Korea, the mission made stops in both Seoul and Suwon. Finally, before returning on May 20, Premier Clark led the mission to Manila in the Philippines.

The second BC Jobs and Trade Mission followed a commitment made in ‘Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan’ to strengthen existing relationships between B.C. and Asian markets by opening doors for new relationships and setting the stage for future opportunities in Japan, Korea and the Philippines. ■

Canada News

17 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

BY VANCOUVER MAYOR GREGOR ROBERTSON

WORD FROM THE MAYOR

Caring For Seniors With Dementia In Our Communities EARLIER this month at City Council, we approved a motion put forward by Vision Vancouver Councillor Tony Tang to address the challenges faced by seniors with dementia in our communities.

One in eight Vancouver residents is over the age of 65 and by the year 2036 seniors will account for one in five residents or 21 percent of the population.

Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia disorders affects one in eleven Canadians, and this has a significant impact on families, caregivers and the wider community.

For example, the Vancouver Police Department regularly issues media advisories asking for the public’s assistance in locating seniors who have gone missing because they have become disoriented due to a dementiarelated illness.

In Vancouver, city staff is working with the Park Board, Vancouver Public Library, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services, Vancouver Police Department, the Alzheimer’s Society of BC, our Seniors and Disability Advisory Committees, Vancouver Coastal Health and

community-based seniors groups to develop specific policies to better assist residents with dementia and identify signs of seniors in crisis.

Understanding the needs and priorities of the aging population in our city is integral to our goal of building strong, safe and inclusive communities in Vancouver. In our highly diverse city, it is also important that we recognize the unique challenges faced by seniors whose first language is not English so that we can develop responses that are culturally-appropriate.

The seniors’ population in Vancouver is becoming highly diverse and 51 percent of all seniors in Greater Vancouver are immigrants, with 25.9 precent being of a visible minority. Many of these seniors are wholly dependent on their families for income, translation, transportation and connections to the community.

Public and community services are often challenged in their ability to provide

interpretation, translation and culturallyappropriate responses to seniors in need, especially those with dementia.

Vancouver has a broad network of neighbourhood houses, non-profit groups, Filipino-Canadian associations, community centres and faith-based organizations that provide programs and services for seniors in our community. Many seniors play a highly active role as leaders and volunteers in keeping these organizations and their peers robust and thriving.

Vancouver’s seniors are a vital resource in our city and we will continue to work towards policies that allow our respected elders to remain productive members of society throughout their lifetimes. ■ Gregor Robertson is the Mayor of Vancouver and Chair of the Vancouver Police Board.

You can contact him atgregor.robertson@ vancouver.ca and follow him on twitter at @ MayorGregor and @VanMayorsOffice.

BRIEFS by The Canadian Press

Jamie Roach / Shutterstock.com

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla arrive in Toronto

SAINT JOHN, CANADA - MAY 21: Charles, Prince of Wales, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, depart the Marco Polo cruise terminal on May 21, 2012, in Saint John, Canada.

TORONTO - Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have kicked off the Ontario leg of their Canadian tour. The royal couple has landed at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport after leaving New Brunswick, where they spent the first full day of their visit to Canada for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. They were greeted on the tarmac by Premier Dalton McGuinty, Lt.-Gov. David C. Onley and other dignitaries.

The Duchess of Cornwall received flowers from a little girl, nine-year-old Morgan Marie Fremlin. Charles and Camilla are scheduled to take a brief break before heading to a Victoria Day fireworks display at Ashbridges Bay. Once there, they’ll meet with emergency workers and their families and watch the show with the premier and his wife Terri. Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and his wife Renata are also expected to attend. ■

B.C. government orders a 50 per cent cut in hydro rate increases VICTORIA - Energy Minister Rich Coleman says he has cut expected BC Hydro rate increases by 50 per cent over three years. Coleman says he made the decision based on a government-ordered review of hydro services and because the government wants to keep rates affordable for families.

He says he has now directed the B.C. Utilities Commission to reduce the proposed rate increases. Hydro originally proposed to increase hydro rates by about 30 per cent over three years starting last May. But Coleman says the overall increases are now about 17 per cent over the three years. Next April, during the provincial election campaign, hydro rates are due to increase by 1.4 percent. ■

Barred from voting, long term expat Canadians fight five year rule

BY COLIN PERKEL THE CANADIAN PRESS TORONTO - A law stripping voting rights from more than a million expatriate Canadians who have lived abroad for more than five years should be struck down as unconstitutional, according to a legal challenge served on the federal government Tuesday.

The new application, filed in Ontario Superior Court on behalf of two Canadians living in the United States, argues the fiveyear rule in the Canada Elections Act is arbitrary and unreasonable. ``I was very surprised to learn that I have no voting rights, that I have no capacity to interact with my government formally, that

there’s no one representing me,’’ said Gillian Frank, 33, who works in Brooklyn, N.Y. ``My sense of being disenfranchised and the fundamental unfairness of it all motivated me (to file the suit).’’

The Toronto-born Frank, who is completing post-doctoral studies in history, said he would gladly return to Canada with his Canadian wife and baby if he could find a suitable academic position.

Frank said he retains strong ties to Canada - a country that ``emphasizes social justice’’ and his decade-long absence has not displaced his attachment. ``I have a stake in the kind of country I want Canada to be,’’ said Frank, who served in the Canadian military and was a GovernorGeneral’s Award winner.

The rule denying the vote to Canadians outside the country for more than five years was enacted in 1993 amid debate about the strength of their ties to Canada and how well informed they are about the domestic political situation.

However, it was only in 2007 that Elections Canada began to enforce the rule to ``more clearly reflect the intention of Parliament,’’ said spokesman John Enright.

Until then, the five-year clock would reset for expats who returned even for short visits.

Now, they have to ``resume residency’’ before leaving again to regain their right to vote abroad.

Jaimie Duong, 28, of Ithaca, N.Y., said he was ``shocked’’ to learn he couldn’t vote in last year’s federal election.

Like Frank, Duong said he is in the United States because that’s where he found work, and that he remains deeply connected to Canada.

In fact, Duong said, he follows Canadian news more closely than many of the friends he grew up with in Montreal and other parts of the country. ``No matter where I live, I will always see myself as a citizen of Canada,’’ he said.

According to economist Don DeVoretz, professor emeritus of Simon Fraser University, close to 10 per cent of all Canadians live abroad - a larger population than all but four of the provinces. About one-third of them live in the United States.

While some long-term expats, such as members of the Armed Forces and diplomats, are exempt from the five-year rule and can vote by way of a special ballot, DeVoretz estimates more than one million others - most of whom are Canadian born - run afoul of the law.

The charter challenge has the backing of former chief electoral officer Jean-Pierre Kingsley, who urged in 2005 the rule be scrapped - a view adopted unanimously by a parliamentary standing committee.

In an affidavit, Kingsley notes Canadian expats pay around $6 billion in income taxes to the Canadian treasury, but use significantly fewer resources than their in-country counterparts.

Toronto lawyer Shaun O’Brien - with the law firm Cavalluzzo, Hayes, Shilton, McIntyre and Cornish, which is taking the case at no charge - said expat Canadians should not have to justify why they should be able to vote. ``The government needs to justify why you shouldn’t be able to,’’ O’Brien said, ``Having a general notion that they may not be quite as interested or quite as connected isn’t enough.’’

Minister of State for Democratic Reform, Tim Uppal, called voter participation a ``cornerstone’’ of Canadian democracy but said Tuesday it was inappropriate to comment on the case. ■

Canada News

Tiara: An honest documentary on the draw of beauty pageantry

BY STELLA REYES PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER WHAT DO celebrities like Charlene Gonzales-Muhlach, Aishwarya Rai and Christy Chung have in common? They are now famous movie actors, model/hosts and product endorsers. But most notable of all is that these gorgeous ladies are all former title-holders who have catapulted to fame via their involvement in beauty pageants.

In Vancouver and Toronto, beauty pageants are a big deal in the local communities. “It is quite large in scale in the big cities. Most of the time it is done by a TV production company, a big budget event,” says Toronto filmmaker Monica Mak. The winner of the Ms. Chinese Vancouver and Toronto goes on to the Ms. International in Hong Kong where talent scouts religiously go looking for the next big star.

Mak poses the question on the attraction of the crown to these AsianCanadian women in her film “Tiara” (Siobhan Productions). “There are many motivations for why these women who were born in Canada, brought up in Canada but are of Asian heritage join. For some women who are from the South Asian and Chinese communities, it is a chance for them to try their luck in Bollywood or in the Hong Kong entertainment scene.”

One of the main characters of the film is Allison whom some might not consider to be “pageant material”. She is overweight but she sees herself as a confident public speaker and is out to prove that brains may or can outwit beauty.

Also, among the subjects are two Filipinas with disapproving views on beauty pageants. We meet Nadine, a playwright, whose play MissOrient(ed) shows the unfavourable side of beauty pageants. And there is also a former Ms. Philippines-Montreal, Cecile, who now is against these beauty competitions.

Despite the antagonists, Filipinos who enjoy watching these shows seem to outnumber the opponents. For some it is a big social event.

“Filipinos take their pageantry very seriously! There might be two main reasons. One, it serves as a great fundraising event for the community.”

Mak says that another reason is a lot of these women from the Filipino community have mixed heritage. It is a

chance for them to rediscover their roots, “to learn also about their community that way, there is also a chance for them to be a princess for a day.” For some parents, most especially the mothers, it is a way to introduce or present their daughters into society. “It is sort of like a big cotillion or a very lavish sweet sixteen,” Mak says.

In the course of filming, both opponents and supporters, all individuals that the director interviewed have been very generous, very hospitable and accommodating.

The film has been shown to the educational market and it has been marketed to school boards as well as for the library catalogues for classroom use.

As for feedback, whether or not it has been seen in a positive or negative light, a lot of these organizations have shown some interest and have acquired the film so that means it is relevant in our society.

“I did not set out to convert anyone, I just set out to show both sides, the pros and cons,” Mak says.

For a select group of people for whom Mak have had a private screening, those who went into it opposed to beauty pageants, left still opposed.

And those who went in supportive, left supportive.

It is very limiting to define beauty only as physical attractiveness. Beauty has many incarnations and most importantly it should come from within us.

Mak adds, “for me, beauty can also show itself in what we do to others or for others. Beauty can manifest itself in a person’s wit, creativity, intelligence and also the acts of kindness, of courage or selflessness. Physical attractiveness is fleeting whereas a beautiful mind or a beautiful spirit or a beautiful heart, these are ageless.” ■“Tiara” had its initial public screening at the 16th annual explorASIAN 2012. The festival celebrates pan-Asian contributions to the harmonious diversity of Canada during the month of May at various venues throughout Metro Vancouver.

Vancouver Asian Heritage Month Society (VAHMS) is a non-profit organization committed to promoting inter-cultural understanding and harmonious diversity.

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 18

In Focus: Monica Mak

Why did you choose to name your film company as Siobhan Productions?

Siobhan Productions, that’s the name of my first child. It is named after my oldest child, she was born in 2007 and that is the same year that I incorporated. However, after that my second one was born, Chelsea. You actually see in the logo of the company it has two girls holding hands and at their feet you see the letters “S” and “C”.

Have you always been interested in doing documentary films?

My background is in Communication Studies, I kind of fell into that. And I was going to be an academic. I did when I was in Grad School a lot of educational videos for an organization in the East Coast. I did several so then I realized I enjoyed doing this kind of filmmaking.

Dream project?

This is for a long time when I am more established; I would love to do a documentary about either former Governor Adrienne Clarkson or Senator Vivienne Poy mainly because they are AsianCanadian women who have had a significant contribution to our country’s political history.

For the immediate future, I would be interested in doing a film about debunking the myth of the perfect mom. I am a mom of two young kids and I realized there is this sort of unsaid movement that promotes this sort of way thinking where you have to do things that are natural to be considered a good or perfect mom.

For instance, you have to have a natural birth or you need to breast feed exclusively. You have to breast feed on demand, buy your children high-end organic

only toys. It used to be in our days, formula was big now it is not. And if you don’t subscribe to this natural ideology you are kind of seen as not a good mom or not a great nurturer.

I want to show that this is kind of inaccurate. And so I would love to talk to expecting moms, new moms, moms of children who are a little bit older to see their views on this idea. It is an interesting subject for the moms of right now.

Do you agree that the movie industry needs more women directors?

Absolutely. I think who you are can be infused into the narrative of your film. Films by women can certainly have perspectives that are female whether it is conscious or not.

Here in Canada, it is getting better and better as we progress as a society. We have organizations like the National Film Board (NFB) that are at the forefront in trying to develop and promote works by women filmmakers as well as works by visible minority or aboriginal male and female directors. A few years ago when Catherine Bigelow won an Academy Award for Best Director for the Hurt Locker, she was the first woman director. That was great!

If you were given a multimillion budget like for the films The Avengers or Avatar, what would you do with it?

I would take that budget and divide it into making ten comfortably budgeted documentaries over the next 10-15 years. I would spread it out and possibly make more films about women.

What have you learned so far after making your films?

I believe that every person has a right to reach his or her full potential, and whether that potential is professional, personal or creative, if you have a dream and you have the opportunity to pursue it then go for it. Just do not quit your day job right away. ■

19 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

World News

More than a third of malaria drugs in Southeast Asia, Africa fake or poor quality

BY MARGIE MASON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS HANOI, Vietnam - More than a third of the malaria-fighting drugs tested over the past decade in Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa were either fake or bad quality, seriously undermining efforts to combat the disease, a study said Tuesday.

With up to 1 million people - mostly children in Africa - already dying every year from malaria, bogus drugs and those containing the wrong chemical makeup could upend a decade of progress fighting the mosquito-transmitted disease, the U.S.-funded review said.

International efforts to combat drug counterfeiting - much of it believed to take place in China - are urgently needed.

Fake drugs with no malaria-fighting agents can lead to deaths when patients rely on them, and those containing some active ingredients - but not enough to fully kill all parasites - are also problematic because they promote resistance that can eventually outsmart medicines and render them useless.

Alarm bells have sounded in recent years over signs of increasing resistance in western Cambodia on Thailand’s border with Myanmar among artemisinin-based drugs, the only

effective medicine now widely used to cure the disease.

Studies show the drugs are taking longer to work there, and experts fear the emerging resistance could eventually spread to Africa as has occured previously with other malaria treatments that now are worthless against the disease.

If artemisinin-based drugs stop working, there is no good replacement and many people would ultimately die. Currently, malaria kills an estimated 2,000 children every day in Africa. Some 3.3 billion people worldwide are at risk of getting infected. ``We feel a sense of emergency considering the impact these medicines can have,’’ lead author Gaurvika Nayyar, of the Fogarty International Center at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, said in an email.

The study says more labs are needed worldwide to test for fake drugs - only three out of 47 malaria-plagued countries in Africa are equipped to do so. Nayyar also calls for counterfeiters to be brought to justice, including the creation of a universal way to crack down on those involved in the cross-border trade. Currently, laws only exist within individual countries. ``The economic incentives for criminals of drug falsification surpass the risks involved in their production and sale,’’ the authors wrote in the article published in the Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. ``Production and distribution of counterfeit antimalarial drugs should be prosecuted as crimes against humanity,’’ they added.

The review analyzes 27 published and unpublished studies dating back to 1999 that look at poor-quality and counterfeit malariafighting drugs.

In Southeast Asia, various anti-malaria drugs were analyzed from seven countries from 1999 to 2010. Of 1,437 samples, 35 per cent contained the wrong chemical makeup; nearly half of 919 samples were incorrectly packaged; and 36 per cent of 1,260 samples were fake.

In Africa, 35 per cent of 2,297 samples collected from 21 countries had the wrong amount of chemicals; 36 per cent of 77 failed packaging testing, and 20 per cent of 389 drugs were fake.

The authors said many cases go unreported.

They also point to other issues driving the problem, such as patients buying drugs over the country without prescriptions and selfmedicating along with using drugs that are expired or degraded through improper storage.

Earlier studies found indications that some counterfeits were made in China and smuggled into Southeast Asia, but more research is needed to understand the extent and complexities of the problem. ``Importantly, no large randomized studies of drug quality have been done in either China or India,’’ wrote Michael Seear, of British Columbia Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, in an accompanying commentary. ``Because roughly a third of the world’s population lives in these countries, and they are probably the source of many counterfeit drugs, global estimates should be seriously examined.’’ ■ Follow Margie Mason at www.twitter. com/margiemasonap

CHEN WS / Shutterstock.com

Satellite images show NKorea upgrading old launch site to handle bigger rockets

The Korean War Memorial Museum displays military equipment used in the Korean War.

BY MATTHEW PENNINGTON THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON - Satellite imagery shows North Korea is upgrading its old launch site in the secretive country’s northeast to handle larger rockets, like space launch vehicles and intercontinental missiles, a U.S. institute claimed Tuesday.

The U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies said the upgrade of the Musudan-ri site began last summer and reflects North Korean determination to expand its rocket program.

The U.S. and other nations are worried such rockets could be developed to deliver nuclear weapons.

North Korea on Tuesday vowed to push ahead with its nuclear program because of what it called U.S. hostility. The international community is pressuring North Korea to refrain from conducting what would be its third nuclear test, following a failed attempt in mid-April to launch a satellite into space.

That launch, using its biggest rocket to date, the Unha-3, was from more

sophisticated site at Sohae on the country’s northwestern coast.

An April 29 aerial image of Musudanri on the opposite coast shows the initial stages of construction of a launch pad and rocket assembly building that could support rockets at least as big as the Unha3, the institute told The Associated Press.

A crane is visible where the launch pad is being built 1.1 miles (1.8 kilometres) from the old one. At the current pace of construction, the facilities should be operational by 2016-2017, the institute said. ``This major upgrade program, designed to enable Musudan-ri to launch bigger and better rockets far into the future, represents both a significant resource commitment and an important sign of North Korea’s determination,’’ said Joel Wit, editor of the institute’s website, 38 North.

The institute says the assembly building shows similarities to one at the Semnan launch complex in Iran, which has a long history of missile co-operation with North Korea. But, officials there say it’s premature to conclude the two nations co-operated in designing the new facility.

South Korea’s National Intelligence Service said Tuesday said it cannot comment on whether it has detected any new activity at the Musudan-ri launch site.

The upgrade could be of particular concern to Japan, as rockets launched from the site in the past have flown east over that country. The flight path from Sohae heads south over the Pacific Ocean in the direction of Southeast Asia,

avoiding Japan and South Korea.

The April rocket launch drew U.N. Security Council condemnation, as the launch violated an existing ban. Similar technology is used for ballistic missiles.

The North, however, is not believed to have mastered how to wed a nuclear device to a missile.

The top U.S. envoy on North Korea, Glyn Davies, who is meeting this week with counterparts from Japan, South Korea and China, warned Monday that the North conducting an atomic test would unify the world in seeking swift, tough punishment. Both of its previous nuclear tests, in 2006 and 2009, followed rocket launches.

A separate analysis of satellite images of a site that North Korea has used for its nuclear tests suggests it has ramped up work there over the past month. James Hardy, IHS Jane’s Asia-Pacific specialist, said in a statement that there has been heightened activity at the northeastern Punggye-ri site, including mining carts, excavation equipment and a large amount of debris taken from inside a tunnel and piled around its entrance. The most recent image was from May 9.

In its statement Tuesday, in which North Korea vowed to push ahead with its nuclear program, it made no direct threat of a nuclear test and said it was open to dialogue. An analyst, Koh Yuhwan at Seoul’s Dongguk University, said the statement, from the North’s Foreign Ministry, was a message that ``the U.S. should come to the dialogue table (with North Korea) if it wants to stop its nuclear test.’’

The 2006 and 2009 long-range rocket

launches that preceded the North’s previous nuclear tests were from Musudan-ri. Citing earlier satellite imagery of the site, the U.S.-Korea Institute said land-clearing for the new facilities there began in the fall, and work has proceeded at a fast pace for eight months.

The latest image, from a commercially operated satellite, shows four concrete footings on one side of the launch pad that appear to be for a gantry that would prop up a rocket at launch. It has bigger dimensions than the gantry at the more sophisticated launch site at Sohae.

On another side of the launch pad there is a deep ``flame trench’’ to capture the blast from a launched rocket. Slightly further away, on either side of the launch pad, are two separate buildings designed to enclose the fuel and oxidizer tanks that would funnel propellant into the rocket.

Satellite imagery also shows that about 70 homes, five larger buildings and many sheds in the nearby village of Taepodong have been razed and foundations laid for a large T-shaped structure that appears intended for assembling rockets. A road is under construction that would lead from this building to the launch site, 1.2 miles (1.9 kilometres) away.

The building’s dimensions are larger than at the comparable structure at Sohae, and the existing one at Musudanri, the institute said. ■ Associated Press writers Foster Klug and Hyung-jin Kim in Seoul contributed to this report.

Online: U.S.-Korea Institute: http://38north. org

Immigration

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 20

B.C. needs more skilled immigrants now VICTORIA - The Immigration Task Force (ITF) released their final report confirming that B.C. will need more skilled immigrants to fill labour and skills shortages throughout the province, announced Minister of State for Multiculturalism and ITF Chair John Yap at an event held today at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver.

The Immigration Task Force was appointed by Premier Christy Clark on Dec. 8, 2011, to review key government programs to increase the number of skilled immigrants and investors in British Columbia. The report was compiled after the ITF conducted eight regional consultations involving a broad range of stakeholders and industry experts. The task force also reviewed and included comments and suggestions submitted by the public through the ITF website.

Through the consultation process, the task force members heard loud and clear from employers that if more skilled immigrants are not immediately

attracted to our province, businesses may have to close or relocate, resulting in fewer jobs and opportunities for British Columbians. The report was presented to Premier Christy Clark for government review on March 31, 2012.

According to Lisa Wong, Chair, Richmond Chamber of Commerce, “The comments, and in many cases, cries, of the business community at the BC Immigration Task Force held in the City of Richmond were consistent: We cannot continue our businesses without immediate economic immigration facilitated by targeted, realistic, and clear policies and procedures. Without such changes, our future is uncertain. The key recommendations in this taskforce report are the answers that the business community was hoping for. “ The report contains 10 key recommendations for the Province of B.C. and the Government of Canada, including: * Immediately increase immigration levels to B.C.

Minister of State for Multiculturalism addressing members of the media regarding the Immigration Task Force’s final report.

Thrive in a professional career with a constantly expanding market.

REGULATED IMMIGRATION CONSULTANT* APPLY NOW. Online Program starts July 9th.

*Program accredited by the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC)

Ashton College | 1190 Melville Street, Vancouver, BC AshtonCollege.com | 604.899.0803

Minister of State for Multiculturalism John Yap unveils the Immigration Task Force’s final report.

* Grow and expand the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) as the most effective way of supporting regional economic development. * Ensure economic immigration program application processes and requirements are as straightforward and efficient as possible and reflect business realities for employers. * Capitalize on B.C. as a destination of choice for entrepreneurs and investors. * Provide timely, effective information and support to newcomers and employers.

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation states, “To sustain and create new jobs over the next decade we need more workers than British Columbia can supply. The recommendations in the ITF report point us in the right direction and give us the tools we need to achieve both our labour and economic goals. I’m proud that B.C. is taking this proactive approach to economic immigration.”

The Province has already taken immediate action to fill job vacancies

from Fort Nelson to Mackenzie by introducing the Northeast Pilot Project which will expand the scope of the BC PNP in this fast-growing region to include more eligible occupations. This pilot project responded to ITF consultations in Fort St. John where employers confirmed the critical need to recruit and retain more temporary workers to fill existing job openings.

The Province will engage with the federal government to expedite higher PNP levels for British Columbia and ensure ongoing reforms to national immigration programs that respond to British Columbia’s regional economic development needs.

Attracting more skilled immigrants is one of a series of commitments in the BC Jobs Plan to help fill the more than one million job openings expected over the next decade. ■ To view the final report, please visit: http://www.jti.gov.bc.ca/immigration_ task_force/

21 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Immigration

Sponsoring your family to Canada

Sponsoring the ones who are left behind

BY DON COLLANTES ARE YOUR SPOUSE, children, or parents still in the Philippines? Why not exercise your right and sponsor your family to join you in Canada?

You can start your family sponsorship application today.

Sponsoring your spouse and children To sponsor your spouse and/or children to Canada, you must be able to provide documentary evidence of your

continuous relationship with them, which can include: 1. Photos of you with your spouse and/ or children; 2. Money remittance receipts confirming you are sending money to support your spouse and/or children; 3. Telephone bills confirming the frequency of your calls and text messages to your spouse and/or children; 4. Letters that you send or receive from your spouse and/or children; and Emails and internet-chats that you send

Kenney says Canada not tossing would be immigrants aside THE CANADIAN PRESS REGINA - Immigration Minister Jason Kenney says the federal government is not tossing aside anyone who has been trying for years to get into Canada.

Ottawa is legislating away a backlog of 280,000 applications made before 2008, saying it’s a necessary part of modernizing the immigration system. Kenney said it wasn’t fair to have people wait years for a decision on their application.

We have to get to a fast system that connects employers with immigrants by bringing them in in a matter of months. We won’t get to that fast system unless and until we deal decisively with the old backlog that we inherited and that’s why we’re taking this difficult but necessary step,’’ Kenney said in Regina on Friday.

Some would-be immigrants announced this week that they will take the federal government to court over its decision to return their applications.

Toronto lawyer Lorne Waldman said he was immediately flooded with emails by people who were furious about the changes. They’d followed all the steps they were told to take to come to Canada, only to be pushed aside, he said. Kenney said that’s not the case. The minister said those who are having their applications and related fees returned can reapply under new criteria established for the skilled worker program.

We’re not tossing anyone aside. We’re simply making a responsible decision to get to a fast system by reducing this huge backlog and the seven-, eight-year wait times,’’ said Kenney. ``Every one of those folks is more welcome to apply for our new and increasingly flexible immigration programs. If they want to come to Canada and they’re qualified, they will, and they’ll be able to come in more quickly under the new system that we’re developing.’’

The seven-year backlog represents people who applied to get into Canada before Kenney rejigged the federal skilled worker program to fast-track applications from people the government feels can fill holes in Canada’s economy.

Kenney said the government stands behind the legislative action to eliminate the backlog, despite any legal challenge. ``In terms of court challenges, we’ve always anticipated there’d be some immigration lawyers who try to make a buck by suing the government. That happens to us all the time, but we’re very confident of our legal position,’’ he said. ``This legislation has been closely examined by the Department of Justice and we believe it’s lawful, it’s fair and it will survive any judicial challenge.’’ ■

and receive from with your spouse and/or children.

There are no income requirements to sponsor your spouse and/or children.

You must, however, take full financially responsibility for your spouse for a three-year period, and/or your children for a ten-year period or until they reach the age of 25 years in Canada. This means that if your spouse and/or children claim welfare, assistance programs like the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP), credit card loans or any other government assistance or loan, you are responsible to settle any of these accounts on behalf of your spouse and/or children until your sponsorship agreement expires.

Sponsorship applications for your spouse and/or children are placed on first priority so this sponsorship application takes 3 months to 6 months (but sometimes up to one year) to process.

Sponsoring parents Citizenship and Immigration Canada has currently suspended the acceptance of new sponsorship applications for parents due to an enormous backlog of pending applications. There are, however, the option of pursuing visitor visas, which allow parents to stay in Canada for up to six months, or the fairly new supervisa, which allows parents to stay in Canada for

up to two years. The main requirements for either visa are: 1. You must be the biological child of your parents; 2. You must be a citizen or immigrant of Canada; and 3. You (and your spouse, if any) must meet an obtainable gross annual income requirement which is dependent on number of members in your household.

Processing times can be potentially as short as one month to as long as over three months. Medical examinations are requested by visa officers.

Sponsorship Appeals In the worst-case scenario, if you tried to sponsor your parents, spouse and/ or children without the assistance of a professional counsel and received a refusal letter from the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga or the Canadian Embassy in Manila, you still have the right to file an appeal. Your appeal must state the reason of refusal, i.e., if it is wrong in law or in fact, immigration administrative procedures were not properly performed or the appeal is in the best interest of a child. ■ Don Collantes is a Certified Immigration Consultant by Immigration Consultant Canadian Regulatory Council (ICCRC) and the COO of CWSS Canada USA Immigration Services Inc. For more information, visit www.cwss-canada.com.

24 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Fashionistas snap up Kate Middleton’s Jimmy Choos

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

IT’S NOT unusual for Jimmy Choo customers to come into the boutique clutching a magazine photo of a celebrity wearing one of its iconic heels, and demanding a pair in their size.

This is pretty common, said Gina S. Bonoan, merchandise group manager of Stores Specialists Inc., exclusive Philippine distributor of Jimmy Choo, already anticipating the same just days after Kate Middleton was photographed wearing Jimmy Choo strappy sandals and a white Roland Mouret dress with a thigh-high slit at a London soirée the Duchess of Cambridge attended with her husband, Prince William.

The champagne-colored, 4.5” platform heels, called Vamp, from the Choo 24:7 collection, made another appearance a few days later when the royal attended a gala dinner in honor of Olympic athletes. She was first seen wearing the shoes in Los Angeles last year, paired with a lilac Alexander McQueen dress. (The Vamp is now featured on the brand’s website.)

At a store walk-through last week in Greenbelt 4, Makati, led by Anson Chum, Jimmy Choo’s new marketing director for Asia, half a Vamp sat innocuously on the bottom of one of the 24:7 shelves, alongside other popular styles often seen on celebrities. It retails for about P39,500.

Even as he walked the media through the current and prefall collections, Chum said the star items remain the ones from the Choo 24:7 collection, classic everyday shoe and bag styles that are the brand’s best sellers, including pumps

stock.com Anton Oparin / Shutter

BY CHECHE V. MORAL Philippine Daily Inquirer

in a variety of heel heights. (At Greenbelt, shoes are the main sellers for Jimmy Choo, according to Bonoan.)

Signature color Noting the number of nude-colored 24:7 shoes, Chum said, “Nude is one of our signature colors.

When you think of Jimmy Choo, you always think nude… When you wear nude-colored shoes, your legs look visually longer.”

The brand’s in-season offerings are headlined by a handbag inspired by the title character in a 1969 film played by the French actress Anouk Aimee.

Haruki Murakami’s big book

BY RUEL S. DE VERA

Philippine Daily Inquirer EITHER DUE to ambition or page count, certain books need to be approached like projects by readers. Like rare animals, these cannot be expected to behave the same way as the more usual books. The greater the ambition, the greater the page count, the more readers have to prepare themselves to devote time and effort to be able to finish reading such monoliths.

All of this is especially true of Haruki Murakami’s most recent novel, “1Q84” (translated by Jay Rubin and Philip Gabriel, Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2011, 928 pages).

The wildly popular Japanese fictionist already melds reality and in his poetic prose, but “1Q84” is his thickest, most ambitious book to date. The book’s dense structure is due to the fact that it was originally published in Japan as three separate volumes from 2009 to 2010.

As for the story of “1Q84” itself, it is a many-branched tale of romance, science fiction and not just a little weirdness. It possesses many tangents, including story beats that it would later abandon completely and then pick up new ones towards the end, all of it distilled in Murakami’s lovely if sometimes overly precious prose.

Justine, the character, embodied 1970s glamour, and her namesake bag mirrors just that, said Chum.

Justine is a sporty, roomy handbag with an unstructured, slouchy shape. It has a zip top and an outer flap pocket with a distinctive slip lock inspired by cigarette lighters from the ’70s. It comes in two sizes, in all-calf leather, calf-python in contrasting colors or all-python material. Ninety percent of Jimmy Choo is made in Italy, noted Chum, with some items like the cork-heeled wedges made in Spain.

There’s also Solar, a soft hobo bag with removable intertwined bangles that can be worn

It is the year 1984, and a woman named Aomame spends her time as an assassin, killing men who are guilty of domestic violence. But as she departs from one such assignment, she rides a cab, getting off near a highway where she finds a hatch that leads to somewhere else.

“After you do something like that, the everyday look of things might seem to change a little,” the cab driver reminds her. “Things may look different to you than they did before. But don’t let that fool you.”

She finds that she is now in another world, one with two moons, a world very similar to her own except for some subtle but important differences. Aomame dubs this new world “1Q84,” with the “Q” meaning a question mark: “Like it or not, I’m here now, in the year 1Q84. The 1984 that I knew no longer exists. The air has changed, the scene has changed. I have to adapt to this world-with-aquestion-mark as soon as I can. Like an animal released into a new forest.”

Also finding himself in the same world is the seemingly ordinary Tengo, a man who teaches at a cramming school but seeks to be a writer. When an editor friend ropes him into a plan to win a literary award by rewriting “Air Chrysalis,” the novel of a highly enigmatic 17-year-old named Fuki-Eri, Tengo finds himself in a strange world where fiction may not altogether be untrue.

on the wrist. Chum also presented new iterations of Rebel, its small cross-body bag that transforms into an evening bag with its removable strap.

He also showed off the limited-edition Union Jack collection created to commemorate the Summer Olympics 2012, which will be held in London. It consisted of a Plexiglas clutch/shoulder bag called Candy, and Wheel flat slippers, both done in the Union Jack pattern.

Chum, who joined the company only this year, said new things are coming up with the brand, especially that it’s under new management, but he declined to mention specifics.

Tamara Mellon, cofounder and longtime face of Jimmy Choo, stepped down in November last year after Labelux, a Switzerland-based luxury goods group, acquired the fashion and lifestyle brand.

Labelux owns such brands as Bally and Derek Lam. Mellon, who was also chief creative officer, founded Jimmy Choo 16 years ago in London with a cobbler of Malaysian descent named Jimmy Choo. Choo later parted ways with Mellon, but his niece and protégé, Sandra Choi, stayed on as creative director. Choi now shares the title with Simon Holloway.

Jimmy Choo recently opened its first men’s boutique in Asia in Hong Kong’s Elements Mall with both its creative directors present. While it was founded as a women’s brand, Jimmy Choo has slowly transformed into a lifestyle brand in recent years, debuting a men’s line as well as fragrances, eyewear and scarves.

Is SSI bringing in Jimmy Choo for men very soon? Bonoan flashed a smile that seemed to say, don’t hold your breath for now. Jimmy Choo, however, opened its second outpost in Rustan’s Makati.■

Convoluted That’s the simple version. The actual story contained in “1Q84” is much more complicated and convoluted, depending on your tastes, a somewhat epic tale of personal tragedies, romantic destiny, sexual identity, the cult phenomenon and possibly supernatural beings called the Little People, among many others.

In short, Aomame and Tengo must somehow find a way to escape all that pursues them in this strange parallel world.

While it is catnip for Murakami followers, any reader without a supernatural amount of patience may not be able to finish “1Q84.”

Finishing “1Q84” is a particularly formidable task because the book starts slow, then gets even slower in the middle even as it unloads valuable exposition and only gains speed right near the end. Nevertheless, it is an inventive story, once you sort through the paragraphs and once read completely, shines as an enigmatic achievement as well as a sheer physical undertaking.

It is as heavy a dose of Haruki Murakami as you can get, with “1Q84” as an overloaded example of his myth-making prowess.

It is as Tengo himself observes: “Time stopped, and the world ended. The earth ground slowly to a halt, and all sound and light vanished. When he woke up the next day, the world was still there, and the things were already moving forward, like the great karmic wheel of Indian mythology that kills every living thing in its path.” ■

Lifestyle

25 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Bulgari exhibits modern high jewellery for the first time in Asia IF THERE was any doubt that Asia is the brilliant gem the world is lusting for in this century, that should have been allayed at the awesome sight of the Bulgari High Jewellery Collection that was exhibited for the first time in Asia, at the Presidential Suite of Fullerton Bay Hotel at Marina Bay in Singapore.

Like other prestigious luxury brands, Bulgari is drawn more and more to the Asian market.

It’s a synergy of fates—Bulgari has the heritage of exquisite jewellery to offer, and Asia is ready and now has the means to appreciate it.

A select audience three weeks ago saw up close the dazzling color and glitter of diamonds, precious and semiprecious stones that cost up to hundreds of millions of pesos.

These were one-of-a-kind contemporary jewelry.

In previous years, Bulgari has brought its retrospective collection to Asia, particularly to China. The collection featured iconic jewelry worn through the century, and in most cases, owned by celebrities, including legendary Hollywood actresses Elizabeth Taylor (although her famous pieces didn’t make it to the China retrospective anymore because her estate put them on the block after her death), Grace Kelly and Gina Lollobrigida.

The exhibit last month in Singapore was different—they were contemporary, created on the basis of drawings, and were centered on fine gemstones which Bulgari, particularly the Bulgari family, has had in its possession for a long span.

The high jewellery collection has more than 1,600 pieces, which are displayed on rotation in major Bulgari stores worldwide, so the quantity differs with each venue.

The main eye-grabber in the Singapore exhibit—they were all eye-poppers—was a 36-carat emerald pendant that was as brilliant as it was solid. It dangled on the model’s alabaster-smooth neck that night at the welcome party for media at the poolside at the rooftop of Fullerton Bay. Other dazzlers were a yellow-gold necklace with pink and blue sapphires, emeralds and round brilliant-cut diamonds; another yellow-gold necklace with seven emeralds, garnets, one drop of emerald, round brilliant-cut diamonds, and pearshaped diamonds (9,12 carats).

There were also a white-gold necklace with diamonds and pear-shaped sapphires; yellow-gold earrings with South Sea pearls, sapphires and round brilliant-cut diamonds; platinum earrings with pink sapphires and pear-shaped diamonds and round brilliant-cut diamonds; a pink-gold bracelet with motherof-pearl and round brilliant-cut diamonds.

granata1111 / Shutterstock.com

BY THELMA SIOSON SAN JUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

The serpenti watch One of the most famous Bulgari designs—the serpenti watch—was on exhibit. The serpenti or the snake design figures prominently in the Bulgari heritage. The snake is the symbol of immortality and infinity—which is concretized in the serpenti’s seemingly endless coil on the wrist. One serpenti design used white-gold and round brilliant-cut diamonds; another used pink gold and mother-of-pearl.

The Singapore exhibit showcased Bulgari’s fine aesthetics, its sense of volume, and its distinctive way with precious materials and color that have been its hallmark the past century.

The immediately recognizable mark of Bulgari—its signature style—is the use of colored stones. According to Bulgari history, in the ’60s, Bulgari weaned itself away from the influences of the French school of jewelrymaking and began to develop its own style—it innovated with eye-catching combinations of colored, precious and semiprecious stones.

Another essential feature of Bulgari style evident since the ’60s has been the cabochon cut. The use of cuts with smoothed, rounded contours gives the jewel a sense of volume.

The cabochon cut has come to be regarded as the Bulgari cut par excellence. The cabochon cut is traditionally made by polishing the rounded surface of the table of the stone; it was used for more decorative semiprecious stones. Bulgari exploited the potential of this cut.

The Bulgari style continues to be defined by jewels with linear, smooth and rounded contours, a sense of volume and original color combinations.

This was so evident in the Fullerton Bay exhibit—the dazzling marriage of glitter and color.

For the media welcome on the eve of the exhibit opening, the poolside of the Fullerton Bay was transformed into a lush tropical setting that sparkled with lights and lanterns amid the Marina Bay skyline.

As food and drinks were served, models showed off these high jewellery pieces.

Leading the Philippine group was Bulgari head for the Philippines Mario Katigbak.

Aside from Inquirer Lifestyle, he was joined

by Philippine Tatler publisher Irene Francisco, Tatler editor Mia Borromeo and Lifestyle Asia editor in chief Anna Sobrepeña.

At the afternoon reception on the day of the exhibit, Bulgari High Jewellery senior director Gianpaolo Della Croce spoke of how they at Bulgari regarded their jewelry as “babies.

We select them, we craft them, we saw to it that each one has a personal connection to the wearer.”

One diamond neckpiece paraded by a model was so intricate—it was inspired by the intricate Venetian lace.

For the first time, Bulgari eyewear studded with precious stones was included in the High Jewellery exhibit. It was indeed regarded as jewelry.

The new tiara “Shades are the new tiara,” declared Bulgari’s Dayana Grassi.

One easily saw why. The shades were decked with sapphires, diamonds combined with acetate, metal and enamel.

Explaining the craft and art of jewellery to women is like speaking to the converted.

But nonetheless, we found the Bulgari literature so informative that it made one further understand and appreciate the art of jewelry marking.

According to Bulgari, “The key element in the creation of a high jewellery piece is the stone or set of stones that compose it.

The creative process begins with the cut, carat weight and color of the gems, and the jewel’s design is conceived to fully enhance the intrinsic characteristics of the stones.

“Expert knowledge of gems and cuts is fundamental in developing a high jewellery collection, a field in which Bulgari boasts more than 100 years of traditional excellence.”

Bulgari sources its gems mainly in New York, Geneva, Bangkok and Colombo.

The most valuable emeralds come from Colombia, sapphires from Kashmir, rubies from Burma. (Bulgari, however, has never purchased gems directly in Myanmar but only in the international markets.)

When it comes to diamonds, the company uses cut stones only, and works with highly selected suppliers in countries that comply with the Kimberly Process.

The stone is handled by the lapidary—a good cut enhances the qualities of a gemstone. The cut of every stone, even the smallest, is of paramount importance in a Bulgari jewel.

Expert gemologists in Bulgari examine and classify every stone to meet the highest standards. (The most important colored gems come with the Bulgari Color Certificate.)

The creative process of design is long and complex, since many designs are drawn up before the final choice is made.

The initial idea comes from a team of designers working under the guidance of Paolo Bulgari, chairman of the Bulgari Group.

The unique pieces of high jewellery are usually created from a particularly important and precious stone, around which the design is developed. The challenge lies in identifying the form that best shows off the unique characteristics of the stone—its cut, size or color.

When the design is rendered, complete with detailed images, the raw materials department sets the stones in wax to determine, with the designers, whether they comply exactly with the proportions of the approved design.

Then the Bulgari high jewellery inhouse workshop begins creating the actual jewel according to the instructions it receives.

Thus begins another intricate and exciting process.

It takes a very long time to create a piece, from a minimum of three months to more than a year.

The creation of a unique piece of high jewellery even spawns anecdotes. Often, a stone or a set of stones of extraordinary beauty is found, but this is not enough to create a jewel. Months, even years, pass before a complete, balanced set is produced, with gems that all have the same shade of color, carat weight or balanced carat weights—to guarantee the perfect symmetry of the object.

Bulgari style Bulgari has been associated with the distinctive use of semiprecious gems such as tourmalines, amethysts, citrines, coral, pearls and garnets, frequently combined with rubies, emeralds and sapphires—the new and unusual tones of violet, pink, and intense reds, greens, oranges and yellows.

Bulgari explains, “The result is a nearly infinite variety of chromatic combinations, from the most vivid and contrasting to the most delicate and nuanced.

“Bulgari is also famous for having handled historically important colored stones, such as carved emeralds and ruby beads belonging to the fabled collection of the Nizams of Hyderabad, Muslim rulers whose authority once extended across much of southern India.

“The combination of precious and semiprecious stones is still one of the most important features of Bulgari jewels. Pink tourmalines, rubellites, turquoises, garnets, peridots and citrines are combined with diamonds, colored sapphires.”

While you may not necessarily be able to own these jewels, it is really enough to have studied them up close, like we did in Singapore. Bulgari high jewellery, after all, is awesome art.■

Lifestyle

lev radin / Shutterstock.com

‘Black’ is back

NEW YORK - MAY 23: Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith attend the ‘Men In Black 3’ New York Premiere at Ziegfeld Theatre on May 23, 2012 in New York City.

BY RUEL S. DE VERA Philippine Daily Inquirer

WITH THE ongoing invasion of comic-book blockbusters this year, “Men in Black 3” has almost been forgotten in the four-color shuffle.

While many people may not be aware that the “Men in Black” is based on a comic book, they should be reminded that the first film, 1997’s “Men in Black” was a critical and commercial success that surprised people with its cleverness and while not as loved by

critics, “Men in Black 2” made an intergalactic killing back in 2002.

It’s been a long decade but franchise stars Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones are once again donning their dapper suits as agents of the Earth’s secret agency watching over the actual aliens among us. Both Agent J (Smith) and Agent K (Jones) have grown used to each other as partners and, as the movie begins, nothing seems to faze them anymore.

But when a very, very bad alien criminal named Boris the Animal (New Zealander Jemaine Clement, best known for the HBO series “Flight of the Concords”) breaks out of a lunar prison to gain revenge on K, Smith wakes up one day and discovers that Boris has somehow erased K from this timeline. To save his partner—and the world from an impending alien invasion—J travels back in time to 1969, where he promptly runs into a 29-year-old Agent K (Josh Brolin, believably transformed into Jones but with more smiling) and they must work together to correct history.

Apparently, the gap between the last two sequels has helped make “Men in Black 3” a pleasant surprise.

It’s nice to see Smith back in a joking

Flag Mitsubishi Welcomes Mary Ann Roque to the Team For Over 35 years Flag Mitsubishi has been recognized as one of the top dealerships in the Lower mainland. The term used at Flag “Buy with confidence” is their foundation backed by a 10 year/160,000 KM warranty on New vehicles, 5 year/50,000 KM customer care program on used and lifetime warranty on all repairs.

At Flag, we recognize it takes knowledgeable staff to help our customers make the right decisions.

With the addition of Mary Ann Roque to our sales team, we feel confident she will far exceed your expectations in customer service.

Mary Ann is the First Filipina Sales Representative to join the Flag Mitsubishi Team in Surrey. She is a B.S. Animal Science graduate. She came to Canada as a Caregiver and worked her way up becoming the Idealist of the First Filipino Newspaper Stands along Skytrain Stations in BC. Mary Ann is excited about her new career path at Flag Mitsubishi and welcomes everyone from the Filipino Community to come visit her “Right Under the Flag”, in sunny Surrey.

Mary Ann Roque (604) 358-4985 maroque@flagmitsubishi.ca Office Phone Number: (604) 584-7411 website: www.flagmitsubishi.ca

mood (here he is in full mouthy “Independence Day” mode) as he dominates in movie in both scene and sensibility. Jones remains as craggily cranky as ever in the few scenes he has, but it’s utterly fascinating watching Brolin (“True Grit”) put his own spin on the K character without devolving into mere impersonation.

While the game Clement menaces with his level best, he’s just not as scary as past MIB villains. As the Men in Black’s new boss Agent O, Emma Thompson is funny but woefully underused.

Just as director Barry Sonnenfeld returns with most of the crew who made the first film, “Men in Black 3” returns tonally to the feel and mood of the quirkier, more efficient and certainly more amusing first film. “Men in Black 3” focuses on the intergalactic buddy cop dynamic between Agent J and Agent K, with Brolin’s presence as the much younger Agent K allowing them to engage in the kind of winning odd couple tactics that characterized the first film and got buried under all the big-movie detritus of the second film.

The movie’s relatively straightforward plot (which is kind of ironic for a time-travel flick) allows it to present a coherent, compact story. The jump back to 1969 allows Sonnenfeld to play his favorite game of deploying all these sight and line gags as he imagines what the MIB operation (and the requisite aliens) looked like back then. It’s pretty groovy, baby. While “Men in Black 3” is swarming with CGI (much more than the first two films certainly), it doesn’t feel that way. It really seems like Sonnenfeld deliberately didn’t take everything too seriously and that translated into what appeared onscreen. He even manages to inject an unexpected emotional bit towards the end.

What this means is that “Men in Black 3’s” relatively low profile amid the super-hero box-office offensive may just prove to be to the movie’s advantage. There is something oldfashioned and effective with just how earnestly funny the film is.

Will Smith’s return engagement exemplifies this. The film doesn’t try too hard and even a simple bit like the revelation of which celebrities are actually aliens still works well the third time around. Most of all, the movie’s back-to-basics approach makes “Men in Black 3” a surprising piece of summer entertainment, reminding us of just how much we miss these well-dressed guys after all this time.■

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 26

Rockwell Center to house history, culture and people

BY THERESA S. SAMANIEGO

Philippine Daily Inquirer

HISTORY HAS found a new home.

Rising 19 stories high, the new Lopez Tower and Museum will house a collection of Filipiniana archival material encompassing 600 years of Philippine arts, history and culture.

The same building, which broke ground in upscale Rockwell Center Makati on April 26, will also serve as home to the Lopez family’s holding companies and various businesses in property development and energy.

“We are eager to welcome the rest of the Lopez Group of companies here in Rockwell Center, and to house the Lopez Museum is definitely a gem to our Philippine history and culture,” said Rockwell Land president Nestor Padilla.

Four pillars But what is actually unique about the more than 30,000 square meters of leasable space that the new property offers, is that it will be composed of four pillars that will serve as a symbol to the intrinsic values that the Lopez clan carries, namely: entrepreneurship, integrity, leadership and public service.

“The Lopez Tower and Museum definitely completes Rockwell Center’s masterplan,” Padilla added.

Currently, the Lopez Museum is at the Benpress Building, but will be transferred upon the tower’s completion in 2014.

Valuable art pieces According to data provided by Rockwell Land Corp., the new Lopez Museum in Rockwell Center will occupy two floors to display and showcase the valuable art pieces and artifacts the family has collected over the decades.

In particular, the library at the museum will feature over 17,000 titles of Filipiniana books, antique maps and archival material both rare as well as contemporary, while the Lopez Museum’s art collection will showcase the exceptional works of renowned Filipino painters such as Juan Luna and Feliz Hidalgo, covering over 100 years of Philippine art history.

And what makes the new Lopez Museum more interesting is the way its lobby was designed which was patterned on the Lopez family tribute, “Undaunted.” This chronicles the trials, tribulations and triumphs of the clan.

“We look forward to making this site a bustling hub where the group will plan and execute its strategies in the coming years,” Padilla noted.

The new Lopez Tower and Museum, which will have state-of-the-art building features, will be actively pursuing a LEED Gold certification.

And like all other developments of upscale and premier property developer Rockwell Land, the Lopez Tower and Museum will have 100-percent backup power to ensure undisrupted work and productivity every single time.

The said tower will also have seven highspeed elevators, generous parking allocation, a comprehensive telecommunication network, fully integrated building management systems and an efficiently designed VRF air-conditioning system.

Prime location Its prime location is further highlighted by its proximity to well-known and complete establishments in Rockwell Center.

The Power Plant Mall, which is home to over 50 restaurant choices, a supermarket and other retail establishments will be a hop and skip away for future employees. Other establishments, perks and services in the area include residential areas for lease, The Rockwell Club, the Ateneo Professional Schools and of course, proximity to the Makati and Ortigas Business Districts. ■

Lifestyle

27 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

They flock to the bee farm to be healed

BY ANNE A. JAMBORA Philippine Daily Inquirer

WHAT STINGS might be good for you. Really. At least it has been for this crowd that troops all the way to Cavite to have themselves stung—by bees.

Every Wednesday people come to the Ilog Maria Honeybee Farm in Silang, Cavite, lured by the hope and promise of a cure, or just sheer relief, from diseases that have afflicted them.

Stories of people leaving behind their canes or wheelchairs as they walk out the farm travel far and wide.

The bee farm in a 10-hectare sprawl houses about 200 beehives, some of their species imported. Those used for the bee sting therapy (BST) is larger than the local variety, chosen neither for their size, venom volume nor component, but simply because they are easier to pick up and use.

“I do this every Wednesday as a public service,” said Ilog Maria owner/manager Joel Magsaysay.

Magsaysay, who himself administers the live bee sting, said this is his way of giving thanks to God for healing him after a stroke that left his right side paralyzed. This was in 2004.

“I couldn’t talk. I couldn’t walk. I make pee-pee in a bottle. I prayed, He answered, I obeyed. I don’t know how I know what I know but I’ve been doing it for a long, long time,” he said.

He has had the bee farm since the ’70s. He has been administering BST for a long time now, he said, but it was not until he turned it into a public service that it piqued the curiosity of people. Soon enough, they started trickling in.

Like other complementary/ alternative healing modes, BST has been practiced for centuries. BST stimulates the body to heal itself, Magsaysay said. It uses bee venom to relieve people of symptoms of their diseases.

“I’ve studied the components of venom, how they affect your adrenals, how they induce your body to produce cortisones… The autoimmune system was designed so that the body can heal itself. The only problem is it’s suppressed because of all the junk we put into our body,” he said.

Everyone must detox so that the immune system becomes responsive.

The less toxins there are in your body, he said, the stronger your immune system.

Magsaysay said BST can be tried to address any affliction. The bee is held to a person’s skin until it stings him/ her, on the affected area. (BST is not recommended to treat cataracts.)

This will hurt, guaranteed. The skin will become hot and swollen and itchy immediately after the treatment.

To some people the process can be

BRIEFS by The Canadian Press

Saskatchewan seeks input on wildfire law REGINA - Saskatchewan residents are being asked to weigh in on proposed legislation that would be called the Wildfire Act. The government says the act would better protect public safety and the environment. ■

Canadian dies on Everest pursuing dream KATHMANDU - A Canadian woman has died pursuing her dream of scaling Mount Everest.

Shriya Shah-Klorfine, of Toronto, was among four people who died while descending from the summit Saturday in what are being described as overcrowded conditions. ■

really painful. Others walk off the pain for 10-15 minutes, encouraging circulation in the body.

An allergy test to bee venom is the first step done on a person who wants to undergo the BST. Only one bee sting is needed in this process.

(A treatment can sometimes use more than 10 bee stings, depending on the condition of the disease.)

Usually, people with strong immune system develop an allergic reaction to the venom, he said. A rare occurrence, he said, since those who seek his help usually have compromised immune system already.

So is it worth it? A man wheelchairbound for years is likely to try anything just to be able to walk again.

Perfecto Acebuque, 86, from Muntinlupa, has been wheelchairbound since he suffered a stroke years ago.

It was Acebuque’s first visit to the farm. His feet have grown so numb over the years he didn’t react during the allergy test. When he was cleared for treatment and the second bee stung

his foot, he let out a cry, said his wife Leonor—a near-incredible sign that that foot could finally “feel.”

Magsaysay said that Acebuque could be beginning to feel sensation in his feet. At the end of the session, Acebuque was able to take a few steps.

Such an occurrence is not uncommon in the bee farm. On one post hang canes left behind by people who no longer have use for them.

Ruth de Sagun, who has been going to the Kidney Center for treatments, had heard about the farm from a friend and thought she’d give it a shot.

Today, after three years on BST, her doctors have taken her off medications (except for painkiller Celebrex).

“We are Eastern people, but why are we so in love with Western medicine?

We have this mindset that if we get sick we need to drink medicines. If all else fails, go for complementary/ alternative medicine,” Magsaysay said.

Drugs provide the quick fix, Magsaysay said. In Eastern principles if it took you 10 years to get sick, it will take you 10 more years to get well. You have to make your journey toward healing. You need to take responsibility for your health, to study and apply the principles, he said.

In Western medicine the doctor is the dictator, he said. You do what the doctors say, and if they don’t know what to do they point you to another doctor.

But not one is better or superior to the other. “Western medicine saved my life, and Eastern medicine healed me. I am not yet completely healed but I am well enough to live a normal life,” he said.■

Manitoba eyes revisions to let stores open Sunday mornings WINNIPEG - Manitoba stores may soon be allowed to open at 9 a.m. on Sundays instead of at noon. A governmentappointed committee made up of labour and business representatives has made that recommendation. Labour Minister Jennifer Howard is scheduled to table a Sunday shopping bill in the legislature Wednesday.

She won’t reveal details, but says she takes the committee recommendation very seriously. Currently, most retail outlets in Manitoba can only open between noon and 6 p.m. on Sundays. Many business groups have said the current law is too restrictive and leaves Manitoba behind other jurisdictions. ■

Lifestyle

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 28

Higher duty free thresholds expected to boost cross border shopping: report

BY JULIAN BELTRAME THE CANADIAN PRESS OTTAWA - Cross-border shopping is costing the Canadian economy much more than believed and new rules raising duty-free limits will only make matters worse, says a new report by the Bank of Montreal.

The assessment of costs comes from the bank’s deputy chief economist, Doug Porter, in his latest price gap comparison between consumer goods in Canada and the United States.

Porter said Thursday that although the price gap has narrowed to 14 per cent on average from the 20 per cent he found in last spring’s survey, the cross-border shopping phenomenon appears to be intensifying.

He believes as much as 10 per cent of the portion of the value of Canadian retail sales that can be transported - items such as clothes, tires, appliances, sporting goods and electronics - is being lost to U.S. stores.

That is more than double official estimates, but Porter said many Canadians under-report or don’t report what they bring back. ``Even at a conservative estimate of five per cent, we are talking over $20 billion a year,’’ he said. ``If correct, that represents a real drain on domestic retail sales, employment and government revenues - a drain that looks (likely) to deepen.’’

Porter said he believes the problem will get worse starting next month when new, higher dutyfree thresholds for bringing back goods across the border go into effect.

Under changes announced in March’s budget, the duty-free threshold on stays longer than 24 hours rises to $200 from $50, while the limit on stays longer than 48 hours rises to $800 from the current two-tiered levels of $400 and $750, depending on the length of stay. ``A culmination of factors is likely to unleash a wave of Canadians cross-border shopping this summer in numbers not seen in two decades,’’ Porter said.

A spokesman for Finance Minister Jim Flaherty pointed out that the duty-free limits had not been adjusted for inflation for decades and that the changes would ease congestion at borders and allow agents to focus on security issues. The office

added that the new limits match those applied to U.S. travellers returning from Canada.

A spokesperson for the Retail Council of Canada said the association has no independent data on how much is being lost to cross-border shopping, but said the problem is significant. ``It’s difficult to estimate how much crossborder shopping is done, but in talking to retailers generally we don’t think Mr. Porter is that far from the truth,’’ said Diane Brisebois, head of the council. ``It is a bigger problem ... and this is going to continue to be challenging if the government doesn’t address the problem of import duties and if it doesn’t at least out some of the multinational suppliers who are charging Canadian retailers much higher prices versus U.S. retailers.’’

In testimony to the Senate national finance committee last month, Brisebois blamed multinational distributors for much of price gap, saying the practice of ``country pricing’’ discriminates against Canadian retailers.

She presented the committee with her own list showing that Canadian retailers often pay more to be able to carry name brands, in some cases as much as 30 and 40 per cent more than retailers in the U.S. Other factors that have been cited for the gap include federal duties, less competition in Canada and higher transportation costs.

The Senate committee is expected to report later this year on the causes of the persistent price gap between the two countries, despite near parity in the value of the U.S. and Canadian dollars in most years since 2007.

The new survey of consumer goods by the Bank of Montreal suggests the gap has narrowed, in part because this week the Canadian dollar has been trading slightly below par, while during last spring’s survey the loonie was worth US$1.02.

But Porter said with few exceptions, prices have become more competitive in Canada over the past year.

Among the items sampled this time: - Magazines were on average 17 per cent more expensive in Canada and running shoes as much as 37 per cent more.

- The survey also found significant discrepancies with a Toro lawn mower, 32 per cent more; a Pottery Barn backpack for kids, 26 per cent; a

sample of seven cars, 11 per cent, and a Gap Kids T-shirt, 19 per cent more.

- At the lower end of the scale, a sample of four books were only seven per cent more costly in Canada, a Canon Rebel T3 camera, five per cent; BluRay movies, eight per cent, and barbecues (four sampled) were on average priced slightly lower in Canada than in the U.S. ``There hasn’t been a big change, but the gap has narrowed somewhat,’’ he said.

Porter cautioned that with only 18 items sampled, his findings are not necessarily representative of the average price difference between the two countries.

But the dramatic appreciation of the Canadian dollar toward parity since 2007 has had a drastic impact on shopping patterns, tourism and trips from residents on both sides of the border, he points out.

Porter said there are now 2.7 Canadian visits to the U.S. for every visit the other way, whereas in the 1995 to 2005 period, the ratio was one-to-one. ``There has never been more Canadians heading south than now. On the flip side ... overall visits

by Americans (to Canada) are now running at the lowest level in more than 40 years,’’ he said. ■

Facebooks’s Zuckerberg marries longtime girlfriend Priscilla Chan

New book celebrates Vancouver’s Asian food scene as best on the planet

SAN FRANCISCO - For Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, it was quite a week - from birthday, to IPO, to I DO. A day after the historic Facebook stock offering, Zuckerberg on Saturday wed 27-yearold Priscilla Chan, his girlfriend of nearly a decade, according to a guest authorized to speak for the couple. ■

So famous for its vitality and versatility, Vancouver’s Asian food and restaurant scene has been labelled world-class and recently praised as the best on the planet. To celebrate the distinction, ``East Meets West’’ by food writer Stephanie Yeung takes readers on a tour of the city’s most exciting eateries and shops, many of them hidden gems and elusive to the uninitiated- Judy Creighton.■

Foot fault: Propping feet up in public a major faux pas, say etiquette expert TORONTO - Some may be tempted to sandwich their toes between seats, stretch out their legs on armrests or prop their feet up for the sake of comfort or to eke out a little extra space. But whether you’re cruising solo or among a packed crowd, those in the business of good manners say feet on public seats are a major faux pas. ■

Music4mix / Shutterstock.com

Guillaume Paumier / Wikimedia Commons

BRIEFS by The Canadian Press

New Attraction at Theme Parks ORLANDO, Fla. - This season brings a slew of theme park news, including an attraction themed on the ``Cars’’ movies at Disneyland, a revamped Fantasyland at Disney World, and a new Transformers ride at Universal Hollywood. - Mitch Stacy. ■

29 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Lifestyle

If you are renewing: To stay with your current lender or not – what is the advantage?

BY ROSE AMI YOUR mortgage renewal date is coming up soon and your current bank and other mortgage companies are starting to call you and offer you a really good rate like a 2.99% fixed rate for 4 years or 5 years.

Before you renew with your current bank, only grab the opportunity to renew if: 1.You have a bruised credit – when banks are renewing, they would not normally pull your credit bureau. Renewals are automatic for their current

clients most especially when good mortgage payment history has already been established.

2.You have no job presently – again, renewals are normally automatic and your current lender will not ask you for a job letter and a paystub.

3.They are offering you a really good rate with prepayment privileges – if your lender is asking you to sign on a 5-year fixed rate, think again.

Life happens so if you will break that mortgage within 3 years for refinancing purposes, you have to pay a huge penalty.

If your lender offers you the best variable rate available, then reconsider it since the penalty of a variable mortgage is as simple as 3-month interest if you decide to break it.

Before you grab the offers from the other mortgage companies, you have to ask yourself the following questions: 1. What is the new mortgage lender offering me? Is it the same as my current lender? If they are the same, then there is no reason for you to move to another lender most especially if there is no value-add to you and you are happy with your current lender.

2. What are my privileges? Is the new lender going to limit my capability to renegotiate my mortgage in the future?

3. What other mortgage features they have that I would need in the future? Does it come with a line of credit? Is this the best mortgage product for me?

4. If I switch to the new lender, are they going to shoulder the fees for a lawyer and appraisal report?

If you are not familiar with the terms and conditions of what is being offered to you, please do your research or consult a mortgage specialist.

Rose Ami is a licensed mortgage agent with Dominion Lending Centres – Yellowbrick Mortgages Inc. #11129. For a free consultation, she may be reached at roseami@gmail. com or 647 780 9166.

BRIEFS by The Canadian Press

Study link mom’s weight to overly big babbies TORONTO - If an expectant mother hopes to limit her chances of giving birth to an abnormally large baby, new research suggests her wisest course of action would be to control her own weight both before and during her pregnancy. The study, published Tuesday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, challenges a growing consensus in the scientific community that elevated glucose levels in the mother are primarily responsible for overly large babies, a condition known as macrosomia. ■

No seats together NEW YORK - If you’re flying this summer, be prepared to kiss your family goodbye at the gate - even if they’re on the same plane. Airlines are reserving a growing number of window and aisle seats for passengers willing to pay extra.

That’s helping to boost revenue but also making it harder for friends and family members to sit next to each other. In July and August, it might be near impossible.

Passengers are increasingly finding that the only way to sit next to a spouse, child or friend is to shell out $25 or more, each way. - Scott Mayerowitz. ■

30 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Lady Gaga arrives in Philippines as Christian youth urge cancellation of concerts THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

DFree / Shutterstock.com

MANILA, Philippines - Pop singer Lady Gaga arrived in the Philippines to cheers from fans and protests from young Christians calling for the cancellation of her upcoming concerts.

About 200 Christian young people marched in Manila for a second straight day, holding placards urging the singer to ``respect our faith, stop the blasphemy.’’

The Biblemode Youth Philippines members plan to hold a vigil starting Sunday near the concert venue.

They said they are offended by Lady Gaga’s music, particularly her song ``Judas,’’ which they said mocks Jesus Christ.

But throngs of shrieking, camera-toting fans mobbed her, seeking her autograph as she walked into her hotel surrounded by bodyguards. She arrived in Manila on a private jet.

Authorities in the conservative, majority Roman Catholic country approved the concerts, but said they won’t allow nudity or lewd acts.

Sold-out crowds and angry protests have followed Lady Gaga’s ``Born This Way’’ Asian tour.

Fans younger than 18 were banned from concerts in South Korea over complaints her lyrics and costumes were too provocative, and she was denied a concert permit in Indonesia by police under pressure from Islamic hard-liners.

Riot police stopped the marchers about a kilometre (half a mile) away from the concert venue. Phalanxes of security guards stood on alert in front of the arena. ``She declared a distorted view toward Jesus Christ and for us Biblical Christians it is offensive,’’ said Ruben Abante, a protest leader. ``Her music and everything about her is different from what our values are.’’

Organizers from Ovation Productions said they respect the beliefs of critics but promised that the performances ``will not pose a threat to their sense of morality and conduct.’’

Under Philippine law, people who offend race or religion can be sentenced to up to six years in prison, although no one has been convicted recently. ■

Sa Amin, KAYO PO ANG

LAGING

UNA!

Manila Express R E M I T TA N C E

VANCOUVER West Broadway 1-800-361-7376 Main Street 604-874-5571 Richmond 604-279-1545 Surrey 604-588-1975 Manila Cargo Warehouse 1-888-748-7376

A N D

C A R G O

Cash Card, Direct Deposit, Pick-up at Door to Door delivery Jumbo at Love Box

CALGARY 5th Ave SW 1-877-502-7376 T & T 36 St NE 403-452-3600 Manila Cargo Warehouse 403-387-0022

EDMONTON T&T Northtown Mall 780-478-7352 102 Avenue 780-421-7795

WINNIPEG 1-888-947-7376

SASKATOON 306-244-1188

MONTREAL 514-342-5356

REGINA 306-352-2058

w w w . m a n i l a - e x p r e s s . c a

ONTARIO Scarborough 1-866-856-7376 Bathurst 416-635-7376 Howard Toronto 647-352-7376

31 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Entertainment

No romance bloomed between Lloydie, Angelica, says director

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer

JOHN D. LAZATIN, director of “What I Did For Love,” has denied the rumor that romance bloomed between actors John Lloyd Cruz and Angelica Panganiban while filming in Vietnam for the ABSCBN omnibus production.

The rumor started shortly after Panganiban’s boyfriend, Derek Ramsey, admitted that he and the actress were going through a rough patch in their relationship. This was

fueled by a press statement released recently by Cruz’s girlfriend, Shaina Magdayao, announcing that they had called it quits.

“That’s a funny rumor,” Lazatin told Inquirer Entertainment. “I never saw John Lloyd make a move on Angel (Panganiban’s nickname) while we were in Vietnam. He was friendly with everyone. Angel was always with her gay best friend Katti.”

Once filming was done for the day, Lazatin added, the team, not

Lav on a roll

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer

LAV DIAZ rocks. And he is on a roll.

In an e-mail to Inquirer Entertainment, the Filipino filmmaker joked that he was busy taking care of a grandchild in New York when he learned that he had won the Netpac-Eastar Jet prize last May 4 at the Jeonju film fest in Korea.

Six-hour epic The Jeonju jury cited his latest six-hour epic, “Florentina Hubaldo, CTE”—the same film that won for him the On Screen award at the Images Festival in Toronto last month.

Lav got to attend the 25-year-old Canadian fest, which he described as “legendary among serious filmmakers, scholars, critics, programmers and cineastes.”

He had no idea that Images Fest now included a competition. “I was just glad to be part of it. It’s a venue for no-nonsense cinema and hardcore filmmaking. No celebrities, no red carpet, no marketing.”

His earlier film, “Melancholia,” was screened at the same festival in 2010.

“To be invited there is an honor in itself. But for me, the discourse was far more important than the award.”

NY retrospective A retrospective of his works was held from April 21 to May 5 at the Exit Art in New York. Entitled “Corporal Histories: Lav Diaz’s Epic Philippine Cinema,” the retrospective included “Evolution of a Filipino Family,” “Death in the Land of Encantos,”

just Cruz and Panganiban, would check out the bars in Hanoi, where they stayed for a week in April.

He noted, however, that Panganiban was sad about having to work during the Holy Week. “Angel said she and Derek would usually go on a vacation at that time.”

Ramsay, for his part, posted this message on his Twitter account: “Guys, please don’t believe any of the rumors about Angel and John Lloyd. They did scenes for a movie and that’s it. That’s the truth.”

Magdayao, in her own way, denied that Panganiban was the reason she broke up with Cruz. The actress said: “The reason is [strictly] between John Lloyd and myself.”

Lazatin said shoot in Hanoi was only one of many important parts of the film. “It’s there that the characters of John Lloyd and Angelica meet.”

“What I Did For Love” is a romantic-comedy that delves into the many aspects of love as shown through different stories involving different characters, many of whom are shown to be connected to each other as the film progresses. The omnibus film also features Bea Alonzo, Diether Ocampo, Gerald Anderson, Kim Chiu, Jake Cuenca, Pokwang, Maja Salvador and Piolo Pascual.

“It’s like I’m doing multiple

movies at the same time,” Lazatin said. “Another challenge here is making 10 big stars work together.

They’re all busy with their respective shows. Their schedules drive me crazy. I hope to give them equal exposure in this film.”

The US-based director shared: “When this project was first offered to me, the first question I asked was ‘why me?’ I couldn’t say no to Mr. M. (Johnny Manahan), who even took time to call me and discuss this with me.” Manahan cofounded Star Magic with Freddie M. Garcia. The film marks the beginning of a yearlong celebration of the Kapamilya talent management group’s 20th anniversary.

After having directed a number of TV shows for ABS-CBN, Lazatin debuted as a film director in 2000 with “Forevermore,” starring Jericho Rosales and Kristine Hermosa. In 2004, he directed one story in the three-part movie “Bcuz of U.” His last film, the drama “A Mother’s Story,” featuring Pokwang, was released in January 2012.

“I was thrilled with the positive reaction of people to my last project. I didn’t expect to land on something this big,” Lazatin said. “I have to make things happen, while shuttling to and from San Francisco in California, where I now live. The pressure is on!” ■

“Century of Birthing” and “Florentina Hubaldo, CTE.” On May 5, an exchange dubbed “A Conversation with Lav Diaz” was held at Exit Art. It was moderated by Sukhdev Sandhu, film critic for The Telegraph.

The retro’s website noted that Lav’s “lengthy” films are “uniquely transfixing experiences, deeply immersing the audience in landscape and atmosphere.”

Lav will next participate in the New Filipino Cinema retrospective, to be held at the Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco from June 7 to 10 and June 17.

He hailed the San Francisco retro, organized by respected curator Joel Shepard, as “a mirror of the unceasing dynamism in Philippine cinema … a result of the digital upheaval of the past decade.” He described the last seven years as “a great epoch for filmmakers, a watershed.”

“Niño,” Monster Jimenez’s “Kano,” Lawrence Fajardo’s “Amok,” Khavn de la Cruz’s “Mondomanila,” John Torres’ “Muse,” Christopher Gozum’s “Lawas Kan Pinabli,” Arnel Mardoquio’s “Crossfire,” Mes de Guzman’s “Sa Kanto ng Ulap at Lupa,” Benito Bautista’s “Boundary,” Antoinette Jadaone’s “Six Degrees of Separation From Lilia Cuntapay,” Jade Castro’s “Zombadings 1: Patayin sa Shokot si Remington,” among others.

In July, Lav is bound for Wroclaw, Poland, to be a juror for the 12th T-Mobile New Horizons International Film Festival, July 19 to 29.

“Jury work is hard,” he said, “but oftentimes very, very enlightening.

You meet people with diverse cinema perspectives. These discussions and discourses and enriching. You love cinema; you talk cinema.”

After all these activities, Lav is going back to work.

“The final cut of ‘Heremias Book Two’ is almost done … after six years. I also have an Ilonggo film in the works—a pet project of Ronnie Lazaro’s. I’ll try to finish ‘Ang Dakilang Desaparecido,’ too. It’s already 40 hours long.” ■

More Filipinos Apart from “Florentina” (which will be shown on June 17), the other Filipino films in the Yerba Buena Center lineup are Loy Arcenas’

Eric & Epy Quizon: Our dad is a National Artist in our hearts Comedy King’s foundation quietly continues to support scholars

Entertainment

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer ERIC and Epy Quizon, sons of King of Comedy Dolphy, pointed out that their dad deserves to be National Artist as much as the other actors mentioned in various reports, but reiterated that their family isn’t actively campaigning for the honor.

“If Nora [Aunor] or Vilma [Santos] gets it, we will be happy, too,” Epy told the INQUIRER. “If they give it to my dad, we’ll gladly accept it. If not, we won’t take it personally.”

Eric added that his dad has learned to take the matter in stride.

Dolphy, who has been home-bound of late because of a lingering illness, has been “watching television 24/7 and has seen most news accounts on the National Artist issue,” Eric said.

Peer support He explained: “My dad finds it funny that his name has cropped up again. He’s been in the running for so long; he’s not asking for it now. The family is not even lobbying.”

Epy stressed : “My dad has worked for 67 years in the entertainment industry— spanning various media, from bodabil to radio, TV and the movies.”

Actors Eddie Garcia and Vilma Santos, whose names have come up, too, openly expressed their support for Dolphy’s

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 32

National Artist bid. Santos said that she was “200 percent behind Dolphy.”

Actress-TV director Gina Alajar concurred: “He should be declared National Artist now while he can still accept the award, go up the stage and deliver a heartwarming message for us, his fellow actors.”

Although the Comedy King has been sickly, Epy said his father was “doing better now.”

Eric said that Dolphy suffers from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). “It’s a progressive ailment, similar to emphysema.”

He recalled that Dolphy quit smoking at age 45 because he was afraid he would fall victim to emphysema like his friend, the late actor Pancho Magalona. “Dad had asthma as a child. He has always had weak lungs,” Eric said.

“Now, he can’t go to crowded places because he can easily get an infection,” Epy added.

“When we visit him, we wear surgical masks,” Eric revealed. Still, he said, the Comedy King is raring to go back to work. “When we talk about job offers and possible concepts for shows and movies, his eyes light up. He wants to act again, but the family has decided he should take it easy first.”

In any case, their dad is extremely pleased that Dolphy Para sa Pinoy

Foundation continues its work though he is semiretired. “He’s always happy to hear about our scholars,” said Epy. “Five of our scholars just graduated from STI,” said Eric, who co-hosts the legal show “Pusong Pinoy sa Amerika” (with INQUIRER columnist Atty. Lou Tancinco) on GMA Pinoy TV. Gift of life “As gift to my dad, Les Reyes of Reyes Haircutters gave cosmetology scholarships to eight people from Cagayan de Oro—all survivors of tropical storm Sendong,” said Epy who currently stars in the international film “a thief, a kid & a killer.”

Epy established the Pidol Cup golf tournament to raise funds for the scholars as well. “After talking with Rep. Benjo Benaldo of Cagayan de Oro, we offered livelihood projects to Sendong survivors,” he said.

Eric Teng of Mental, a clothing line that Epy endorses, participated in the livelihood project. “My talent fee was earmarked for the scholars’ starter kits.”

Epy believes that the foundation is a good way to honor their dad’s legacy. “We are planning the fourth golf tournament in Eastridge in time for dad’s 84th birthday on July 25,” he said.

“It’s not going to be a grand celebration,” said Eric. “We’ll observe his condition first. If he’s fine, then we’ll party.” ■

MTRCB reviews classification system to include R-16 rating

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE MOVIE and Television Review and Classification Board may revise its classification system for movies to include an R-16 rating, according to chairperson Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares.

There are five ratings for movies: General Audience (G), which means all ages are admitted; PG-13, children below 13 years old should be accompanied by an adult; R-13, strictly for 13 years and older; R-18, strictly for 18 years and older, and X, not for public viewing.

“The gap between 13 and 18 is very wide and the awareness of a 16-year-old is different from a 13-year-old,” Llamanzares pointed out.

She cited the case of the Darren Aronofsky psychological thriller “Black Swan,” which got an R-13 rating from the board—a decision that resulted in numerous complaints from parents.

Moms shocked “Many mothers thought it was just about ballet.

They were shocked when they discovered that it also tackled lesbianism, self-gratification and other adult topics,” Llamanzares told Inquirer Entertainment. “However, the board thought it was a good movie and that the public also needed to be educated with such kinds of films.

We felt that an R-18 would be too restricting because then some movie theaters would not screen it.” As a matter of policy, SM prohibits

the showing of R-18 movies in its cinemas.

The MTRCB chief reported that the board had initiated consultations with producers and film distributors about the proposed amendment.

“Some of them were apprehensive, and we understand. This would mean a smaller audience would get to see their films.”

She said the board would conduct public consultations “to orient people about the situation and take their suggestions into consideration.”

Thankful “My point is, if they could comply, for example, with the requirements of Singapore or Malaysia that have laws much stricter than ours, then they could very well abide by ours. Our case should not be taken lightly.

We are one of the most populous countries in the world. They can influence more people here than in these two countries combined.”

Llamanzares is thankful that some cable groups have promised to cooperate. “We are hoping that, in our negotiation with these companies in the coming weeks, they will already include (in signed agreements with content providers) the classification ratings in the Philippines. We want this standardized so they can easily comply.”

Greater good Llamanzares stressed: “Our guide is the greater good. Profit is also weighed, but the mental health of the audience is of paramount concern.

(MTRCB board member and Inquirer columnist) Cathy Babao-Guballa, who is also a life coach, said the development of the brain’s frontal lobe is not completed until a child reaches 21. This is Respect why there are suicidal tendencies before this age. The MTRCB chief added: “Like I’ve often There’s scientific evidence of this.” said, the struggle has always been for freedom of expression and artistic freedom.

Board’s focus We respect both but, more importantly, we Llamanzares said another focus of the board should be able to ensure that the maturity would be regulation of cable television and growth of our children are guaranteed.” programs. “When I assumed office, I didn’t Llamanzares said the MTRCB could only realize that cable shows were not being do so much, and that it needed the parents previewed—post-review sila. I don’t mind to get involved. this, since I support self-regulation, but I “Some say parents are always out think they should be given, at the very least, anyway—that’s not an excuse. You have an advisory.” to talk to your kids. If you can’t trust your She said some cable groups claimed this kids while you’re away, that means you’ve was hard to do since the programs of most failed. It’s just a matter of telling them that, content providers, as in the case of HBO, are these show, they are classified as such for a beamed abroad. reason.”

Entertainment Phillip Phillips is the new ‘American Idol’ as viewers pick guitar man over teen diva

BY LYNN ELBER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS LOS ANGELES - Phillip Phillips, a bluesy Georgia guitar man, was crowned the new ``American Idol’’ on Wednesday after defeating teenager Jessica Sanchez in record viewer voting. He was the fifth male ``Idol’’ winner in a row.

Phillips, 21, a pawn shop worker from Leesburg, Ga., looked stunned when host Ryan Seacrest announced his name, then wordlessly accepted a hug from Sanchez and congratulations from his fellow finalists.

He dissolved into tears as he sang ``Home,’’ the song that may be his first single.

Phillips retained his humble, self-effacing demeanour to the end, and beyond. ``I have no idea why I won, man,’’ he said in his backstage dressing room. ``I guess some people liked the music that I was doing. I’m just lucky. ... I was just doing my thing each week.’’

He received the winning share of the record-high 132 million votes cast after Tuesday’s final showdown with high school student Sanchez, 16, of Chula Vista, Calif.

The vote count was not announced, typical for the contest.

His victory extended the ``American Idol’’ winning streak for men to five consecutive seasons. The last female to win, and the last non-white, was Jordin Sparks in 2007.

Phillips has more in common with the last four winners than gender. Like them, he is a young Caucasian guitar player, also known to ``Idol’’ watchers as WGWGs - white guys with guitars.

Last year’s winner was Scotty McCreery, preceded by Lee DeWyze, Kris Allen and David Cook.

Sanchez, who is of Filipino and Latino heritage, took a measured view of the outcome, one that she said had solely to do with music. ``I don’t blame it on anything,’’ she said backstage. ``Phillip has his fans, and I have mine. We’re totally two different people.

Our genres are completely different. ``He’s more like the indie, alternative rock kinda guy, and I’m more urban R&B pop. ... It’s just the number of our fans,’’ she said, adding that she expected to be the runner-up. ``In the moment, I told him, ‘You’re gonna win this.’ I was smiling at him the whole time. I was ready to just give him a big hug, and that’s what I did when they announced it.’’

Sparks, 22, was among the guest stars who helped fill out the two-hour finale show, among them Rihanna, Neil Diamond, Reba McEntire, Chaka Khan and John Fogarty. ``American Idol’’ judges Steven Tyler, with his band Aerosmith, and Jennifer Lopez also performed, but it was Sanchez and Jennifer Holliday who stood out with a powerhouse duet on ``And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.’’

Besides music, there was a marriage proposal for the season 11 finale: Former contestants Ace Young and Diana DeGarmo got engaged on stage.

Young, 31, a season five finalist, told Seacrest that he and DeGarmo, 24, had just moved in together. Then Young got down on one knee and popped the question to her.

Joe Seer / Shutterstock.com

33 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

``I love you to death. You’re my best friend,’’ Young said in his proposal, which included a jarring credit for the jeweler who made the engagement ring he was offering (which, given Fox’s heavy soft drink and car sponsor product placement, wasn’t so off-key).

DeGarmo, a runner-up in season three, tearfully accepted, her head bobbing up and down.

But the point of the finale, saved for the final minutes and the highest possible ratings, was anointing the newest Idol and winner of a record contract.

BRIEFS by The Canadian Press

Lucky 13: Justin Bieber announces tracklist for upcoming ‘Believe’

s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

‘Idol’ judge Tyler charmed by ‘sexy beast’ J-Lo NEW YORK - Steven Tyler is mum on whether he or Jennifer Lopez will return to the judging panel on ``American Idol’’ next year, but the rocker says he has loved the experience of sitting next to her.``She’s a sexy beast,’’ Tyler said in a phone interview Monday. ``I feed off that female energy with her.’ ■

Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com

Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Brad Pitt brings ‘Killing Them Softly to Cannes CANNES - Brad Pitt has arrived in Cannes with a hardboiled crime film featuring heavy doses of President Barack Obama and a backdrop of the economic crisis.

Pitt stars in and produced ``Killing Them Softly,’’ which screened at the Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday. It’s a stylized adaptation of a George V. Higgins novel that director Andrew Dominik has filled with speeches of Obama and former President George W. Bush to give the film a broader financial commentary on top of a story of violent, back-stabbing criminals. ■

During the three-song showdown Tuesday between Phillips and Sanchez, the show’s judges praised his performance across the board. Sanchez was faulted for a lacklustre rendition of her third song, ``Change Nothing.’’

Although some critics dismissed Phillips as a Dave Matthews clone, viewers embraced him for his humility, his oncamera mugging and his memorable acoustic covers of songs like Usher’s ``U Got It Bad.’’ In weekly tallies, Phillips never fell among the low vote-getters.

On Tuesday, he earned consistently high marks from the show’s judges, while Sanchez faltered on ``Change Nothing,’’ the song that could serve as her first release.

The teenager agreed with panellists Randy Jackson, Lopez and Tyler, saying she should have gone more ``urban’’ with her song choice.

Phillips had better luck with the slowtempo, acoustic tune ``Home,’’ which the judges said recalled artists like Fleet Foxes, Paul Simon and Mumford and Sons. At one point during Phillips’ final performance, the pawn shop worker was accompanied by a marching band.

It was a hit with the panel. Jackson, beaming, exclaimed: ``I love the song. I love you. I love the production. I love the marching band. Everything about that was perfect.’’

Last year’s contest between McCreery and runner-up Lauren Alaina drew more than 122 million votes, the record that was broken Wednesday. ■ AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang contributed to this report.

TORONTO _ Justin Bieber has announced the 13 tracks comprising his much-anticipated new album, ``Believe.’’ The album, hitting stores June 19, will kick off with the Ludacris collaboration ``All Around the World.’’ The record will also feature guest appearances from Toronto rapper Drake, Nicki Minaj and Big Sean, and will feature production from Diplo, Mike Posner and Max Martin. First single ``Boyfriend’’ has already hit No. 1 on the Canadian charts, and other song titles indicate tunes that could similarly appeal to the 18-yearold’s lovesick fans, including ``As Long As You Love Me,’’ ``Die In Your Arms,’’ ``Thought of You’’ and ``One Love.’’ A deluxe version of the album will include three bonus tracks: ``Out of Town Girl,’’ ``She Don’t Like The Lights’’ and ``Maria.’’ ``Believe’’ is the Stratford, Ont., native’s third full-length, following debut ``My World 2.0’’ and the holiday collection ``Under the Mistletoe.’’

Each of his previous two releases has been certified triple platinum in Canada. ■

34 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

A Southern Adventure: Explore and rediscover the Metro South’s hidden gems

2- Plan a bike trip to Cavite.

Biking enthusiasts will agree that Cavite is one of the best places to go on biking trips. It boasts of several biking trails and destinations for two-wheel riders, and it is slowly becoming the biking capital of the Metro South. Take a drive along Daang Hari Road in Bacoor on weekends and you’ll see hundreds of bikers who converge to mingle, shop, or have a snack in a tent setup by Evia.

This is where they all take a break before heading to their respective destinations. Try biking the trails of Evia and Malipay in Bacoor, Cavite, or perhaps the Pasong Buaya trail in Imus, Cavite, and also the scenic Silang, Amadeo, Tagaytay trails. For the more seasoned bikers, the evernotorious Sungay Trail in Talisay is a must. Those who are both bikers and beach lovers, Ternate and Naic are

The famous Manila Bay Sunset

Biking in Cavite Daniel Zuckerkandel / Shutterstock.com

1- Take a trip to Old Manila.

Who knew that it was possible to stay in an old heritage house in Manila? One need not take a trip to Baguio or Tagaytay to experience living in a home with a rich history.

Coco’s Garden Guest House located in Paco, Manila, offers a unique peak into the Filipino culture, all the while offering quaint bed & breakfast accomodations and true, good old fashioned Filipino hospitality.

Immerse yourself even more in our heritage and take a basic cooking course on Filipino cuisine right in Coco’s Garden.

Coco’s Garden Guest House, 1238-B Penafrancia Extension, Paco District, Manila. Contact Greg +63(916) 766-9170 or Jorge -+63(927) 646-4903, gahdorris@ hotmail.com, Facebook: Filipino Cooking Lessons. Special Promo: Book a room at Coco’s Garden Guest House via Roomorama (www. roomorama.com), and get a $15 discount. Just type in SOUTHLIV01 when you book.

Coco’s Garden Guest House (photo courtesy of cocogardens.com)

Fruit Market in Tagaytay

also just bike ride away.

For travel ideas and other interesting tips, please visit the website of all-around cool guy and adventure seeker Angel Juarez, www. lakwatsero.com.

3- Visit Mahogany Market in Tagaytay.

The mere mention of Tagaytay brings an image of a cold highlands and the majestic view of Taal volcano. Aside from that, visitors can’t leave the highlands without buying pasalubong. A few years ago, I discovered another great food experience in Tagaytay through my ex-collegues. We had a road trip from Alabang to Mahogany Market in Tagaytay, home of the famous beef and fish section. I enjoyed walking around taking photos of the flowers, orchids and herbal plants being sold outside the market.

Mahogany market also offers fresh produce at affordable prices! But the best part was the food trip in small

restaurants (carinderia type) beside Mahogany market- eating fried tawilis (freshwater sardinella) and bulalo soup (bone marrow soup)!

Bulalo is a soup with a mixture of bone marrow, beef tendons, beef and vegetables. Eating bulalo is quite challenging as you have to suck out the bone marrow from the large bone or stick it out with a fork. Tawilis on the other hand is a small fish that is only endemic in Taal lake in Batangas province and the only sardines fish in the world that can live in freshwater.

Check out the blog of “The Pinay Solo Backpacker” herself Gael Hilotin (http://thepinaysolobackpacker.com) where you’ll find fun, unique travel tidbits from her own adventures.

4- Go on a Manila Bay sunset cruise.

One need not go out of the country or even out-of-town to experience something as romantic as a sunset cruise complete with dinner, live music, and picturesque views of fair Manila.

Prestige Cruises brings you a unique view of Manila from the waters of the bay, with the dramatic sunset serving as a backdrop. There are actually different types of cruise tour options available.

The Manila Bay Dinner Cruise which is 3 hours long, and includes a set dinner and live music is just one option. This particular tour also has three cruising options to choose from: The Sunset Cruise which happens just in time to catch the world famous Manila Bay Sunset; while The Mid-Evening Cruise gives you a view of the frenetic lights of Roxas Boulevard; and The Night Cruise, on the other hand, lets you enjoy a calmer, more serene view of the city. Other cruise tours available are the Intramuros Heritage and Sunset Dinner Cruise, the Manila City and Dinner Tour, and the Corregidor War Memorial Tour. ■ For more information, please call Prestige Cruises at +63(2) 832-8967, email prestigecruises@facebook. com, or visit www.facebook.com/ prestigecruises.

Travel Northern Adventure:Spend the long, summer days exploring the northern side of our local shores 35 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

BY RUTH KAIRUZ

Batanes On the northernmost point of the country is the group of islands called Batanes. It is one of the Philippines’ most breathtaking islands that remains largely unaffected by the rest of modern civilization to this day. Its distance from the mainland is a natural deterrent to those who seek to bring in modernization, thus its natural beauty, allure, and mystery have remained intact. The picturesque rolling hills and mountains, scenic beaches, simple stone houses and such, make Batanes the most ideal of places to go trekking and mountain biking. Many who have visited recommend a hike to the Nakamaya Burial Grounds and a visit to the Diura Fishing Village, which are both part of the Ultimate Batanes Tour. Rent a bike and take it for a spin around the town proper’s streets and stop by the many tiny karinderia’s that offer savory local cuisine. A mustsee stop is one store that has slowly gained popularity amongst Batanes’ visitors—Honesty Café. It’s more than just a pit stop where townspeople and travelers in the area can buy food and drinks. What sets it apart is that people who drop by just leave whatever payment they feel is right to give in the money basket. The owners,

Aling Elena and Mang Jose, have found that those who have dropped by are so amazed with the store’s whole concept that they pay more than the actual value of the items.

Travel Tips Flights: Direct flights to Batanes are available from Manila to Basco, Batanes via Seair. Their frequency may vary though, depending on the season and weather conditions.

Visit http://flyseair.com/ for more information.

Lodging: Just a 15-minute ride from the Basco Airport is Fundacion Pacita Batanes Nature Lodge. It offers rooms and suites of various sizes and spectacular views. Their rates start at P6,300+/ night. Visit http:// www.fundacionpacita.ph/ for more information.

Tours: They have everything from bike and hike tours to dive and beach tours. You may check out the following sites to help you further: www.batanestravelandtours. com/, www.divebatanes.com/, batanestravel.com/, and www. ultimatephilippines.com. ■ Photos courtesy of Alman Dave Quiboquibo via ialman.livejournal. com.

Travel Dalvay by the Sea Hotel in Prince Edward Island full of history WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 36

The Inn

The Dining Room

Room with a view

BY MARY MACKAY, CHARLOTTETOWN GUARDIAN THE CANADIAN PRESS

STANHOPE, P.E.I. - If the walls of the Dalvay-by-the-Sea Hotel could talk, they would tell stories of a Scottish gardener turned oil baron, two little girls who grew up to be princesses, a Montreal bishop, a prohibition rum-runner and more.

For years, former Dalvay operators David and Michelle Thompson took on the self-imposed but rewarding duty of sharing the stories of this historic hotel and the people who once called it home with visitors from all over the world through personally guided tours.

In honour of that, they were recently presented with the 2012 Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Award in acknowledgment of their 35-year-plus commitment to Dalvay-by-the-Sea by managing the hotel while respecting the cultural fabric of this important National Historic Site. ``It was an amazing story and it’s a story that people like ...’’ says Michelle, who undertook extensive research on the original builders of Dalvay and sought out early photographs and other memorabilia to learn more about the lives of the past owners. ``The place really spoke to me, so I started doing the organization of the interpretive programs. I felt it was really important that people understood it. There is so much history in that place.’’

Dalvay started out as a private summer home for prosperous businessman Alexander McDonald, who hailed from Forres, Morayshire, Scotland, where he

was a gardener at the original Dalvay estate where his family members were longtime labourers.

An extensive history compiled and written by the Thompsons details that McDonald immigrated to the United States in 1851 and made his fortune in the oil industry.

McDonald wed Laura Palmer in 1862.

The couple lost a son in infancy, but their daughter, also named Laura, grew up, married and had two daughters before her untimely death in 1895.

They came to PE.I. that summer as a way to heal from their loss. ``They came to this place, it spoke to them and Mrs. McDonald said, ‘This is where we’re going to build a summer home in honour of our daughter and we will spend every summer here,’’’ Michelle says.

A year later, Dalvay was built on a 48-hectare parcel of land, fronted by an impressive lake. It cost close to $50,000 to build and $10,000 a year to operate with a staff that included a large number of servants, cooks, housemaids, a gardener, two butlers, two laundresses, a caretaker and two men to look after the horses and stable. Water and power were supplied to the house by a series of windmills. ``He named the house Dalvay-by-theSea in memory of his childhood home in Scotland and his permanent home in Cincinnati, Ohio ... ‘’ Michelle says.

When McDonald died in 1910, his extensive estate, which was worth roughly $15 million, was left to his two granddaughters. Helena and Laura, who were in their late teens at the time.

Both girls later married princes: Helena wed Prince Murat of France; Laura wed Prince Rospigliosi of Italy. The couples eventually divorced.

After their father, Edmund Stalla, made some bad investments on their behalf and their fortune disappeared, the princesses sold the house to the caretaker, William Hughes, for the amount owing in back taxes: $486.57.

Dalvay changed hands a number of times after that, becoming the property of William O’Leary of Charlottetown, who lent it to his brother, Bishop O’Leary from Montreal, who used it as a summer retreat.

Then came the infamous prohibition rum-runner, Capt. Edward Dicks, who turned the house into a hotel in 1931 to hide his smuggling activities.

That business scheme didn’t float, so Dalvay became the property of one of his creditors, George DeBlois, who was a former P.E.I. lieutenant governor.

In 1937 Dalvay shifted from a private home to a publicly owned operation when DeBlois sold it to the federal government so it could be part of P.E.I.’s new national park system.

Various persons operated it as a hotel on a private lease basis, including David Thompson’s Swiss-born grandparents, Raoul and Marguerite Reymond.

In 1959 they were operating what is now called the Stanhope Beach Resort when they were approached by Parks Canada to see if they’d like to tender a 10year lease to operate the hotel. ``At that time it was empty and devoid of all furniture and everything because the previous (lessee) had taken everything.

So that was quite an undertaking,’’ says David.

His turn at the helm of this iconic hotel came in 1976 when he took over the operations of Dalvay after his grandparents retired. His longtime friend Wayne Berry came onboard a year later.

Michelle arrived in 1992. ``I saw this place and said, ‘This is where I’m going to spend the rest of

my life,’’’ she said, laughing. ``Or a big chunk of it anyway,’’ her husband adds with a grin.

Dalvay-by-the-Sea’s impressive Queen Anne Revival style has not only withstood the test of time, but its more recent expansions were masterfully designed to seamlessly slip into the original landscape as if they’d been there since the beginning.

Extensions to the lease were negotiated with Parks Canada in 1994 so that in addition to the Thompsons taking over the upkeep and maintenance of the hotel, the first of four cottages was added the following year. Four more were completed in 1997.

Coincidentally, the cottage concepts were designed by Michelle’s father, Richard Archambault of DA Architects and Planners, as was the extensive dining room addition, which was completed to Heritage Canada Code in 2001.

The actual Dalvay story-sharing tradition started in 1994 as part of an afternoon tea and tour, primarily with passengers from visiting cruise ships. ``And then we started evolving the story (to include more of details and photos),’’ Michelle says.

Last year the Thompsons handed over the keys to Dalvay’s new operator, D.P. Murphy Hotels and Resorts, bringing an end to that era of their lives.

However, although they’ve checked out as operators of Dalvay-by-the-Sea, they will truly never leave because they are now part of the ongoing story of one of P.E.I.’s most historic hotels. ``I think what was really great about the recognition from Parks Canada is that we lived and breathed it, David for 37 years; I was a newbie, I was only there for 22 years,’’ Michelle smiles. ``It just defined us in terms of that building and how people felt about it and what their experience was on the Island and tourism.’’ ■ Online: www.dalvaybythesea.com Photos courtesy of Dalvay by the Sea Hotel

1000 Words / Shutterstock.com

View from Lumpini Park

1000 Words / Shutterstock.com

37 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Patpong

Travel

Chatuchak Market

Top 500 Pagodas

For visitors to Bangkok, 5 great free things to do, from temple hopping to massive markets

BY JOCELYN GECKER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK, Thailand - Chaos is part of Bangkok’s charm. But the savvy traveller quickly learns how to navigate Bangkok’s legendary traffic jams and discover its soul, a mix of urban jungle and Buddhist serenity where shopping and eating are national pastimes.

Despite the weak dollar, Bangkok remains one of the best deals in Asia. Some of the world’s tastiest street food sells for as little as 25 baht (80 cents) a plate. Beat traffic by zipping down side streets in a tuk-tuk or cruising up the Chao Praya on public express boats for stunning views of the city’s premier attractions - both for about a dollar. Other favourite outings are free: LUMPINI PARK: An oasis of tropical gardens and paved jogging paths in the middle of the city. Beat the heat by avoiding the park in midday. There are early morning tai chi classes and after work aerobics classes. You can rent paddle boats, take the kids to one of Bangkok’s best outdoor playgrounds or marvel at the massive monitor lizards in the lake.

CHATUCHAK MARKET: Browsing is free at the largest outdoor market in Thailand, and it’s a sight to see whether or not you take something home. Chatuchak’s thousands of stalls are divided into sections that include antiques, home decor, clothing and food. You

can find everything from Buddha statues and Thai handicrafts to handmade jewelry and the occasional endangered species in the live animal section. For upscale, air-conditioned window shopping, head to shopping malls Siam Paragon, Emporium or Central World.

TEMPLE HOPPING: Catch some karma at Bangkok’s many Buddhist temples, known in Thai as ``wats.’’ Some of the most popular, Wat Po and Wat Arun, ask foreigners to pay a minimal entrance fee but hundreds of others are free, including the impressive Temple of the Golden Mount, also known as Wat Saket.

A temple compound’s shaded walkways and quiet corners are a perfect place to escape the sensory overload on Bangkok’s busy streets.

FLOWER MARKET: Bangkok’s largest flower market, Pak Klong Talat, is open 24 hours but it’s busiest just after 2 a.m. when traders unload their fresh-cut blossoms in bulk. It’s a kaleidoscope of colours with an incredible selection of orchids at jawdroppingly cheap prices. The market is just south of Wat Pho and not far from the Grand Palace in the historical section of old Bangkok.

PATPONG: For a walk on Bangkok’s wild side, take an evening stroll along Patpong Road. It offers the incongruous mix of gogo bars and evening shopping. A thriving night market selling T-shirts, pirated DVDs and other souvenirs runs through the redlight district and spills onto the adjacent Silom Road, which is packed with street food vendors, restaurants and bars. ■

W oul dn t i t be gr eat to al ways have thi s much peace of mi nd?

You can! B y creating your plan ahead of time, you will protect your wonderful spouse and children from uncertainty and stress. T hen you can all rest easy knowing the details are taken care of.

Funeral expenses have increased in cost exponentially over the past 20 years. A no frills service and cremation or burial can cost thousands! B ut today s seniors want something special, a personalized service that their family will appreciate one that celebrates life and will ease the grief during a time of loss.

01089410_638638534.PDF;Date: Mar 27, 2012 15:36:45;Quicktrac Proof

Your Mortgage Specialist Specialist Your Mortgage

W ith C anada P urple Shield, you can preplan your services and pay for it over time at a rate you choose. W e W orldwide Travel A ssistance First time home buyers also andhave new to P lan coverage that protects you while Canada mortgages available traveling anywhere in the world! O ur plans allow you to lock in current prices while saving your family from making hard decisions under pressure.

Call now for the best rates!

Callme me now for the best rates!

4 year fixed: 2.99%fixed: 3.09% 4 year 10 year fixed: 3.89%

10 year fixed: 3.89%

Kyle Green Meridian Mortgage Services Inc.

W hy worry? A ct now to plan with C anada Purple Shield. W e ve served C anadians since 1927, and we look forward to serving you.

Kyle Green Mortgage Services Inc.

778-373-5441

For last minute deals to Manila, contact: Jo Pinera, Joy Sibyan, Grace Resurreccion

F uneral expens es c an c reate a tremendous burden. B y planning now with C anada P urple S hield, you c an: • • • •

P rotec t agains t inflation Have plans that inc reas e in value B e protec ted while traveling C hoos e low premium rates that fit your budget • Have immediate c as h exac tly when you need it mos t

Would’t it be great to always W oul dn t i t be have this much peace of mind? gr eat to al ways your plan ahead of time, thi s much B esYou t of can! all: By creatinghave willalprotect your wonderful spouse and • Noyou medic required peace of mi nd? children from uncertainty • P lans are available to age 90 and stress. Than

• P urple S hield is aceasy c epted by funeral you can all rest knowing the details are direc tors worldwide taken care of.B y creating your You can! plan ahead of time, you will protect your wonderful spouse and children from uncertainty and stress. T hen you can all rest easy knowing the details are taken care of.

C a ll (8 8 8 ) 5 7 9 -2 2 3 3 for more informa tion

778-373-5441

Funeral expenses have increased in cost exponentially over the past 20 years. A

F uneral expens es c an c reate a tremendous burden. B y planning

frills and cremation or burial now with C anada P urple S hield, A ll of this (and muc h more! ) provided by A s s urant no L ife ofservice C anada, s seniors B utmuch todaymore!)

Allthousands! of this (and provided byyou Assurant c an: Life of Canada, the the oldes t and larges t funeral ins uranc e c ompanycan incost the world.

want something special, a personalized oldest and largest funeral insurance• company in the world.

P rotec t agains t inflation service that their family will appreciate • Have plans that inc reas e in value one that celebrates life and will ease • B e protec ted while traveling the grief during a time of loss.

• C hoos e low premium rates that fit your budget W ith C anada Purple Shield, you can • Have immediate c as h exac tly preplan your services and pay for it when you need it mos t over time at a rate you choose. W e B es t of all: also have W orldwide Travel A ssistance • No medic al required Plan coverage that protects you while • P lans are available to age 90 traveling anywhere in the world! O ur • P urple S hield is ac c epted by funeral plans allow you to lock in current direc tors worldwide prices while saving your family from

In Vancouver, Call Tel No. 604-551-3360 kgreen@mortgagealliance.com www.kylegreen.ca

kgreen@mortgagealliance.com www.kylegreen.ca

Now hiring Skilled Laborers

making hard decisions under pressure.

W hy worry? A ct now to plan with C anada Purple Shield. W e ve served C anadians since 1927, and we look forward to serving you.

C a ll (8 8 8 ) 5 7 9 -2 2 3 3 for more informa tion A ll of this (and muc h more! ) provided by A s s urant L ife of C anada, the oldes t and larges t funeral ins uranc e c ompany in the world.

In Vancouver, Call Tel No. 604-551-3360

The Medallion Club Member

Canada: Seen and Scenes

Filipinos celebrated Victoria Day in Victoria BC.

At the opening of Max’s Restaurant at 3546 Kingsway, Vancouver, BC with the ceremonial chopping of chicken by Vice Consul Anthony Mandap

At the Filipino Seniors Club of BC (FSCBC) 30th Anniversary Celebration

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 40

41 WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012

Canada: Seen and Scenes

Geopo Dacanay

Roundtable with Treasury Board Minister Tony Clement facilitated by Mike Calingo of BMO hosted by the Philippine Consulate General’s Office headed by Consul General Jose Ampeso

The Volunteer Parents, trainers and leaders for the Neighborhood Recreational Program supported by Ontario Trillium Foundation grant.

Summer is almost here, and the Philippine Canadian Inquirer wants your travel photos!

We know that behind every travel photo is a story. And with Times Telecom, behind every travel photo and its story – is a free 20-minutes long distance call* to any of the following 10 countries: Continental U.S.,Canada**, China, Hongkong, Singapore, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, India and the Philippines!* It’s simple.

1) Take a travel-inspired photo with your digital camera or smart phone. See PCI’s Facebook page for the theme.

2) Like the Philippine Canadian Inquirer (PCI) Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/PhilippineCanadianInquirer.

3) Upload your photo in the PCI Facebook page, write a photo caption and include hashtag PCI (#PCI) at the end of the caption. Invite your friends to like Philippine Canadian Inquirer and like your photo.

4) Philippine Canadian Inquirer will send you a private e-mail via Facebook for your name, address, mobile/home phone and e-mail address for the activation of your free 20-minute long-distance call.

5) Everyone can join! The photo with the most number of Likes at the end of the promo period will win a Smart Phone courtesy of Times Telecom.

6) Photos must be original and taken by the person submitting. All photos submitted shall be the property of Philippine Canadian Inquirer.

For more information, please go to www.canadianinquirer.net.

Members of the BIBAC (Benguet, Ifugao, Bontoc, Apayao, and Kalinga) Canada performing their native dance at a celebration, headed by its Pres. Clifford Belgica.

* Free 20-minute long-distance call only for residents of Canada and the US only. **Availability: Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, Kelowna, Abbotsford, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener, London, Ottawa, Montreal, Quebec City, Regina, Fort McMurray

Ag N Jons Garlit

Best Travel Photo

the natural environment that sustains us. Getting in touch with the outdoors has another great benefit: those who know and love nature work harder to protect it.

This is why the David Suzuki Foundation is about to launch its first ever 30x30 Challenge. Starting June 1, we’re inviting Canadians to spend at least 30 minutes in nature each day for 30 days. By encouraging people to get a regular dose of fresh air we hope to help participants take advantage of the many health benefits nature has to offer. They might even make it part of their continuing daily practice.

With the busy lives that many of us lead, taking time to get outside may seem difficult. But it’s easier than you think. Green space is as close as your local park or backyard garden.

Trails, ravines, and community gardens are often a short distance from the daily grind. And birds, bees, and other critters are usually nearby; you just have to take time to slow down, breathe, watch, and listen.

Are you curious about how you can get your daily dose of nature?

Ditch the indoor gym and go for a run or walk in a park or on a trail WINNING PHOTO. Trampoline at White Rock Beach Resort Subic. instead. Use your lunch break to get out of the office and visit a nearby green space. Find a nice leafy tree and read a book in the shade. Brush off your green thumb and spruce up your garden. And on June 15,

BY DAVID SUZUKI They even refer to outdoor physical make plans to get outside with your THE CANADIAN PRESS activity as ``exercise squared’’ favourite little ones on Nature Play because it can increase energy and Day in Canada.

DO YOU want to be happier, fitness levels while reducing fatigue, For the young at heart, a British healthier, and smarter? I have just the depression, and obesity. organization called the National prescription for you: add a daily dose Melissa Lem, a family doctor and Trust has put together a fun list of of nature to your routine. member of the Canadian Association 50 activities all children should do Over the past decade, researchers of Physicians for the Environment, before they are 11 3/4 years old. from fields as diverse as biology, says exposure to nature is vitally While playing conkers (a game psychiatry, engineering, horticulture, important for kids. She suggests that involving chestnuts on strings) might neuroscience, and medicine have time spent with flora and fauna is not be among the top 50 Canadian realized what most of us know essential for healthy psychological pastimes, the list includes cool intuitively: nature is good for our and physical development in children. activities that are worthwhile for health and wellbeing. These experts In a recent Docs Talk column she any age. The joys of rolling down a have discovered countless links points to studies that show daily big hill, eating an apple picked fresh between time spent outdoors and doses of ``green time’’ can be used from a tree, and hunting for bugs are cognitive, physical, and emotional to prevent and treat conditions truly timeless. development.

Join the 30x30 Challenge like attention deficit hyperactivity Studies show that enjoying a natural disorder, hypertension, and diabetes. beginning June 1 and incorporate setting - like a park, beach, wetland, Ailments like myopia, asthma, and small natural diversions into your or forest - can reduce blood pressure, depression have also been linked to daily routine for a month. Add some anxiety, and stress levels. Exposure inadequate nature exposure. green to your commute, lunch break, to nature can help you sleep well and While this scientific body of workout schedule, or playtime. And increase vigour and liveliness. It can evidence is fascinating and growing remember, a daily dose of nature even boost your immune system. quickly, most of us remain unaware is good for your head, heart, and In their new book Your Brain on of the full range of health benefits that health. ■ Nature, naturopath Alan Logan and nature provides. And with more than David Suzuki is a scientist, Harvard physician Eva Selhub cite 80 per cent of Canadians now living broadcaster, author, and chair of dozens of studies that demonstrate the in urban settings, many of us lack a the David Suzuki Foundation. (www. health benefits of the natural world. meaningful, regular connection with davidsuzuki.org).

Science Matters: Prescription for health and happiness: a daily dose of nature

WEDNESDAY MAY 30, 2012 42

Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer Head of Editorial Melissa Remulla-Briones Editorial Consultant Maria Ramona Ledesma Contributors Jeffrey J.D. Andrion Gigi Astudillo Dr. Rizaldy Ferrer Marietta Pangan-Dutkoski Stella Reyes Frances Grace H. Quiddaoen Laarni de Paula Rodel J. Ramos Felichi Pangilinan Buizon Lizette Lofranco Aba Agnes Tecson Graphic Designer Victoria Yong Illustration Danvic C. Briones Photographers Art Viray Angelo Siglos Ryan Ferrer Solon Licas AJ Juan Head of Operations Laarni de Paula Advertising Sales Alice Yong (778) 889-3518 Advertising Agent CNM Communications (604) 619 - 4208 HINGE INQUIRER PUBLICATIONS CUSTOM PUBLISHING GROUP Managing Editor Maita de Jesus Asst. Creative Director Bong Sevilla Graphic Artist Reggie Goloy Editorial Assistant Phoebe Casin Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva Jr. Associate Publisher Millicent Agoncillo Project Coordinator Lychelle Ang In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer digital edition PHILIPPINE CANADIAN INQUIRER is located at Suite 400 North Tower 5811 Cooney Road, Richmond B.C. Canada Tel No. 778-383-6090 / 778-383-3203 / (604) 279-8787 ext. 1722.

• Email us at : info@canadianinquirer.net or inquirerinc@gmail.com

For Advertising Rates

Advertise with Us! The Filipinos are now the second largest migrant population in Canada.

The Philippine Canadian Inquirer is the only Filipino-Canadian newspaper that is distributed weekly for free in five key cities of Greater Vancouver, Greater Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg.

CALL (778) 773 - 9981

EMAIL info@canadianinquirer.net

PHILIPPINE CANADIAN

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO CANADIAN NEWSPAPER