Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #23

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER VOL. 7 NO. 23

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

CANADA NEWS

Caring for the Caregivers (On pages 22-23) Baird visits Philippines and meets with Filipino President (On page 24)

Filipino youths gather every Saturday at CNH (On page 28)

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird met with Benigno Aquino III, President of the Philippines. They discussed the strong CanadaPhilippines bilateral relationship, as well as other areas of common interest. Please see story on page 24.

Aquino: Nothing is impossible

The Referral Process

(On page 29)

More taxes from mining, ‘sins’

BY CHRISTINE O. AVENDAÑO, NORMAN BORDADORA Philippine Daily Inquirer And the benefits of change, he said, are now THE PHILIPPINES has achieved change, and the Filipinos themselves have made it happen.

President Benigno Aquino faced a joint session of Congress Monday to deliver his third State of the Nation Address (Sona). He did not claim credit for the improvements in national life in the past year. All credit he gave to the Filipinos. He thanked them for the achievements.

He said that in the 25 months that he has been President, he learned that “nothing is impossible because if the Filipino people see that they are the only Bosses of their government, they will carry, they will guide you, they themselves will lead you to meaningful change.”

“Nothing is impossible to a united nation,” Mr. Aquino said. “It was change we dreamed of, and change we achieved.”

Toward the end of his one-hour-and-a-halflong speech, he said: “Isn’t it a great time to be Filipino?”

par for the course: Roads are straight and level, and properly paved; relief goods are ready even before a storm arrives, rescue services are always on standby, and people are no longer left to fend for themselves; sirens only blare from police cars, ambulances, and fire trucks—not from the vehicles of government officials.

“Reforms were established as we cut wasteful spending, held offenders accountable for their actions, and showed the world that the Philippines is now open for business under new management,” the President said.

He reported eight credit rating upgrades, 44 stock market record highs, and a first-quarter 2012 gross domestic product growth rate of 6.4 percent, “much higher than projected, the highest growth in the Southeast Asian region, and second only to China in the whole of Asia.”

On his social, health, education, employment and infrastructure programs, Mr. Aquino reported achievements and announced progress on plans:

• The conditional cash transfer program for the poorest poor has been extended to 3.1 million households as of February from 760,357 when he took office in June 2010.

For next year, the program will cover 3.8 million households, five times bigger than the program he inherited from the Arroyo administration.

Under the program, the beneficiaries get P1,400 a month on the condition that pregnant women get regular prenatal checkups, mothers bring their children to clinics for immunization and parents keep their children in school.

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the President said, 1,672,977 mothers are now getting regular checkups; 1,672, 814 children have been vaccinated against diarrhea, polio, measles and other diseases; and 4.57 million children no longer miss classes because of poverty.

• Eighty-five percent of all Filipinos have been enrolled in PhilHealth, compared to 62 percent in 2010. This means 23.31 percent

Train adventures: slowing down and enjoying the journey (On page 37)

POLO and the Live-In Caregiver Program (On page 26)

A Caregiver Story (On page 42)

To subscribe, please send an email to

info@canadianinquirer.net Applicable postage shall be charged.

More on page 5

We’ve got it covered. From amazing HD picture and sound quality to 200 hours of recording, and pausing and rewinding Live TV and 3D ready HD Receivers.

Get it now

Call now: 1.800.264.2176 Or Visit www.timestelecom.ca/en/TV/

Bell TV

From

20.97 For 12 months

/MO

1

August 7th, 2012

conditions apply. Installation fees may also apply; see bell.ca/installationincluded. (1) Bell Satellite TV with Good Programming: monthly rate for programming $32.57, less $9 bundle discount, less $5.91 TV Sweetener discount for up to 12 months, plus $3 Digital Service Fee, plus a fee to fund Bell’s contribution to the CRTC’s Local Programming Improvement Fund (1.5%) of $0.31; see bell.ca/LPIF for a total of $20.97. Ask in store for more details.

News-Phils

GMA wants to stop P366-M PCSO case

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA AND MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer

FORMER President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday sought a halt to all court proceedings and her possible arrest in connection with her plunder case stemming from the alleged misuse of P366 million in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) funds.

In an urgent motion, Arroyo’s lawyers said she would file a motion for reconsideration on the Office of the Ombudsman’s resolution ordering that she and nine others be charged with plunder, a nonbailable offense.

This is the first plunder case against Arroyo, although she is already detained for another nonbailable case, electoral sabotage, pending in the Pasay City Regional Trial Court.

Arroyo is also facing graft cases in the Sandiganbayan for her approval of the allegedly overpriced National Broadband Network deal with China’s ZTE Corp. The deal has been scrapped.

Maria Rosario del Rosario and Christian Diaz of the Diaz, Del Rosario and Associates law firm also asked that the Office of the Ombudsman be directed to furnish Arroyo with a copy of its ruling, as she had yet to receive one.

The Office of the Ombudsman claimed that from January 2008 to June 2010, the accused diverted funds from the PCSO’s operating budget to the confidential or intelligence fund, which could be withdrawn or accessed any time and with few restrictions.

The accused then allegedly converted, misused and illegally transferred the funds for their own use “in the guise of fictitious expenditures,” it said.

In the motion, the lawyers said Arroyo, now a Pampanga lawmaker, would exhaust all remedies, especially the filing of a motion for reconsideration in the Office of the Ombudsman.

They said a motion for reconsideration was an integral part of any preliminary investigation of a case. If an accused is deprived of the chance to file such a motion, the preliminary investigation is deemed incomplete.

“It is a well-settled rule that a person under preliminary investigation by the Ombudsman is entitled to file a motion for reconsideration of the adverse resolution. This right is provided for in the very Rules of Procedure of the Office of the Ombudsman,” the lawyers said.

Preliminary probe They added that the right to a preliminary investigation was a “component part of due process in criminal justice” and that it should be done before any charge is brought to court. The lawyers asked the court to suspend any further action on the plunder charge.

But even without the motion, the Sandiganbayan cannot as yet issue any ruling or warrant in connection with the case until it has been raffled to a division.

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 2

20 forest workers killed in 2 years

The antigraft court is scheduled to raffle off the case on Friday.

Arroyo’s co-accused in the plunder case are former PCSO Chair Sergio Valencia; former General Manager Rosario Uriarte; ex-board members Manuel Morato, Jose Taruc V, Raymundo Roquero, Ma. Fatima Valdes; and ex-budget and accounts manager Benigno Aguas.

Indicted as well were former Commission on Audit Chair Reynaldo Villar and Nilda Plaras, erstwhile intelligence/confidential fund audit unit head.

Morato’s motion Like Arroyo, Morato sought the suspension of proceedings in his plunder case yesterday.

In a motion filed through his lawyers, Morato said he had yet to receive a copy of the Ombudsman resolution indicting him for plunder.

Morato’s motion said he was entitled to file a motion for reconsideration, with the court’s permission, on the adverse ruling. To deny him of this chance would violate his right to due process.

The motion was signed by Morato’s lawyer Dante Diaz.

Not Sona-related The plunder case was filed a week before the third State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Aquino, a constant critic of Arroyo.

Arroyo’s lawyer Anacleto Diaz on Monday said that the filing of the plunder case was timed for Sona in which Mr. Aquino would demonize Arroyo.

Malacañang said there was no politics behind the back-to-back filing of separate plunder cases against Arroyo and one of her most trusted appointees, former Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chair Efraim Genuino.

In a Palace briefing, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the filing of the charges was “merely incidental (and) has no relation whatsoever to the Sona on July 23.”

Filed ‘long ago’ Lacierda recalled that the case against the former President was filed “long ago” in the Office of the Ombudsman.

“And we’d like to remind you that the executive branch has no control or influence over the Office of the Ombudsman and, time and again, there were certain instances or cases where the Ombudsman dismissed a case against the former President or lowered the crime charge,” Lacierda said.

The President’s spokesperson noted that graft investigators had found probable cause to warrant the filing of the charges.

In a statement, Deputy Customs Commissioner Danilo Lim said the plunder case would finally land Arroyo in jail.

“The plunder case will deliver Arroyo from her hospital detention to a regular prison. Justice will be served,” said Lim, one of the complainants in the case. n

BY KRISTINE L. ALAVE Philippine Daily Inquirer THE LAST two years have been deadly for government forestry workers and environmental advocates.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), 20 of its employees, contractual workers and civil society partners have been killed since 2010. The latest figures added to the death toll were recorded in Surigao del Sur province, the ground zero for illegal logging in the Philippines.

Environment Secretary Ramon Paje identified the latest casualties as Rolando Intas, 57, and Wilner Pelos Colorita, 52, who were both gunned down by an unknown assailant.

Paje said Intas and Colorita were forest protection officers who worked for a forest cooperative in Lianga, Surigao del Sur. DENR Director Nonito Tamayo of the Caraga region said the two men worked closely with his office.

A few days before the two were killed, they intercepted and confiscated 1,000 board feet of hardwood lumber that were illegally harvested from their forest land.

“They were killed in the market by a lone unknown assailant. One of them died on the spot, while the other died on arrival at the hospital,” Tamayo said.

Before 2010, there were instances of violence against DENR workers, but they were not as severe nor as brazen.

In 2009, one DENR employee was killed while at work, DENR records show. In 2008, six died while on official duty, including a forest ranger gunned down at a checkpoint.

No safeguards Alyansa Tigil Mina and Kalikasan People’s Network said 17 environmental activists had been killed under the Aquino administration. Since 2001, there had been 58 killings, the groups added.

“If the figures from DENR Secretary Paje are accurate ... that is extremely alarming,” Carlos Conde of Human Rights Watch told the INQUIRER. “These killings are all the more alarming in the context of the Aquino (administration’s) determined push for more investments in mining. Without the necessary safeguards in place to protect DENR employees and environment advocates, we are afraid that the killings will continue,” he said. n

News-Phils

3 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

51 party-list reps are millionaires THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) should not allow millionaires to sit as party-list representatives in Congress as this is tantamount to depriving underprivileged Filipinos of the right to be heard in the legislature, according to a member of the House of Representatives.

Romblon Rep. Eleandro Jesus Madrona said it was appalling that moneyed individuals are styling themselves as party-list representatives when the party-list law—Republic Act No. 7941—that was signed 17 years ago was intended to increase the representation of the so-called marginalized and underrepresented sectors.

“How can they be called the underprivileged when they are millionaires? Those seats are supposed to be for people who belong to the sectors or party they represent,” said Madrona.

“These millionaires have enough resources to go to Congress the traditional way (as district representatives),” he said.

Photo courtesy of Jose Angelito P. Angeles

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

Mikey Arroyo heads list of the richest party-list representatives.

Out of the 285 House members, 56 are representatives of 43 party-list organizations. All but five of the partylist representatives reported a net worth of more than P1 million.

Mikey heads list Based on their 2011 statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN), the 10 richest party-list representatives

Aquino statement on responsible parenthood ‘safe’, says Sotto

BY KATE EVANGELISTA Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines – Senate Majority Floor Leader Vicente Sotto III on Tuesday said that President Benigno Aquino III issued a safe position on the controversial reproductive health issue in his state of the nation address on Monday.

Speaking to reporters, Sotto said that Aquino instead talked about the passage of the responsible parenting bill, which Malacanang has submitted to the Legislative Executive Development Advisory Council.

“I think the president gave a very safe statement. Some people wanted to think that it was the RH bill he was pertaining to. But he was I think, it was an advice. To me it came as an advice,” Sotto said.

Aquino on Monday received cheers from supporters of the RH Bill when he mentioned in passing the responsible parenthood bill in his congressional speech.

“Everybody is in favor of the responsible parenthood bill as a matter of fact, Archbishop Oscar Cruz said

that responsible parenthood means planning your family and the number one component there is natural family planning method. Kaya maganda yung pino-propose ni president [That’s why the proposal by the president is good],” Sotto said.

He added that the President’s proposed responsible parenthood bill may have a better chance of passing in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Nevertheless, Sotto said that there were similarities between the responsible parenthood bill and the pending RH bill especially on the provisions for maternal health care, protection of women and the unborn. There are differences, however, regarding the purchase of contraceptives and abortifacients.

Meanwhile, when asked if the Senate will adapt the Malacañang’s version, Sotto said: “It depends on the period of amendments.”

He added that the Senate would begin its deliberation on the RH Bill either on August 6 or August 13. n

are: Catalina Bagasina of Association of Laborers and Employment (P133,938,000); Juan Miguel “Mikey” Macapagal-Arroyo of Ang Galing Pinoy (P99,954,309); Teodorico Haresco Jr. of Ang Kasangga sa Kaunlaran (P92,814,808); Christopher Co of Ako Bicol (P91,063,195); Homer Mercado, formerly of 1-United Transport Koalisyon (P65,014,804); David L. Kho of Coalition of Senior Citizens (P59,521,695); Antonio Patricio of Agbiag Timpuyog Ilocano (P55,641,886); Mariano Michael Velarde, Jr. of Buhay Hayaan Yumabong (P53,326,935); Acmad Tomawis of Ang Laban ng Indigong Filipino (P48,530,000) and Nicanor Briones of the Agricultural Sectoral Alliance of the Philippines (P46,618,319).

The poorest party-list members are Neri Colmenares of Bayan Muna (P697,701); Abigail Faye Feriol of Kalinga (P483,006); Raymond Palatino of Kabataan (P195,000); Teodoro Casiño of Bayan Muna (P91,000) and Rafael Mariano of Anakpawis (P46,946).

Colmenares said the millionaires would have not abused the party-list

system had the Comelec refused to accredit them.

Sad truth The sad truth, he said, is that many party-list groups were formed and/ or are being abused by the rich and powerful to get more seats in Congress.

Groups like the Ang Galing Pinoy of Mikey Arroyo have been using the party-list system to gain access to Congress because they want to expand the clout of the Macapagal-Arroyos.

Mikey is the son of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is now a representative of Pampanga.

According to Colmenares, some partylist groups are allegedly bribing Comelec officials to get accredited and some are allegedly selling their seats to the highest bidder.

“In fact, I would not be surprised if the random listing of party-list groups will again be used by fake party-lists to have an edge over others,” he said.

Colmenares said his group has filed a bill amending the Party-list System Act to “stop this farce” by mandating that the Comelec tighten its criteria in accrediting party-list groups. n

P-noy OK’D bonuses for PCSO execs–juico

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHILIPPINE Charity Sweepstakes Office Chair Margarita Juico yesterday decried an INQUIRER report that said PCSO directors improperly received millions in benefits in 2010, saying that agency officials had sought and secured the President’s approval of its board members’ compensation package.

The INQUIRER earlier disclosed details of the Commission on Audit 2010 report on the PCSO, where the audit agency said the PCSO’s directors received over P4 million in benefits from Sept. 8 to Dec. 31, 2010, despite the President having issued Executive Order (EO) No. 7 suspending such allowances and incentives until new policies on compensation had been issued.

EO No. 7 was issued on Sept. 8, 2010.

The COA said in the report that the PCSO should seek from the President an ex-post facto or retroactive approval

of the allowances and benefits that the board had received, or it would disallow these. In the same report, the COA quoted PCSO’s response, which was that it was in the process of securing the presidential approval.

Juico, in a letter to the INQUIRER, said the PCSO discontinued all the salaries and benefits of the board when the Governance Commission for GOCCs (government-owned and -controlled corporations) law took effect last year.

The board, according to her, only retained the per diem for each meeting, which is a maximum of P864,000 per annum for the chair and P768,000 per annum for each board member.

“This is comparable to what a regular government employee with salary grade 15 receives,” Juico said. “This is the reason whywe decry the wrong and baseless imputations in the article.”

Juico said the PCSO’s charter states that the President determines the compensation of the PCSO board. n

News-Phils

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 4

Deal with it, SC tells solons on JBC

BY MARLON RAMOS AND GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE BALL is now in the lawmakers’ court.

Standing pat on its decision to cut congressional representation from two to only one in the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC), the Supreme Court (SC) said only a constitutional amendment would allow lawmakers to retain their current two votes in the body that screens nominees to the Supreme Court and other courts, including for the post of Chief Justice.

Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., one of the two legislative representatives in the JBC, said Congress would file a motion to reconsider the ruling. He also accused the justices of operating like a “secret society” and maneuvering to give “their insiders the advantage” in the JBC selection of the next Chief Justice.

Sen. Francis Escudero, the other congressional member of the JBC, expressed concern that since the JBC had operated with two representatives from Congress since 2002, all JBC decisions on nominations for various judicial posts may have to be reviewed.

Tupas and Escudero head the justice committees of their respective chambers.

But the high court, releasing the contents of its July 17 resolution to media on Friday, said that while it “finds wisdom” in the argument of the two lawmakers that both chambers of

Congress should be represented in interviews (of 22 candidates) would the body, it did not have the “power start immediately after the State of the Nation Address of the President to correct” the Constitution. and the voting would be held on July Only Congress can act 30.

“As long as there is a motion for “Needless to state, the remedy lies in the amendment of a constitutional reconsideration, there is a status quo, provision,” the court said in its resolution. Chiz (Escudero’s nickname) and I will The court was referring to Section 8, sit down in the interviews,” said Tupas.

Article VIII, of the 1987 Constitution Tupas, who led the House which states: “A Judicial and Bar prosecution panel in the recent Council is hereby created under the impeachment trial of Chief Justice supervision of the Supreme Court Renato Corona, accused the Supreme composed of the Chief Justice as Court justices of operating like a ex-officio chair, the Secretary of “secret society” and of wanting to Justice, and a representative of the give candidates from their own ranks Congress as ex-officio members, the advantage in the selection of the a representative of the Integrated next Chief Justice.

Bar, a professor of law, a retired member of the Supreme Court and a Protecting somebody representative of the private sector.” “They are protecting somebody with Only Congress, acting as a their decision because it would favor constituent assembly or calling for a the insiders. The JBC is under the constitutional convention, can amend supervision of the SC. The presiding the Constitution. officer is an SC member. If the Voting 7-2, the tribunal affirmed the votes of Congress are curtailed, in a opinion of former Solicitor General way, it favors the SC. I can feel the Francisco Chavez that the presence of maneuverings there (JBC), because both Escudero and Tupas in the JBC the only people they can’t control violated the constitutional provision on are the senator and congressman. the membership of the body.

We are there as part of the check and balance. The others, they are under Motion to be filed the judiciary. Only the secretary of Tupas said Congress would file justice is not beholden to the SC,” its motion for reconsideration in said Tupas in a radio interview. the Office of the Solicitor General But he admitted: “We can’t remedy either today or Tuesday. He said the this because, as they said in their

decision, the Constitution would have to be amended.”

Tupas pointed out that six incumbent justices, including Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, were among the 22 candidates and all of them asked not to have to go through an interview.

“But we didn’t allow that,” he said.

Tupas said the JBC members had an option to reveal during the interviews the bank records and statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN) of the candidates who waived the confidentiality of these documents.

Escudero’s four options At any rate, Escudero said Congress could consider four options to adjust to the situation: One is that he and Tupas take turns sitting in JBC meetings and deliberations. Another is for the two of them to thresh out a time-sharing agreement similar to what Sen. Joker Arroyo had with Sen. Francis Pangilinan when they were both the JBC representatives.

A third is for the House and the Senate to be allowed a “half-vote” each in JBC deliberations. Yet another is for Congress to choose between him and Tupas. But Escudero admitted in a radio interview that this last option would be the most difficult and would require “intense coordination” between the two chambers. n

House to ask SC to reconsider JBC ruling

BY CYNTHIA D. BALANA Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE HOUSE of Representatives will ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its reported decision to reduce the voting power of Congress from two to only one vote in the selection of nominees for Chief Justice in the Judicial and Bar Council (JBC).

In an interview, Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. said the House would file a motion for reconsideration, saying Congress has always had two votes because the Senate and the House of Representatives voted separately on the matter.

“I don’t like to use the word undermining or anything. What I am saying is that they (Supreme Court justices) are reducing the votes (of Congressional representatives) to one-half vote,” he said, adding that the legislative branch would exhaust all legal means to challenge the decision.

The high court decided this week on a petition filed by former Solicitor General Frank Chavez questioning the composition and voting rights of the JBC’s two congressional members—Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., chair of the House committee on justice, and Sen. Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate committee on justice. Chavez pointed out that the Constitution calls for only one vote from Congress.

According to reports, the Court agreed that the Constitution called for only seven members of the JBC. The JBC currently makes room for eight votes because of the two votes given to Congress.

Lawyer Ma. Victoria Gleorestu Guerra, acting Public Information Office chief, said she was not yet authorized to officially disclose the results of the voting on this issue during the regular full

court session yesterday. The ruling is set to be promulgated on Thursday.

“The information given to me is that the decision will be released this Thursday but a vote has already been reached...It’s just a matter of preparing the dissenting opinion and the decision.”

Guerra also told reporters the vote is not final until it is officially promulgated.

Belmonte disagreed with the reported decision to give Congress only one vote, arguing that the Constitution speaks of two chambers of Congress.

“We will exhaust all our remedies to see to it that this current situation [of having two votes] which has been in use for many years continues,” the Speaker said.

Eastern Samar Rep. Ben Evardone said he hoped the decision to clip the representation of Congress in the JBC was not a reaction to the Corona impeachment trial. n

News-Phils

5 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

...from page 1 more Filipinos have gained access to health insurance in the past two years.

Better news: 5.2 million poorest households will benefit from PhilHealth programs, including treatment for such diseases as breast cancer, prostate cancer and acute leukemia.

“The process,” Mr. Aquino said, “is this: Go to any government hospital, show your PhilHealth card, get treatment, and you will go home without shelling out a single centavo.”

• By year-end, the government will have built the 66,800 classrooms needed to solve the classroom shortage in public schools, acquired the 2,573,212 chairs needed to solve the furniture shortage, and done away with the 61.7-million-book shortage to achieve the 1:1 textbook-to-student ratio.

“We are ending the backlogs in the education sector, but the potential for shortages remains as our student population continues to increase,” Mr. Aquino said. Then he suggested a solution: “Perhaps the responsible parenthood bill can help address this.”

That drew the loudest of the 100 bursts of applause that interrupted Mr. Aquino’s speech.

• A proposed 43.61-percent increase in the budget of state universities and colleges next year.

• A steady decline in the unemployment rate from 8 percent in 2010 to 7.2 percent in 2011 to 6.9 percent this year.

• The completion by 2016 of airports in Panglao, Bohol; Daraga, Albay; Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental; and the upgrading of the international airports in Mactan, Cebu; Tacloban, Leyte; and Puerto Princesa, Palawan.

• Full repair of the flaws of Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport before the next Sona in July next year.

• Completion by 2015 of the extension of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 to Cavite, which would ease traffic in Las Piñas, Parañaque and Cavite, and the addition of two elevated expressways that will connect the North Luzon and South Luzon expressways, and reduce travel time between Clark in Pampanga and Calamba in Laguna to 1 hour and 40 minutes.

• Drawing 2.1 million tourists in the past two years, compared to 1.3 million during the nine years of the Arroyo administration.

The goal for this year: 4.6 million tourists.

• Reduction of rice imports from 1.3 million metric tons in 2010 to 500,000 metric tons this year. Weather permitting, the Philippines may start exporting rice next year.

Military modernization Turning to national defense, the President said the government allocated P28 billion for the modernization of the military. “This will soon match the P33 billion set aside for the program in the past 15 years,” Mr. Aquino said.

That’s only getting started, he said. If the proposed military modernization bill is passed by Congress, P75 billion will be allocated for defense in the next five years.

Saying the country cannot just give its territory away, Mr. Aquino called on the nation to unite behind his government’s efforts to resolve the Philippines’ dispute with China over Panatag Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. “If someone enters your yard and tells you he owns it, will you allow that?” he said. “It’s not right to give away what is rightfully ours. And so I ask for solidarity from our people regarding this issue. Let us speak with one voice.”

He assured the nation: “We are consulting experts, every leader of our nation, our allies—even those on the other side—to find a solution that is acceptable to all.”

Legislative wish list Mr. Aquino also asked Congress to pass crucial legislation, including the sin tax reform bill, the third amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Act that would increase the number of predicate crimes covered by the law, his administration’s version of the military modernization bill, the responsible parenthood bill, and the amendment to the mining law that would increase the government’s share in mining revenues.

“Let me remind you that our fight does not end with the ousting of one corrupt official, with the suspension of an anomalous contract, or the systemic overhauling of a government office,” Mr. Aquino said, referring to former Chief Justice Renato Corona, for whose removal from office in May he thanked his allies in Congress and Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales.

“I call upon Congress to pass our amendments to the AntiMoney Laundering Act, which may strengthen our measures to hold the corrupt accountable,” Mr. Aquino said.

Referring to his Executive Order No. 79 that outlined his administration’s mining policy, Mr. Aquino said: “Think about it. In 2010, P145 billion was the total value derived from mining, but only P13.4 billion, or 9 percent, went to the national treasury.”

But the natural resources belong to the Filipinos, he said. “It shouldn’t happen that all that’s left to you is a tip after they’re

Ssh....alam mo na ba ang latest?

Get now from your suking tindahan!

Landline

39 minutes

Smart

29 minutes

Globe

35 minutes

To Order Call: VANCOUVER 604-278-3066 TORONTO 647-722-2124

extracted. We are hoping that Congress will work with us and pass a law that will ensure that the environment is cared for, and that the public and private sectors will receive just benefits from this industry.”

Mr. Aquino appealed to the nation for support for his administration in next year’s midterm elections so that changes may continue.

Continued support “Elections are fast approaching,” he said. “You, our bosses, will be our compass. I ask you, ‘Boss, what direction will we take?

Do we continue treading the straight and righteous path, or do we double back toward the crooked road that leads to a dead end?’”

He reminded the nation of the irregularities in the Arroyo administration without, however, mentioning the ex-President’s name, and said that there were still people who were committed to bring that system back.

“These are also the ones who say, ‘Let go of the past. Unite.

Forgive and forget so we can move forward as a people,’” Mr. Aquino said.

“I find this unacceptable. Shall we simply forgive and forget the 10 years that were taken from us?” Mr. Aquino said.

Arroyo, now a Pampanga representative, is detained in a government hospital, facing criminal charges for alleged electoral sabotage, breach of ethics involving an overpriced broadband Internet deal with a Chinese company and the plunder of millions of pesos in Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office funds.

Mr. Aquino thanked his officials for dedicated service that enabled him to advance his programs and deliver on his promises to the people.

But most of all, he thanked the Filipinos for their cooperation and support.

Midpoint “This is my third Sona; only three remain,” Mr. Aquino said.

“We are entering the midpoint of our administration. Last year, I challenged you to fully turn your back on the culture of negativism; to take every chance to uplift your fellow Filipinos.

From what we are experiencing today, it is clear: You succeeded.”

He said that whenever people came to him to thank him for the change in their lives, his response was: “You made this happen.”

And he concluded his speech: “I stand before you today and tell you: this is not my Sona. You made this happen. This is the Sona of the Filipino nation. Thank you.”n

News-Phils ‘Bring Asean, UN into gov’t-MILF talks’

BY MICHELLE V. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer

MARAWI CITY—Bring in Asean, the United Nations and other “local and international guarantors” to monitor how the parties are fulfilling their commitments to peace-building in Mindanao.

So urged civil society groups in a position paper addressed to both the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), whose peace panels began a three-day exploratory meeting in Kuala Lumpur to hammer out a political settlement to end over four decades of Moro rebellion in Mindanao.

The civil society peace network Mindanao Peace-Weavers (MPW) said the involvement of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in peacebuilding in Mindanao must be sought “to monitor and evaluate (the) implementation of interim agreements and the final peace compact” between the parties.

Asean, a bloc of 10 countries, was established in 1967 by the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

According to the MPW, which is composed of nine civil society peace networks, the regional bloc can play a role through the Asean Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) created by the heads of state during the May 2011 summit to boost Asean’s capacity in “conflict resolution and the pacific settlement of disputes as well as post-conflict peace-building.”

Last week in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, the 45th Asean Ministerial Meeting approved the AIPR Terms of Reference that would be launched in November.

Int’l Contact Group According to the MPW, the involvement of Asean and the United Nations would bring in more international actors to the Mindanao peace process, particularly in the postconflict stage.

Currently, four foreign governments and four international nongovernment organizations comprise the International Contact Group created in September 2009 “to exert proper leverage and to sustain the interest of the parties” in peace negotiations and ensure compliance with mutually agreed on obligations.

The ICG is composed of state members Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom,

Aquino: Philippines is no longer a joke

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

Turkey and Japan, and non-state entities The Asia Foundation, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Muhammadiyah and Conciliation Resources.

As of noon yesterday, sources within the government and the rebel group said the 29th exploratory meeting had yet to be formally opened as the panels were still holding an executive session to set the agenda.

Common grounds “As the most difficult substantive issues are now the focus of negotiations, we continue to hope and pray that common ground between the two parties prevail over hard lines,” said Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles in a statement.

The MILF, meanwhile, posted on its official website yesterday that it expected the agenda to address such issues as an interim arrangement, power-sharing, wealth-sharing, the territory of the new autonomous political entity, normalization, basic law, and the constitutional accommodation of an upcoming peace agreement.

Very contentious The MILF post also shared the government panel’s optimism, although it admitted that “anything can still happen,” as “the other issues remained very contentious.”

In an earlier interview, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Iqbal said other substantive issues like wealth-sharing and power-sharing may not be as ticklish “because there are models throughout the world that can be studied...to help our discussions.”

Iqbal said the guarantee of a plebiscite among affected villages on the issue of territory should allay “earlier apprehensions arising from misinformation that the peace pact (would) be rammed down people’s throats.”

Transitory mechanisms According to an MPW proposal, transitory mechanisms must be installed immediately as soon as the parties “sign an interim peace agreement.”

Malacañang and Congress should then enact the necessary policy instruments “to legalize the interim agreements” especially the grant of governance powers to a Transitional Commission (Transcom) n

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 6

THE TIME has come for the country to implement high-profile projects, invite more tourists, and spend more for education and healthcare to parlay the robust investors’ confidence in the economy into gains for his “bosses,” President Benigno Aquino said Monday.

“What was once the sick man of Asia now brims with vitality. Once, we were the debtors; now, we are the creditors, clearly no laughing matter. Until recently, we had to beg for investments; now, investors flock to us,” the President said in his third State of the Nation Address (Sona).

He cited testimonies from foreign investors and an analyst saying that “the Philippines is no longer a joke.”

“I only wish that the optimism of foreign media would be shared by their local counterparts more often,” the President said.

“When we secured our first positive creditrating action, some said it was pure luck. Now that we have had eight, can it still just be luck?

When the Philippine Stock Exchange Index first broke 4,000, many wondered if that was sustainable. But now, with so many record highs, we are having trouble keeping score: For the record, we have had 44, and the index hovers near or above 5,000,” Mr. Aquino said.

Like blindfolded boxers He said his first three months in office were daunting as the previous administration had used up two-thirds of the budget in its last six months. “We were like boxers, sent into the ring blindfolded, with our hands and feet bound, and the referee and the judges paid off.

In our first three months in office, I would look forward to Sundays when I could ask God for His help,” the President said.

“We expected that it would take no less than two years before our reforms took hold. Would our countrymen be willing to wait that long?

The government that once abused its power is finally using that power for their benefit.”

The President said his reforms had taken root, especially in the health sector.

He is targeting full PhilHealth coverage by his last year in 2016 and he is planning to use additional revenues from pending tax reforms on alcohol and cigarettes for this and other health-care reforms.

Infrastructure program “We can easily fulfill all these goals, if the sin tax bill—which rationalizes taxes on alcohol and tobacco products—can be passed. This bill makes vice more expensive while at the same time raising more money for health,” Mr. Aquino said.

He said his job generation strategy was anchored on building and interconnecting the country’s infrastructure with the completion of airports, railways and expressways within his term.

No kickbacks “We will not build our road network based on kickbacks or favoritism. We will build them according to a clear system. Now that resources for these projects are no longer

allocated haphazardly, our plans will no longer end up unfulfilled. They will become tangible roads that benefit the Filipino people,” he said.

The President said the infrastructure development program would be the catalyst for more tourist arrivals in the country.

“In two years, we would have had a bigger growth in tourist arrivals, compared with the increase charted by the previous administration in its nine years. But [Tourism] Secretary [Ramon] Jimenez is still not satisfied. He says if 24.7 million tourists came to Malaysia in 2011 and around 17 million visited Thailand, would it be too far-fetched to have 10 million tourists visiting the Philippines annually by 2016?” Mr. Aquino said.

Rice production Anticorruption reforms have also led to increases in rice production. “[Agriculture] Secretary Alcala has said that key to our success is a feasible irrigation program and the assiduous implementation of the certified seeds program. What is galling is that this knowledge is not new—it simply wasn’t applied. If they’ had only done their jobs right, where could we have been by now?” asked the President.

He assured farmers that the government was doing everything to ensure that they can claim their land more swiftly.

“There are those, however, who wish to obstruct us. I say to them: ‘We will obey the law.’ The law says, the nation says, and I say: `Before I step down, all the land covered by CARP [Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program] will have been distributed,’” he said.

Inspiring confidence “My mother initiated the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. It is only just that this program sees its conclusion during my term,” he said in reply to doubts about his sincerity in completing the farmers’ takeover of their lands.

He said that his reforms had proven that combating corruption would inspire confidence in the economy and therefore put food on the table.

“Doing business in the Philippines was once considered too risky—the rules were too opaque and they were constantly changing. A person shaking your hand one day may pick your pocket the next. Now, we have a level playing field, and clear and consistent rules,” he said.

Wise spending Mr. Aquino said his reforms have come through “prudent spending, with every peso collected properly spent on roads, on vaccines, on classrooms and chairs—spent on our future.”

He said the fruits of his reforms were evident in the reformed system for building roads, bridges and buildings; increase in food production and more stable prices.

“A resilient and dynamic economy resting on the foundations of good governance is the best defense against global uncertainty. We achieved all these things even as countries around the world were surmounting their own challenges,” he said.. n

7 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

News-Phils

Gov’t: Look out world, here comes PH in 2016

BY MICHELLE V. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE PHILIPPINES, which has just received a credit rating upgrade, is confident it can make a significant leap in global competitiveness rankings by 2016.

In a report by the government’s Investor Relations Office, the Aquino administration cited its goal of having the Philippines land in the upper 30 percent of competitiveness rankings conducted by key international organizations.

The administration is committed to “transformational leadership, institutional reform, economic stability and inclusive growth,” the government said in the report titled, “The Republic of the Philippines: A Fortified Credit Story,” and distributed to foreign investors at recent international road shows conducted by the country’s economic officials.

The government’s competitiveness target means that by 2016, the Philippines should be ranked 43rd or higher out of 142 economies covered by the annual Global Competitiveness Rankings of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

This would be a jump by at least 32 notches from its latest ranking of 75th in the 2011-2012 rankings

by WEF. WEF ranks countries based on various factors, including strength of government institutions, infrastructure, health and education services, labor and

goods market efficiency, market size, technological capacity and sophistication of the business sector.

In terms of the annual World Competitiveness Rankings by the Switzerlandbased academic and research institution IMD, the Philippine target of landing in the upper 30 percent means garnering 18th place or higher by 2016.

This would be a jump by at least 25 notches from the country’s No. 43 spot in this year’s rankings by IMD. Competitiveness ranking reports serve as guides to foreign investors in deciding where to do business.

The administration said it would focus on supporting five key industries to help boost economic growth, and

thus the competitiveness, of the country. The industries, in which the Philippines has a competitive advantage, include tourism, creative industries (advertising, music, digital content), business process outsourcing, agribusiness and infrastructure.

The country, with a population of more than 94 million, has a consumer market size that is attractive to business.

Economists said, however, that the country remained a laggard among emerging Asian economies in terms of cornering foreign direct investments due to insufficient infrastructure, red tape, and perception of unstable regulatory environment, among other things. n

News-Phils

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 8

PH business execs more upbeat, says int’l report

BY DORIS C. DUMLAO PHILIPPINE DAILY INQUIRER FILIPINO business leaders have turned more upbeat in the second quarter despite lingering global economic woes and local political concerns, beating most places in the world in the optimism barometer, according to the quarterly Grant Thornton International Business Report.

The latest results, released by audit, tax and advisory services firm Punongbayan & Araullo (P&A) on Monday, showed the Philippines in the No. 2 spot of the global optimism league table with a “balance” of 90 percent—just behind Peru’s 96 percent and at par with Chile’s.

Percentage “balance” is defined by the Grant Thornton study as the proportion of companies reporting that optimism increased net of those reporting that it decreased.

The survey, conducted when the impeachment trial of then Chief Justice Renato Corona was drawing to a close, showed that the tension between the judiciary and executive branches had little impact on day-to-day business.

Of the respondents from the Philippines, 84 percent said the Corona trial had no impact, up from the 78 percent in the previous survey.

P&A, the local partner firm of Grant Thornton, noted that the Philippines had posted an eightpoint increase in optimism in the second quarter from the previous quarter despite tepid expectations for key economic indicators, such as profitability and revenue.

In the previous quarter’s survey, the Philippines was in fourth place, behind Peru

(90 percent), Brazil (86 percent) and the United Arab Emirates (84 percent).

But this improvement in optimism is not immediately expected to translate to higher revenues or the creation of new jobs locally, said the report.

For the second quarter, a balance of 40 percent of local respondents expected increased profitability, about the same percentage in the preceding quarter.

When it came to expectations for revenue improvement, however, the balance dropped from the first quarter’s 48 percent to 44 percent. But the proportion of businesses planning to raise prices jumped to 30 percent from the previous quarter’s 14 percent.

“The drop in revenue expectations could be due to businesses expecting a reduction in sales volumes as a result of price increases,” Marivic Españo, P&A’s chair and chief executive officer, said in a press statement.

“Costs attendant to doing business, such as oil prices for example, which were on the high end at the start of the second quarter, are normally passed on to consumers, so business leaders are naturally looking at a drop in volume sales,” Españo said.

Employment Another noticeable trend cited by P&A was the drop in employment expectations. In the first quarter, a balance of 42 percent of businesses expected to add to new personnel, but that proportion was reduced to 28 percent in the second quarter.

On the bright side, the report noted that Filipinos who are already employed can expect to be aptly compensated for the next 12 months.

An overwhelming majority of the respondents—80 percent—planned to increase salaries either in line with inflation or by more than the inflation rate, and none of the businesses intended to reduce pay.

“You expect business leaders to adjust where they can consider the new realities of their operations,” Españo said.

“Unfortunately, this quarter that adjustment involves holding off on hiring more people and instead focusing on coming up with competitive pay packages for their existing team,” she said.

Roadblock Asked about their business constraints, 32 percent of Filipino business leaders cited problems in information and communications technology (ICT) as a major roadblock to their growth.

Shortage of long-term finance and working capital also saw big jumps in the percentage of respondents citing the two items as major constraints—from 6 percent to 18 percent, and from 12 percent to 22 percent, respectively.

The Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR) provides insight into the views and expectations of over 12,000 businesses per year across 40 economies.

The survey draws upon 20 years of trend data for most European participants and 10 years for many non-European economies.

IBR is a survey of both listed and privately held businesses. The data for this release was drawn from interviews from May to June with 3,000 businesses from all industry sectors across the globe.

The target respondents were chief executive officers, managing directors, chairpersons or other senior executives.

All-time highs Reflective of improved business confidence, the main-share Philippine Stock Exchange index recorded new all-time highs 19 times in the first semester, rising by a total of 20 percent to finish at the 5,246.41 level in June.

On July 4, the index breached 5,400 in intraday trade.

In the first quarter, the Philippines posted a sharper-than-expected year-on-year gross domestic product growth of 6.4 percent, the fastest pace in Asia after China.

Rating upgrade Global credit watchdog Standard & Poor’s upgraded the sovereign credit rating on the Philippine government to BB+, just one notch below the much coveted investment grade.

The Philippines can prove that it drives a “sports car” rather than a “jeepney” economy by embarking on further interest-rate cuts and more aggressive government spending given the challenging global environment, a Bank of the Philippine Islands report said.

Given the European debt crisis, a floundering US recovery, the slowing of China’s growth and weakness in commodity prices, the Philippines might have no choice but to grow internally through government spending on infrastructure in tandem with stronger domestic private sector investment and consumption, said a July 12 report by the BPI financial markets group led by economist Emilio Neri Jr. n

News-Phils

News-Phils

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 10

Palace: We thought UNA team to beat

BY MICHAEL UBAC, JERRY ESPLANADA AND GIL CABACUNGAN WITH CATHY C. YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer

MALACAÑANG yesterday rebuffed those advocating for a “super coalition” between the ruling Liberal Party (LP) and the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay and former President Joseph Estrada.

“I thought UNA was the team to beat, so why are they asking for a coalition?” presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said in a briefing at the Palace.

San Juan City Rep. Joseph Victor “JV” Ejercito floated the possibility of forming a “super senatorial slate” over the weekend, saying it was a logical move.

“It will be ideal since there is no clearcut line between the opposition and the administration unlike during Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s time in 2007,” said Ejercito, the son of Estrada by San Juan Mayor Guia Gomez.

Ejercito, however, has admitted that forming a super ticket composed of the LP and its prospective partners— the Nacionalista Party, Nationalist People’s Coalition (NPC), Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino and Akbayan— and UNA’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino and Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan would be easier said than done.

In Malacañang, Lacierda was asked by reporters about the primary consideration of President Aquino in drawing up the senatorial slate of the LP, particularly on guest candidates.

“Well, we can’t comment on that yet until LP decides to finally announce its slate. And the slate, as … Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has already mentioned, will be a coalition slate. As to who will be the senatorial candidate of the particular slate, let’s wait for the announcement from the Liberal Party,” said Lacierda.

Lacierda, however, agreed to discuss the possible scenarios.

Adopting Chiz For instance, Lacierda disclosed that there had been discussion by Abad, an LP stalwart, over Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero’s adoption as a guest candidate of LP. Escudero, a close friend of President Aquino, is now an independent after he bolted the NPC in the runup to the 2010 elections.

“But again, that’s something that we have yet to discuss. Well, let’s wait for the LP to make a decision on that matter. We don’t want to preempt the LP to announce the candidates,” said Lacierda.

Asked who in the LP called the shots, Lacierda said: “It’s a discussion between the President, Sen. Mar Roxas and some of the leaders of the LP.” Secretary Ricky Carandang, chief of the Presidential Communications Group, said

he was not aware of “any extensive talks” about any super coalition.

“The idea has been floated, both privately and in the media, of a Liberal Party-UNA coalition. I’m sure you’ve heard about it... But there has been nothing that I can say beyond that. The idea is being floated,” he said.

OK with Binay Binay, head of the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) and one of UNA’s leaders, yesterday said he was open to the possibility of UNA joining forces with the LP to form a “super coalition.”

He said no conflict of interest would arise from such a merger since “the kind of opposition that the UNA represents differs from the common and negative perception of the term in the country.”

According to Binay, UNA would be willing to help Mr. Aquino in his “tuwid na daan” campaign.

Patterned after Britain “The UNA is for constructive opposition, patterned after Britain’s Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, which is the official opposition in the United Kingdom and other countries, such as Canada and Australia,” Binay said.

According to Ejercito, the LP and UNA had more things in common than differences, so that forming a super senatorial slate which would run unopposed next year should be the “natural thing to do.”

“I still believe having one super is the ideal scenario. There are certain policies and advocacies of the LP and UNA that are similar which was the reason that in 2007, we were together in the Genuine Opposition,” said Ejercito.

“But the LP is just too proud to accept that proposal,” he said, conceding that it may be too late to push for a single slate at this point.

Senators Loren Legarda, Francis Escudero, Alan Peter Cayetano and Antonio Trillanes IV and former Las Piñas Rep. Cynthia Villar are being considered for inclusion in the senatorial lineup of both the LP and UNA. A source said UNA had offered a 5-7 or 4-8 sharing with the LP with the President getting to pick the bulk of the senatorial bets.

Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III yesterday laughed off speculations he could end up running on the same ticket as former Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri in the event a “super coalition” emerged.

“That would be the irony of ironies, he he,” Pimentel said in a text message when asked about the awkward scenario.

Pimentel has ruled out a super coalition: “I don’t think that will ever happen.” n

11 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

News-Phils

Philippine leader says he won’t yield in territorial dispute with China, will bolster military

BY JIM GOMEZ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III said Monday that the Philippines won’t back down in a South China Sea dispute with China and that his country’s military will soon get dozens of new aircraft and ships for maritime defence.

Aquino announced in his annual state of the nation address that more than 40 military aircraft including attack helicopters and two newly refurbished C-130 cargo planes - and other weapons would be delivered in the next two years to bolster Philippine military muscle amid renewed territorial tensions in the South China Sea. A second former U.S. Coast Guard cutter is to arrive soon from the United States, following a refurbished cutter that was relaunched by the Philippine navy last year as its largest and most modern warship.

Washington has also provided $30 million to strengthen the Philippine military in addition to helping establish a national coast watch centre to help protect the country’s 36,000-kilometre (22,370-mile) coastline, Aquino said.

But he stressed that the Philippines hopes to forge a peaceful solution that will be acceptable to China.

A standoff erupted in April between Chinese and Philippine ships at Scarborough Shoal, which both countries claim. The territory is called Huangyan Island in China and Bajo de Masinloc in the Philippines. Aquino withdrew his country’s ships from the area last month as tensions with Beijing escalated, but Chinese government ships have stayed.

Some Philippine lawmakers have suggested that the Aquino administration tone down its

rhetoric and quietly negotiate a compromise with China. A senator has described the lopsided feud as a clash between a mosquito and a dragon. ``There are those who say that we should let Bajo de Masinloc go. We should avoid the trouble,’’ Aquino said in his nationally televised speech before Congress. ``But if someone entered your yard and told you he owned it, would you agree?

Would it be right to give away that which is rightfully ours?’’ ``I do not think it excessive to ask that our rights be respected, just as we respect their rights as a fellow nation in a world we need to share,’’ Aquino said, referring to China.

Taiwan, Malaysia, Vietnam and Brunei also have conflicting claims in the South China Sea. Many fear the resource-rich and busy waters could spark Asia’s next major armed conflict.

China, meanwhile, on Monday named the mayor and other officials of a new city it established last month under its southernmost Hainan province to administer all the disputed territories it claims in the South China Sea, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

Xiao Jie was named mayor of Sansha city, which will have a military presence, Xinhua said.

Vietnam and the Philippines have protested the city’s establishment.

About 6,000 police officers were deployed to secure the House of Representatives, where Aquino spoke, and nearby roads. Several people were injured when riot police clashed with thousands of left-wing and trade union protesters who were seeking higher wages, land reform and a halt to alleged human rights violations. n --Associated Press writer Gillian Wong in Beijing contributed to this report.

News-Phils

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 12

Aquino Sona: Political critics find fault, allies find only merit

BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE LONGEST ever State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Benigno Aquino failed to convince his most ardent critics, but his close political allies were all praises for his performance.

Right after the President finished his speech, which lasted one hour and 28 minutes, Bayan Muna Representative Teodoro Casiño told reporters that Mr. Aquino was entitled to his own opinion.

“The President’s speech is a smorgasbord of good news— that’s maybe the reason why the [speech] was long, because he included everything that could be sources of good news,” Casiño said, adding that Mr. Aquino selected favorable statistics and “numbers that are positive” to his presidency.

“But from our point of view, there are things that need to be said,” Casiño said. “Whether he doesn’t want to hear it, he needs to know, and that’s what we are doing. That’s part of our work here in Congress.

That’s our duty.”

Casiño, who is running for senator next year, said portions of Mr. Aquino’s report to the nation could not be validated “on the ground and actual experience of the everyday Filipino.”

He cited the endless complaints from applicants for PhilHealth benefits across the country.

“It’s really a feel-good speech— best foot forward— that has to be balanced by what is the reality on the ground,” Casiño said.

Casiño also pointed to the silence of the President on the pending freedom of information bill; the skyrocketing prices of basic commodities and oil; private ownership of basic utilities; rampant human rights violations; housing for the poor; and continued demolition of urban poor shanties.

“He evaded his shortcomings, but highlighted the good news,” Casiño said. “I think he has failed to really produce some impact on ordinary Filipino people. He has one, two, or three good stories, but they don’t reflect the general reality on the ground.”

But for Vice President Jejomar Binay, the President did quite well.

“The President spoke of very nice things,” Binay said in a statement written in Filipino.

“He’s right, nothing is impossible,” Binay said.

“Now we see that the President’s reforms are bearing fruit,” he said, pledging support for Mr. Aquino’s programs designed to ease poverty.

Binay appealed to the nation to support the Aquino administration.

The Estradas’ top scores Former President Joseph Estrada and his son, Senator Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, gave President Aquino high marks.

The older Estrada said he was giving the President “80 percent” while the senator said the speech deserved “9.9 on a scale of one to 10.”

The former President said Mr. Aquino needed to weed out graft and corruption left from the nine years of the Arroyo administration.

“With all the problems left behind, the President’s administration is really facing difficulties,” Estrada said in Filipino.

Senator Estrada said he “liked everything” in Mr. Aquino’s speech.

Senator Edgardo Angara said the President delivered “an impressive account” of his accomplishments,” while Senator Gregorio Honasan said he gave Mr. Aquino a favorable grade.

Senator Loren Legarda said she would support the President’s policies. “I’m very happy about the universal health care for the 15 million indigent families,” she said.

Not marching order A small group of lawmakers ardently pushing for the reproductive health (RH) bill gave President Aquino a standing ovation when he mentioned the importance of “responsible parenthood” in his speech.

But Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said he did not see the President’s pronouncement as a marching order for both chambers of Congress to pass the bill once and for all.

“Do not put words into his mouth,” he told reporters after the Sona, noting that the President made no mention of a “bill,” much less “reproductive health.”

“If he wanted to, he would have said ‘bill’ or ‘responsible parenting bill.’ He did not say a thing. He just said ‘responsible parenting.’”

A spade’s a spade But Senator Pia Cayetano, a sponsor of the RH measure in the Senate, welcomed the President’s statement, saying “it’s in his consciousness”—the need to deal with problems such as maternal health.

“I realized that he is trying to use a term that will be acceptable to some groups,” she said. “But, of course, being the sponsor, I call a spade a spade. That’s OK with me if he likes to do it this way... RH is RH whatever you want to call it.”

Sotto, author of a counterproposal ensuring the life of the unborn child, said that there should be no quarrel when it comes to promoting “responsible parenthood.”

“I don’t see a problem at all because those of us who are against the bill are in favor of responsible parenting,” he said.

But Sotto sounded the alarm on a provision in the RH bill that would classify certain forms of contraceptives as “essential medicines.”

“The life inside the mother’s womb will not be protected [if that is passed],” he said in Filipino.

Happiest lawmaker In the House of Representatives, Representative Edcel Lagman, principal sponsor of the RH bill, was the happiest lawmaker in Congress Monday.

Lagman stood up and applauded Mr. Aquino when the President suggested a look at responsible parenthood to solve ever-increasing student populations in public schools.

“We are truly happy and energized by the President’s renewed and categorical endorsement of the passage

of the reproductive health bill, which is actually the same as the responsible parenthood bill,” Lagman said.

The President’s mention of the proposal was brief, but Lagman said what mattered was the import and the impact of the message.

Church disappointed Catholic Church leaders were disappointed at Mr. Aquino for suggesting the passage of the RH bill.

“We don’t see any connection between the education problem and the bill promoting and funding contraceptive usage,” said Fr. Melvin Castro, executive secretary of the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines.

“We will plan and keep you abreast,” Castro said.

“In the meantime, we shall pray and discern. The battle resumes.”

Retired Archbishop Oscar Cruz said Mr. Aquino “did not know what he was talking about” when he spoke about responsible parenthood.

“In church parlance, responsible parenthood means the use of natural family planning, which is contrary to contraception,” Cruz said.

“I hope he will fulfill his promises,” Cruz said. “If he does all the things that he said he would do, we might as well be in heaven.”

Payback Cruz noticed Mr. Aquino’s “deafening silence” on constitutional amendments despite the call of Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. for changes to the Constitution.

“This is payback time. Congress did what the President wanted,” Cruz said, referring to the ouster by impeachment of Chief Justice Renato Corona.

“Now they want their Charter change.”

But Mr. Aquino’s failure to mention amendments in his speech is not deterring supporters of the move.

Camarines Sur Representative Luis Villafuerte said the issue may not have cropped up in the speech, but he said the issue should still go up for discussion.

Anyway, Mr. Aquino did not expressly say whether he was for or against amending the Constitution, Villafuerte said.

Open issue “I think that issue should be open… He did not indicate lack of support; neither did he indicate positive support,” he said.

An Waray Representative Florencio Noel said that though amending the Constitution was not mentioned, discussions on amending the Constitution’s economic provisions could continue.

“Congress might just want to discuss, as mentioned, the economic provisions that should have been tackled a long time ago,” Noel said.

San Juan Representative JV Ejercito said even without the President’s endorsement, he believed there’s a need for amendments, especially concerning the economic provisions. n

13 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

News-Phils

BY MARLON RAMOS AND MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE JUDICIAL and Bar Council (JBC) yesterday granted Malacañang’s request to allow President Aquino to name a replacement for Justice Secretary Leila de Lima, who recused herself as an ex-officio member of the council after accepting her nomination for the post of Chief Justice.

In a letter to the JBC dated July 13, the Chief Executive, through Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, said that the decision of De Lima to inhibit herself from the proceedings had given rise to a situation in which the executive branch was left without an official voice in the JBC. Ochoa argued: “The nomination of Secretary of Justice Leila M. De Lima and her acceptance of this nomination similarly leaves the council with no one to represent the President in the

selection process for the next Chief Justice.

“The President requests the gracious consent and kind consideration of the council in his designation of a substitute for Secretary De Lima as his excellency’s representative in the council in the selection of the next Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.”

The executive secretary explained that De Lima was the “sole alter ego of the President” and her absence would do away with the equal representation of the three branches of government in the JBC’s deliberations.

The granting of Malacañang’s request by the JBC, which is mandated by the Constitution to vet applicants to top judicial offices, has given the President an opportunity to further tighten his control of the composition of the council.

Three of the JBC’s regular members— Jose Mejia, Ma. Milagros Fernan-

Term limits won’t be messed with - JPE

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer SENATE President Juan Ponce Enrile yesterday opened the upper chamber’s third regular session in the 15th Congress, and slammed the door on term extensions for elected officials in the renewed drive to amend the Constitution.

In a speech, Enrile said Charter change could become a major issue in the chamber but maintained that any amendments to the Constitution would be limited to its economic provisions.

“Let me be very clear about this–we will agree to such a move to amend the Constitution but only with respect to the economic provisions of the present Charter,” he said.

“Speaker Feliciano Belmonte and I do not seek to revise the Constitution.

Rather we seek to amend only certain economic provisions so that there will be more flexibility in the ownership of certain industries, particularly those involving the exploration, development and utilization of our natural resources.”

In a later interview, Enrile ruled out amending other provisions of the Constitution, such as one setting the term limits of government officials.

“It will not happen because the two houses agreed and we will pass the resolution. You will see whether we are going to tinker with other provisions of the Constitution,” he said.

Photos courtesy of Ramon F. Velasquez

JBC lets P-noy name De Lima replacement in selection body

Cayosa and retired Court of Appeals Associate Justice Aurora Lagman—are appointees of Mr. Aquino.

The two congressional representatives in the JBC, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero and Iloilo Rep. Niel Tupas Jr., are both known allies of the President.

Speaking with reporters on Monday, Escudero said the JBC also agreed to let Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta preside over the body’s screening process of acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio.

Like De Lima, Carpio inhibited himself from the JBC proceedings when he decided to be a candidate for the successor of ousted Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Escudero said, “We thought the JBC might bog down if we object and bring the issue to the Supreme Court. The standing resolution was (to allow Peralta) unless there’s another resolution (of the court which) says that it’s illegal. n

2012 Southeast Asian Cultural Arts Festival Saturday August 18, 2012

North Pond, Burnaby Central Park Enrile said only he and Belmonte were pushing for amendments. He said he had not discussed the matter with his Senate colleagues.

“I have to discuss it with them. I cannot assume their concurrence but I will explain the thrust of our proposal,” he told reporters.

Enrile in his speech laid down the Senate’s legislative agenda, one focused on helping spur the economy by improving the business climate.

“The improvement of the economy is a vital government concern. But our way of allowing business to prosper must be guided, not only by a sense of free enterprise, but also by the spirit of stewardship,” he said.

“Your Senate, as part of this government, wishes to generate an economic climate that encourages the creation of goods and services in a playing field that is intentionally made fair for all,” he said.

Enrile said the upper chamber would prioritize measures such as the one seeking to “prohibit or discourage the formation of anticompetitive mergers and anticompetitive conduct.”

“In order to protect our people, we must ensure that prices are dictated by the market and not fixed as a result of any corporation’s control over the quantity of products produced,” he said. n

(see map at MonsoonSociety.org)

Everyone is invited - no experience required Come and join this celebration of Filipino and Southeast Asian martial culture. This is your opportunity to meet and train with all of the top SE Asian cultural arts instructors, clubs, and performance troupes in and around the Pacific Northwest. And ALL FREE!

Training! Demos! Performances!

And a Potluck BBQ 10 Filipino and SE Asian Martial Arts instructors 14 Styles of SE Asian Martial and Cultural Arts 7 Hours of training, demos, and performances

SYSTEMS/STYLES Bahala Na Giron Escrima Kalis Ilustrisimo Repeticion Orihinal Pencak silat Jati Wisesa Gadjah Putih Sikaran-Arnis/Panandyakan Panantukan/Filipino Boxing Pekiti-Tirsia System of Kali Dog Brothers Martial Arts Lacoste-Inosanto Kali CLUBS/GROUPS Urban Survival Systems maelstrom Martial Arts Highland Gong Society Ikatan Kali Vancouver Ilustrisimo Kathara Cultural Theatre Chalambok Thai Arts Warrior Zen Martial Arts SEACHS Dance See online map for directions www.MonsoonSociety.org For more information info@MonsoonSociety.org 604.908.5833

SPONSORS Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society Eka Cooperative for Co-cultured Communities Monsoon Society for the Cultural Arts of Southeast Asia

News-Phils

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 14

News-Phils China fishing fleet arrives in Spratlys

15 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

BY DORIS C. DUMLAO Philippine Daily Inquirer

BEIJING—A big fleet of Chinese fishing vessels arrived at the disputed Spratly Islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) on Sunday, state media said, amid tensions with China’s neighbors over rival claims to the area.

The Philippines, locked in a territorial row with China over Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal) in the West Philippine Sea, yesterday said the Chinese fishing fleet should not cross into Philippine territory in the Spratlys.

But the Chinese fishing expedition is apparently not a show of force directed at the Philippines but at Vietnam, which claims the Paracel Islands and parts of the Spratlys where the fleet arrived on Sunday.

The fleet of 30 fishing vessels arrived near the Yongshu Reef in the afternoon after setting off on Thursday from the Chinese province of Hainan, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Yongshu Reef is the Johnson South Reef in the Spratlys that both China and Vietnam claim. Their competing claims erupted into a naval skirmish on March 14, 1988. Vietnam lost the firefight. It lost one vessel and took home another heavily damaged. Vietnam’s loss left China in effective control of the reef.

China later occupied seven other reefs in the area. Today it has a maritime observation station on Johnson South Reef.

The Philippines claims parts of the Spratlys, but not Johnson South Reef.

Don’t intrude Even so, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday said that the Chinese fishing vessels “must not intrude into the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines.”

Manila: Don’t cross Philippine waters In a statement issued after news of the fleet’s arrival reached Manila, the DFA asked China to “respect the sovereign rights of the Philippines to the resources” within the country’s 370-kilometer exclusive economic zone.

Chinese fishing boats regularly travel to the Spratlys, a potentially oil-rich archipelago that China claims as part of its territory on historical grounds.

But the fleet is the largest ever launched from Hainan, according to the Xinhua report.

The fleet includes a 3,000 ton supply ship, and a patrol vessel has also traveled to the area to provide protection, the report said.

The vessels will spend the next five to 10 days fishing in the area, it added.

The fleet’s arrival came after China earlier Sunday extricated a naval frigate that got stranded four days earlier on Hasa-Hasa Shoal (Half Moon Shoal), part of Philippine territory in the Spratlys.

No protest The Philippines, however, did not lodge a diplomatic protest over the incident, saying the stranding of the vessel in its exclusive economic zone was likely an accident.

“We don’t believe that there were ill-intentions that accompanied the presence of that ship in our [exclusive economic zone],” Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said on Sunday.

“As far as filing a diplomatic protest is concerned, my stance is that we will probably not do that,” Del Rosario said.

But Malacañang said yesterday that the Philippines would not call the incident an accident until after its confirmation by a foreign affairs department investigation.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the government still had to

receive “any reason, why, how that frigate happened to be there.”

The People’s Liberation Army Missile Frigate No. 560 was on a “routine patrol,” China said, when it ran aground on HasaHasa Shoal, 111 kilometers west of Palawan, in the Philippine exclusive economic zone.

The Chinese Embassy in Manila said the frigate was “refloated successfully” before daybreak on Sunday, and Del Rosario said he was informed it was already on its way back to China.

“We wish its crew a safe voyage back to China,” Del Rosario said.

No intention to leave But Sen. Gregorio Honasan, vice chair of the Senate defense committee, said the incident was likely to happen again, as China apparently had no intention to leave the Spratlys or any other part of the West Philippine Sea where it had territorial claims.

“It would be definitely repeated,” Honasan, speaking in Filipino, told the INQUIRER. “The report saying their ship ran aground means they have not left the area. That is clear.”

Honasan said it was possible China was bracing for talks on joint exploration with other claimants to territory in the West Philippine Sea. China is maintaining a constant presence in the area so as not to be left out of the discussions, Honasan said.

China has adamantly refused to bring the territorial disputes in the region to the international level, but has not rejected joint exploration with its rivals, he said.

China’s endgame “My feeling is that the endgame for China is to

partake of the resources in the disputed areas,” Honasan said. “When you are negotiating, you negotiate from a position of strength. You will indicate your maximum position.”

But Honasan said he did not favor bilateral talks with China. “It’s better to bring this issue to a multilateral forum,” he said.

China says it has sovereign rights to all the West Philippine Sea, believed to sit atop vast oil and gas deposits, including areas close to the coastlines of other countries and hundreds of kilometers from its own landmass.

But Taiwan, Vietnam, Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines also claim parts of the South China Sea. The Spratlys are one of the biggest island chains in the area.

Potential flash point The rival claims have long made the West Philippine Sea one of Asia’s potential military flash points, and tensions have escalated over the past year.

The Philippines and Vietnam have complained that China is becoming increasingly aggressive in its actions in the area—such as harassing fishermen—and also through bullying diplomatic tactics.

The Philippines said the latest example of this was at the annual Southeast Asian talks in Cambodia that ended on Friday in failure because of the West Philippine Sea issue.

The Philippines had wanted its fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to refer in a joint statement to a standoff last month with China over Panatag Shoal.

But Cambodia, the summit’s host and China’s ally, blocked the move. n

VP of PNOC-EC among those charged in 9,000% overprice in P55M project

BY JERRY E. ESPLANADA Philippine Daily Inquirer

CITING the Aquino administration’s “daang matuwid,” the chair of the Philippine National Oil Company Exploration Corp. has filed graft charges with the Ombudsman against three top PNOC-EC officers for allegedly overpricing by up to 9,000 percent the renovation of the state firm’s headquarters at Bonifacio Global City.

Gemiliano Lopez Jr., also a former Manila mayor, named Lourdes Gelacio, PNOC-EC vice president for corporate services; Raymundo Savella, chair of the bids and awards committee, and Ma. Rita Dayleg, manager of the human resources and administration department, as respondents in an 18page complaint he filed on July 16.

Gelacio, Savella and Dayleg were accused of violating Section 3 of Republic Act No. 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Lopez said he filed the case “in line with President Aquino’s continuing thrust and mission to eradicate grafters

and punish corrupt officials and employees and ultimately restore the people’s trust in the government.”

the renovation work done for the subject building was grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to PNOC-EC.”

Gov’t shortchanged The 2010 PNOC-EC building renovation project, which had a budget of P55 million, “showed an overprice ranging from 100 to 9,000 percent,” he said.

“Clearly, the (43) contracts for the purchase of construction and renovation materials at overpriced costs were grossly and manifestly disadvantageous to the PNOC-EC, leaving the latter shortchanged by a hefty sum of money,” he added.

In his complaint, Lopez also sought the issuance of a preventive suspension order against the respondents.

“Their continued stay in office while the investigation is ongoing would enable them to tamper with evidence that is still in their possession or harass potential witnesses,” he said.

An investigation team, led by retired Court of Appeals Justice Myrna Dimaranan Vidal, earlier recommended the filing of a graft case, saying “the transaction for

‘Erroneous, malicious’ In a July 14 memo to the PNOC-EC board, however, Gelacio dismissed the charges against her as “erroneous, baseless, unsubstantiated and malicious.”

Aside from Lopez, the board includes president Pedro Aquino Jr. and directors Leopoldo Petilla, Niel Tupas Sr., Rufino Bomasang, Luis Ma. Uranza, Rafael del Pilar, Francisco Iganaga Jr. and Armando Galimba.

Gelacio said the project was “done in a professional manner. Consultancy services for architectural, engineering, design and project management were bid out.”

“The procurement law was properly observed for all contracts which were awarded to the lowest technically complying bidder. All contracts passed through the bids and awards committee,” she added.

The two other respondents—Savella and Dayleg—have yet to respond to the charges.

Piecemeal contract Lopez said that “instead of implementing the (three-phase) project and awarding it to a general contractor who would handle all the work, Gelacio’s team made piecemeal contracts for each and every aspect of the project.”

“For phases 1, 2 and 3, Gelacio’s team spent P69,330.33, P20,931.90 and P54,544.48 per square meter, respectively. However, when the PNOCEC engineering department handled the project after its brief suspension, the projects cost only P735.74, P1,449.77 and P7,070.86 per square meter, respectively, for the same three phases,” he said.

He said it was “very clear that the costs incurred [by] Gelacio’s team were grossly overpriced and prejudicial to PNOC-EC.” A case in point, he said, was the installation fee for the air-conditioning units which amounted to P23,272.73.

“Interestingly, when the engineering department purchased air-con units, the installation was free of charge.” n

News-Phils 6,000 cops block 5,000 protesters hurling stones

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 16

BY JULIE M. AURELIO, NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer IT WAS a familiar sight this time of year: Students and farmers burning effigies of President Benigno Aquino and Uncle Sam. But they were stopped by police from getting close to the Batasang Pambansa complex to denounce the government’s alleged failure to improve the plight of workers, triggering a brief melee that left scores injured.

Fire trucks, steel barricades and a 6,000-strong police force blocked the protesters led by the leftist group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) on Commonwealth Avenue in front of Ever Gotesco mall about 2 kilometers from the Congress building, where the President delivered his annual State of the Nation Address (Sona).

A brief scuffle ensued when a group led by the militant League of Filipino Students attempted to breach the police line after the effigies were burned.

Bayan said 95 protesters, mostly students, were hurt as stones flew at midafternoon.

Bayan said 11 of those injured required treatment at East Avenue Medical Center.

The Philippine National Red Cross reported 16 injuries.

Chief Superintendent Mario de la Vega said the injured included two foreign news agency photographers, two local TV cameramen, 10 policemen and a garbage

truck driver. He said the protesters also destroyed a police car and a garbage truck.

In the middle of it all, around 10 gays stole the show, providing a respite from the street tension.

Wearing colorful headgear and banners, they paraded in front of the phalanx of policemen and protesters chanting slogans calling on Mr. Aquino to push for the human rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transsexuals.

Bryan militants numbering from several hundreds to several thousands staged relatively peaceful marches and rallies in major provincial capitals, according to police officials and Philippine Daily Inquirer reporters.

Generally peaceful “All public assemblies and mass activities held today in different parts of Metro Manila and some key cities of the country were generally peaceful,” Director General Nicanor Bartolome of the Philippine National Police said in a statement shortly after the President ended his speech at 5:30 p.m.

Protesters on Commonwealth Avenue denounced the police for stopping them at around noon—four hours before Mr. Aquino delivered his Sona.

Edre Olalia of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers said Bayan filed an application for a rally permit on July 10.

No placement fee? No such thing, says POEA

BY PHILIP C. TUBEZA Philippine Daily Inquirer

BEWARE of unsolicited e-mail offering hospital jobs in North America or Canada with “no experience required” and “no placement fees,” the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) yesterday warned jobseekers, calling it another another illegal recruitment scheme perpetrated by Internet scammers.

“These scammers have access to the personal data of applicants on job search sites and any e-mail informing an applicant of having been selected for a specific job he or she did not apply for is undoubtedly a recruitment scam,” said POEA chief Hans Leo Cacdac in a statement.

Cacdac said the scammers use e-mail to offer jobs in prestigious hospitals in Canada and the United States “without any fees” except for medical exams and the “visa interview coaching.”

One such e-mail, Cacdac said, offered jobs at Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Ontario, Canada, with “No placement fee.

No processing fee. No salary deduction.

No show money. No experience

required. Free accommodation and food allowance.”

Cacdac, however, noted that the email sender, a David R. Purvis, used a free hushmail.com e-mail account “instead of the hospital’s Internet domain name smhosp.on.ca.” The letter’s introduction was also copied from the actual website of the hospital, he said.

The POEA chief said the Stevenson case was similar to a previous scam where an e-mail purportedly from Fraser Health in Canada offered jobs in exchange for a P3,750 fee for the “Canadian Embassy Interview Coaching.”

The real Fraser Health, which uses the Internet domain name fraserhealth.ca, denied sending the e-mail, Cacdac said, adding that advice on how to get working visas to Canada was readily available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website http://www.cic.gc.ca.

Cacdac said immigration consultants could not engage in recruitment unless they were duly licensed by the POEA. He also urged job applicants to forward suspicious e-mail to info@poea.gov.ph for investigation. Please see related story on page 26. n

He said the Public Assembly Act mandated the city government to act on rally applications within two days after which the authorization is deemed granted.

“As far as we are concerned, our protest is legal, by operation of law. And you are violating the law,” Olalia told police officers.

Superintendent Marcelino Pedrozo, the ground commander, and Supt. Nicanor Salamera, a human rights monitor, said they did not receive any approved rally permit from the City Hall. “We are allowing them to hold their rally here out of consideration,” Pedrozo said.

Senior Superintendent Joel Pagdilao, Quezon City Police District deputy director for operations, estimated the crowd at over 5,000.

High prices denounced Up to 3,000 protesters joined rallies in the provinces of Iloilo, Capiz and Aklan to voice out their own versions of the Sona.

“We have become poorer because the prices of commodities continue to increase.

Many remain landless and have no jobs, especially those in hinterland villages,” said Aileen Catamin, a former village captain who joined a protest of indigenous peoples in Capiz.

In Bacolod City, about 500 Bayan militants burned an effigy of an eagle, representing the United States, and an

octopus to symbolize the various social ills besetting the nation.

“It’s no fun in the Philippines when it comes to the urban poor situation,” said Irineo Longinos, Kadamay-Negros spokesperson.

Around 100 members of Sanlakas, Freedom from Debt Coalition, and Bukluran ng mga Manggawang Pilipino marched from Colon Street to Fuente Osmeña Circle in Cebu City at around 10 a.m. They brought with them camote and dried fish, which they ate after their short program at noontime.

Bayan-Negros secretary general Christian Tuayon rated the President’s performance on leading the country and implementing economic and political programs at one, on a scale of one to 10.

Sanlakas and the two other groups in Cebu gave the President a grade of 70.76 in several aspects—the right to work, food, housing, health and education.

Protests by militants in the Luzon cities of Baguio, Legaspi, Naga and Daet highlighted alleged human rights violations. With reports from Dona Z. Pazzibugan, in Manila; Nestor Burgos Jr., Jhunnex Napallacan and Carla Gomez, Inquirer Visayas; Tonette Orejas, Armand Galang and Robert Gonzaga, Inquirer Central Luzon; Desiree Caluza, Inquirer Northern Luzon; Mar S. Arguelles and Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon n

DEBTS, BILLS, PENALTIES, FEES… FEEL LIKE ARROWS POINTED AT YOUR HEAD?

WE CAN HELP!

www.nomoredebtnow.com

▸ Reduce your debt by up to 70%

▸ Pay bills with one easy payment

▸ Save money in interest/fees/penalties ▸ Obtain free, confidential counselling

and financial education

C O N S U L T I N G T 604.447.8717 | F 604.447.8169 | E info@nomoredebtnow.com

TOLL FREE NUMBER: 1-888-862-9332

News-Phils

Opinion

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 18

THERE’S THE RUB

Madness in the method

BY CONRADO DE QUIROS Philippine Daily Inquirer THE UNA, says JV Ejercito, is perfectly willing to coalesce with the LP-NP-NPC, and there’s no reason why it shouldn’t. “It will be ideal since there is no clear-cut line between the opposition and the administration, not like the way things were during Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s time in 2007.” Such a super coalition would be good for P-Noy, allowing him to control Congress and push his legislative agenda virtually unopposed.

Edwin Lacierda scoffs at this, and takes a dig at UNA’s professed strength. “I thought UNA was the team to beat, so why are they asking for a coalition?” About the LP’s own plans, he says: “As Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has already mentioned, it will be a coalition slate.

As to who will be the senatorial candidate of the particular slate, let’s wait for the announcement from the Liberal Party.”

All this shows yet again what sucks about our politics.

Ejercito in fact is right. “... there’s no clearcut difference between the opposition and the administration.” At least as principle, framework and thrust go. And there’s no reason why it shouldn’t coalesce. At least other than on grounds of personal whim, ambition and ego. That’s pretty much the only thing that distinguishes one party from another in this country: They’re composed of personally different, but ideologically like-minded,

individuals. And that’s pretty much what distinguishes administration and opposition in this country: The one is in power, the other is not.

Recent events have driven that point home.

UNA was so determined to reel in well-known names to its roster it tried to make Koko Pimentel run with Migz Zubiri notwithstanding that one lost four years of his term to the other. You can’t have a better show of lack of scruples than that. Principles count for nothing, personalities for everything. Decency counts for nothing, “winnability” for everything.

Not to be outdone, the LP has coalesced with two parties whose heads have figured in corruption scandals. Danding Cojuangco, NPC boss, fled the country after Marcos fell to avoid being strung up by a public that saw him as the crony of cronies. Manny Villar, NP boss, is the literal enemy of the daang matuwid, having caused the C5 to take a detour to his properties.

The reason for this, as Jinggoy Estrada in turn scoffs at, is that the LP is at pains to fill up its slate with “winnable” candidates.

True enough, as Abad says, the LP-NP-NPC will be a coalition. The question is, a coalition of what?

In fact, the only reason a grand alliance between the LP-NP-NPC and UNA—which will be grand only in size—will never happen is not that the one stands for fighting corruption and the other does not, the one stands for change and the other does not, the one stands for Edsa and the other does not, it is simply because the

one cannot stand the other. It is simply because Roxas will have nothing to do with Binay, it is because Roxas will be fighting Binay in 2016, it is because P-Noy will be at pains to decide between a former comrade-in-arms at Edsa and a current comrade-in-harm in the elections.

I do believe in creating alliances, I do believe in forging coalitions, I do believe in building united fronts. But there are rules for these things, chief of them making alliances, coalitions and united fronts only with people who are not patently antagonistic to what you stand for.

There’s none of that here. What P-Noy’s party in particular is doing is not making alliances, coalitions, united fronts, it is making a pact with the devil.

But such is the nature of our politics nobody seems surprised at this anymore. Such is the nature of our politics the notion of ensuring victory at all costs, the better to control Congress, and the better to push a legislative agenda, sounds like the sanest thing in the world. When it is in fact the maddest thing in the world.

Fallacy is too good a word to describe it. At the very least what’s wrong with it is that it is self-defeating. You make a pact with the devil to do good, what makes you think the devil will allow it? Or less metaphorically, you make a pact with the corrupt, how can you push your agenda of banishing corruption from this land?

You make a pact with people whose survival, interest and thrust lie in keeping things as they are, how can you possibly change things?

What makes this ironic is that well before the well-known candidates became wellknown, they were obscure. Well before they became “winnable,” they were unwinnable. Until they won, and got known. You invest only in the well-known and “winnable,” you won’t change anything, you’ll only keep things the way they are.

Even more importantly, what’s wrong with it is that it is self-immolating. You make a pact with the devil, what makes you think you yourself won’t become devilish? Or less metaphorically, you make a pact with the corrupt, how can you assure you will still want to fight corruption afterward? You make a pact with people whose survival, interest and thrust lie in keeping things as they are, how can you assure you yourself won’t end up wanting to keep things as they are?

The saying “the end does not justify the means” isn’t just wise, it is commonsensical.

The means does not justify the end simply because it is the means that defines the end.

How you do things is what you become. And therefore, how you do things is what you end up doing. It’s not just trapos who prove this, revolutionaries do too, which is how they turn from revolutionaries to reactionaries. Which is how they turn from changing the world to changing their beliefs. Is it a wonder that after all the changes in government personnel, this country has remained the same? There’s method in the madness. There’s madness in the method. n

PUBLIC LIVES

The call to boycott Chinese products

BY RANDY DAVID Philippine Daily Inquirer A GROUP of Filipinos based in the United States, convened by prominent business leader Loida Nicolas-Lewis and lawyer Ted Laguatan, has called for a boycott of China-made products as a way of protesting China’s bullying behavior in the disputed waters of the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). They are not talking of a government-supported initiative, but of a purely consumer-led boycott driven by patriotic sentiments. What are the chances of such a call gaining any traction in the Philippines?

Let us leave aside for the moment any discussion of the possible political and economic repercussions of such a movement, and focus instead on its feasibility and sociological implications. My view is that a call to boycott Chinese products at this time may gain broad public support if it is made by credible public figures and social movements. But I am less hopeful that such a call will make any dent on Filipino consumer behavior.

Only a few things are capable of unifying the nation, apart from the successes of individual Filipinos in the international arena. The most potent of them is conflict with another country, especially with an imperial power that uses its bigness to assert its dominance over us and threatens our sovereignty and freedom. Our

people fought as one against Spain, the United States and Japan. It is not an exaggeration to say that our young nation was born in the fires of these valiant anticolonial struggles.

There is thus no reason to think that Filipinos cannot unite against a power like China if the need arises. Despite the fact that Chinese blood runs in the veins of easily half of all Filipinos, there is no love lost between Filipinos and the Chinese. Anti-Chinese prejudice permeates our national psyche. This resentment has unfortunate historical roots. It has survived over the centuries, and indeed is renewed in strength as Chinese-Filipinos gain supremacy over the national economy.

Therefore, a call to boycott Chinese products can easily gain adherents precisely because, whether we like it or not, it will tap into this vast reservoir of barely concealed racial resentments.

It is worth mentioning that this prejudice is reciprocal. The bellicose chauvinism that fuels Chinese pronouncements against Filipinos in the Chinese media today is of the same kind, but made worse by China’s politicians and military leaders who irresponsibly exploit these sentiments to push their own power agenda.

It would not be difficult to highlight the inferiority of China-made products, whether we are talking of Chinese cars, motorbikes, agricultural and industrial tools, or light consumer goods like household utensils, clothing, school supplies, and electrical and electronic products. Their sole attraction is their cheap price. One should not look for

quality, reliability, style or durability in Chinese products. These goods currently occupy the lowest rung in the hierarchy of imported goods, far below those made in Japan or South Korea.

People buy them because they are incredibly inexpensive, offering great value to low-income groups, the way Ma Ling in the early years of the Chinese export drive gave the Filipino poor an affordable version of Spam.

Still, it would not be fair to characterize all China-made products in these terms. Four years ago, my wife and I decided to buy a brand-new Chinese car that cost us less than P400,000. We still have the vehicle, an 800cc mini-car that we use as a second car for short rides. A couple of friends from UP saw me driving it, and, after being assured that it runs well, promptly got themselves their own minis. The problem is that after two years, many of these Chinese minis fell into disuse because there were no replacement parts available and, worse, every service center for this Chinese brand had disappeared.

Luckily, for us, a new dealership with its own service center opened just a few weeks ago. But the damage to the brand’s reputation has been done. I still believe it is a reasonably good car, though I am now hesitant to recommend it to my friends.

A campaign to boycott China-made goods would certainly hit Chinese branded goods like my car. But I doubt if it would affect the popularity of Apple products, which are designed in the United States but made in China.

Many cars and motorcycles sporting the proud

marques of European, American, and Japanese makers now use a lot of parts sourced from China. Many shoes and sports equipment, and affordable luxury items bearing the venerable logos of global companies are invariably made in China. Given the reality of worldwide supply chains on which almost all branded products now depend, it is no longer easy to determine which products are made where.

I grew up in an era when the goal of nationbuilding encouraged us to give preference to products made by our own people. I still think that the ideals that inspired many forms of economic nationalism should continue to remind us of the need to ceaselessly develop the productive capability of our people. At the same time, however, we cannot ignore the fact that today’s economies are so interconnected with one another that it is almost delusional to attach the names of nations to what are, in reality, global products.

A call to boycott Chinese products will no doubt catch attention, but it will do nothing more beneficial to our people than perhaps to stimulate discussion on the Chinese threat. It may revive the spirit of patriotism among our people by offering them a chance to validate this in their daily lives. But I don’t know how one can prevent the complex sentiments it will unleash from sliding into a destructive form of racism. This is what I fear, more than the expected retaliation from our haughty neighbor. n public.lives@gmail.com

19 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Opinion

ANALYSIS

Aquino’s single-party scheme

BY AMANDO DORONILA Philippine Daily Inquirer The proposal of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) of Vice President Jejomar Binay and deposed President Joseph Estrada to forge a “super coalition” with the Liberal Party-led alliance to field a common powerhouse ticket in the 2013 Senate election has been shot down even before it could take off.

It ran into heavy flak from the ruling LP, which blasted the UNA plan as a scheme designed to preempt the initiative of forming the administration’s Senate slate ahead of the approval of President Aquino.

The controversy sparked by the UNA proposal exposed the cracks in the Aquino administration stemming from tensions between the camp identified with the President and that of Binay over policy issues and approaches to good governance. These tensions have come to the surface as the government faces a confidence vote in the May 2013 mid-term election, with the results of the Senate election expected to reflect public approval or disapproval of the administration’s performance the past two years.

Apparently without being aware of it, UNA is treading on dangerous political ground when it proposed to partner with the LP-led alliance in fielding a common “super” Senate slate to sew up the election in favor of a ticket behind and handpicked by the President. It is dangerous

because, under the grand coalition scheme, UNA is making itself complicit in a plot that, in effect, seeks single-party domination of Congress, resurrecting the single-party domination by the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL) of the one-chamber national assembly established by the martial-law dictatorship of President Ferdinand Marcos.

A close examination of UNA’s “super coalition” Senate ticket easily yields the intention of reviving the single-party apparatus favored by authoritarian regimes in “restored democracies” like ours after the overthrow of the Marcos dictatorship in the 1986 People Power Revolution.

When San Juan City Rep. JV Ejercito proposed the “super coalition,” he explained that forming a “super senatorial slate” between the LP-led coalition and UNA would be “the best scenario” for President Aquino, who has maintained his popularity since 2010. “It will be ideal since there is no clear-cut line between the opposition and the administration.”

This statement might be correct, but it suggests that UNA does not intend to play the role of opposition under the Aquino regime but rather that of a junior coalition partner facilitating the rigging-up of the Senate election results to ensure the President’s control of Congress, with the House already under control of the LP-led coalition. This type of partnership makes UNA a threat to legislative independence and, for this reason, it should be emphatically rejected.

UNA had the effrontery to offer the LP coalition (joined by the Nacionalista Party, the Nationalist People’s Coalition and the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino) a 7-5 or 8-4 ticket sharing, in the LP’s favor, relative to UNA’s Partido ng Masang Pilipino and Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). The LP-led coalition is not snapping at the offer; Ejercito admits UNA is “unwanted” by the LP coalition. The administration is not buying it.

Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, a senior LP leader, dismissed the proposed “super coalition,” pointing to “one condition that the President imposed on those seeking to run under the administration’s Senate slate: They can only stand on the administration stage.”

Abad explained that the party’s position in drawing up its senatorial slate would not allow it to adopt common candidates, a political arrangement which allows candidates to run in both administration and opposition slates.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda had earlier said the super coalition idea would not be possible because of “philosophical differences” with UNA. He said there were fundamental differences being worked out among the LP, the NP and the NPC. “There are some members of their slate who are in continuous opposition to the policies of the Aquino administration,” he said. It has been reported that the President has not been happy with the lukewarm support of Binay for the administration campaign to flush out

corruption cases involving the preceding government. The 2013 mid-term election touches a raw nerve in the uneasy relations between the President and Binay, exacerbated by opinion surveys showing Binay as the preferred endorser of candidates for office in the next election.

The super coalition proposal received a fresh rebuff from House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte when he said the ruling party was not “aggressively recruiting” new members in the House, but those who share its vision and commitment were welcome to join the majority coalition. According to him, there are now 87 LP members out of 284 representatives, but “we are not trying to recruit anybody.”

He added that “if they want to join and are compatible with us, then okay.”

The LP is one of the three parties in the House, together with the NP and NPC, which make up the nucleus of the majority coalition in the House. The thrust of the LP is to rebuild itself as the dominant party in both houses, and this explains why the LP finds little use for super coalitions like the one mooted by UNA. LP chair Sen. Franklin Drilon reflects the drive of the LP to restore its former status as one of the main pillars of the pre-martial law two-party system (together with the NP) when he said that the ruling party would not admit “guest candidates” into its lineup.

These developments in rebuilding point to moves in the Aquino-Binay entente to marginalize Binay by the 2013 Senate election. n

GET REAL

Good, average, or poor performance?

BY SOLITA COLLAS MONSOD Philippine Daily Inquirer WHILE EVERYONE in the media is playing guessing games on what President Aquino’s State of the Nation Address will be, including this year’s “gimmick” following his “Tuwid Na Daan” in 2010 and “Wang-Wang” in 2011, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) has just put on its website its “StatDev 2011,” which essentially monitors the performance of the government in implementing the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2011-2016.

The StatDev, as the NSCB website tells you, is a statistical indicator system to monitor the achievement of the economic and social development goals set forth in the PDP, and is revised each time a new plan is formulated. So StatDev 2011 contains data for the year 2011, covering the nine sectors that are focused on in the PDP. What the NSCB does is compare the actual data for 2011 with the baseline data, and with the PDP targets that are contained in its companion volume, the PDP 2011-2016 Results Matrices (RM).

But that is not all. The NSCB then calculates, using the same methodology that is used in tracking country performance in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (actual annual growth rate divided by required annual growth

rate), the probability of attaining the target values. If the probability is above 90 percent (i.e., actual/required is more than 0.9), the performance of the government is pronounced “good,” as depicted by a smiling green face.

If the probability of attaining the target is 50 percent to 90 percent, the government’s performance is deemed “average,” meaning to say it can go either way, and the symbol is a yellow, nonsmiling face. And if the probability is less than 50 percent, this performance is pronounced “poor,” as depicted by a frowning red face.

So if one is arithmetically challenged, all one has to do is look at the pictures of green, yellow and red faces opposite each indicator to get a feel of how P-Noy is doing in fulfilling his Social Contract with the Filipino People. And how did that come in? Because the PDP, dear reader, claims to be indeed the Social Contract, fleshed out. And just to make sure the point gets across, the RM tells you which of the 16 points in the Social Contract is being addressed by the indicators measured.

So how has P-Noy made out so far? Well, actually not so far, because the StatDev covers only up to the end of 2011. It has not taken into account whatever 2012 data have become available. And even for 2011, according to the StatDev, there are 66 indicators that could not be monitored for lack of data (or for lack of specific targets). Thus, “only” 153 indicators of the PDP performance could be assessed.

Enough already. What is the verdict? First the summary: Of the 153 indicators evaluated, the performance of 69 is rated “good,” that of 13 “average,” and that of 71 “poor.” I confess, though, that I have pointed out to Jessa Encarnacion of the NSCB that one of the indicators adjudged “average” should have been judged “poor,” and she agrees with me (probably a typo). The asset reform indicator: Land distributed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (in hectares) had 107,180 for the base year 2010, and 111,889 for 2011, with the target of 1.2 million hectares by 2016. Obviously, if only 4,700 additional hectares were distributed in the first year of the plan, when at least 150 hectares should have been accomplished, that performance cannot possibly be considered “average”!

In any case, it looks like the grade for 2011, as far as the Social Contract is concerned, and based on the StatDev, would have to be “Needs Improvement.”

It is possible, of course, that the indicators that showed “good” performance were the very important indicators, while those that showed “poor” performance were relatively unimportant. But that does not seem to be the case. As far as the macroeconomy—the overall performance of the country in terms of output, employment, and stability—is concerned, for example, there were seven indicators monitored in the StatDev. And what has to be at least one of the most important indicators, the growth rate

in real terms of our Gross Domestic Product, showed “poor” performance. Why? Because the 2011 data showed a growth rate of 3.9 percent while the target was 7-8 percent. Two other indicators that showed “poor” performance were the exports-to-GDP ratio, both nominal and real.

Four macro indicators showed “good” performance: two having to do with employment and two with stability. To illustrate, 1.156 million net new jobs were generated in 2011 versus the target of 1 million a year. Darned good performance, actually. The deficit to GDP ratio and the inflation rate were also on target.

Insofar as the agriculture sector was concerned, 35 indicators were assessed, of which 22 exhibited “poor” performance, 10 showed “good” performance, and 3 showed “average” performance. Alas, palay production was one of the “poor” performers. It is also noteworthy that among the 66 “critical” indicators excluded from StatDev 2011 was the rice self-sufficiency ratio. Apparently, there was no data available for 2011.

The NSCB must be congratulated for coming out with the development data in a most timely manner. But, as I said earlier, its assessment covers only up to the end of 2011.

If the Reader wants a more up-to-date (although less exhaustive) evaluation of P-Noy’s Year II, I invite her to go the website of the Movement for Good Government, of which I am proud to be a member (and nominal chair). n

Business

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 20

DPWH questions TRB power over connector road project Singson appealing justice department’s ruling

ALTHOUGH President Aquino has backed two rival proposals for the South to Northern Luzon connector road project, the Department of Public Works and Highways has questioned the authority of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to process the implementation of the road alignment to be undertaken by the San Miguel-Citra group.

In a letter to the Office of the President dated July 6, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson appealed a recent order issued by the Department of Justice (DoJ) that had given TRB authority over the North Luzon and South Luzon Expressways and its extensions, stretches and linkages.

Likewise appealed was the gosignal given by the DoJ for the TRB to facilitate execution of Stages 3 and 4 of the Metro Manila Skyway and Metro Manila Expressway, based on documents obtained by Inquirer.

Stage 3 (Buendia to Balintawak) and Stage 4 (Bicutan to Batasan) refer to the

Photos courtesy of Antefixus

BY DORIS C. DUMLAO Philippine Daily Inquirer

SMC-Citra connector road alignment while Metro Manila Expressway refers to the Bicutan-Rizal-Batasan (C6) road project.

In his letter, Singson appealed the DoJ order dated June 6, invoking the President’s power to transfer any function under the Office of the President to any other department or agency.

The DPWH chief also sought authority to “grant administrative franchises for the construction, operation and maintenance of toll facilities for highways, roads, bridges and public thoroughfares as well as to

determine and decide the kind, type and nature” of these infrastructure projects, “including the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), and to determine the alignment thereof.”

Finally, Singson appealed before Malacañang “the exclusivity of the franchise of the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) for the construction, maintenance and operation of the NLEx, SLEx and the Metro Manila Expressway, and any and all such extensions, linkages or stretches, together with the toll facilities appurtenant therein.”

The PNCC and Citra are the original partners in the Skyway project as well as the connector roads and C6 projects before San Miguel Corp. came into the picture.

The TRB, an attached agency under the Department of Transportation and Communications, pointed out to the DoJ that the DPWH’s petitions against the project were “intended to delay the proceedings and impede the implementation of much-needed infrastructure projects that would benefit the Filipino people.”

The TRB views the San MiguelCitra segment of the twin project as part of the original approval granted by the government to the Indonesian proponent of the Skyway in the mid1990s.

However, the proposal of the Pangilinan group was determined to be a separate project and, as such, would have to be subjected to a Swiss challenge bidding procedure.

The TRB has also pointed out to the DoJ that the business joint venture agreement between the PNCC and Citra was “binding” on the Republic. n

More investments, gov’t spending in infra urged

BY ANA G. ROA Philippine Daily Inquirer

THE PHILIPPINES needs more private sector investments and increased government spending in infrastructure and social protection programs to temper the effects of the global economic crisis, according to a new World Bank report.

The Philippine Quarter Update (PQU) released said that improved tax administration and policy reforms would enable the government to fund its priority spending targets while keeping fiscal sustainability.

Improved revenue collection, achieved by broadening the tax base and improving efficiency and transparency in tax collections, will help ensure availability of funds for important programs such as the

conditional cash transfer (CCT), the World Bank said.

Preliminary results indicate that the CCT program has been effective in improving the welfare of the poor in the short term, the report said.

“Given the worsening global scenario, investments by the private sector and government spending on key infrastructure as well as education and health will need to rise substantially to cushion the impact of the global crisis, sustain growth as well as create more and better jobs in the Philippines,” said World Bank Country Director Motoo Konishi in a statement.

The PQU expects the Philippine economy to grow 4.6 percent this year, taking into account the country’s strong growth of 6.4 percent in the first quarter.

It warned that the country’s economic momentum faces risks from the global economy, which is projected to slow down to 2.5 percent this year from 2.7 percent in 2011.

The ongoing European debt crisis and the slowdown in China pose risks to growth, the World Bank said, with main channels of contagion to the Philippines include direct exports and remittance linkages to Europe.

World Bank said that remittances would continue to grow albeit at a slower rate while services would remain stable backed by more jobs from the business process outsourcing industry.

But it added that if the global economic slump intensifies, some sectors in the Philippine manufacturing industry such as electronics would be affected, resulting in job losses.

The report, however, said that the Philippines has strong macroeconomic fundamentals--low inflation, a flexible exchange rate, a current account surplus, manageable government finances, high international reserves equivalent to almost a year’s worth of imports, and steady remittances-which would favor the country amid global uncertainties. n

Sports Yonex Canada Open Now Complete

21 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Busy Suzuki buildup schedule for Azkals

BY CEDELF P. TUPAS Philippine Daily Inquirer

THIS YEAR, Yonex Canada Open 2012 saw a large contingent of players come from Japan one of the emerging powerhouse countries in badminton.

They didn’t disappoint. In 4 of the 5 finals (Mixed Doubles, Women’s Singles, Women’s Doubles and Men’s Doubles) both finalists were from Japan. It was only Chinese Taipei that was able to break the strangle hold that Japan had as they were able to place two men into the Men’s Singles final.

At all levels, the play on July 15 was outstanding.. The last match of the day, the Men’s Doubles was one of the best matches of the entire tournament. The finals came down to a set of 3 games. Canada’s own Men’s doubles team of Toby and Derrick Ng also performed well as they won the bronze medal. Toby Ng and Grace Gao also won a bronze in Mixed Doubles and Michele Li took home bronze in Women’s singles.

Overall the tournament was a tremendous success and a great tune up event for our Canadian Olympic Team. The team is now in London preparing to play the first day after opening ceremonies. The team is poised to upset some of the favourites from China, Korea, Malaysia or Indonesia.

We look forward to having all of our Olympians back next year at the Yonex Canada Open 2013. n

Rain or Shine makes Finals B-Meg awaits KO match rival

BY CEDELF P. TUPAS

Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, Philippines—The Rain or Shine Elasto Painters took advantage of an erratic and misfiring B-Meg Llamados to hammer out a 92-82 victory in the PBA Governors Cup night and claim a franchise first championship appearance at Smart Araneta Coliseum.

Jeff Chan fired 16 of his 25 points in the first half as the Painters took control and Rain or Shine held off a strong rally

by B-Meg at the stretch to finally book a finals ticket after leading the field all tournament long.

“I never lost faith,” said Rain or Shine coach Yeng Guiao, whose wards sputtered in the semifinal round and were in danger of being forced into a knockout match for a Finals slot. “I knew we were going to get that win sooner or later.”

“It’s very satisfying for a small team like us with dedicated team owners to make the Finals,” added Guiao.

Rain or Shine would have to wait for its finals opponent though, with B-Meg, Barangay Ginebra and Talk ‘N Text still in contention. B-Meg will face the winner of the second game between Gin Kings-Tropang Texters on for the right to face the Elasto Painters who will have a three-day break before the Finals.

The Llamados struggled with their shot early on and fell behind by 17 midway in the second period.

Rain or Shine stretched that lead early in the third as Gabe Norwood scored on a slam off a Llamados turnover and Jeff Chan hit two free throws following a James Yap miss on the other end to give the Painters a 7451 cushion.

But the Elasto Painters had to go through some anxious moments before pulling out the victory.

The Llamados, with import Marcus Blakely on the firing end, cut the lead to six, 82-88, with 1:35 remaining.

That Blakely basket turned out to

be their last field goal as the Elasto Painters valiantly hung on to secure the most important win of the franchise’s history.

“We tried to get to the Finals in the All-Filipino but we lost in Game 7; maybe that’s what motivated the players ,” said co-team owner Raymund Yu. “We’re excited (to be in the Finals).”

The Elasto Painters’ victory was a fitting birthday gift to co-owner Terry Que. The scores: First Game RAIN OR SHINE 92—Chan 25, Cornley 16, Buenafe 11, Cruz 9, Lee 8, Norwood 7, Belga 7, Quiñahan 7, Ibañes 2, Tang 0, Araña 0.

B-MEG 82—Blakely 18, Yap 12, Villanueva 11, Barroca 10, Simon 9, Pingris 8, De Ocampo 6, Gaco 4, Reavis 4, Urbiztondo 0.

Quarters: 23-20, 49-41, 74-58, 92-82 n

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will face Cambodia on Sept.

7 in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh as part of its preparations for the AFF Suzuki Cup. Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta, who confirmed the friendly to the Inquirer, said the Azkals have also been invited to play Laos two days later in Vientiane.

The two matches are part of the Azkals’ extensive buildup for the prestigious Suzuki Cup from Nov. 24 to 30 in Bangkok. Unlike in their campaign a couple of years ago where they took the tournament by storm, the Azkals are among the darkhorses after a run of good results the past two years which started with a historic semifinal appearance in the Suzuki Cup. The Azkals landed in a tough group in the Thai capital, where they will battle Thailand and Vietnam as well as the top team from group qualifying.

Cambodia is one of the five teams vying for two spots in the group stages, which will also be hosted by Malaysia.

Araneta said the Azkals’ participation in the tough Nehru Cup in India next month will be finalized within the week.

The Azkals are also flying to the United States in August for two matches—against Chicago Inferno on Aug. 11 in Chicago and the US Virgin Islands on Aug. 17 in Indianapolis.

There is also a pending invitation to join the Merdeka Cup in Indonesia in October, and a planned friendly against Singapore in Cebu in November.

Meanwhile, Araneta said the PFF is now looking at Pakistan as the fourth team to complete the cast in the Long Teng Cup, which could be moved to an earlier schedule in September.

Hong Kong has already begged off from joining the tournament it won last year in Kaohsiung. Araneta said the move to reschedule the tournament was meant to avoid a scheduling conflict with the Singapore Cup semifinal matches of the Loyola Meralco Sparks on the first week of October. n

Canada

The Honourable John Yap Minister of State for Multiculturalism

While the Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP) of Canada is greatly appreciated for having provided a significant number of job and income opportunities for qualified Filipino professional caregivers, we believe that continuous dialogue and exchange on this topic is essential in addressing its present imperfections and assuring optimal gains to all the sectors involved – Canadian society, the employers and families caregivers serve, the agencies involved, and most especially, the caregivers and their own families.

Jose A.P. Ampeso Consul General - British Columbia

Caring for th Photo courtesy of Migrante BC.

We’re proud of all the diverse communities in British Columbia that have always played an important role in the development of our province. British Columbia is a truly multicultural province and our diversity is one of the things that makes us strong – both economically and socially.

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 22

The Giant Mural on Homer and Cordova depicts the str economic situation in the Philippines were forced to leave

“Ito yung pumukaw ng damdamin ko nung nakikita ko yung paghihirap nila. Naalala ko yung dinaanan ko kasi mahirap din kami. Dumating ako dito parang nangungulila. Yun din ang feeling nila. Tapos may mga kuwento ng suicide, nagiging victim din sila ng abuso. Kaya pursigido ako na tulungan sila sa pamamagitan ng Multicultural Helping House Society. That is my mission in life. “ This was what moved me – when I saw the hardships experienced by the caregivers. [Through them] I remember what I went through because we were also poor. I went here and I was lonely. I know that is also what they are feeling. And then I hear of tales of suicide and abuse. That’s why I want to help them through Multicultural Helping House Society.

That is my mission in life.

Tomas Avendaño President & CEO Multicultural Helping House Society

A number of you have learned had the privilege of facilitating... choose to fill up and candle ligh filled the basket of gifts of self your insight into God’s love an to this love enable you to reach newcomers seeking settlement a especially in our parishes... Ma love created us, bless you as y search of life’s greatest treasure

Canada

23 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

he Caregivers

Our Government recognizes the important contributions of live-in caregivers to Canadian families and our economy.

Recently, we consulted widely with livein caregivers and after listening to their concerns, we made several improvements to the Live-in caregiver program, which have been lauded by communities across the country.

Roxanne James Member of Parliament Scarborough Centre

ruggles of the Live-In Caregivers, who, because of the their families and are now stranger to their own children.

The Philippines has gained a reputation as a nation of good caregivers, as shown by a preference to hire Filipinos to take care of the most vulnerable members of the family – usually the elderly, the very young, the sick and those with disabilities – so that the breadwinners may earn for the whole family. In this way, our caregivers give an essential contribution to the well-being of these and their own families and of society as a whole. ... Each caregiver has within herself or himself the talent and attitude to excel and thus, be an asset to the job, to the community and to the whole of society.

These qualities and traits need constant nurturing in order to enhance one`s lifeskills, self-direction and self-empowerment.

Junever M. Mahilum West Consul General – Toronto

d at the meditation session I . that we have two baskets to ht to pray with. May you have f to God and to others. May nd your deepening response h out to other caregivers and and integration in Canada and ay God who in His power and you continue your journey in e that is already in your hearts.

Rev. Bienvenido P Ebcas, Jr. Director Archdiocese of Toronto Filipino Catholic Missions

Carers Ark was born because there were persons who saw beyond personal needs and tears and want to reach out to others. Carers Ark will live on because there will always be persons who wish to embrace life, who like Noah, has always a place to welcome, to accept, to include people who come asking to be helped. My our Lady continue to guide Carers Ark as she is the Ark of Covenant, to that faithfulness of mission the Spirit of Jesus inspires in each one’s hearts. We learn from her how to be attentive to the heartbeat.

Sr. Anna Haydee Librojo, FdCC

24 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Baird visits Philippines and meets with Filipino President

NEWS BRIEFS by The Canadian Press June inflation rate lifts to 1.5 per cent OTTAWA - Canada’s annual inflation rate rose slightly to 1.5 per cent last month, but most consumer prices stayed well in check and there were few signs of building cost pressures in any region of the country. Statistics Canada said increases in the price of passenger vehicles, electricity, food, and homeowners’ replacement costs were mostly responsible for June’s slightly higher rate, which was up three-tenths of a point from May. n

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird delivering a speech at a joint session of key business associations in Manila.

More than $70,000 raised in Jun Lin’s name MONTREAL - Concordia University says more than $70,000 has been raised so far in the name of slain Chinese student Jun Lin. The money will go to provide financial assistance for his family’s immediate needs as well as to benefit Chinese students at the Montreal University. n

Kenney blasted for ‘foreign gangsters’ comment

Minister Baird Lays Wreath at Rizal Monument in Manila

MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird met with Benigno Aquino III, President of the Philippines on July 18. They discussed the strong Canada-Philippines bilateral relationship, as well as other areas of common interest. Canada is proud of its long-standing relationship with the Philippines. The people-to-people links between Canada and the Philippines continue to increase as the Filipino community in Canada flourishes.

In a speech at the joint session of key business associations in Manila he delivered on the same day, Baird said, “I recently met with members of various Asian diaspora communities: people with different backgrounds, different personal stories. Every one of them can help link Canada to their native country in a real way, and help forge new relationships and create new opportunities. Eighty years after the first wave of Filipino immigrants to Canada, the close cultural and economic ties between Canada and the Philippines remain solid. We house the greatest number of Filipino residents and temporary workers, representing the largest Southeast Asian community in all of Canada. ”

Baird and President Aquino also discussed the active participation of Canadian companies in the Philippine economy in a wide array of areas, including business process outsourcing, mining and clean technologies.

“The Philippines’ economy is growing at the fastest pace since the mid-1970s. A recent report by HSBC predicted that by the year 2050, 19 of the 30 largest economies will be in countries we now call “emerging.”

The numbers are simply staggering.

The economic potential is immense.

The demographic shift is monumental.

And Canada must be a part of it. This is not a choice. It is an imperative.

That’s why before visiting London or Paris, I travelled across Asia and this trip here today marks my fourth visit to Asia. It’s a trip I’ll continue to make because Canada is ideally positioned to promote our interests on the global stage-both in terms of raw, natural resources and human capital, and in terms of values and freedoms,” Baird said.

On the recently proposed establishment of a trade representative in Canada by the Philippine Department

OTTAWA - Immigration Minister Jason Kenney is being blasted for stigmatizing Caribbean Canadians after he linked recent gun violence in Toronto with ``foreign gangsters.’’ Kenney tweeted Thursday that he agrees with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford that foreign gangsters should be deported without delay, hence the introduction of the Faster Removal of Foreign Criminals Act. A spokeswoman for Kenney said the minister was not suggesting foreigners were responsible for Monday night’s worst mass shooting spree in Toronto’s history, in which two young people were killed and 23 wounded at a community barbeque. ``Rather, he was agreeing with the principle that foreign criminals generally should be removed from Canada more quickly,’’ Ana Curic said in an email Friday. n

Judge may have known sooner about naked photos WINNIPEG - An inquiry into a Manitoba judge has been told she may have known about her naked photos on the Internet before a sexual harassment claim was made. Lori Douglas is being investigated for allegations that she and her husband, Jack King, harassed a man named Alexander Chapman in 2003. n

of Trade and Industry, Baird said, “Once in place, this will help facilitate greater information sharing and company exchanges, and make our strong commercial relationship even stronger. This is a huge part of our nation’s prosperity. Great opportunities are within our grasp, and if we are prepared to seize those opportunities, we will ensure the prosperity and the security of the next generation of Canadians and Filipinos.”

Canada-Philippines relations have expanded and deepened over the past 60 years. The two countries have collaborated in a wide range of areas, including promotion of democratic development, international security, and promotion and protection of human rights.

Baird is in the Philippines as part of his Southeast Asia tour, which aims to increase bilateral relations and promote Canada’s prosperity agenda. n

Canada News PH Consulate vows stronger support for caregivers

25 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

THE PHILIPPINE Consulate General in Vancouver has committed to work more closely with community support groups to strengthen its assistance programs for Filipino caregivers in Canada.

In his remarks at the fourth Annual Caregiver Conference recently organized by the Multicultural Helping House Society in Vancouver, Deputy Consul General Anthony Mandap vowed constant support and vigilance for caregivers, whom he described as “veritable heroes to Canadian society and Canadian households.”

Mandap also assured that despite resource constraints and the complex issues raised on Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), the Philippine government “works solidly behind caregivers,” and is “more than proud to assist and serve them wherever they may be found.”

“But our work in this area is never complete. As thankful and optimistic as we are about the LCP, it is not a perfect program. And so the work goes on—to address its imperfections and propose solutions to lingering issues and concerns.”

Citing studies by Filipino experts in this field, Mandap said among the problems confronting caregivers is the socalled “deskilling” of caregivers who are professionals in their own fields, but tend to lose or unlearn their skills and expertise overtime due to limited exposure and experience as caregivers.

He also cited the phenomenon called “racialization,” or racial typecasting or profiling arising from the fact that most caregivers are people of color serving mostly rich, white families. “This tends to create double standards or differential treatment, such as the imposition of more burdensome conditions on colored people before they could fully enjoy permanent resident status,” he said.

Mandap said the Philippine Consulate General and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) are also paying close attention to incidents of abuse, physical, emotional and psychological stress experienced by caregivers in certain cases, their common reluctance to take legal action for fear of reprisal, as well as problems in recruitment, visa application and immigration.

At the same time, he thanked the Canadian government and the provincial government of British Columbia for continuing to provide opportunities for livelihood and better life for Filipino caregivers and their families, and for working to introduce improvements in the PCP. Mandap lamented that in the past, there was “a certain level of uneasiness” in the Philippine foreign service over the fact that the Philippines was fast developing a reputation as a country of domestic

Town hall meetings and the Live-In Caregiver Program

Jinny Sims meets with caregivers in her riding

OTTAWA - NDP Immigration critic Jinny Sims (Newton-North Delta) is calling on the Conservative government to make real improvements to the country’s current Live-In Caregiver Program. After hosting town hall meetings with caregivers in Toronto and Surrey this summer, Sims says it’s clear that: “Caregivers are fed up with Band-Aid solutions.”

Live-In Caregivers have pleaded with the government for more protection against abusive employers, better regulated agencies, a fast and fair system for open work permits, and more efficient timelines for family reunification.

“With Canada’s aging population to consider, there is nothing temporary about our country’s need for live-in caregivers. Without national child care or home care strategies, many Canadian families will continue to rely on the Live-In Caregiver Program,” says Sims. “We entrust our most precious family members to the hands of these workers, who provide nurturing and stimulating care.

The least we can do is fully protect them, and provide better systems for obtaining open work permits and reuniting families.” n

workers. “But with a deeper understanding, open-mindedness, empathy and genuine concern about their (caregivers’) plight, this perception has since evolved into one of respect and admiration,” he said.

“Caregivers have come to symbolize the Philippines, in a very positive way, in this part of the world, due to their hard

work and cheerful and caring ways,” he added.

Mandap also thanked the MHHS for the assistance it provides to caregivers.

“With MHHS around, we are assured of a steady and reliable partner in our common mission ensure support and protection to Filipino caregivers,” he said. n

“Carers Night” The Courage to Dream and to Act on Your Dream

LAST MARCH 10th, six caregivers: Tess Lorenzo, Dolly Deloso, Luz Flores, Marne Lamberte, Jovelyn Escote and Mercy del Rosario met with Carers Ark members Cora Palomares, Jimmy and Rose Nagallo, Cielito Parone and Sr. Anna Haydee Librojo, FdCC at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Bathurst. Surfacing and communicating their own needs as well as the more common needs of other caregivers, they thought of an effective way of reaching out to them for a learning session that would touch on immigration issues and career development. They underscored also the fun part as caregivers who work in an enclosed environment such as a home would like to have fun and relaxation activities as well.

Thus, the idea of Carers Night was conceived and became a reality on July 14th. The program started with Marne Lamberte’s opening prayer, followed by the Canadian and Philippine National Anthems, the welcome remarks of Jimmy Nagallo and a Dance number by the Worship Dance Ministry of El Shaddai Prayer Group.

Introducing the keynote speaker, the Hon. Rosanne James, MP of Scarborough Center on CIC Issues and Women is Luzviminda Linsangan.

Everyone attentively listened to the message of Hon. James particularly in regard to the protection of women in places of work and

how caregivers need to learn assertiveness as they accomplish their mission in the home. She is a strong advocate against the legalization of prostitution and for their nonproliferation. After her talk, Kitty Furlotte, the Music Director of St. Barnabas Parish sung a most appropriate song for caregivers “Wind Beneath Your Wings”.

Donna MacMillan, who accompanied her talk with a power point presentation about “Relating and Fitting into the Canadian Workforce” was introduced

by Dolly Deloso. Caregivers, members and advocates were quite attentive to Donna’s topic. She brought her unique skills set in helping individuals find the right employment fit having worked for 20 years on the corporate and agency side of recruitment. Those present asked that Carers Ark may design workshops for those who are transitioning from the live-in caregiver program to the other opportunities open to those with open permits, become permanent residents and eventual citizens of Canada.

After raffle draws that brought warm enthusiasm among the participants Sr. Haydee gave her inspirational talk on the Vision, Mission and Values of Carers Ark. Impressively opening the dance segment were the Carers Ark Milton Volunteers who did two zumba numbers. Carers Night ended with a closing prayer by the Carers Ark East Event Coordinator: Maria Teresa Lorenzo. Carers Night was brilliantly emceed by Mr. Cielito Parone and Ms Lorren Mago. Jackie Cristini covered the event with the generous collaboration of members of CAST – Creative Artists Society of Toronto.

Fund-raising and Faith-raising for Inter-Community Leadership development activities. Watch out for September 15-16 Leadership Camping Experience in ACTON! n

Canada News

POLO and the Live-In Caregiver Program (POEA). Without it, immigration officials will not allow them to leave. For workers to be able to obtain the OEC, they or their employment contracts must go through POLO verification and POEA processing.

The POLO at the MHHS 4th Annual Caregivers Conference

CANADA’S Live-in Caregiver Program has attracted tens of thousands of workers from around the world. Data from the CIC show that from 2006 to 2011, there were 85, 764 applications received abroad, 52, 215 of which were approved. Needless to say, most of these applications were from the Philippines with 4,329 filed in 2009, 2,938 in 2010 and 2,503 in 2011. Based on unofficial reports, which were confirmed by caregivers in Canada through interaction with the Office of the Philippine Consulate General, applications from Hong Kong, Taipei, Tel Aviv and Singapore were also filed by Filipino nationals.

Recruitment The “pull factors” that attract caregivers to Canada include the opportunity to become permanent residents and eventually citizens of the country, better pay and terms and conditions of employment, the privilege of being able to bring in their family members, universal health service coverage and Canada’s chronic labour shortage, among others. This necessarily makes Canada a fertile ground for individuals who recruited and continue to recruit hundreds of Filipino caregivers not just in the Philippines itself but in other countries where they might be found. The sad fact is that many caregivers became victims of recruitment scams that included being offered non-existent jobs and made to pay exorbitant sums of money as placement fees.

Sometime in 2007, alarmed by the many complaints received of Filipino workers becoming victims of illegal recruitment, Philippine Labour authorities thought of “regulating” the Canadian Labour Market.

The massive recruitment in the mid-2000s of workers from the Philippines to address labour shortages in western Canada, particularly in Alberta, and the potential risk of more illegal recruitment activities accelerated the process of regulating the market. Thus in June 2008, the Philippine Labour Office at the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver commonly known as Philippine Overseas Labour Office or POLO was established. With POLO’s presence, Philippine Rules and Regulations on the Recruitment and Deployment of Filipino Workers started to be enforced.

Labour Attache Bernardino Julve

Human Trafficking Reduced Since the enforcement of these Rules by the POLO, the incidence of illegal recruitment of workers in the Philippines has been substantially reduced if not eradicated. In gist, the Rules require the verification of employment offers through the submission to POLO of the employment contract and other related documents such as the LMO, business license and/or I.D of employers, addendum to the contract, Special Power of Attorney and Manpower Request (if an agency is involved), among others [www.vancouverpcg.net]. Central to this verification process is the interview with the employer either in person or through the telephone where series of questions are asked to determine the existence of the employer and genuineness of the job offer.

Ocular inspections of work sites are also made where necessary. In effect, POLO’s verification process complements that done by HRSDC/Service Canada when it vets employers at the time of application for LMO. Once POLO has done the verification, the documents are sent to a Consular Officer for authentication and POEA is informed accordingly. Once authenticated, the documents are returned to the employer for him/her to send over to the worker in the Philippines so he/she can, in turn, submit them to the POEA for final processing and issuance of the exit pass.

The above mentioned Rules or verification processes apply only to workers who are recruited in and/or depart from the Philippines. When workers leave the Philippines to take on jobs abroad, they are required to secure an exit clearance otherwise known as “overseas employment certification” (OEC) from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration

The Challenge – Offshore Recruitment of Filipino Workers Currently the Rules on Recruitment and Deployment do not apply to workers recruited in places other than the Philippines. That means that if an employer or a third party representative recruits a worker or caregiver in Hong Kong and the worker is able to obtain the work visa from the Canadian Consulate there, she can immediately leave Hong Kong direct to Canada. That is fine if the job offer is genuine and the job is available as soon as the worker arrives in Canada. What if it is not? Since the recruitment skips POLO/POEA processes, there is no way for POLO to determine the genuineness of the job offer and/or the existence of the employer. That is where the problem is.

Some unscrupulous individuals have seen this as a window of opportunity to deceive Filipino workers in other countries and enrich themselves by collecting placement fess. Places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and some in the Middle East have become fertile grounds for recruitment.

To get the trust of their would-be victims, some recruiters would show them copies of LMOs. But there is no way for the workers to determine if the LMOs shown are real or not. Like any other document, the LMO is not fool-proof and therefore can be forged.

Others are so callous as to ask the workers for fees even without the LMO but with just a promise to “work on their possible employment in Canada”. Once they collect the fees, they are gone like bubbles as many victims reported to concerned offices and/or the police.

Verification and Processing The best way to address the situation is to require employment contracts of all Filipino workers wherever they are recruited to go through POLO/POEA verification and processing. However, this is not an easy task as it will require the consent and involvement of other foreign governments and therefore, will call for bilateral agreement with these governments which, as experience would show, will take some time. Meantime, POLO educates Filipino workers in other countries about the process of coming to Canada either as immigrants or temporary workers through such effective methods as video conferencing, email exchanges and info dissemination. Filipino workers in places like Hong Kong and Taiwan now communicate with POLO-Vancouver and seek guidance when recruited for jobs in Canada. Hopefully the practice will continue as it will surely help prevent Filipino workers from being victims of recruitment scams. n

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 26

Filipino-Canadian volunteer caught in gang crossfire

BY SARAH TAGUIAM Philippine Canadian Inquirer BEFORE his death, Joshua Yasay was working to break the cycle of violence plaguing Toronto’s streets.

The 23-year-old Filipino man was a volunteer at the Learning Disabilities Association (LDA), where he coached basketball and tutored at-risk Scarborough youth who were once part of gangs.

“Josh was an inspiration to everyone ... and was the reason a lot of kids in our program graduated,” said program coordinator Katie Bushie, who worked with Yasay for two years.

“It was ironic that he was killed by the very thing he’s fighting.”

On the night of July 16, Yasay was caught in the crossfire at the brazen Scarborough shooting, which also took the life of 14-yearold Shyanne Charles and injured 24 others.

To honour his memory, more than four hundred of friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers attended his funeral in Ajax’ St. Francis de Sales Parish Monday.

One of his older sisters, Jennilyn Yasay, read the eulogy dedicated by friends and family to her younger brother.

In the eulogy — a copy of which was posted online — one friend said losing Yasay was “almost like losing a part of myself,” while another lamented on how “even after death, Joshua’s spirit still continues to work as he affects change within our community.”

Everyone agreed that Yasay’s loss leaves a permanent void in their lives.

“I still can’t believe it,” said childhood friend Matthew Zajch, describing the boy he used to play video games and action figures with as a “good kid overall.”

“Josh never got into any trouble, so he’s the last person I’d expect this to happen to,” he said.

An aspiring police officer, Yasay divided his time between graduating with a Criminology degree at York University, managing his business Goodfellas Barber Lounge, and working as a security guard.

Just three weeks ago, Willowdale MPP David Zimmer presented Yasay with a certificate of appreciation for his community work with LDA. After receiving the award, Bushie immediately offered him a paid position, but he refused, saying he “can’t take money for something that comes so naturally.”

Ever since his death, Bushie said some of the youth Yasay mentored have been undergoing counseling.

“They’re taking it very hard,” she said.

“We lost a friend, professional, and an ally against gun violence.”

No one has been charged for Yasay’s death but Toronto teen Nahom Tsegazab, 19, was arrested and charged with reckless discharge of a firearm, police said.

According to his last tweets, Tsegazab was one of the organizers of the Hennessy block party, which was attended by more than 100 people. n

World News German Parliament meets in special session to vote on Spanish bank rescue package

27 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

BERLIN - Germany’s Parliament is interrupting its summer break to vote

Thursday on a rescue package worth up to C100 billion ($122 billion) for Spain’s ailing banks.

Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she’s optimistic of securing a broad

Thailand, Cambodia withdraw troops from disputed border area to comply with court ruling THE ASSOCIATED PRESS PREAH VIHEAR, Cambodia - Cambodia and Thailand withdrew their army troops Wednesday from a disputed border area near an ancient temple, as the Southeast Asian neighbours try to defuse a decadeslong dispute that has turned deadly in recent years.

Some 485 Cambodian troops and an undisclosed number of Thai forces pulled back from a demilitarized zone near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple, complying with a ruling last year by the International Court of Justice.

The court had awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, and while Thailand accepts that decision, both countries lay claim to land around it.

The dispute has led to several rounds of armed conflict in the past four years.

Eighteen people were killed in the last serious fighting in April last year.

In July 2011, the court responded to an appeal from Cambodia by ordering both countries to withdraw their troops completely and simultaneously from the 17.3-square-kilometre (6.7-square-mile) provisional demilitarized zone around the temple.

Following the withdrawal of their army troops, both countries are now deploying police forces in the demilitarized zone.

Cambodian troops smiled and waved to a cheering crowd Wednesday after they took part in a withdrawal ceremony

and carried their arms to military trucks that took them away from the site.

Cambodia’s deputy defence minister, Gen. Neang Phath, said 255 police have been stationed in the demilitarized zone and another 100 on the grounds of the temple, which is recognized by the United Nations as a World Heritage site.

Cambodia’s 2008 application for Preah Vihear to become a World Heritage site reignited passions over the temple, which many nationalistic Thais claim as their own. The application came at a period of serious political discord in Thailand, which increased Thai sensitivity over an alleged threat to its territorial integrity.

Thai Defence Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat and Army Commander Gen. Prayuth Chan-ocha travelled to the Thai side of the border to take part in their country’s own withdrawal ceremony, which saw army soldiers replaced by about 300 armed border patrol police officers.

Tensions over the border have eased in the past year with the installation of a new Thai government that is more sympathetic to Cambodia. However, little progress appears to have been made in resolving the core issue of competing territorial claims.

Cambodia’s 2008 application to the International Court of Justice also included an appeal for clarification of the 1962 court decision awarding it the temple, to see if it can resolve the dispute over 4.6 square kilometres (1.8 square miles) of land around it. n

``We tried once, with Lehman Brothers, letting a system-relevant financial institute go bust - the result was the economy shrinking in Germany,’’ Kampeter said on ARD television.

Helping Spain’s banks is ``above all in the interest of Europe’s financial market stability and so also in the interest of jobs in Germany,’’ he said.

Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has dismissed concerns that Spain’s government may itself need a bailout on top of the bank rescue.

Those worries have been fueled by persistently high borrowing rates for Spain in bond markets.

Parliament is meeting in a special session because lawmakers’ summer break started at the end of June and they weren’t scheduled to reconvene until Sept. 11. Merkel said Wednesday that there are no indications they will have to interrupt their break again to discuss eurozone rescues. n

China pledges $20 billion in credit to Africa over the next 3 years THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday pledged African governments $20 billion in credit over the next three years and called for more China-Africa co-ordination in international affairs to defend against the ``bullying’’ of richer powers.

Hu made the lending pledge during the opening ceremony of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing.

The credit line is double the amount offered in 2009 at the last forum held in Egypt.

Hu promised more Chinese help for African countries in building agricultural technology centres, training medical and other personnel, and digging wells to expand access to clean water. China will encourage investment and assistance in infrastructure that facilitates trade within Africa, he said.

China has emerged as Africa’s main trading partner and a major source of investment for infrastructure, pouring billions of dollars into roads and developing the energy sector across the continent.

Trade between the two sides hit a record $166 billion last year, a threefold increase since 2006.

But China’s presence in Africa has also sparked concerns about labour abuses and corruption. Some observers see Chinese investment in Africa as

homeros / Shutterstock.com

BY GM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

majority for the bailout at the special session. As much as C30 billion could flow to Spain’s banks by the end of the month from the eurozone’s rescue fund.

Germany’s Parliament has to endorse all decisions to use money from the fund. The country is Europe’s biggest economy and is the biggest single contributor to the bailout fund; it will guarantee loans to the tune of up to C29 billion under the Spanish package.

Bailing out struggling eurozone nations isn’t popular in prosperous Germany and helping banks is even less so, but officials argue that stabilizing Spain’s banking sector - which has been hit hard by a burst real-estate bubble is in the country’s own interests.

Steffen Kampeter, a deputy finance minister, pointed to the sharp recession that followed the 2008 financial crisis and the increase in government debt, prompted by stimulus programs, that followed.

an unequal partnership between an emerging economic giant and the world’s poorest continent and accuse Beijing of offering no-strings-attached investment for repressive regimes.

In his remarks, Hu stressed China’s status as a still-developing nation and noted Africa is the region with the world’s largest number of developing countries. He said both should jointly work to defend their interests in global forums such as the United Nations. ``China and Africa should increase co-ordination and co-operation in international affairs,’’ Hu said. ``We should oppose the practices of the big bullying the small the strong domineering over the weak and the rich oppressing the poor.’’ n

Immigration Filipino Youths Gather Every Saturday at Collingwood Neighbourhood House

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 28

CNH Youth Services Coordinator Jennifer Stanford receive a check from Telus for the Saturday Fun Group.

COLLINGWOOD Neighborhood House recently embarked on a mission to reach out to the young families of the growing Filipino community in Vancouver and neighboring areas with a program called Saturday Gathering Program.

The brainchild of dynamic youth leader and settlement worker, Ms. Jennifer Stanford, Saturday Gathering Program has been designed to bring together Filipino children and youth for an afternoon of wholesome fun, relaxing conversations, positive interactions, recreational games and other educational activities.

The group now fondly calls itself, the Saturday Fun Group (SFG).

A community board grant was recently received by CNH represented by Ms. Jennifer Stanford and Mr. Sanjeev Karwal, CNH Youth Services Coordinator and Youth Worker.

Saturday Fun Group memberparticipants, youth volunteers and program facilitators - Danvic Briones, himself a very talented painter and graphic artist, and writer-author Bolet Arevalo - were all present for the grant-awarding ceremonies. This

same group meets every Saturday, between 12:00 to 4:00pm at CNH. In an effort to define its own significance, SFG members identified five (5) significant reasons for the regular gathering.

They call it their “5 F Reasons for a Happy Saturday�.

FUN Saturday we look forward to have some fun.

FRIENDS Saturday we come to meet old friends and make new ones.

FAMILY Saturday we bond with a family that cares and understands.

FILIPINO Saturday we re-live our own culture and native land.

FUTURE Saturday we take little positive steps to a bright future we have at hand.

Registration is still on-going, simply connect with the youth services team of CNH. All Filipino mothers and fathers are welcome to bring in their kids to join and learn team-building, cultural diversity, cooperation and respect for human dignity. n

The Saturday Fun Group with facilitators Danvic Briones (top) and Bolet Arevalo (bottom).

29 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Lifestyle

BY: ALPHA MIGUEL - SANFORD, M.ED, CAGS

ASK & READ: THE SPECIAL EDUCATOR

The Referral Process QUESTION: I have a son who will be a second grader this fall. I noticed that he struggles in his academics and has a few friends. I have talked with his teachers about his weaknesses and all they keep saying is that he is lacking motivation. As a mother, I feel like there is something wrong with him. What shall I do? – Alice Mangabat Alice, as a mother and a professional, my rule of thumb is when your mother’s instinct kicks in, you have to act on it. Most of the times your gut feeling is correct so let me help you out in terms of what you need to do when you are not getting all the necessary information you need to know about your son from his teachers.

First, you need to get in touch with your son’s guidance counselor and ask if you can have a meeting with the rest of his teachers. Since it is the summer time, there are only a few school officials who are working during this time of the year but as long as you put out the information and your concerns to the appropriate person, you will definitely receive some feedback. The best way to do this is by sending your son’s guidance counselor an email. About 99% of the time, school officials respond to emails as they use their computers even when they are at home. You will most likely get a respond quicker through emails.

Once you set up an appropriate meeting time with your son’s guidance counselor and his former teachers (hoping that a few of them may join the meeting despite the summer break), you need to prepare yourself about the purpose of your meeting. Since your number one concern is your son’s academic performance, you need to come up with a list along with written evidence

Filipino-American Personal Development Author Launches Inspirational Book with a Purpose to support your claims (examination booklets and the like). Teachers may have different perspectives about your son’s performance so it is always best to lay down your basis as you know your child better.

At the meeting, you should treat the school officials respectfully and thank them for the time that they allotted for you. Teachers and school leaders are very busy, so for them to give you their time is a huge thing.

When stating your concerns, use the “I” statement, i.e., “I noticed that Brian failed Math, Science, English and History last year and I am afraid he will repeat first grade.

I need to know the steps to be done and what support he can receive from the school and from me to help him succeed.”

Typically in this type of situation, the teachers will tell you their observations and the reasons why he failed in their classes. They will give you samples of his classroom assignments, quizzes and tests and present a portfolio of his work.

If at the meeting, the teachers agree that your son needs some help in order to do better in school – and I guarantee you that they will – your son will probably be referred for an evaluation.

This is now what you call the referral process, the first step in getting “help” and “support” from the Office of the Student Services in your son’s home district. After the meeting, an endorsement letter from

the teachers and your conformity to it will be drafted then forwarded to the Student Services Offices. The document may then be sent to the OSS right away and the OSS will send you a document called the “CONSENT FORM” within three days upon receipt of your request.

The minute you receive the consent form, you should act on it immediately although you are given 30 school days to accept or decline the request. I would suggest you should sign the consent right away giving the school the permission to evaluate your son.

I would also suggest that you should hand deliver the signed consent so you would know that the office has received and stamped it. Once the school or the district dates the form, the district has 45 days to conduct an initial evaluation, a meeting and a decision whether your son needs specialized design instruction for next year or not.

Since it is the summer time, the school will start processing the consent form on the first day of the school year. In the meantime, you should keep an open line with your son’s guidance counselor so that you can tell his teachers for the succeeding school year of what is happening in terms of your son’s referral process.

Good luck Alice and please let me know the results of your son’s evaluation. n

On July 30, 2012, FilipinoAmerican Alpha MiguelSanford, the editor and founder of the personal development website Aspire.Motivate.

Succeed!

(AMSDaily) is releasing her second book, “The Best Inspirational Stories I Ever Read: Guide to a Purposeful Life,” as a way to help individuals define their understanding of themselves and start living a purposeful life. Her book also encourages readers to self reflect by answering guide questions that help assess their strengths, weaknesses, values and beliefs, which could also assist them to form a clearer vision of a purposeful life.

The book priced at $12.99 will be available online at http://amsdaily.net or http:// alphasanford.com starting July 30, 2012. For exclusive offers, promotional discounts and free downloadable materials of the book, subscribe for FREE at http://amsdaily.net or become a fan of AMSDaily at http:// facebook.com/amsdaily.

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 30

PENTASI B at the University of British Columbia

BY CERI NAZ VANCOUVER – There are three E’s to describe PENTASI B: evolving, exquisite and extraordinary. A new breed of visual poetry emerges from a Filipino and it is sure to trap your minds PENTASI B (visual poetry) is a term coined by Manny Calpito, a veteran and multi-awarded broadcaster in the Philippines and the USA and the man behind “Operation Tulong”, a radio program that earned him the Catholic Mass Media Award, among others. Mr. Calpito was challenged by Father of Visual Poetry Doc Penpen’s (real name: Dr. Epitacio R. Tongohan) film Takipsilim (an awardwinning indie docu-film that tackled the sinister side of human existence and the inescapable eventuality of death) and poems, and thus made ”PENTASI B” a generic name for all kinds of visual poetry.

PENTASI B (visual poetry) has found its home at University of British Columbia’s Irving K. Barber Learning Centre on July 6, 2012.

According to Ariadne Sawyer, host and founder of World Poetry Canada and International, ‘’I would like to thank the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre at UBC for their help in accepting the amazing books of Dr. Pen Pen there. It was a lot

Lifestyle

Doc PenPen, Vivienne Lee, Development Officer, Irving K Barber Learning Center at University of British Columbia, Ariadne Sawyer, and Sharon on July 6, 2012.

Doc PenPen was awarded WORLD POETRY- Father of Visual Poetry during the World Poetry International Peace Festival, hosted by Ariadne Sawyer at Richmond Cultural Center on May 25, 2012.

Courtesy Call at Philippine Consulate- Vancouver, Canada with Anita Nievera-Aguirre, World Poetry Lifetime Achievement Award Winner 2004 and World Poetry Ambassador to Philippines, Hon. Consul General Jose Ampeso ( middle) Vice Consul Melanie Balisi Diano ( 2nd from left ) Doc PenPen and Ceri Naz

of work setting it up but the staff was wonderful. Now he will have his books at UBC for the students and staff to enjoy and expand their visions. They will also be on display at the April 2013 month-long event which will include a conference, displays of poetry and books etc. UBC has been a wonderful partner and we are looking forward to working with them again.’’

PENTASI B (visual poetry) will also soon be at Harvard University.

Doc PenPen’s creation was auctioned at OTUSA.TV studio owned and founded

by Calpito in Glendale, California and was sold for $10,000 to M Global Solutions, owned by multi-millionaire businessmanphilanthropist, Marvin U. Mangabat, on June 7, 2012. Half of the proceeds were generously donated by Doc PenPen to the OTUSA Foundation for fostering education of poor but talented students in the Philippines. Concurring with Calpito’s

vision, Mangabat says, “ we shall change the trend of those great men….from the Philippines we shall make history, we shall change the landscape of visual poetry…not tomorrow but today’’.

In his interactive visual poetry, Doc PenPen integrated philosophy, science, psychology, pathology, sociology, and geometry. His work also talks about truth, freedom, love, understanding, tolerance and compassion. Some of his themes are about men’s psychological illnesses, like depression leading to suicidal tendencies, schizophrenia, anxiety, fear, pain, and anger management. In pathology, his poems tackle nature and stages of time of death. His concepts are multi-dimensional, multiangular, multi-modal, and multilingual.

There are the noticeable concepts and techniques in his poetry. He calls these ‘’repetitive polytones’’ that make PENTASI B one of a kind. Notable in his poems are the use of wide open spaces, comma concepts, period or dot poems, repetitive or circular effects and E-NON effects.

He also makes use of the so-called visual phenomena effects – or the Eureka!

Effects – and uses “find me where” or “self-discovery” concepts, birth and death marks, amoebic or protozoic, concepts, interactive concepts and pre-beginning theory by visual abstract reasoning. n

Face creams vs Facial Treatments, my question answered on my birthday

BY ZEALA CORTEZ

IN THE WORLD of private health care system, I was privileged to see my dermatologist twice a week or when a pimple emergency happens, I can easily drop by to see one of my dermatologist friends to resolve the “situation” in 2 hours maximum.

Back in the Philippines, I was a pharmaceutical representative for one of the largest multinational corporations in the world. Having worked in the same area for more than 10 years, most of my friends are sub-specialty physicians as a result of the numerous 3-4 day medical conferences and product launches we all attended altogether.

When we decided to immigrate to Canada in 2005, I felt like a fish in a very different pond. I was fortunate to land in the world of advertising where sales executives earn in the high 6-figure remuneration and the opportunity or privilege to be exposed to different services and products available. Money is very good, however the “dog eat dog” environment wrecked havoc to my emotional alignment, thus resulting to break outs and blotchy skin. My skin and health suffered tremendously. Darker Asian skin tone is very prone to hyper-

pigmentation, which can last for 4-6 months after a break out. My skin condition is a huge source of frustration for me. I tried every cream, toner, soap, and paid almost $3,000 to a facial center run by aestheticians. I refused to take a pharmaceutical pill for acne and rosacea because when I read the product insert and medical journals on the drug, I was convinced that the benefits of having a clear skin do not outweigh the side effects associated with the drug.

Living in Canada, my eyes were opened to the wonders of alternative medicine, wholistic healing and the fusion of western technology with eastern healing practices.

My skin regimen now involves facelift acupuncture (Peter 604-9368888) to promote a balance of chi (vital energy that circulates the body) and to stimulate the facial muscle tone for that natural lift.

I am also not fond of spending more than 3 minutes of complicated regimen on the skin, I would rather use that time centering my self before going to sleep by listening to my favorite relaxing music.

On my birthday I received the gift of a lifetime. My husband arranged a spa birthday party for my daughter and I (interestingly, my mom, my daughter, myself and the Philippine’s national hero share the same birth date). I got the best gift ever! While everyone was having a blast at the other room, I was treated to an hour of energy massage to relax and put me at ease followed by the dream facial treatment.

Alisha of EM luxury (778-385-2504, www.emluxuryspa.com) who has a wealth of experience by working at one of the most exclusive skin centre in Hollywood run by a dermatologist was the person or should I say the only person I have met that follows the medical standards I was so used to experiencing, but with an alternative eastern practices twist. Alisha massaged my face with the diamond tip micro dermabration machine to take away dull lifeless skin.

Microdermabrasion painlessly and safely takes away 4-5 layers of the skin. She also painstakingly took out

comedones and excess fat that solidified that blocks the skin that potentially can be the cause of acne or pimples. She used a jeweliers magnifying glass so your skin is magnified 20 times. To end the treatment, she used state of the art LED light therapy microcurrent.

This device is known to deeply penetrate the skin at nano levels. It also has bacteriocidal properties and improves skin elasticity by encouraging collagen production as well as erase fine lines and wrinkles.

One treatment in my mind I think equals to 3 months of religiously putting facial creams nightly.

My husband who has seen my delight with his one of a kind gift and subscribes to the saying “a happy wife makes a happy life” got me 3 more gift certificates for a facial treatment.

I, on the other hand, am just blissfully looking forward to a flawless skin, a dream before now a reality through EM Luxury Spa! I am even more excited to having my 40th birthday looking and feeling like I am in my 20’s! n In PCI’s July 11, 2012 issue, Grace and Niko Quiddaoen’s last name in the article ‘Vancouver of My Dreams’ was misspelled as Guiddaoen. Our apologies.

31 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Lifestyle

Buffet, spa, prizes, fashion walk–pets glam it up for their four-legged fellows BY: ANNE A. JAMBORA Philippine Daily Inquirer FOUR-LEGGED guests and their parents, all dressed to the nines, graced the recent second Bow & Wow Benefit Dinner at the Rockwell Tent, Rockwell Center, Makati City, this time with Cara Welfare Phils. as beneficiary. The event raised a total of P450,000 in ticket sales plus P100,000 in donations from Bow & Wow executives, with more funds coming from the silent auction.

That’s more than twice the amount raised last year during its first fundraiser, the Bow & Wow Black Collar Benefit Dinner for the Philippine Animal Welfare Society, which raised P200,000. As with last year, all ticket proceeds go straight to the beneficiary.

The successful event saw the furry guests of honor treated to a pet buffet dinner prepared by Bow & Wow, with wet and dry goodies and delightful pet desserts prepared by Swell Sweets.

The pet parents, meanwhile, enjoyed a buffet spread by Cibo and excellent wines from Wine Story.

At a pet spa corner, some pets enjoyed free grooming and pampering

from professionals. Hosted by Sea Princess Tessa Prieto-Valdes, the dinner entertainment included the performance of master magician Lou Hilario.

Unique finds The silent auction featured unique finds, including designer pet beds by Filipino designers Rajo Laurel and Nix Alanon, JC Buendia, John and Paul Herrera, Joby Belmonte of “Extreme Makeover,” and Tessa Prieto-Valdes; doggy couture items such as a wedding dress ensemble from pet couture designer Bernie Alfonso-Leytte; a pet columbarium package from Noah’s Ark, and many more.

Some pet parents and their furry babies walked the runway for the “Walk of Love,” where Prieto-Valdes encouraged guests who are thinking about getting pets not to buy, but to adopt instead from animal shelters.

Special awards were also given away, including the Bow & Wow Pawsome Twosome Award for Best Dressed Pet and Pet Parent, the Bow & Wow Wagging Tails Award for the most congenial pet and pet parent, the Bow & Wow Picture Pawfect Award for the

most photogenic pet and pet parent, and the Bow & Wow Furry Family Award for the cutest pet and family.

Winners each went home with P1,500 GCs and doggie dispensers from Bow & Wow, plus a Magnum bottle of Ferrari Brut from Healthy Options.

Seen at the benefit dinner were celebrity guests Janice de Belen and her family, Regine Tolentino, Divine Lee and Victor Basa, celebrity trainer Kier Legaspi, actor Jennica Garcia, singer/ actor Rita Iringan, actor Enzo Pineda and model Vanessa Matsunaga.

Stiffer penalties Rep. Bernadette Herrera-Dy, although not a pet owner because of her allergies, was also present to show her support.

The congresswoman, author of House Bill No. 5849, said she is seeking stiffer penalties for animal abuse.

“We see images of animal abuse on the Internet all the time, and each time we apprehend abusers they get away with it so easily because our laws are so old and outdated,” she said.

House Bill No. 5849 will also address issues such as mandatory spaying and neutering, dog policing in barangays,

the building of more dog shelters, prohibition of putting live animals in cargo holds of buses or trunks of cars, regulation of pest control and private animal control companies to prevent them from treating dogs and cats as pests, and the registration of dog and cat breeders, among others.

“Funds raised tonight will be used to finance our Save the Laguna Pit Bulls project. These rescued animals are traumatized and some are on the brink of death. We have been getting donations from concerned citizens, but it’s really not enough,” said Nancy Cu Unjieng, president, Compassion and Responsibility for Animals (Cara) Welfare Phils.

Close to 250 pit bulls were rescued last April from a Korean syndicate operating a dog-fighting arena in Laguna. The rescued pit bulls need medication, food, water and care while in rehabilitation.

Cara also has over 100 rescued pets in its care, all residing in the homes of their members, waiting for adoption, since they do not have a shelter. To adopt a pet, visit caraphil.org for more info.n

32 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Andi gets a second chance

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer “IT’S TRUE what they say that after the rain comes the rainbow,” young actress Andi Eigenmann said with conviction.

Andi, who plays a lead role in the newest Kapamilya drama series “Kahit Puso’y Masugatan,” had to take a break from TV work last year when she gave birth to daughter Adrianna Gabrielle, or Eli. “I’ve been hurt many times. I’ve been through a lot,” Andi said. “I’m happy now, especially because I’ve better opportunities. I’m grateful for this second chance and I’ll prove to my bosses that I deserve it.”

News about her pregnancy rocked show biz in June 2011. Andi, now 21, disclosed in an entry on her blog on posterous.com in September 2011 that young actor Albie Casiño was the father. Albie denied it and challenged Andi to a DNA test. Adrianna Gabrielle was born on Nov. 23.

More inspired The daughter of character actors Mark Gil and Jaclyn Jose, Andi costars in the Kapamilya series with Iza Calzado, Gabby Concepcion and Jake Cuenca.

“People have been complimenting me,” Andi said. “They said my acting has acquired depth, that I have become better at sharing with viewers how my character feels. I can only say I’m really more inspired to work now.”

Asked to react to reports of Albie dating a new girl, Andi said: “Good for him! I don’t know how I can say it without people thinking that I’m still bitter, but I really don’t care anymore.

I’ve long moved on. I had a boyfriend after him. Why would I be with someone else if I were still in love with him?”

She once admitted to dating the son of former President Joseph Estrada, Joseph Ejercito, who is now studying in London. “I don’t have a boyfriend now,” she stressed. “I’m single, but I get to talk to Jake once in a while. We still tell each other … things.”

Andi added that she is seeing a guy who is “a known personality, but not in show biz.”

No case Andi also said she was unaware of the development in the assault case that Albie’s family threatened to file against four men accused of beating him up at a bar in Makati City in May. The young actor’s mom Rina claimed that Andi had slapped Albie, thrown wine at his face and ordered her male friends to gang up on him.

“There’s still no case filed, nor any discussions with any of the accused,” Andi said. “I don’t know what happened. I had no involvement in it, anyway.”

Would she be willing to let Eli meet her father someday? “First of all, I don’t think that will ever happen. But if it does, I’ll be happy for my daughter.

Of course she deserves to meet her dad, to know the truth—I’m not going to lie to her. I’d do anything to protect her from the full impact when she eventually finds out what really happened between her parents.”

Party motif As early as now, Andi said, she has decided on a carnival-themed first birthday party for Eli. “That’s because I don’t have a lot of friends with kids.

I want them to bring their younger siblings instead, to enjoy the party with us. It will be like a circus or a fair. It will be a double celebration because Eli will be baptized that day.”

She said she hoped to get actors Coco Martin, Angel Locsin, Maja Salvador, Meagan Young, Divine Lee and ABS-CBN business unit head Deo Endrinal to be Eli’s godparents. “The list is not final yet … I also want all of my siblings to be godparents. I want 11 ninongs and 11 ninangs.”

If Albie turns up, Andi said, “I wouldn’t say no. Again I don’t think he’d have the nerve to do that. I also don’t think people there would appreciate him being around. The guests will, of course, be people who care about me and know what I went through with him. He might feel very uncomfortable.”

Andi Eigenmann

Embarrassing Andi admitted that she herself didn’t know how to handle even a chance meeting with her ex. “Many friends have asked me that question. I said I’d ignore him. I didn’t expect to behave the way I did on our first meeting after I gave birth to Eli,” she said.

For the record, Andi said she did throw wine at Albie’s face but denied

slapping him. “I promise, next time deadma na lang, unless he becomes really mean to me again. Honestly, it embarrasses me to have been associated with a guy like that.”

“Kahit Puso’y Masugatan,” directed

by Wenn V. Deramas, airs in the Primetime Bida timeslot on ABSCBN. n

33 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Entertainment

Iza’s indie challenge pays off

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer

Beaming with pride, Iza said she considers joining Cinemalaya a big deal.

“You sometimes dream of joining festivals like this in the hope of landing a role that’s worth your while,” she explained.

Iza, however, clarified that this didn’t mean the materials she did for mainstream were not good.

FOR Iza Calzado, the biggest challenge in doing an indie movie was to veer away from TV acting, the kind that she was used to.

Iza said she learned a lot about the difference between TV and film acting when she appeared in Joey Reyes’ “Mga Mumunting Lihim,” an entry to the Director’s Showcase category of the ongoing 8th Cinemalaya Philippine Independent Film Festival.

Felt better She related: “Direk Joey said not to overact. There was one scene when he said, ‘You don’t have to shed tears. Just show the proper emotion.’ I did what I was told and realized that it felt better to just be truthful.”

She said she was surprised to find that Reyes was “so easy to work with. He knew exactly what he wanted out of each actor. I guess it’s because the script was very personal to him.”

Iza said she had so much fun doing the indie movie and felt excited to finally be in a Cinemalaya project.

“I’ve always wanted to do this, but the timing was never right,” said Iza, who recently signed up with ABS-CBN after 10 years with GMA 7.

Iza Calzado

Big deal “It just so happened that I had more free time for this movie because ABS-CBN was, at the time, still conceptualizing a first project for me,” she said.

“Also, I did not find a material that I liked until now.”

Co-actors “It’s just that there were a lot of compromises made just to complete [the movies],” she said. “First and foremost on the agenda was how to make them big hits.”

Iza said she discovered a lot about her coactors in Reyes’ movie.

“It’s my first time to work with Ate Janice (De Belen). I found her very funny,” Iza said. “Juday (Judy Ann Santos) hasn’t changed at all. She’s such a talented actress. I’m still her fan.”

The actress added: “I’ve long been friends with Agot, but I never got to work with her until this movie. I already know that she’s wacky and that she’s game for anything.”

The 8th Cinemalaya runs until July 29 at the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City. A select lineup is being screened at the Greenbelt Cinemas in Makati City and the TriNoma Mall in Quezon City. n

Entertainment

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 34

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer

Even the country’s top comedians lost their smiles when Comedy King Dolphy succumbed to his lingering battle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder (COPD) last week.

Many of them were seen at Dolphy’s wake to pay their last respects to their King.

Ironically, “Send in the Clowns” is one of Mang Dolphy’s favorite songs.

Stand-up comic Jon Santos told the Inquirer: “To me, he will always be a national artist and a personal hero.”

All-out performer Santos recalled watching the King in action in his autumn years: “As a performer, he kept giving and giving until there was nothing more he could offer. I saw how he would give his all in front of the camera and then he would just sit down and get a massage between takes.

After a few minutes, he would be energized once again.”

TV host John Lapus concurred: “Whenever I guested in his old (ABS-CBN show) ‘Home Along da Riles,’ I’d be amazed. He would sit quietly in a corner, but when it was time to work, his energy would shoot up. Grabe!”

Lapus recounted that he would sometimes bump into the iconic comic at the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran. “He would be the first to approach me. Wow! He was so humble and down-to-earth.”

He said he felt for Dolphy’s family—particularly for his partner, singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla. “She loved Tito Dolphy deeply.”

One of a kind Lapus quipped: “Funny how someone who gave us so much joy is now making us sad with his passing. Until the very end, he made us smile. You are one of a kind, Comedy King.”

Roderick Paulate, who starred with Dolphy on the small and big screens, told the Inquirer: “Dad’s passing is a big loss to the industry.

We lost the King of Comedy. It’s sad and painful for us who have worked with him. Whenever I talked to him on the set, I felt as if I was talking to my own father.”

Sensitive mentor He remembered the King as a sensitive mentor. “We talked about everything—life, love, career, our families. When we did ‘Mga Anak ni Facifica Falayfay’ in 1987, he was the first one to call me up to see if I was okay after I had a problem with a close friend. He was there to make me feel good.

We had deep conversations and we often ended up misty eyed after our serious talks.”

It’s heartbreaking, Paulate admitted, “but I don’t want to see him suffer. We will miss you, Dad Dolphy. You’re the only Comedy King in our hearts. Thank you for the inspiration, laughter and joy you have given us.”

Perfect comic timing Box-office star Vic Sotto, who acted opposite Dolphy in “Dobol Trobol” in 2008, said: “He was the master.

No one could beat him when it came to comic timing and delivering punch lines. There were times I would bungle a joke, but not him. He was funny even if he wasn’t doing anything. He will be sorely missed.”

Impersonator Willie Nepomuceno said simply: “The King is dead.

Long live the King!”

Photo by Audio Visual Junkie

Comedians salute their king, Dolphy

Dolphy

Vargas was with Dolphy in Lino dedicated to his craft.”

Giselle Sanchez had the chance Brocka’s “Ang Tatay Kong Nanay” to work with the King in his TV5 and “Home Along da Riles.” show “Pidol’s Wonderland” last year. She recounted: “We had a Sweet dreams Eugene Domingo pointed out: “It’s heart-to-heart conversation. He the end of an era. But his legacy noticed my passion for work and will remain forever in our hearts. comedy and he told me in Filipino: Dolphy is our national actor. I will ‘You are doing the right thing. Love always remember him with the song your work. Tell that to the others.’”

The King was generous in giving ‘Smile’ … ‘Smile. Though your heart An icon Ai-Ai de las Alas said in Filipino: is aching.’ I guess, that’s what we advice and sharing lessons from his “Tito Dolphy is still the kindest should be singing now as well. Sweet own experiences, Sanchez added: “He told me: ‘I’ve experienced person I have ever met. He was dreams to the King of Comedy.”

Domingo considered herself being jobless for a long time. After sincere. He was humble. He never deceived the public. His life was an fortunate that she was able to act my contract with Sampaguita ended, with the King in the movie, “Nobody, my career went downhill. I saved open book.” money, produced films in the 1960s De las Alas considers him a true Nobody But Juan” in 2009.

“During the shoot, I remember that and my career went back on track.’” icon. “I will never forget the message he gave me when my movie ‘Ang he was in a wheelchair that brought Tanging Ina’ was launched in 2003. him around the set when at times he Possible successor Sanchez asked about the heir to his Before the opening, we saw each seemed tired.”

Domingo explained that it was throne. “He told me that the next other at the Redemptorist Church in Baclaran. He told me that his her first time to see Dolphy in that Kings of Comedy each had his own prayer was that my movie would condition. “I got worried. He caught expertise: Vic Sotto in the movies, be a blockbuster. It’s an honor to be me looking at him and he winked Willie Revillame in TV hosting. He as if saying ‘Ayos lang, I’m okay.’ also saw potential in Michael V. and called Dolphy’s female version.”

Evelyn Vargas recalled: “I was Indeed, he was fine because the Vhong Navarro.”

But she could never forget his in ‘John En Marsha.’ That was at a minute our director, his son Eric Quizon, called ‘Action,’ he was answer to her question on why he time when comedians were being laughed at because of their looks. instantly transformed into the bright- chose not to retire. “He said: ‘I’ve Tito Dolphy whispered to me: ‘This eyed comic that he was—totally long reached the retiring age. But for is just a job; don’t take it personally.’ committed to make his audience as long as you can still squeeze work Tito Dolphy will forever be an laugh. For me that moment was pure out of me, I’d keep at it. I enjoy my inspiration. He was the epitome of magic. Dolphy was not only gifted, work. I’d die of boredom if I stayed he was a natural charmer and truly home. That’s torture.” n humility and kindness.”

Entertainment Colo. theatre shooting shocks movie industry, alters release of ‘Dark Knight Rises’ 35 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

NEW YORK - Ricky Martin says Broadway is a monster that requires discipline, concentration and dedication, but ``Evita’’’s ``Che’’ is feeling so happy and so at home that he can’t imagine moving for a while.``I would love to do Broadway Ricky Martin the rest of my life!’’ Martin told The Associated Press on Tuesday, breaking a months-long silence he subjected himself to in order to preserve a voice that he’s been using eight shows a week, since March and until January. n

Madonna concert in Poland to open with WWII film Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

The National Association of Theatre Owners issued a statement offering their ``hearts and prayers’’ to the victims. The association said, ``Guest safety is, and will continue to be a priority for theatre owners,’’ adding that the group would work closely with law enforcement and review security procedures. ``We share the shock and sadness of everyone in the motion picture community at the news of this terrible event,’’ said former Sen. Chris Dodd, chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association of America. ``We extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to the victims, their loved ones and all those affected by this tragedy.’’ ``The Dark Knight Rises’’ had expectations of being one of the biggest weekend openings ever. Its midnight screenings earned $30.6 million, Warner Bros., said Friday. That’s the second-best midnight opening ever, behind $43.5 million for the ``Harry Potter’’ finale. ``The Dark Knight’’ earned a then-record $158.4 million in its first three days, including $18.5 million from midnight screenings.

The film played in roughly 3,700 theatres domestically in the midnight screenings, expanding to 4,404 cinemas nationwide Friday. Many showings on the weekend were sold out in advance.

Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for Hollywood.com who specializes in box office, declined to speculate on an effect the tragedy might have on the film over the weekend. But some moviegoers were already rethinking their plans.

Christine Cooley, who works for the University of Florida at a campus facility near Tampa, Fla., said she and her 15-year-old daughter were stunned by the TV coverage of the shooting Friday morning. ``Her immediate reaction was ‘I’m never going to the movie theatre again. Why should I go somewhere where I’m looking over my shoulder worrying that someone is going to come in and harm us when I can wait six months and watch it in the safety of my own home?’’’

Cooley said she tried to explain to her daughter that it was an isolated incident, ``but I see where she’s coming from. Why put yourself in harm’s way.’’ n --AP Movie Writer David Germain and AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire contributed to this report from Los Angeles.

Mitch Stacy in Columbus, Ohio, also contributed.

Halle Berry taken to hospital after film accident LOS ANGELES - Halle Berry suffered a minor head injury during a movie-shoot fight sequence and was treated at a Los Angeles hospital and released. Berry’s Los Angeles publicist Meredith O’Sullivan said the 45-year-old actress Halle Berry suffered the injury Tuesday night on the set of her upcoming movie ``The Hive.’’ Berry was taken to a hospital as a precaution and released a short time later. n

Jackson confesses: superhero fan

he’s

no

SAN DIEGO - Peter Jackson does not expect he’ll ever get into the superhero business. The filmmaker behind ``The Lord of the Rings’’ trilogy and the upcoming prelude ``The Hobbit’’ said superheroes may rule in Peter Jackson Hollywood, but he has no interest in doing a comic-book adaptation himself. n Featureflash / Shutterstock.com

Actor Christian Bale and Sibi Blazic attend the world premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises” at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 16, 2012 in New York City, days before the tragedy in Colorado.

WARSAW - Organizers of a Madonna concert in the Polish capital have agreed to a request from city officials to start the show with a brief clip about the Warsaw Uprising, the 1944 revolt against Nazi rule, in a nod to war veterans. Some veterans and young Catholics have Madonna voiced anger that the Aug. 1 concert falls on the 68th anniversary of the uprising - a day marked with a sombre tone. n

s-bukley / Shutterstock.com

Debby Wong / Shutterstock.com

NEW YORK - The movie industry was grappling on Friday with the deadly Colorado shooting at a midnight screening of ``The Dark Knight Rises,’’ as one of the most anticipated films of the decade became enmeshed with a horrifying tragedy.

The shooting, which killed 12 and left at least 50 injured in an Aurora, Colo., movie theatre, reverberated through Hollywood and upended carefully laid plans for the global release of ``The Dark Knight Rises.’’ Warner Bros. quickly cancelled a premiere planned for Paris and cancelled press interviews in France. ``Warner Bros. and the filmmakers are deeply saddened to learn about this shocking incident,’’ read a statement from Warner Bros. ``We extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to the victims, their loved ones and those affected by this tragedy.’’

The studio was rushing to react to the tragedy. Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner Bros, said he had been up since 4 a.m. making calls. ``Everybody is very saddened by the event. We were obviously looking for a very happy occasion for us,’’ Fellman said. ``It’s a difficult way to begin. We’re just more concerned now with the well-being of those that were injured, of course.’’

The studio had no further comment on whether screenings might be cancelled, or precautions taken.

Director Christopher Nolan and actor Christian Bale did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Warner Bros. did move to pull trailers for its upcoming movie ``Gangster Squad’’ from showings of ``The Dark Knight Rises.’’ The trailer of the film, which stars Sean Penn and Ryan Gosling in a ruthless war between ‘40s Los Angeles police and the mob, includes a scene of mobsters firing into a movie theatre from behind the screen.

A person familiar with what was shown at the Aurora theatre said the trailer did not play there. The person did not want to be identified because the person was not authorized to speak on the matter.

Cinemark Holdings, Inc., the chain that owns the theatre where the shooting happened, said it was working closely with local law enforcement. ``Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and loved ones, our employees, and the Aurora community,’’ the company said.

Movie theatres around the country continued Friday showings of the film as planned, though some were stepping up security. New York police commissioner Raymond Kelly said the city was providing an extra security in New York theatres playing ``The Dark Knight Rises’’ ‘’as a precaution against copycats and to raise the comfort levels among movie patrons.`` In the wake of the shooting, ``The Dark Knight Rises’’ and the earlier Batman films, with their dark themes and emphasis on terrorism, were sure to be heavily scrutinized.

The practice of midnight screenings for eagerly anticipated blockbusters, too, could come into question.

Kelly also said that the suspected gunman, James Holmes, had his hair painted red and identified himself to authorities saying he was the Joker. Colorado authorities would not confirm that information, but Aurora police Chief Dan Oates said he had spoken to Kelly, who is a former colleague.

Heath Ledger played the Joker in the previous Batman installment, ``The Dark Knight,’’ although his hair was colored green. Ledger died in 2008 before the film was released from a toxic combination of prescription drugs.

s_bukley / Shutterstock.com

BY JAKE COYLE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ricky Martin is ‘having the time of my life’

36 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Palawan island No. 1 getaway spot in the world THE FUN in the Philippines is definitely starting to pick up with a private getaway island in Palawan province taking the top spot in the British edition of Vogue Magazine’s 100 best holiday destinations in the world.

The Department of Tourism (DOT) yesterday announced that the magazine, which named Ariara Island—a 103-hectare “private paradise” snuggled among the untouched Calamian Islands—as the world’s No. 1 getaway spot, will hit the stands in August.

In a statement, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr. said Philippine tourism would surely benefit from the worldwide recognition.

“What is remarkable is that the entire resort is a testament to the unique artistry and skills of Filipino designers and artisans,” Jimenez said.

“The use of local materials and traditional techniques serves as good advertising for Filipino craftsmanship and world-class products,” he added.

“Tourism is not just about counting tourist arrivals … more importantly, it is about building opportunities on the ground and improving lives, in communities, in very real places.”

The resort is owned by British property developer Charles McCulloch and his wife, Carrie.

The United Kingdom remains to be one of the Philippines’ biggest tourism markets, registering over 104,400 tourist arrivals last year, which the DOT noted was a record.

Ultimate destination Ariara Island’s eco-friendly structures, its luxurious and spacious villas and cottages, were designed by renowned Filipino architect Jorge Yulo.

Every piece of furniture that adorns these structures was handcrafted and upholstered by local carpenters. Some had also been outsourced to Filipino artisans.

The DOT said the resort’s wooden baths employed traditional boatbuilding techniques, while marble baths were hand-carved from single blocks of Romblon marble.

Cushions were crafted from Mindanao’s vivid tribal fabrics and its wall accents featured heliographs and ceramics created by Filipino artist Ugu Bigyan.

The tropical island resort has been described as “the ultimate offthe-beaten-track destination,” which offers guests—a group of up to 18 people—an all-inclusive package of exclusivity, relaxation, 24-hour service, excellent cuisine and a wide array of amenities.

For $295 (P12,000) a night per person, guests can relax in its posh villas and cottages and enjoy an

Photos courtesy of ariaraisland.com

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer

unbroken view of the neighboring islands and the clear blue waters of Palawan.

Guests will be made to feel like royalty even in the bedroom, which is adorned with a private terrace and a garden, hanging chairs and hammocks, a fourposter bed, a walk-in closet, a large bathroom and an open-air shower.

Out in the sea, they can enjoy jetskiing, windsurfing, canoeing, snorkeling or scuba diving to discover Calamian Islands’ rich diversity of marine life.

Intensified promotions Lucky visitors may even spot some of the world’s endangered species of sea turtles such as Hawksbill, leatherback, Olive Ridley and green turtles crawling along Ariara’s main beach to lay eggs.

Guests who are avid bird watchers may turn to the island’s unspoiled forest for relaxation. It is home to

eagles, owls, kingfishers, woodpeckers, egrets and flower peckers, among other bird species.

“The resort’s properly planned development and low density show the owners’ respect for the environment,” Jimenez noted.

“We want to see more of this type of investment which supports the principles of responsible, ethical and sustainable tourism,” he added.

From January to May this year alone, British tourist arrivals continued to grow, yielding 50,347 arrivals.

This was “one notch higher” from its previous 10th place, according to the DOT. It also said that British tourist arrivals were expected to improve with the ongoing promotional efforts in the United Kingdom via London cabs, double-decker buses and posters mounted in strategic places in time for the Queen’s recent diamond jubilee and the 2012. n

37 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Travel

Train adventures: Slowing down and enjoying the journey

The Agawa Canyon in Northern Ontario

BY DEBBIE OLSEN, RED DEER ADVOCATE THE CANADIAN PRESS

RED DEER, Alta. - There was a time when train travel was considered to be the only civilized way to get around the country and in our fast-paced present-day world there is still something remarkably refined about this mode of transportation.

There are certainly faster ways to get from point A to point B, but that really isn’t the point. Rail travel is about slowing down and enjoying the journey.

One of Canada’s quintessential train journeys is known as The Ocean. It’s a route that begins in Montreal and ends in Halifax about 21 hours later - roughly double the time it would take by car.

The overnight journey departs Montreal in the evening and arrives in Halifax on the afternoon of the following day after passing through spectacular scenery in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

As we waited in Moncton to board The Ocean, I was pleased that we would have the opportunity to join the final four hours from Moncton to Halifax, but I couldn’t help feeling just a little sad that we would not have time to experience The Ocean’s entire journey.

While we waited for the train to arrive, my husband and college-aged son went to a nearby drugstore to purchase some bottled water.

When they came back with bottled water and four large bags of chips I had to ask them why they had purchased so much junk food for a four hour journey. ``I’m sure it won’t go to waste,’’ my husband said. Despite his reassuring smile I was pretty sure those chips would be going to someone’s waist.

We settled into our comfy seats and spread out the junk food extravaganza on the table while we watched the Maritime landscape outside the large windows beside our seats.

The train passes through wetland areas, rural communities, tiny towns and along the oceanfront before it finally reaches its final destination in Halifax and watching the ever-changing landscape was a highlight of the trip.

Canadian passenger trains outside urban areas can sometimes be delayed by freight trains and our train came to a standstill on the tracks for about 30 minutes waiting for a freight train to pass.

I used the time to thoroughly explore the train - visiting the lounge car, the dining car, peeking in the odd sleeper cabin, checking out a display of the flags of each of the provinces through which the train travels, and gazing out the back window of the caboose.

I may have watched a few too many James Bond movies, because I also planned an escape route should it become necessary to jump from the train at some point later in the journey.

In the summer months, there is a glass domed observation car at the back of the train, where passengers can take in a 360 degree view of the ever-changing landscape. Unfortunately, we were a few weeks early to be able to enjoy that.

Back in my comfy coach class seat watching the scenery change outside the window, I couldn’t help thinking how inherently ``Canadian’’ train travel is.

There is a reason Gordon Lightfoot is still singing about Canadian railroadsthe development of Canada’s railway system in the 19th century was integral to the settling of the nation and modern train travel remains a link to that rich historical past. It’s comforting to know that the romance of train travel is still alive and well in Canada.

Top Five Canadian Rail Trips Canadian Rockies: Voted by the Society of American Travel Writers as the best train journey in the world, the Rocky Mountaineer offers three distinct rail journeys into the Canadian Rockies. Travelling during the daytime, you pass rugged mountains, waterfalls, valleys, and wildlife. Rates start at $859 per person for a two-day journey. For reservations or information visit: www. rockymountaineer.com.

The Canadian Rockies

Far North: The Winnipeg-Churchill train completes a 1700-km journey from Manitoba’s capital city to its subarctic northern region in two days and with notoriously frequent delays.

Taking the train is an adventure, but the adventures available in Churchill are even more exciting. You can see belugas in summer, polar bears in fall, and the northern lights in winter. Rates start at 185 for adults, youth and seniors and $92 for children one-way. For reservations or information visit: www. viarail.ca.

Maritimes: The Ocean travels from downtown Montreal to Halifax passing through the scenic Maritimes. The entire 22-hour trip will cost $315 for adults, youth, and seniors and $159 for children one-way. To travel from Moncton to Halifax is only about $35 per person. For reservations or information visit: www.viarail.ca.

TransCanada: The Canadian is the ultimate cross-Canada rail experience.

Travelling from Toronto to Vancouver in just over three days, this long-haul train transports more than 100,000 people every year. Over the past two years, more than $22 million has been invested in the modernization of this particular train. Rates start at $624 for adults, seniors and youth and $312 for children in economy. Sleeper cabins start at $1627 for adults and $1220 for

children including meals. For reservations or information visit: www.viarail.ca.

Agawa Canyon: This one-day excursion from Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., to Canyon Park in northern Ontario is particularly stunning in the fall when the leaves are ablaze with autumn colour. The train passes pristine northern lakes, roaring rivers, vast forests, and giant granite rock formations typical of the Canadian Shield and allows travellers time to explore Canyon Park, a scenic wilderness park in northern Ontario.

Rates for the one-day rail journey start at $85 for adults, $75 for seniors and $40 for children. For information visit: agawacanyontourtrain.com and for reservations phone 1-800-2429287.

The Alberta Prairie Railway: If you would like to experience the romance of rail travel in a single day without a big ticket price, consider an excursion on the Alberta Prairie Railway. Trains depart from Stettler, Alta., to Big Valley and return about six hours later. Most excursions include meals, entertainment and a train robbery with an exciting shoot-out between the outlaws and old fashioned law enforcement personnel.

Regular adult fares start at $95 per adult, $70 for youth, and $40 for children. For reservations, schedules or pricing, visit: www.absteamtrain.com or call 1-800282-3994. n

Food

Hand-Sliced Scallops Carpaccio F & B World December 2011 Issue

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 38

With a Salad of Roots, Leeks and Flowers, Grated Chorizo and Roasted Shallots Vinaigrette Served with Calamansi Gelato From Chef Roberto Cimino, Chef de Cuisine Paparrazi, Edsa Shangri-la Ingredients Calamansi Gelato 1 cup Calamansi juice 1 cup Water 1/2 cup Sugar Salad and Scallop 1Shallot, sliced 5 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil plus extra for drizzling on vegetables 1 tbsp Raspberry vinegar plus extra for drizzling on vegetables 8 Scallops, Fresh and Firm Organic Baby Vegetables (carrots, baby turnips, cherry tomato, arugula, edible flowers) 2 tbsp Chorizo, grated Procedure: Calamansi Gelato 1.Mix the calamansi juice with the sugar and water. Let the sugar dissolve.

2. Freeze and scrape with a fork from time to time, allowing it to form fine crystals.

Salad and Scallop 1.Roast shallot in a pan. Infuse with extra virgin olive oil and raspberry vinegar.

Set aside.

2.In a bowl mix, the vegetables and season with remaining raspberry vinegar and extra virgin olive oil. Keep it light in flavor.

3.Hand-slice the scallops, keeping all the same height. Arrange on a plate and drizzle with the roasted shallots vinaigrette. Season to taste with rock salt and pepper. Sprinkle with some chorizo.

4.Arrange the salad on the plate Add the edible flowers and season to taste.

5.With a fork, scrape some granita-style Calamansi Gelato and serve on the scallops.

U.S. Rib-eye Tagliata with garlic roasted potatoes and Arugula salad

F & B World December 2011 Issue

1/4 cup Balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil 2 tbsp Chopped fresh rosemary 200 g U.S. rib-eye 2 tbsp Coarsely ground black pepper 1 tbsp Coarse kosher salt 1 tbsp Canola oil 2 cups Sliced arugula 20 g Tomatoes 2 tbsp Brown sugar 1 tbsp Chili flakes

4. Heat a heavy bottom skillet with oil. Pan fry the steak to your desired doneness.

Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese shavings 10 cloves minced garlic 50g potatoes

For the garlic roasted potatoes: 1. Cut the potatoes into ½ an inch thick cubes.

2. Heat a pot of water with salt and bring to a boil.

3. Put the potatoes in for about 1 minute. Dry the potatoes and put them on a baking tray.

4. Mix potatoes with fresh rosemary leaves, minced garlic, and olive oil.

5. Preheat oven to about 350 F. Cook potatoes until golden brown.

Procedure: For the U.S. Rib-eye: 1. Mix salt, rosemary, pepper, chili flakes, and brown sugar.

2. Rub the steak with the mixture plus add the minced garlic.

3. Mix the olive oil and balsamic vinegar together. Drizzle 2 tbsp onto the steak on both sides.

For the Arugula salad: 1. Arrange the arugula leaves on a plate.

2. Top the salad with parmesan shavings and diced tomatoes.

3. Drizzle the salad with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

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 Purple 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 Plan 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

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

Raj Gupta Personal Real Estate Corporation Century 21 In town Realty 421 Pacific Street Vancouver B.C. V6Z2P5 Cellphone no. : 604-835-2477 Business no. : 604-685-5991 Business fax no. : 604-6852807 E-mail : rajgupta21@hotmail.com www.VancouverRealEstate4Sale.ca

MORTGAGE WISE INC. Ed Wise Broker LIc # M08003043

Tel: 647 896 9616, Toronto email: edwise@me.com

“1ST mortgages up to 2% less than bank posted rate” nd

2 mortgages to pay off –debts, renovations, refinance, vacations > bruised credit > no credit > new immigrants > start a business > under threat of eviction > rooming houses > churches > stores and apartments above them > schools > up to 100% LTV on medical buildings > up to 85% LTV on apartment buildings > gas stations

Live-in housekeeper WANTED! I offer $1,000 monthly, free food, own bedroom, car.

Duties: laundry, shopping, cooking, cleaning, phone msg’s.

No smoking Please contact Heidi @604-583-6880 or email Heidi@employmentlogistics.com

The Medallion Club Member

Canada: Seen and Scenes

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 40

At the MHHS 4th Annual Caregivers Conference with Tatay Tom Avendano, Keynote speaker MLA John Yap, invited guests Senator Yonah Martin, MLA Dave S. Hayer, Deputy Consul General Anthony Achilles Mandap, conveners Rey Leblanc, Philippine Labor Attache Bernardino Julve and the special guests, the live-in caregivers.

September 2010, Carers Ark was organized by a multi-cultural group of welcoming, inclusive and supportive volunteers, inspired to act on Jesus’ invitation to love as we are loved, who believe in a vision of a life of dignity, self-sufficiency, and interdependence and a mission to journey from survival to stability to success and to sharing. For more information, please e-mail Anna Haydee Librojo at ahaydeel@yahoo.com.

Jinny Sims meets with caregivers in her riding

41 WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012

Canada: Seen and Scenes

Photo shows Pidoy Pacis (standing) of Saladmaster and Max Restaurant in Toronto, Ontario, joining the members of the Order of Knights of Rizal, Canada Regional Council which include from left to right Lady Irene Go Cabo Chan de Los Santos, Sir Juancho de los santos, Sir Mario Alfuerto, Sir Jojo Taduran, and Sir Frank Crawford during the 2012 Philippine Independence Day Council Day Ball at the Capitol Banquet Hall, Mississauga, Ontario, on July 7, 2012. – Manny Papa

Joseph Alilio, Chief Operating Officer of Forex parcel Services and a Director/Auditor of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce-Toronto, accompanied by his wife, Perly Bguisa-Alilio, receives the “Young Entrepeneurs Award” from FCT’s (Filipino Centre Toronto) Geny Toribio (Photo: Just in Time Photo Services)

Knights of Columbus Honor Guards Cardinal Collins visit to St. Barnabas His Eminence Thomas Cardinal Collins, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Toronto did his pastoral visit at St. Barnabas Parish in Scarborough on July 8,2012. Cardinal Collins celebrated Mass in the Church filled with parishioners. The Parishioners were so happy to be blessed by the new cardinal. His Eminence was accorded the Knights of Columbus Honor Guards, from Bishop C.P. Greco Assembly KC # 2113 Assembly.

Thomas Cardinal Collins with Pastor Rev. Fr. Edwin Gonsalves (on his right) and Fr. Luis Calleja (on his left) with other clergies and 26 Sir Knights from Bishop C.P. Greco KC Assembly # 2113, for a formal pose after the Mass.

Thomas Cardinal Collins Celebrating Mass at St. Barnabas with Rev. Fr. Edwin Gonsalves, Fr. Luis Calleja and Deacon Paul Djaja

Sir George is a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre, KC*HS, . (the next highest level in the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre).

Corpus Christi Procession at Prince of Peace Church. The Knights of Columbus of Bishop C.P. Greco Assembly # 2113 served as Honor Guards during the Corpus Christi Procession held in the Prince of Peace Church grounds. Commander SK Ed Prillo, PGK, FDD led the KC HG, together with Sir Rod Sanchez, PGK, DD and SK George R. Poblete, PGK, FDD, PFN, KC*HS.

To all you globe trotters - travel with PCI and be published!

If you take the Philippines Canadian Inquirer to your trips and take a photo of a famous or scenic landmark or backdrop - we will feature you and your photo!

Please e-mail your photos with photo caption (names of people in the photos, details about the trip) to info@canadianinquirer.net.

Have fun on your adventure!

Canada

WEDNESDAY JULY 25, 2012 42

A Caregiver Story

BY MELISSA REMULLA-BRIONES Philippine Canadian Inquirer TWO KIDS in a stroller, two dogs tugging at their leash, buses coming only every 5 hours, far from home and from everything else, doing everything – cooking, cleaning, care-giving – for a family she does not know. This was the life embraced by Mai Mai Deocareza, a lass from Ilocos and a social worker by profession, when she chose to look at how life was on the other side, where the grass – they said – was greener.

It was not an easy path. But it was a path she was familiar with.

When she was 2, her mother left for Hongkong – after separating from her father – to be an overseas foreign worker so she can give her 2 kids a better future.

After graduating from college, Mai Mai soon followed her mother’s path, both of them hatching a plan of Mai Mai moving on to Canada and to bigger things.

As a caregiver.

Mai Mai does not know how that came to be the plan. Her friends thought she had a good, decent life as a government social worker. But like many Filipinos, she thought her opportunities lay somewhere else.

So she went.

When her plane landed in Canada, she wanted to turn back. But she saw a placard bearing her name and the smiles of people who were her employers. She walked towards them, realizing that she was at the point of no return. Half-excited, halfafraid, she put a smile on her face and tried not to look back.

She cried every day for more than a year.

The Sunshine Coast – an island – was her first home in Canada. It was a retirement haven but it became Mai Mai’s private hell. She was plagued by severe homesickness and culture shock that her 20-minute phone calls to Manila were punctuated by her loud cries. Her family – mother, grandparents, cousins (who she was sending to school at that time) – told her to be strong.

Mai Mai said people think immigration is easier for single people. She says it is not – at least not for her – she had responsibilities. Her family looked to her as their breadwinner and depended on her for money so her cousins could go to school.

“Of course, once I made that promise, I could not back out. I knew how hard life was in Manila. I wanted to help, I wanted them to have a better future too, it was like I had children,“ she said in Filipino.

“They did not know money don’t grow on trees,“ she smiled a sad smile.

She tried to be strong, but after 1 year and 3 months (9 months earlier than her contract’s expiry) – and despite receiving threats of a lawsuit from her first employer for alleged breach of contract – she moved to Vancouver. It was a harrowing experience for Mai Mai. She knew she did not do anything wrong and was well within her rights to move to another employer after proper notice, but still, she was afraid. A Vancouver lawyer helped her and she never heard again from her former employer. Her lesson from the experience, “You have to know your rights and find a way to fight back.“ So ended the first phase of her life in Canada.

Mai Mai had a great time in Vancouver.

She had friends, bought what she wanted, had a life. It was too wonderful in fact that after several years of living it up and partying with her friends – other caregivers –she woke up one day up to her eyeballs in debt.

She panicked. She knew she had to do something – she had been in Canada for 4, 5 years and had nothing to show for it. This was not the life she wanted for herself. This was not why she had left Manila, her family, her friends, all things that she knew and held dear. This was not why she went to Canada.

With the realization came the fear. Her life as a caregiver is all she knew. She had stability, a home, her employers are good to her and treat her like family (she had been to Hawaii several times because of them). She is unsure of where she wants

the future to take her. And who will hire her when all she knew – her Canadian experience, if it can be called that – was to do household chores and push the stroller?

How will she go to school when all her money was earmarked for Manila and debt – that nothing was left?

Still, she tried. “I read books, went to the library... it was really tough in the beginning but I told myself ‘You have to keep trying, Mai, you have to get through this,’ and I did. I applied at Douglas College for their Career Development Practitioner program and was accepted.“ Then, she tackled the second hurdle.

She took on odd jobs. The hardest of them was cleaning a restaurant in downtown Vancouver from 2am to 6am all by herself. So she worked as a caregiver by day, cleaner by night, and volunteered at the Multicultural Helping House Society (MHHS) during her spare time.

Volunteerism was in fact what changed Mai Mai`s life so she still found the strength to go. But there were times when she could not stay awake at MHHS that Tatay Tom Avendano, MHHS` head honcho, would find her a quiet place so she could sleep. Her friends asked her why she was putting herself through so much strain and called her a zombie – but she never felt more alive. Because for the first time since coming to Canada, she was doing something for her future.

Today, Mai Mai looks at the other caregivers – the new ones and the old ones – and sees herself. She wants to help them, take care of them so they will not experience her pitfalls, empower them.

Some listen, some do not.

“Being a caregiver is tough in the beginning. But caregivers have to persevere and keep trying. They have to have goals and realize that being a caregiver is just a way of coming to Canada, a stepping stone and not a destination. There are so many options. Caregivers can have a life and build a new life in Canada, “ she says.

Mai Mai will be graduating in January and she hopes to embark again on another journey – this time as a social worker and career development professional – and inspire caregivers and steer them to the fulfillment of their fullest potential. n Mai Mai is in the core group of the MHHS We Care LIC Support Group. They will be having Fun Run and a fund raising activity for the Crisis Fund for Caregivers on September 1, 2012. Please email crisantas@helpinghouse.org for more information.

The Philippine Canadian Inquirer welcomes your views and opinions. Please e-mail the editor at editor@canadianinquirer.net.Thank you.

Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editor Melissa Remulla-Briones Correspondents Jeffrey J.D. Andrion Gigi Astudillo Dr. Rizaldy Ferrer Maria Ramona Ledesma Stella Reyes Frances Grace H. Quiddaoen Laarni de Paula Rodel J. Ramos Lizette Lofranco Aba Agnes Tecson Graphic Designer Victoria Yong Illustration Danvic C. Briones Photographers Art Viray Angelo Siglos Ryan Ferrer Solon Licas AJ Juan 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 Graphic Artists Reggie Goloy Maud Villanueva Editorial Assistant Phoebe Casin Anne Lora Santos 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

Heto na!

Pasimula sa $0

HTC One™ V

MOTOLUXE™

1

0

$

LG Optimus Net

Sa bawat pag-activate ng Bell mobile phone na may 3-taong kontrata, Mayroon kang 3 taong Libreng long distance galing sa Times Telecom. 2

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

Our Retail Stores

RICHMOND : Parker Place, Aberdeen Centre VANCOUVER: UBC Pharmacy, Hudson Area (Downtown)

BURNABY: Metrotown, SFU, Crystal Mall SURREY: Central CIty Mall

NORTH VANCOUVER: West Esplanade

EDMONTON: West Edmonton Mall

CALGARY: Central Landmark Mall, Dragon City Mall, Pacific Place Mall

MARKHAM: First Markham Place Offer ends July 25, 2012. Available with compatible devices within coverage areas available from Bell and it s international partners' coverage areas where technology permits. Other monthly fees, e.g., 9-1-1 (New Brunswick: $0.53, Nova Scotia: $0.43, P.E.I.: $0.50, Quebec Municipal Tax $0.40/mo. Saskatchewan $0.62) and one-time device activation ($35) apply. Paper bill service charge ($2/mo.) applies unless you register for e-bill and cancel your paper bill. (1) With new activation on a post-paid voice plan and a data feature with a total min. value of $50/mo. You must keep a min. $50/mo. post-paid voice and data plan for 12 months after activation. Upon early termination, price adjustment charges apply; see your Service Agreement for details. Subject to change without notice. Taxes extra. May not be available in all locations. Other conditions apply. (2) 3 years free long distance is provided solely by Times Telecom on calls made from mobile phones. Free long distance calls can be either made to both home and mobile phones, or only from home phones, in selected countries. Ask in store for more details. HTC One V is a trademark of HTC Corporation in Canada. LG Optimus Net is a registered trademark of LG Electronics, Inc., used in Canada under license. Motorola is a trademark of Motorola Inc.