Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #63

CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER www.canadianinquirer.net

VOL. 4 NO. 63

MAY 10, 2013

WHAT’S INSIDE

On the National Household Survey

Canada is about to find out how colourful a country it is. Just how vibrant the colours will be, however—well, that’s another story. (P. 19)

COMMUNIST ICONS AT MAY DAY RALLY. A phalanx of policemen blocks workers carrying posters of “Communist Manifesto” authors Karl

Marx and Friedrich Engels, former Soviet leaders Vladimir Lenin and Joseph Stalin, and former Chinese supreme leader Mao Zedong at a rally at the US Embassy in Manila. Labor groups marched to demand a wage increase after President Aqyuni announced a package of noncash benefits on Labor Day.

PHOTO BY NI—O JESUS ORBETA

Bridal party turns into tragedy

A beautiful, newly-wed Filipina was killed, burned alive in a limo en route to her very own bridal party. Four other women perished in the tragic turn of events. (P. 21)

Mayon explosion kills Filipino guide, 4 Germans

BY JOANNA LOS BAÑOS Philippine Daily Inquirer LEGAZPI CITY—What was meant to be a fun climb turned into a tragedy for 27 foreign mountaineers and their local guides when Mayon Volcano erupted on Tuesday and spewed hot rocks, killing five of them.

Jukes Nunez of the Albay Public Safety and Emergency Management Office said all 27 people, composed of foreign tourists and local trekking guides, had been accounted for.

As of Tuesday evening, six people

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had already been brought down, while the rest were on their way to town.

“I heard a very loud sound like thunder. I immediately knew that Mayon had exploded,” said Nicanor Mabao, 18, one of the survivors, who said his group was about 1,600 meters from the foot of the 2,460-meter peak.

“After hearing the loud sound, I saw very big hot boulders coming down at us. The hot rocks then started hitting us,” said the guide from the Bicol Adventure Tours.

He said he felt intense heat.

“My whole body felt numb. All I

was thinking of was that I had to go down and get out of there,” he said.

Rescuers took Mabao down in a stretcher at 4:30 p.m. He talked to the Inquirer while being transported from an Army truck to a waiting ambulance.

Mabao suffered severe burns in his left leg. He said he was struck by a hot rock in the head while trying to rescue an Austrian woman, Sabine Stroberger, 32, who likewise survived.

Five of Mabao’s companions—a fellow Filipino guide and four German nationals—were killed. They were

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❱❱ PAGE 18 Mayon explosion

Special Feature: Mother’s Day

It’s Mom’s special day. Delve more into the history of this worldwide celebration, examine the mothers in iconic works of art, and browse through a list of the top ten gifts you can give moms all around. (P. 28-32)

Filipino food among top restaurants

Kulinarya, Filipino dining gem, wows Vancouver Magazine with their take on the chicken adobo. (P. 37)

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

3

S&P gives PH second credit ratings upgrade

BY MICHELLE V. REMO AND RONNEL W. DOMINGO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES is on a roll.

After being given bullish growth prognoses from various institutions and getting its first investment grade from Fitch Ratings, the Philippines was lifted out of the junk bond status by another international credit-rating agency yesterday.

Standard & Poor’s yesterday said in a statement that it had raised the country’s credit rating by a notch from BB+ to BBB- —the minimum investment grade— citing the country’s rosy macroeconomic fundamentals amid global economic problems.

S&P assigned a “stable” outlook on the country’s new rating, which means the rating will likely be unchanged over the short term barring unexpected developments that could change the country’s macroeconomic indicators.

The upgrade was cheered by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima—the head of the administration’s economic team—who noted that S&P’s move marked the 13th positive rating action since the Aquino administration assumed office in mid2010.

Purisima hailed it as “another resounding vote of confidence in the Philippines” and an affirmation that the local economy’s soundness was at par with countries rated investment grade or higher.

“We are very pleased that S&P, along with Fitch [Ratings], has also affirmed the Philippines’ strong economic and fiscal gains—progress that has been made thanks to the discipline and prudence in financial management instilled by President Aquino in his administration,” Purisima said.

Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr. said the investment ratings from Fitch and S&P were expected to further lift investor sentiment on the Philippines. He said the favorable sentiment would translate into actual investments over the short to medium term, and would help to make the Philippines catch up with its Southeast Asian neighbors in terms of foreign direct investments.

“With our investment grade rating, we are more confident that these inflows, particularly of more FDIs [foreign direct investments], will swing toward increasing the country’s productive capacity, thereby generating more employment and higher incomes,” Tetangco said.

A credit rating is used mainly by foreign creditors when deciding to lend money to the government or private corporations.

More broadly, however, an investment grade signals to the investors that a country is a place suitable for business, and that its

government and private enterprises have a good ability to pay their obligations, resulting in lower borrowing costs.

“The upgrade on the Philippines reflects a strengthening external profile, moderating inflation, and the government’s declining reliance on foreign currency debt,” S&P credit analyst Agost Benard said in the statement.

Yesterday’s upgrade leaves Moody’s Investor Service as the only one among the three major agencies that has not relieved Philippine government-issued international debt paper of their junk bond status.

‘Most underrated’

But Purisima said that based on actual borrowing sorties in the past two years, creditors were rating Philippine bonds at least two notches above investment grade.

“Based on Moody’s own bond implied ratings, we are among the most underrated countries by Moody’s,” he said. “I am confident it will catch up soon.”

Purisima added that with this latest development, the government must redouble efforts to remove the remaining constraints to economic growth “if we are to reach even greater heights.”

He was referring to efforts related to improving the country’s infrastructure, and further improving revenue collections and opening up the economy to international trade and investments.

The improvement in the credit rating and growth estimate for the Philippines comes as global economic problems, led by the eurozone crisis, dampened outlooks on many countries.

The S&P upgrade on the Philippines also came with its announcement that it had lowered its outlook on the BB+ rating of Indonesia—Asean’s largest economy— from “positive” to “stable” amid the drag caused by unfavorable external environment. A rating of BB+ is a notch below investment grade.

84B dollar reserves

S&P said the Philippine ability to pay its debts to foreign creditors had strengthened, as evidenced by the country’s dollar reserves. These reserves, which currently stand at about $84 billion, are driven largely by remittances from expatriate Filipinos, foreign investments in the business process outsourcing sector and foreign investments in peso-denominated securities.

The credit rating firm likewise noted the Philippine government’s declining debt burden, which it attributed to a nearly decade-long effort to improve tax collection, combined with the growth of the economy.

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 4

Corona faces P120-M charge for tax evasion

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer NEARLY a year after his ouster as Chief Justice, Renato Corona is facing a P120-million tax evasion charge that could lead to his imprisonment for up to 10 years if convicted.

In a 65-page resolution dated April 26 released yesterday, a Department of Justice panel said it had recommended the filing of the case, which allegedly stemmed from Corona’s undeclared cash and properties in six annual statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs), in the Court of Tax Appeals in Quezon City.

The panel headed by senior assistant state prosecutor Rosanne Elepano-Balauag said it found probable cause to charge Corona with violations of Sections 254 and 255 of the National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) on tax evasion and willful failure to file income tax returns.

Violation of Section 254 is punishable by P30,000 to P100,000 in fines and imprisonment of two to four years, in addition to his liability for the tax due. Violation of Section 255, on the other hand, is punishable by a fine of not less than P10,000 and imprisonment of one to 10 years.

“Considering the evidence submitted by the Bureau of Investigation ...we are inclined to believe that the documentary evidence presented by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) outweighs the bare allegations made by Corona. We note that aside from his empty claims that his other funds were merely commingled with the accounts of his other family members, etc, [he] miserably failed to substantiate the same,” the resolution said.

The BIR, following an investigation, concluded that the former Chief Justice was liable

for P120,498,219.52, inclusive of surcharges and interest.

Continuing persecution

Corona, who was ousted by a 20-3 vote in the Senate on May 29, 2012, following a six-month impeachment trial, denounced the indictment.

“What fairness could I have expected from the DOJ whose head, Secretary Leila de Lima, testified against me during my sham impeachment trial? Was there ever any doubt about the outcome of this charade? My savings are a result of 45 years of diligent work in the private and public sectors. I do not owe any tax liability to the government,” he said in a statement.

“I have never in all my life ever received even a single notice of deficiency assessment from the BIR. The contrived claims of the BIR will fall flat on its face because they are without legal, factual and moral bases and are just part of the continuing political harassment and persecution that they have been incessantly inflicting on me.”

Unless Corona files a motion for reconsideration or a petition for review in the DOJ, the case against him will be filed in court.

The BIR’s investigation on Corona’s taxes was prompted by revelations made during his Senate trial. The agency alleged it found substantial increases in Corona’s net worth from 2005 to 2010 that did not appear consistent with his earnings as a public servant.

Following the unconditional waiver signed, executed and submitted by Corona to the Senate during his trial, the BIR investigated his financial holdings, particularly his real properties and bank accounts.

The bureau applied the so-called “net worth method”—basically assets minus liabilities equals net worth—to show that Corona earned income from other sources aside from his compensation as a

public official.

According to the BIR, Corona’s real net worth increased from P12.87 million in 2003 to P53.72 million in 2010 although he earned between P1.4 million and P4.4 million every year during the period.

Inadmissible evidence

In his defense, Corona said the waiver he executed was effective only until he was convicted by the Senate so all pieces of evidence collected by the BIR using the document were inadmissible in court. He said the BIR had failed to prove that the discrepancy came from the sources of income that were taxable.

Corona added that the prescription period for the filing of the criminal cases for the taxable years 2007 to 2010 had expired. He questioned the BIR’s use of the net worth method.

He maintained that there was no underdeclaration of real properties or any substantial increase in his cash assets, mainly because other people’s funds were commingled with his own. He added that the BIR had failed to take into account that he came from a “family with means and resources” and had been “gainfully employed in the public and private sectors.”

Full-blown trial

The DOJ panel rejected all of Corona’s defenses, adding some of them could be “best threshed out in a full-blown trial.”

The panel said although the net worth method was used only in civil cases, there was nothing in the NIRC that prohibited the BIR from using this in criminal proceedings.

The prosecutors pointed out that Corona signed the waiver as a depositor not by virtue of his public office. The waiver also did not state that it was only for the purpose of the impeachment proceedings.

By the time Corona signified

Renato Corona, appointed 23rd Chief Justice of the Philippines on May 12, 2010, two days after the general election. The appointment sparked criticism; then-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was only two months away from the end of her term and had no more authority to select the Chief Justice, according to the Constitution. Corona was impeached on December 12, 2011, having failed to disclose his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth, as required by law.

PHOTO FROM SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES

his intention to withdraw the waiver in his June 11, 2012, letter to Banco de Oro and his Oct. 10, 2012, cease-and-desist letters to other banks, the banks had already complied with the BIR’s demand for access to Corona’s accounts.

Consistent underreporting

With the withdrawal of the waiver, the BIR could no longer further inquire into Corona’s accounts and in effect blocked the agency from verifying his defenses.

The panel also junked Corona’s claims of prescription. This prescriptive period does not begin to run until the crime is discovered and judicial proceedings have been instituted, the panel said.

The prosecutors said Corona could not claim that the BIR had failed to take into account his family’s and personal wealth in

computing his net worth, adding that the agency could not be faulted for relying on his SALNs. “It should be highlighted that respondent Corona swore under oath that the information contained in his SALN is true and correct statements of his assets, liabilities, net worth and business interests,” they said.

As to his claim that the money in his bank accounts belonged to other persons, the prosecutors pointed out that Corona failed to produce a single affidavit to support this.

The panel said there was a “consistent pattern” of underreporting large amounts of income and noninclusion of all his income and properties in his SALNs. “The evidence they (BIR) obtained, so to speak, was not culled out of thin air,” it said. ■

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

5

P-noy bats for ‘Good Job Day’

BY TJ A. BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer IT’S A “Good Job Day.” That’s how President Aquino wanted to characterize Labor Day. On the eve of the event, Mr. Aquino unveiled a 7-percent increase in benefits for Social Security System (SSS) members pegged on a 0.6-percent increase in contributions, and equal benefits for government workers.

“Wouldn’t it be better to treat Labor Day as a day of celebration, instead of as a day of bickering—a day for both workers and employees to celebrate a productive year, a day to recognize the hard work of every employee, and thank for the blessing of a decent, dignified job?” he said at a dialogue with workers in Malacañang yesterday. “From this day onwards, I hope that we treat Labor Day as a Good Job Day. We’ve accomplished a lot of positive things, and these came about not because of blame-swapping but because of cooperation. Enough of negativism. It’s time to greet one another ‘good job,’” he said.

Most of the labor leaders emerged disappointed from the dialogue, claiming that Mr. Aquino’s solutions were unresponsive to their demands: end contractualization, stop the killings of labor leaders, eliminate taxes on benefits, bring down high power costs and resettle workers out of danger areas.

SSS facing bankruptcy

Mr. Aquino said it was about time the SSS pension scheme was amended by raising the current contribution rate from 10.4 percent to 11 percent so each member would enjoy a higher benefit.

With the 0.6-percent increase in contribution—equivalent to P60 for an employee earning P10,000 a month and to be shared equally by the employee and the employer—the government would cut SSS’s unfunded liability of P1.1 trillion by P141 billion, he said.

Since 1980, the across-theboard pension has been raised 20 times, but the contribution rate was increased only twice, Mr. Aquino said.

“We’ve been shelling out so much money, but we’re not pocketing anything. The end result is bankruptcy. In 2011, the estimated unfunded liability of SSS stood at P1.1 trillion.

If we don’t do anything, this is expected to go up by 8 percent a year,” he said.

“What then is the solution?

The 10.4-percent contribution rate is very low. The international standard for SSS contributions is at 14.1 percent, while the rate for government contribution is 21 percent,” Mr. Aquino said.

He said the government would raise the monthly salary credit from P15,000 to P16,000 and the net effect would be a 7-percent

increase in benefits.

Equalizing benefits

The President also announced that he signed last week Executive Order Nos. 134 and 135 equalizing the employees’ compensation benefits for those working in the public and private sectors.

In case of an accident, a government employee has no “carer’s” allowance, and is entitled to only P90 a day in temporary total disability benefit.

A private employee enjoyed a carer’s allowance of P575 on top of a P200 daily temporary total disability benefit, he said.

Victorino Balais, president of the Trade Union Congress of the Philippines, said, “They promised nonwage benefits, but these are not what the workers are seeking.” Without any prompt action on the workers’ demands, they had no other recourse but to petition for a wage increase and join protests, he said.

Endless cycle

The lives of the workers are an endless cycle of “termination and application,” no thanks to “casualization” and contractualization, Edralin said.

He lamented that extrajudicial executions of labor leaders continued during the Aquino administration with six cases, down from 30 cases during the Arroyo administration.

“No matter how straight the path is, if it’s being watered by blood, we’ll go nowhere. The road to the cemetery is a straight path too,” he said.

Security of tenure Mr. Aquino explained that he could not certify the Security of Tenure Bill as urgent since such certification applied only to measures in response to emergency or calamity. Besides, the enactment of this bill would benefit 1.8 million employees but lead to a loss of 10 million jobs. But he said he was open to amending the bill.

Edralin questioned the basis for the potential loss of 10 million jobs if the measure is signed into law.

To better implement labor laws and prevent contractualization, Mr. Aquino said the government allotted P180 million for the hiring of 372 more labor law compliance officers. “By October, they’ll be able to help arrest violators of our labor laws,” he said.

To address killings, Mr. Aquino said he ordered Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to double-up her department’s efforts to investigate and prosecute such cases.

On raising the tax exemption of benefits from P30,000 to P60,000, Mr. Aquino said this would result in P2.74 billion in foregone tax revenues, an amount sufficient for the construction of more than 3,000 classrooms, and more than 11,000 homes. “Is it just to put the

education of our youth in peril?

Should we deny housing projects to the poor? I hope not,” he said.

Mr. Aquino said the government continued to invest in the conditional cash transfer, benefiting 3.97 million of the country’s poorest households.

Minimum wage

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines National Secretariat for Social Action, said the country’s growing economy was useless if the common people would not feel it.

“One way to have equality in the economic growth is proper salary and benefits for the workers,” said Pabillo yesterday. “It’s really one issue that the government should face this Labor Day if it really wants [equal] growth for everybody and not just for the few,” he added.

Workers belonging to moderate groups have appealed for an P85 increase in the daily minimum wage in Metro Manila while militant workers are demanding a P125 pay hike.

Pabillo pointed out that the current minimum wage of P456 mandated by the Metro Manila wage board was barely half of the estimated P1,000 daily cost of living. “So the minimum wage is really not enough if the government will not enforce wage increase,” said the prelate. ■

Contractualization

“Contractualization is the major reason why there’s no genuine inclusive growth,” said Daniel Edralin, chair of the moderate Alliance of Progressive Labor. He referred to the practice of most companies of hiring workers on a six-month contract to prevent them from becoming permanent employees.

The President said that balancing the interests of labor and management was tough given that there were 2.9 million unemployed, 7.9 million underemployed and more than 600,000 were joining the labor pool every year.

“We want all of these issues resolved immediately but this won’t happen if we play politics,” he said.

PHOTO BY TROELS GRAUGAARD

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 6

S&P gives...

2004, the ratio of the government’s outstanding debt to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) had declined steadily to about 50 percent by the end of 2012 and is projected by S&P to fall further to 47 percent by the end of this year.

“The current and previous administrations improved fiscal flexibility through restraining expenditures, reducing the share of foreign currency debt, deepening domestic capital markets and more recently through modest revenue gains,” S&P said. ❰❰ 3

Major weakness

The credit rating agency, nonetheless, cited a major weakness of the Philippine economy—the low per-capita income—which it said the government should focus on addressing.

S&P estimated that the country’s per capita income (the total value of the economy’s output divided by the population) would settle

Standard & Poor’s Sovereign Rating. Countries rated AAA (dark green) have the most capacity to meet financial commitments. Countries classified under CCC (dark red) are the most economically unstable.

at $2,850 this year, a level lower than those of most countries with the same credit rating.

“The Philippine economy’s low income level remains a key rating constraint. The concentrated nature of the economy, infrastructure shortfalls and restrictions on foreign ownership, which deter foreign investment, are factors that hamper growth,” S&P said.

S&P said the country needed to generate more investments in order to provide jobs to people in the low-income segment and lift the per capita income.

Liberalize regulations

To generate investments, the country must liberalize its regulatory environment in a manner that allows easier entry of foreign investors, according to

S&P. It also said the country must invest more in infrastructure, which businesses need for easier transportation of goods.

The credit rating firm, nonetheless, said there was a good chance that the Philippines would be able to increase per capita income over the medium to long term, especially if the country addresses infrastructure and regulatory problems.

“Real GDP per capita growth averaged 3.3 percent over the past decade—somewhat slow at this stage in the country’s development. Based on ongoing structural changes in the economy, rising private sector investment and with increased fiscal space allowing greater public spending, we expect real GDP per capita growth to rise to 4.5 percent in the forecast period to 2016,” it said. ■

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

7

Loren accused of hiding wealth

BY DJ YAP Philippine Daily Inquirer SEN. LOREN Legarda allegedly failed to declare as part of her assets a posh condominium unit on Park Avenue in New York City for four years, and did so only in 2011 just before she and the other senators convened as an impeachment court to try then Chief Justice Renato Corona.

Businessman Louis Biraogo, a self-styled public interest advocate, made the revelation on Thursday at a hastily called press conference, where he accused Legarda of being “as guilty” as the impeached Corona for not declaring all her assets in her statement of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALN).

Biraogo also accused Legarda of trying to hide her ownership of a multimillion peso mansion at No. 40 Cambridge Circle in the exclusive Forbes Park in Makati City, registered under Loren Legarda and Associates Inc. (LLAI), and of opting to declare her old family home in Malabon City as her official residence.

“I have the smoking gun needed to prove that Legarda does not deserve to stay a minute longer as a senator of the land,” Biraogo said, presenting before the media copies of the documents he said he obtained “just by searching Google,” and with the help of lawyer friends.

Biraogo said the documents proved that the reelectionist senator, who is leading in most surveys in the midterm elections, paid the “princely price” of $700,000 (about P36 million

based on the 2006 exchange rate) for the condo unit at 77Park Avenue.

He described the location as a “very expensive area in New York City where the Rockefellers and Trumps also have properties.”

Documents provided by Biraogo showed that Legarda bought the 708-square foot single-residential condominium unit 10-B from a certain Frank Feinberg of Wall Street, Seattle, Washington, on May 9, 2006, for $700,000.

But the SALN she filed in 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 did not include the lot under her real property assets.

In all four filings, an item in Annex A for real, personal and other property showed her “equity in real property (co-owned with brothers, etc.)” of P7.175 million.

In 2011, however, an item under “Real Property-USA,” appeared in her SALN with the acquisition cost of P28.7 million.

Biraogo said if this was the same Park Avenue property, then Legarda might have undervalued the condominium unit by using the 2011 exchange rate, instead of the 2006 rate.

“Using the peso-exchange rate in 2011 instead of the prevailing rate in 2006 may be another clue that Legarda was already frazzled, dazed and confused even, when she declared that acquisition cost of P27,800,000 (sic),” he said in a press statement.

“What made Legarda declare a piece of US property in her 2011 SALN? Was it because she became very, very afraid that she would be in the same boat as Corona—that her hidden condo

PHOTO FROM WWW.LORENLEGARDA.COM.PH

unit at 77 Park Avenue would be found out?” Biraogo said.

“Let’s not forget that she filed her 2011 SALN at about the time when the impeachment trial of Corona was already at fever pitch,” he said.

Responding to Legarda’s defense that she listed the US property under Annex A of her SALN in 2007, Biraogo said this was not true.

‘Nowhere’

“Annex A is the very instrument of Senator Legarda’s deceit and her circumvention of the strict SALN requirement that all properties must be declared as to their location, acquisition cost and fair market value,” he said.

“Where in Legarda’s SALNs from 2007 to 2011, or in any of their annexes can the words #77 Park Avenue, NYC, be found?

The answer is ‘NOWHERE’ because Legarda has never

declared the same in the strict manner prescribed by the law.”

At the press conference, Biraogo said he was not singling out Legarda.

“It so happened that we only have evidence against her. If we get evidence against other candidates, we will run after them, too.”

He acknowledged that he was connected to a failed movement to convince former Vice President Noli de Castro to run for president in the 2004 elections, but said the public should not jump to conclusions.

“How can there be any connections when Noli has terminated his political career already? And if Noli de Castro is doing this out of vendetta, he should have done it long ago,” Biraogo said.

‘Citizen Barok’

Biraogo, 52, said he has a trucking business, T. Biraogo Trucking Corp. based in Biñan,

Elect your BC Liberals Candidate on

Laguna province, and also engages in the buy-and-sell business. He heads a newly formed “public interest advocacy group” called Citizen Barok that “keeps a watchful eye on government.”

He said he would file graft and corruption, money laundering and perjury charges against Legarda in the Ombudsman to make her accountable for her nondisclosure of the condo unit in the US and a mansion at Forbes Park in Makati.

“Legarda’s propensity to have properties in the neighborhoods of the ultra-rich is also reflected in her being a resident of a mansion at No. 40 Cambridge Circle in Forbes Park, Makati,” he said.

He cited a lifestyle article written

by Joanne Rae Ramirez, in which Legarda purportedly confirmed her ownership of the Forbes Park mansion and described it as her

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❱❱ PAGE 11 Loren accused

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 8

Police: Five most wanted men never left home

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer THEY ARE just around.

Discounting earlier documented reports that fugitive Palawan former governor Joel Reyes and his brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, had fled abroad using fake passports, police investigators claim that the two escaped suspects are still very much around in the country.

“We believe that the Reyes brothers are still here. We continue to exert efforts to locate them. Until we have convincing evidence to prove that they have left the country, we believe they’re still here,” said Chief Supt.

Francisco Uyami Jr., the head of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG).

Uyami said the Reyes brothers, who have standing arrest warrants for the murder of Palawan broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega, may have concocted the story that they had fled the country to avoid detection.

Technique

“It can be (misinformation).

That is one technique so that the authorities would stop looking for them here,” he told a Camp Crame press briefing yesterday.

Asked what his basis was for saying that the fugitive brothers are not abroad, Uyami said: “We base it on probabilities and hunch.”

But he said he could not “immediately dispute” a witness’

testimony that the Reyes brothers had fled and a video that showed Joel passing through an immigration counter at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia).

“It appears that they had passports. But as far as we are concerned, we believe they’re still here,” Uyami insisted.

17 tracker teams

He said the Philippine National Police had intensified police operations against the Reyes brothers and the three others of the “Big 5,” or the country’s top five most wanted.

The others in the most-wanted list are retired Brig. Gen. Jovito Palparan, former Dinagat Island congressman Ruben Ecleo Jr. and Globe Asiatique owner Delfin Lee. Palaparan, called a berdugo (butcher) by political activists, is wanted in connection with the abduction of two University of the Philippines students who have been missing since 2006.

Ecleo went into hiding after he was ordered arrested for a graft case.

Lee has a standing arrest warrant issued by a Pampanga court for a multibillion-peso housing scam.

Uyami said the CIDG has created 17 “tracker teams” to conduct a nationwide hunt for the five and other high-profile fugitives.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has put up a P2-million reward for the capture of each of the Big 5.

Uyami said the tracker team

members would undergo police training programs to improve their skills in case investigation and detective management.

Yesterday, members of 10 tracker teams from CIDG units in the Luzon provinces attended a seminar on search, tracking and manhunt operations at the CIDG’s Camp Crame headquarters.

“Our purpose is to have a nationwide manhunt for the ‘Big 5’ and other most wanted criminals. This is in line with the PNP’s Oplan Pagtugis,” Uyami said.

“We believe that with better trained tracker teams, we can arrest more wanted persons in the future,” he said.

Bigger than lotto

Uyami also sought the help of the public in arresting a total of 1,313 wanted criminals in the national and regional levels.

Instead of placing bets on lotto and other games of chance, he said people could become instant millionaires if they provide information on the whereabouts of these fugitives as the government has allocated a P223.7 million reward for their arrest.

“The reward money is huge. It’s even bigger than the lotto jackpot.

And lotto is a game of chance. But if you help us, you can easily get the reward money,” he said.

Since January, the CIDG has arrested 569 wanted persons, 151 of whom are facing charges for heinous crimes like murder, rape, kidnapping and robbery. ■

Joel Reyes and brother, Coron Mayor Mario Reyes, suspects for the murder of Palawan broadcaster and environmentalist Gerry Ortega.

PHOTO FROM JUSTICE FOR DR GERRY ORTEGA ON FACEBOOK

www.canadianinquirer.net

PHOTO FROM EESTI - FLICKR

SC upholds ouster of MMDA exec

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SUPREME Court has upheld Malacañang’s ouster of a senior executive of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) who was an appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Voting 15 to 0, the high court said Emmanuel Castro failed to prove that he has “a clear right to the office allegedly held unlawfully by another,” referring to his replacement, Emerson Carlos, as MMDA assistant general manager for operations (Agmo).

In a decision dated April 16 and written by Chief Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, the tribunal said De Castro did not possess the qualifications of a third-level career executive service officer (Ceso), required of an Agmo.

De Castro was appointed to the MMDA in July 29, 2009,

by Arroyo and took his oath the following month.

Ochoa circular On July 29, 2010, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa issued Memorandum Circular No. 2 directing all non-Ceso appointees to continue in office until their resignations have been accepted or their replacements have been appointed.

The next day, MMDA chair Francis Tolentino reassigned De Castro, a non-Ceso, to the legal and legislative affairs office of the office of the general manager.

On Nov. 2, 2010, Tolentino designated Carlos as OIC of the Agmo office. De Castro’s name was taken off the MMDA payroll and was no longer paid his salary

starting November 2010.

De Castro sought a clarification from the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) which said that the position of Agmo had not yet been classified and could not be considered as belonging to the career executive service.

He demanded the payment of his salaries and reinstatement.

When his pleas went unheeded by the MMDA, he brought his case to the Office of the President.

On Jan. 4, 2011, however, President Aquino made Carlos’ appointment as Agmo permanent.

Quo warranto case De Castro filed a quo warranto case against Castro at the Supreme Court claiming that he had security of tenure and that the position of Agmo was not covered

by Memorandum Circular No. 2 as the CESB had determined that it was not a career executive position.

Quo warranto is a legal procedure used to challenge an individual’s right or authority to the position he holds.

Carlos disagreed with De Castro’s position, arguing that De Castro had to be a Ceso in order to acquire security of tenure as Agmo.

In its decision, the high court said that the CESB had as early as 1994, declared as within the career executive service “all other managerial or executive positions in the government, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters.”

The requirements were: the position is a career position, the position is above division chief level, and the duties and responsibilities of the position require performance of executive and managerial functions. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

9

Bets eye ‘command votes’ Big religious groups wooed in final week of campaign

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer SENATORIAL candidates are seeking “command votes” and visiting vote-rich provinces in the final week of the campaign to gain the support of the still significant number of voters who have yet to decide whom to vote for.

Re-electionist Sen. Gregorio Honasan of the the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) said the battle for command votes from big religious and civic groups, and influential local politicians would be the theme this week.

“I think the command votes will prove crucial in getting the voters who are still undecided on their 12 choices this late stage in the campaign,” Honasan said in a phone interview.

Candidates with a statistical chance of winning a Senate seat are separated from their nearest rivals by less than a percentage point to up to three percentage points—well within the margin of errors of survey results conducted

by Social Weather Stations (SWS) and Pulse Asia.

SWS surveys have a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points and Pulse Asia surveys, plus or minus two percentage points.

The race is especially tight among those in the 8th to 17th places as the number of undecided voters ranged from two percent in the preelection surveys by SWS on March 15-17

and April 13-15 to 7.7 percent and 6.1 percent in the March 16-20 and April 20-22 surveys, respectively,

by Pulse Asia.

In the nationwide survey conducted by Pulse Asia in April, for instance, six candidates were fighting over a slot in the Magic 12.

Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara (31.2 percent) was in 8th to 12th places; Juan Miguel Zubiri (29.7 percent) was in 10th to 16th places; Honasan (27.9 percent) and Jack Enrile (27.2 percent) were both in 11th to 16th places; and, Risa Hontiveros (25.8 percent) and Ramon Magsaysay Jr. (25.6 percent) shared the 12th to 17th spots.

Angara of Team PNoy said command votes would be crucial especially for those in the lower third of the Magic 12 where numerous candidates still have a statistical chance of barging into the winning circle.

“Command votes can be those from large groups whether religious, sectoral, or political organizations,” Angara said.

his choices a few weeks ago).

Angara said his group would intensify its efforts this week by stepping up visibility through media and personal appearances.

“The last week endorsements from large organizations and influential individuals will help a great deal,” said Angara, who was endorsed by Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago.

Iglesia, El Shaddai

Honasan cited Laguna and Isabela as having strong command votes.

But former Sen. Jamby Madrigal of Team PNoy argued that at this point, most voters had already made up their minds.

“If Filipinos don’t believe you by now, any extra efforts in the last week will not convince them. I’m leaving it to the Filipino people and God if I will again be rewarded a Senate seat,” said Madrigal.

The religious groups aggressively courted by candidates are the block-voting Iglesia Ni Kristo (which is expected to issue its preferred list a few days before Election Day), the Davao-based Kingdom of Jesus Christ (Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is expected to release his list this week) and El Shaddai (Bro. Mike Velarde announced

Palace cites ‘straight path’ for upgrade

PHOTO BY PAOLO VILLANUEVA

Vote–rich provinces

Sen. Loren Legarda said her focus would be on vote–rich provinces that have been her traditional final stops in every campaign.

Legarda of Team PNoy has maintained her No. 1 ranking in major preelection surveys. Her lead over her closest rivals, however, was not big enough to allow her to relax in the final stretch.

She stressed the importance of the command votes, especially from the religious sector and political blocs in Mindanao “that are traditionally solid in their voting.”

Laguna, Isabela

BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer MALACAÑANG credited President Aquino’s “straight path” for Standard & Poor’s upgrade of the country’s sovereign borrower standing to investment grade.

“Tuwid na daan is truly the path to progress and tangible improvements in our economic life,” said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda, after S&P upgraded the Philippines from BB+ to an investment grade rating of BBB-.

“This comes on the heels of the earlier pronouncement of Fitch Ratings that already upgraded the Philippines to investment grade,” said Lacierda.

He noted that “the news spread www.canadianinquirer.net

She said there was no “sense of panic” in the last week of the campaign as she was confident of her chances based on nonbiased, private surveys that showed her in the Magic 12.

Connecting with people

“I believe I have run a good and truthful campaign. I campaigned hard with President Aquino. I was a team player and I did my best. I have courted the peoples’ hearts and connected with them. I believe it will work for me in the long run rather than having courted only the survey companies,” Madrigal said.

She said she was running a campaign devoid of any negative attacks. “I don’t think I need to bring other candidates down for people to vote for me.”

San Juan Rep. JV Ejercito Estrada, an UNA senatorial candidate, said he would use the last few days to visit provinces he missed out.

“I think we just have to continue what we have been doing which has been effective so far. I missed a few areas because I got sick in the middle of the campaign,” Estrada said in a text message.

Unscathed in accident

Not even an accident would slow down former Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr. of Team PNoy from squeezing out the most of the last week of the campaign.

Magsaysay’s car crashed into a center island on the Alabangquickly among ordinary people who took ownership of the good news, which is a sign of how good news and optimism are truly contagious, contributing to positive national mood and the can-do, increasingly empowered attitude of the nation.”

Affirmation

The Aquino administration welcomed the upgrade, “not just as the latest institutional affirmation of the Aquino administration’s good governance initiatives,” he said.

He said the upgrade would also help enable lower costs for borrowing, translating into lower costs for hospitals, schools and other vital structural improvements for the benefit of the people.

In a statement, Budget

Zapote Road on his way to his Ayala Alabang home in Muntinlupa City on Saturday, but he and his driver did not suffer any injury.

After a routine check-up in a hospital, Magsaysay joined a three-hour motorcade with celebrity endorser Richard Yap that same day. Magsaysay, who is expected to fly to Tacloban City said he was fit to attend Team PNoy’s rallies in Manila and Quezon City.

Increase visibility

Honasan said his strategy in the last days of the campaign was to increase visibility and audibility in an environment marred by political noise from senatorial and local candidates.

“We have to make sure that we rise above the noise and send our message,” he said.

He said this was the reason candidates increase their campaign ads for television in the last few weeks of the campaign because it was the best way to reach out to a large audience. “But for those without the resources, we have to make do with our house- to- house campaign,” he said.

Angara said his father, outgoing Sen. Edgardo Angara, had advised him that the last week was the most critical period of the campaign.

“He told me that I should have something special left in my bag to keep a strong momentum going into Election Day,” the younger Angara said. ■ Secretary Florencio Abad said the “upgrade affirms the global market’s renewed and heightened confidence in our country as a viable investment center in Asia.

“S&P attributed this upgrade to the country’s improved fiscal profile, declining reliance on foreign currency debt, increased revenue collection, and macroeconomic stability, among other factors,” he said.

Indeed, Abad said the reforms pursued by the Aquino administration were now bearing fruit.

“Still, we cannot afford to be complacent: We must work harder to translate these reforms into direct, immediate and substantial dividends for our people, especially the poor,” he said. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 10

VP’S new tack: I’m Nancy’s father

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur— “Ako si Jojo Binay, tatay ni Nancy Binay!” (I’m Jojo Binay, the father of Nancy Binay.)

With the elections just 12 days away, Vice President Jejomar Binay is working really hard to get the senatorial candidates of his United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) elected.

And that apparently includes tweaking the strategy a bit and reminding voters that the younger Binay, more than anything else, is her father’s daughter.

“Ang tatay ni Nancy ay si Jojo Binay!” he declared again at a rally attended by about 5,000 people at the municipal gym here yesterday.

Binay acknowledged the criticism against his daughter, particularly those that accuse her of lacking the necessary

qualifications to become a senator.

He said Nancy was being attacked only because she ranked high in the voter preference surveys.

“As the saying goes, when the tree starts bearing fruit, people start throwing stones at it,” he said.

He assured the crowd that Nancy would become “just like her father when it comes to serving our country”.

“Nancy has all the necessary qualifications,” he said, citing his daugher’s experience as his assistant when he was Makati mayor and in his present post of vice president in charge of the government’s housing program.

Binay did not seem at all bothered by allegations that he was building a political dynasty in Makati—where he was mayor for almost 20 years—which he was now expanding by pushing

to have a daughter elected to the Senate.

If anything, he proudly declared that his only son, JunJun, was the incumbent mayor of Makati going for a second term.

He said his daughter, Abigail, is a member of Congress representing the city’s second district.

“There are now four of us,” he said, referring to the number of Binays in elective office should Nancy succeed.

The dynastic patriarch somewhat belligerently declared that he was “ready to debate with anyone” on the issue of political dynasties.

“Why stop the will of the people when they are the ones who will elect (leaders)?” he asked in Filipino.

“To my belief, dynasty is made an issue only because of dirty politics. But in a clean and honest election, it is the right of every citizen to choose whom they want to elect,” he said. ■

Vice President Jojo Binay’s daughter, Nancy, senatorial candidate. Nancy graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism from the University of the Philippines in 1997.

PHOTO FROM OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

Traders see China visit as best diplomatic tool

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer A POWERHOUSE group of Filipino businessmen is flying to Nanjing, China, in September to explore new investments and expansion opportunities even as diplomatic ties between the two countries remain frosty over a territorial dispute.

Businessman Francis Chua said the team would be composed of chief executive officers of the country’s top corporations.

The mission is an offshoot of a mission conducted by Chinese businessmen to the Philippines last month.

“We think that business is the best diplomatic tool we have right now,” said Chua.

The Philippines and China exchanged barbs during the last summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) over Manila’s elevation of its territorial dispute with China over the Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal and parts of the Spratlys group of islands in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea) to a United Nations body.

China said it would reject

Businessman Francis Chua and a team of chief executives from top corporations will fly to China in September to explore new investments, in spite of territorial disputes between China and the Philippines.

PHOTO FROM GETTY IMAGES

www.canadianinquirer.net

any international mediation.

Tensions in the disputed waters remain high after China recently deployed its largest patrol boat to reinforce its claim.

Nevertheless, Chua said the businessmen were excited to be going to China, the largest economy in the world after the United States, with the Philippines’ newly upgraded investment rating in hand.

He said that with the Philippines having obtained investment grade status from Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s Rating Services, the delegation would have an easier time selling the Philippines as a promising investment hub for tourism, outsourcing, manufacturing and resourcebased industries.

Chua said the mission would also be a forum on maximizing low tariff opportunities in the Asean-China Free Trade Zone, the third largest in the world behind the European Economic Community and the North American Free Trade Agreement.

The mission hopes to narrow the investment gap between the Philippines and China as

Filipino businessmen invested $130 million in China last year while their Chinese counterparts only put in $65.4 million.

Despite tensions over the islands between the two countries, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing said trade between the two countries rose by 12.8 percent to $36.3 billion last year, with the Philippines enjoying a surplus of $3 billion.

Chua said last month’s visit of a 50-member delegation of top business executives from China was organized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), China’s largest trade organization, the FilipinoChinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. (FFCCCII), the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Chinese Embassy in Manila.

Chua, a former chair of the FFCCCII, said the exchange of visits could help ease tensions between the two countries.

The last time a Philippine business delegation visited China was during President Aquino’s state visit in August 2011. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

11

Loren accused... ❰❰ 7

“dream home.”

PR firm

PHOTO BY NICK M. DO

BIR goes after top Cebu doc

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE HUSBAND of singer-actress Donna Cruz, a Cebu City-based ophthalmologist, has been charged with tax evasion by the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) for allegedly failing to report the correct information on his tax returns for 2009 to 2011.

Charged by the BIR in the Department of Justice was Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal III who, the revenue agency said citing third party information, received P29.14 million in professional fees between 2009 and 2011 from PhilHealth alone but declared only P4.72 million for the threeyear period.

The BIR said Larrazabal should have registered as a value-added taxpayer and filed the required quarterly VAT returns as his earnings were well above the threshold required to register as a VAT taxpayer.

Top Cebu eye doctor

The BIR computed Larrazabal’s tax deficiency for the three-year period at P21.14 million.

Larrazabal is a prominent Cebu eye doctor whose family owns the Cebu Doctors’ Hospital and University.

The BIR, meanwhile, also filed criminal cases against three of its revenue officers for allegedly helping a Manila-based real estate company evade taxes in the amount of P169.83 million.

Charged were Vicente Velario, Joseph Macuha and Noradel Mendoza, the revenue officers who examined the books of accounts and accounting records from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009, of Philmay Property Inc. They were charged with violating Section 253 of the National Internal Revenue Code, or willfully aiding Philmay evade taxes by not putting down the correct information on its tax returns.

Other cases

The BIR also filed tax evasion charges

against Philmay and its corporate officers: president Ong Seet-Joon, treasurer Rafael Morales, corporate secretary Jonathan Ong, sales and marketing department head Benjamin Lira, and accountant Michelle Reyes.

Philmay holds office in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City.

Velario is currently assigned at BIR Revenue Region 4 in San Fernando City, Pampanga, while Macuha and Mendoza are assigned at Revenue Region 5 in Caloocan City.

The BIR said Philmay declared a P50.64million loss in its income tax return for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. Velario, Macuha and Mendoza were sent to examine its books. The three allegedly made it appear that Philmay’s tax deficiency amounted to only P499,206.53.

An agreement form was completed on July 9, 2010, with the three revenue officers saying that an audit was conducted and the tax deficiency amounted to only P499,206.53. Philmay paid the taxes through the BIR’s electronic filing system on July 27 and 30, 2010.

On investigation, the BIR commissioner learned the initial assessment of the three revenue officers actually amounted to P51.96 million.

“But on paper, the Forbes mansion is owned by Legarda’s PR firm Loren Legarda and Associates Inc. (LLAI), a company which has no real assets, income or known activities related to PR. “But is it really owned by LLAI?” asked Biraogo. “Loren Legarda owns 99 percent of LLAI, so she is for all intent and purposes the owner of the mansion at No. 40 Cambridge Circle, Forbes Park.

Has she declared ownership of the Forbes mansion? Nope,” Biraogo said.

He said LLAI may prove to be Legarda’s own version of the Basa-Guidote Enterprise used by impeached Chief Justice Corona to defend questionable acquisition of properties.

“Will Loren also call on her father and two brothers to testify to save her?” the businessman asked.

Records showed that as early as 2006, LLAI was the registered owner of the mansion in Forbes Park, Biraogo said.

But even though LLAI indicated its ownership of the property in its 2006 tax declaration, Legarda acquired it as early as 2002, he said.

Despite taking actual residence in Forbes Park, Biraogo said Legarda

Paid up

The BIR said it learned that Philmay had paid its creditor, Maybank Philippines Inc., P61.18 million with interest payments amounting to P47.6 million.

Further investigation showed Philmay is an affiliate of Maybank and that the loan was a related party transaction. Malayan Banking Berhad owns 99.99 percent of Maybank and 39.99 percent of Philmay.

Philmay also claimed a deductible expense amounting to P3.21 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2009, representing salaries and wages. The BIR said the company should not have claimed the expense as a deduction as it failed to withhold taxes on the salaries and wages which should have been done monthly. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

continued to use her family home as her official residence at 48 Dunwoody Street, University Hills, Malabon City.

Cases at SC

Biraogo said he had been a public interest advocate since 1984 when, as a sophomore student at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City, where he finished a philosophy degree, he sued then UP President Edgardo Angara all the way to the Supreme Court for hiking tuition and other fees.

He said he filed another suit in the Supreme Court in December 1985 questioning the validity of the snap presidential elections.

Biraogo said he also questioned the election of aliens to Congress (Biraogo vs Nograles), the power of the House of Representatives to propose amendments to the Constitution independently of the Senate (Biraogo vs House of Representatives) and the inaction of the government on the Philippine claim to Sabah (Biraogo vs Del Rosario, G.R. No. 206323), among others.

He said he was also a lead petitioner in the court fight against the anticybercrime law, which Congress passed in 2012.

Biraogo also headed the Kabayan for President Movement. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 12

Erap backs 3 non-UNA Senate bets

BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHOTO FROM TEAM PNOY ON FACEBOOK

We’re running scared–Team Pnoy

BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC AND NORMAN BORDADORA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE RULING Liberal Party is not taking any chances despite the strong showing of its Team PNoy candidates in the voter preference surveys.

“We are running scared, which is important,” said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda.

Lacierda explained that the administration “cannot campaign on a perspective that we’re winning already” despite the latest Pulse Asia survey showing the administration Team PNoy’s dominance of the race—11 candidates from Team PNoy and five from the rival United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) have a statistical chance of winning a Senate seat.

“We should be running scared, when you’re campaigning, until election day. We should campaign even harder,” said Lacierda.

“Better to be campaigning hard rather than patting ourselves before the day of the election,” he said.

At the same time, Lacierda said he found laughable Navotas Rep. Toby Tiangco’s description of Team PNoy as “panicking” less than two weeks before the elections and conducting a loyalty check of its local allies. “That’s not true,” he said.

“We are panicking because (we are) 9-3?” he said, pointing out that UNA should be the one that should be worried.

“There is no loyalty check that is happening now. I think they’re just deflecting the issues right now on the performance of the UNAcandidates vis-à-vis the Team PNoy candidates based on the surveys that have just been released,” he said.

Tiangco, the UNA campaign manager, said “loyalty checks are a sign of desperation and panic. They cannot control their leaders who are supporting UNA,” citing the case of Albay Gov. Joey Salceda.

Salceda, the LP chair for Bicol, was reported to have thrown his support behind some UNA candidates, particularly Nancy Binay and Jack Enrile, when UNA campaigned in Albay last Sunday.

Lacierda said President Aquino had already made it clear that he remained confident of the “full backing” of Salceda for his handpicked senatorial candidates.

An LP official yesterday said that even if Mr. Aquino has accepted his explanation for hosting the rival UNA in his turf, Salceda may still have to face a party investigation of his actions that some have interpreted as an endorsement of the opposition senatorial candidates.

Western Samar Rep. Mel Senen Sarmiento, the LP secretarygeneral, said that the outcome of the election in the Bicol region, particularly in Albay, will show whether Salceda has indeed turned his back on the party and its ideals.

“At this point, it is unfair to judge Governor Salceda on the basis of reports that he was with UNA during their sortie in Albay.

We don’t know the circumstances that led to this situation, assuming the reports are true,” Sarmiento said in a statement.

“As you well know, there are a lot of political intrigues during the election period,” he said.

Sarmiento said the LP leadership will certainly take up the matter of Salceda’s actuations around UNA leaders and candidates in Albay “to determine if there is even a basis to conduct an investigation of the incident.” ■

DEPOSED President and convicted plunderer Joseph Estrada, a candidate for mayor of Manila, is endorsing three senatorial candidates who are not in the ticket of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), of which his Pwersa ng Masa Pilipino is a component party.

Estrada has declared his support for Grace Poe, evangelist Eddie Villanueva and Puerto Princesa Mayor Ed Hagedorn who are all affiliated with other parties because, like him, they are for the poor.

“To complete the line-up of senatorial candidates, the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino is including Grace Poe, Bro. Eddie and Mayor Hagedorn in our list of senatoriables,” Estrada said in a statement.

“These three are candidates whose hearts are truly for the Filipino masses, especially the poor, embodying what PMP stands for and I support them fully.” he explained.

He is supporting Poe, though she is running under the administration’s Team PNnoy coalition, because she is the daughter of his best friend, the late action star Fernando Poe Jr. “I personally know that she was raised well to live with integrity and has a heart for the poor, like her father,” Estrada said.

“I know she will be a great senator and I am campaigning hard for her victory,” he said.

He said he was supporting Villanueva because of his dedication to the poor and Hagedorn because of his advocacy for the environment and sustainable development.

In the statement, Estrada also

thanked Poe for her support in his mayoral bid.

The Estrada camp quoted Poe as having stated in an April 20 press conference that the family of the late actor was supporting Estrada in the Manila mayoralty race.

“Our family is still loyal to Erap...There’s no denying that Erap was the best friend of my dad,” Poe was quoted as saying.

The statement also quoted Poe as having said the she “wishes for Erap’s dreams to come true.”

“Well, my wish is to become the mayor of Manila,” Estrada said yesterday.

Estrada is running for Manila mayor on a platform summarized as JEEP: Jobs (a job for every Manileño), economy (urban renewal), environment (waste management) and peace (peace and order to eliminate criminality and drugs). ■

ERAP’S BETS Former MTRCB Chairman Grace Poe, Bangon Pilipinas Party’s televangelist Bro. Eddie Villanueva, and

Puerto Princessa mayor Edward Hagedorn.

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Snub by Sino minister no big deal–del Rosario

BY TJ A. BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer FILIPINOS shouldn’t make a big deal over the failure of new Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit the country even as he called at four other Southeast Asian nations, Malacañang said.

“We have not given a second thought to the visits to four Southeast Asian countries by the new Chinese foreign minister. The visits are his prerogative,” said Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario in a statement www.canadianinquirer.net

released by the Palace.

Undersecretary Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson, agreed.

“We recognize perfectly the prerogative of the Chinese foreign minister to set his own agenda for his trips outside his country,” she said in a radio interview.

Wang made his first official visits to Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei between April 30 and May 5.

Manila and Beijing are locked in a long-running dispute over islands in the West Philippine

Sea (South China Sea). The Philippines has brought the matter to the United Nations.

Portions of the South China Sea are being claimed in whole or in part by China, and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam and Taiwan, none of which Wang visited.

Still, Del Rosario said, he looked forward to meeting Wang and working closely with him “at the appropriate time.”

“We reiterate our congratulations and wish him great success,” he added. ■

News-Phils

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

13

Movement to help voters rate candidates

BY DORIS C. DUMLAO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE MOVEMENT for Good Governance (MGG) is attempting to help Filipino voters evaluate candidates for posts in the May 13 elections with a “simple but effective” scorecard based on three leadership criteria: effectiveness, empowerment and ethics.

The MGG Scorecard, a first in Philippine politics, was initiated using diverse local and international governance benchmarks from Gawad Galing Pook, the World Bank and the United Nations. It was finalized with the assistance of the People Management Association of the Philippines.

The MGG, a group of Filipino citizens and organizations seeking transparent, participatory and accountable governance, has promoted the use of its scorecard since the 2010 elections.

With the coming elections, the group is reminding Filipino voters to evaluate their candidates wisely.

“This scorecard helps Filipinos regardless of social class and background to evaluate candidates in terms of whether they are fit for public office. It enables voters to critically think through all the information, jingles and gimmicks thrown at them by political campaigns,” MGG chair Solita Monsod said in a statement posted on the group’s website.

The MGG explained that its scorecard was using three equally vital leadership criteria and simple guide questions. It looks at a candidate’s effectiveness, ability and track record; empowerment, or ability to unite and engage stakeholders to develop and implement policies and programs that meet genuine needs of the populace; and ethics, or the need for integrity and character.

“These three complementary traits are all necessary for our country to be governed as we deserve, and the scorecard allows voters to grade candidates on each criteria using simple guide questions. It also ranks the candidates’ total scores—on a basic 1-to-3 score—to determine who among them meets these traits the best,” said Milwida Guevara, MGG founder and Gawad Haydee Yorac awardee.

The scorecard asks voters to rate each candidate’s performance as an effective, empowering and ethical leader on a scale of 1 to 3. The candidate with the highest score is deemed most deserving of the vote.

It applies the three-pronged test on the candidate: Does the candidate have a solid platform, program and position on important issues, proven work ethic, political will and results, good education, work and leadership experience?

To determine whether the leader is “empowering,” the scorecard asks whether the candidates promote pro-poor policies and programs; understand, consult and represent the interests of marginalized sectors; and inspire trust, unity and hope.

called “Timbangan,” are about learning the process of evaluating candidates, not about endorsing particular candidates, it said.

Mock polls were held after each session.

The MGG said anyone can take the process and apply it to any set of candidates, whether national or local, for any position. “In fact, we encourage people to do so. We are thrilled that a number of people have expressed interest in conducting similar activities in their respective schools/communities/ barangays,” the group said.

A benchmarking session was held at the Ateneo de Manila on April 16.

A panel of experts led by Monsod, a former socioeconomic planning secretary, evaluated the candidates using the scorecard. She was joined by former finance secretary Roberto de Ocampo, former Commission on Elections commissioner Gus Lagman, former Negros Occidental Gov. Lito Coscolluela, and Joy Aceron, research director of the Ateneo School of Government.

Effect of dynasties

The panel evaluated the candidates based on the MGG’s scorecard that looked at the “effectiveness, empowerment and ethical

character” of each of the candidates. They used as a guide a briefing paper on the candidates’ past performance, empowering programs and behavior, as well as how their lives were consistent with the values they professed.

The experts were unanimous that voters should take a stand on the deleterious effects of dynasties on the country’s politics.

“Dynasties have monopolized political power and resources and have deprived other equally competent Filipinos to develop leadership and serve their countries well,” Monsod said.

She added that year after year, the pork barrel—or the priority development assistance fund (PDAF)—of lawmakers who were members of these political dynasties had been spent to perpetuate their power and influence.

De Ocampo lamented that candidates were being marketed as products and not on their demonstrated competence.

Coscolluela said he found it difficult to choose candidates using the late senators Jose Diokno and Claro Recto as exemplars.

Aceron said that candidates who did not respect institutions were not empowering and ethical. ■

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Clean lifestyle

On screening “ethical” candidates, the scorecard asks whether the candidate, family and party/organization would: Demonstrate good moral character and a clean lifestyle; comply with laws, protect public resources and reduce corruption; and have a clean, consistent and transparent public record.

The scorecard may be downloaded from the MGG website following this link http://www.scribd.com/doc/ 135297489/ MGG-2013-Scorecard-English. The group intends to disseminate this to key cities and communities up to election day.

The MGG has been holding panel sessions to promote the use of the scorecard. These benchmarking sessions,

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 14

Finance chief backs raps vs top tax-paying oil firm

BY RONNEL W. DOMINGO Philippine Daily Inquirer EVEN top taxpayers must obey the law, Finance Secretary Cesar V. Purisima said yesterday.

Purisima was reacting to a fullpage newspaper advertisement run by Phoenix Petroleum Philippines Inc., which deplored a Department of Justice order for the filing in court of smuggling charges against the company’s president, Dennis Uy, and customs broker Jorlan Capin Cabanes in connection with allegations of improperly shipping in petroleum products.

In the advertisement, the oil

firm said the “unsubstantiated allegations” are particularly troubling as Phoenix has been regularly honored as one the Philippines’ highest taxpayers by the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the (BOC) themselves.

Last week, the DOJ reversed a resolution of the Bureau of Customs that dismissed a complaint alleging that the company’s importation of various petroleum products with a dutiable value P5.1 billion was “tainted by anomalies.”

Purisima, in a statement, countered that “appearance in any public ranking of the Department of Finance, such as the top taxpayers’ or top

importers’ lists, does not guarantee immunity from prosecution, nor does it mean that any entity will not be subject to the stringent application of the law.”

The finance chief expressed support for the DOJ’s resolution dated April 24, which found probable cause to file charges against Uy and Cabanes.

“We in the DOF and all government agencies are committed to strong, unbiased prosecution of all allegations of smuggling,” Purisima said.

“There is evidence that Phoenix either did not file the proper import entries or filed the same without the necessary

supporting documents, on numerous instances, in addition to failure to account for their imports,” he added.

According to the BOC’s RATS (Run After the Smugglers) Group, the company, assisted

by Cabanes, “unlawfully and fraudulently” imported gas oil, unleaded gasoline and petroleum products through the Port of Davao and subport of Bauan in Batangas on various dates from 2010 to 2011.

“Also, shipments that should have been deemed abandoned and turned over to the government were improperly released, signaling collusion with BOC personnel to subvert

the Tariffs and Customs code,” Purisima said.

“In light of these issues, which have been raised in the past and further substantiated today, we are compelled to act and investigate the truth of this matter,” he said.

In the advertisement, the publicly-listed Phoenix assured its shareholders that it is taking actions to ensure exoneration from the “false and malicious accusations.”

Phoenix claims that it pays an estimated 8 percent of total tax and duties on all oil imports although it accounts for less than 5 percent of total sales of such imports. ■

FPJ’s parental guidance shapes Grace Poe’s plans for the poor

BY CATHY YAMSUAN Philippine Daily Inquirer NOT ANOTHER child of show biz.

Eyebrows were raised when the Liberal Party announced Grace Poe’s inclusion in the Team PNoy coalition slate that also accommodated candidates from the Nacionalista Party and the Nationalist People’s Coalition.

But Poe, daughter of the late action star Fernando Poe Jr., did not mince words when she said she does not expect to win votes on account of her famous surname alone.

But then she also feels the pressure of being the daughter of “The (Action) King.” “Ay, super!” she exclaimed. “My dad didn’t have a formal government position but (if that entails) service and helping, my father did that in his personal capacity as an actor,” she said.

“Whatever he could afford, he would help people with their educational needs, medicine, even patubig (irrigation),” Poe said at a meeting with INQUIRER editors and reporters last week.

Poe nodded her head in agreement at the observation that while her father did not teach justice and equality at university, his films’ simple stories taught that oppression is an evil thing and it is important to protect one’s human rights and uphold one’s dignity.

Fans too giddy to draw the

regular cash subsidies to the country’s poorest families so that the parents can send their children to school for 90 percent of the academic calendar.

Post-4Ps program

Grace Poe, former chair of MTRCB; adopted and only daughter of Fernando Poe, Jr. (known as “Da King” and National Artist for Film) and movie actress Susan Roces.

PHOTO FROM OFFICIAL FACEBOOK PAGE

line between cinematic hero and mortal actor approached the elder Poe for their needs. The father was only too happy to oblige.

Poe conceded that one of her father’s weaknesses was that he hardly had time to vet the claims of people who asked for help.

“You also have to be very pragmatic. You cannot just give without seeing if the help is beneficial in the long run or if it would teach them to be independent,” she explained.

“I try to put things in their proper perspective. Nandun ang tradisyon ng pagtulong (It is customary to extend assistance)… If you can do that in any situation— ipagtanggol ang naaapi (defend the oppressed),

tulungan ang nangangailangan (help the needy)—I think that’s constant… but anong gagawin natin para makabangon ka naman (what can we do to help you rise again)?” Poe asked.

Poe also wants a more systematic approach to the problem that would involve not just the local government but also the business sector and civil society groups.

If elected to the Senate, Poe immediately wants to resurrect the Marcos-era school feeding program to complement the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) or the so-called conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.

The CCT program issues www.canadianinquirer.net

Poe said the government should also begin drafting a program for families who will eventually “graduate” from the 4Ps program, as the benefit is not perpetual.

“Whenever I go around the country, especially in the areas ravaged by storms, the 4Ps are very much appreciated. But what the government should do is prepare those who are leaving the program [for that eventuality].

Let’s say the program ends for a set of families in 2014; we cannot just pull the rug from under them.

There should be a transition period,” she explained.

“Parents could be given livelihood or skills training,” Poe added.

Poe wants kids in public school to be given at least one nutritious meal a day using ingredients sourced locally.

Public schools in Davao, for example, could provide slices of pomelo, a superb source of vitamin C, to schoolchildren in class.

The schools in Ormoc, Leyte, could feed school kids with the town’s famous pinya (pineapple).

Poe also talked about the idea of an oversight body to ensure that all barangays in the country have day-care centers.

“During the time of [President

Fidel Ramos], a law was passed saying there should be day-care centers. Is it being implemented?

Who checks?” she said.

Poe maintained that her father wanted economic growth that was inclusive. He did not believe that benefits should be exclusive to the rich.

If the trickle down effect of the Philippines’ 6.6-percent economic growth would take time, Poe said poverty alleviation should be immediate so that the poor would also enjoy the statistic.

Parental consent

Children are another priority in the agenda.

Poe’s affinity with the sector is evident in her previous stint with the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB).

The mother of three would be remembered for introducing the SPG or Strong Parental Guidance (Striktong Patnubay at Gabay) classification for violent or adultthemed television programs.

“The MTRCB tries to balance freedom of expression, creative freedom, protecting the value system of our children and the rights of the parents to protect their children. It’s very precarious.

These things have to be weighted properly,” she explained.

“Children spend 21 hours a week watching TV. It’s a very prevalent medium. If the [vision] ❱❱ PAGE 18 FPJ’s parental

News-Phils

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

Prospects for peace with Reds dimming

BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer PROSPECTS are dimming, if not altogether lost, for a peaceful end under the Aquino administration to the longest-running and lone Maoist insurgency in Asia.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said yesterday that even the so-called “special track” proposed by the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s ArmyNational Democratic Front (CPPNPA-NDF) to salvage its peace talks with the government did not even progress.

Lacierda used the word “killed,” hinting that this could be the end of the road for peace talks with the communist movement led by exiled CPP founder Jose Maria Sison.

The special track was widely expected to jumpstart the stalled talks since it would require the communist leadership to give up preconditions for talks to resume. However, the NDF later backtracked and demanded in February the release of detained communist rebels before the negotiations could resume.

In a phone-patch interview with reporters, Lacierda quoted a statement from peace process adviser Teresita Deles on the lack of progress in the talks following consultations in Manila with Norwegian special envoy Ture Lundh who is brokering the negotiations.

“In our discussion with our Norwegian facilitator last month, when he was here, we mutually established that the NDF killed the special track that they had themselves proposed,” said Deles in her statement. Deles said the Aquino administration had closed the door on negotiations under the “regular track.”

“We are not going back to the regular track which is going nowhere,” said Deles.

“We are always ready to resume talks under a new approach which will offer a better chance of bringing us to the peace our people desire and deserve. We are currently undertaking discussions towards this new approach,” said Deles, but did not elaborate.

NDF informed

The new approach may refer to pursuing localized peace talks with the rebels.

Lacierda denied claims by Luis Jalandoni, head of the communist peace panel, that the NDF had not

been informed of the government’s decision to formally stop the negotiations.

“That’s not true,” said Lacierda, explaining that the communist rebels based in The Netherlands “knew that nothing came out of the regular track … because they have so many preconditions.”

Lacierda said that the NDF had been demanding the release of detained rebels, but the problem was the diskette containing the Joint Agreement on Safety and Immunity Guarantees (Jasig) list had been “corrupted.”

“That’s the problem with the regular track. In the special track, they all know what happened to it. So what we can say is that it’s not true that Mr. Jalandoni has not been notified— they know. They have been informed.

It’s impossible for them not to know about it because they discussed this (with the government panel),” he said.

The government is not giving in to the NDF demand for the release of its captured commanders, Lacierda said.

PWDS tapped as poll watchers

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer VOTERS will get to see more persons with disabilities (PWDs) in polling precincts on election day.

For the first time, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is tapping PWDs as poll watchers as a way of encouraging others with disabilities to participate in the electoral process.

PPCRV chair Henrietta de Villa noted that many PWDs were disenfranchised during elections because they were hesitant to go out and vote.

“That’s why we are giving them space to be poll watchers so they would realize that they can contribute to ‘ champ’ elections,” said De Villa, referring to the poll watchdog’s bid for “clean, honest, accurate, meaningful and peaceful elections.”

“Another reason they don’t vote is because of the difficulty in going to the polling places. But this won’t be a problem anymore, especially with the Commission on Elections’ move to have accessible polling places,” said

De Villa.

The Comelec issued Resolution No. 9845 last year establishing accessible polling places and providing guidelines for assisting PWDs during the balloting.

According to the resolution, polling precincts for PWDs shall be located on the ground floor of voting centers. They should be spacious enough to accommodate more than 10 PWD voters at a time and should consider their mobility requirements, particularly those in wheelchairs.

De Villa also said the PPCRV was set to deploy around 350,000 volunteers on May 13 although the group had yet to ascertain how many PWD volunteers would be assigned to polling centers.

She said the PWD volunteers would be assigned to polling precincts with big numbers of PWD voters. In previous elections, at least 800,000 PWDs had registered to vote.

“Although we want to have a PWD poll watcher at every voter assistance desk, if we cannot get many volunteers, at least we will have them in the 60 voting centers with large concentrations of PWD voters,” she said. ■

PHILIPPINE CANADIAN

Intensified operations

Gen. Emmanuel Bautista, chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, has ordered intensified operations against NPA guerrillas extorting money from politicians campaigning in rebel-controlled areas, Lacierda said.

“We will not cease our efforts to curb these activities. It happened in Bulacan, (where) we apprehended (rebels). We will intensify these efforts particularly in the last two weeks (before the elections),” said Lacierda.

Asked if the government’s decision to halt the talks would be announced soon, he said: “We are just awaiting the statement that will come from Secretary Deles because she is talking of a new approach. Whatever is that new approach, let’s just wait for its announcement.

Again, we are committed to resolving all internal conflicts, armed conflicts, peacefully.”

Told that government chief negotiator Alex Padilla had given up hope that the communist problem would be solved within the Aquino presidency, Lacierda said: “When we speak of formal talks, you’re referring to the regular track. If they keep on insisting on preconditions like the release of those under the Jasig list... there is no way forward there.” ■

15

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Opinion

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 16

THERE’S THE RUB

Songs of the heart

By Conrado De Quiros Philippine Daily Inquirer IS IT a little late in the day? Not at all. Hope springs eternal, and nothing gushes forth hope more than music.

This week, Rock the Vote will hold a series of concerts in four cities, top-billed by some of the best—and politically aware—musicians in the country. Those cities are Dagupan (May 6), Davao (May 7), Batangas (May 8), and Cebu (May 9), and those musicians are Sharon Cuneta, Kris Aquino, Ogie Alcasid, Christian Bautista, Noel Cabangon, Jim Paredes, Parokya ni Edgar, Ebe Dancel, Gloc 9, Dingdong Dantes and Cooky Chua.

I’m rooting for the group. I love music—I’m a frustrated musician myself; unfortunately I wasn’t blessed with the gifts to go with the ambition— and have also put up some concerts to push for a cause. The first time was in 1999 to protest Erap’s call on advertisers to boycott the INQUIRER; and the second in 2006 to protest the mass murder of journalists and activists. The second was followed by a series of smaller performances in various restaurants/bars to try to rouse awareness and indignation against the culture of impunity.

In all those times, I’ve been astonished

by the largeness or spirit of the artists, of their willingness—no eagerness—to give of themselves. Not just in playing for free but in pretty much organizing the concerts themselves, I myself being a little helpless, or hopeless, in that department; unfortunately too, as far as organizing goes, I did not get the ability to go with mendacity. I’ve always been astonished too by the response of the public to these things—the youth in particular, and the forever-young, which people who love music and impossible dreams are. Both concerts drew in an overflow crowd—the second remarkably so for being held at the noteasily-fillable UP Sunken Garden—and had their venues, well, rocking.

Rock the Vote 2013 will do so too.

Arguably, Rock the Vote has a partisan political interest on the side. It’s there to make one last push for three senatorial candidates—Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Jun Magsaysay. The last two obviously need more pushing: They’re now rattling at the gates, or pounding loudly on the door, whichever metaphor you prefer, but haven’t quite been admitted in yet. Who knows? Maybe rocking the gates, or the door, might do the trick. Never underestimate the power of music. Never underestimate the power of youth. Not even on the 11th hour.

I don’t mind that Rock the Vote has

this agenda. Aquino, Hontiveros and Magsaysay are three of the brightest, nicest, decent-est people in this country, and it would be a shame for them not to barge into the magic circle. Hell, they shouldn’t just be barging in, by all rights they should be well-ensconced up there right now. They don’t make it and it’s not just they who lose, we do too. The country does too. Imagine all the people, living life in piss, to paraphrase John Lennon.

But it goes beyond the three

I don’t just believe in music, I believe in the people, I believe in the power of the people, I believe in people power.

That is what Rock the Vote means to keep alive. candidates and their fate, it goes all the way to this one nation and its future.

Which is why I’m behind it heart and soul. The inspiration for Rock the Vote came initially from Kiko Pangilinan who ran as an independent in 2007 and banked on some kind of people power to see him through. It did see him through, which was quite a feat in itself,

no small thanks to Sharon’s fan base.

But it took on bigger, if not more viral, proportions when P-Noy ran for president in 2010. Certainly, it took on a better articulation. Rock the Vote was one of the initiatives that arose, anchored on the spirit of voluntarism. It was that spirit of voluntarism to begin with that drew P-Noy out of the shadows and made him not just a serious candidate in the presidential elections but the people’s candidate, the candidate to beat. It was that spirit of voluntarism that carried him through the campaign despite his rivals’ more massive funds and organization. It was that spirit of voluntarism that made him win.

Music was part of that spirit of voluntarism, and Rock the Vote was part of that music.

Of course, afterward the politicians would claim the credit for everything, notwithstanding that up to the 11th hour, many of them still thought the tandem should have been RoxasAquino and not the other way around. Indeed, notwithstanding that up till the 11th hour most of them could not see the value of Edsa and what it represented, which was quite literally people power, the power of the people and, in the context of the elections, the power of the vote.

In an election that’s back to being resolutely traditional, or trapo, which

catches the spirit of it more potently, it’s good to see attempts—however seemingly belated, however seemingly desperate, however seemingly suntok sa buwan— to at least remind people that they matter, they can change things, they can determine the shape of things to come. They did so with P-Noy. The once impossible dream has become today’s very possible aspirations.

I don’t just believe in music, I believe in the people, I believe in the power of the people, I believe in people power.

That is what Rock the Vote means to keep alive, that is what Rock the Vote means to reawaken. “Hindi pa tapos ang laban” is its mantra, and it is worth chanting. The fight is not over, it has barely begun.

I don’t know why Rock the Vote shouldn’t go past the vote, or past elections, to become something of a “Rock the Nation,” aiming to bring the people to bear in daily life, aiming to make the people take part in their own governance, aiming to make the people govern. The voices of the people shouldn’t just be heard in picking their governors, it should be heard in their continuing memos to them to do what is right. They are the Boss after all.

But that’s another story. That’s another column.

That’s another, well, song. Of the heart.

strictly speaking. But neither has there been any clear and sustained effort on the part of government to create the conditions that would end the export of labor. We are at the mercy of a culture that has forged a strong nexus between overseas employment and mindless consumerism.

As we drown ourselves in the culture of unbridled consumption, a counterculture is fast taking shape in the developed world. The virtues it promotes are those of frugality and sufficiency. Instead of throwing away things, people are encouraged to repair and recycle them. This has an impact on economic growth. There will be no more of the kind of growth that was fueled by the sheer expansion of credit. Many people have lost their jobs because of the crisis. The bright side is that this is forcing them to scale back their lifestyles to what is sufficient and rediscover the benefits of sharing.

To bring this up at this point, when international credit rating agencies are heaping platitudinous praises on our rising economy, may seem like raining on one’s parade. But it is better that we know where most of the countries that are economically in trouble today came from. Not too long ago, they were the darlings of these same agencies. In their

heyday, they attracted large infusions of foreign capital, which in turn set off a cycle of boundless debt-driven consumption and promoted a false sense of prosperity. We must avoid the path they took.

This is what has been largely missing in the campaign for the 2013 elections—a serious debate on desirable strategies for achieving national prosperity. We have been treated to endless mantras about free public education, stable jobs, lower prices, lower taxes, etc. I have yet to hear anyone talk about the need for frugality and sharing—in the light of our limited resources and the scandalous disparities in wealth and income that divide our people. Everyone seems to accept the primacy of economic growth as a national goal, with little regard for the environmental consequences. Everyone seems to concede that the ultimate goal of every Filipino is to earn as much money as possible to be able to satisfy desires that the market itself incessantly creates.

We talk of the need to radically change our way of life. Elections should be the occasion for discussing what exactly needs changing, why, and how we can all take part in the effort. *** public.lives@gmail.com

PUBLIC LIVES

Prosperity without growth

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer THE RISE in the number of unemployed Filipinos in the midst of economic growth has made our government officials take a serious look at the current economic strategy. This pattern of jobless growth partly explains why the level of mass poverty in our country has remained unchanged even as the economy seems to be growing.

These concerns highlight certain values that have gained slow acceptance over the years. One, that it is important for people to have meaningful work, because it is by work that a human being realizes his/her potential. Two, that growth is empty unless it is shared or made “inclusive,” to use a term in vogue. To these I would add that we should begin to aim not for growth per se but for prosperity.

The word “prosperity” is not limited to the attainment of material wealth or economic success. Indeed, it connotes a general condition of wellbeing synonymous to “flourishing” or “thriving.” Hence, it cannot be equated with mere economic growth as measured by the expansion of the gross domestic product. A country can dramatically increase its GDP by merely extracting more natural resources, like

oil or mineral ore, from the ground.

It can harvest all the available marine life from its waters using the most sophisticated technology. It can cut its remaining forests and export timber, or lease out its agricultural lands to other countries so the latter can do intensive farming to produce food for their own people. All these will definitely raise the GDP, but we cannot call the result prosperity.

When a nation undermines its capacity to thrive in its own environment over the long term—as when it poisons its rivers, degrades its soil, and pollutes the air—then we can say it is taking the road to misery rather than prosperity.

Clearly, there is a sense in which the blind pursuit of economic growth works against the goal of prosperity.

Economists have characterized our economic growth in the last few years as being mainly consumption-driven.

This should not have been an issue were it not for the fact that what is driving consumption is not a corresponding increase in agricultural or industrial production, but the sheer growth in remittances from our overseas workers.

Year after year since the early 1970s, we have been sending out more people to work abroad. The money they earn and regularly remit to their families in the Philippines could fund an

industrialization program several times over. Instead, it has gone to paying for the imported goods that fill our gigantic shopping malls. Indeed, these malls create jobs for a large number of people. But this has put us in a vicious cycle. Today the only way to sustain the business of these malls is by deploying more overseas workers.

We need not refer here to the

We are at the mercy of a culture that has forged a strong nexus between overseas employment and mindless consumerism. number of studies that have been done showing the adverse social and psychological effects of migration on families, particularly on the children left behind. These are treated as social costs, the price that families must pay for the chance to give their children the quality education they need to get out of the cycle of poverty. It has also been argued that the freedom to work abroad is a concomitant of the right to travel, and that the government has no deliberate policy to push people to find work abroad. That may be true,

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Opinion

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

17

AS I SEE IT

Don’t vote for members of political dynasties

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer IT IS exactly one week to election day but many voters, believe it or not, are still not certain whom to vote for, judging from the many queries I and fellow journalists get. It is really difficult to choose the right candidates for next Monday’s elections because of the general lack of qualifications and the abundance of factors that disqualify many of them, or at least make them not worthy of our votes.

The first advice I can give to voters is not to vote for members of political dynasties. Our political system, government, and society have sunk so low because of political dynasties. Families now control the life of most cities, towns, provinces and Congress—so much like medieval Europe when it was ruled by warlords with their own fiefdoms. That is the reason Europe declined during the Middle Ages, with warlords fighting one another and squeezing their own people for more and more taxes and labor. Robin Hood is just a legendary figure, but he was the role model for many leaders who rose in revolt against the warlords.

The Philippines had its share of local revolts against the Spanish colonial government (Dagohoy, Diego and Gabriela Silang, etc.) before Andres Bonifacio launched the nationwide 1896

revolution. We should all launch a new revolution, not with violence but with our votes, by voting down the political dynasties that have run amuck for next week’s elections, no doubt to beat the constitutional ban on dynasties, for which an implementing law is surely to come from future congresses.

Almost all the senatorial candidates of the two main political coalitions are members of political dynasties.

The only nondynasty candidate in the Team PNoy senatorial slate are Loren Legarda, Risa Hontiveros, Jamby Madrigal and Antonio Trillanes— only four out of 12 candidates. In the United Nationalist Alliance ticket there are only Greg Honasan and Migz Zubiri, two out of nine. All the rest are members of political dynasties.

Grace Poe and Mitos Magsaysay belong to a gray area. While Grace has no relative already in or running for public office, the way she unabashedly uses her father’s name (the great Fernando Poe Jr.) and her mother Susan Roces in her campaign speeches, commercials, advertisements, tarpaulin and posters, and flyers is tantamount to using a Poe dynasty.

As for Mitos, while she carries the name Magsaysay, she is not one by blood but only by marriage. And she is not pushing the Magsaysay dynasty of Zambales,

she is actually fighting it. She is running against Ramon “Jun” Magsaysay, son and namesake of The Guy. So whom should we vote for?

Choose from among the independent candidates. They are reform-minded and have fresh ideas. While the opinion polls give them poor chances of winning, they can really win if enough voters switch their votes from the dynasties to some of the independents.

So who am I endorsing to the voters?

Families now control the life of most cities, towns, provinces and Congress—so much like medieval Europe when it was ruled by warlords with their own fiefdoms.

I am urging the voters to vote for the following and why: 1. Loren Legarda. (Don’t believe the black propaganda against her.) She does not have any relative already in or running for public office. What’s more, she is an environmentalist.

2. Risa Hontiveros. Not a dynasty member, she is also against the pork barrel and Charter change.

3. Teddy Casiño. Reform-minded, he

is sincere in his advocacy of measures that would improve the lives of the masses. Hounded by the “Red tag,” he admits to being a leftist but insists he is not a communist and does not take orders from Joma Sison. He is also against the pork barrel and Cha-cha.

4. JC de los Reyes. While he admits to being a relative of former senator Richard Gordon (his mother is a sister of Gordon), he insists he is against political dynasties. What’s more, he is a candidate of Ang Kapatiran Party whose platform is against dynasties, the pork barrel, Cha-cha; and he is for gun control, a measure we sorely need if we have to defeat the culture of violence now engulfing the land.

5. Bro. Eddie Villanueva. While he is still hazy on the issue of pork barrel and Cha-cha, perhaps we need a man of God in the Senate, although I don’t understand why the Catholic Church, the Iglesia Ni Cristo and Bro. Mike Velarde are not endorsing him.

Not a long list, I admit, but you don’t have to fill up all 12 slots in the ballot.

The other names will only reduce the vote advantage of your candidates. But if you want to add more, choose from the ranks of non-dynasty members. *** Political dynasties are infinitely worse in the provinces. Almost all

provinces, cities and municipalities have political dynasties, some with two or more, leaving voters with very little choice. If such is the case, don’t vote for any of them even if they have shaken your hand or have posed for pictures with you. They may still win, but the dearth of votes will tell them that the people do not want them.

By all means do not vote for members of the Jalosjos clan in the provinces, cities and municipalities of the Zamboanga peninsula. Not content with controlling their own bailiwick, the clan, headed by convicted child rapist Romeo Jalosjos, is spreading its dirty tentacles all over the peninsula. Don’t let a child rapist rule you.

Do not vote for the budding Pacquiao dynasty in Saranggani. Manny Pacquiao, banking on his popularity and money, is fielding his wife Jinkee and brother for local positions. Their only qualification is that they belong to Manny’s family circle. If you don’t stop them now, you will soon have Mommy Dionisia as the Dancing QueenGovernor of Saranggani.

Manny may be a boxing champion, but as a congressman, he is definitely a disappointment. Congress is not a boxing arena; it is a legislature that needs ideas.

There are many more political dynasties all over our poor land. Vote them all out of existence.

communist-run state.” Some sought redress from abuse. Most struggled for rights to land and humane living conditions.

Some guerrilla groups, in recent years, peddled protection in exchange for cash and other payoffs. “Customers” range from corporations, gambling and drug syndicates, government agencies and large landowners, the PHDR notes.

Rebels torched an AlterTrade truck, blocked its exports of sugar and bananas, after the Bacolod company bucked a P30-million “tax.” In the Bontoc peninsula, members of the New People’s Army backed landlords who coughed up “taxes, instead of defending farmers,” wrote the INQUIRER’S Solita Monsod. Viewpoint dubbed this drill as “Have gun, will travel.”

There’s no mention of a “permit-tocampaign fee” in the NPA apology for its attack on 78year-old Gingoog Mayor Ruth de Lara-Guingona and companions, wrote the INQUIRER’S Randy David.

“But that is what this is about.” Indeed, the Guingona assault came at an NPA roadblock collecting “revolutionary taxes,” the INQUIRER’S Conrad de Quiros pointed out. “The NPA calls it tax, everybody else calls it extortion.”

These unelected collectors fleece “taxes” wherever their guns reach. They decide who to clip, how much, when and how. They make no financial reports.

“Taxpayers” have no say on how their pockets are to be picked. Dissenters are clobbered with truck burning, equipment wrecking, even salvaging.

Time and history meanwhile moved on.

Despite a Manila May 1 rally displaying posters of Marx, Stalin and Mao, communism is in history’s dustbin. “It is glorious to be rich,” Deng Xiaoping said.

Aging rebel leaders Jose Maria Sison and Luis Jalandoni (a Dutch citizen) wage a “people’s war” by fax, Internet and Twitter from the comfortable ramparts of Holland.

Why not from North Korea? critics snipe.

The National Democratic Front’s contact with, let alone control over, NPA units in backwaters here is tenuous and crumbling. The loot from “permits to campaign” are not shared. The collapse of peace negotiations means the CPP remains black-balled in the roster of terrorist organizations kept by the European Union, United States, and allies.

The compelling tutor is contrast. Step by painful step, into plough shares by the MILF and the government. There are fewer widows. Evacuees are returning, farms cleared of mines, and kids flock to school.

That, too, can be within reach for the CPP—only if it moves beyond yesterday’s apparatchiks and today’s hammer-and-sickle bagmen out for lagay.

(E-mail: juan_mercado77@yahoo. com)

VIEWPOINT

Yesterday’s ‘apparatchiks’

By Juan L. Mercado Philippine Daily Inquirer CONTRAST IS a compelling tutor.

Compare the track records of talks for peace by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Communist Party of the Philippines. Both were intractable insurgencies.

In Sultan Kudarat, the MILF, World Bank and United Nations signed “Fasttrac,” or “Facility for Advisory Support for Transition Capacities.”

Based in Cotabato City, this threeyear project will pool skills, training, research and expertise for the MILF and the government. That’s needed in dismantling the flawed Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

In the ARMM’s place, they’ll cobble Bangsamoro in southern Philippines.

The priority agenda item is to craft a “basic law” that embodies the aspirations of communities across the new body, noted MILF chair Al Haj Murad. “Fasttrac” follows President Aquino’s creation of a Transition Commission in December 2012. The commission is now fully staffed.

These steps stanched the bloodshed.

Over 150,000 died in Mindanao fighting.

Conflict gutted the island’s potential to be the nation’s breadbasket. “We must learn to live together as brothers,”

Martin Luther King wrote. “Or we are all going to perish together as fools.”

In contrast, the bid to end the 44-yearold communist insurgency has collapsed.

U-turns by the National Democratic Front “killed” the Netherlands talks, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said.

NDF leaders proposed, in December 2012, a “special track”: a draft declaration on peace without preconditions. But last February, the NDF jettisoned its own initiative. Instead, it lobbed in three new documents. It’d backpedal into the old “regular track,” which has been floundering for over 27 years now.

The government should free detained consultants, the NDF demanded. In addition, programs like Pamana, Oplan Bayanihan, plus the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program should be scrapped.

The CCT will bail out 3.5 million poor families this year, the World Bank reports. These grants allow kids to stay in school (96 percent attend classes) and get health checkups, etc. Seven out of 10 mothers have medical attention.

Now, the commissars in Utrecht would dump these kids and moms.

“Are we talking to the right people?” wondered government negotiator Alex Padilla. Do local communist leaders agree?

Or is there a disconnect between communist leaders here and those half a world away?

The President thus seeks a “new

approach.” The government may instead pursue localized peace. It wants “time-bound and agendabound” talks.

That’d enlist the help of local leaders and civil society groups.

The CPP fielded 26,000 armed men at its peak. “People Power” reforms here, party internal purges and sleaze interlocked with the collapse of communism worldwide. These whittled

Despite a Manila May 1 rally displaying posters of Marx, Stalin and Mao, communism is in history’s dustbin. down the rebels to less than 4,000 today...

The party “withered and splintered,” Australian National University’s Benedict J. Tria Kerkvliet wrote in the Philippine Human Development Report (PHDR). Ideological quarrels and policy disagreements, after Edsa I toppled Marcos’ dictatorship, “contributed to splits and splitswithin-splits. These persisted into the 2000s.”

Studies in Mindanao, Negros, Nueva Ecija and the Cordillera found that most guerrillas and supporters “have neither been CPP members … nor seekers of a

www.canadianinquirer.net

News-Phils

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 18

FPJ’s parental... is for the industry to selfregulate, how can you do that if you’ve never started giving public information on what classification is?” Poe asked.

The candidate fought for a standard advisory system that familiarizes the viewer about the qualities of programs with SPG or PG (parental guidance) classification.

Children need to be taught to discern and parents help by being critical in their choice of viewing if the kids are to be good thinkers.

She gladly reported that netizens in particular are the first to complain when a program is not given an accurate classification before it is aired.

“People see the classification and they recognize what it is.

Netizens can recognize or question when a PG program should have been SPG (because) it’s too violent. That’s what’s happening now. A telenovela cannot have the same classification as a live ❰❰ 14

basketball game,” Poe said.

Behind the scene

The candidate said she was surprised when President Aquino offered her to chair the MTRCB after his swearing-in.

“My mom was actually happy [when I told her about the appointment]. Maybe because it’s an industry she’s familiar with and she feels I understand it,” Poe said.

Poe may not have pursued the acting career she had dreamt of as a child but the many hats her father donned as a movie insider gave her the vicarious training that became essential for the MTRCB posting. (It is a little known fact that the younger Poe acted as the daughter of Paquito Diaz in one movie and the neighbor of Max Alvarado in another.)

“I’ve been in the background; I saw the perspective of a producer trying to come up with capital and maintaining employees. I’ve also seen the creative challenges of having a director and an actor

in a film. And instead of bedtime stories, my dad would read to me his screenplays,” she recalled.

“I wasn’t really meant for show business. Dad broke it to me gently, hinting that my talents lay somewhere else,” she said.

Her talent scout

As it happened, President Aquino turned out to be a good talent scout. It helped that Poe was also thinking of leveling up in the pubic service game.

Mr. Aquino, she said, was hesitant about getting her aboard given the trauma of her father’s own foray, the pressure of a national campaign and the rigors of politics.

“The President has been very up-front. ‘You know what, Grace, you really have to like it, otherwise it is not worth it,’” she recalled him saying.

“He also went through it and given that he is also the son of very famous parents… he said [becoming a senator is] a chance

to serve. We talked it over several times,” Poe added.

Her mother had only one thing to say when told of the President’s offer: “Don’t lose yourself or your principles.”

A very early survey conducted mid-2012 on possible Senate candidates for the 2013 elections showed her at No. 28. It did not help that she was listed as “Mary Grace P. Llamanzares.”

Only after Poe was officially announced as part of Team PNoy did the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) decide to adopt her as a candidate.

When Poe and two other adopted Team PNoy candidates— Senators Loren Legarda and Francis Escudero—failed to show up in UNA rallies, they were dropped from the opposition lineup.

Poe admitted that the tension brought about by that period got to her. But she remains thankful to UNA stalwarts Vice President Jejomar Binay, former President

Joseph Estrada and his sons, Senator Jinggoy and San Juan Rep. JV, who promised to support her on a personal capacity.

Poe said President Aquino “did not have any negative pronouncements about the UNA endorsement.”

Isolated incident

Operations suspended

Osmeña, Escudero

She and Escudero toured the country to campaign separately from the Team PNoy posse.

Recently, the President’s sister, Kris, joined the two in provincial rallies.

Poe said Sen. Sergio Osmeña, who subscribes to the survey firm Pulse Asia, studies the areas where she is “strong” or “weak” and plots her visits to these areas.

She added that Osmeña and Escudero are indispensable to her campaign. To date, Poe is No. 3 in the latest Pulse Asia survey and shares No. 10-11 with reelectionist Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in the last Social Weather Station report. ■

Mayon explosion... caught in the middle of hot rock slide following phreatic, or steam-driven, explosion around 8 a.m.

The fatalities were Jerome Berin, a Filipino guide; and German nationals Joanne Edosa, Roland Pietieze, Farah Frances and Furean Stilfer, according to the Albay Public Safety, Emergency and Management Office. ❰❰ 1

6-km danger zone

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has maintained that Mayon was in no danger of erupting even as it reminded the public not to venture into a six-kilometer permanent danger zone.

Steam or phreatic eruption is normal for active volcanos like Mayon. It was just unfortunate that there were mountain climbers near the crater when the volcano spewed ash and steam at the time, said Phivolcs head Renato Solidum.

All the fatalities belonged to a group of 12—three men and two women from Germany and Austria—and seven local guides, including Berin and Mabao. They set off from

Barangay (village) Bonga, Bacacay, in the trek organized

by Bicol Adventure Tours on Monday.

A Thai tourist, who reportedly got separated from his group, was rescued around 4 p.m. They went up the volcano on Monday from Lidong, Sto. Domingo.

Another man and a woman, both Thais, were also injured.

They were supposed to descend also on Monday evening but failed to do so when some of them got lost along the trail.

“That was even before the eruption. So they ended up spending the night there until the eruption this morning when they totally lost contact with each other,” said Fire Officer 1 Mark Cirunay of the Albay Bureau of Fire.

Their Filipino tour guides, Bernard Hernandez and Alex Balunzo, stayed together and were able to descend before noon Tuesday, Cirunay said in a phone interview from the incident command post in Sto. Domingo.

Thai survivors

At past 1 p.m., rescuers were able to bring down Thailanders Tanut Ruchipiyarak, 26, and

Mithi Ruangpisit, 26. Both had bruises and scratches and were taken to the hospital in Daraga town.

Three more Thai nationals from the group were trapped on the Mayon slopes. They were identified only as Udom, Boochai and Bendjanas. As of 4 p.m., Cirunay said rescuers were able to locate the three at Camp 2, some 1,200 meters from the foot of the volcano.

“It takes three hours to walk from the base camp to Camp 1 and another two hours to reach Camp 2,” Cirunay said.

Rescuers were on their way to fetch the Thailanders, but there was hardly any radio or phone signal, making communication with the base camp difficult, Cirunay added.

“It is also raining hard up there,” he said.

Maria Ravanilla, regional director of the Department of Tourism, said the four German climbers were not cleared to climb the country’s most active volcano.

She said climbs to Mayon had been allowed because the volcano had been placed on alert level 0 by Phivolcs, meaning there is no imminent volcanic activity. www.canadianinquirer.net

“This is an isolated incident that should not be blamed on Phivolcs as steam explosions are unpredictable,” said Ravanilla in a phone interview.

All tourism activities within the six-kilometer permanent danger zone around the volcano were suspended following the incident. Ravanilla said activities would resume upon the advice of Phivolcs.

Cedric Daep of the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office said the fatalities would be retrieved on Wednesday. He said heavy rains hampered the retrieval operation.

Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum, in a statement said the explosion was phreatic, or steam-driven.

Ashfall was reported in the town of Oas and Ligao City, both in Albay, but residents said the effects were negligible.

George Cordovilla, the lead guide for the Bicol Adventure group, said his nine-member group started their climb from Lidong at 4 p.m. on Monday.

“We reached the crater at 1 a.m., spent the night there and were about 1,400 feet away from the crater when it exploded,” he said.

Authorities suspended rescue and retrieval operations later in the evening.

The retrieval of the fatalities would be done Wednesday, Nunez said. “It would be hard for the search team to move at night, as it is also raining hard in the area.”

Mayon has erupted 40 times. In 2010, thousands of residents were moved to temporary shelters when the volcano ejected ash up to eight kilometers from the crater.

Solidum said no alert was raised after the latest eruption and no evacuation was planned.

Following the incident, President Aquino sought a clarification from local officials on the parameters in Mayon’s danger zone, Malacañang said. “They’re in charge of enforcing it to make sure that nobody gets hurt,” said Abigail Valte, deputy presidential spokesperson. ■ With reports from Maricar Cinco, Mar Arguelles and Jonas Soltes, Inquirer Southern Luzon, and DJ Yap, TJ Burgonio and Marlon Ramos in Manila

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

19

Canada News Census replacement to portray patterns of immigration, aboriginals and religion

BY HEATHER SCOFFIELD The Canadian Press OTTAWA—Canada is about to find out how colourful a country it is. Just how vibrant the colours will be, however— well, that’s another story.

On Wednesday, Statistics Canada will publish the first part of its controversial National Household Survey, detailing patterns of immigration, Aboriginal Peoples, race and religion.

The first-of-its-kind voluntary survey, which compiles responses from more than three million people, replaces the cancelled long-form census. And even Statistics Canada itself has admitted it won’t match the detailed, neighbourhood-level information of its mandatory predecessor.

Nonetheless, it’s expected to offer a sophisticated and up-to-date look at the cultural mosaic that has become synonymous with the Canadian identity.

On immigration, the new data should be able to show where Canada’s newcomers came from, what language they speak, and where they settled.

In the last census, immigration was increasingly from Asia, rather than Europe. And while most immigrants settled in the big cities, smaller centres were getting their share too.

Will those trends continue? Have visible minorities actually become majorities in Canada’s big cities?

NEWS BRIEFS WEEKEND CRASHES AROUND B.C. KILL SIX, INCLUDING PREGNANT ATV RIDER VANCOUVER—An ATV crash near Clucluz Lake, 40 kilometres southeast of Vanderhoof, B.C., has killed a woman who was six months pregnant. RCMP say the woman was pinned under the all-terrain vehicle on Saturday afternoon when it flipped. The death was one of six in five separate weekend incidents across the province, including collisions in Kelowna and Saanich that killed motorcyclists. The Canadian Press MAN CHARGED IN FATAL SHOOTING OUTSIDE METRO VANCOUVER SHOPPING MALL APRIL 29

PHOTO BY ROBERT CHURCHILL

“We’re actually eagerly awaiting (the survey). Because part of understanding the mosaic on the ground is from looking at this data,” said Khim Tan, manager of settlement services for MOSAIC, a nonprofit organization that helps newcomers integrate into Vancouver.

Tan is constantly anticipating where the next wave of newcomers will come from, what languages they will be speaking, what skills and resources they have and where they will likely settle in the Vancouver area.

The demographics are in constant flux, said Tan, but the National Household Survey should give her solid data to back up anecdotal evidence. She said she sees a rising tide of Filipinos, but fewer Koreans

and people from Hong Kong. And she sees more and more newcomers moving straight to the suburb of Surrey instead of the more-established Richmond, where housing has become less affordable.

Tan will be watching closely on Wednesday to see if those trends are well-entrenched or on the wane so that she can design programs accordingly.

On a national scale, the details of the NHS are crucial in dealing with what Brian Lee Crowley believes is Canada’s biggest challenge: population aging.

The only way Canada’s economy can overcome the effects of an aging workforce is to better include people ❱❱ PAGE 20 Census replacement

MAPLE RIDGE, B.C.—A 29-year-old man has been arrested in Metro Vancouver’s latest brazen shooting. Sgt. Jennifer Pound of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team says Edward Antonsen is charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of 26-year-old Claude Deguire. He was gunned down in the parking lot of a busy shopping centre in Maple Ridge on April 29.

Pound says his killing was the result of a drug deal gone wrong. The Canadian Press NDP’S DIX CALLS LIBERALS OFFENSIVE, MISLEADING, BUT SAYS HIS CAMPAIGN STILL POSITIVE SURREY, B.C.—As polls show the B.C. election race tightening, New Democrat Leader Adrian Dix is becoming more strident in his criticism of the Liberals, saying Christy Clark’s campaign tactics are offensive and misleading. He says the Liberals have turned public education into a wedge issue that has hurt children over the 12 years in government. Dix says he finds it offensive the Liberals have done nothing to help suffering children during their years in government. The Canadian Press

Canada News

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 20

Canadian Medical Mission Society (CMMS) 2013 Mission to Mindanao

BY EVELYN C. MAYUGA

Sincerely, Hon. Jason Kenney, PC, MP

IT took eight months to prepare for the Canadian Medical Mission Society’s (CMMS) outreach endeavour in Mindanao. The community effort culminated in two successful weeks of medicalaudiology-dental-surgical missions in General Santos City, South Cotabato, and Sarangani in Mindanao, Philippines.

The team left Vancouver on February 09, 2013 with surgical and dental equipment, supplies, medications and one purpose: to offer a helping hand to indigent Mindanaoans faced with critical health concerns.

Although everyone in the team was excited to do charitable work, they also bore reservations about going to these parts of Mindanao for the first time. Many had received caution about possible risks to their safety because of reported crimes in the region. However, the desire to contribute in alleviating the health challenges that the poor suffered from was more overwhelming.

The mission team forged on and on February 11, they landed in Manila after a 14-hour flight and then boarded another domestic flight for their final destination.

On the first week of December

warned that some groups may be under-represented in the new survey.

In particular, Aboriginal Peoples — especially status Indians — as well as black people were expected to be less responsive than other groups.

The agency says it has tried to compensate for any bias in the data.

Even so, understanding the dynamics of the aboriginal population is the basis for developing policy that will deal with the social issues that undermine so many aboriginal communities, says Ovide Mercredi, a former national chief.

While it’s fine for governments to look to natural resource development as a practical way to draw aboriginal people

into productive employment, Mercredi said governments — including First Nations leaders — also have to deal at the same time with overcrowding, addictions and low levels of education that impede the progress of youth.

The survey this week only scratches the surface in those areas, but the trends are well-established and well-known, he added.

“What is needed is a master plan.”

On religion, the survey is expected to illustrate whether Canadians continue to turn their backs on religion, and whether increasing immigration has fuelled the growth of an increasingly diverse fabric of faith.

Detailed comparisons with the past will be difficult,

Statement: Kenney on appointment of Coroza, first Filipino-Canadian judge in Superior Court Friends, On April 26, 2013, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announced new judicial appointments in Ontario. Justice Steve Coroza became the first ever Filipino Canadian Judge appointed to the Ontario Superior Court.

The Honourable Steve A. Coroza, a judge of the Ontario Court of Justice in St. Catharines, is appointed a judge of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Brampton) to replace Madam Justice N.M. Mossip, who elected to become a supernumerary judge as of July 8, 2013. This

appointment is effective July 8, 2013.

Mr. Justice Coroza was appointed to the Ontario Court of Justice in 2009. He received a bachelor of laws from University of Windsor Law School in 1995 and was admitted to the Bar of Ontario in 1997. He also completed a master of laws degree at Osgoode Hall Law School in 2003.

Prior to his appointment, Justice Coroza was a senior counsel with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada from 1998 to 2009, and prior to that was staff duty counsel for Ontario Legal Aid in Toronto, where his main area of

Census replacement... who are being marginalized, such as youth, aboriginal people and immigrants, said Crowley, the managing director of the Ottawabased Macdonald-Laurier Institute think-tank.

The more Canadian leaders know about these groups, the easier it will be to pull them into productive employment, he added.

“It’s going to be terribly important to find ways to get them integrated into the workforce.”

Aboriginal Peoples are traditionally the fastest growing segment of Canada’s population, and most analysts assume that ❰❰ 19

trend has continued over the past five years.

But those numbers have to be treated with care, said Doug Norris, chief demographer at Environics Analytics and a former senior census official at Statistics Canada.

That’s because bursts of aboriginal population growth in the past have partly been linked to more people coming forward to declare their aboriginal heritage.

Plus, some bands have many members who refuse to fill out government surveys — in protest and for fear the information will be turned against them.

Indeed, Statistics Canada has

practice was criminal law.

Mr. Justice Coroza was a member of the Federation of Asian Canadian Lawyers. He was an instructor for the Bar Admission Course (2001-2009), a part-time instructor at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology (2004-2007), and an instructor of the Trial Practice Course and Trial Advocacy Workshop at Osgoode Hall Law School where he is currently an adjunct professor. He is also the co-author of a publication entitled Sentencing Drug Offenders.

www.canadianinquirer.net

2012, the team sorted out and packed medical, dental and surgical supplies which were shipped ahead to the Mindanao Medical Center (MMC). The MMC, a privatelyowned tertiary hospital, was the base of the CMMS mission. Upon the team’s arrival, the first task was to unpack 21 Balikbayan boxes to set up supplies needed for the various services that started on February 12.

The local DSWD worked tirelessly in screening indigent patients who benefitted from the range of medical-dental-surgical services performed by the Canadian Medical Mission Society. The team attended to over 1,200 patients with 60 major surgeries and 118 minor surgeries that included thyroidectomy, mastoidectomy, nasal polypectomy, tympanoplasty, parotidectomy, cleft lip repair, fibroma excision, and lipaectomy; 1,180 dental extractions from 712 patients and 206 dental restorations, and 175 audiology screening and hearing tests. There were a total of 88 hearing aids dispensed to patients with a six-month supply of batteries provided. The hearing aids were donated by audiology suppliers from Canada and through Health Partners International (Canada), Natrapharm, Inc. (Phil.), ❱❱ PAGE 46 Canadian Medical

warned Norris: the last census questions on religion were in 2001. Protestantism was on the decline, while Catholicism was rising. Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism and Buddhism were also on the increase.

Generally, while the trends are largely expected to continue, the survey is already attracting unprecedented scrutiny, mainly because of the methodological issues that stem from replacing a mandatory census with a voluntary survey.

“No one has really tried it. It’s been a big experiment,” said Norris.

“It’s going to tell us what the impact is going to be of carrying out a census on a voluntary basis.” ■

World News

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

21

Filipina nurse among 5 killed in bridal party tragedy

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer DETAILS of the recent tragedy involving a limousine which burst into flames on its way to a bridal party in the San Francisco Bay Area on Saturday night, May 4, revealed that one of the five victims—the newly-wed bride, in fact—was a Filipina.

Thirty one-year-old Neriza Fojas—a registered nurse at the Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno— had recently gotten married, and was on her way to a hotel in Foster City to celebrate with her husband and friends when the rented Lincoln Town car they were riding suddenly caught fire on the San MateoHayward Bridge.

Fojas and four other women perished in fire, while four other friends and the driver were able to escape.

Witnesses said the blaze started from the back of the car, and engulfed the vehicle within a matter of just less than two minutes.

The driver, Orville Brown, quickly pulled over, and was able to assist four women out of the limo partition before the fire completely consumed the car. Motorists stopped to help, as well, but were unable to assist Fojas and the others still trapped in the vehicle.

One of the women tried to open the back door, but was overwhelmed by flames.

“I figured with all that fire that they were gone, man,” Brown said. “There were just so many flames. Within maybe 90 seconds, the car was fully engulfed.”

Brown recalls that he heard one of the women banging on the partition complaining of smelling smoke, but he didn’t understand what she was trying to say.

“They had the music up in the back, and I figured she was asking, ‘Can I smoke?’” told the San Francisco Chronicle.

“I said, ‘The owner doesn’t

allow smoking in the car, and we only have four minutes to the destination.’”

Shortly after that, however, the women banged on the partition again. Brown rolled it down, only to hear them screaming “smoke, smoke” and “pull over!”

Firefighters who extinguished the blaze encountered a gruesome and tragic scenario: the bodies of Fojas and her four friends all desperately trying to escape through the partition.

All five women were frantically trying to find a way out.

“My guess would be they were trying to get away from the fire and use that window opening as an escape route,” San Mateo County Coroner Robert Foucrault told the Associated Press.

Meanwhile, in a news conference held on Monday, May 6, California Highway Patrol Capt. Mike Maskarich told reporters that in accordance with the state Public Utilities Commission, the limousine should have only been carrying eight or fewer passengers, but there were nine passengers on board the vehicle. It is still uncertain whether or not the extra passenger had any implications on the deaths of the five women.

The four women who escaped were treated at area hospitals, where two remain in critical condition. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although criminal activity has been ruled out All of the women involved in the incident were nursing colleagues (several were also fellow-Filipinas) who were there to celebrate Fojas’ recent nuptial in the U.S. She was planning to make a trip back home to the Philippines to have another wedding ceremony with her family.

On the other hand, the driver of the limo—despite his many years of experience as a commercial driver—is so traumatized; he is now considering quitting his profession. ■

ABOVE: Firefighters investigate what remains of a limousine that burst into flames as it was heading to a bridal party in California on Saturday night. Five women on board, including the bride, were killed.

PHOTO FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS

Beautiful, 31-year-old newly-wed Filipina, Neriza Fojas, pictured in one of her Facebook photos. The registered nurse was killed in a tragic turn of events, when the limo they rented to go to her bridal party burst into flames on the San Mateo Bridge in California last Saturday night.

ABOVE: A photo of the limo bursting into flames; uploaded to Twitter . Witnesses said smoke was emitting from the rear of the limo as it crossed the San Mateo Bridge.

Although the driver immediately pulled over, the blaze had already engulfed the rear end of the stretch limousine.

PHOTO FROM TWITTER

www.canadianinquirer.net

Immigration

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 22

Question: How Can I Succeed in Statement—Minister Canada as a New Immigrant?

Kenney Commends RCMP for Citizenship Fraud Investigation

Motivational speaker Nick Noorani with the author.

BY NOEL TRINIDAD

SkillsConnect of ISSofBC hosted a seminar last April 24, 2013 at the Old Navy Community Room in Metropolis, Metrotown. The topic was “7 Secrets of Success for Canadian Immigrants,” featuring a wellknown entrepreneur, author, and motivational speaker. Nick Noorani—once a struggling immigrant from India—talked about the secrets to success.

Here they are: 1. Learn the Language.

Don’t be content that you know the English language; once must speak, read, listen to English at least eight hours a day. Take accent reduction courses or even advanced business English language courses, if needed be.

You need a strong command of the language to communicate so practice, practice, practice. Listen to CBC radio (6:90 AM)—it’s a great way to familiarize yourself with Canadian English.

2. Stay Positive. Living a new life in a new country is not easy. There will be struggles, difficulties—a result of CHANGE. Negative thoughts are a virus, contagious and will always be present—these are things you can’t avoid BUT what you do with the negative spells the difference in how you handle change. One needs to identify the negative people around you— get rid of them, avoid them! An antidote to one negative person—

meet five positive ones! Mingle with them, talk and chat with them, BE with them and always wear a smile.

3. Embrace Canada.

Migrating to Canada is an informed decision, it is a choice.

Live with it and Learn from it. Embracing Canada means learning about your NEW country.

Do not be a stranger—learn the history, participate in federal, civic and provincial activities, involve yourself in politics.

Participate in the celebrations, e.g. Canada Day (July 1).

4. Plan B. Always have a Plan B. It’s OK to continue your life and career here, as is, in Canada—this is Plan A, your comfort zone. But give yourself a time table. When things are not going as initially planned, re-think your career, identify transferable skills, research latest career options, develop an action plan, stick with it and prepare to make the change. When to change to Plan B? Only you can determine the time.

5. Move out of your Ethnic Circles. This is not to abandon your own culture, but much as we want to stick with our ethnic circles, most often than not gatherings within these circles proved to be a venue for complaints and negative thoughts. Create an opportunity to make Canadian friends, expand your circles. “Make friends not from where they are from but from where they are going.”

6. Take

Risks.

Always

allow yourself to take some risks.

There are three aspects of being an immigrant—(1) getting a job; (2) keeping it; (3) growing with it; and in each of these aspects one needs to take risk, moving away from your comfort zone, learning other things you can do and not being afraid to explore opportunities and possibilities.

7. The last secret has 3 components: a. Volunteer—a way to gain the Canadian experience, where you can practice English and where you can gain friends and stay positive. b.

Mentorship—tap into government funded agencies that help new immigrants build their future here in Canada i.e.

ISSofBC, Mosaic; areas where you are paired with a mentor in the same field and which can guide your way to establishing a career in this new country. c. Networking—an approach to tap the hidden Canadian job market where connections and referrals lead you to opportunities.

So, in summary, there are really no secrets. It’s all but common sense that we need to make use of in order to reach that Canadian dream. We are living the dream, we ARE in Canada. ■

OTTAWA—The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, made the following statement on May 2 following news that the RCMP have arrested and charged a former citizenship judge, an immigration consultant, and the employee of an immigration consultant: “I applaud the RCMP for their diligent work on this case and for sending a clear message that those who engage in citizenship fraud will be caught and feel the full strength of the law.

“By helping us identify cases of alleged fraud, the RCMP is contributing to the Government’s efforts to crack down on citizenship and residency fraud.

“Canadian citizenship is not for sale. Canadians are generous and welcoming, but have no tolerance for those who lie or cheat to obtain Canadian citizenship, or their facilitators.

“The Government has taken unprecedented action to strengthen the value of Canadian citizenship and crack down on citizenship fraud. This includes

legislation that increased penalties for immigration consultants who break the law, and the introduction of a citizenship fraud tip line.

“I urge anyone who has information regarding citizenship fraud to call Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) tip line to report it and help us protect the value of Canadian citizenship.”

The Government of Canada offers a tip line through the CIC Call Centre where tips on suspected citizenship fraud cases may be reported.

Cases involving false representation, fraud or knowingly concealing material circumstances in the citizenship process – for example, pretending to be present in Canada to meet the residence requirements for obtaining citizenship – should be referred to the citizenship fraud tip line at CIC’s Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday).

Tips may also be reported by e-mail at citizenship-fraudtips@cic.gc.ca. ■

Visit www.prepareforcanada. com to learn more about the topic as well as upcoming events/ seminars.

Learn about the ISSofBC programs for new immigrants at www.skillsconnect.issbc.org. www.canadianinquirer.net

PHOTO BY MICHAEL SWAN

Immigration

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

23

Newest Update: Canada Immigration ON April 18, 2013, Canada Immigration has once again released a new update on its INDEMAND OCCUPATIONS LIST. From 29 in-demand occupations it has now been revised to 24 IN-DEMAND OCCUPATIONS. May 4th remains the start of acceptance of new applications. The EDUCATION CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT will now be required for the FSW category’s applications. The eligible occupations stream will now have an overall cap of 5,000 new applications and sub-caps of 300 applications in each of the 24 occupations on the list.

The New Federal Worker Program

Skilled

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) selects immigrants based on their ability to succeed economically in Canada. After meeting eligibility requirements, applicants are assessed against selection criteria, also known as the “points grid.”

There are 100 points available to applicants, with points awarded for official language abilities, age, education, work experience, employment already arranged in Canada, and adaptability. The current pass mark is 67.

After a thorough review of relevant research, an extensive

program evaluation, stakeholder and public consultations, research and study of best practices in other immigrant-receiving countries, improvements to the FSWP were announced in December 2012.

These improvements will come into force on May 4, 2013.

A pause on the intake of most new FSWP applications has been in place since July 1, 2012, except for those with a qualifying job offer and those who applying under the PhD stream. The pause will be lifted and an eligible occupations stream re-established on May 4, 2013.

While Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will not be accepting applications for the 24 eligible occupations until May 4, 2013, there are some new requirements that applicants can start preparing for, such as language tests and foreign educational credential assessments.

The complete application process, featuring the new selection criteria, will be available on CIC’s website by May 4, 2013.

All individuals who are considering applying on or after May 4 should be aware that if their application does not meet the new criteria, it will not be processed.

A prospective applicant should ensure they meet at least one of

the following requirements: • They have at least one year of continuous work experience in one of the 24 eligible occupations; • They have a qualifying offer of arranged employment or • They are eligible to apply through the PhD stream.

If prospective applicants are confident that they meet at least one of the above requirements, they must also meet the minimum language threshold and obtain an educational credential assessment (if submitting a foreign educational credential).

Eligible Occupations List

The eligible occupations stream will have an overall cap of 5,000 new applications and sub-caps of 300 applications in each of the 24 occupations on the list.

Eligible occupations (and their corresponding 2011 National Occupation Classification code): • 0211 Engineering managers • 1112 Financial and investment analysts • 2113 Geoscientists and oceanographers • 2131 Civil engineers • 2132 Mechanical engineers • 2134 Chemical engineers • 2143 Mining engineers • 2144 Geological engineers • 2145 Petroleum engineers • 2146 Aerospace engineers

• 2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers/ designers) • 2154 Land surveyors • 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers • 2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics • 2263 Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety • 3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists • 3142 Physiotherapists • 3143 Occupational Therapists • 3211 Medical laboratory technologists • 3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists' assistants • 3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists • 3215 Medical radiation technologists • 3216 Medical sonographers • 3217 Cardiology technicians and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists, n.e.c. (not elsewhere classified) Minimum Language Threshold

The minimum language threshold for the Federal Skilled worker category is set at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing). Applicants

BC HAPPY HOMES IMMIGRATION SERVICES

must take this test from a designated testing organization.

CIC-designated language testing organizations include: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), and Test d’évaluation de français (TEF).

The test results are valid for two years from the date they were issued.

English

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): An FSWP applicant must score at least 6.0 on the IELTS General Training test in each of the four skills to meet the minimum language threshold of CLB 7.

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): An FSWP applicant must score at least 4L on the CELPIP-General test in each of the four skills to meet the minimum language threshold.

A score of 4L on the CELPIPGeneral test corresponds to CLB 7. A score of 4H corresponds to CLB 8, and a score of 5 or higher corresponds to CLB 9 or higher.

French

Test d’évaluation de français ❱❱ PAGE 46 Newest update

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FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 24

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

25

Seen and Scenes

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 26

MHHS Volunteer Appreciation Night at the Multicultural Helping House Society in Vancouver, BC. The event was held May 4.

ST. IGNATIUS CATHOLIC SCHOOL - SCARBOROUGH 40TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION The celebration of the 40th Anniversary of St. Ignatius Catholic Elementary School was commenced with a Holy Mass held outdoors by Rev. Fr. Lehman.

The student Choir was led by J. Longo & L. Pinnock-Fernandes, who sang the hymns during mass. The Rosary Apostolate of the School Volunteers, George and Dolores V. Poblete, parents of the early students of St. Ignatius Elementary Catholic School, served as Communion Ministers.

OFWC ENGLISH TEA PARTY Photo shows the officers and members of the Ontario Filipino Women’s Club headed by President Annabelle Migalbin and Vice President Rebecca Reyes, who posed for a souvenir photo during the club’s english tea party recently held at the Wellesley Community Center located at corner Wellesley and Sherbourne, downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Romy Zetazate, St. Jamestown News Service)

“THE BUILDING OF A NATION” TABLEAU PRESENTED BY THE TORONTO KNIGHTS OF RIZAL “The Building of a Nation”, an educational and cultural Tableau about the Philippine History, was presented by the Knights of Rizal Toronto Chapter at the 519 Community Centre in downtown Toronto. These volunteer actors demonstrated their “thespian skills” when they turned this educational and cultural Tableau into a very entertaining show.

My Story

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

27

First Filipino-Canadian Cooperative in Vancouver Enters the Mainstream Market in Canada

BY LAARNI LIWANAG-DE PAULA Philippine Canadian Inquirer I GOT invited to volunteer at the Bakery Congress held in Vancouver, BC on May 5, 2013.

The Congress is a two-day event ending May 6 and participated in by over 300 companies serving the food industry— from wholesalers of pastries and baked goods, to companies that provide the machineries and equipment used in producing the goods, to financial institutions extending credit facilities to farmers and local producers and suppliers of baking ingredients.

The invitation came from a group of Filipino-Canadians who, conscious of the emerging trends toward healthier living and the desire to extend Fair Trade practices to farmers in the Philippines—put up

a cooperative. It is the first Filipino-Canadian Trading Cooperative in BC. Fair Trade is a market-based initiative embraced by most developed countries to help farmers and producers in the developing countries.

The cooperative focuses on bringing to Canada the best sustainable products from the Philippines, like coconut sugar, coconut flour and banana flour.

Coconut sugar is known to have a low glycemic index of 35, hence a healthy choice for people suffering from diabetes. The cooperative is also considering bringing into Canadian market the Philippine coconut oil, coffee, cocoa and other coconut by-products.

What compelled the group to form the cooperative?

The health and wellness trend is becoming one of

the key growth areas and marketing strategies within the food industries and amongst our farmers. Moreover, the cooperative wants to provide fair price to the farmers/ producers.

Is this a sustainable industry?

The Philippines is the world’s largest producer of coconuts, producing 19,500,000 tonnes in 2009 and growing at the rate of 5.3 per cent per year.

It is the dominant sector of the Philippine agriculture industry because one-third of its population depends on coconut production for livelihood.

Furthermore, an industry roadmap was established for 2013 to 2016 to increase production, marketing and promotion, quality control product utilization and continuous research and development. ■

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What visitors at the booth have to say “Yes, we are here to look for healthier alternatives and definitely we will consider using any of your products in our production.”

“I have heard about coconut sugar but have not really seen nor tasted it, but I would love to consider it in my recipe.”

“We are interested in bringing your product to the Canadian market and will we look forward to further discussing details”.

Andrea, the Chef hired to sample the products in baking cookies, has only the best words to say on the products.

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

28

Mother’s Day A tale of the (very) unexpected origins of Mother’s Day

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE flow of female monthly blood, birth waters, breast milk.

Overworked servants. War; and the ravages thereof. A death anniversary. An asylum. All partand-parcel of what has mutated into yet another Hallmark-card, warm-and-fuzzy-in-your-tummy occasion: Mother’s Day. Ancient origins: Mothers

the

Great

The celebration of Mother’s Day can be traced all the way to ancient Greece and the centuriesold spring festivities (involving flowers, singing, dancing, and copious amounts of wine) in honour of Rhea, the Mother of Gods (she bore Hestia, Demeter, Hera, Aides, Poseidon, and Zeus).

Rhea was one of six Titanides, earth-goddess daughters of Heaven (Ouranos) and Earth (Gaia). They were the female counterparts of the Titanes, the primal gods of time, divinities of both Heaven and the Tartarean pit, the cosmic inverse of heaven.

The goddess of female fertility, motherhood, and generation: Rhea’s name means "flow" and "ease." She married Kronos (Time), thereby represented the eternal flow of time and generations. As the Great Mother (Meter Megale), the "flow" was menstrual blood, birth waters, and milk. Rhea was also attributed as the goddess of comfort and ease of living.

The Romans had a similar spring festival, the Hilaria, in honour of the Roman goddess Magna Mater (Great Mother).

Dating back to 250 BC, the celebration was made on the Ides of March by making offerings

in the temple of Cybele. This lasted for three days and included parades, games and masquerades.

And very presumably, copious amounts of wine, as well. The celebrations were notorious enough that followers of Cybele were banished from Rome, so one can only imagine the madness and mayhem that took place in mother’s honour.

Similarly, across Celtic Europe and the British Isles, there was a festival known as Spring Mother’s Day, celebrated in honour of the goddess Brigid, who brought the gift of the sun's growing light and the abundance of the earth.

Later on in history, circa the early 1600s, the Christian Church in Europe (specifically, England)—in their quest to eliminate all things “pagan”— took the celebration and attributed it to the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ.

Let them eat cake

Not long after, the Christian Church in England broadened the celebration to include all mothers: the birth of “Mothering Sunday.”

Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40 day period leading up to Easter), Mothering Sunday honored the mothers of England. After a prayer service in church in homage to the Virgin Mary, children brought gifts and flowers to pay tribute to their own mothers.

However seemingly noble and ideal the celebration of Mothering Sunday, there was a deeper, less noble, harsher reality.

In those times, many of the England's poor worked as servants for the wealthy. Most jobs were located far from their homes; hence, the servants—very often overworked and underpaid— would live at the houses of

English specialty, Simnel cake, made with apples, spice, dried fruits and marzipan, was the traditional mother cake for Mothering Sunday. It is now a popular Easter cake across England.

PHOTO FROM WWW.BBC.CO.UK

their employers. On Mothering Sunday, the servants would have the day off and were encouraged to return home and spend the day with their mothers; or return to their children, as the case may have been. A special cake, called the mothering cake, was often brought along to provide a festive touch, and possibly assuage guilt borne from absence.

As Christianity continued to spread throughout Europe, the celebration eventually changed to honor the “Mother Church”—the spiritual power that gave them life and protected them from harm.

The tradition was brought to American shores by the English colonists, but this eventually died out because of lack of time.

War and carnage

America 1858: the ravages and carnage of the Civil War tempered the times. Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker from West Virginia, held Mother's Day work clubs to improve sanitary conditions and try to lower infant mortality by fighting disease and curbing milk contamination. These clubs also tended wounded soldiers of both sides during the U.S. Civil War

from 1861 to 1865.

The social climate of the time had most women solely devoted to their family and homes. Not so for Jarvis. Tired of the carnage, she busied herself in the healing of the nation after the Civil War. She organized and taught women through what she called "Mothers Friendship Day"; empowering them to work for better sanitary conditions, and to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors.

Ann was instrumental in saving thousands of lives by instructing women in the basics of nursing and sanitation at her Mothers Friendship Clubs; things she learned from her famous physician brother James Reeves, M.D. At about the same time, and inspired by the efforts of Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis, American Civil War social activist Julia Ward Howe (author of lyrics to the Battle hymn of the Republic) tried to issue a manifesto for peace at the 1870 international peace conferences in London and Paris. She, too, was horrified by the carnage of the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. She devoted her efforts to a peace crusade; passionately

making an "appeal to womanhood" to take a firm stand against war. She composed her powerful plea, which came to be known as the Mother’s Day Proclamation, in Boston and later on translated it into several languages and distributed it widely.

It was in 1872, at an international Woman's Peace Congress in London, that she began promoting the idea of a "Mother’s Day for Peace”: to be celebrated on June 2, honoring peace, motherhood and womanhood.

Her efforts came to fruition in Boston, where the Mothers’ Peace Day was observed every second Sunday of June, for a period of 10 years.

Howe actively worked to make the celebration official, although this concept of Mothers’ Day was primarily for women to stand-up against war.

A mother’s death, a daughter’s grief

Mothers’ Day as we know it— or, more accurately, as we thought we knew it—is credited to Anna ❱❱ PAGE 32 A tale

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

29

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Mother’s Day

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 30

Look, Mom: It’s Art

BY APRIL SESCON Philippine Canadian Inquirer PLATOONS of artists have paid tribute to the mother-figure in art. They painted mothers, a mother, their mother—though

their mothers weren’t always that proud mom who put their art up on the fridge, as ours must have, pinning our kindergarten stickfigures in bright Crayola up for all to see. But worthier of our study: a few iconic works about the mother in the visual arts.

Whistler’s Mother, 1871 James Whistler

Pietà, 1498 Michelangelo

The Virgin Mary. World-famous, most famous of all. Art is all but replete of Mary, Blessed Mother. For that is what defines her: Mother of God. A virgin who gave birth. Caring, nurturing, loving; pure. The essence of what motherhood should be. Dozens, dozens of famous Christian art depict Mary as mother; as Madonna and child. Among the exalted: Michelangelo’s “Pietà,” Renaissance masterpiece in St. Peter’s Basilica. Mary, beatific, holds the body of her son post-Crucifixion.

Surrender comes to mind: bone by tired bone, scarred flesh, tired flesh, the body surrenders, lies to rest in the arms that gave it life. It comes, at last, to peace; this peace distilled in the mother’s face, so serene it is almost blank, so saintly and pure that it is elevated from the concerns of mortal flesh as it holds its dead child as if an offering—almost as an angel of death.

Official title: “Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1.” Everyone knows it as “Whistler’s Mother” in the common tongue: dull colors, stiff lines, the graying lady in profile in a priggish black dress. The austerity underscores the artist’s eye for composition, balancing the rectangular shapes with the bulk of his mother’s dress, the lines and crags and minute details of her face against the straight black blunt frame of the wall painting.

It’s iconic: its peers are Edvard Munch’s “The Scream,” Grant Wood’s “American Gothic,” Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa.” It has cameos in “The Simpsons” and numerous renditions (some as parody) to date.

Whistler resented that it was viewed as a “portrait.” To the artist, it was just that: an arrangement. A study in composition. He wrote, in “The Gentle Art of Making Enemies”: “Take the picture of my mother, exhibited at the Royal Academy as an ‘Arrangement in Grey and Black.’ Now that is what it is. To me it is interesting as a picture of my mother; but what can or ought the public do to care about the identity of the portrait?” He didn’t intend to paint his mother. The painting wasn’t an ode or tribute to her: he asked her to sit in as his subject, as replacement, because his model blew him off.

Still, some biographies noted that Whistler’s mother—her presence, having moved in with him—helped the artist with day-to-day life and straightened him out. The painting might be an homage to her, after all, at least on the artist’s part—despite his insistence that it shouldn’t matter that it’s his mother on the canvas.

The Dead Mother series, 1910–18 Egon Schiele

Red-lipped, rosy-skinned, plump-cheeked, the child is engulfed in the womb of a skeletal woman.

She held him, lovingly. The work: one by Egon Schiele, protégé of Klimt, figurative painter known for twisted body shapes and expressive lines that carved a niche in early Expressionism. The “Dead Mother” series ranks less in popularity than his erotic explorations of the human form (many times, his own; other times, his sister’s—the two were believed to have an incestuous relationship). The “Dead Mother” series seems to stem from Schiele’s difficult relationship with his mother. “My mother is a very strange woman,” wrote Schiele. “She doesn’t understand me in the least and doesn’t love me much either. If she had either love or understanding she would be prepared to make sacrifices.”

The works, in retrospect, foreshadowed his wife, rather than mother. Schiele’s wife, six months pregnant, succumbed to the Spanish flu. Schiele himself died of the same sickness three days later, aged 28. www.canadianinquirer.net

Three Ages of Woman, 1905 Gustave Klimt

Klimt, celebrated for “The Kiss”; for that stylized, mosaic-like ornamentation; for the female body; for his brand of eroticism in his renditions thereof. Here: “Three Ages of Woman”—child, woman, old lady. The woman—beautiful, young—is in stark contrast against the withered crone. Klimt (or the work, at least) seems to be saying that the woman is at her prime—that the woman is only beautiful—only in youth, as mother, as life-giver—a sentiment that many feminists have been quick to criticize in the work. On the other hand, it must be said that Klimt does much more service (and praise) to the female by virtue of the merit of his work.

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

Mother’s Day

31

Mother and child paintings by Mary Cassatt True to tradition: Cassatt’s mothers are as mothers should be (mothers in the olden days, it must be said). Tethered in tenderness, quiet grace; feminine. The American Impressionist made a name with pastel renditions of the social and private lives of women in her time.

Of note were her mother-daughter works. Cassatt grew up under the care and tutelage of her astute, well-read mother, Katherine. A lifelong friend of hers wrote: “Anyone who had the privilege of knowing Mary Cassatt’s mother would know at once that it was from her and her alone that [Mary] inherited her ability.” Cassatt moved to Paris, took up pastels under the mentorship of Edgar Degas. When the Impressionists disbanded, she expanded to color prints and invoked Japanese masters in her use of solid blocks of primary tints.

Portrait of the artist’s mother, 1888 Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh, of “The Starry Night” fame, of earcutting notoriety, painted his mother Anna Carbentus: “I am doing a portrait of Mother for myself,” he wrote to his brother, Theo. “I cannot stand the colorless photograph, and I am trying to do one in a harmony of color, as I see her in my memory.” It was through Anna that Van Gogh learned art. Anna was a watercolorist, an amateur artist. But the family was strict, religious, “stifling,” proud: they shunned their artist-son and his lifestyle. He would send paintings of flowers to his mother; a mother who, when Van Gogh was sick in the hospital, said to his brother: “I believe he was always ill and his suffering and ours was a result of it . . . I would ask, ‘Take him, Lord.’”

Here Van Gogh captures a thin-lipped smile from the austerity of her face, the slight arc of crinkled brow, the proud nose and high cheekbones and upward tilt of chin that lend that aura of severity.

Maman, 1999 Illustrations by Jesse Wilcox Smith Smith is very vintage—and, as such (given the fad in vintage lately)—very current; easily likable. Her work appeared on the cover of Good Housekeeping, Ladies Home Journal, Harper’s, and children’s books, including Charles Kingsley’s “The Water-Babies” (1916). Apt, as such, given the storybook quality of her palette. Children and their mothers are omnipresent in Smith’s trove, particularly mothers and daughters, immersed in some domestic activity. The children: always rosy-cheeked; the mothers: always prim and ladylike. Romantic; whimsical—nostalgic.

Louise Bourgeois

It ranks as one of the largest sculptures in the world: over 30 feet high, more than 33 feet wide, all cold, twisted steel and not very motherly at all (you think some sci-fi movie where alien spiders invade the Earth) until you see the egg sac, the 17 gleaming eggs hanging above your head. And then, of course, the artist: Louise Bourgeois, famous for the spider as recurring motif in her work, famous for themes of motherhood rooted in her complex relationship with her mother, Josephine, who worked with restoring tapestries in the family business (she passed away when Bourgeios was 21). Spider, mother: they meld into the same myth in Bourgeois’ mind. Says the artist: The friend (the spider—why the spider?) because my best friend was my mother and she was deliberate, clever, patient, soothing, reasonable, dainty, subtle, indispensable, neat, and as useful as a spider. (“Louise Bourgeois,” p.62.)

The Tate installment of “Maman” (French for “mom”) stood over “I Do,” “I Undo,” “I Redo”—steel towers that represent, to Bourgeois, the emotional arc one mother goes through. Tate says of the work: “Encountering Maman always from the perspective of the child looking up from below, the viewer may experience the sculpture as an expression of anxiety about a mother who is universal—powerful and terrifying, beautiful and, without eyes to look or a head to think, curiously indifferent.” www.canadianinquirer.net

Mother’s Day

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 32

Mother’s Day Gifts

PHOTOS FROM GETTY IMAGES AND CHRIS BERNARD

BY KATHERINE MARFAL-TEVES Philippine Daily Inquirer

Anna Jarvis, Mother’s Day’s strongest advocate, and then staunchest adversary.

PHOTO FROM BETTMANN/CORBIS/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

A tale...

Jarvis, daughter of Ann Marie Reeves Jarvis.

Anna spent several years looking after her ailing mother, and was terribly grieved by her death in 1905. In 1907, moved by her inconsolable loss, Anna persuaded her mother's church in Grafton, West Virginia to celebrate Mother's Day on the second anniversary of her mother's death, the 2nd Sunday of May. The day was intended to honour her mother; as well as other mothers, living and dead. It was symbolized by Anna Jarvis's mother's favorite flower, the white carnation; which came to represent the sweetness, purity and endurance of mother-love.

Since then, the red carnation has become the symbol of a living mother, while white signifies that one's mother has died.

Anna Jarvis pushed for Mother’s Day to be celebrated across America, with the intention of each child celebrating their own mother; an intimate commemoration of love between a mother and her child. Hence: the name Mother’s Day, as against the collective Mothers’ Day. Mother's Day came to be observed in several U.S. cities and states; and in 1914, President Woodrow Wilson officially set aside the second Sunday in May for the holiday.

Anna Jarvis’ efforts had paid off. Or so she thought.

In the end, she vehemently wished they hadn’t. ❰❰ 28

A bitter end

Anna Jarvis’ desire for an intimate Mother’s Day snowballed, against her will, into a lucrative business.

Entrepreneurs jumped on the mother-love bandwagon, fueled by commerce and the desire for personal gain.

Flowers, candies, greeting cards and the exchange thereof replaced the original spirit of self-sacrifice, honoring fallen sons, and committing to the preservation of peace and life; much to Jarvis’ utter dismay.

In a strange twist of fate, the woman who once pushed for the holiday to be established, now fought to abolish it. She organized boycotts, threatened lawsuits, and went to the extreme of decrying First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt for using Mother's Day for various fundraising activities.

Jarvis dedicated the remainder of her days—and her hefty inheritance—to returning Mother's Day to its more significant and reverent heritage.

But it was not to be so. Flowers, candies, cards had captured the public eye, and had won-over the collective heart of humanity.

Commercialized Mother’s day spread like wildfire.

Jarvis died in 1948; defeated, alone, broke, suffering from dementia in a public asylum.

She could have used the holiday for personal gain; yet she didn’t.

She fought against those who did—and it cost her everything.

Make it meaningful

There you have it: the tale of the very unexpected origins of Mother’s Day. At least it was, for me.

A tale that may be difficult to digest, but one that hopefully motivates us to make it meaningful: quality time (maybe work on a scrapbook together, or interview the mothers in your life, you may just find some nuggets of wisdom there); homemade cards and presents; a home-cooked meal instead of restaurant fare; genuine displays of appreciation and gratitude.

After all, mothers deserve the real deal. ■

DO you already have a gift for your mom this May? While choices may seem overwhelming, your gift need not be expensive to show your love to the most special woman in your life.

I conducted a random survey among family, friends and acquaintances on what they plan to give their moms this Mother’s Day. Here are the top answers: FLOWERS AND PERSONALIZED GREETING CARDS The all-around favorite: flowers.

Roses land on the top spot. Some choose other types of flowers; others yet deign to give a full bouquet despite price. Tip: kids, students, and others on a thrifty budget can make handcrafted cards in lieu of the flora. Write a personalized message or a poem to make it extra special.

DRESSES AND ACCESSORIES Girls I’ve talked to like to give dresses and accessories to their moms. We all want Mom to look fabulous on her special day. A pair of earrings, a simple bracelet, and an elegant dress will touch her heart.

MAKE-UP KIT When they look good, they also feel good about themselves.

Affordable but high- quality make-up are available. Ask friends who know a lot about cosmetics for suggestions and recommendations.

www.canadianinquirer.net

LAPTOP AND CELLPHONE If you have the cash to drop for it—why not? Go for a laptop or cellphone (or both, if you can afford it!). In this digital age, no one wants to be left out, much less have their moms be left out.

We want to be in touch, as much as we can. You don’t need to spend a fortune on these gadgets.

Affordable models are out there.

Choose a user-friendly model if your mom’s not much of a techie.

Spend quality time with her teaching her how to go digital— it’s bonding through and through!

A DATE WITH THE SPA After a tiring day at work or at home, our moms deserve a treat.

Give them the afternoon or even the weekend off at the spa.

HAIR TREATMENT PACKAGE Most moms forget to take good care of their hair. Some friends advised me that hair treatment packages are a great way to spoil your mom on her day.

A VACATION PACKAGE Whether you want to go out of town or out of the country, what matters most is that you spend quality time with your family.

Pamper your mom while on vacation. Make her your queen.

Remember: it’s her day!

A PERSONALIZED CAKE Bake a personalized cake for mom—it makes it extra special.

Use her favorite flavor of cake and top it off with a loving message.

A DINNER DATE If you can’t cook, bring your mom to a restaurant with the whole family. Don’t forget your camera—take pictures. The fondest of memories are priceless.

❿ DO THE

HOUSEHOLD CHORES

Simple, easy: show your mother how much you care by doing all her chores for the day.

Let her relax. Make her a bubble bath and give her a massage.

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

33

Entertainment

Ellen’s new Filipino discoveries stay cool

LA Talonding and cousin James Water Bucong wow popular TV host and the world wide web

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer IT TOOK a little over a week but TV host Ellen DeGeneres is finally in touch with yet another Filipino web sensation.

Ellen announced on her popular talk show that she was looking for a young Filipino singer, whose video of Luther Vandross’ “Dance With My Father” had gone viral on YouTube and Facebook in a

week’s time.

At press time, the video has earned 1,379,304 hits on YouTube and over 80,000 likes on Facebook.

DeGeneres praised the pintsized Internet star: “Amazing.

Beautiful. Such soul in that little boy.” Who’s that kid? His name is Aldrich Lloyd “LA” Talonding, 14, a high school student at the Mindanao State University (MSU) in General Santos City. In the video, LA is accompanied on

the guitar by first cousin James Walter Bucong, 18, a college freshman, also at GenSan MSU. The duo is now making the rounds of local TV shows.

Unaffected by fuss

When INQUIRER caught up with the boys last week, they seemed unaffected by all the fuss and frenzy. They were about to perform in a Christian ❱❱ PAGE 34 Ellen’s new

PDI story helps get Pinoys to Cannes Good news, bad news for PH contingent in world’s biggest fest

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer THERE’S good and bad news for the Philippine contingent headed to the Cannes fest later this month.

Only hours after the INQUIRER Entertainment story “Rocky Road to Cannes” came out on Monday, an anonymous donor extended assistance to the three Filipino filmmakers—Lav Diaz, Adolfo Alix Jr. and Erik Matti—who were having difficulty raising funds for their trip.

Diaz’s “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan” and Alix’s “Death March” are competing in the Un Certain Regard section; Matti’s “On the Job” will be featured in the Directors’ Fortnight.

Raymond Lee, producer of “Norte,” told INQUIRER that their film’s share in the donation was enough to send three members of their team to France. The three filmmakers

received the exact same amount.

“This all happened because of the INQUIRER story,” Lee said.

Diaz explained that although Cannes fest organizers were taking care of the directors’ threeday hotel accommodations, no plane fare was provided for them, or for anyone in the entourage.”

Matti said French distributor Wild Side would take care of his air fare.

According to Lee, several other people are planning to help the filmmakers.

Increased travel grant

Lee reported that the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), in a meeting on Tuesday, promised to increase the travel grants of the two filmmakers in competition. (The council earlier vowed to give the three filmmakers P200,000 each.)

FDCP is also set to extend assistance to three young filmmakers in the Cannes Short

Film Corner: Aiess Alonso, who made “Katapusang Labok”; Carlo Manatad, director of “Oasis Redux”; and Roderick Cabrido, “Mga Engkantong Laog sa Dapithapon.”

Joining the Philippine contingent is actress Hilda Koronel, who will attend the premiere of Lino Brocka’s digitally restored “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag” in Cannes, FDCP said in a statement.

The bad news is, “Maynila” lead star Bembol Roco may not be there.

“Bembol would like to go,” manager Ricky Gallardo told the INQUIRER. “He was free—he just finished a TV show, but since he didn’t get an invitation, he decided to go on vacation in the United States.”

Gallardo hopes Roco can still make it to Cannes. “‘Maynila’ was his first film. Since Brocka is no longer around, Bembol could represent him. But at least Hilda will be there,” he said. ■

A scene from Erik Matti’s crime film, “On the Job.” The film is a local entry in the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

PHOTO FROM TWITTER

Entertainment

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 34

Ellen’s new... youth camp at Camp Mariano, Koronadal City, when they gave us this phone interview.

LA recalled that his parents Alfonso and Tina, both Christian pastors, first noticed that he could sing when he was 4.

By the time he was in Grade 6, he had joined the Munting Tinig Children’s Choir, which took part in a chorale contest for the National Music Competitions for Young Artists (NAMCYA) in Manila.He admires “American Idol” runner-up Jessica Sanchez and the group Hillsong Church, which produces Christian hymns.

A favorite is “Steady My Heart,” a worship song.

At home, LA often listens to music or plays volleyball with friends. He seems to be a pretty ordinary kid with an extraordinary talent and a winning coolness about it.

An incoming junior student, LA hasn’t set his sights on a college course as of now. “I’m thinking of taking up medical technology and then proceed to medicine. Maybe I’d like to become a doctor. But I’m not sure yet,” he said.

He admitted that he would love to sing professionally, “if that is God’s will, but it’s best to have another job as fallback.”

LA is the youngest in a brood of four, but his eldest brother, AlJay, died of pneumonia at age 26 last December, he related casually.

They’re a pretty close-knit clan. LA and James are neighbors in Bgy. Labangal. James, who is taking up Agriculture and Business Management, first played the guitar at 9.

James recounted that their now-famous video was shot at the terrace of his home. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, he said. “We did it for friends. We didn’t even prepare for it.” They could’ve done much better, he ❰❰ 33

insisted. “You can hear a rooster crowing at the end.”

LA added, “We didn’t plan on it going viral. Trip-trip lang. In fact, we didn’t want to post it at first.

But Ate Cherish (James’ sister) shared it online.”

The next day, it started trending, James related. “On the third day, it took off na.”

The video hit YouTube on April 22; on April 30 Ellen’s invitation was aired on her show.

James said their travel documents are currently being processed. “We hope we make it,” he said.

First time

It would be the boys’ first time in Los Angeles—anywhere outside of the country, for that matter.

James said another “Ellen” discovery, Zendee, had led the show’s producers to them. “It was unexpected; she personally called me about it.”

Zendee told INQUIRER that “Ellen” associate producer Brian Garrity had asked her to search for the cousins. “I was all over Facebook and Twitter,” Zendee said. “Actually, Brian was surprised because I was not selfish about sharing my blessings. I am very proud of LA and James.

They are my kababayan.” Zendee is also from GenSan.” Apart from being a de facto talent scout for “Ellen,” Zendee has taken it upon herself to give the cousins tips on cyber-celebrity.

“LA and James say I’m their mentor. I hope to meet them when they visit Manila this week.”

Will Zendee accompany the boys to Los Angeles, Ca., should the guesting push through?

“No need,” Zendee quipped.

“It’s their time to shine.” ■ E-mail the author at bayanisandiegojr@gmail.com

PHOTO FROM TUMBLR

From pop to hip-hop, Quest’s quest takes him out of the box

BY ALLAN POLICARPIO Philippine Daily Inquirer With the mainstream success of his breakout song “Back to Love,” which won best urban video in the 2010 Myx Music Awards, Jose Villanueva III, or Quest, has been associated with hip-hop and R&B. But he’d rather not box himself in, since his music, he explained, is a product of everchanging influences.

“I started singing ballads and pop songs, particularly those

by Gary V. The first song I memorized was the ‘Faces of Love’ track called ‘Look in Her Eyes,’” he told the Inquirer.

From then on, Quest would listen to a wide variety of artists— Eraserheads, Pearl Jam, Guns N’ Roses, Rivermaya, Stone Temple Pilots, Stevie Wonder, Brian McKnight, Boyz II Men, Jay Z, The Roots, Tupac Shakur, Bobby Caldwell and many others.

“Magulo ako when it comes to music. But they have all influenced my music and style.

I go through phases,” he said.

“My dream is to fuse all these and come up with my own.”

His 2010 album “Revolution,” in fact, wasn’t intended to be an urban-inspired album, he said.

“Whatever sound fits the material I have, I’ll go for it. The sound was very much a reflection of my preferences and mood at the time,” he said. www.canadianinquirer.net

Strong connection

Quest’s other influences became more apparent with his second album “Life of a Champion” (2012), which he described as more experimental. Aside from the usual smooth and soulful hiphop/R&B tunes similar to those in his first album, the newer one featured a smattering of heavier, grungier ditties. “The songs kick harder—noisier snares, louder distortions,” said Quest.

While exploring different genres can do wonders for an artist’s growth, it can also alienate fans of his earlier sound. But at the end of the day, Quest stressed, that evolution is inevitable, and it’s up to the artist to forge a strong relationship with his listeners.

“If you’ve made a strong connection, they will follow you no matter what. It’s not just about your music, but your personality and what you stand for,” he said. “Rico Blanco’s audience never abandoned him despite the changes in his music.”

The highlight of his career so far, he pointed out, is the song “Sige Lang,” which topped the Myx charts last year, and which the Gilas Pilipinas basketball team picked as fight anthem.

Asked what he thought made the song a hit, he said, “I think it had the right ingredients—a great message, sound and mood.

I think I got lucky with that song.

The response was amazing, and I

want to keep it going.”

To do so, Quest believes he should please without compromising creativity. “I won’t sing about things I don’t believe in or live by,” he vowed.

Modern-day winner

Prior to pursuing music, Quest worked as vocalist and musical director of the Victory Christian Fellowship at Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City. Also, as a talent of Magic Sing, he lent his voice to songs by Phil Collins, James Ingram and Michael Learns to Rock.

Quest admitted that he wouldn’t be in the business were it not for celebrity church mate Sam Milby, who convinced him that he had what it took. Though hesitant at first, Quest gave it a shot. “A large chunk of my music is grounded on faith,” he noted.

His album “Life of a Champion” is exactly that, he stressed. “Sometimes, champions have scars as testaments of loyalty, perseverance; of falling down and rising again. It’s about a modern-day winner.”

He’s had a fair share of struggles. He battled alcoholism from his late teens to his early 20s, and was afraid he wouldn’t amount to anything. “That was one of my biggest hurdles,” he said. “Then I discovered God. It’s good to bounce back from failure.

That’s one of the things I want to share with my music.” ■

Entertainment

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

35

And Venus is her name

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer LONG, lean, leggy Venus Raj, fourth runner-up in the Miss Universe pageant 2010, always looks glammed up. But she confesses that she is a frugal shopper.

A big part of her enviable collection of shoes, bags and clothes are gifts from friends and fans. “I’m very practical,” she told Living Stars. “I cannot spend thousands of pesos on something I will use just a few times. That could pay for the tuition of my nephews and nieces… or the renovation of our house in Camarines Sur.” Precisely for this outlook, the health and drug store chain Watsons picked Venus as primary endorser. An earlier campaign featured her with mom Ester. Now she shares the spotlight with best buddy Marie Ann Umali, fellow beauty queen Shamcey Supsup and young mom Fatima Rabago.

Vicky Encarnacion, Watsons Philippines marketing director, said: “We see how much she loves her mom. We’d like young women who shop in our stores to emulate that.”

When buying toiletries, Venus, who made “major, major” a catchphrase, is never in the minor league. “I buy big bottles of shampoo or liquid soap, especially when my siblings, nieces and nephews come to visit. I save in the long run.”

Comfy clothes

Just one look at a dress or shirt “even on a mannequin,” and Venus knows if it will suit her or not. Her

Stars’ memorable mommy moments

BY DOLLY ANNE CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer

advice for other girls is to go for comfort over style. “No matter how trendy, if a dress is not comfortable, you won’t look good in it,” she explained. “I also choose clothes that reflect my personality—laidback, fun. I like bright colors (I’m a cheerful person). I love Barbie Doll dresses!”

Designer gowns

For evening gowns, she turns to top designers Rajo Laurel, Francis Libiran, Eric Pineda and Veejay Floresca.

“They know me very well,” she said. “I tell them only the color and style. When I get the gown, it’s sure to fit me.”

She switches red-carpet styles depending on the occasion. “For pageants, I wear beaded gowns.”

For high-fashion gatherings, she goes for a modish silhouette “like my Rajo gown, with long sleeves and a turtle neck.”

Size 9

A size 9, Venus finds it hard to shop for the right pair in local stores.

“We have no half sizes here,” she said. “Shoe fit is crucial. You don’t want pinched feet if you have to walk far or stand for a long time.”

Her glittery Steve Maddens are comfy, she insisted, though they have six-inch heels. The pair was a gift from US-based pageant enthusiast John Morante, a bank executive.

When the going gets tough on the red carpet, Venus brings out her secret weapon: Footzyfolds (foldable flat shoes). “You can put them in your purse and change into them when your feet start hurting.”

MOTHER’S Day is just around the corner so to pay homage to our first “teachers” about life and love, I asked some celebs what particular memory/moment with their moms had left a lasting impact on them.

It’s been 10 years since my mom passed away but thoughts of her seem so real that I can almost still hear her raspy voice cheering me on. I will never forget when I asked her in jest, “Ma, please autograph your picture for me.” She wrote this: “Thank you for being the best part of Inday Badiday.”

I should be the one to thank my superwoMom for being the gift that I was born with. Everyone else in our lives is replaceable except our moms. We can never be too old nor too successful to need some mothering every now and then.

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK

The flats were a gift from fellow beauty queen Karla Bautista, Binibining Pilipinas World 2004, who distributes them locally.

Bag collection

Venus would never buy luxury totes but would use one if she got it as a gift. But she recently splurged on luggage. “I went for Samsonite because it’s a good investment. I need my travel bags sturdy.”

She also invested in a top-ofthe-line makeup case, which can be fitted with light bulbs. “This I need for work,” she said.

She was about to pay for the Suesh case, Venus said, but boyfriend Andrei Felix beat her to the cashier.

Makeup choice

She is finicky about cosmetics.

She was loyal to a certain brand, till she realized it looked “too heavy. I switched to a lighter brand.”

She gets her makeup sponges from Watsons and recently, for the first time, she tried some

new red lipstick at the store. “A misconception is that dark-skinned girls [like me] should avoid red lipstick because it’s too strong.

But there are different shades of red; you just have to find the right one for your skin tone.”

Fave accessories, gadgets

She’s not a big fan of bangles, beads or other trinkets. “I prefer earrings to bracelets or pendants,” she said. “When you’re wearing a gown, a simple diamond stud should be enough.”

More than a tiara, she considers her hair the ultimate accessory, her crowning glory. “I put my hair up in a bun or pony tail and I’m good to go.”

Venus’ favorite timepiece is a Tendence. “It’s a gift, from Tendence. It goes with everything.”

And she never leaves home without her headphones, chargers and Samsung cell phone.

Fresh scents

A favorite scent is Ferragamo

Incanto, although “I would use any fresh and feminine scent.”

On mom’s behest, she loads up on sun block, especially when beach-bound.

Glam shades

She loves her Ferragamo dark glasses. “Very classy,” she said.

“Even on the beach, you look and feel like a goddess.” She is partial to smaller, square frames. “But when I want to look like a beauty queen, I wear big glamorous styles.”

Bikini girl

Between the bikini and the one-piece suit, Venus opts for the former. “I have a slim waist and a bikini shows it off.”

She has quite a collection of bikinis. One of these is the very special lavender pair by Dar Be Dar. “I wore it in the Miss Universe swimsuit competition,” Venus said. “I don’t wear it often; I don’t want it to get wet.”

A precious souvenir. ■

Dingdong Dantes:

Every time we have our weekly family gathering my mom cooks for the whole family. She would always lovingly prepare all our meals while we, her children, were growing up. I guess the secret ingredient of her extraordinary dishes was more than enough for our bodies and spirits to grow and become who we are now.

Amy Perez:

When I was 15, I could not understand why my mom required me and my siblings to clean our room and wash the dishes after we eat. Now I realize that she was preparing me for the time when I will have my own family already. I will forever be grateful to my mom for teaching me all the things I need to know. If not for her, I will not be this kind of mother to my boys.

Dingdong Dantes.

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

www.canadianinquirer.net

❱❱ PAGE 36 Stars’ memorable

Entertainment

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 36

Remix generation defined in 12 hours

BY ARIES B. ESPINOSA Philippine Daily Inquirer WHAT kind of music festival comes with ambulances, firstaid stations and firetrucks on standby?

Long drawn-out ones, like the “Close Up Summer Solstice 2013” that ran from 4 p.m. of April 27 to 4 a.m. the next day.

Before anyone could set foot on Mall of Asia’s expansive, paved open concert grounds (otherwise a parking lot), he or she would have to pass by a virtual country fair of side attractions: photo booths, inflatable slides, souvenir shops and refilling stations of whatever fluids that would tide one over, through 12 hours of nonstop groove music.

Party time is certainly not wasted on the young. “Summer Solstice 2013” was especially aimed at college students making the most of their summer “vacay.” One could liken it to the much-awaited spring break in the United States; but instead of swimming in pools of water, the youngsters swim in thumping beats, tread in wave after wave of dance melodies, and bask in laser and video spotlights.

And much like spring break, this had a feel of community to it. There were Special VIP tables, each going for P75,000, set up at an elevated portion of the concert grounds. Each table was good for up to 10 persons. Those spots came with couches and two bottles of spirits for each warm body.

Not everyone would go the 12hour distance, though. There was a continuous stream of people moving in or coming out; some waited for their favorite acts to come up, then moved out for a breather and rejoined the throng later.

There were constants, however—the free-flowing drinks, the dancing (though there was not much room to move in, especially for those positioned nearer the stage) and the eyecandygiant video walls set up onstage, whose hypnotic effects were magnified once night set in. The brilliant moon, which hovered directly above the venue, seemed part of the light-andsound production.

The festival got off to a rocking start with homegrown bands Spongecola, Urbandub and Sandwich parting the unexpected dark clouds on a late

Sandwich, one of the most popular Filipino alternative rock bands, formed by Raimund Marasigan in 1998. Sandwich performed with other compatriots in the music industry at “Close Up Summer Solstice 2013.”

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK

Saturday afternoon. By sundown, musicians from overseas took over, starting with the four-DJ act from Chicago, the Jump Smokers.

Then it was American rapper Dev’s turn. Devin Star Tailes, who sang “Bass Down Low” and “Like a G6,” performed her signature “sing-talk” style of music. Dance-pop band Cobra Starship, from which the popular “Good Girls Gone Bad” came, were up next, sans lead vocalist and band founder Gabe Saporta (concert organizers did announce beforehand that Gabe wouldn’t be able to come to Manila, so a guest DJ was invited to “captain”

the group for this set).

From 9 p.m. onwards, it was an all-DJ, all-remix house music set, with Italian Alex Gaudino, Dutchmen Apster and Afrojack, and Miami-based Frenchman Cedric Gervais taking turns on the mixers and turntables, recreating today’s pop and dance music into technotronic beasts.

By the time the “witching hour” came (12 midnight onwards), the alcohol had kicked in for many of the concert goers. Pulses of bass beats and electronic melodies were liberally interpreted by intimate couples with sexually charged dances. Objects big and

small were being tossed up and about. Some tipsy teenagers on the elevated section emptied the contents of their water bottles on unsuspecting people below.

Strangers inadvertently bumped into one another as they danced or moved about. Couples stared at each other, then stared at other couples doing their thing.

The video wall showed the performers and the rowdy audience in equal measures as it ought to be. This wasn’t really just about the music. “Summer Solstice” was about a whole generation moving to the light and sound of repetitive, looping, pulsing life and love. ■

Stars’ memorable... ❰❰ 35

Christian Bautista:

My mom would remind me that no matter how busy I was, I should always find time for home and the family.

Boots Anson-Roa:

John Arcilla:

My mom was our first storyteller. We had books of Hans Christian Andersen, Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Aesop’s fables. She read with feelings. She played with each word with wit and full of rhetorics.

My siblings and I would laugh, giggle and cry because of her special way of reading. I could even imagine the feelings of the characters in the stories she was reading to us. My mom was my first performer.

Her story-telling skill fascinated me at a young age. That experience influenced me to get into the arts and develop my passion for acting in theater, TV and movies. That formative experience transformed me into what I am now.

My late mom, Chemistry professor Belen Cristobal-Anson, was a “cool” lola, as what her grandchildren call her. She was a “cool” mom, too, in contrast to my dad, the late 1950s actor Oscar Moreno, who was strict and conservative. He would not allow me to go to mixed parties even when I was already a sophomore at the University of the Philippines, not even to our Euthenics monthly socials—in which attendance and participation were graded. At my mom’s instance, every time there was such an event, she and I would make “takas” and pretend we were going to the movies. We had our semiformal party clothes already tucked in the car. Then we would go to her sister Leonie’s place to change attire and then proceeded together to the ball with my cousin Lani and her own mom in tow. Then we changed back to our casual clothes before heading home. Happily, my dad never caught us until we finished the twosemester subject. In hindsight, it was always a “thrilling” experience.

Lesson learned: As parents, let us find reason for imposing rules to our children and explain said rules, lest they do things behind our backs.

John Arcilla.

Jackielou Blanco:

Christian Bautista.

When I was heartbroken and I was crying like crazy, my mom (singer Pilita Corrales) held my hand and said, “Jackie, I know it’s painful and it’s not easy but remember that tomorrow is another day. The sun will shine and you must be there to welcome it. If it’s not such a good day, I’ll be there with you to help you get through it.” I will never forget that moment. That truth has kept me going through all the downs in my life. I always remind myself that no matter what each tomorrow brings, I’ll always want to greet it. Those words of my mom always kept me strong, knowing that she’s there for me no matter what.

PHOTO FROM WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

37

Lifestyle Vancouver Magazine Recognizes Filipino Restaurant in its Annual Restaurant Awards

BY STELLA REYES Philippine Canadian Inquirer TOP restaurants in British Columbia were recognized in Vancouver Magazine’s 24th Annual Restaurant Awards held recently at the Sheraton Wall Centre. This annual food and drink celebration honours the best the industry has to offer.

Over 200 establishments, including professionals, were chosen by 19 expert judges and named as finalists in 42 categories. Vancouver Magazine Editorin-Chief, John Burns, says that Vancouver is such a fortunate city to have so many influences from around the world, so they try to recognize that full diversity.

“We put a lot of effort into trying to find those really great restaurants,” says Burns.

“I always feel that if you make it on the list, it is meant to be a really high honour.

You have been selected by all these judges among all of your peers in this event.”

Kulinarya, the Filipino dining gem in Coquitlam, B.C., known for serving traditional, delectable meals cook-to-order, was recognized in the Best Other Asian category.

“Nakakatuwa (What a joy)! Until now we are still astounded; we could not believe that we are a finalist in the awards,” says Rosette Samaniego, coowner of Kulinarya. “We are very proud and very excited. It does not even matter if we win or not; we’re just very happy to put our name out there.”

All the finalists were invited to showcase their offerings in the Chef’s Showcase portion of the Awards’ reception. Various vineyards, breweries, restaurants, food carts and bars prepared tasting menus for all 700 guests who attended the event.

Samaniego and Kulinarya’s resident cook, Joemel Gracilla, prepared their

delicious take on the ubiquitous Chicken Adobo, which they called Chicken Adobo Wrap with Liver Sauce. They stuffed a marinated chicken breast with vegetables, rolled it up, then finished it with a delicious chicken liver sauce and served each on a piece of banana leaf.

“We wanted to present a dish that everyone could relate to and, at the same time, one that is truly Filipino,” says Samaniego. “We updated a traditional dish, but put a twist to it. It is not the usual preparation of Adobo, and the chicken liver sauce made a big difference.”

The whole team behind Kulinarya led by co-owners Philip Samaniego and Roy Pagulayan were present at the event.

During the Chef’s Showcase, the team gleefully watched the people who came to their table and sampled the dish. The overwhelming conclusion from the guests was they all love it.

“We were scared going in there and we’re not expecting anything. When we went inside the venue, we saw that the other restaurants were already doing their preparations. The energy was so high, but we were also feeling so high from the whole experience,” says Samaniego.

Being passionate about promoting Filipino food is second nature to the folks from Kulinarya. Being named as a finalist in Vancouver Magazine’s Annual Restaurant Awards, serves as a validation on all the hard work they have put into making their restaurant a beacon of Filipino cuisine and culture. It also underscores the message they have been championing for so long— that Filipino food is good, and now is the time to be recognized in the world stage.

Burns observed that the tricky thing for all the communities of cooking is “it’s a balancing act between what is the cannon ❱❱ PAGE 39 Vancouver Magazine

Zobel photos in excelsis

BY CONSTANTINO C. TEJERO Philippine Daily Inquirer PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS are expected to be beautiful, but it takes more than looking pretty to really stand out.

A big, richly illustrated tome is “XYZ: The Creativity of Jaime Zobel” (JZA Artworks, 2012, 204 pages), a compilation of images mostly culled from Zobel’s photography books “Filipino Portraits,” “Glory and Gold,” “Homage,” “Island,” “Silence,” “Journeys with Light.”

It is a hefty volume with ultrahigh-definition photo reproductions, the gnomic text counterpoised by sumptuous visuals. In the introduction, the photographer says he has selected

Lifestyle the images for this book himself, often at random, but always to illustrate his methods and aesthetics.

One of the country’s top business tycoons and chairman emeritus of Ayala Corporation, Jaime Zobel de Ayala has taken photography as his medium for artistic expression.

“I have always used a simple camera,” he says. “This way I can command the camera without it having to command me. The idea is to photograph my moods.”

Through these images then, he expects the viewer to share his moods.

He is particularly attracted to Japanese aesthetics. “Because there’s order but there’s always an element of gentle surprise. A line is drawn but it is not quite at the center, because at the center it would be so terribly boring.”

When doing portraiture— “There has to be something that strikes me. In a face, it’s always the eyes.” Those are eyes, indeed, that dominate his portraits of Baby Fores, Beatriz Zobel, Victor Ochoa, Ang Kiu Kok. The architectonic also predominates not only many of his themes but also his visual

composition. “There’s a part of my mind that concerns itself with the underlying structure and the relative space of things.”

Hieratic symbol

Zobel has gone beyond simple framing, lighting, composition and coloration. Unexpected of someone with such sedate public persona, he can be as experimental as any young avantgardist wannabe.

In his photography he has incorporated collage and montage, graffiti art, violent juxtapositions, and a colorism that fluctuates between bold chromatics and muted monochrome. The look ranges from Hallmark slickness to the rough texturing of Sebastião Salgado to the amorphous forms of Stan Brakhage.

His image of lotus blooms and pads, purple and pink set against green and yellow, looks transcendent, way above its calndarismo origins. A luminous profile of a calla lily is evocative of that hieratic symbol of the decadentes: the gilded lily. Zobel finds unusual patterns in banal things such as grains of sand, conch spiral, shredded paper,

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 38

parcel wrappers, rusty door jamb, crack on wall, trifling leaves and petals. These he turns into images of extraordinary richness that often look enigmatic, if not surreal.

“We live in an environment where we are continually processing,” he says. “Our being is made up of different moments.

I believe that it takes both our conscious and unconscious selves to gather these impressions into compositions—final images that become more meaningful.”

Personal statement

That’s why a favorite method is collaging his cutup photos.

Eschewing technology, he does it by hand, clipping and pasting the pieces.

“In this manner, I let my unconscious work harder,” he explains. “Something unsaid reveals itself in the process.”

In this he is obviously a compositor, a visual composer, if you may. He has even been described as a “master craftsman,” as if photography were an artisanal preoccupation. But—“It’s not easy to compose. It’s a mixture of discipline and inspiration.”

In one work, cutup pieces of color paper he has pasted together create a Mondrian grid of blue, black and red. In works such as this, Zobel emerges as an accomplished collage artist, not necessarily as a photographer.

Collage—a popular hobby of children adapted by the Cubists, Futurists, Dadaists and Surrealists—is a more personal statement of an artist. And Zobel is right in saying that, through arrangement of shapes and colors and free association, it is the stream of his consciousness.

He has been an art photographer for almost 40 years. He is the first Filipino amateur photographer to receive a licentiate from the Royal Photographic Society. The French and Spanish governments have commended him for his “contributions to art and culture.”

At 77, he says his trajectory is still “to continue learning and studying photography.”

This latest volume from Zobel is outstanding in that it doesn’t fail to exalt the spirit from page to page.

Susan Sontag’s “On Photography” is a beautiful book, but it doesn’t have pictures. ■

Fun, trendy, edgy–it’s ‘Zara’s little sister’ Bershka, a Spanish clothing brand, pushes the spirit of young adventure

BY IRENE C. PEREZ Philippine Daily Inquirer YOU KNOW it’s hipster fashion when a summer collection is themed “Yolo.”

Yolo stands for “you only live once,” a shoutout among the young that encourages fun and adventure. Bershka, a Spanish clothing brand, pushes the same attitude: to have fun as one dresses up for adventure. It recently opened its first branch in Manila on the ground floor of Glorietta 2 mall in Makati.

Begoña Muñoz-

Barcia, Bershka’s Spanish communications manager, was recently in Manila to introduce the brand. She said Bershka is popular in Spain among highschool and college students, as well as yuppies. It has also gained a following in the US and Europe, and in the Middle East, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand in Asia.

It was Stores Specialists, Inc. that made Bershka available in the Philippines. The brand belongs to the Inditex fashion house, which also distributes Zara and Massimo Dutti. It has over 700 branches around the

world.

Bershka might just be called Zara’s little sister, since the line has more trendy and wearable pieces. Brand manager Dewi Valientes explained during the launch how the store is divided into sections.

One side is dedicated to basic pieces in white, champagne and pastels. There are chiffon shirts, skinny pants and structured jackets which may be layered for work and “smart-casual” events.

Mixing and matching

In the center of the store are edgier items—racks with neon

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bustiers, bodyhugging dresses, sundresses with floral appliqués, sporty pants and jackets, and pieces with camo and ethnic prints for mixing and matching.

The shoe wall features pumps in basic black and brown, cobaltblue, red, and even more neon.

There are also flats in the form of smoking slippers studded with skull beads, and sandals. For bag lovers, there are envelope clutches in transparent neon plastic, statement canvas bags and luggage in faux leather.

Other accessories are tie-die scarves, crochet earrings, leather cuffs, bead necklaces in gold and

silver chains.

For kids, BSK (the equivalent of TRF for Zara) has summerfriendly clothes in salmon, tangerine, vanilla. The men’s line has pants and shirts.

We also love the vintage shirts featuring “The Simpsons” characters Itchy and Strachy, and Krusty the Clown. Sizes come in small to large, both for men and women.

According to Barcia, “Bershka would fit well in the Philippines because the items are fit for the tropical weather.”

You only live once, indeed, so better dress up for it. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

39

Jewelry–the precious kind, not costume–is here to stay ‘Our market is the conservative office women, those who want to own something that will appreciate in value over time,’ say the owners of homegrown F&C Jewelry

BY CHECHE V. MORAL Philippine Daily Inquirer FASHION JEWELRY may be having more than a moment, having ensnared a generation enamored with bold and fanciful accessories, such that the only precious gems a contemporary woman now wears are likely her wedding band and engagement ring.

The colorful Lifestyle columnist Tessa Valdes, for instance, has said more than once that the only jewels she will likely bequeath her daughters are her costume jewelry.

But there’s still quite a sizable segment of Filipinos that gravitates toward baubles with lasting value, the type passed down to generations and whose worth appreciates over time.

That may have been the secret to the decades-long success of F&C Jewelry, a homegrown business in Iloilo whose reach has extended to over 50 stores

a Gemological Institute of America-trained gemologist and a third-generation jeweler. Her mother, Susan Caperonce, learned the craft from her own mother, who hails from Bulacan, where much of Philippine handcrafted jewelry comes from. Caperonce and husband Marcelino Florete Jr. began their own enterprise in 1973, and now run it with their children. There’s also Marjorie, also GIA-trained who is head of personnel, and Marcelino III (who’s engaged to the daughter of lawyer Katrina Legarda), in charge of finance. The youngest, Mary Christine, is a law student.

Modest, low-key

For all the luxuriousness of their trade—they’re also behind the Dulcinea chain of restaurants and some Sbarro branches, as well as hotel-resorts in Boracay—the Florete women are remarkably modest and low-key. They aren’t dripping in diamonds as might be typical of women in their trade.

the owners say did “very well.”

The Floretes say that they offer a more affordable alternative to the fine jewelry brands from Italy and France. (In the 40th anniversary collection, the most expensive piece is pegged at P1 million.) The family takes pride in the traditional and fine craftsmanship of their jewels, whether encrusted with diamonds or adorned with pearls or colored gemstones.

Florete-Gorriceta herself says she prefers those with bright gemstones, while she observes that many Filipino women are gravitating toward rose gold of late.

“I think it’s because they don’t have it yet. Yellow and white gold have been there for a long time,” she says.

Her mother Susan adds that Filipino women still tend to buy jewelry as a set.

Challenges

Most of F&C’s stores are in SM Department Stores, but there

PHOTO FROM F&C JEWELRY ON FACEBOOK

nationwide, catering to the Everywoman. The company is marking its 40th year.

It’s true that, in a small way, the popularity of fashion jewelry has somehow affected the sales of precious jewelry, says Marissa Florete-Gorriceta, marketing and merchandising head of F&C. But “our market is the conservative office women, those who want to own something that will appreciate in value over time,” she adds.

Florete-Gorriceta is the eldest daughter of the F&C founders,

(At the prodding of their PR consultant, the matriarch meekly showed her 35-mm crocodile Birkin, which she bagged after two years on the wait list.)

In a way, they are their market: moneyed women who don’t scream for attention.

Florete-Gorriceta says the wedding market is also a significant source of customers for local jewelers, inspiring F&C to collaborate with fashion designer Rajo Laurel to create a bridal collection in 2010, a selection of wedding bands that

is a new one in the new Glorietta wing in Makati City.

Running a jewelry business, the owners admit, does have its vexing challenges. Early in January, F&C was one of two jewelry brands that were hit by the so-called Martilyo Gang in an SM Megamall heist.

In the end, the Floretes refuse to allow the January incident to put a damper on their milestone.

After all, with the rising cost of gold and fickle tastes of the market, 40 years is nothing to be trifled with. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Vancouver Magazine... of traditional dishes that are well executed, that are really well done, and then what is the idiosyncratic personal addition that you bring. I find that Filipino restaurants do a really good job of that.”

The Awards reception and ceremony were well attended by the who’s who in the industry.

Samaniego says that it was exciting to be surrounded by all the other popular restaurants in B.C. like Hawksworth, Tojo’s and CinCin. Vancouverites know that Vancouver Magazine is an esteemed publication and is considered the bible of the food and wine industry. A restaurant with the publication’s star means they offer excellent value for money.

Being a finalist in this prestigious award is not just a feather on Kulinarya’s cap, it is also a big win for the Filipino community. “Now that we have a Vancouver black star, we have to maintain our high standards of quality,” declares Samaniego.

“We are never present or represented in the culinary world.

Now, I can explain to the team what it means to be on the list.

It says a lot that we are the first Filipino restaurant to represent our cuisine.”

At the award ceremony, Spice Islands Indonesian Restaurant nabbed the Gold Star Award in the Best Other Asian category.

The Silver Star was awarded to Nepalese restaurant Café

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Kathmandu, while Banana Leaf’s restaurant on Cambie St. and Oak received the Bronze Star.

Honourable mentions went to Mui Garden and Kulinarya.

“We are so happy and we want to thank everybody who helped us spread the word,” adds Samaniego. “You really have to love what you are doing. Having the restaurant is a labour of love; it is not really about the profit for us. It is about putting our name out there, educating people about our amazing cuisine, and building a greater appreciation of what Filipino food is all about.”

The full list of finalists and winners can be found in the next issue of Vancouver Magazine and www.vanmag.com. ■

Business

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 40

New guidelines Duty-free exports to US seen in jeopardy to govern cashstrapped companies Group cites PH failure in human, labor rights issues

BY PAOLO G. MONTECILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer

Exit mechanism from firms ‘under financial distress’

BY DORIS C. DUMLAO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINE Stock Exchange has approved new guidelines governing cash-strapped companies, incorporating red alerts in a bid to provide “additional safeguards to minority stockholders” before such problematic issuers succumb to bankruptcy.

In a statement issued yesterday, the PSE said its board approved for submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) the proposed rules for companies under financial distress. A separate framework was drawn up to govern companies undergoing courtassisted corporate rehabilitation.

Under the proposed rules for companies under financial distress, listed issuers that will become the subject of the following conditions are required to immediately disclose such fact: (a) cessation of business operations for at least six months for any reason; (b) reporting of negative stockholders’ equity; (c) delay in the payment of loans amounting to at least 10 percent of its total assets, and (d) adverse or qualified auditor’s opinion on the financial statements of the company for three consecutive years.

Upon the PSE’s receipt of the relevant disclosure, the issuer will be flagged as a company “under financial distress” in the PSE’s trading reports as well as the issuer’s stock information page on the PSE’s website. An issuer may request for the removal of the notice of financial distress anytime within a period of three years once it has proven that the ground upon which such category

was issued no longer exists.

“The pre-rehabilitation guidelines are being proposed to give more information to the investing public about listed companies under financial distress and provide an effective exit mechanism for those who may wish to trade their shares of such companies experiencing financial distress,” PSE president Hans Sicat said.

The rules for companies under corporate rehabilitation proposed that the PSE impose trading suspension on the shares of the company five trading days after the filing of the disclosure on corporate rehabilitation. The existing guidelines call for the immediate imposition of a trading suspension on the shares of a company only upon receipt of the company’s relevant disclosure, which means minority investors are more prone to be trapped in illiquid stocks.

The proposed rules for companies under corporate rehabilitation also incorporates possible rehabilitation schemes envisioned in the Financial Rehabilitation and Insolvency Act of 2010, namely court-supervised rehabilitation initiated either by the debtor or the creditor; pre-negotiated rehabilitation, and informal or out-of-court rehabilitation.

“The PSE is not alone in adopting such rules as other stock markets in Asia have similar rules in place. What we are doing is to align our rules with best practices. We trust that the SEC will be behind us to support this initiative,” Sicat said.

The guidelines were firmed up by the PSE after seeking public comments on a draft paper published in March. ■

PHOTO FROM GETTY IMAGES

THE RENEWAL of the privileges enjoyed by local exporters of key commodities to the United States is in jeopardy due to the government’s failure to address extra-judicial killings and the promotion of basic labor rights, a Washingtonbased organization said.

In a post-hearing brief this month, the International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) said privileges under the US Generalized System of Preference (GSP) for local firms might be suspended, leading to higher tariffs that would affect the competitiveness of the country’s exports.

Under the Obama administration’s GSP program, certain goods from around 130 developing nations around the world are allowed to enter the United States dutyfree. Among the prerequisites to eligibility,

however, include reforms in the area of basic human rights.

“A failure to prosecute military personnel accused of human rights violations and those under their command has been a consistent pattern of the Philippine government,” the ILRF said.

The group said that while the government was taking steps to reduce extra-judicial executions and enforced disappearances by military personnel, new cases have been reported and impunity for these crimes continued.

“Human Rights NGOs in the Philippines report many hundreds of cases of extrajudicial executions in the last decade (137 killings under the Aquino administration since 2010), enforced disappearances remain unresolved, and new cases continue to be reported,” it added.

Human rights defenders, labor leaders, environmentalists and members of other legal

organizations were “frequently vilified by the military as enemies of the state” or members of the New Peoples’ Army (NPA), the group said.

Indigenous communities also frequently bear the brunt of human rights abuses in the Philippines because they often live in conflict areas between the NPA and the government and where industries such as mining are fought over.

“Although abuses targeting tribal Filipinos have been reported for decades, there has been a noticeable increase in the past year of attacks directed at them or their supporters,” ILRF said.

The group noted that almost no perpetrators have been convicted and that impunity persisted in part due to inadequate criminal investigations and witness protection schemes, a lack of political will to ensure effective prosecutions and lengthy delays in court proceedings. ■

Grid operator invests P3B in new transmission line

BY AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE NATIONAL Grid Corp. of the Philippines is investing P3 billion in a transmission line project that will accommodate the additional power capacities from new coalfired and gas-fed facilities in Batangas.

In a statement, NGCP said the Calaca-Dasmariñas 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line project would take on the additional 2,470 megawatts to be generated from three planned facilities—the coalfired power plants of Trans-Asia Oil and Energy Development Corp. and Semirara Mining, as well as the San Gabriel natural gas plant of First Gen Corp.

“With a projected combined capacity of 2,470 MW, this will necessitate expansion and reinforcement of transmission lines and facilities to ensure that www.canadianinquirer.net

the grid is more than capable of transmitting the additional capacity,” NGCP said.

NGCP is now seeking government approval to implement the project, which will take three and a half years to complete.

A grant of provisional authority will allow the system operator to start the construction of a 57-kilometer steel-tower double-circuit transmission line from Calaca, Batangas to the Dasmariñas substation in Cavite.

According to NGCP, the project will involve two major components—transmission and substation. Under the transmission component, 46 kilometers of the proposed line will be routed parallel to the existing Dasmariñas-Calaca 230-kV line.

The component also calls for the installation of two 230-kV power circuit breakers, compact

air-insulated switchgear, and other equipment for both the Dasmariñas and Sta. Rita substations, which are the delivery and alternate delivery points of the Calaca power plant.

“This project will ensure that the additional supply coming from the power plants of the northern regions will be fully utilized while maintaining the reliability and stability of the grid. NGCP, through the reinforcement of facilities, commits to be ready by the time they go online,” said NGCP spokesperson Cynthia PerezAlabanza.

NGCP currently operates, maintains and develops the country’s power grid.

It transmits high-voltage electricity through “power superhighways” that include the interconnected system of transmission lines, towers, substations and related assets. ■

Sports/Horoscope

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

HK too hot for Volcanoes Filipinos sputter after strong start in Asian Nations tilt

BY CEDELF P. TUPAS Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINE Volcanoes failed to sustain a strong start and absorbed a 20-59 setback to Hong Kong in their HSBC Asian Five Nations Top Five competition clash Saturday night at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Trailing 10-14 at halftime, the Volcanoes wilted in the second half as Hong Kong relentlessly put the home side’s defense under pressure to secure their second win in the tournament.

While Hong Kong boosted its chances to finish second behind Japan in the group, the Volcanoes are in danger of getting relegated back to Division 1 with matches against South Korea next week and the UAE on May 18.

Humbled by Japan, 0-121, two weeks ago, the Volcanoes

hardly looked daunted against a rock-solid Hong Kong side—an established rugby country in the continent.

Seeking their first top-flight victory, the Volcanoes got off to a dream start when winger Patrice Olivier scored the first try of the game off a chip kick from David Fenney before Alexander Aronson converted the extra point.

The game turned just before halftime when the Volcanoes were called for an offside penalty, overruling what would have been a breakaway try from Joseph Matthews. What could have been a 10point advantage turned into a four-point deficit at the break and the Volcanoes never recovered from there.

Michael Letts scored the Philippines’ second try in the second half, but it proved to be little consolation as Hong Kong

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Nat’l pool’s PBA aces excite Chot

BY MUSONG R. CASTILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer

PHOTO FROM TEAMPHILIPPINEVOLCANOES.COM

had already wrapped up the result.

“The scoreline flattered us in the end,” said Hong Kong head coach Leigh Jones. “I don’t think they (Volcanoes) deserved to shift 50 points. But I’m proud of my guys. They adapted to the conditions and came out in the second half fighting.” ■

DIGOS, Davao del Sur—Chot Reyes, the GilasPilipinas coach, got to handle all the Philippine team prospects in the national pool for the first time and was so impressed by the attitude of his PBA superstars.

“They are all relishing this (PBA All-Star Week) because this is the first time that they will be playing together,” Reyes told scribes over breakfast. “As a matter of fact, I had to hold them back in practice because they were all playing all out.

“That’s what happens when elite athletes get together, they play their hearts out.”

Jimmy Alapag, the former PBA MVP, suffered a strained right ankle during practice, forcing Reyes to sit

him out in last night’s AllStar Game at Davao del Sur Coliseum here.

“These players are playing with a sense of urgency,” Reyes said.

“They know that Iran and the other Middle Eastern teams are already in deep preparations. As for us, we’re not late. We’re very late.

We can only start on June 1, two months (before the tournament).

Hopefully, that’s enough.”

The Fiba Asia joust will be held from Aug. 1 to 11 at Mall of Asia Arena where the top three placers will represent Asia in the World Basketball Championship in Madrid next year.

Reyes had initially named 17 men to the pool but lost two—Kelly Williams and Jared Dillinger—to injuries.

The firebrand mentor said he will go with the 15 that he has, together with naturalized center Marcus Douthit. ■

HOROSCOPE ARIES

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19) Take care not to get on a soapbox today, Aries. You have strong opinions on everything from religion to politics. You risk offending people if you expound on them. You’d be better off keeping your views to yourself. In fact, rather than try to change people’s minds with words, why not try and do it with actions? Set the right example.

It’s often a more effective form of persuasion.

TAURUS

CANCER

LIBRA

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22) You have big plans, Cancer, and your dreams may be keeping you from paying attention to your work. Don’t get too stressed. You’ve never missed a deadline, so you know that one way or another you will get everything done.

In the meantime, begin to make plans for your next getaway. Plaster your office with photos of exotic locations to satisfy your wanderlust for the time being.

LEO

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

Friends and money rarely mix, Taurus. Today a close friend may ask for a loan. Think carefully. Rather than take the easy route and say yes, you and your friend would be better served if you helped him or her figure out a way to earn the money. Perhaps you could offer a job or introduce your friend to someone else who can help. Be creative and you will find a solution that works for everyone.

GEMINI

Today you feel a tug of war between desires and obligations, Capricorn. If you’re smart about managing time, maybe you can satisfy both. You could be discouraged by how hard you’ve been working for minimal results. Take heart. You’re accomplishing more than you realize. Your strong work ethic is what keeps you from having fun. Everyone needs some downtime.

Work hard and then indulge your need to play.

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

VIRGO

You can expect to receive some good financial news today, Scorpio. Your mind races a mile a minute as you strategize ways to spend the money. If you aren’t careful, you will have the money spent before the check has even cleared! Why not divide the funds in half? You can invest half in a low-risk, long-term investment and the other half can be your fun money to do with as you please.

SAGITTARIUS

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21)

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21) Today could be filled with delays and mix-ups at the office, Gemini. You’d be well advised to remain as patient as possible. Take deep breaths and maintain your sense of humor. Most of what occurs today is outside your control. You may as well go with the flow and see where the day leads you. Make a point to relax with loved ones tonight.

(NOV 22 - DEC 21) This is a good day to make your list and check it twice, Virgo. There is room for improvement in the way you organize your life. Your system at home, such as it is, isn’t particularly efficient. Your bill paying is haphazard, and you may be surprised by how much you pay in late fees. Your in-box threatens to bury you. You need a system, Virgo!

If this isn’t your strong suit, hire some help.

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

You’re at risk of feeling emotionally overwhelmed today.

Don’t worry, Libra, it will all work out. Take some deep breaths and apply your intellect to the situation. Prioritize and organize. You will find that steadily and systematically you can conquer your obligations. Take time off to pay attention to your family. You deserve some quality time.

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20) It’s frustrating when work gets in the way of romance and social activities. This is what you feel today, Leo. Your thoughts are on your evening and weekend activities, but your obligations are on your desk.

Don’t despair. Simply make a commitment to do what’s expected of you. Enjoy yourself this evening, secure in the knowledge that you’ve fulfilled your obligations.

CAPRICORN

You might be surprised by how clever and creative you are today, Sagittarius. Just for fun, you may decide to pick up a paintbrush and try watercolor painting or perhaps writing some poetry. Whatever you attempt, you can be fairly sure that it will work out favorably. Your creative muse is there on your shoulder and waiting for you to make use of her!

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(JAN 20 - FEB 18) You need to give yourself more credit, Aquarius. When you set your mind to something, no matter how ambitious, you usually accomplish it. Remind yourself of this today, as you may feel bogged down and overwhelmed by obligations at work and home.

Pay attention to your finances. All signs indicate that you may have inadvertently let a bill or other obligation slip through the cracks.

PISCES

(FEB 19 - MAR 20) Today you’re bursting at the seams with energy and enthusiasm. Your personal and professional lives are going well, so it’s no wonder you feel joyful. The only downside is that you may be overwhelmed by work responsibilities.

Certainly there’s a lot to do, but you’re up to the task.

Buckle down and put in a last burst of effort so you can enjoy your evening free of guilt.

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

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Travel

Manila, After Dark

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MUCH has been said about the Philippines and its pristine beaches, historic attractions, festive destinations, and shopping delights. Many a blogger and travel writer have written the praises of these, attributing a plethora of adjectives and descriptive words to the beauty of the 7,7100 islands and all they have to offer.

I find, however, that Manila after dark has much to offer that many visitors have yet to discover. And by this, I am in no shape, form or fashion referring to Manila's seedier underbelly, but to its thriving music scene.

This is, perhaps, one of the diamonds in the rough and tumble city that is Manila.

I have often said that if you were to throw a guitar down on the streets of the Metro, someone is bound to pick it up and play you a tune. Very possibly with a dance, to boot.

Manila is truly a Metro of melody, rhythm and beat, from its musically gifted people, to its streets teeming with the sounds of everyday life. Vendors call out their wares in varied and distinct syllabicated measures, as jeepneys honk their horns in patterned sequences, while the sound of your favorite Karaoke tune wafts through the air from a nearby cafe, restaurant or bar.

This musicality takes on a heightened frenzy with the setting of the sun, with harmonies provided by cold beer and spicy street food.

Although there is an evergrowing diversity of spots to visit and explore after dark, from posh dance clubs, to hipster hangouts, I personally prefer those with live bands and a good old rock-and roll sensibility, hoochie-koo that I am. So here are my top 5 personal fave hang-out zones, where I can truly enjoy Manila after dark. You may want to stop in and check them out on your next trip to the city.

SAGUIJO CAFE + BAR Located in an old Spanish-style house on 7612 Guijo Street in Barangay San Antonio, Makati City, this nightspot has made its way into the hearts of music and art lovers all across Manila. Founded 8 years ago, saGuijo’s main mission and reason for being has always been twofold, yet synergistic: to provide a proper venue for true lovers of music, and to provide a location for unsigned local bands and indie talent to showcase their skills alongside more established local acts. With its Filipino artcum-Bohemian interiors, saGuijo is as interesting and artsy as it is homey. Guests are encouraged to pen their own graffiti on bathroom walls. On the second floor is an art gallery showcasing the work of up-and-coming visual artists, and Snow Tattoo shop, owned and operated by ink-mistress/art-icon, Sarah Gaugler and dynamic musician, Paolo Peralta.

SaGuijo offers cold (below zero) beer, hot music, good food, and a warm, welcoming vibe.

BIG SKY MIND Established in 1999, this unassuming two-story bar on E. Rodriguez Street in Quezon City is perhaps the best place to enjoy cheap, cold beer in an extremely relaxed and uplifting atmosphere. Big Sky has a surprisingly varied selection of reasonably priced mixed drinks and shooters as well, and a pretty extensive menu-selection of bar chow and food that is reminiscent of home-cooking . Newcomers are welcomed with a Cobra-wine shooter, which sets the mood for what often turns into a zany night of frenetic fun. Live bands play on occasion, and on most nights, the music play list (better know as the “iPod from hell”) is more than enough to get you moving and grooving ‘til the wee hours of the morning. Big Sky has the most amazing bar service, with uberefficient and friendly bartenders.

The perfect “after-hours” bar (it stays open until 5 am, TuesdaysSundays), it is my spot of choice for enjoying the company of friends, and simply just letting it all hang out.

B-SIDE This “flip-side” to the norm is located at The Collective, a trendy hodgepodge of restaurants, art shops, clothing stores, art labs and galleries which all share a common denominator of being a tad off the wall. Since its inception a few years ago, B-Side has become the venue for progressive, alternative eclectic music and events that define Manila’s counter-culture.

The venue is edgy, yet simple and elegant. B-Side’s signature mixed drink is served in white teapots, adding a touch of whimsy to the whole experience. Music is diverse, alternating from live rock bands, to DJ’s (local and international) and electronica groups, to reggae acts and experimental performers, with something to suit the most adventurous palate.

CRAFT BAR AND GRILL With a selection of hearty meal options (my picks of choice being the Parmesan cheese breaded chicken wings and Craft salad with yummy barbeque dressing) and an assortment of spirits and drinks, Craft Bar and Grill is a good place to go to when in the Taguig area.

Tucked away in the Fort Strip Entertainment Complex, this trendy venue serves up a selection of live music from a gamut of glam-rock cover bands (guaranteed to get you on your feet, with your very own air-guitar), alternative and pop-rock bands. Oh, and they do open mic nights, as well, allowing the audience to get in on the fun.

HANDLEBAR MANILA Touted as the “only full-fledged sports bar for bikers and expats”, and the “official home of the Mad Dog Motorcycle Club”, this bar and grill boasts a hardcore, biker-inspired, testosterone-crazed ambiance.

Situated at 31 Polaris Street, in Bel-Air, Makati City, black leather is definitely the order of the day (or, more accurately, the night) at this bar. I like it for its gritty rock-and-roll feel, juicy steaks, as well as classic-rock and blues live bands that play on a regular basis. Live bands alternate with sports broadcasts, and house music is an enjoyably nostalgic mix of classic rock, heavy metal, and grunge spanning from the 1970’s to the 1990’s. There are two tables, as well, should you hanker to shoot some pool. The crowd here is definitely mixed, with expat biker and sports enthusiasts often out numbering Manila denizens. Come ready to rock, not gawk.

Travel

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013

43

Tips to stay safe while camping or hiking

BY SARAH RATCHFORD The Canadian Press MARK Mosher loves going camping and hiking, but he never sets off on a journey without proper planning.

"The obvious thing is to let someone know where you're going," he says. "And know the area that you're going into."

Mosher makes a point of bringing a map of the trail and the area, which for him is usually in rural areas in B.C. He also makes sure he knows how long he'll be gone for so he can pack enough food and water.

As people across the country flee cities for the relaxation of a camp site during summer weekends, experts offer urbanites some reminders on how to stay safe while communing with nature.

No matter where in Canada you're pitching a tent, they say a little planning goes a long way.

Unpredictable weather

Inclement weather can crop up quickly and unexpectedly. Geoff Coulson, a warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada, says disaster can be avoided if an emergency plan is in place.

He says it's a good idea to get oriented in a campsite when you arrive, much the same way you would in a hotel room.

"It's important to scope out the safety plan during the calm of a sunny day when there is no threatening weather, so if it hits at 2 a.m., you're prepared," he says.

In thunder and lightning storms the safest spot to be is in a car with an all-metal roof. If that's not an option, he advises going further into the woods, as opposed to your tent, which has metal poles that pose a danger. Just make sure you don't settle under the tallest tree.

"Make every effort to get out of your tent," he says.

If you're in a flat area, he says it's a good idea to sit cross-legged in a low-lying area, but not a ditch, which will collect more water, allowing the lightning to travel more.

Many city folk are "divorced from nature," he points out, so they often forget how merciless mother nature can be. He says one of the first things you pack for camping should always be a flashlight with extra batteries, just in case.

Jeri Syroteuk, a spokeswoman with Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, located right along the Bay of Fundy, advises campers to pack layers of clothing.

Along the water, it's often five to 10 degrees colder than it is inland.

"That's really important because the weather changes quickly in this area, so bring a sweater and rain jacket," she says.

Don't go alone

Ontario Parks suggest making sure someone is aware of where you are at all times. That way, if you get lost, they'll have

a better chance of tracking you down.

It's a good idea to bring a cellphone too, especially since phones aren't just phones anymore, and can often double as a GPS. Ontario Parks also suggests bringing a whistle and having your campsite name and number on hand.

Mosher says he always makes a point of having an exit plan in case someone gets sick or breaks a limb. He tries to plan routes near more accessible roads, and advises bringing a GPS in case there's no cell reception, as is often the case in the wilderness.

"Being prepared is the major concern here," he says.

Ticks

According to The Public Health Agency of Canada, there are known tick populations in parts of Ontario, B.C., Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Quebec.

The best way to avoid playing host to a tick is to wear light clothing that covers the skin, footwear and socks that cover the feet, use repellent with DEET, and pay close attention to the groin, armpit and scalp areas at the end of the day to ensure no ticks are present.

Camp fires

The Ministry of Natural Resources posts tips on its website on how to build safe camp fires. The most important points to remember are to build them on bare patches of dirt and to keep the fire about 15 metres away from buildings or tents.

Be sun-savvy

Camping and hiking trips often call for extended periods of time in the sun.

Syroteuk cautions that it's always important to bring sunscreen and reapply often, even when travelling to national parks, which are often shady.

"You can burn even on a rainy or cloudy day," she says.

Though it's obvious, she says, it's still important to remember to stay hydrated.

If all else fails

There's an app for that. Parks Canada has launched a "learn to camp" app that's available for free on the app store and on the agency's website. â– www.canadianinquirer.net

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Canadian Medical... various medications were also dispensed to patients.

A 4-year-old patient with encephalocoele was referred to Manila by one of the team surgeons for surgery, as CMMS did not have a neurosurgeon on hand. All members contributed to send this young patient for treatment at the Dr. Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center through the assistance of the Philippine Band of Mercy and the Hydrocephalus Foundation of the Philippines. Another young patient with a hearing problem was sent to Davao for further treatment with the collective financial assistance given by the CMMS team.

There were a total of 65 volunteers from Canada and the Philippines who joined the mission, composed of surgeons, anaesthesiologists, dentists, family medicine specialists, nurses, audiologists and support staff. The dedicated volunteers from Canada included Dr. Dan Vargas who headed the mission; Dr. Bayani Ignacio, general surgeon from Sydney, Nova Scotia; Dr. Aimee Mabini from Toronto; Dr. Andy Chan, Dr. Kristelle Cheung; Dr. Ed Buenaventura; Dr. Rowena Balleza; Dr. Eugene Colobong; Dr. Divina McNary; Dr. Lindsay Ho Chung, Beth Dickinson, Toni Vargas, Rosemary Taylor, Rey Borge, Tina Maher, Cora Ignacio, Maria Paz Villacrusis, Maria Mata, Merlita Sulvita, Nida Marcelo, Michael Gartner, Akime Webb-Gartner, Amy Grant, Patrick Teodosio, Rose Casilla, Issa Robedillo, Lovelia Episcope, Maria Greaves, Tessie Villanueva,

Canada

FRIDAY MAY 10, 2013 46

❰❰ 20

Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Melissa Villanueva, Vanessa Pozon, Rene Trinidad, Val Balleza, Rick McNary, Laurie Hearty, Liberato Mata, Edith Colobong, Svetlana Obodovskaia, Tess Trinidad, Pablo Mabini, Brian Davidson, Perlita Borge, Brittany Grant, Henry Mayuga and Evelyn Mayuga, who is the over-all coordinator of missions. A team of plastic surgeons from the Philippines also performed OR procedures and cleft lip surgeries headed

by Dr. Jesusito Zubiri; Dr. Cesar Yabut, Dr. Arsenio Cabungcal, Dr. Michael Galicia, ENT surgeons; Dr. Karen Dumplao, Dr. Genilou Jimena, Dr. Scheherazade Tan, Dr. Arlene Cala-or, Dr. Francis Villarin, and Dr. James Dumdum. Dr. Joy Bellen and Dr. Naia Arafiles were the anaesthesiologists; Dr. Simoun Suguitan, dentist, and Dr. Ruben Arafiles, orthopedic surgeon were also with the team as well as a number of Philippine support staff. Mariano Robles Jr., Rizza Lao, Wilma Obusan, Grace dela Cruz, and Jose Atilano completed the CMMS mission team.

Another successful humanitarian effort has been completed with the collaborative

efforts of the CMMS and the RD (Rodrigo Sr. and Dolores Rivera) Foundation Inc. from General Santos City. The RD Foundation staff worked dedicatedly and untiringly in ensuring the delivery of this community outreach project. The Mindanao Medical Centre, through the generosity of its president, Dr. Lorendo Espinosa, and Dr. Warren and Sarah Jane Manilay, President and Financial Officer respectively, of Goldenstate College of GenSan, and a number of other commendable partners, made the mission a great success.

The work, nevertheless, continues for the members of CMMS as it gets ready for another fund-raising effort to support its next mission. It is set to sponsor a golf tournament at the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey on July 13, 2013, with a luxury car as a major prize for its Hole-in One (HIO) contest. Everyone is invited to support this charitable endeavor, and inquiries can be directed to Dr. Dan Vargas, at drvargas777@ yahoo.com, Edward Teodoro, at edward. teodoro@yahoo.com, or Evelyn Mayuga at hervyn88@gmail.com. ■

Editorial Assistant April Sescon Correspondents Lizette Lofranco-Aba Gigi Astudillo Angie Duarte Maria Ramona Ledesma Katherine Marfal Frances Grace Quiddaoen Agnes Tecson Graphic Designer Victoria Yong Illustration Danvic Briones Photographers Solon Licas Ryan Ferrer Angelo Siglos Operations and Marketing Head Laarni de Paula 1-888-668-6059 laarni.liwanag@canadianinquirer.net Sales & Advertising Alice Yong (778) 889-3518 alice.yong@canadianinquirer.net

Editorial Assistant Phoebe Casin

(TEF): An FSWP applicant must score at least 206 in reading, 248 in listening, and 309 in both speaking and writing on the TEF to meet the minimum language threshold of NCLC 7. ❰❰ 23

Labour Market Opinion

Starting May 4, 2013, CIC will no longer accept AEOs in support of an FSWP application. Instead, most offers of arranged employment will require a Labour Market Opinion.

Credential

Associate Editor Laarni de Paula

PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP

Newest Update...

Educational (ECA)

Editor Melissa Remulla-Briones editor@canadianinquirer.net

Assessment

Starting May 4, 2013 the introduction of the educational credential assessment (ECA) will take effect. Prospective applicants will need to have their Education Credentials assessed before they could submit their application. However, applicants should keep in mind the other program eligibility requirements, i.e.

whether they have a qualifying offer of arranged employment or are applying under the PhD stream or eligible occupations stream; and if they meet the minimum language threshold through a designated third-party test. Applicants who have Canadian educational credentials do not need to get an ECA, unless they are also submitting a foreign educational credential in support of their application.

The ECA process will determine if the foreign educational credential is authentic and equivalent to a completed credential in Canada. For prospective applicants, the ECA can provide a realistic understanding of how their foreign educational credentials are likely to be recognized in Canada.

As of April 17, 2013, four organizations have been designated by the Minister to provide ECA reports for purposes of immigrating to Canada under the FSWP. Additional organizations may be designated by CIC in the future. The designated organizations are:

• Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies; • International Credential Assessment Service of Canada; • World Education Services; and, • Medical Council of Canada.

Applicants should contact the designated organizations directly for further information on their documentation requirements, processing times and fees.

An ECA report is valid for 5 years from the date that it was issued by the designated organization. ■ Disclaimer: The above information is only intended as a general guide and must be verified by the reader. For more information on this topic or any other Canada Immigration matters please email Natie Sotana of BC HAPPY HOMES IMMIGRATION SERVICES at natiesotana@yahoo.ca. or visit www. sotanacanadaimm.com.

CLARIFICATION In PCI’s April 26 issue, articles on political parties and their values were juxtaposed with the main political figures in both the federal and provincial arenas to illustrate that the party values subsist despite the different actors and different levels of government. No endorsement, connection or relationship between the federal and provincial levels are implied. We apologize for any confusion.

Graphic Designer Shanice Garcia Association Publisher Lurisa Villanueva 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.: 1-888-668-6059 or 778-8893518 | Email: info@canadianinquirer.net or inquirerinc@gmail.com Member Canadian Association of Journalists National and Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada Richmond Chamber of Commerce

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