Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #113

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VOL. 5 NO. 113

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MAY 2, 2014

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US reporter raises rights violations under Aquino

‘More lawmakers dealt with Napoles’

What did Obama write in Malacañang’s guest book?

Filipino-Canadian in Focus: Armando Bacani

Everybody loves a mystery: A PCI Special

Obama reiterates pledge to secure PH ironclad

Years after death, the Poles applaud Pope John Paul II again as he achieves sainthood

BY MONIKA SCISLOWSKA The Associated Press KRAKOW, POLAND—Nine years after his death, tens of thousands of Poles lauded their beloved countryman, Pope John Paul II, as he was declared a saint in an unprecedented Vatican ceremony Sunday.

ALLIES NEVER STAND ALONE. President Benigno S. Aquino III watches as His Excellency Barack Obama, President of the United States of America, signs

❱❱ PAGE 21 Years after

the Palace Guest Book at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace on Monday (April 28, 2014).

PHOTO BY GIL NARTEA / ROBERT VIÑAS / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

BY NIKKO DIZON Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES—“Our commitment to defend the Philippines is ironclad and the United States will keep that commitment, because allies never stand alone,” US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday, repeating a statement he made at the state dinner on Monday night.

Obama addressed his brief, spontaneous remarks to 200 Filipino and American soldiers at the sweltering Army Gym in Fort Bonifacio before his departure after an overnight stop in Manila.

Quoting from the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT), Obama on Tuesday

vowed to defend the Philippines and warned potential aggressors that allies never stand alone.

Quoting from the MDT, Obama said that both nations have pledged to help defend each other “against external armed attacks, so that no potential aggressor could be under the illusion that either of them stands alone.”

He emphasized that “deepening our alliance is part of our broader vision for the Asia-Pacific,” a reference to his “pivot to Asia” policy.

Obama said that territorial integrity and sovereignty needed to be respected, reiterating support for the Philippines’ protest in the UN arbitral committee

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US reporter raises rights violations under Aquino

BY TJ A. BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES—US President Barack Obama on Monday did not raise the subject of human rights violations with President Aquino, but a foreign correspondent did.

Obama and Aquino fielded questions mostly about China and the new defense deal in their joint conference, but Aquino seemed caught off-guard by the question on how he was addressing the killings of journalists.

Aquino explained that the government established an interagency committee to look into extralegal killings, enforced disappearances, torture and other grave abuses of human rights.

He said the committee investigated 62 suspected cases of killings, and determined that only 10 of these constituted extrajudicial killings, and of the 10, only one happened during his watch.

“As far as journalists are concerned, perhaps the track record speaks for itself. The Maguindanao massacre involved something like 32 journalists.

There are presently something like

over a hundred people who have been indicted for this crime and are undergoing trial,” he told Fox News White House correspondent Ed Henry.

“But that doesn’t mean we have stopped to look for others potentially involved in this particular killing,” he added.

Fifty-eight people, including a group of journalists, were riding in a convoy of cars to Shariff Aguak, capital of Maguindanao province, when they were waylaid allegedly by men of the Ampatuan clan, including policemen and soldiers, in Ampatuan town.

Then Buluan Vice Mayor Esmael Mangudadatu sent his wife and female family members to file his certificate of candidacy for governor against a member of the Ampatuan clan in the following year’s elections. Journalists joined them to cover the unprecedented move.

They were shot and buried in a hilltop overlooking the highway excavated by a backhoe.

Aquino said silencing critics wasn’t a policy of the administration, and

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Philippine News

MAY 2, 2014

FRIDAY 4

More ‘Yolanda’ bodies found

BY MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer FIVE MONTHS after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” leveled large swathes of the Eastern Visayas, dead bodies continue to turn up.

Seven bodies were recovered in Tacloban City over the weekend as government workers scoured the area for victims of one of the most destructive typhoons to hit the country, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said yesterday.

The NDRRMC said the death toll from Yolanda now stood at exactly 6,300, most of them still unidentified, while the typhoon left almost P89.6 billion worth of property and infrastructure damage.

It said 1,061 persons remain missing and a total of 28,689 were injured in different typhoon-related incidents.

The typhoon, which made landfall six times before leaving the Philippine area of responsi-

bility, affected some 3.4 million families composed of 16 million individuals in nine regions.

The NDRRMC said Yolanda, which triggered storm surges several meters high, displaced four million individuals as it knocked down one million houses.

The agriculture sector bore the brunt of the typhoon’s wrath, with P21.8 billion worth of agricultural crops destroyed.

The unimaginable destruction wrought by Yolanda prompted President Aquino to create the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Rehabilitation and Recovery headed by a former senator, Panfilo Lacson.

The government has admitted that much still needs to be done to ensure the recovery of the typhoon-ravaged communities, focusing first on the construction of temporary shelters for displaced residents.

The Aquino administration has earmarked billions of pesos to fund various rehabilitation projects.

Two weeks ago, Interior Secretary Mar Roxas led a whirlwind inspection of typhoonstricken areas in Leyte and Capiz provinces, distributing more than P1 billion in financial aid to local government units.

Roxas also disclosed that the government has set aside close to P4 billion to fund various projects in all towns and cities, not just the victims of Yolanda, under the Aquino administration’s Grassroots Participatory Budget Process.

Meanwhile, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman is not ruling out the possibility that some women victims of the supertyphoon may have resorted to prostitution in the evacuation centers in Samar and Leyte for their daily subsistence though she said there is as yet no evidence to prove this.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Soliman said a team from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was still gathering data on the media reports of

www.canadianinquirer.net

The NDRRMC said the death toll from Yolanda now stood at exactly 6,300, most of them still unidentified, while the typhoon left almost P89.6 billion worth of property and infrastructure damage.

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

prostitution in the evacuation centers in those provinces as well as in Zamboanga City.

Soliman said the DSWD had no evidence yet as far as the

evacuation centers in Leyte and Samar are concerned. ■ With a report from Cynthia D. Balana

Philippine News

5 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

12 senators on Janet ‘pork’ list, says Ping

BY BEN O. DE VERA Philippine Daily Inquirer OVER A hundred government officials from the present and previous administrations have been implicated by so-called pork barrel scam queen Janet Lim-Napoles in a draft affidavit one-fourth ream-thick that her family provided rehabilitation czar and former Sen. Panfilo Lacson last month. The names—listed down on two pieces of paper with two rows each—included at least 12 current and previous senators, many congressmen and even Cabinet-level officials, Lacson told reporters on Wednesday.

“Sa Senate, may quorum so to speak, at least 12 senators. Sa House (of Representatives) mahaba ’yung listahan. There were names you would expect to be there. Mayroong mga pangalan na nandoon na maingay, mayroong hindi masyadong maingay, mayroong tahimik—basta, halo-halo doon. May nakakasorpresa, may mga na- expect ko na talagang dapat nandoon kahit hindi pa nabanggit sa media at hearings sa Senado at House, based on my own information,” Lacson divulged on the sidelines of the Financial Executives of the Philippines (Finex) general membership meeting.

The participation of the names implicated by Napoles was not necessarily in the form of receipt of kickbacks and commissions but in the transactions that made up the entire scam.

“May insertions, may savings… Basta pera ng gobyerno na napakialaman, napunta sa

Janet Napoles (left) sensed “real threats” to her life. Former Senator Panfilo Lacson said the Napoles family visited him on March 24.

INQUIRER FILE PHOTOS

mga foundations, at nagkaroon ng kumisyunan,” Lacson said.

The former senator, who never touched the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) allocated to his office during his stint, however, refused to name the personalities, which also included executive officials from the Aquino as well as previous administrations. A number of the government officials’ staff members were also on the list, he said.

Lacson related that a former employee who was a friend of Napoles’ husband Jimmy approached him last month, saying that the pork barrel scam mastermind will “tell all, sasabihin lahat-lahat ng nalalaman niya.”

The rehab czar was approached by the Napoles family because Janet told her husband that “tiyak naming wala kayong pork barrel at hindi kayo sangkot diyan,” he related.

A meeting with Jimmy and two of the Napoles children with Lacson in his office ensued

by March 24 or 25, Lacson said, after which the family left with him a folder containing a draft, unsigned affidavit of Janet.

He said the document contained a narration of events from the year 2000 that traced how Napoles “grew” her business.

Lacson, however, said the draft affidavit had “gaps,” hence was short of a tell-all. “Mayroon din akong information from other sources na wala doon,” he said.

“Kailangan ng mga dokumento kasi that’s a mere say-so coming from Napoles but I’m sure hindi niya isusulat ’yun kung wala siyang basehan,” he added.

“Naniniguro lang ako kasi kung idudulog ko ito, makikipagusap ako sa Ombudsman o kaya kay President Aquino, gusto ko ’yung properly evaluated at my level… Hindi ko pa nga sinabi kay President Aquino

na lumalapit sa akin si Napoles kasi gusto ko solid ang hawak ko bago ako makipag-usap sa kinauukulan,” Lacson said.

The draft affidavit left with Lacson detailed commissions of 40-50 percent, in pesos and up to the smallest centavos, including the special allotment release order (Saro) numbers, the date of the transactions, how the transactions were made, who were paid commissions and who were their agents, according to Lacson.

With Janet soon to undergo biopsy for a potential uterus cancer on top of “real threats” posed to her life, Lacson said he asked the Napoles family to also provide him other documents that would back up the claims and serve as cross reference.

Jimmy then worked on setting a date when Lacson and Janet could speak, until news broke out that the pork barrel scam queen had already con-

tacted Justice Secretary Leila de Lima.

“I’m glad she contacted Secretary De Lima, at least the information will be in good hands and put to good use. I believe Secretary De Lima is the right person to approach; she’s no nonsense, may assurance na hindi masa- sanitize ang information. Dapat walang pipipliin mapakaibigan, kaalyado o kaaway man, basta backed by documentary evidence, dapat isama sa kaso,” Lacson said.

He said the draft affidavit given to him has a “big similarity” with that submitted to De Lima.

“Mas nadidiin ’yung tatlong senators, ganoon din ang tono,” Lacson said, referring to Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Jinggoy Estrada.

When asked if it happens that some of the names implicated

by Napoles will not be investigated, Lacson said he will personally testify about what he knows.

“Nasa kanya (De Lima) ‘yung bola ngayon, at ako naman personally pinagkakatiwalaan ko siya na iha- handle niya properly ‘yung information o ebidensya na ibibigay sa kanya. But in the remote possibility na ma- sanitize ’’yung listahan, I will always be here to fill the gap. Kung sakaling makita ko na may coverup, ako naman ’ yung magsusustain n’ung dapat malaman ng publiko,” Lacson said.

He said the Department of Justice should not relent in its pursuit of making everyone involved in the pork barrel scam accountable. “Dapat kapag corruption ang issue, walang hinay-hinay; dapat todo-bigay,” Lacson said. ■

Senator hopes PH will also get same vow

BY NORMAN BORDADORA Philippine Daily Inquirer SENATE MAJORITY Leader Alan Peter Cayetano hopes US President Barack Obama will categorically state that the United States will defend the Philippines if it is attacked by China over disputed islands in the West Philippine Sea. In an interview with Japan’s Yomiuri newspaper ahead of his departure for a four-nation

tour of the Asia-Pacific region that began on Wednesday, Obama said the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, being administered by Japan, fell within the scope of the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security, and an attack

by China on Japan over those islands would invite a reaction from the United States.

Speaking at a news forum yesterday, Cayetano said he hoped Obama, whose tour of the region also takes in the

Philippines, would categorically state that the United States is likewise obligated under its Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines.

“In the case of Japan, they made it very clear that these islands are covered by the defense treaty. So that’s what the Philippines wants and that’s what the Filipinos need, I think, at this point in time—a very clear statement from the United States through their president saying that these islands, this area, is www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine territory,” Cayetano said, referring to Panatag Shoal (Scarborough Shoal), Ayungin Shoal (Second Thomas Shoal) and other islands in the Spratly archipelago in the West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea within the Philippines’ 327-kilometer exclusive economic zone.

China has seized Panatag Shoal and has been harassing Philippine vessels at Ayungin Shoal since Manila, which has the weakest military in the re-

gion, took the dispute to the United Nations for arbitration in January last year.

“I am hoping that a statement will be made when the [US] president visits,” Cayetano said.

Obama is arriving next Monday, after visits to South Korea and Malaysia.

He will meet with President Aquino in Malacañang for wide-ranging discussions that may include China’s incursions into Philippine territory in the South China Sea. ■

Philippine News

MAY 2, 2014

FRIDAY 6

‘More lawmakers dealt with Napoles’

BY GIL CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES— More members of the 12th Congress (2001-2004) were likely to have dealt with suspected pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles, who cornered the government’s P407million computer supply contract in 2002 and 2003.

Current Deputy Speaker Carlos Padilla, who was the House minority leader in the 12th Congress, confirmed that funds were released for the Department of Transportation and Communications’ computerization program more than a decade ago but said he was unaware if Napoles’ Jo-Chris Trading had hogged the contract and how the computers were divided among the minority bloc members.

“We did not know then who Napoles was and whether she had transactions with the government. She only became popular recently. Ultimately, however, it is the agency concerned,

like the DOTC, that implements the program and decides which company or trader is awarded the contract,” Padilla said.

Confirmation needed Lawyer Levito Baligod had provided the Inquirer with documents that showed that the House minority bloc had received P89.885-million worth of computers from Jo-Chris Trading in 2002 and another P40.956-million worth in 2003.

In a phone interview, Padilla said there were 21 to 25 members of the House minority bloc at the time but he declined to name them as he had yet to confirm if the computers were actually delivered and how much was allocated for each member.

Padilla clarified that the funds for the DOTC computerization program had come neither from the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel nor from congressional insertions as claimed by Baligod, who represents some whistle-blowers against Napoles.

“It was a lump sum item that was part of the president’s bud-

get. We (minority bloc) scrutinized it on where it would go because we wanted an assurance that our districts would not suffer from the allocation of resources just because we were not part of the majority,” Padilla said.

“Our concerns then during budget deliberations were to ensure that lump sum items in the budget were properly scrutinized and implemented. That the amounts were distributed to districts based on need and not political considerations, he added.”

For the record

Padilla said he would wait to get the official records of the program before making any further comment.

But he added: “For the record, not a single centavo of my PDAF had been set aside through the DOTC.” Aside from minority members, lawmakers belonging to the House majority bloc at the time were also likely to be named as having dealt with Napoles since close to P60 million

www.canadianinquirer.net

in DOTC computerization funds was released to them, led by incumbent Majority Leader Neptali Gonzales II and then MalabonNavotas Rep. Felipe Sandoval II. The documents did not identify the majority members who received the funds.

Mikey’s denial

The lawmakers named in the documents, however, were former Senators Manuel Villar, Tessie Aquino-Oreta, Robert Jaworski and the late Robert Barbers, and former Representatives Zenaida Ducut of Pampanga and former Pampanga Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo.

Through his legal counsel, Ferdinand Topacio, Arroyo issued a statement denying that he received DOTC funds that went to Napoles.

“I wish to state for the record that I had made no endorsement, by any means, of any funds purportedly coming from a certain SARO issued by former Budget Secretary Emilia

Boncodin in October of 2002 and November of 2003, in my capacity as a member of the House of Representatives.

Congressman in 2004

“Official records will show that I first became congressman representing the second district of Pampanga only on July 1, 2004, as part of the 13th Congress. Therefore, I could not have had any access to funds released to Congress by way of congressional initiatives or insertions before that time,” Arroyo said.

The documents showed that Arroyo received the DOTC funds when he was vice governor of Pampanga in 2003.

In 2004, he replaced Ducut as Pampanga’s second-district representative. ■

Philippine News

7 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Obama sees big reveal: Jeepneys out, Comet in

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES—Move over, Beast. Here comes Jeepney 1.

With his shiny, bomb-proof presidential limousine—dubbed “The Beast” by the US Secret Service—a few steps away, President Barack Obama briefly boarded a zero-emission electric jeep envisioned to replace the gas-guzzling jeepneys on Metro Manila’s roads.

A staunch supporter of efforts to alleviate the impact of climate change, Obama appeared impressed as he stepped inside the electric jeep on Tuesday, his suit taken off because of Manila’s humid summer weather.

Entering through the side door, the 6-foot-one-inch world leader barely had enough headroom to stand inside the electric jeep, nicknamed Comet (City Optimized Managed Electric Transport).

Obama tried the Comet in a tent outside Sofitel Philippine Plaza hotel— where he had stayed overnight—before going to Fort Bonifacio for a speaking engagement.

Obama upbeat

“This will be a showcase,” Montler said. “The whole world will be watching not only how they drive and how they perform but the fact that [there will be a removal of ] the carbon diozide, the effect of that on climate change.”

He felt that Obama was upbeat on the project given his known advocacy for the environment.

“It was really positive. He said that’s why he’s here, because of what’s going on. He sees it as an answer to pollution,” Montler said, relaying snippets of the conversation with the US president that was not audible to reporters, who had been cordoned off.

He said Obama even asked how many people could fit on board the e-jeep, to which Montler replied in jest: “Sixteen Americans or 21 Filipinos.”

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GET takes care of the software side, including the fleet management system for dispatch and pickup—there will be designated pickup points—and a cashless, prepaid card-based fare system based on the current fare standard of P8 minimum fare.

Powered by lithium ion batteries, a Comet could cover up to 80 kilometers for every full charge cycle at less than half the cost, with the drivers paying for fuel and with zero carbon-dioxide emissions, Tiñga said.

This would support efforts for cleaner air in a city where about 85 percent of pollution is caused by vehicles.

Obama says new Philippines military pact aims to improve Asia security, not counter China

BY MONIKA SCISLOWSKA The Associated Press MANILA, PHILIPPINES—President Barack Obama said a 10-year agreement signed Monday to give the U.S military greater access to Philippine bases will help promote peace and stability in the region and that he hopes China’s dominant power will allow its neighbours to prosper on their own terms.

Signed as Obama arrived in Manila, the Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement will give American forces temporary access to selected military camps and allow them to preposition fighter jets and ships. Although the deal is being perceived as a U.S. effort to counter Chinese aggression in the region, Obama said his message to Beijing is that America wants to partner with China in upholding international law.

“Our goal is not to counter China. Our goal is not to contain China. Our goal is to make sure international rules and

norms are respected and that includes in the area of international disputes,” Obama said at a news conference with Philippine President Benigno Aquino III at the Malacanang Palace.

Obama’s overnight visit to the Philippines is the last stop on a weeklong Asia tour that also included Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. At each stop along his tour, Obama reaffirmed the U.S. treaty commitments to defend its Asian allies, including in their territorial disputes with China. He said in Manila that the U.S. takes no specific position on those disputes, but believes China should resolve disputes with its neighbours the same way the U.S. does—through dialogue.

“We don’t go around sending ships and threatening folks,” Obama said.

With its anemic military, the Philippines has struggled to bolster its territorial defence amid China’s increasingly assertive behaviour in the oil- and gas❱❱ PAGE 8 Obama says

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most interested about the e-jeep’s mitigating effects on pollution and its impact on the livelihood of jeepney drivers.

“The biggest deal for him is air pollution. He said, ‘If you guys can get this thing to work, it will be of big benefit,’” said former Taguig Rep. Sigfrido Tiñga, now global president of Global Electric Transport (GET) Ltd., the electric vehicle’s developer.

Tiñga said he had seen enough of the 1 Corinthians 15:58(ERV) Metro’s transport woes during his time Price tag in Congress.

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Philippine News

MAY 2, 2014 FRIDAY 8

Obama says... rich South China Sea, which Obama flew over on his way here, according to the Air Force One cockpit. Chinese paramilitary ships took effective control of the disputed Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing ground off the northwestern Philippines, in 2012. Last year, Chinese coast guard ships surrounded another contested offshore South China Sea territory, the Second Thomas Shoal.

Aquino, standing next to Obama in front of a lush backdrop of tropical plants, said the new agreement “takes our security co-operation to a higher level of engagement, reaffirms our countries’ commitment to mutual defence and security, and promotes regional peace and stability.”

Still, the increased U.S. military role drew consternation from some Filipino activists, who say the agreement reverses democratic gains achieved when huge American military bases were shut down in the early 1990s, ending a nearly century-long military presence in the former U.S. colony.

Some 800 of those activists burned mock U.S. flags and chanted “no-bama, no bases, no war” on the road leading to the gates of the palace where Obama met with Aquino. Others burned an effigy of Obama riding a chariot pulled by Aquino, who was depicted as a dog.

Seeking to allay concerns, ❰❰ 7

Obama said at the outset of his remarks that the U.S. wasn’t trying to reclaim bases or open new ones. Instead, he said, the agreement will improve maritime security and hasten response to regional natural disasters.

PHOTO BY BENHUR ARCAYAN / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

Obama said at the outset of his remarks that the U.S. wasn’t trying to reclaim bases or open new ones. Instead, he said, the agreement will improve maritime security and hasten response to regional natural disasters.

Yet even as he moved to increase America’s military presence in Asia, Obama pushed back against suggestions that an undercurrent of weakness in his foreign policy has enabled the type of festering crises that have become distractions even during Obama’s trip to Asia. Reviewing his de-

cision-making on Russia, Syria and other global hot-spots, Obama said he’s strengthened the U.S. position in the world even if his tactics “may not always be sexy.”

“For some reason, many who were proponents of what I consider to be a disastrous decision to go into Iraq haven’t really learned the lesson of the last decade,” Obama said of his more hawkish critics. “Why? I don’t know.”

Honouring Obama at a state dinner later at the palace, Aquino presented Obama with the “Order of Sikatuna,” a national

award recognizing exceptional service to the Philippines and its global relations. Obama was given the rank of “Raja,” a distinction bestowed only on heads of state, and said he was deeply honoured.

“I accept it in the spirit in which it has been bestowed, with a commitment to continuing to depend the bonds between our two great nations,” Obama said as some 300 guests watched from long tables adorned with baskets of tomatoes, red peppers, figs and other local produce.

Under the new military

agreement, Filipino facilities would remain under Philippine control and U.S. forces would rotate in and out for joint training, as some already do, and not be based in the country, he said. The Philippine Constitution bars permanent U.S. military bases, although hundreds of American military personnel have been deployed in the southern Philippines since 2002 to provide counterterrorism training to Filipino soldiers fighting Muslim militants.

Many details, including the size and duration of the U.S. military presence, remain to be worked out with the Philippine government. The White House has declined to say which places are being considered under the agreement, but that the long-shuttered U.S. facility at Subic Bay could be one of the locations.

U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg and Philippine Defence Secretary Voltaire Gazmin signed the agreement at the main military camp in the capital, Manila, shortly before Obama’s arrival in the country on Monday. Obama planned to pay his respects Tuesday at the U.S. military cemetery at Fort Bonifacio and address U.S. and Philippine troops before returning to Washington. ■ Associated Press writers Oliver Teves and Teresa Cerojano in Manila contributed to this report.

SC junks motions vs cybercrime law

BY VINCENT CABREZA Philippine Daily Inquirer BAGUIO CITY—The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed all pending motions for reconsideration of its Feb. 18 ruling that the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012 (Republic Act No. 10175) was constitutional, except for a provision that grants the Department of Justice the power to block websites.

Lawyer Theodore Te, the high court’s spokesperson, said “the same justices maintained their [dissenting votes in the February decision],” referring to Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno and Associate Justices Antonio Carpio, Arturo Brion, Jose Men-

doza and Marvic Leonen.

As in the February session when the court ruled on the law, Associate Justices Presbitero Velasco and Estela Perlas-Bernabe did not take part in the deliberations, Te said.

He said rules do not allow the court from hearing a second motion for reconsideration.

Netizens’ outrage

Netizens were outraged by the cybercrime law primarily because it allows the government to prosecute online bloggers, social media participants and online journalists, for criminal libel.

The law, which was designed to combat online child pornography and other cybercrimes,

was suspended for a year when its constitutionality was challenged.

The court dismissed 15 motions for reconsideration filed by various petitioners, among them Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, the National Press Club and the Philippine Internet Freedom Alliance.

The petitioners questioned 19 provisions of the law. In February, the court struck down four of these provisions as unconstitutional: Section 4 (c) which punishes anyone who posts unsolicited commercial information or spams; Section 12 which grants government the authority to record data traffic in real time; Section 19 www.canadianinquirer.net

which allows the government to block websites, and Section 7 that deals with the prosecution of an offender for online libel because it violates the prohibition on double jeopardy.

Double jeopardy is a legal principle which states that no individual can be prosecuted

and convicted twice for the same crime.

The high court ruled that the law merely identifies the computer and the Internet as another medium for the publication of libelous materials, but libel is already punished by the Revised Penal Code. ■

Philippine News

9 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Napoles spills beans on 3 senators-De Lima

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer JANET LIM-NAPOLES wept when she saw Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on Monday night in her room at Ospital ng Makati.

“She was tearful when she first saw me. When I entered her room, she was praying the rosary. There were pictures of Mama Mary and Jesus Christ.”

For the next five hours—from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m.—Napoles, fearing for her life, gave what De Lima described as a “tell-all” account of her role in the alleged P10-billion pork barrel scam for which plunder charges have been recommended by the Office of the Ombudsman against her and Senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr. Asked in a news conference if Napoles confirmed the involvement of the senators, De Lima replied, “Yes, absolutely.”

“She really knows all the events, all those whom she dealt with, who she directly spoke with, who she directly gave [kickbacks] to and who received through conduits, agents—it’s there,” De Lima said of the affidavit Napoles executed and signed at the end of the session before dawn yesterday.

The justice secretary said Napoles showed her “some documents” and told her that there were more incriminating papers that she could produce on the case that marks the first time senators have been indicted for plunder. The three senators have denied any wrongdoing.

Napoles was represented by her lawyer during the hospital meeting. De Lima was accompanied by her staff from the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation.

Napoles’ narrative was taken down, and at the end of the meeting she signed the statement.

No preconditions

De Lima said there were no preconditions for the meeting, an offshoot of negotiations that began two weeks ago with Napoles’ lawyer. She said she told the lawyer that the meeting “should be tell-all, that she should be truthful, should tell the truth, no more no less.”

“There was no commitment that she will be made a state witness. My only commitment was that if her statement is already here, we will evaluate, study it and validate it very seriously and exhaustively so that we can determine what is the next step to take, to determine if she can be a state witness, of which she expressed the desire to be one,” she said.

She said it was up to the Ombudsman to determine if Napoles was needed as a state witness in the plunder case, a nonbailable offense punishable by life imprisonment. The meeting was postponed twice.

After securing approval from President Aquino, De Lima said she went to see Napoles at the tightly secured hospital.

“There will be further sessions with her for follow up, additional and clarificatory questions because there are simply too many details,” she said at the news conference after she briefed Mr. Aquino of the meeting with Napoles.

According to De Lima, Napoles was worried about her security and revealed that she and her family had been getting death threats. The justice secretary said she convinced Napoles to make a statement, which she signed.

“At first, she was just telling her story very candidly and continuously. But I told her it would be useless if she’ll only be talking to me and I won’t have any document to hold on to and would not be able to preserve those facts that she was telling me if she won’t execute

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima says in press conference that the government has now a strong case against senators Juan Ponce Enrile, Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada and Ramon “Bong” Revilla regarding the P10-billion pork barrel scam.

PHOTO FROM ISSUES.PH

a statement, so she agreed to do so,” De Lima recounted.

“As to whether or not it’s really a tell-all, or more importantly, whether or not what she would be telling is the whole truth, that remains to be seen.

That is exactly part of our evaluation or assessment,” she said.

Death threats

De Lima said one of her requirements to Napoles was that she give the names of those who were involved in the pork barrel scam, “irrespective of political color.” She said there would be “no sanitizing.”

Security was the “foremost” reason behind Napoles’ decision to open up on the alleged diversion of the congressional Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) to kickbacks and ghost projects of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) purportedly controlled by the businesswoman.

De Lima added that Napoles wanted to speak to her because something could happen to her during the surgery, scheduled later last night.

“She realized that the more she remains silent and does not say anything, the more she is at risk. And in fact, she recounted instances of alleged security threats made through text,

www.canadianinquirer.net

calls, to her family, etc. She realizes that now—that the more she’ll keep silent, the more she’ll be an open target. She becomes safer, so to speak, if the statement is here. And now that the statement is here, let it be a notice to those who are minded to do her harm because of what she knows: You no longer have the motivation to silence her,” De Lima said.

The justice secretary said one reason the government was exerting efforts to secure Napoles at the Philippine National Police antiterrorist camp at Sta. Rosa, Laguna, was the “expectation that she will talk one of these days.”

She said she never believed Napoles’ denials during her testimony before the Senate blue ribbon committee last November that she had nothing to do with the diversion to kickbacks of PDAF allocations designed to ease rural poverty.

When asked if there were “surprises” during Napoles’ account of the scam, De Lima replied, “There were really lot of details,” including who directly received kickbacks from Napoles herself.

Malampaya Fund

She said Napoles also spoke about the alleged P900-mil-

lion scam involving the diversion of the government share in the operation of gas wells in Malampaya, off Palawan, to ghost projects. The case allegedly involved former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was named in a letter of complaint for plunder against several dozen people sent to the Ombudsman in October. The fund secured by the Department of Agrarian Reform was for victims of back-to-back storms in 2009.

Napoles went into hiding after a Makati court issued a warrant for her arrest last August, but after two weeks and fearing for her life she surrendered to President Aquino, who escorted her to the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame. She is detained for alleged serious illegal detention of her former employee, Benhur Luy, who has turned against her.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said Napoles’ tell-all testimony was a “significant development in the quest for truth.”

However, becoming a state witness was not on Napoles’ agenda when she sought a meeting with De Lima, according to Bruce Rivera, the businesswoman’s lawyer. “Maybe she was just afraid of her sickness,” said Rivera. “Probably she just wanted to talk to her.”

Napoles was scheduled to undergo a surgical operation for the removal of the cyst in her uterus late last night, for which she had been on a hospital furlough the past three weeks for a procedure critics said required only four days. Rivera said that while Napoles was having second thoughts on having the surgery, her doctors insisted it should be done as soon as possible.

“Time is of the essence so they said it has to be done today,” Rivera told the INQUIRER in an interview at Ospital ng Makati. ■

Philippine News

MAY 2, 2014 FRIDAY 10

Search for 174 Etihad passengers intensified Philippine Daily Inquirer HEALTH AUTHORITIES have opened a Facebook account, bought newspaper ad space for the names of 174 out of the 415 passengers of a flight from the Middle East who had yet to submit themselves as of Monday to nose-and-throat swab test for a deadly virus and enlisted the help of the police in tracing them.

President Benigno Aquino III would have wanted that all the copassengers of a male Filipino nurse, who initially tested positive for the deadly Middle East Respiratory SyndromeCorona Virus (MERS-CoV), be contacted by the Department of Health (DOH) by Tuesday.

At a press briefing, Dr. Lyndon Lee Suy, DOH Emerging Infectious Diseases program manager, on Tuesday said that Mr. Aquino had strongly recommended that the agency’s contact-tracing efforts for all the passengers of Etihad Airways Flight No. EY 0424 should have been completed a week after they had arrived in the country.The male nurse, who arrived in Manila from the United Arab Emirates on April 15, was initially diagnosed with MERS-CoV while he was still at the UAE. But the two tests conducted on him by the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM) in Muntinlupa City yielded negative results.

The nurse came into contact with a Filipino paramedic who died of MERS-CoV in the UAE. “The strong recommendation by the President is for us to be able to contact and locate all the passengers within today.

We are working hard and all our efforts are focused on finding these passengers. We are optimistic we can meet the President’s deadline,” Lee Suy said.

“So far, we’re doing good.

We don’t see any problem with (contact tracing). But of course, the faster, the better,” he added.

MERS-CoV is a communicable disease that may be passed on to others through close contact with a positive carrier. It has an incubation period of 10 to 14 days and symptoms may include fever, coughing, sneezing and runny nose two weeks after exposure.

The World Health Organization has recorded 242 confirmed cases of MERS-CoV, in-

cluding 93 deaths, since it was first discovered in March 2012 in Saudi Arabia.

At least eight overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have been found positive for the virus.

Two of them—one in Saudi Arabia and another in the UAE— reportedly died on Aug. 29 and April 10, respectively.

Lee Suy declined to provide details on how many new passengers the DOH had already contacted, how many had been tested, or even the results of the tests. “It is up to Malacañang to release specific numbers,” he said.

51 from Central Luzon

At least 18 passengers of Flight EY 0424 from Central Luzon have tested negative for MERS-CoV, a DOH official here said on Tuesday.

The results of swabbing for saliva samples on 30 other passengers from the region were expected in two to three days, said Dr. Rhodora Cruz, a DOH medical specialist.

They belong to a set of 51 passengers residing in Central Luzon, she said.

In this batch, three persons have yet to be traced or have not reported to Jose B. Lingad Regional Memorial Hospital, a DOH-run facility in the City of San Fernando, the Pampanga capital. It has reserved an isolation room for MERS-CoV patients.

Of the 51 passengers, 19 are from Bulacan province, 11 from Pampanga province, 7 each from Bataan province and Nueva Ecija province, 4 from Tarlac province and 3 from Zambales province, according to Cruz.

Cruz said only two patients had agreed to be confined for observation. The rest preferred home confinement.

Seven of the nine passengers of Etihad, who are from Laguna province, have tested negative of MERS-CoV. Dr. Judy Rondilla, Laguna health director, said among the nine passengers, seven had undergone the nose-and–throat swab test and had been “given clearance” that they were negative of the virus.

She said the test for the two others were still being facilitated as of posting time.

Rondilla told the INQUIRER in a telephone interview that a composite team of health workers, Philippine National Police and other service agencies

President Benigno Aquino III would have wanted that all the co-passengers of a male Filipino nurse, who initially tested positive for the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-Corona Virus (MERS-CoV), be contacted by the Department of Health (DOH) immediately.

FACEBOOK PAGE OF INQUIRER.NET

had coordinated, and worked overtime starting Good Friday to find the passengers so they could get in touch with the health department and be sent at once to RITM for the test.

8 from Bicol

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (Owwa) in the Bicol region has traced eight Bicolanos, who were among the 174 passengers who have yet to be tested for the MERS-CoV, the Owwaregional office said on Tuesday.

Director Jocelyn Hapal of Owwa-Bicol said there were four from the province of Camarines Sur, 1 from Camarines Norte and three from Albay who were referred to the DOH while two more Bicolanos from the same flight stayed in Manila.

Hapal said the DOH had already made contact with the eight Bicolanos and the tests were done but the results had yet to be known.

Owwa Administrator Carmelita Dimzon said the labor department-attached agency was “part of the continuing government efforts” to trace and contact the passengers of Flight EY 0424.

Dimzon said the task of the agency was “limited to tracing the OFW passengers who happen to be Owwa members.”

Six Negrenses

In Negros Occidental province, four of the six Negrenses quarantined for possible MERS-CoV tested negative and were released, Dr. Ernell Tumimbang, provincial health officer, said yesterday. The six Negrenses were on Flight EY 0424. Tumimbang said the Negrenses identified to be on the same flight were quarantined as a precaution until their test www.canadianinquirer.net

results come out.

Of the six, four are from Bacolod City, one from Talisay City and one from Toboso town, he said.

The four from Bacolod City—a male engineer, female manager, a female nurse and a male seafarer, as well as a male technician from Talisay were quarantined at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital, Tumimbang said.

However, two from Bacolod tested negative for MERS-CoV and were released on Monday, and two others from Toboso and Talisay were released on Tuesday.

11 from Central Mindanao

Health officials in North Cotabato province are closely monitoring a foreigner and three OFWs who recently returned home on Etihad Airways.

Dr. Eva Rabaya, North Cotabato Integrated Provincial Health chief (Ipho), told reporters on Tuesday that health workers had found and talked to the OFWs and the foreigner whom she did not identify.

There were 11 Etihad passengers who returned home to Central Mindanao last week.

Dr. Teogenes Baluma, regional director for DOH-12, said three of the passengers were confined in a government hospital in Cotabato City undergoing medical examination to determine if they have the virus.

Among them was a 60-yearold man from Iloilo City who visited Isulan, Sultan Kudarat province.

Rabaya and Jenny Ventura, speaking for DOH-12, have appealed to the public not to panic and avoid direct contacts with their relatives who recently returned from the Middle East.

“To date, there’s no con-

firmed virus carrier and there’s nothing to worry about because health officials are working on it,” Ventura said.

North Cotabato has four passengers from the Etihad flight, Rabaya said.

“They are now undergoing quarantine. Three are Filipinos and one foreigner,” Rabaya said without naming the patients.

She said the foreigner was invited by an OFW-friend from Kidapawan City.

“Our health workers took nose and throat swabs, and we are waiting for the results,” she said of the OFWs. “They were told to stay home and to isolate themselves in their homes. They and their families were advised to wear masks,” Rabaya added.

Lee Suy said the President did not want to be caught unawares that there was one case of MERS-CoV in the country.

“We have to examine and test all the passengers before we can confirm if there is or there is no MERS-CoV case in the country,” he added.

Lee Suy said Task Force MERS-CoV, which was mobilized to create heightened awareness and prevent the spread of the disease, was doing everything to contact the passengers.

Facebook account

He said the task force had the data for all the passengers and was using various means, including the setting up of a Facebook account.

Advertisements containing the names of all the passengers who have yet to be contacted by the authorities have also been placed in newspapers.

“Publishing is not condemning them. Nobody wanted to be on the same flight. It just so happened they were there. We just want to get them tested to assure that their families are also protected,” Lee Suy explained.

But he reiterated that the DOH, through the PNP, was prepared to exercise provisions of the Quarantine Law of 2004 in case of resistance by any of the passengers of Flight EY 0424. ■ Reports from Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon; Romulo Ponte and Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon; Carla Gomez, Inquirer Visayas; Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao; and Jerry E. Esplanada in Manila

Philippine News

11 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Obama reiterates... to resolve territorial disputes in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims as its giant lake.

“We believe that international law must be upheld, that freedom of navigation must be preserved and commerce must not be impeded. We believe that disputes must be resolved peacefully and not by intimidation or force,” Obama said.

Although the American president told a news conference on Monday that “our goal is not to contain China,” the staterun China Daily on Tuesday said in an editorial that Obama’s visit to South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and the Philippines made it “increasingly obvious that Washington is taking Beijing as an opponent.”

Obama said that the new 10-year Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (Edca) signed on Monday would support efforts to strengthen the Armed Forces of the Philippines, pave the way for more joint military training and exercises. “American forces can begin rotating through Filipino airfields and ports,” he said.

During Monday’s joint news conference, President Aquino acknowledged the Philippines’ anemic military capability, saying it doesn’t even have a single fighter aircraft on its inventory or helicopters capable of reaching remote areas in the country in times of emergency. ❰❰ 1

No permanent US bases

The new defense arrangement emphasizes the interoperability of the two militaries as well as capacity-building measures toward the modernization of the AFP, regarded as one of the weakest militaries in the region.

3 Ways to Buy a Home for Less Money The Edca is also designed to strengthen the Philippine military for external defense, maritime security, maritime domain awareness and humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

The Edca, which has come under heavy criticism, ensures that there would be no permanent US bases in the Philippines and there would be joint use of the facilities by the Philippine and US militaries. The Edca gives full Philippine control over these facilities.

The joint training exercises to be designed under Edca are aimed at enhancing AFP capabilities and ensures a US commitment for long-term AFP capability buildup.

Filipino Navy officer cited

In his remarks on Tuesday, Obama made special mention of a Filipino Navy SEAL and three American military officers who were among the first responders to the devastated Tacloban City a day after Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name: Haiyan) hit the country on Nov. 8, 2013.

Obama asked Capt. Roy Trinidad of the Naval Special Operations Group, Marine Col. Mike Wylie, Army Maj. Leo Liebreich and Air Force Maj. George Apalisok, who were seated in front, to stand up and be recognized.

The four men were among those who worked together to determine how help could be brought in by their respective militaries given the devastation in Tacloban.

Yolanda teamwork cited

Obama compared the alliance of the Filipino and US war veterans to the

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same teamwork that the present crop of Filipino and US soldiers showed in several joint efforts, including their response to Super Typhoon Yolanda.

“The spirit of these veterans—their strength, their solidarity—I see it in you as well when you train and exercise together to stay ready for the future, when our special forces—some of you here today—advise and assist our Filipino partners in their fight against terrorism, and when you respond to crises together, as you did after Yolanda. Along with your civilian partners, you rushed into the disaster zone, pulled people from the rubble, delivered food and medicine.

You showed what friends can do when we take care of each other,” Obama said.

Leyte landing 70th year

He noted that his visit to the Philippines coincided with the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte during World War II “and the beginning of the liberation of the Philippines.”

He honored the American and Filipino war veterans present at the Army Gym who fought in World War II, endured the hardships in Bataan and Corregidor, and survived the Death March and the war camps by asking his audience to give them a standing ovation.

Most of them are in their nineties and were in wheelchairs assisted by their families and caregivers.

Obama acknowledged that the US had failed to recognize the “proud service” of many of the Filipino veterans, such as being “denied compensation as they had been promised.”

“It was an injustice. So in recent years, my administration, working with Congress and others, have worked to right this wrong. We passed a law, reviewed the records, processed claims, and nearly 20,000 Filipino veterans from World War II and their families finally received the compensation they had earned. And it was the right thing to do,” Obama said. ■

What’s going on? Cabinet trio tries to sing Obama’s favorite song

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES—What’s going on with US President Barack Obama?

Ask him about his first-ever visit to Manila and he might just talk about one unforgettable night in the Palace where the Philippine President lives, when he took part in a jam session with three Philippine Cabinet secretaries audacious enough to perform live for their VIP guest.

That happened at last Monday’s state dinner where there was clearly no shortage of professional performers—the likes of apl.de.ap, Leo Valdez, Bituin Escalante, Kuh Ledesma, the Philippine Madrigal singers and the Power Dance Company.

Enter the trio of Secretaries Florencio Abad, Jose Rene Almendras and Rogelio Singson, who belted out their no-holds-

barred rendition of Marvin Gaye’s 1971 Motown classic, “What’s Going On?” Obama’s favorite song It’s one of Obama’s favorite songs (reportedly second on his iPod list), a deeply textured tune inspired initially by police brutality against black kids in the United States.

Anyone among the celebrity singers in attendance could have done justice to Marvin Gaye. But Almendras said it was probably better to let the “nonpros” do it, if only to encourage Obama and his delegation to sing along.

“Baka mahiya kumanta kung mga professionals,” he told reporters.

Susan Rice

And sing along they did throughout the brief performance. Almendras said Susan Rice, Obama’s national security adviser, was so into it that her boss eventually gave her the microphone.

“Ang lakas ng boses niya. Sumisigaw

siya sa ‘What’s Going On?’” Almendras said.

Posted online

Unlike him and Singson, Almendras said Abad didn’t have to be coerced to perform, as could be gleaned from the short video clip posted online by Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima.

Toward the end of the 1:56 clip, a voice was heard working the crowd asking, “Do you want to hear the president sing?” apparently referring to Obama.

Mission accomplished because Obama was “actually singing along” during the performance.

Almendras said the idea of a Cabinet performance came Saturday night during a meeting with President Aquino.

Very casual

Obama, Almendras said, “is known to be very informal … he’s very casual” so the discussion was [on] how do you

www.canadianinquirer.net

make something different?”

He noted that the Filipino hosts were able to make Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak “sing” during a similar dinner hosted in his honor.

Singing defines most parties hosted by Filipinos here and abroad. Most parties here end up as singing fests.

In the end, Almendras said a member of the US delegation told him: “Of all the places that we’ve gone to, we really had fun here.”

Magnificent

In his speech during the state dinner, Obama described the Philippine welcome as “magnificent.”

“I’ve only been here one day but the kindness that you’ve shown me and the extraordinary hospitality that has been extended to us leaves us with very warm feelings and reflects, I think, the legendary spirit of the Filipino people,” he added. ■

Philippine News

MAY 2, 2014 FRIDAY 12

What did Obama write in Marcoses claim to resort junked Malacañang’s guest book?

BY CYNTHIA D. BALANA Philippine Daily Inquirer

INQUIRER.net MANILA, PHILIPPINES – US President Barack Obama wrote on the official guestbook of Malacañang his “Thank you” note to the Philippines for welcoming him on the start of his two-day state-visit on Monday, calling the country America’s “oldest alliance in Asia.”

In the note posted in the official Twitter and Facebook accounts of President Aquino, Obama wrote: “I thank President Aquino and the people of the Philippines [for] welcoming me.”

“May America’s oldest alliance in Asia always be renewed by our friendship and mutual respect,” the note read, with Obama’s signature affixed below.

Obama wrote on the guestbook after arriving in Malacañang to meet President Aquino.

The two presidents were expected to strengthen the ties between the ally countries.

The US president made the note despite protests by militants against Obama’s state visit held at the Mendiola bridge near Malacañang.

Obama’s state visit is the last stop of his Asian tour, part of the US bid to rebalance its forces in the region amid China’s increasing political and military might.

The US president started his state visit just hours after the signing of an agreement between the Philippines and US allowing an increased presence of American troops in this former US colony.

The US used to have military bases in the Philippines until the Senate voted to boot out the bases in 1991. Meanwhile, a treaty was signed in 1999 allowing temporary visits by US troops in the Philippines. ■

THE SANDIGANBAYAN has dismissed the claim of the heirs of the late President Ferdinand Marcos to a 57.68-hectare resort in Paoay, Ilocos Norte since the area is considered an “inalienable public domain,” being a national park.

In a 33-page decision by the antigraft court’s First Division dated April 21, 2014, the court declared the 1978 lease agreement between Marcos and the defunct Philippine Tourism Authority null and void.

“The Paoay Lake and lands within one kilometer from its water line… was declared to be a national park and therefore considered public land. These were, therefore, outside the commerce of man,” the court said.

The court ruling was penned

by Associate Justice Rafael Lagos, and was concurred in

by Associate Justices Rodolfo Ponferrada and Efren de la Cruz, division chairman.

Not the owners

The Sandiganbayan said the late dictator had no right to bind the property in any agreement or proprietary transaction as supposed owner because he did not own the said property.

Presidential Decree No. 1554, issued by Marcos on Aug. 11, 1978, reclassified stretches of land surrounding Paoay Lake as “alienable public land.” The Marcos-PTA lease deal was signed on Dec. 20, 1978.

“Section 101 of the Public Land Act provides a remedy whereby lands of the public domain fraudulently awarded to the applicant may be recovered or reverted back to its original owner, the government,” the court ruling said.

Property of the republic

US President Barack Obama signed a ‘thank you’ note in the official guestbook of Malacañang during his first day of his state visit in the Philippines. Photo from Aquino’s official Facebook account.

“An action for reversion has to be instituted by the Solicitor General, in the name of the Republic of the Philippines,” it added.

This means all 154 lots covered by the lease agreement, structures found on them, and even those that are already covered by approved patents to the children and grandchildren of Marcos and any other third-party, are property of the Republic. www.canadianinquirer.net

Malacanang Ti Amianan.

PHOTO FROM THESAPPHIREMUSE.WORDPRESS.COM

Aside from the lots, the court also placed under the control of the government, through Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Malacañang Ti Amianan, Maharlika Hall building, Suba Sports Complex, the Old Motor Pool, swimming pools, tennis court and an 18-hole golf course.

Jurisdiction questioned

Court records showed that no less than 79 lots in the questioned property are already under free patents or have pending free patent applications by Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos and her children.

Former First Lady and now Ilocos Norte Rep. Imelda Marcos, Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Irene Marcos-Araneta had executed waiver of rights over the subject lots in favor of Imee Marcos and her children.

More than half of the lots already have approved and/or pending patent applications by the Marcos heirs and other persons.

Senator Marcos had insisted to the court that the Paoay resort estate was not the subject of any forfeiture move by petitioner Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and therefore cannot be considered ill-gotten wealth.

He also questioned the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan over the case.

The court said state lawyers should now ask the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Land

Management Bureau (DENRLMB) to nullify adverse claims by other parties on parts of the questioned property.

Taxpayers’ money

The court said lawyers from the Office of the Solicitor General and the PCGG were able to establish that the subject property previously belonged to the government and was thus transferred to the Marcos family and their associates illegally.

But the court said the fact that the PCGG never sequestered the property was immaterial.

“What matters is that the petition alleges that the former president used all his powers and influence to appropriate to himself all the lots covered by the lease with scanty claims of ownership,” it said.

The court cited as proofs of unlawful financial interests by the late president the “hundred of millions of pesos” development undertaken on the Paoay property with the use of taxpayers’ money shortly after the lease agreement was signed.

It likewise cited the patent applications made by the Marcos heirs over the developed lots covered by the lease deal. “…(T)he Marcos heirs have concentrated their free patent applications on the lots where most of the improvements are situated. Just on this score, the lease contract should be declared void,” the ruling said.

The court took more than four years to resolve the case after it was filed by the PCGG on March 3, 2010. ■

Philippine News

13 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

HK victims to get P115M; traders raised money

BY PHILIP C. TUBEZA AND CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer HONG KONG—Money raised

by Chinese-Filipino businessmen and businessmen in Hong Kong who have interests in the Philippines was used in the compensation package for the victims of the 2010 Manila hostage tragedy, a Manila councilman said yesterday. Eight tourists from Hong Kong died in a botched police rescue of a busload of tourists taken hostage by a dismissed Manila policeman who also died in the incident.

Seven others were injured.

Binondo Councilor Bernardito Ang, who also tried to negotiate with the victims and is here with former President and current Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, said no public funds were used for the compensation.

Ang said it was Hong Kong negotiators who suggested a total amount of HK$20 million (about P115 million) but he added that he did not know if

the businessmen—who formed the Hong Kong-Philippines Friendship Foundation—were able to raise that much money.

ernment that will allot to each victim depending on their injury,” he said.

Negotiators’ estimate

Solidarity fund

“It was the businessmen who organized this solidarity fund because they also want the relationship between the Philippines and Hong Kong to normalize, especially for those in the travel industry,” Ang said in an interview.

“So, there is no government funding here,” he added.

Cable TV News reported on Wednesday that the Philippine government would offer HK$1.5 million (about P8.6 million) for each of the deceased and HK$3 million (P17.2 million) for the injured in a compensation package that would total HK$20 million.

But Ang said the Hong Kong government would be the one to decide how much each family would receive.

“We do not know how much each family would get because it will be the Hong Kong gov-

Ang said the HK$20 million was an estimate given by negotiators from the Hong Kong side.

“That was what they suggested for the settlement because the victims also need support and rehabilitation,” he said.

“I do not know if (the HK$20 million) was raised. It would be the foundation that would be able to say that but many are helping,” he added.

Estrada had a closed-door dinner with members of the foundation on Wednesday night at Four Seasons Hotel after Hong Kong and the Philippine government announced that their row over the hostage drama was over.

As a result of the deal, Hong Kong restored the visa-free visits by holders of official Philippine government passports.

‘Abuloy’

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras said the funds should

be seen as an abuloy (or financial assistance given to those whose loved ones died) and not as a “compensation package.”

“I have to correct the issue about the compensation package. No amount can pay for the life of a person. In Philippine culture, we do not intend to put a price on the life of a person,” he said.

“In abuloy, we share one’s resources. It cannot be seen as compensation. Abuloy is an act of humility. A Filipino who makes abuloy does so the person giving such is expressing a desire to be one with the family that is suffering,” he added.

However, Ang said not all the victims’ families have decided to accept the compensation.

“There are still some families that can’t accept that there’s no presidential apology. But in general, most have given their OK to the settlement,” he said.

Back in Manila, Almendras, President Aquino’s designated troubleshooter with Hong Kong, yesterday emphatically declared that the dispute over

the bungled Manila hostage rescue was “absolutely” over.

Individual concerns

But while the Philippines has “settled” with Hong Kong, Almendras said the government was “still addressing the individual concerns of the families” of the 21 victims.

Almendras said there was no “one size, fits all” approach to the problem, noting that the Philippine side had to consider the demands and concerns of every family.

“We’ve settled with the Hong Kong government. That issue is done. That is why the Hong Kong government has lifted all the sanctions. But now we are addressing the individual concerns of the families,” he told reporters in Malacañang, a day after Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying announced “the resolution of the incident.”

The joint statement between the two sides mentioned no categorical apology from the ❱❱ PAGE 15 HK victims

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Philippine News

MAY 2, 2014 FRIDAY 14

Save the queen? Aide takes fall for JPE, Gigi

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer JOSE ANTONIO Evangelista is taking the fall for his boss, Sen. Juan Ponce Enrile, and the senator’s former chief of staff, Jessica Lucila “Gigi” Reyes, who could go to jail for plunder in the P10-billion pork barrel case set to be filed by the Office of the Ombudsman in the Sandiganbayan.

Evangelista has filed a partial motion for reconsideration, prepared by lawyers Edwardson L. Ong and Mercedes Isabel Mayoralgo of Ponce Enrile Reyes & Manalastas Law Offices.

Evangelista took full responsibility for processing the disbursement of Enrile’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as his deputy chief of staff while claiming the evidence against him was spurious.

He blamed implementing agencies for the diversion of PDAF allocations to bogus nongovernment organizations (NGOs).

Evangelista’s statement was in sync with Reyes, who told the Office of the Ombudsman that processing Enrile’s pork funds was not part of her job item.

The Ombudsman has found probable cause to charge Evangelista with graft and corruption (a bailable offense) for participating in a conspiracy to divert Enrile’s PDAF to businesswoman Janet LimNapoles’ fake NGOs. Enrile and Reyes were charged with plunder (a nonbailable offense) along with Senators Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr., Napoles and others.

But Levito Baligod, counsel for the whistle-blowers in the pork scam, said Evangelista’s legal gambit would not hold water.

Weak legal strategy

“Attorney Gigi exculpated JPE and pointed to Attorney Evangelista as the one responsible for the senator’s PDAF. The latter’s defense is ‘forgery’ of the PDAF documents.

“Clearly, Evangelista is being made the fall guy,” said Baligod in a text message.

Baligod said this legal strategy was inherently weak because the Enrile camp “failed to pres-

ent the ‘authentic’ PDAF documents which they presumably have, if indeed there are. Otherwise, how were JPE’s PDAF allocations implemented? This proves their complicity and assent to the forgeries.”

He wondered why Evangelista was not surprised by the volume of documents bearing the latter’s and Reyes’ signatures presented to them for confirmation by the Commission on Audit (COA) if, in fact, no document of such nature was ever issued by Enrile’s office.

Baligod is the lawyer of pork scam whistle-blowers Merlina Suñas, Nova Kay Macalintal, Lily Abundo and Adelina Lingo.

Based on his motion, Evangelista claimed that the testimonies of whistle-blowers were hearsay, inadmissible as evidence and could not be used as basis of any criminal charges.

‘Fabricated’ documents

He claimed that the documents the whistle-blowers submitted were inadmissible as they admitted that these were fabricated and forged by the whistle-blowers themselves.

Evangelista added that there was no evidence of his personal or deliberate participation in the scheme.

His lawyers, Ong and Mayoralgo, argued that since whistleblower Benhur Luy admitted to the Ombudsman that he had prepared, signed and notarized the PDAF documents and liquidation reports, “it stands to reason that Evangelista precisely had no hand in the preparation and signing of the documents.”

Presumed regular

Evangelista’s lawyers chided the Ombudsman’s “incongruous twist of reasoning” when it argued that since PDAF documents were notarized, these were presumed regular.

“But Luy himself admitted to notarizing the documents on behalf of Mark Oliveros, Edith Talaboc, Raymund Tansip and Joshua Lapuz, and one Delfin Agcaoili denied seeing the documents and submitting them as part of his notarial reports to the QC Regional Trial court,” Ong and Mayoralgo said.

Evangelista also noted that Luy’s testimony about Enrile’s participation in the scheme came only from Napoles and that Luy himself had admitted

Jose Antonio Evangelista (left) took full responsibility for processing the disbursement of Enrile’s Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) as his deputy chief of staff while claiming the evidence against him was spurious.

PHOTO FROM RAPPLER.COM

that he never handed any commission to Enrile or any of his representatives.

Blame gov’t execs

The lawyers blamed executives of government agencies for the diversion of Enrile’s PDAF funds.

They cited provisions in the General Appropriations Act of 2009, 2010 and 2011 that expressly mandated the implementing agencies to ensure that the NGOs they dealt with were legitimate and capable of implementing the projects.

“If there was no public bidding conducted, this should be ascribed to lapses committed by the implementing agencies and not by legislators or their staff members, including Evangelista,” Ong and Mayoralgo said.

COA circular

The two lawyers noted that even COA Chair Grace Pulido Tan had told senators at a budget hearing that an implementing agency was responsible for the deployment of pork funds under COA Circular No. 2007001.

“All that the office of a legislator may do is identify, endorse or recommend particular projects.

It is absurd to hold Evangelista responsible for its (PDAF) misuse. If something went wrong in the process of implementation or if the projects were actually not implemented or in case of ghost projects, and the funds merely diverted, only the implementing agencies, together with the NGOs should be rewww.canadianinquirer.net

sponsible. If there was any such ‘conspiracy,’ the implementing agencies and the NGOs were the parties to that conspiracy,” the lawyers said.

“The truth is no one forced the various employees of the implementing agencies to perpetrate the anomalies they committed. These employees cannot therefore cry foul when caught red-handed, and pass the blame on someone else.”

Evangelista’s lawyers claimed that the accounting records kept by Luy, Napoles’ former trusted aide, were hearsay as these had no other supporting document.

Invented records

“To give credence to the socalled ‘accounting records’ and classify them as ‘evidence’ would be tantamount to believing anything creatively invented by anyone who could play around with a spreadsheet on his computer,” the lawyers said.

Evangelista said it was up to the whistle- blowers to prove that their documents were authentic.

He also found it “utterly incredulous and downright preposterous” for the Ombudsman to conclude that the signatures were signed by one and the same person “after prima facie comparison with the naked eye of the panel of investigators.”

Handwriting expert

He said spotting forgeries was not a skill that could be learned overnight.

“Surely, the panel of investigators cannot be more knowl-

edgeable than a handwriting expert at least in the particular field of handwriting analysis,” said Evangelista who, like Reyes, tapped a retired National Bureau of Investigation handwriting expert to testify that their signatures were forged.

Just like Reyes, Evangelista also clarified his office’s previous letter to COA confirming that the PDAF documents were genuine.

In a December 2013 affidavit submitted to the Ombudsman, Evangelista said: “I thought that these documents were all regular and were the usual documents that were presented to me. So, I told the COA that I signed all those documents.

This became the basis of Senator Enrile writing the COA on March 21, 2012, confirming the signatures appearing on the documents. In other words, I myself was fooled by these forgeries. I simply did not anticipate that even my signature would be forged.”

Upon double- checking signatures after news on the pork barrel scam broke out, Evangelista claimed to have discovered that his signatures in several memorandum of agreements and all of the implementing documents had been faked.

“I therefore had to send the COA another letter explaining that I erroneously verified my signatures the first time. The sheer volume of documents I had to verify was daunting, so I did not spend more than one minute examining each signature,” said Evangelista. ■

Philippine News

15 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Do right for labor, P-Noy urged

BY TINA G. SANTOS Philippine Daily Inquirer

HK victims...

It may be recalled that in the 2010 Manila hostage tragedy, eight tourists from Hong Kong died in a botched police rescue of a busload of tourists taken hostage by a dismissed Manila policeman who also died in the incident. Seven others were injured.

PHOTO FROM GLOBALNATION.INQUIRER.NET

Philippine government, which instead expressed its “most sorrowful regret and profound sympathy” and extended its “most sincere condolences for the pain and suffering of the victims and their families.” ❰❰ 13

Additional token

The agreement covered an “additional token of solidarity” to be given to the victims and their families “as a most sincere gesture of compassion of the people of the Philippines.”

“We were able to satisfy [what the families were asking for] without having to use that word [sorry],” he said.

But Almendras noted that not all of the families would accept such a token, saying some of them do not believe that it is appropriate for them to accept money.

“There is an extreme sensitivity on that topic, which is precisely why we did not use the word compensation,” he said. “No amount can ever compensate [for the loss of ] human life.”

Almendras declined to disclose the amount of the “token,” but said families willing to accept it could receive it probably within the week.

He said the amounts came neither from the Philippine or Hong Kong governments, but were pooled from contributions from “businessmen and ordinary citizens” from both sides.

diences” that the Philippine side had to deal with, such as the families and members of the local media there.

“Just to get to that point, that they [families] are agreeing to see me, was a very long struggle for us. So I started the meeting by thanking them for allowing us to finally speak to them. And then I explained and discussed every one of the four major demands that they have. And I issued the apology. I explained to them the complex nature of a national apology and an apology from the President. We discussed many options,” Almendras recalled.

Instead, it was Philippine National Police Chief Gen. Alan Purisima who wrote letters to the families to express the government’s “sorrowful regret and profound sympathy and most sincere condolences.”

“The letter of Purisima, was that an apology or not? Some people are saying it was. Some people are saying it’s not,” Almendras said.

“Did I apologize for President Aquinio? I did not say anything to that effect but I expressed certain emotions and certain things relative to that but it was not an outright [apology]. I have no authority to say, ‘I am sorry in behalf of the Republic of the Philippines,’ but we made sure that we addressed the issues.”

Before meeting with the families, Almendras said he had been warned by Hong Kong officials that “some of them are still very emotional so please be ready.”

HOW THE Filipino worker will perceive President Aquino come Labor Day is all up to him, labor groups said yesterday.

Around 30 representatives of various labor and worker organizations have been invited to a preLabor Day dialogue in Malacañang on Thursday with President Aquino to discuss critical worker issues.

“Labor groups have been very patient in discussions with key government executives to make them understand the issues that deeply hurt the working class. The output of that dialogue was finalized on April 9 and we believe it’s been elevated for President Aquino’s consideration,” said Michael Mendoza, president of the Associated Labor Unions-TUCP and one of the conveners of the labor and worker groups coalition called Nagkaisa.

“It’s now up to him (Aquino) how he wants to be treated by the working class on May 1. We in the labor sector already did our part for him not to repeat his previous Labor Day disconnects on

Final agreement

The “final agreement” actually came two weeks ago when Almendras said he signed a “final document” containing “records of discussions” between the Philippines and Hong Kong for more than six months.

But until last Monday, he said he was wary that some groups could “scuttle the initiative,” mainly if some of the families were talked out of rejecting the Philippine offer.

Almendras said he and his team had met with Leung and his Hong Kong counterpart, Edward Yau, before sitting down with the victims’ families. Also in the initial meeting was Estrada, who earlier worked to salvage relations with Hong Kong by offering an apology to the victims.

Estrada helpful

The Cabinet secretary said Estrada’s presence the other day in Hong Kong was “helpful because there are many au-

Slain tourist guide

Speaking for the five families that agreed to meet with Almendras’ group was the brother of Masa Tse, the tourist guide killed during the bungled rescue operation. Almendras said his team was told that the families considered the meeting “very solemn.”

“We can imagine the emotion, the difficulty. Here was the [slain tourist guide] promoting our country and this was what happened to her,” Almendras told reporters.

Almendras said he also met with Yik Siu-ling, who was shot in the jaw and had to undergo an operation in Taiwan.

He said Leung had told Yik’s story to Mr. Aquino when the two leaders met on the sidelines of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation summit in Indonesia last year.

“I told her that it was her story, it was her circumstances that really caused us to reopen the discussions and go to the table again,” the Cabinet secretary said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

worker issues,” Mendoza said.

Daniel Edralin, chair of the Alliance of Progressive LaborSentro, said that of the eight issues on the table, Nagkaisa wants Aquino to make a strong policy pronouncement against the contractualization system of employment.

“There are millions and millions of skillful and talented Filipinos in the labor force today who don’t have regular jobs. Majority of these workers are on the ‘555’ (five-month contract) or ‘endo’ system of employment. As a consequence, they are exploited by employers and forever trapped in the vicious cycle of abject poverty. We want President Aquino to make a strong policy statement toward ensuring security of tenure for workers by criminalizing and eliminating contractualization at the soonest possible time,” Edralin said.

Rene Magtubo of Partido Manggagawa said labor leaders would gauge Aquino’s sincerity in addressing the workers’ issues.

Aside from ending contractualization, Nagkaisa is also demanding that Aquino enhance labor rights by deterring unionbusting and prosecute the extrajudicial killings of labor organizers. ■

Opinion

MAY 2, 2014 FRIDAY 16

THERE’S THE RUB

Respite

By Conrado De Quiros Philippine Daily Inquirer

BY THE time this comes out, I’ll be some days on vacation. I had been looking forward to it, not having had one since 2000 when I went from regular employee of the Inquirer to regular columnist. That has had its upside and downside, the downside being losing my three-week paid vacation.

Over the last decade and a half, I had been like the US Postal Service, coming through despite rain and snow and heat and gloom of night.

But what can I say? The bones are creaking a little louder and the energy is flagging. I’m taking time to oil my body parts and recharge my batteries. I’ll see you again on May 19.

Meanwhile, to end the week: *** A few years back, I was lamenting the fact that Filipino movies had fallen by the wayside while those of other Asian countries had gone very far in their journey, going on to startle the world with their brilliance. Hong Kong, Taiwan and China in particular have produced Wong Kar wai, Ang Lee and Zhang Yimou. South Korea and even Thailand have been making waves as well, if as yet small ones. A pity, given that we were one of the pio-

neers of the Asian cinema, producing movies before and after World War II that compared not unfavorably with those of the Japanese masters.

Over the last few years, particularly with the burgeoning of digital films, I’ve had a change of heart, or head, realizing that news of the Filipino film’s death has been grossly exaggerated.

Many of the movies of Cinemalaya in particular are a joy to behold.

Indeed, recently I saw a couple of films that dwelled on the plight of Filipinos but were not done by Filipinos. Which gave me to glimpse the possibilities of Filipino movies going global not just by way of film festivals which, though prestigious, do not give them a wider audience, but by a more commercial route. That audience exists.

It is by no means the first time this has been done. The last one I saw before these was John Sayles’ “Amigo,” which told the story of the American occupation of a Filipino village during the Filipino-American War. It starred Filipino actors, with Joel Torre in the lead, along with American ones, including a Sayles staple, Chris Cooper. Sayles, of course, is a legendary director of independent films (and not quite incidentally a novelist as well). The recent ones I

saw were both done last year.

The first is “Metro Manila.” It was written and directed by Briton Sean Ellis and the production crew is largely foreign. Its target audience is obviously also more foreign than local.

It tells the story of a farmer in Banaue, who is exploited mercilessly by the local rice trader, and who decides to move his family—wife and two kids—to Metro Manila to try his luck there. As you might expect if you are a Filipino viewer, luck is not what’s forthcoming. What is so is

The effect of the maid’s being laid off is more devastating on her ward than on her. The boy who has bonded with her feels the loss of a nurturing presence like a visceral wrenching. even more merciless exploitation by Metro Manila’s denizens. A bit in the mold of “Maynila, Sa Mga Kuko ng Liwanag,” but throws in liberal doses of action/suspense when the main character (Jake Macapagal) finds a job as guard for an armored car.

It adds a nuance or two to what Dan Brown calls the “gates of hell,” particularly in its depiction of the

depths of poverty the capital is heir to, a few coins and scraps of food being something to die—or kill—for. At least for us: For the foreign viewer, to whom it seems primarily addressed, it’s probably nothing less than a revelation. You know it is addressed to that viewer because of some liberties it takes with reality.

Penniless in Tondo, the farmer and his family somehow get to pass by the Pen, which is all the way in Makati.

And the farmer/guard’s partner likes listening to opera—”O Mio Babbino Caro” is playing on his stereo in the armored car. I know these are meant to contrast high and low, the sublime and the brutal, but still.

Those who do not like unrelentingly depressing movies will be glad to know it doesn’t have an unrelentingly depressing ending. But that may just be me, I have a fairly high tolerance for depressing.

The second is “Iloilo.” Like “Metro Manila,” it’s written and directed by a foreigner, Anthony Chen. Unlike “Metro Manila,” it doesn’t happen in Metro Manila, or any other part of the Philippines; it happens in Singapore.

But it is about a Filipino, a maid who hails from, as the title says, Iloilo.

It’s a quiet slice-of-life story that avoids the usual stereotypes in sto-

ries about Filipino maids. The maid (Angeli Bayani) doesn’t get to be api or, heaven forbid, raped. Her employers in fact are fairly decent middle-class folk. The story revolves around the relationship between the maid and her ward, a boy who starts out being a spoiled brat but eventually gets to be quite close to her. The maid’s employers later fall into hard times, the husband’s investments going south, and are forced to let her go.

Not all the costs of being a Filipino maid consist of physical hardships, and not all have to do with the maid herself. Those costs include hurts or emotional wounds as well, and include the ravaging by them of others, too. This movie dwells subtly on them. The effect of the maid’s being laid off is more devastating on her ward than on her. The boy who has bonded with her feels the loss of a nurturing presence like a visceral wrenching. You’ve got to be a little jaded not to be moved by all this. It offers not quite incidentally new insights into the plight of Filipino maids, which is the plight of those they leave behind, the children especially, when their services are terminated for one reason or another.

The gold is there, just waiting to be mined. ■

ley National Park on motorbikes is a bucket-list item we share in common.

Yosemite with its towering ancient sequoia trees, waterfalls, and stone formations, is one of the most stunning natural wonders of the world.

With my youngest brother David “Goli” David and our first cousin, George Gopiao, both US-based, I started out from Brea City near Los Angeles on a bright and cool Sunday morning. We headed toward Route 101 where it melds with the beautiful Pacific Coast Highway: I on a borrowed white Ducati Multistrada 1200, Goli on his blue Triumph Explorer 1200, and George on his bright-red snub-nosed Ducati Monster 1100—a dazzling tricolor on six wheels.

We broke the trip in San Luis Obispo, one of those old, charming mission towns dotting the California landscape. From there we proceeded the following morning to Monterey to unite with the rest of the Hombres who rode from San Francisco. The group, shepherded by Eric Mananquil, included Pete Cariquitan (the wisest at 83), father and son Romy and Ibba Bernardo, Richie TiuTan, Ruel Maranan, and Francis Gomez.

Bringing up the rear was a backup SUV skillfully piloted by Eric’s partner, Michelle Manuel, and carrying

concerned Hombre spouses, Amina Rasul-Bernardo, Grace Bernardo, and Nida Gomez.

America’s roads are among the world’s finest and safest. The ones we took could have been also explicitly designed with motorcyclists in mind—endless twisties and hairpin turns, gentle loops ascending to a height of more than 6,000 feet, and broad ribbons of sweeping highways laid out on open rolling hills. With the guidance of a couple of local riders led by Ripon-based Hombre Zeke Covarrubias, we entered the vast Yosemite park through tree-lined back roads that cut through sprawling family-owned ranches. California’s freeways are fast and uncompromising but we found a riding culture here that is highly accommodating and respectful of bikers. I hope to write a fuller account of this memorable ride in another column.

My aching joints had bothered me throughout the flight from Manila.

Miraculously, all the pains vanished as I stood up on the pegs of the Multistrada to breathe in the fragrance of the mandarin blossoms pervading the nippy spring air somewhere along the orange orchards of Casa de Fruta. At that point, I felt I could ride forever. ■

PUBLIC LIVES

Bucket list

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer LOS ANGELES—A “bucket list” is an enumeration of things one resolves to do before “kicking the bucket,” or before reaching a defining age, like 40 or 60. More than a wish list, it is typically created against the backdrop of a profound awareness of one’s mortality.

The point it conveys is that one must make time for those things one considers worth doing. Yet, in an important sense, a bucket list signifies not so much a plea for time as a plea for life.

In the movie by the same title, Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman play the roles of two men who are both suffering from terminal illness. Nicholson is mostly indifferent to his condition, having lost any taste for life long before his illness. He is alienated from the only relative he has: his daughter. Though he is rich, all the money in the world couldn’t buy him happiness or give meaning to his life. Freeman is the opposite.

A simple man who delights in simple things, he is surrounded by a loving family. In his loved ones, he finds the biggest reason to live longer.

By chance, they find themselves sharing a hospital room. The amiable Freeman ignores the reticence of the

snooty Nicholson. In turn, Nicholson makes obligatory conversation to humor the voluble Freeman. But in the course of what seemed like aimless talk between two men facing death, they begin to talk about themselves, their respective families, and about the things they wish they could have accomplished if they had been more mindful or persistent. Soon, their exchanges take a more structured turn, and they start composing a joint bucket list. The list entails foreign travel, but it also includes simple acts of kindness done for a total stranger. Nicholson, finding at last something worth doing, offers to fund its realization.

The movie is a morality tale. It shows that the most precious thing in life is neither time nor money nor health but the attentiveness we give to the enduring relationships that matter to us. Most bucket lists may not be as sublime as this in their underlying purpose. My friend, Romy Bernardo, who can talk of a bucket list with the passion of a devotee, is not above making light of the whole concept by referring to it as the “bakit” (why) list—as in why do we do these things?

I myself do not have a bucket list.

But, since I turned 60 some years back, I have felt a constant need to push myself out of my personal

comfort zone. I am bothered by the thought that I could be spending the remaining years of my life doing the same things, without noticing the physical and mental degeneration that is rapidly taking its toll. Perhaps, more than losing my instincts and faculties, it is losing my taste for life that truly frightens me. I think I’d rather die than let this deadly rot eat into my life. This is the reason I push myself to take long adventure

I myself do not have a bucket list. But, since I turned 60 some years back, I have felt a constant need to push myself out of my personal comfort zone. motorcycle rides through our beautiful Philippine countryside, and, occasionally, when time and resources permit, abroad.

Last week, I left for the United States to finish what I failed to do the first time I attempted it three years ago—to ride from Los Angeles to Yosemite Valley and back, a journey of close to a thousand miles. This time around, I retraced that first US ride with my regular riding buddies from the Hombres of Manila motorcycle group. A visit to the Yosemite Val-

www.canadianinquirer.net

Opinion

17 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

VIEWPOINT

Hard slog

By Juan L. Mercado Philippine Daily Inquirer THERE’S A spillover for Filipinos in US President Barack Obama’s swing through Asia.

Obama is now in a Manila stopover.

The US “pivot to Asia” lifted our line of sight, albeit briefly, from insular concerns like pork barrel. Instead, we were confronted by a powerful China, rouge nuclear threats, and a faltering Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) pact.

The enhanced defense cooperation agreement was signed by Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin and US Ambassador Philip Goldberg before Obama met President Aquino Monday. It will run for 10 years, but is renewable. It updates the Mutual Defense Treaty, which underpins the first of America’s five alliances in Asia.

Polls here consistently report that four out of five Filipinos welcome US presence. About four million Filipinos comprise the second-largest group of Asian-Americans. Trade with the United States ($22 billion) is second to Japan.

Philippine expenditures are petty cash beside China’s 175-percent increase in military spending. Manila’s other track is increased cooperation with Australia, Japan and Korea, aside from the submission to the United

Nations of a maritime dispute with China for international arbitration.

History buffs recall that six sitting US presidents previously visited the Philippines: Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush. And older Filipinos still chuckle over the story how then Maj. Dwight Eisenhower, the realist, clashed with his “grand design boss” in Manila: Gen. Douglas MacArthur.

“The best clerk I ever had,” MacArthur said of Ike, the story goes. And Eisenhower retorted: “I studied dramatics under MacArthur for seven years.”

Look at the context. China, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam have overlapping claims to the region’s seas. Over $5.2 trillion in goods pass these lanes annually. A tenth of fish catch worldwide comes from this region.

The seabeds contain an estimated 11 billion barrels of oil, plus 1.47 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. In 1969, the UN confirmed those deposits, and in 1976 the Philippines reported oil reserve finds. Until tapped, over 90 percent of Middle East’s oil exports will be snapped up by the region. China is the world’s biggest energy consumer.

“Europe is a landscape; East Asia, a seascape,” Robert Kaplan writes in “Foreign Policy.” “Therein lies a crucial difference between the 20th

and 21st centuries…. Spaces between population centers are overwhelmingly maritime.” Kaplan adds: “South China Sea is the future of conflict.”

In 1947, China issued a new map claiming most of the region’s seas— an area defined by the “nine-dash line” which stretches and bumps into exclusive economic zones of other countries. “Cartographic aggression” is shorthand for redrawing maps to gobble up territory, writes Australian Sinologist Geremie Barmé.

Obama’s Asian trip reflects the “re-

History buffs recall that six sitting US presidents previously visited the Philippines: Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush. ality that the world’s center of gravity is shifting toward the Asia-Pacific.”

The region currently accounts for 24 percent of global military spending and 33 percent of the world’s population—and still growing. The United States plays “a key role in protecting the maritime commons through nations,” including China, to enable free flow of essential commodities.

In Tokyo, Obama explicitly declared, for

the first time, that the United States was bound, by a security treaty, to protect Japan in its confrontation with China over a clump of islands in the East China Sea. In his South Korea stopover, Obama and President Park Geun-hye warned against North Korean preparations to conduct its fourth nuclear test. Pyongyang conducted three nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013.

“We will not allow war and chaos on China’s doorstep,” foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday in a rap on Pyongyang’s knuckles. “We have consistently advocated dialogue and negotiation.”

In Kuala Lumpur, US National Security Adviser Susan Rice will visit opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who has been jailed on rigged sodomy charges.

Kuala Lumpur’s censored press blacked out news that the United States earlier blasted Anwar’s conviction. Prime Minister Najib Razak glowed over a new comprehensive agreement that covered a range of concerns—from the economy to security to education. More work to be done on “core beliefs” on human rights, Obama said.

Nobody talked, at least openly, about two Chinese naval exercises last January off Sarawak’s James Shoal— which China calls Zengmu Reef. That submerged reef falls within Malaysia’s

exclusive economic zone.

“Pictures from China’s state media on Jan. 26 showed hundreds of Chinese sailors standing to attention on a warship’s deck, backed by two destroyers and a helicopter that was reported to be at James Shoal,” Reuters reported then. Malaysia’s navy chief denied the Chinese media reports at the time, telling state news agency Bernama that the ships were far from Malaysian waters.

“It’s a wake-up call that it could happen to us and it is happening to us,” Tang Siew Mun, a foreign policy specialist at Malaysia’s Institute of Strategic and International Studies who advises the government, said of the recent incidents. “For some time we believed in this special relationship…

James Shoal has shown to us over and over again that when it comes to China protecting its sovereignty and national interest, it’s a different ball game.”

There has been no breakthrough on the proposed TPP agreement in this trip.

The proposed pact would bring, under one umbrella, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore the United States and Vietnam.

Prickly questions on tariffs and imports bogged down the TPP talks in Tokyo.

These will resume next month.

Beyond the warm Manila welcome lies the hard slog for those in Asia who refuse to live on their knees. ■

the present day, most notably among nuns who stepped out of their dark, forbidding habits to dress like the rest of us, albeit with ugly shoes. *** But this isn’t a contest between the two papal saints. They were leaders and symbols, inspirations and visionaries for their times. Each in his own way sought to bring the Church on track with the “signs of the times,” to bring the institution on either of two contrasting, contradicting directions: fidelity to the past and readiness for the future.

One issue in particular has been used to call into question John Paul II’s fitness for sanctity. That is his supposed lack of concern and action on the issue of clerical sexual abuse.

Survivors and families of victims had decried the pope’s and the Vatican’s stance of “saying” it sympathizes with the victims, but “not doing” anything to punish the accused perpetrators or ensuring that they no longer posed a threat to children or even adults under their spiritual care.

Still, clergy sexual abuse is hardly a new phenomenon (read Rizal’s novels), and who knows if even John XXIII during his time received reports of such abusive behavior. John Paul II’s misfortune was being pontiff at a time and season of full disclosure and glaring media

coverage. As such, he could no longer hide behind the Vatican’s walls or adopt an attitude of dignified silence. *** Perhaps Pope Francis’ apology to the survivors of clergy abuse will go a long way toward soothing the hurt of those who felt ignored or merely patronized. But he would need to go beyond platitudes and apologies and embark on a serious investigation of the allegations. This should include as well a deeper study of the “culture” within the Church which made the exploitation of the innocent by its ordained ministers possible, defensible and deniable.

One woman recalls that when she confessed to her parish priest about being sexually abused by another priest, her confessor assured her: “God forgives you.” She remembers feeling almost physically repelled, astonished at how the priest—the Church!—could consider her the sinner when she was the one who had been sinned against.

Multiply this woman with the hundreds, perhaps thousands of other victims and we see a full picture of the pain caused not just by the sexual abuse and exploitation, but also by the institutional indifference that confronted them even after the victims had found the courage to finally speak out and demand a response. ■

AT LARGE

Toxic sainthood

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer AN ENVIRONMENTAL watchdog group says it has detected lead in the paint used on some statues of St. John Paul II now being sold by religious craft stores and sidewalk vendors.

The EcoWaste Coalition said lead is a toxic metal that is reputed to have harmful side-effects on health. Lead was found in five samples of “SJPII” statues donning different liturgical vestments and costing between P200 and P650. The levels of lead, the group said, were “way above the regulatory limit.”

The thought of religious images of a man whom many Filipinos revere, and who, said one young man, “was the only Pope I have known in my life,” posing a threat to the health of the most devout and loyal followers, is indeed ironic and unfortunate.

But it can also be used as a metaphor for what St. John Paul II represents to Catholics around the world, and to the Church as a whole. Even after his canonization last Sunday, critics are still vocal about his “unfitness” for the honor, saying the “fast-track” process imposed by Pope Benedict XVI left little room for a more thorough study of the new saint’s life, and a deeper examina-

tion of his papacy and the policies and teachings he had implemented and imposed on the faithful.

If these critics are to be believed, beneath the veneer of accessibility (he was the most traveled pope in history) and kindliness lay a pope who was a social and theological conservative at heart and who sought to turn back the Church from the liberalizing tendencies ushered in, ironically enough, by his brother in sainthood, Pope John XXIII. Indeed, there are those who theorize that Pope Francis, in letting the canonizations of the two pontiffs push through and transpire at the same time, was seeking to balance two tendencies that are tearing at the Roman Catholic Church: the tendency to preserve and conserve Church teachings and values amid a rapidly changing world; and the desire to adapt and adjust, making the Church move with the times, and remain relevant despite the speed and nature of the change. *** I had written in the past that my own “personal favorite” among the popes was John XXIII, and not just because he was the pope I had known from childhood.

Still fresh in my memory is the general image of “good Pope John,” who

looked like a Santa Claus without a beard, always smiling. But the reason I favor him were the changes he ushered in by convening the Second Vatican Council. I lived through those years of transition, when the distant, remote Church of priests celebrating Mass with their backs turned to the congregation, mumbling unintelligible prayers, morphed into a friendlier, more open Church of Sunday Masses where the priest faced the communi-

I lived through those years of transition, when the distant, remote Church of priests celebrating Mass with their backs turned to the congregation, mumbling unintelligible prayers, morphed into a friendlier, more open Church of Sunday Masses where the priest faced the community... ty, spoke to us in languages we understood, and where music and song were welcome, indeed encouraged, with the guitar and tambourine replacing the sonorous tones of the organ.

In less than a decade, we went from blind obedience to active participation, saw the Church and its rituals shuck off the stultifying air of incense and mystery, and don the raiment of

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

18

Canada News NEWS BRIEFS

FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO BY ALEXARANDA / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Senate, election bill to dominate as Parliament resumes after Easter break

BY TERRY PEDWELL The Canadian Press OTTAWA—Members of Parliament are back to work in Ottawa after a twoweek break, and it’s going to be a fastpaced return with Senate and electoral reform both on the hot topics list.

The Senate will be front and centre again as MPs discuss Friday’s pronouncements by the Supreme Court of Canada.

The high court told the Harper government that any significant reforms to the Senate would require the consent of a majority of provinces, and abolishing it would require unanimous approval.

As that unfolds, a lawyer for suspended senator Patrick Brazeau will be in court.

Christian Deslauriers is to appears on behalf of Brazeau, who is facing fraud and breach of trust charges in connection with the Senate expenses scandal.

Expect much debate as well over the Conservative government’s proposed Fair Elections Act, Bill C-23.

Quebec’s Chief Electoral Officer Jacques Drouin will get the ball rolling as he appears at the Commons house affairs committee studying the bill.

The debate will continue in question period in the House of Commons

Parliament resumes after Easter break.

after Pierre Poilievre, the minister for democratic reform, announced amendments Friday to many contentious aspects of the bill.

Here are some other events happening in and around Ottawa: • Petty officer James Wilks will face a sentencing hearing in a Gatineau, Quebec court. A court martial found him guilty of 25 out of 26 breach of trust and sexual assault charges last November. Sixteen complainants testified during the case that centred on work he did while doing medical examinations; • Statistics Canada releases a study that examines the factors that influenced the wage gap between young high school graduates and bachelor degree holders over the last decade; • The Parliamentary Budget Officer releases a report that gazes into a crystal ball to predict how the economy will fare this year;

• Maj.-Gen. Michael Day, the Chief of Force Development at National Defence, appears at a Senate committee to discuss the status of Canada’s international security and defence relations with the US, NATO and NORAD; • Immigration Minister Chris Alexander appears at a Commons committee to discuss Bill C-24, the Strengthening the Canadian Citizenship Act; • Status of Women Minister Kellie Leitch is set to appear along with department officials at a Commons committee to talk about her department’s spending estimates.

• And leaders in the global effort to pre-emptively ban so-called “Killer Robots” will present an in-depth look at the problems with autonomy in weapons and discuss an upcoming meeting on the issue at the United Nations. ■

CITY SELLS LAST OF ITS OLYMPIC VILLAGE DEBT VANCOUVER—What threatened to be an Olympic-sized white elephant for the City of Vancouver has now become a benefit after the last of the city’s investment in Olympic Village has been sold. The city has sold its remaining interest in 67 condominium units in the development property for $91 million to the Aquilini Group, the owner of the Vancouver Canucks hockey team.

FLOODING TENSION HIGH IN WESTERN MANITOBA BIRTLE, Man.—Flood worries remain high in parts of western Manitoba despite lower water levels. Ron Bell, a spokesman for the town of Birtle, says the water is dropping on the river that runs though town. By Steve Lambert.

ONTARIO PLEDGES $1B FOR RING OF FIRE

Prime Minister Harper say child, maternal health a priority for Canada

TORONTO—Ontario’s governing Liberals say they’re willing to put up $1 billion to develop an all-season transportation corridor to the Ring of Fire. They’re calling on Ottawa to match the funds to build the infrastructure that’s needed to develop the mineral-rich deposit, which they say will create jobs and boost northern Ontario’s hard-hit economy.

BY DIANA MEHTA The Canadian Press

OIL CLIMBS ON WORRIES OVER UKRAINE CRISIS

TORONTO—Prime Minister Stephen Harper hopes an international conference on child and maternal health to be held in Toronto next month will help the world stay focused on what he calls “a great cause.”

Harper says Canada remains committed to making progress on

the issue, despite the end of a program on the matter looming in 2015.

Harper launched the Muskoka Initiative at the G8 summit hosted

by Canada in 2010 and intended it to help address some sobering health figures in poor countries: the hundreds of thousands of women who die in pregnancy and childbirth each year and the millions of children who perish before age five.

The initiative was set up to tar-

get two of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals that were found to be the most lacking—reducing child mortality and improving maternal health.

But as figures and information provided by the government have shown, the world is not on track to make the progress it was hoping for on those two development goals by 2015. ❱❱ PAGE 46 Prime Minister

The price of oil rebounded to above $101 per barrel Monday as mounting tensions in Ukraine raised the likelihood of further Western economic sanctions against major energy producer Russia. By early afternoon in Europe, benchmark U.S. crude for June delivery was up 48 cents to $101.08 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The Nymex contract closed last week with a decline of $3.70, to $100.60.

Canada News

19 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Jason Kenney on hot seat as controversy rages over temporary foreign workers

BY LEE-ANNE GOODMAN The Canadian Press OTTAWA—In the midst of a fresh eruption of abuse allegations surrounding the government’s troubled temporary foreign worker program, is Jason Kenney’s reputation as a capable task-master taking a beating?

The employment minister was on the defensive Monday in the House of Commons, but he’s also under attack from business groups, labour unions and—perhaps most troubling for Kenney with a federal election looming—everyday Canadians who believe the Conservatives have made it easier for foreigners to swipe their jobs.

“The minister has been responsible for the temporary foreign worker program for the past six years,” NDP leader Tom Mulcair said during question period.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has publicly maligned companies who import workers with “the intention of never

having them be permanent and moving the whole workforce back to another country at the end of a job,” Mulcair continued.

“The prime minister has had this figured out for some time but why, in the six years the minister has been taking care of the program, has he never figured it out?”

Kenney replied with what’s becoming a common refrain.

“If and when there are abuses, we act clearly and quickly,” he said, referring to the temporary ban he placed on restaurants last week preventing them from accessing the temporary foreign worker program.

“We are about to come out with another phase of further reforms to ensure that Canadians always and everywhere get the first crack at available jobs, and that the program is only used as a limited and last resort by employers.”

In January, Kenney pledged another round of reforms as employers and trade associations bemoaned the procedural red tape and lengthy delays they say resulted from earlier rule changes

enacted a year ago. That initial crackdown came after the Royal Bank of Canada found itself in hot water for replacing Canadian staff with temporary foreign workers.

Kenney suggested those changes, originally expected this month, could include a limited fast track for workers in high-demand professions in regions of the country with low unemployment.

But in the face of more allegations about employers, most of them fast-food restaurants, Kenney is sounding a different tone. His office has been inundated with complaints to its tiplines in recent weeks, employment ministry officials say, and the overwhelming majority of them involve restaurants.

Rather than easing restrictions, Kenney is now hinting even tougher rules may loom.

That follows a difficult few days for the employment minister, during which the C.D. Howe Institute released a study that said the influx of temporary foreign workers over the past 10 years—from about 110,000 a decade ago to 338,000

www.canadianinquirer.net

today—had served to hike the joblessness rate in B.C. and Alberta.

CBC also released a damning audio recording of the CEO of McDonald’s Canada, John Betts, denouncing the crackdown on temporary foreign workers to franchisees and telling them that Kenney “gets it.”

“If Jason Kenney ‘gets it,’ that means he supports going out and hiring all sorts of temporary workers,” said Liberal MP John McCallum, the party’s immigration critic.

“If he ‘gets it,’ it means he’s not really wanting to enforce the rules.”

In an interview, McCallum said the temporary foreign worker controversy is resonating with all Canadians at a time of relatively high unemployment—not just those in B.C. and Alberta, a Tory stronghold.

“It’s going to hurt them across Canada, not exclusively in the West,” he said.

“When Canadians fear their jobs are being away by foreigners, or see tearful waitresses on TV who lost their jobs after

almost three decades—that really resonates with Canadians at a time of relatively high unemployment, when people are looking for their jobs or their kids are. It’s something everyone directly relates to.”

Peter Woolstencroft, a political science professor at the University of Waterloo, agrees.

“This file is impregnated with bad optics; there are no good optics at all,” Woolstencroft said.

“This is the kind of thing that angers ordinary folks; they understand that they could go into work one day and despite working there for years, be told they’re going to be replaced. He’s moved very quickly, however, so he’ll at least be credited for that.”

An official in Kenney’s office defended the minister.

“We learned about abuses and we literally threw the book in ways we’ve never thrown the book before,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the matter publicly. ■

World News

MAY 2, 2014

Divers renew search for more than 100 still trapped on sunken South Korean ferry

BY HYUNG-JIN KIM AND YOUKYUNG LEE The Associated Press JINDO, SOUTH KOREA—Divers on Monday renewed their search for more than 100 bodies still trapped in a sunken ferry after weekend efforts were hindered by bad weather, strong currents and floating debris clogging the ship’s rooms.

Investigators, meanwhile, expanded a probe into how coast guard and other rescuers responded after learning the ferry was sinking.

Divers found only one body Sunday after a week that saw an increasing number of corpses pulled from the ship as divers made their way through its labyrinth of cabins, lounges and halls. The number of dead from the April 16 sinking is 188, with 114 people believed missing, though a government emergency task force has said the ship’s passengers list could be inaccurate. Only 174 people survived, including 22 of the 29 crew members.

Ko Myung-seok, an official with the emergency task force, said Monday that 92 divers were searching the ferry. He also said that the government was making plans to salvage the ferry once search efforts end but that details wouldn’t be available until officials talk with families of the victims.

On Sunday, South Korea’s prime minister resigned over the government’s handling of the sinking, blaming “deeprooted evils” in society for the tragedy.

South Korean executive power is largely concentrated in the president, so Chung Hongwon’s resignation appears to be symbolic. Presidential spokesman Min Kyung-wook said President Park Geun-hye would accept the resignation, but did not say when Chung would leave office.

Chung’s resignation comes amid rising indignation over claims by the victims’ relatives that the government did not do enough to rescue or protect their loved ones. Most of the

dead and missing were high school students on a school trip.

Investigators have searched the two service centres that deal with vessel traffic and that communicated with a crew member on the ferry during the sinking.

Senior prosecutor Ahn Sang-don told reporters Monday that prosecutors also seized documents and recordings from a coast guard office in Mokpo, and would do the same at an emergency call service centre that received a call from a student on the ship reporting the sinking. The emergency service centre official connected a coast guard official with the student, who local media reports said was later found dead.

Ahn said that while all 15 crew members responsible for the ship’s navigation have been arrested, they haven’t been formally charged yet because investigations are still going on. The seven surviving crew members who have not been arrested held non-marine jobs such as chef or steward.

The arrested crew members are accused of negligence and of failing to help passengers in need. Capt. Lee Joon-seok initially told passengers to stay in their rooms and took half an hour to issue an evacuation order, by which time the ship was tilting too severely for many people to get out. Lee told reporters after his arrest that he withheld the evacuation order because rescuers had yet to arrive and he feared for passengers’ safety in the cold, swift water.

In video clips released Monday by the coast guard, the captain, wearing only a sweater and underpants is shown leaping from the sinking ferry, which is tilted about 45 degrees, onto a rescue boat. He had reportedly rushed from his cabin to the bridge without fully dressing.

He wears no life jacket.

Others people who appear to be crew members slide down from the bridge to the coast guard boat holding ropes. The video shows about half a dozen people who appear to be passengers wearing life jackets in the water near the stern of the ship.

Another clip shows about half a

dozen coast guard officers trying to smash a window. The window breaks and people with life jackets escape. A rescue raft moves back and forth between the sinking ferry and a rescue boat, transporting people who were hanging onto the ship’s rails.

According to Kim Kyung-il, a coast guard official, the ship’s crew members did not tell rescuers that they were crew members. Coast guard officers who were on the first rescue boat sent to the area as the ferry sank said Monday that the situation was so urgent that they couldn’t check whether the people they were rescuing were crew members or passengers.

Kim and other officers told reporters in Jindo on Monday that they were unable to enter the ship because it was listing too much when they arrived and began rescue operations.

The officers said they urged people aboard the ship to escape and jump into the water but it was unclear if any passengers heard them.

The ferry was carrying an estimated 3,608 tons of cargo, according to an executive of the company that loaded it. That far exceeds what the captain claimed in paperwork—150 cars and 657 tons of other cargo, according to the coast guard—and is more than three times what an inspector who examined the vessel during a redesign last year said it could safely carry.

Senior prosecutor Yang Jungjin, said that the cause of the sinking could be due to excessive veering, improper stowage of cargo, modifications made to the ship and tidal influence. He said investigators would determine the cause by consulting with experts and using simulations.

Students from Danwon High School in Ansan, a city near Seoul, make up more than 80 per cent of the dead and missing; they had been on their way to the southern tourist island of Jeju. ■ Lee reported from Mokpo, South Korea. Associated Press writers Jung-yoon Choi and Foster Klug in Seoul contributed to this report. www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY 20

Paris police boss wants officers implicated in Canadian’s alleged rape off force The Canadian Press PARIS—The director of the Paris police service says he wants the officers implicated in the alleged rape of a Canadian woman out of his department.

Bernard Petit made the remarks to French radio station Europe1 as authorities investigate two officers accused of raping the Canadian tourist at the city’s police headquarters.

Both officers from the elite police unit, as well as a third who’s considered a witness, have been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation that could take weeks or even months to complete.

French media have reported a 34-year-old Toronto woman met the off-duty officers in a bar last week and later went with them to their workplace.

As she left the station, she reportedly told another police officer she’d been raped, but a lawyer for one of the suspects told The Canadian Press the sex was consensual.

The radio station says the police director refused to dis-

cuss the criminal allegations, but is reporting he said it’s clear there’s no longer a place for any of the officers on his force.

Petit also says they should have never have let someone from the outside into the headquarters.

The police station, on an island in the Seine River, is home to the noted anti-gang SWAT team and is often referred to in France simply by its address: 36 Quai des Orfevres.

Sebastien Schapira, a lawyer for one of the officers, has denied his client did anything wrong.

Schapira told The Canadian Press the officer had “consensual” sexual relations with the woman.

He said the Canadian woman has since returned home, but he believes she should be in France while the investigation is carried out.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve announced over the weekend the officers had been removed from their posts during the investigation.

He also said a disciplinary inquiry within the force is already underway. ■

World News

21 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Years after...

Bells tolled across Poland and the crowds applauded, in unison with those gathered in St. Peter’s Square in Rome, when Pope Francis declared the pontiff from Poland a saint.

John Paul remains a vital figure to many of his countrymen for having helped end communism in Poland, for his support of the Solidarity freedom movement that peacefully achieved that goal in 1989, and for his teachings about human rights and dignity.

Throughout Poland, the Vatican transmission was followed by a Mass of thanksgiving for the sainthood of a figure believed to be one of the greatest Poles ever.

“This is a great day for Poland, this is a great day for me,” said Maria Jurek from Katowice, her voice laden with emotion. “He changed Poland and he changed us with his teaching and with his visits here.”

Her friend, Izabella Gorecka, said she felt elated and “flew” up the sanctuary steps, despite feeling hip pain. ❰❰ 1

They got up at 4:30 a.m. to join a pilgrimage organized by their parish church—complete with papal yellow and white flags, a portable canvas stool and their own food—to watch the Vatican ceremony live on giant screens at the new John Paul II sanctuary in Krakow that is competing for pilgrims with the neighbouring, popular God’s Mercy sanctuary.

John Paul’s sanctuary, still under construction, was initiated in 2011, when the pope’s personal secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz placed a vial of the pontiff’s blood in one of its white marble altars. The other, older sanctuary, was blessed by John Paul in 2002, and by tradition gathered larger crowds.

Born Karol Wojtyla, the pope spent 40 years in Krakow, first as a Polish language student and eventually as bishop, before becoming pope in 1978 and taking the name of John Paul.

He died April 2, 2005, and his pontificate was among the longest in history. While pope, he visited Poland many times.

About 30,000 pilgrims from

around Poland gathered in the two centres. The figure was much lower than on previous pope-related occasions, in a sign that memory of him was fading, while the new generation, coming of age, was less centred on religion. To Poland’s believers, John Paul was always a saint, so they took his canonization as an obvious thing.

Still, after the ceremony, members of the three generations of the Balazinski family from Krakow were very moved and proud.

Karol, an 8-year-old boy named after the pope, could only say he was happy. His father, Janusz, believes that the support from a saint will make his prayers even stronger than before.

“The more so that we met him.

He is one of us,” Balazinski said.

During a 2002 Mass in Krakow, with his six brothers and sisters, he accompanied his parents Grazyna and Jerzy, who brought the pope offerings of bread and wine.

In the pope’s hometown of Wadowice, crowds were spilling from the spacious basilica

Pope John Paul II greets the pilgrims during his weekly general audience in the courtyard of Castel Gandolfo Summer Residence, on September 07, 2004.

PHOTO BY GIULIO NAPOLITANO / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

into John Paul II square. Masses gathered across the nation, including the Black Madonna Shrine in Czestochowa, Warsaw, Gdansk and other cities.

Thousands more travelled to Rome, some of them on foot, cycling or on horseback. Poland’s government leadership—President Bronislaw Komorowski, Prime Minister Donald Tusk and both parliamentary speak-

ers— attended the Vatican ceremony.

The ceremony was held on God’s Mercy church holiday, established by John Paul. It was also held on the 75th birthday of Dziwisz, Archbishop of Krakow, who promotes the memory of the Polish-born pope and of his teaching.

John Paul is “still shaping the image of Poland today,” he said. ■

Storms, tornadoes tear through South, leaving path of destruction as death toll passes 30

BY JEFF AMY AND ADRIAN SAINZ The Associated Press LOUISVILLE, MISS.—A dangerous storm system that spawned a chain of deadly tornadoes over three days flattened homes and businesses, forced frightened residents in more than half a dozen states to take cover and left tens of thousands in the dark Tuesday.

As the storm hopscotched across a large swath of the U.S., the overall death toll was more than 30, killed Monday and Sunday in a band stretching from Oklahoma to Alabama.

Forecasts showed the storm continuing to move east Tuesday, with Georgia and Alabama residents waking to sirens, howling wind and pounding rain.

Others found their loved ones missing and their homes pulverized. Along Mississippi Highway 397 on the eastern

edge of Louisville, firefighters picked through the remains of mobile homes, searching for three people unaccounted for after a tornado tore through.

Twenty firefighters linked hands and waded through an area where wood frame homes had also been heavily damaged.

Rescue workers stepped gingerly over downed power lines and trees that were snapped in half and stripped of branches.

The Louisville tornado caused water damage and carved holes in the roof of the Winston Medical Center. The emergency room was evacuated Monday.

“We thought we were going to be OK, then a guy came in and said, ‘It’s here right now,”‘ said Dr. Michael Henry, head of the emergency room. “Then boom ... it blew through.”

Republican state Sen. Giles Ward huddled in a bathroom with his wife, four other family members and their dog as the tornado destroyed his two-sto-

ry brick house in Louisville and flipped his son-in-law’s SUV upside down onto the patio.

“For about 30 seconds, it was unbelievable,” Ward said.

“It’s about as awful as anything we’ve gone through.”

Officials said seven people died in Winston County, where Louisville is the county seat, with about 6,600 people. Two others were reported dead, separately, in Mississippi when their vehicles were blown off roadways.

In Winston County, one of the victims was a woman who died in the day care centre she owned in Louisville, county Coroner Scott Gregory said.

Authorities were returning to the centre Tuesday.

One seriously injured child was evacuated, said state Rep. Michael Evans, D-Louisville, who is acting as a liaison for the county. The child’s condition was not known Tuesday. Evans said authorities don’t think any other children were in the cenwww.canadianinquirer.net

tre during the storm.

“No other parents have shown up to say, ‘My child was at the daycare.’ That’s why we think the day care is fine,” Evans said.

In Tupelo, a community of about 35,000 in northeastern Mississippi, every building in a two-block area was damaged, officials on the scene said.

On Tuesday morning, a blanket of fog hung over the city as authorities switched from a search-and-rescue mission to cleanup duties.

In one residential neighbourhood, destroyed homes sat steps away from those left unscathed. Crews cleared trees tangled with power lines, fixed cracked roadway signs and removed debris from streets.

In Kimberly, Ala., about 20 miles north of Birmingham, a suspected tornado hit at a crossroads before midnight Monday, tearing the A-shaped roof off the town’s Church of God. On Tuesday morning, the

roof sat in a solid piece beside the red brick church.

Across the street, the cinderblock walls from an old fishing supply store were scattered around the gravel parking lot.

The building’s metal frame remained. Down the road, the fire department was flattened.

Tim Armstrong picked up pieces of splintered trees in his backyard. Armstrong, his wife and their two young daughters were home when the storm struck. He said they were listening to weather reports on television and heard an allclear for their area.

“Three minutes later my mother-in-law calls, says there’s a tornado in Morris,” a nearby town, Armstrong said.

“The power went out, and we went running to the middle of the house.”

They heard the wind roaring and glass shattering as a tree flew through their front door. ❱❱ PAGE 44 Storms, tornadoes

Immigration

MAY 2, 2014

FRIDAY 22

Legal expert doubts anti immigration flyers could prompt criminal charges

BY LEE-ANNE GOODMAN The Canadian Press TORONTO—An anti-immigration flyer has angered Ontario’s premier and prompted calls for charges, but a successful prosecution under Canada’s hate crime laws faces an uphill climb, a legal expert suggested Sunday.

The flyers targeted the Sikh community in Brampton, a city just west of Toronto. The flyers prompted the head of an Ontario Sikh group to call Sunday for criminal charges against those responsible for distributing them.

Ranjit Dulay said charges might deter others from distributing such literature in future.

“Otherwise... in the future other people are going to start doing that. And they’re going to be hard to control,” said Dulay, chairman of the Ontario Sikhs & Gurdwara Council.

Another Sikh group, the World Sikh Organization of Canada, also condemned the

flyers but expressed doubt on whether they qualify as a hate crime.

The leaflets show a black and white picture of a group of Caucasians above a separate photograph of a group of Sikhs with captions that read “from this... to this...” Underneath the two pictures is a caption: “Is This What You Want?”

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne railed against the flyers, calling them “hateful” in a statement issued late Saturday.

She repeated her comments at a Sikh celebration in Toronto on Sunday.

“They can’t be tolerated. That kind of divisive action really is not consistent with who we are as Canadians,” Wynne said at the Sikh Khalsa day event.

She refused to speculate on whether the flyers could bring hate crime charges, saying she didn’t want to interfere in a police investigation that is underway on the matter.

Employment Minister Jason Kenney, who also attended the

Sikh celebration, said the flyers are far outside mainstream Canadian opinion.

“The fact that this is a story demonstrates how rare and how unacceptable such expressions are. I think this stuff is on the fringe of the fringe,” he said, while also declining comment on their legality.

Brampton has a population of 521,000 people, about 200,000 of whom have a South Asian background, according to 2011 census data on the city’s website.

Peel Region police, the force responsible for Brampton, said investigators are trying to determine if the flyers could be considered a hate crime of any sort.

“We’ve been given the information of their existence, we’ve seen them and we are looking into them but it’s to determine whether or not there’s any criminality to them,” said Const. Fiona Thivierge.

But Richard Moon, a University of Windsor law professor who is an authority on freedom

of expression issues, said it remains to be seen if the handouts are “extreme” enough to run afoul of Criminal Code provisions concerning communications that would incite hatred against an identifiable group.

“One of the challenges with considering this particular flyer to be hate speech under the Criminal Code is that it doesn’t attribute anything to members of any group,” Moon said in an interview.

“It says almost nothing, other than ‘here’s what our community once looked like, here’s what it looks like now, perhaps we should rethink immigration policy so we don’t continue down that road.”‘ “There is something there— a claim implicit being made about the members of a particular group but it’s so unformed and so unclear it would be a challenge to make the argument that this rises to the level of extreme hate that the Criminal Code catches,” he added.

A group calling itself Immi-

gration Watch has acknowledged its supporters distributed the flyers. Spokesman Dan Murray expressed little concern about a police investigation.

“I suspect they’ll laugh,” he said in a phone interview on Sunday in which he also dismissed Wynne’s comments, calling them “absolutely ridiculous.”

“Kathleen Wynne got into her present position as a result of free speech and democracy, now she seems to think when she’s got her power that she can tell other people who have different opinions that they should shut up,” he said in an interview Sunday.

Murray said “there will be other pamphlets,” in the future and suggested a similar version may show up in the Vancouver suburb of Richmond, which has a large Chinese-Canadian population. ■ With files from Steve Fairbairn and Diana Mehta

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Immigration

23 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

ON THE MOVE

New federal skilled worker program coming soon

BY FRANCES GRACE QUIDDAOEN AND LEO MARCO LUI Philippine Canadian Inquirer LAST APRIL 23rd, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) announced the re-launch of the Federal Skilled worker program (FSWP) which takes effect on May 1st 2014. Last year’s FSWP, which was re-opened after a one-year pause and has been in effect since May 4th, 2013, will end on the 30th of this month. Below is a compilation of the details as announced by the government, including the highlights of changes.

Highlights of the new FSWP

• Overall cap of 25,000 new applications on eligible occupations categories • 500 cap on new applications under the PhD stream • No limit on applicants who have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer • Sub-cap of 1,000 new applications for each of the 50 occupations as enumerated below (with their corresponding 2011 National Occupation Classification (NOC) code (in brackets): 1. Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (0013) 2. Senior managers - trade, broadcasting and other services, n. e. c. (0015) 3. Financial managers (0111)

4. Human resources managers (0112) 5. Purchasing managers (0113) 6. Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (0121) 7. Managers in health care (0311) 8. Construction managers (0711) 9. Home building and renovation managers (0712) 10. Managers in natural resources production and fishing (0811) 11. Manufacturing managers (0911) 12. Financial auditors and accountants (1111) 13. Financial and investment analysts (1112) 14. Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers (1113) 15. Other financial officers (1114) 16. Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (1123) 17. Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers (1212) 18. Property administrators (1224) 19. Geoscientists and oceanographers (2113) 20. Civil engineers (2131) 21. Mechanical engineers (2132) 22. Electrical and electronics engineers (2133) 23. Petroleum engineers (2145) 24. Information systems analysts and consultants (2171) 25. Database analysts and data administrators (2172) 26. Software engineers and designers (2173) 27. Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174) 28. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (2232) 29. Construction estimators

(2234) 30. Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (2241) 31. Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (2243) 32. Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety (2263) 33. Computer network technicians (2281) 34. Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (3011) 35. Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012) 36. Specialist physicians (3111) 37. General practitioners and family physicians (3112) 38. Dietitians and nutritionists (3132) 39. Audiologists and speechlanguage pathologists (3141) 40. Physiotherapists (3142) 41. Occupational therapists (3143) 42. Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (3214) 43. Medical radiation technologists (3215) 44. Medical sonographers (3216) 45. Licensed practical nurses (3233) 46. Paramedical occupations (3234) 47. University professors and lecturers (4011) 48. Psychologists (4151) 49. Early childhood educators and assistants (4214) 50. Translators, terminologists and interpreters (5125) Who is a Federal Skilled Worker?

A Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) is chosen as permanent resident to Canada based on a selection grid made up of six factors—educa-

tion, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, age, whether they have an arranged employment in Canada, and adaptability. These factors are indicators of their ability to prosper in the Canadian labour market and adapt to Canadian life.

A skilled worker may apply to immigrate to Canada under the FSWP if they want to live and work in any Canadian province or territory except Quebec which has its own separate skilled worker category.

Selection Factors

The following is a grid, from the present FSWP, consisting of 6 factors with the corresponding points totalling to 100. The pass mark is 67 points. It remains to be seen whether the Selection Factor

Max points

English and/or French Skills

28

Education

25

Work experience

15

Age

12

Arranged employment in Canada

10

Adaptability

10

new FSWP will maintain the existing grid and point system.

Developments/Changes to the FSWP

The following were the main changes to the FSWP: • Under the 2008 Action Plan for Faster Immigration, CIC began to limit FSW application intake to priority occupations.

• In 2010, the Department added caps to the number of new applications.

• In June 2012, the Jobs, Growth, and Long-Term Prosperity Act eliminated most of the remaining FSW applications received before February 27, 2008.

Around 280,000 applications from the 280,000 FSW backlog were eliminated which paved the way for a faster and more flexible economic immigration system; • In July 2012, CIC issued a temporary pause on new FSW applications, excluding candidates with a qualifying job offer or those applying under the PhD stream.

• On May 4, 2013, the new FSWP was launched, effective until April 30, 2014, setting an over-all cap of 5,000 new applications for the 24 eligible occupations, with a sub-cap of 300 new applications for each of the eligible occupations.

New Guidelines

On April 26, 2014, CIC is expected to issue a new set of Ministerial Instructions to immigration officers regarding the processing of applications to the FSWP. What to do

If you are skilled worker, whether in Canada as a temporary worker or outside of Canada and belonging to any of the 50 occupations and thinking of becoming a permanent resident in Canada, you should start preparing your documents. If you have not yet done so already, consider consulting a professional for help with your application. ■ Grace and Leo are both licensed immigration consultants and members of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council. They may be contacted at (778) 840-4295 or (778) 227-7679 or by email at info@onthemovecanada.com.

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nationwide CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS IN PRINT

We are Now

Every week, the Philippine Canadian Inquirer celebrates the unwavering Filipino spirit through a feature called “Filipino-Canadian in Focus.”

DAILY on the web

The feature recognizes the achievements of Filipinos living in Canada who have shown concern for the community, success in spite of trials, and the uniquely Pinoy practice of “bayanihan.”

everywhere, anywhere This year, we are welcoming nominations for the News at your fingertips daily next subject of “Filipino-Canadian in Focus.”

Mechanics: - All nominees must have (a) Filipino heritage/ancestry - All nominees must be residing in Canada at the time of nomination - Nominees from all industries are welcome (e.g. medical/health, politics, community service, business, entertainment, charity institutions, etc.)

- Who can nominate? Anybody.

Fill up the nomination form online by scanning the code with your smartphone or by visiting InFocus.canadianinquirer.net.

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27 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

FILIPINO-CANADIAN IN FOCUS:

Armando Bacani

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer STEVEN RAICHLEN, author of ‘BBQ USA: 425 Fiery Recipes from All Across America,’ described Filipino entrepreneur Armando Bacani as someone who “could be hailed as the mayor of Vancouver” because everyone, and he means “everyone, knows him.”

Armando owns and runs Armando’s Finest Quality Meats in Granville Island. From a struggling shop, it is now the destination of top restaurateurs and residents for the best cuts of meat. Armando’s customer interaction is also a sight to behold. Despite his success, he remains involved in his family business and continues give tips to his customers. Armando is more than just a businessman, he is a man dedicated to his community.

And we’re not just talking about his community in Vancouver.

When super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ (international name ‘Haiyan’) ravaged through Visayas in November 2013, Armando initiated a fund raising event and raised $9,306 in eight days for the Canadian Red Cross relief to the Philippines. 10% of his meat shop’s profits were also donated to aid his fellow Filipinos in the time of need.

Making the most out of what you have

Armando Bacani was earned his degree in medical technology in Baguio City, Philippines, but when his sister gave him the opportunity to move to Canada, he didn’t let the chance pass him by. In 1973, he moved to Canada for good.

“We’re what we call “economic migrants,’” Armando shared.

“We settled into the new place, you look for a new job and you move on from there.”

Instead of practicing his profession as a medical technologist, he ended up training as a cytotechnologist. He held the job for 17 fruitful years.

“It’s a good job. I couldn’t complain. But I needed more challenge,” he recalled.

And a challenge he decided to seek.

With his roots calling him

Armando with his team.

to the direction of an old family business, Armando couldn’t possibly deny the pull of the inevitable.

Seizing the opportunity

“I’m a believer that… wherever you are now is actually the product of your journeys way back… The destination is always moving. You go where your life takes you. That’s what makes it more challenging, exciting.”

Armando’s mother’s family is in the meat business and he grew up exploring the business.

“I work along the slaughterhouse, sa palengke, sa karnehan (at the market, at the meat shop).

As I was growing up, I helped out. I’ve done it all, as one might say. I came here to Canada hoping that I could practice my profession, but your experiences as you’re growing up—it stays with you,” he explained.

Finally, when he got married to his wife Mila, he answered the call.

“We looked around and said, ‘what would it take to make a butcher shop here?’” he asked with his wife.

The answer came in 1983.

Their first venture was on the West End. It was a “crazy enough” idea according to Armando.

“I say ‘crazy’ because if I knew what I know now, I wouldn’t have done it,” he laughed heartily.

“You know less, you fear less.

You tell yourself, ‘what have I got to lose?’ Sometimes, it’s really a blessing that you know less. As long as you welcome anything new, then you’re gonna be okay, because you’re willing to learn,” he added.

Armando was talking about his first meat shop in Canada.

It was a struggle, but they per-

severed.

“The Canadian way of cutting meats is different than back home. I have to re-learn everything. It was a rough beginning.

It wasn’t that easy, I will be the first one to admit that to you,” he said. “But you’re young, you’re energetic and you know very little. What have I got to lose? I can only learn. Yon ang attitude ko non (that was my attitude then). So I bought the shop and I bought a book. When I look back, I say, ‘I must be so stupid.’”

Within four years, they were able to put up two shops, until an opportunity came to open a store in Granville Island.

“When the opportunity came, we grabbed it. It wasn’t easy because you don’t have all the opportunities in the world.

You really have to find ways to make it happen. I didn’t have any financial backing from anybody. You pretty much have to be really creative in your financing and thank God it worked!” Armando said.

So, in 1987, they opened Armando’s Finest Quality Meats and sold the other two shops.

“Focus on one place,” he said.

“It was actually a small shop in the beginning. From there, again, an opportunity [came] up and we got a bigger place and then we built a new shop there.”

“I always tell people what’s most important is… seizing the opportunity when it comes your way,” he said.

“Kaya lagi kong sinasabi (I always say), don’t be afraid.

An opportunity doesn’t always come your way... So when it comes your way, seize it. If you’re afraid to jump into [it], you might regret it someday.”

An immigrant’s woes

“This country has been very www.canadianinquirer.net

Armando the meat expert.

ALL PHOTOS FROM ARMANDO’S MEATS FACEBOOK PAGE

good to me and my family,” Armando said sincerely. “…but I would be lying to you if I didn’t encounter any form of racism.”

In the beginning, Armando shared that some customers mistake him as a Chinese businessman—often belittling his knowledge of his own chosen profession.

“Someone told me, ‘what do Chinese [people] know about cutting meat?’ and I’m not even Chinese,” he laughed. “I was taken aback and I told myself, ‘should I let this bother me?’ I told myself, ‘I’m gonna prove this guy wrong.’”

Armando is the kind of guy who turns struggles to triumphs. When he sees an opportunity to succeed, he grabs it by the horns.

“I didn’t look at it as an obstacle. I look at them as more of a challenge,” he said.

“In the end, they are no different than anybody else. If they see good product, good service, and good value in what anybody is trying to market—it doesn’t matter [who’s running it],” he added.

Thankfully, Armando’s positive outlook on life and his market paid off.

“Nowadays, we have assimilated into the community and people recognize what we do.

We stuck there and we persevered and then it paid up.”

Tips for aspiring ‘entre-pinoys’

“I go back to simple values,” he answered when asked to share business tips.

“There’s really hard work.

Be true to what you’re doing.

You have to equip yourself, not just talking about the skills, but extra product knowledge.

If you’re marketing something, make sure you know all the important information about it.

And then people will appreciate that, they’ll respect you for it,” he said.

“Be true and be fair—be it your customers, employees, suppliers, or landlord... You could be very firm—because that’s how it should be—but you have to be very fair so that you can walk down the streets with your head up high. Don’t forget the value of hard work. I couldn’t emphasize that more because a lot of people think that all of this comes easy. Even now, it’s still hard work.”

This is true in Armando’s case. Most days, you can still see him working behind the chopping counter, cutting meat and serving customers the way he did back in 1987.

“I give it my 110%,” he shared.

“I wasn’t worried about the money because I know that if you do it well, you do it right, you give it 110%, yung pera susunod yan sa’yo (the money will follow you). If you’re chasing the money, mas mahirap (it will be harder). But if you let the money follow you, it’s much [easier]. Just do your thing.”

So, what sets Armando apart from other Filipino-Canadian businessmen?

“I’m not unique by any standard,” he started. “Those who have done very well, they have something in common: they ❱❱ PAGE 37 Filipino-Canadian in

FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

28

Everybody loves a Mystery The Curious Case of Life

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer WHO, WHAT, where, when and why??? Everybody loves a mystery. Or is, at the very least, expressly fascinated by it.

As a child, I was obsessed with “Whodunits.” I had (actually still do) the entire collection of hard bound Nancy Drew books, and a few stray Hardy Boys and Bobbsey Twins, sitting proudly on my shelf. With my mind, I ate up each book as voraciously as a ravenous lone wolf would scarf down fresh kill; after which, I would count the days to the next trip to the bookstore for another delightfully satisfying meal of mystery.

Curiouser and curiouser

A mystery is generally defined as something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain; or any affair, thing, or person that presents features or qualities so obscure as to arouse curiosity or speculation.

It is also used to refer to the usually fictional genre of novel, short story, play or film whose plot involves a crime or other event that remains puzzling and unresolved until the very end.

The word can also pertain to that which is obscure, puzzling, or of mysterious quality or character; whereas in matters of religion, it is used in reference to that which is unknowable except through divine revelation.

Mystery junkies

Why do we love mystery as we do? As literary fiction and other artistic forms of expression, mystery provides us a great escape; a safe thrill; an adrenalin rush without ever having to actually dive out of a plane, rappel down a cliff, or jump off some dizzingly high point with only a bungee cord between you and almost certain death. Mystery presents us with the chance for a danger-free and exhilarating adventure (a lot cheaper, too.)

A stainless steel statue of the Mothman in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA

Earhart in the Electra cockpit, c.1936.

PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA

Oddly enough, mystery likewise equips us with some form of coping mechanism. It hones our ability to deal with the unknown.

American author Ken Kesey wrote that ‘The need for mystery is greater than the need for an answer.’ We generally go through life in search of answers; demanding proof.

The human mind seeks to categorize and explain everything away, when—in reality—there is so much in life that defies explanation. No matter how awesome we think we are, or how amazing our abilities, or how vast our knowledge, and how far we have come in the areas of technology and such: THE UNIVERSE IS MORE AWESOME, MORE AMAZING, VASTER, AND WAY FURTHER ALONG, STILL. A humbling truth, which mystery keeps ever before us.

Life, as mystery; and mystery as wonderment

Mystery serves to remind us to enjoy the journey of life, despite its many unknowns and “unknowables.” We can rage all we want against that truth, but the truth shall remain: we cannot completely “figure out” this thing we call LIFE. In its entirety and complexity, life shall forever remain enigmatic. Like

the Mona Lisa’s smile—at once somewhat sweet and serendipitous, yet also staid and poignant, and every bit unfathomable.

One of history’s greatest minds, Albert Einstein himself was beguiled by the mysterious; to the point of expressing: "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious.”

A visual artist from Birmingham, John Newling, with a good grasp on mystery’s role in life, decided to take this revelation for the unrevealed to the next level. In 2006, he went to insurers Lloyd’s of London and asked them to underwrite him against “loss of mystery.” In layperson’s terms, Newling offered to pay out if all mystery was lost from his life. This was his way of ensuring that his life would not become too controlled, which he felt it was becoming. For Newling, “Mystery is a predisposition to search, enjoy, play and wonder. That becomes lost when we’re controlling it all.”

The ability to appreciate mystery is the ability to look at life in wide-eyed wonder and realize we do not know it all.

And that’s okay.

Stranger than fiction

Of course, there are those mysteries in life that we would perhaps rather not know; those with which we remain fascinat-

ed, but morbidly so. The mysteries that get under our skin, befuddle us to the point of bewilderment, and even make the hairs on the back of our necks stand at eerie attention.

Those mysteries are the ones that remind us that truth is often stranger than fiction. If you choose to refute this, then clearly, you have lived under one of life’s biggest rocks, or in some form of plastic bubble.

Take some of history’s biggest mysteries, for instance, as listed by list25.com (for the full 25, click away to their site): • Mothman Mothman is a legendary moth-like creature reportedly seen in the Point Pleasant area of West Virginia from November 15, 1966 to December 15, 1967. News reports first appeared on November 16, 1966 in the Point Pleasant Register with the headline "Couples See Man-Sized Bird ... Creature ...

Something". The mystery was popularized in 1975, when author John Keel released his book The Mothman Prophecies. In his book, Keel claimed that Mothman was related to many supernatural events that occurred in the area during the time of the sightings, as well as to the collapse of the Silver Bridge. The 2002 film The Mothman Prophecies, starring Richard Gere, was based on Keel's book.

• Amelia Earhart Aviation pioneer and pro pi-

lot, Amelia Earhart vanished in her twin-engine monoplane Electra over the Pacific Ocean in 1937, in what would have been a complete flight around the globe. Although a multi-million dollar search was launched, her plane was never found. Earhart was officially declared dead in 1939.

• The Bermuda Triangle Also known as the “Devil’s Triangle,” numerous ships and aircraft disappeared in this notorious stretch of ocean between Florida, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. Although many explanations have been posited to explain the disappearance— some of which are bad weather, variations in electromagnetic activity, and methane gas bubbles—the disappearances and many lives lost with them remain a mystery.

• Bigfoot Also known as Sasquatch (an anglicized derivative of the First nations of British Columbia’s Halkomelem word sásq'ets) this cryptid ape- or hominid-type creature is believed to inhabit wooded areas and forests, predominantly of the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Often described by many who have claimed sightings as a large and hairy bipedal humanoid or humanlike creature, the elusive Bigfoot continues to lead many on a seeming wild goose chase. ❱❱ PAGE 31 The Curious

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Mysteries of the Human Body The mystery behind dreaming

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer THE HUMAN body is a glorious specimen—full of wonder and unbelievable features.

It can withstand the most horrific tragedies; it can make changes of tremendous proportions. It can survive an amputation, it can fight off mutating cancerous cells, it can reproduce. Regrettably, it can also reduce

its environment and its own kind.

In fact, the wonders of the human anatomy are so extensive that despite almost sci-filike advancements today, there are still things about it that baffle experts.

If you’re looking for mysteries, there’s really no need to look further than the nearest mirror. Here are just some of the hundreds— if not thousands—of mysteries about the human body.

The Dominant Hand?

Research revealed that 9 out of 10 people are right-handed. This is statistical fact. However, one mind-boggling thing about humans is the observation that humans have dominant hands. Of all the creator’s glory, why just one hand? Why not two equally dexterous mitts?

Live Science posted about this and mentioned a theory that this dominance is a result of a “more intricate wiring” on a particular side of the brain that involves speech. This part of the brain also handles one’s motor skills. This speech center is usually in the left hemisphere of the brain, which controls the right side of the body. Hence, the dominant right hand.

This theory might actually complicate more than enlighten, since “not all right-handed people control speech in the left hemisphere,” but around half of the left-handed population does.

A Symbiotic Relationship?

Most of us know that when we’re getting a vaccine or an antibiotic, we’re actually getting an arm load of something that Wikipedia describes as “an agent that resembles a disease-causing microorganism and is often made from weakened or killed forms of the microbe, its toxins or one of its surface proteins.”

Freaky, right?

The thing that is supposed to help us came from the thing that could possibly harm us.

Fascinating turn of events in medicine, if I do say so myself. It’s like watching a plot twist on ‘Game of Thrones.’

"We're just learning that the consequence of antibiotics is that when you get rid of the good bacteria in our guts, we can develop autoimmune diseases,” said Vincent Racaniello, professor of microbiology and immunology at Columbia University to Life’s Little Mysteries.

“We're not as advanced in our understanding of viruses. What do viruses do for us?"

We’re not sure, Professor. Do tell us.

“What on earth am I here for?” – Appendix

The appendix is perhaps the most underrated body part.

It actually appears to have more function in a book rather than in the human body.

It can be removed without any significant repercussions, but once it blows—you’re toast.

Some experts (and not-so-experts) floated the idea that the appendix that it served as a “safe house” for a strain of bacteria to aid digestion. Some say it is responsible for training a new life’s immune system while it’s still in its mother’s womb.

We might never know its real function. And the fact that its name literally means “afterthought” is not helping the poor appendix’s case.

The Lush Bush

Some people love, some people want it all gone, some people treat it like a ❱❱ PAGE 44 Mysteries of

BY KATHERINE MARFAL-TEVES Philippine Canadian Inquirer DO YOU ever wonder why you dream?

Are you puzzled about its meaning?

Well, you are not alone. Most of us have the same questions.

So, here are some studies and facts that can help explain one of life's (sometimes) pleasurable and greatest mysteries.

What is a dream?

According to a recent research, “our dreams are our mind at work, organizing and making sense of memories, sort of like overnight therapy.”

It can contain happy, sad or frightening emotions. It may also be focused and understandable or unclear and confusing.

Dreaming is also defined as “a symbolic language designed to communicate your inner wisdom to you while you are asleep.” Your subconscious processes your dreams, sends messages as symbols and images, and conveys ideas or situations in a visual language.

Why do we dream?

Researchers still do not know the concrete reason why we dream. Some believe that dreams don’t have specific purpose, while others suggest that it is essential to mental, emotional and physical well-being.

“A possible (though certainly not proven) function of a dream to be weaving new material into the memory system in a way that both reduces emotional arousal and is adaptive in helping us cope with further trauma or stressful events,” Ernest Hoffman, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Newton Wellesley Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts said.

Here are some more interpretations from psychologists, researchers and scientists.

1. Renowned psychologist Carl Jung believes that our dreams are methods of compensation for events that occur in our waking lives. For example, if you have a sad experience in your waking life, chances are you will have a happy or pleasant dream so your spirits won’t fall into complete misery. A successful person may also dream of failure or defeat to compensate for feelings of invincibility and power.

J u n g added that our dreams can also mirror our

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personalities that are not yet fully developed. This is why our dreams consist of behaviors that are completely distinct from our actions and conditions in our waking lives.

2. Psychiatry professor Ernest Hartmann, M.D. suggests that dreams are directed by particular emotions, like stress and worry.

When we deal with stressful situations, our dreams reflect our inner feelings by displaying significant symbols and issues connected to our waking life.

3. Researchers suggest that our dreams play an important role in memory consolidation. Most often, our dreams consist of events and occurrences we have experienced in the recent days. It can be the accident that we saw or the party we attended last week.

Experts explained that these dreams might actually be our brain processing and organizing the conscious and unconscious stimuli it receives throughout the day. It serves as a “rebooting system” that refreshes our mind for the next day.

4. Some scientists believe that our dreams can help us resolve our issues of concern in our waking lives. They explained that while we sleep, our brain processes all these issues of concern and try to come up with answers and solutions.

It is then suggested that when you have problems that need to be resolved, sleeping on it can help.

5. Some psychologists also believe that dreams reflect one of our deep desires. Quoting Sigmund Freud's influential book, The Interpretation of Dreams, he suggests that “dreams are the direct result of repressed emotions and they might represent unconscious thoughts, wishes or desires.”

Therefore, when we dream, our subconscious can unearth the wishes that our conscious mind has learned to inhibit. ■

Everybody loves a Mystery

31 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Dinner and mystery, always an entertaining combination

BY THESSA SANDOVAL Special to Philippine Canadian Inquirer “OOOOOH,” says everyone in the dining room in unison. But it’s not just the scrumptious three-course meal that makes everybody react that way.

When you step into the Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre on Yonge St. in Toronto, you will be led to a comfortable, airy dining area. Once seated at your table, a server will immediately hand you the menu. There’s nothing really suspicious at first. Appetizer of soup or salad will then be served followed by the delicious main course.

Halfway through dinner, the energy in the room rises; people are chatting and laughing and having great conversations while enjoying their food.

At around 8 p.m., the dessert comes, and just as you are about to finish the last few bites, a group of people storms into the room. The tension rises.

The curiosity grows. You know something really mysterious is going on. You feel that something is about to happen.

Sam Spade, a private detective in a crisp white suit, starts going from table to table to warn people to be watchful of the person sitting beside them.

There’s also Al Capone, the rich, gangster-like businessman from Chicago, who approaches everyone while smoking his cigar. Marion, the hostess and the star of the show, graciously welcomes everybody. Marion’s fidgety assistant, Knuckles, is cracking some jokes, making a group of ladies laugh out loud.

The nervous Dorothy tells everyone it’s her first time per-

The cast.

Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre.

forming on Broadway and she’s very excited. Then there is Doc, who is offering people to try his latest concoctions.

Minutes later, the buzz dies down as an announcement is made—someone is dead.

“Oooooh,” says everyone in unison. The mystery and the whodunit game, then begin.

Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre is an interactive mystery dinner theatre that has been around since 1987. Husband and wife tandem Brian and Lili Caws own the business, and both have been members of the theatre community for over three decades.

Brian says that the business wasn’t his original idea. He was working then for another mystery dinner theatre and it wasn’t doing very well in attracting customers. His friends encouraged him to start a business similar to it. When he did,

he and his wife tried to develop the concept and the format to make it work better.

Now, Mysteriously Yours boasts of a repertoire of more than 50 original mysteries and has also performed outside Canada, in countries like the U.S. and Singapore. Every six months, they change to a whole new plot, but always keep the same format for the show. “A detective leads the investigation and you get to question the suspects as well because they’re spread throughout the room.

They sit around the table with the guests, so you get to participate and you help solve the mystery,” says Brian.

To make the play more interactive and fun, a few members of the audience, particularly those who are celebrating their birthdays and anniversaries, are also given small roles. “It’s a scripted performance. It’s 99% scripted, but it looks 50% improvised, so audience would often think it’s an improv show,” adds Brian.

phenomenon refers to the burning of a living (or very recently deceased) human body without an evident external source of ignition. There have been many reported cases of SHC; the first recorded one being that of Italian knight Polonus Vorstius, in the late 1400s.

History records say that Polonus had consumed “two ladles”

of very strong wine one night, and immediately vomited flame, before entirely bursting into flames. Numerous cases have likewise been reported from the 1950’s, up to present times (the most recent one being in 2001.) Although experts seek to link SHC with static electricity, concentrated gas, changes in body chemistry,

How years of interactive murder mysteries began

Mysteriously Yours does over 200 shows a year, including their private events. Either he or Lili writes the mysteries— sometimes with the input of the actors and their writers. “We usually come up with the idea or hear of the idea from someone else and we develop it,” Brian shares. Tonight, the show is called “Speak Easy!” Both Lili and Brian wrote the story and they haven’t written anything together for a very long time.

PHOTOS BY THESSA SANDOVAL

After all the clues have been presented and each character has been interrogated, it’s time for the audience to finally guess whodunit. Therese Bourbara, her sister and their friends are there to celebrate her sister’s birthday. They all have different guesses of who the real killer is, but all feel the same way about the show.

Therese speaks for everybody in her group and says, “We enjoyed our time (here). The actors were really entertaining.

I will come again and recommend it to everyone.”

Mark and Beverly Cavanagh, a nice couple from New Jersey, both received prizes for guessing correctly who did the heinous crime. They say they both

had a great time and also made new Canadian friends.

Although Mysteriously Yours has entertained thousands of guests at the Limelight Dinner Theatre and Brian says that they are continuously developing and growing, one of the issues they are facing is a possible relocation in the near future.

“This space we’re in, in 5 years, may be gone because they’ve been developing condos here…

We already talked with the landlord in possibly getting a space in the new building,” he says.

But they aren’t too worried as they have already relocated once before from the Royal York Hotel to their present location and business is still thriving and bustling. “My wife and I, it’s our business. Our daughter is our general manager. She helps us run the business as we eventually try to retire, but we’ll keep contributing and working with the actors,” adds Brian.

Mysteriously Yours will continue entertaining thousands of clients through their interactive murder mysteries in the years to come. As to who the murderer is on tonight’s mystery, you have to come and experience this unique show for yourself to know. ■

and raised levels of blood alcohol, the condition and causes of SHC remain a mystery. For more cases on SHC, check out darkparadox88.blogspot.com and http://circa71.wordpress. com.

In this world, there will always be skeptics, driven to prove everything out by way of reason and logic. And there

will always be those who readily embrace the unknown and mysterious side of life. Because life is X-Files like that. I am of the opinion, however, that we need to be a bit of both Scully and Mulder; realizing that some things are out of grasp of our limited existence, and live out to the fullest the part that we do have within our reach. ■

What’s in store for the future for Mysteriously Yours

The Curious...

• Spontaneous Human Combustion Spontaneous Human Combustion (SHC) is the mystery of people who burst into flames for no scientifically apparent reason. SHC is generally considered the most strange and frightening of all the unexplained phenomena in the realm of mysteries. The ❰❰ 28

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

32

Entertainment Bryan Castillo named as Pinoy’s Biggest Loser Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Robert Lopez with wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez.

PHOTO BY HELGA ESTEB / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

Fil-Am composer included in Time 100’s most influential list Philippine Canadian Inquirer THERE IS another Filipino in Time Magazine’s most influential list.

He is Robert Lopez, a U.S.based songwriter of Filipino descent, who shared the spot with his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez for the song “Let It Go.” Robert and Kristen were described by their colleagues as “both completely steeped in the traditions of Broadway musicals.” “[T]hey’re really smart and would never be happy just regurgitating what’s come be-

fore,” their colleagues added.

Earlier this year, they won an Oscar for Best Original Song.

After making it to the prestigious list, the couple joined the ranks of international pop superstar Beyonce, U.S. President Barack Obama and Pope Francis.

“The vast majority of this year’s roster reveals that while power is certain, influence is subtle,” Time said.

In 2013, two Filipinos were also included in the world’s most influential list. They were Pres. Benigno Aquino III and Dra. Katherine Luzuriaga, who was recognized for her work on HIV-AIDS. ■

BRYAN CASTILLO was named as the Biggest Loser at the finale of “The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition Doubles” on Saturday, April 26.

He lost 154 pounds, or 52.56 percent of his body weight.

“Hindi ko ma-explain ang pakiramdam. Happy ako kasi marami akong nabawas na timbang,” Bryan told host Iza Calzado.

(I cannot explain the feeling.

I’m happy because I’ve lost a lot of weight.)

The 22-year-old grand winner joined the competition with his sister Ikya, who now weighs 139 pounds. Their Magkapatid Team won the most number of challenges.

Other winners Kayen Lazaro, who lost 50.52 percent of her weight, came in second to Bryan.

Bagong BigaTeam’s Francis Asis and Osie Nebreja bagged the third and fourth spots, respectively. Francis shredded 156 pounds while Osie lost 133 pounds.

Bryan’s prizes include P1 million, a business franchise package, home appliance showcase, P100,000 worth of sporting goods and accessories and a lifetime gym membership.

Kayen, Francis and Osie won P500,000, P300,000 and P200,000, respectively.

Host Iza Calzado, co-hosts Matteo Guidicelli and Robi

Bryan Castillo.

FACEBOOK PAGE OF BRYAN CASTILLO

Matteo, Iza, Robi, coaches Toni and Jim at the Biggest Loser Pinoy Doubles Edition presscon.

PHOTO FROM ABSCBNPR.COM

Domingo, along with fitness instructors Jim and Toni Saret

gave inspiring messages to all the contestants. ■

Entertainment

33 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Why Kate Upton loves Boracay

BY RUBEN V. NEPALES Philippine Daily Inquirer LOS ANGELES—“It was my first-ever Sports Illustrated (SI) shoot,” said Kate Upton, perky as she is lovely in person.

The model who has 1.35 million followers on Twitter alone was telling us why Boracay, an island paradise in the Philippines, was special to her. “It took two boat rides to get there after the plane ride. It was so beautiful; I loved it.”

Photos of Kate, and several other models, in various itsybitsy bikinis on the white sandy beaches against a backdrop of crystal-clear waters—Kate with a bamboo pole and a pair of lucky starfish—appeared in the 2011 swimsuit issue of SI. “I stayed there for four days,” added Kate about Boracay, a haven located about 315 kilometers from Manila. “Some of my favorite photos [were taken there].

The scenery was gorgeous.”

And so was Kate on this recent morning at the Four Seasons Hotel in LA. Dressed simply in a Chanel jacket, top, jeans and pumps, Kate was casual, friendly, cheerful, and often broke into laughter—an endearing quality (well, one of many).

“I also loved traveling around Europe,” said Kate, who went on to be the cover model of SI’s 2012 and 2013 swimsuit issues.

“I loved Paris and Portofino. I went to Antarctica. I loved the Philippines. [The people] were amazing. Namibia—I’d like to go back to Africa. It’s incredible there. I love animals; I loved that whole experience.”

Curvy idol

Declared the 5’ 10”, voluptuous woman, who has 1.4 million Facebook fans, “I’ve always loved my body.” (No kidding, Kate.) She does have curves, in contrast to anorexic-looking models. “I lived in Florida. We were always in bikinis. We were always envious of the curvy women. Everyone on the beach was just admiring them when they walked around. I was a teenager and I was like, I want that (a shapely body). I got it, and now I love it.”

Added Kate, who graced the cover of Vanity Fair’s 100th anniversary issue: “It’s funny— when I first started modeling, I never looked at myself as any

Kate says her family has a fun dynamic.

different from other models. I was [ just] going along with it… none of us were competitive.

We all sat around in castings, waiting to see who got the job.”

Claimed the charming blonde who costars in “The Other Woman” with Cameron Diaz and Leslie Mann: “We all remained friends, best friends.

When the media [attention] came, that’s when I started to think that maybe I was different. But I still loved my body.”

She recounted, “When I started modeling, I tried to have the best body and not eat so much.

But I noticed that everyone was talking about it in the news, about how I wasn’t that skinny, I was like, ‘Oh perfect, I don’t have to try anymore.’” She laughed. “I am kidding. Kind of.”

Gold bikini

We told Kate that we grab SI swimsuit issues just to read the articles. She chuckled. Asked what it was like to pose in a zero-G plane for the magazine’s 2014 swimsuit edition, Kate replied, “I was so excited to experience that because I grew up in Melbourne (Florida), which is so close to Cape Canaveral.”

The resulting pics showed Kate floating in a tiny gold bikini.

“Our field trips every year was to the Kennedy Space Center.

So to actually experience zero gravity was like [coming] full circle for me.

“It was so crazy because you never realize [how many] muscles you use just to stand up. When you are experiencing zero gravity, it’s actually easier to make somersaults than to stand still. It took me a second to get the hang of it. I jumped with all the muscles that we normally use and I slammed my head on [the ceiling] of the

aircraft.”

In Nick Cassavetes’ “The Other Woman,” Kate, Cameron and Leslie play women who seek revenge on their lying, three-timing man (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau). The 23-yearold said she was lucky to work with Cameron and Leslie in her first major role (she did cameos in “The Three Stooges” and “Tower Heist”).

Defying gravity

In one scene, Kate, in a white bikini, runs in slow motion and appears to defy gravity while on earth. “When you go to the beach, everybody’s wearing bikinis or bathing suits,” she said of filming that beach scene. “But when you are filming and nobody else is wearing bikinis, it’s very uncomfortable. We had 60 people on the set and they were staring at me. It’s my first (major) film. I was like, awkward.

“Leslie and Cameron could tell that I was feeling uncomfortable. They came and ran with me off-camera. They were like, ‘You are killing it. You are doing awesome.’ They were in their bikinis. That’s how they were the entire shoot—always there by me, always encouraging and cheering me on. So I was really lucky.”

Kate volunteered that what she heard Leslie say in a joint interview reinforced her own outlook in life. “Leslie said that when she first started acting, somebody said to her that ‘you have to commit to the role, go one hundred percent. And if you are going to make a joke, go all the way.’ I always go all the way.”

Tortured costar

“We tortured him,” Kate said of the three femmes’ revenge scenes on Nikolaj’s philanderer www.canadianinquirer.net

PHOTOS BY BY RUBEN NEPALES

character. “He had those nipple things attached to him and when they were taking them off, they were pulling his real hair. I admired him so much for fully committing to the role, helping our characters hate him. But he is such a great guy and family man. It was really lovely to work with him. He’s definitely hot.”

Kate claimed that she has been cheated on. “Everyone has been through some sort of betrayal, whether it’s by friends, boyfriends or family. [You may be] heartbroken at the end of it, [but] you have to move through it.”

Flashing the smile that has won the adoration of many men all over the world, she quipped, “I find that the best revenge is just to move on, wear some tight hot pants as you walk away. I think not giving a man even the chance to explain himself is the best revenge.” (“Revenge in Tight Hot Pants” should be the title of Kate’s next movie.)

Unimpressed

Listen up, dudes—Kate is not blown away by shiny sports cars or expensive gadgets. “I appreciate men just being themselves. Flashy things don’t really impress me.”

Kate, who was born in Michigan but raised in Florida, talked about her family. “I have two older sisters and a younger brother. So definitely I have a third child syndrome; I am very loud and always try to get the attention.” Laughing, she said, “I covered my food so my siblings wouldn’t steal it. But we have a fun family dynamic, always teasing each other and laughing.”

“My mom (Shelley) was

very successful at tennis,” she shared. “There’s so much success in the family.” Shelley was a former Texas state tennis champ. Kate’s uncle, Fred, is a US Representative for Michigan’s 6th congressional district.

Her great grandpa, Frederick, cofounded Whirlpool, the major American appliance manufacturer. Kate herself was an equestrian champ and competed on a national level.

“Everyone just teases you for your success,” she said. “I feel like I had the perfect childhood.

I grew up on a five acre [property]. I had horses in my backyard. My family are my best friends in life.”

She still rides horses but just as a hobby. “I still have my horse (named Robbie) and I ride him all the time. He’s in Florida with my sister. Riding is very therapeutic for me, to feel like I am just being out there with my horse. It makes me feel that I am back at home.”

A Presbyterian, Kate stressed, “Yes, I definitely believe in God. It’s a huge part [of my family)] and I am very religious.”

Looking into the future, does she see herself acting or modeling or being a model-turnedmogul like Kathy Ireland? “Can I merge both careers?” she asked aloud. “It’s hard for me because I feel like I want acting to be my new path. I don’t know where it will lead to or what the end of it will be, because there’s no book that I can read, like, this is how you become Cameron Diaz. But I hope that this path continues. If I fade out and go on a business venture in the future, that will be my next fun thing.” ■

Entertainment

MAY 2, 2014 FRIDAY 34

Tribute to Mr. C: ‘I will just watch and enjoy it’

BY DOLLY ANNE CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer MUSICIAN RYAN Cayabyab and I hit it off instantly during the “OPM Fair” in Cebu held last November. I fondly call him “Your Eminence,” because of his Papal Award.

It feels like we’ve been friends for ages. I surprised him and his wife, Emy, by sending a cake to their hotel room in Boracay recently. He thanked me via SMS, calling me “Priestess of Cooldom.” Mr. C could also mean Mr. Charming. The maestro is so down-to-earth, though he stands on higher ground.

What would OPM (Original Pilipino Music) be without Mr. C? For every moment and

memory in our lives, there’s a Cayabyab song.

Let’s pay homage to a true icon of Filipino music as the ABS-CBN Philharmonic Orchestra unveils the first show in its Spotlight Series, “The Music of Ryan Cayabyab,” on May 3, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. (For tickets: 891-9999.)

Set on the eve of his 60th birthday, the concert showcases the maestro’s best-loved hits, as interpreted by the orchestra, a 60-piece choir and some of the country’s finest performers.

Thank You, Mr. C for changing the world of OPM for the better. And I thank you even more for the gift of friendship.

I have become zanier because

of you. Happy birthday in advance! The choir of angels must have been singing appassionato the day you were born! Which one is your favorite work and why?

I have no favorite. They are all my “children.” If I didn’t win the first Metropop with “Kay Ganda ng Ating Musika,” I would have stayed in the groves of academe.

I [never thought] “Kailan” would be my most famous composition. It bumped off “Paraiso” in the first Smokey Mountain album.

As for “Misa 2000”—I had no inkling it would win the Onassis cultural competitions for music and dance.

I didn’t expect the Sarsi campaign (1989) would win Best

Mr. C says a great musician is “discplined, knowledgeable, intuitive.”

INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Jingle in the New York TV and Movie Festival.

And I [still] can’t get over the fact that two songs from the musical “Katy” (“Ang Mundo ay Entablado” and “Minsan ang Minahal ay Ako,” with lyrics by Jose Javier Reyes) would become some kind of anthem for Filipino musical theater artists.

What was a life-changing moment in your career?

Winning the first Metropop in 1978. I told myself that if I didn’t win, I would finish my music degree and teach. Before Metropop, I was an arranger, pianist and music director for various entertainers ( Basil Valdez, Celeste Legaspi, Pilita Corrales, Victor Laurel, The Ambivalent Crowd, etc.). It never occurred to me that I would enter the realm of songwriting.

But I realized that, to rise to the next level in the industry, I had to be the originator of a song. Creative musicians, songwriters and composers are more highly regarded in the industry hierarchy. Any quirks/ rituals before a concert?

None, really. When you’ve rehearsed thoroughly and the production is well-planned, everything happens in clockwork precision, plus spontaneous expression. Like athletes, we have to be healthy, in both body and mind, to deliver a satisfying performance. People pay hardwww.canadianinquirer.net

earned money to see you, listen to you. Your part of the deal is to deliver. What makes a great musician?

A great musician is disciplined, knowledgeable, has great technique and skills. At the same time, he has keen intuition and is very spontaneous during performances. What makes a song become a hit? Is it the lyrics or the melody?

A good marriage of music and lyrics, a satisfying end to a premise, good sound production and, of course, the right singer. What don’t people know about Ryan Cayabyab?

I don’t know, either, but I suspect I had ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) as a kid… not that I craved attention, but there were details that I sometimes didn’t recognize.

Of course, I have improved… but it sometimes resurfaces.

Or maybe I ambecoming deaf?

What’s your personal anthem and why?

“Life is very short and there’s no time for fussin’ and fighting my friend.” From Lennon-McCartney. Self-explanatory. We have to work it out; no one else will. What can the audience expect from your concert?

It is a tribute concert. Some of the original singers will perform— Basil, Celeste, Mitch Valdes, etc. I will be watching and enjoying it! ■

Entertainment

35 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Film review: Only Andrew Garfield Emma Stone chemistry keeps overstuffed Spidey sequel alive

BY JOCELYN NOVECK The Associated Press DEEP INTO “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” my 11-year-old companion was confused about a certain plot point—justifiably, I’d say—and demanded an immediate and thorough explanation.

“Shh, not now. Later!” I hissed. Because, though I didn’t admit it, I really didn’t want to miss an Andrew Garfield-Emma Stone kiss. And who knew when the next one was coming?

With great chemistry, you see, comes great kissing.

Let’s just say this unequivocally: Whether or not my young Spidey fan would agree, the best thing about the “The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” the second installment of director Marc Webb’s series reboot, is that infectious chemistry between Garfield and Stone. In fact, given that this overstuffed, overly long film is a sequel to a sequel, and that it spends a gazillion dollars retelling a story (in 3-D and IMAX) that the world already knows, you could argue that the Garfield-Stone dynamic is the real justification for the whole enterprise.

This isn’t just because the two happen to be real-life partners—though it can’t hurt. Garfield is a sensitive actor who brings a quirky blend of intelligence and goofiness to Peter Parker, and a welcome hipster edge to the role that the wideeyed Tobey Maguire didn’t have in the earlier incarnation of the Marvel character.

As for Stone, she’s just so darned charming. And though it’s again a stretch to imagine her as a high school student, heck, we’ll take it. (In fact, Stone is 25 and Garfield is 30, so we’re just gonna have to give them a pass on this. At least they get their diplomas this time.)

Another winning presence is that of Sally Field, touching as the now-widowed Aunt May. The reliable Field gets one terrifically emotional scene with Peter that may have you reach-

George Clooney engaged to UK attorney Amal Alamuddin, her law firm says as it offers congrats

BY JILL LAWLESS The Associated Press

Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone.

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK

ing for a tissue.

As for the plot, though, that may have you reaching for a notepad. There are not one, not two, but three villains (at least!) here, and all sorts of backstories—something for everyone, which means too much.

The most important backstory involves Peter’s parents, and what really happened to them once they abandoned him as a tot (hint: it involves a very fastpaced plane ride).

Back on terra firma, we start with an even faster-paced urban chase involving Spider-Man, a hammy, Russian-accented Paul Giamatti, and some plutonium, distracting Peter/Spidey from Gwen, who’s anxiously awaiting Peter’s arrival at their graduation.

Peter does arrive, miraculously, but we quickly learn that the key obstacle to their relationship remains in place: Peter’s fear of putting Gwen in harm’s way. Haunted, Peter just can’t commit (they always have an excuse, right?) Not surprisingly, Gwen gets very charmingly annoyed, and kinda sorta breaks up with him. But these two can’t stay apart for long.

Meanwhile, there are big goings-on at Oscorp, that huge bioengineering corporation headed by Norman Osborn.

With Norman on his deathbed, son Harry (Dane DeHaan) Peter’s old buddy, returns from

boarding school. The pale, wiry DeHaan is entertainingly creepy as he descends into desperation.

Then there’s the unappreciated Oscorp employee Max Dillon (Jamie Foxx). When he falls into a vat of mutant electric eels (OSHA would have a field day at Oscorp), he morphs into Electro, a glowing monster who can manipulate electricity and suck the power from a whole city (Foxx is more convincing as the villain than the self-effacing scientist).

In this age of multi-tasking, Peter/Spidey sure has his work cut out for him— taking care of New York, of Gwen, and of the endearingly curious Aunt May, who, in a funny moment, wonders why, when Peter does the laundry, he turns all the clothes red and blue?

Where will it all end? Well, at least two more sequels (to the sequel, to the sequel) are planned, and any number of future confrontations loom.

Which of the villains will reemerge to challenge Spidey?

Shh, not now. Later! We’re thinking about that kiss.

“The Amazing Spider-Man 2,” a Columbia Pictures release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for “sequences of sci-fi action/ violence.” Running time: 142 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

LONDON—George Clooney— Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor—is getting hitched, according to a London law firm.

Leading human-rights practice Doughty Street Chambers spilled the news Monday as it congratulated one of its own attorneys: 36-year-old U.K. barrister Amal Alamuddin.

The firm said its lawyers and staff “offer their best wishes and congratulations to Ms. Amal Alamuddin ... and Mr. George Clooney on their engagement to be married.”

Clooney, 52, was married to actress Talia Balsam from 1989 to 1993. He has since been romantically linked to several women, including British model Lisa Snowden, Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis and former professional wrestler Stacey Keibler.

But he has always downplayed suggestions he might marry again, telling Esquire magazine last year: “I wasn’t very good at it.”

The Beirut-born, Oxford University-educated Alamuddin is a member of Doughty Street’s international law team and has a high-profile client list. She has advised former U.N. Secretary-

General Kofi Annan on Syria, helped ex-Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko challenge her imprisonment and represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange during his fight against extradition to Sweden.

Clooney, whose recent films include “Gravity” and “The Monuments Men,” is one of Hollywood’s most powerful actors, directors and producers.

He also has a strong interest in international affairs and human-rights issues, and has campaigned for action on the humanitarian crises in Sudan and South Sudan.

Doughty Street chief executive Robin Jackson said Alamuddin had been “utterly wonderful” since she joined the firm in 2010.

“She brings a bright light to everything she is involved in and I am so delighted at her happy news,” he said.

Clooney and Alamuddin have been photographed together several times since late 2013 and rumours of an engagement have been circulating for several days.

People Magazine reported that Alamuddin was seen sporting a large ring during dinner at a Malibu restaurant last week.

Clooney’s spokesman, Stan Rosenfield, declined to comment. ■

George Clooney and new fiancee Amal Alamuddin.

PHOTO FROM AU.LIFESTYLE.YAHOO.COM

FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

36

Lifestyle

‘Who Lives Here?’ explores whether personality truly reflects personal space

BY LAUREN LA ROSE The Canadian Press TORONTO—Whether it’s your choice of clothing or career, a new series seeks to explore whether the image presented to outsiders can reveal clues about your most treasured interior space—your home.

In “Who Lives Here?” which premieres Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on W Network, five strangers take turns visiting each other’s homes, relying solely on their detective skills and powers of perception to pair each person with his or her respective dwelling. The winner takes home $1,000.

The debut sees an interior designer, security services worker, entrepreneur, TV producer and hairstylist attempting to determine who among them lives in an urban home, converted garage, detached home, loft and bungalow.

“You meet somebody for the

first time and you’re processing all of this information on a certain level and you’re making assumptions about who they are as a person, how they operate, all different aspects,” said series narrator Todd Talbot, who also co-hosts “Love it Or List It Vancouver.”

“ I think if you extend those thoughts to where they might live, it paints a picture. I don’t mean to get too philosophical about it, but we’re very fixated by our out-

ward appearance in public.”

The participants don’t shy away from critiquing spaces they visit. Talbot said while contestants understand the nature of the show, they can still be affected by observations made by strangers.

“It’s hard to hear somebody make fun of your home because I think ultimately that is a reflection of who you are. And maybe that’s not who you are that you show the public, but it is that internal vulnerable side.”

Talbot said there are some people who are very bold and love to infuse their space with perhaps an even more magnified version of themselves. But in his experience, more people are hesitant to do so.

“Especially when it comes to selling or showcasing their house, people tend to have this assumption that they need to depersonalize. And I think that

tivity to the personal relationships of the journalists who were killed for other reasons other than doing their job, the President said.

Even so, the perpetrators of the killings had to be found, prosecuted and sent to jail, he said.

On Sunday, John Sifton of the Human Rights Watch urged Obama to raise concerns about rights issues during his meeting

with Aquino, and to use future US military cooperation as an incentive for the government to investigate and prosecute abuses.

Sifton said the Philippines remained a “risky place to be an outspoken activist or muckraking journalist.”

According to Human Rights Watch, 12 journalists were killed in 2013, raising the number of media people slain

An eclectic home.

idea of depersonalizing sometimes gets sterile to the point where you don’t get a sense of who lives there.

“To me, a house tells a story,” he added. “People get really caught up on design elements, whereas really a house represents your home and your lifestyle. And I really do believe you don’t want to swing the pendulum too far but you do need to embrace those aspects of yourself.”

Talbot cautioned, however, that flaunting your sense of personal flair doesn’t necessitate veering into tacky territory.

“No offence to the six shot glasses that you bought in Cabo when you were 21 and you thought they were the best thing ever and you’ve got them displayed out there—that may be going a little bit too far. I think the principle to remember here is less is more,” said Talbot.

“For me, I think people fall into the trap of showcasing

those knick-knacks. But what would happen if you took four fantastic photos from that trip and you blew them up and you made them black and white, you put them on a nice mat in a nice frame and you showcased them?” he added.

“The difference is that brings you into the story.”

Ultimately, Talbot said individuals can deck out their domains however they see fit.

“Although there are ways to set things up maybe in a more appealing manner, at the end of the day, who am I to judge? Or anybody else for that matter?”

“It gets back to ‘Who Lives Here?’ We make these judgments about what we think your house should look like, and really, if it makes you happy, paint your walls neon pink.

Now, if you’re going to go to sell it, I would suggest you buy something a little bit more neutral. But if it really inspires you in your space and that’s what fills you up ... go for it.” ■

to 26 since Aquino took office in 2010. Police arrested the suspects in only six of these cases.

Aquino conceded that he had yet to fully deliver on his campaign promise to carry out judicial reform.

“The fourth plank of my promise when I ran for election was judicial reform and this is still a work in progress wherein we want to protect all

of the rights of every individual but also ensure that the speedy portion of the promise also happens,” he said.

“Unfortunately, speed is not a hallmark of our current judicial system and there are various steps—laws, amendments of particular laws— even a rethink of the whole process to … ensure this speedy disposition of justice,” he added. ■

US reporter... ❰❰ 3

proof of this, was the freedom enjoyed by journalists in the

country.

“All you have to do is to turn on the TV, the radio, or look at any newspaper to find an abundance of criticisms. Having said that, investigations have been done,” he said.

If there were times the outcome of investigation was not disclosed, it was out of sensi-

Lifestyle

37 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Filipino-Canadian in... were willing to work very hard.”

Armando was even generous enough to share his formula to success.

“It’s 95% hard work, a lot of prayers, and a little bit of luck.” ❰❰ 26

else out there, I don’t [want] you to think someday that this is the only option…

This may be for me but not for you.’”

The ever-so-thoughtful father continued, “I am not asking him to be me. I [want] him to be his own man… I [want] him to have a life.”

On working with his Son

PHOTOS FROM THE FACEBOOK PAGE OF GUNI GURI.

Alternative artists’ group rocks Quezon art scene

BY DELFIN T. MALLARI, JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer A GROUP of young artists is stirring the lethargic art scene in Quezon province with their kind of progressive and radical multimedia paintings, music, poetry and photography.

Graphic designer Sheryl Garcia, one of the founders of Guni-Guri Collective, says her group believes that art “isn’t just art but a medium to communicate to people, convey a message and help them understand that there is more to art than decorations.”

She describes the collective as an independent group of visual and multimedia artists, musicians, writers, students and professionals who are all based in Quezon. At present, it has 72 members spread out in schools and towns in Quezon.

Guni-Guri was coined from guni-guni or perceived images or imagination and guriguri, a colloquial term for doodling or “something which connotes the idea of perception to output,” according to its Facebook account (https://www.facebook.com/GuniGuriCollective?fref=ts).

Same interest

Garcia, tattoo artist Odessa Lopez, art hobbyist Alegria Indal and illustrator Lanny Tolda, all in their late 20s, formed the group on Nov. 17, 2010. They came from local colleges and universities but share the same interest in hard-core punk music and paint in varied medium to depict and interpret contemporary social views.

The collective plans to include artists from different genrés and aspiring ones who have similar progressive or propeople orientation. They would be

encouraged to hone and practice their craft in their localities and not to places where modern-day art has already made a niche, Garcia says.

“They don’t have to leave the province or their towns to express their art.

They have to try to expose and educate the people in the province on what art can do to help society,” she says.

Anybody can join the collective as long as they promise to regularly attend meetings, discussions and workshops, and have genuine interest in “progressive arts.”

“But most of the time, we conduct meetings, map out plans and projects online,” Garcia said.

Armando and Mila have one son named Allan. Armando is grooming him to take over the business someday.

“These days, I’m trying to step back and let my son know the work,” he started. “And the idea is for him eventually to do most of the work and down the road, he’ll say, ‘Dad, I don’t need you here anymore.’”

Despite his hopes, Armando said that he said he doesn’t want to force anything on his own son.

“We have a business here, it’s still very, very strong,” Armando said. “So, I said, ‘it’s here for you to take but I don’t want to push you into it. It’s for you to decide.’”

Now, Allan has been actively helping his father in the business for five years.

Despite working for his own father, he still gets rest days and an open opportunity to try his hand at anything.

“He tried other things as well, which I allow him to do,” Armando shared. “I said, ‘look, until you’ve tried something

Tapping potential

The group aims to develop the potential of each member through workshops, exhibits, discussions, educational trips and other activities, including providing assistance to promote their artistic fields in their communities.

“We want to bring the art, especially of young people to a different level, beyond what is taught inside the school classrooms,” Garcia says. Guni-Guri has already been to several towns, even as far as Catanauan in the Bondoc Peninsula.

Abigail Holgado Abuel, a young budding painter based in Lucena City, says the group has helped mold and improve her craft. “I feel that the advocacy of the group to reach out and help the less fortunate through free workshop and painting session is really something. For me it’s a priceless endeavor,” she says.

The group also introduced the art of wall mural painting in Lucena. Some members transformed a bare concrete wall along Bonifacio Street into a huge colorful canvass of the father of the Philippine revolution. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

What’s next for Armando Bacani?

“Waiting for grandchildren?” he laughed heartily.

When asked if he’s aiming at an expansion, he didn’t bat an eyelash and said a resounding, “No.” “What we learned is to focus on one place and do it well. Having three shops before didn’t work. I’m here to assist my son during the transition,” he shared.

“This [way] I am more involved, I could interact with the customers, I know what’s going on,” he said. “I like what I do… I don’t think I would have been as satisfied and as happy as I am if I did that idea. I wouldn’t have chosen it any other way.”

If given the chance, Armando also said that he looks forward to having more travels with his beloved wife.

“I may do a lot of travelling, that’s what I enjoy. I travel a lot with my wife Mila,” he said. “I want to see the world.

I always say, nobody can take away your experience.” ■

Seen & Scenes

MAY 2, 2014 FRIDAY 38

EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM EASTER VIGIL AT MARYLAKE, ONTARIO The members of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem celebrated their Easter Vigil at the Shrine Our Lady of Grace, MaryLake, Ontario.

The Easter Vigil is the most beautiful liturgy in the Roman Catholic Church. “Service of Light” is celebrated on Holy Saturday to mark the beginning of Easter . Service begins outside the Church of Our Lady of Grace in Marylake where a fire is lit and blessed.

The Fire is lit outside the church of Our Lady of Grace, Marylake. Photo shows the celebrant Rev. Fr. John Arulinus, and with co-celebrants Fr. Joe Fenech, Fr. Timothy Morialty, Fr. Borioragi and Fr. Henry; with Vince Citriniti, KGCHS (at left) of the Holy Sepulchre.

The highest ranking active Filipino couple in the Canada - Toronto Lieutenancy are George R. Poblete, KC*HS and Dolores V. Poblete, LC*HS, shown above with other members.

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Papal order founded in the 11th century. The main objective of this religious and charitable organization is to support and maintain Christianity in the Holy Land.

The Holy Sepulchre Knights and Ladies in procession during the Easter Vigil at the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace. Dolores V. Poblete, LC*HS, may be seen at right.

NORTH YORK PINOY ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION HOLDS 2014-2015 OFFICERS’ INDUCTION Spring, once again, is on the air. Places and people are up in welcoming and enjoying the yearly seasonal rites. The North York Pinoy Athletic Association (NYPAA) celebrated the desirable transition with a Dinner-Dance and Induction of its officers and directors for the 2014-2015 term.

The event was held on April 5, 2014 at the Garnet Williams Community Centre, City of Vaughan, Ontario. Led by its new president, Jesse Pacetes, among those sworn into office are: Jesus Fernandez, vice president; Mylene Escalona & Sharonne Columbano, secretaries; Joe-ann Ligsay, treasurer; Victor Montero, sports commissioner; Homer Obille, asst. sports commissioner; and Jun Tan, Jess Diwa, Mark Victoria, Christian Lalicon, Melvin Ocampo & Renato Columbano, youth training & development officers; and Tim Sinclair, adviser. The Board of Directors include: Bob San Juan, Edgar Sotto, Vilma Tahsin and Roger Tarca. Tony A. San Juan, OCT

For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net. www.canadianinquirer.net

Seen & Scenes

39 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

PAG ELECTS NEW OFFICERS Hopes are high with the Philippine Artists Group of Canada’s election of a new set of officers lead by recent Woman Achiever awardee for Visual Arts, Nelia Tonido as President.

Nelia is a watercolorist, architect and award-winning cake designer.

Also elected are the award-winning artist Antonio ‘Jun’ Afable as Vice President, artist/architect Genaro ‘Gene’ Lopos as Secretary, award winner Teodorico ‘Teody’ Asuncion is re-elected as Treasurer, also re-elected is multi-talented Michelle Chermaine Ramos as the P.R.O., artist/lawyer Joyce Cristino ‘Ato’ Bondoc as Auditor and magic realist artist Francisco ‘Frank’ Tonido as Property Custodian. Artist/ architect Rolando ‘Rolly’ Abarilla remains as Archivist and artist/computer wizard ‘Jhun’ Ciolo Diamante stays as the Webmaster.

As a long-time fixture in the Filipino community’s annual observance of the Declaration of Philippine Independence, the PAG will be celebrating its 26th anniversary with their annual summer show to be held from June 2-22, 2014 at the Neilson Park Creative Centre. The opening reception is on Saturday, June 7th 2014 from 1-4pm. Photo by Jonray Diamante

Clockwise from center: Rolly Abarilla, Frank Tonido, Frank Cruzet, Gene Lopos, Alex Gonzales (standing), Toots Quiachon, Jun Afable, Romi C MananQuil, Jhun Ciolo Diamante, Michelle Chermaine Ramos, journalist Rose Tijam, President Nelia Tonido and Mila Ureta Navaleza.

LABATT DESPEDIDA Several groups held a despedida for Labour Attache Bernardino “Bernie” Julve during the week, including the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver, the University of the Philippines Alumni Association in British Columbia (UPAABC), Historama and Balitang Canada. Photos courtesy of Letty Casipit, Daniel Zayco, Janice Lozano and Marieton Pacheco. Atty. Julve will be returning to the Philippines to assume a post in the country.

www.canadianinquirer.net

Business

MAY 2, 2014 FRIDAY 40

Creating a retirement income stream to 100

BY ROBYN K. THOMPSON ONE OF the first questions many of my high net worth clients ask me is whether they’ll outlive their money. Now, if someone comes to you with $500,000 to $1 million to manage, you’d think they’d be feeling pretty comfortable. You’d be wrong. It’s all a matter of perspective. These days, to maintain the kind of lifestyle you’re used to in retirement, you pretty much have to plan to the age of 100. It sounds incredible, but it’s true. So if you retire at, say, age 60, you’d have to fund another 40 years of retirement with that million bucks. Suddenly, it doesn’t sound like so much.

Living longer, paying more

Yes, I know 100 sounds like an unattainable age, but according to the demographic trends identified in the last census, Canada could have more than 17,000 centenarians by 2031. You may be

one of the lucky few who live past age 90, even to 100, so it is important to plan for a long life while you are still able to make strategic investment and spending choices.

The fact is that with age, our health declines and healthcare costs rise. You can never tell if you will need even more extensive healthcare later in life.

If you are a pre-retiree, you are at a point in the planning stage where you are shifting away from the accumulation of a retirement nest-egg to generating income and preserving capital.

The three sources of retirement income

You can think of your retirement income as coming from three different sources. First is pension income from government sources, like Canada Pension Plan and Old Age Security, from employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plans, or from annuities.

These typically provide a pre-set stream of income over which you

have little or no control.

Next are registered accounts like Registered Retirement Income Funds, which mandate a minimum annual withdrawal, Tax-Free Savings Accounts, and income-producing non-registered investment accounts or mutual funds. You have some measure of investment control over all of these assets.

The third source may be a product with a guaranteed withdrawal benefit, providing guaranteed income as well as exposure to the stock market. These are also offered by insurance companies but are not classed as annuities.

The GIC mistake

Many people getting ready to retire make the mistake of first looking for safety of capital in investments like guaranteed investment certificates. However, the exceptionally low rate of return on GICs is a major shock.

Five-year GIC rates are currently around 2.6% annually. With inflation about 1.5%, your real

return is 1.1%. Taxes eat into that even more. On the other hand, a straight single-life annuity with a 5-year guarantee is currently paying out at over 6% annually.

So why aren’t annuities more popular? An annuity is basically a contract you buy, usually from an insurance company, under which the company guarantees you’ll receive a specified income flow for a specified period of time. Standard annuities are not designed for growth or residual value. They’re designed simply to pay out the agreed income for the duration of the contract.

If you die before the contract ends, the residual will go to your beneficiaries, but that may not be much. If the contract expires before you die, the payments end and there typically is no residual.

Annuities as just one income tool

However, as I mentioned above, annuities are not an allor-nothing proposition. They are simply one retirement income

option that you can combine with others to suit your needs.

Indeed, there are several kinds of annuity strategies as well, including laddering strategies and insured annuities, that can increase their flexibility as part of your retirement income plan and as part of your estate plan.

You can see that while it has become more important to plan for a longer retirement, there are also many products that can provide income streams while protecting capital and minimizing risk. There are many innovative strategies available to combine these products to maximize income. Your best bet is to speak to a financial advisor who is qualified in both securities and insurance products to help you build an income plan that best meets your retirement needs. ■ Courtesy Fundata Canada Inc. © 2014. Robyn Thompson, CFP, CIM, FCSI, is president of Castlemark Wealth Management.

More ways to tap into your RRSP

BY SAMANTHA PRASAD, LL.B. A REGISTERED Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) is often seen as an almost impregnable vault—something you break open only at great risk and with big penalties. In fact, your RRSP can be used as a source of taxfree funds under a couple of government approved plans.

The Home Buyers’ Plan is one well-known way to unlock RRSP money, but there are other ways to get at those funds. For example, under another special plan, you can withdraw RRSP funds tax-free to finance tuition. And you can also take out a loan from your RRSP using a special mortgage manoeuvre.

The Lifelong Learning Plan

Tax-free withdrawals from RRSPs are allowed to support what the government calls “lifelong learning.” Under the Lifelong Learning Plan, you can withdraw up to $10,000 per year from your RRSP, to a maximum of $20,000 over a four-year period, if you or your spouse are enrolled in a qualifying educational or training program (normally full-time for at least three

months during the year).

Withdrawals are repayable to the RRSP over a period of 10 years in equal installments; otherwise, there will be a taxable benefit. Repayments must normally commence in the year following the last year of full-time enrolment, or in the sixth year after the first withdrawal, if earlier.

Is a Lifelong Learning withdrawal a good idea?

The answer is fairly similar to the Home Buyers’ Plan. Having to fund RRSP repayments will, no doubt, interfere with your ability to make regular—tax deductible—RRSP contributions.

This problem could come at a time when you’re in a higher tax bracket than when the RRSP withdrawal was made. If this is the case, it may often make sense to pass up the lifelong learning opportunity and make an ordinary taxable withdrawal from your RRSP to fund education, then make a regular taxdeductible contribution when the workforce is re-entered. The basic personal exemption will now cover off $11,138 (for 2014) of taxable income, not to mention tuition and education tax credits, which may also be avail-

able to shelter the withdrawal.

The RRSP mortgage manoeuvre

The Home Buyers’ Plan and Lifelong Learning Plan are not true loans. Instead, tax penalties apply if you don’t restore the funds to your RRSP within applicable time limits. However, the RRSP mortgage is a true loan.

You can take out a mortgage loan from your RRSP provided that it is insured by the CMHC or a public mortgagor insurer (such as Genworth Financial Canada or AIG United Guaranty Canada). This is an exception to the rule that an RRSP cannot hold the mortgage of the planholder or a family member.

You might use your loan to pay down a mortgage held by your friendly neighborhood bank.

Instead of paying mortgage interest to the bank, you in effect pay yourself. In this case, your benefit is largely based on the difference between the interest rates you’d otherwise pay on your mortgage (i.e., this is what you “save”) and the return you’d make on your RRSP if you didn’t follow this strategy. In addition, if you are paying more into your RRSP than the return you would make on a conventional investwww.canadianinquirer.net

ment, you will have more money compounding in your plan on a tax deferred-basis.

There is no tax rule that says you must use your RRSP loan to pay down your mortgage, or even put the money into your home, for that matter— the tax rules require only that the loan be secured by Canadian real estate. So the loan might be used, for example, to provide financing for a new business (the mortgage insurer must approve of the use, though).

What’s more, if the money is used for business or investments, the interest should generally be taxdeductible to the borrower. (The CMHC does not allow these “equity take-out” loans, though; so when it comes to this sort of thing, you’re better best is to go with Genworth or AIG.) According to the CRA, the RRSP mortgage—which must be secured by Canadian real estate—must have normal commercial terms, including market interest rates.

Make catch-up contibutions

One interesting use of an RRSP mortgage could be to make a catch-up contribution to your RRSP—that is, if you haven’t maxed out on your

RRSP contributions in the past.

It works like this: Your RRSP makes you a mortgage loan.

Then you put the proceeds right back into your RRSP as a catch-up contribution provided you don’t exceed your available contribution room. You immediately get a tax deduction based on the amount of your catch-up contribution.

Spread the wealth

It’s possible to make an RRSP mortgage loan to another family member. It is also possible (theoretically, at least) to do the RRSP mortgage manoeuvre based on a second mortgage or even a vacation or rental property. However, it may not always be possible to get mortgage insurance in these circumstances.

If you’re contemplating the RRSP mortgage manoeuvre, it’s best to get qualified legal and financial advice to make sure all the legal nuances have been observed. ■ Courtesy Fundata Canada Inc. ©2014. Samantha Prasad, LL.B., is Tax Partner with Toronto law firm Minden Gross LLP. Portions of this article appeared in The TaxLetter, published by MPL Communications Ltd.

Sports/Horoscope

41 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

Sterling banned for life by the NBA, fined $2.5 million by Commissioner Silver The Associated Press NEW YORK—Issuing about the strongest rebuke that he could, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banned Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life Tuesday for making racist comments in a recorded conversation, the first step toward forcing a sale of the club and permanently removing Sterling from the league.

Silver also fined Sterling US$2.5 million, and again expressed outrage.

“I fully expect to get the support I need from the other NBA owners to remove him,” Silver said.

Several owners immediately chimed in with support of Silver’s decision. Sterling, the

league’s longest-tenured owner and someone with an estimated net worth of about $2 billion, did not offer any immediate comment.

The penalties, which were announced only three days after the scandal broke, are the harshest ever issued by the league and among the stiffest punishments ever given to an owner in professional sports.

Silver said a league investigation found that Sterling was in fact the person on the audiotapes that were released over the weekend and immediately sent shock waves throughout the game.

“We stand together in condemning Mr. Sterling’s views,” Silver said. “They simply have no place in the NBA.” Sterling acknowledged he

was the man on the tape, Silver said.

Sterling still owns the team, but going forward he is immediately barred from attending any NBA games or practices, being present at any Clippers office or facility, participating in any business or player personnel decisions involving the team, or being part of any league business.

It’s unclear how Sterling will respond.

“This league is far bigger than any one owner, any one coach and any one player,” said Silver, who as commissioner has broad powers under what’s typically called the “best interest of the game” clause of the NBA constitution.

But Silver works for the owners, and he will need 75 per cent

of them—if all 30 teams vote, he’ll need 23 on his side—to force Sterling out of the league completely.

The fine will be donated to organizations dedicated to anti-discrimination and tolerance efforts that will be jointly selected by the NBA and the Players Association, Silver said.

“This has all happened in three days, and so I am hopeful there will be no long-term damage to the league and to the Clippers organization,” Silver said. “But as I said earlier, I’m outraged so I certainly understand other people’s outrage.

This will take some time and appropriate healing will be necessary.”

After the announcement, the Clippers’ website had a simple message: “We are one,” it read.

“We wholeheartedly support and embrace the decision by the NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver today. Now the healing process begins,” the Clippers added in a statement.

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Raptors, issued a statement Tuesday afternoon.

“As a proud member of the National Basketball Association, we stand strongly in our belief that the comments attributed to Mr. Sterling have no place in our society or sport.

Our organization will always work to contribute to a culture of diversity and acceptance in this league and fully support the actions taken today. We thank commissioner Adam Sil❱❱ PAGE 46 Sterling banned

HOROSCOPE ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

You probably know that you don’t attain freedom in one fell swoop, but rather bit by bit as you go through life, Aries. Perhaps you’ve been feeling as if you don’t have enough freedom. Over the next few days you could find the situations or people you need in order to liberate yourself. Don’t forget that love is the greatest freedom of all. It could be time to make room for it in your life.

You’re interested in better understanding yourself and your reactions to the world around you. Well, Cancer, today you should take the time to look over your successes and failures, especially where your family life is concerned. The atmosphere is changing and things will be much more positive over the next few days. Think about sharing with other people what you have learned.

If you’ve been feeling a little under the weather, today’s planetary configuration will make you feel a whole lot better, Libra. In a few days you’ll have the strength to pick up where you left off on the projects you perhaps began last month. A lot of things are changing in your life. Your motivations are evolving and your ambitions could be taking a different direction.

If you often help people in need, or if helping people is part of your profession, this day will bring certain ideas to light, Capricorn. You need to take the time on a regular basis to take care of yourself. If you don’t, you won’t be able to continue to help others. Think about it and stop making excuses for why you can’t do it. Think of yourself for a change.

TAURUS

LEO

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20)

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

(JAN 20 - FEB 18)

Throughout the day you may get the feeling that something has changed in the way people relate to each other, Taurus. It will be as if people are surer of themselves, more open, more expressive.

Where, exactly, do you fit into all of this? Are you in a mood to charm other people just for fun?

This period is perfect for taking care of your appearance and getting in shape. Do it!

This is a perfect day for falling in love, Leo! You can expect anything to happen today. You could even meet someone who is ready to love, support, and listen to you when you need him or her most.

You need to put all your fears and hesitations behind you on a day like today. Besides, a little madness every now and then won’t hurt. Throw caution to the wind!

Today is another passionate day in a series of passionate days! Usually, Scorpio, you’re a fairly reserved person where feelings are concerned. You’ll be much more demonstrative with your emotions over the next few days. You can be like a fire trapped inside a wall of ice, and today that ice is beginning to melt! Let it – and enjoy it!

One couldn’t really say that you have a hard time making decisions regarding your love life, Aquarius. You’re a passionate person and you believe in love at first sight. You’re probably the most spontaneous lover in your immediate circle! Add to that, you’re entering a period in which your emotions will be heightened. All the elements are there to ignite your creativity in every aspect of your life.

GEMINI

VIRGO

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21)

(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)

(NOV 22 - DEC 21)

(FEB 19 - MAR 20)

You can relax a little at last!

That’s what you could be thinking with today’s celestial energy. The time is perfect to get ready for the challenges that up to now were just anxieties inside you. If you’re thinking clearly today, Gemini, it’s because you have the strength to face your problems. Now that you have your self-confidence back, you might open your heart even wider to someone dear.

Today, Virgo, you’ll really be in the limelight. This could help you change what is sometimes a very negative image you have of yourself. You have a certain kind of energy and magnetism about you - it’s about time someone noticed! It’s only natural that you should be proud of yourself, and that other people should acknowledge your hard work and effort. Revel in this moment of glory!

If you come across someone a little strange or eccentric today, try and get to know him or her, because that person could be a reflection of part of you. The person will help you to see how modern and innovative you are, and how much you should appreciate your wonderful qualities. Meeting this person could be a kind of exercise in selfsatisfaction.

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You enjoy reaping rewards for all your efforts. But in your love life, you have to admit that you can never be sure of the quantity or the quality of the fruits of your labors. Yet, today, Pisces, you could realize that it’s time to plant some new seeds. You might not know how they’ll turn out, but you do know better than anyone else that you can’t win if you don’t play.

FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

42

Travel

Ghost stories, unsolved mysteries in the spotlight at Doors Open Toronto

BY PAOLA LORIGGIO The Canadian Press TORONTO—The boxy modern building just off Toronto’s Bloor Street seems like one of the last places anyone would go looking for ghosts.

Yet for decades, people have reported seeing the spectre of a seven-year-old girl running through the halls of the former McLaughlin Planetarium, now owned by the University of Toronto, and hearing her mischievous laugh.

Celeste, as she’s known, first appeared when the planetarium opened its doors in the 1960s.

The domed building hosted generations of Toronto schoolchildren on field trips before it was closed to the public.

The beloved site is one of the stops on the Mysteries of the University of Toronto walking tour offered for free as part of the annual Doors Open Toronto festival on May 24 and 25. (It is not, however, on the list of buildings open to visitors.)

It just goes to show that “creepy old buildings” aren’t the only ones with good stories, said festival tour guide Richard Fiennes-Clinton, who also runs the Muddy York Walking Tours company.

Ghost sightings, urban legends and secret spaces are at the heart of this year’s festival, which encourages residents and tourists alike to explore “the mysteries behind the door” by peeking into buildings they can’t normally access.

With more than 155 participating buildings—including 40 new additions this year—Toronto’s festival is the largest of its kind in North America, said organizer Kerri MacDonald. It draws roughly 200,000 people each year, she said.

Wawel Castle.

PHOTO BY PHOTOCAVALLO / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

5 places in Poland associated with John Paul II

BY MONIKA SCISLOWSKA The Associated Press

Other cities in Canada and the U.S., including Ottawa, Edmonton, Halifax and New York City, have also started similar events.

Tales of ghosts and mysteries “imbue an appreciation for architecture and history,” Fiennes-Clinton said as he showed off some of the university’s better-known haunted sites on a recent afternoon.

Some visitors are paranormal enthusiasts while others are staunch skeptics, he said. “Most are just looking for a good story.”

At the university’s Trinity College, the resident ghost is none other than its founder, who has often been seen wandering the grounds in his academic robes, Fiennes-Clinton said.

Johannes Strachan was considered a controlling man and maintains that reputation in the afterlife, with many suggesting his spirit is keeping the college in order, the guide said.

“A lot of ghost stories come out of obsessive-compulsive personality disorder,” he said.

Deep gouges in the wooden door of University College show where a construction worker

tried to cut through with an axe in the 1850s, Fiennes-Clinton said.

The man was chasing a fellow worker who had stolen his girlfriend. But he never got his revenge—instead, the guide said, he was stabbed to death by the man he was tracking, his body tossed into an unfinished tower that was later sealed off by the construction crew.

A fire decades later revealed skeletal remains, he said. “It’s become legendary.”

Other walking tours will showcase the folklore surrounding the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse on Toronto Island, the Exhibition Grounds—which organizers said is home to a number of “paranormal hotspots”—and the historic Distillery District, among others.

Visitors will also get a chance to see an underground bowling alley in a downtown church, haunted tunnels beneath a school and bank vaults in a hotel.

If You Go...

The festival runs May 24 and 25.

For details on the buildings and walking tours, visit: http:// www.toronto.ca/doorsopen. ■

WARSAW, POLAND—In his native Poland, the old stomping grounds of Pope John Paul II are places of pilgrimage. Here are the top five spots in Poland associated with the superstar pope, who was made a saint at a ceremony in the Vatican on Sunday.

The Palace of the Krakow Bishops

In the southern city of Krakow, the 19th century palace in Franciszkanska Street 3 was the residence of Bishop Karol Wojtyla from 1963 until 1978, when he was chosen as pope and took the name of John Paul II. On his visits to the city, John Paul would stand in an open window and chat with the cheering crowd gathered in the street. The “papal window” is now a gathering point on poperelated occasions.

Wawel Castle Cathedral

Dating back to the 11th century, the cathedral is part of the Renaissance Wawel Castle and holds the ashes of Poland’s kings. On Nov. 2, 1946, in the cathedral’s crypt of St. Leonard, the Rev. Karol Wojtyla celebrated his first Mass as a priest. He was made bishop at the cathedral’s main altar in July 1958, and often prayed at St. Stanislas’ tomb.

John Paul II Sanctuary

The sanctuary on the edge of Krakow consists of a new church and pilgrim centre. It’s the brainchild of John Paul’s personal secretary, Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, who is now the city’s archbishop. In 2011, Dziwisz placed a reliquary with a vial of John Paul’s blood in its altar. It also has the white tombstone from John Paul’s first grave in the Vatican grottoes.

People will gather at the sanctuary for a prayer vigil on Saturday night, and on Sunday watch the Vatican canonization ceremony.

John Paul II Museum

The John Paul II museum in the pontiff’s hometown of Wadowice includes the apartment where he was born. Consisting of a living room, single bedroom and kitchen, it includes some original objects—such as a kneeler—from the time the future pope lived there. Visitors can also see the gun that wouldbe-assassin Ali Agca used when he shot and wounded John Paul in St. Peter’s Square in 1981.

Basilica of the Presentation of the Holy Virgin Mary

This is Wojtyla’s parish church, where he was baptized, served as an altar boy and stopped to pray on his way to school. The basilica has a chapel dedicated to John Paul with a reliquary containing a drop of his blood on the altar. ■

43 FRIDAY MAY 2, 2014

HEALTH IS . . .

. . . playing outside to give me a strong body and mind!

Celebrate Move for Health Week with more than 50 free or low cost activities from May 5 to 10. On Saturday, May 10, get your friends and family moving at the Move for Health Festival at Minoru Park. Find out more at www.richmond.ca/moveforhealth.

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Tornadoes kill...

“Once I heard that, I knew something was pretty wrong. It was fast. It was so fast.”

The whole thing was over a minute later, he said.

In northern Alabama, the coroner’s office confirmed two deaths in a twister that caused extensive damage west of the city of Athens, Limestone County Emergency Director Rita White. In Tuscaloosa, officials said a University of Alabama student died when he took shelter in the basement of a home near campus and a retaining wall collapsed on him.

The threat of dangerous weather jangled nerves a day after the third anniversary of a historic outbreak of more than 60 tornadoes that killed more than 250 people across Alabama on April 27, 2011.

Separately, Limestone Commissioner Bill Latimer said he received reports of four deaths in the county from one of his workers. Neither the governor’s office nor state emergency officials could immediately con❰❰ 21

FRIDAY 44

Mysteries of... firm those deaths.

In southern Tennessee, two people were killed in a home when a suspected tornado hit Monday night, Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Mike Hall said. The winds destroyed several other homes as well as a middle school in the county that borders Alabama, Hall said.

The storm system is the latest onslaught of severe weather a day after a half-mile-wide tornado carved an 80-mile path of destruction through the suburbs of Little Rock, Ark., killing at least 15. Tornadoes or severe storms also killed one person each in Oklahoma and Iowa on Sunday. ■ Sainz reported from Tupelo, Miss. Associated Press writers Jack Elliott Jr. and Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Miss; Janet McConnaughey in New Orleans; Jay Reeves in Kimberly, Ala.; Phillip Lucas in Atlanta; and Russ Bynum in Savannah, Ga., contributed to this report.

AP Photographer Butch Dill in Fayette, Ala., also contributed.

garden hedge.

Whichever way you perceive this patch of hair in one’s nether regions, experts aren’t really sure what it’s for. Some experts say it’s a visual representation of one’s sexual maturity, some say it houses pheromones to attract a mate (or two), some say it protects you where it counts, and some even say that it acts like a cushion during intercourse.

I guess this is a matter of how you would like to use it. Or not. ❰❰ 30

A Rush of Blush

Even Charles Darwin—the man who explained the origins of life—found it difficult to rationalize the body’s physiological response to embarrassment.

When we lie or cheat or generally placed in a compromising position, we tend to blush— a rush of blood to the face that shows how guilty we are. Some experts say this is nature’s way to make honest citizens out of us, but I doubt nature thought about it that way. Meanwhile,

the website Learning Mind wrote that “perhaps the ability to blush helped decrease aggression.”

Well, it surely did not decrease any aggression for any middle schooler who just spoke with his/her crush.

The ‘Best Medicine’

Sure, Steve Carrell is just naturally funny (and ‘The Office’ was never quite the same when he left), but why do we laugh whenever he does awkward bits?

Some people may find him funny, some may not, which is the perfect example of the mystery of laughter. Why do we laugh when we see something that we perceive as funny or delightful?

Some scientists tried to explain that laughter balances out our mind’s processes. Some say it is a way to relieve stress.

Whatever its function may be, laughter surely uplifts one’s mood by secreting endorphins—nature’s antidepressant.

‘Very superstitious, writings on the wall’

Despite the great Stevie Wonder singing “Superstition ain't the way,” many people around the world still choose to uphold the perceived truths behind superstitious beliefs. But why?

Old wives’ tales or not, superstitions are not new—especially to us Filipinos. Despite its lack of rationale or logic, a significant part of the world’s population choose to believe in superstitions. Psychologists and scientists have yet to determine the truth behind these beliefs.

A handful of TV shows were even produced to discuss the credulity of such philosophies, but to no avail. One interesting and highly plausible psychological theory behind it is that it’s our way of shifting blame. Why take responsibility of bad decisions when you can blame it on a black cat crossing the street?

The answers to these mysteries may never be revealed in our time, but we’re sure of one thing: we should not just exist— we must live everyday of our lives. ■

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Sterling banned... ver, and all of the NBA players, for their leadership on this important issue.”

Sterling’s comments were released over the weekend by TMZ and Deadspin, and numerous NBA owners and players have condemned them. Even President Barack Obama weighed in on the crisis, the first of Silver’s brief tenure as commissioner.

“Commissioner Silver thank you for protecting our beautiful and powerful league!! Great leader!!,” Miami Heat star LeBron James wrote on Twitter.

The league’s investigation started Saturday and players immediately began expressing intense displeasure with the situation, even going so far as to ask Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson to get involved on behalf of the players’ union.

“When one rotten apple does something, or if you see cancer, you’ve got to cut it out really quickly,” Johnson said at a news conference in Los Angeles, flanked by NBA legend Kareem AbdulJabbar and players like Steve Nash, Tyson Chandler, Luke Walton and Roger Mason Jr., among others. “And Commissioner Silver did that in real time. We’re so proud and thankful for him.”

The sanctions came a few hours before the Clippers were to play Golden State in Game 5 of a tied-up Western Conference first-round playoff series.

“When you get this many Lakers to stand up for the Clippers, you know something big is happening in L.A.,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

“We are a single team here today, a team not only speaking out for what we’re against—racism, hatred, bigotry, intolerance—but what we’re for. We’re for great basketball.”

Before Silver took the podium, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban tweeted out a photo of the NBA Constitution, saying “It exists for a reason.”

Several sponsors either terminated or suspended their business dealings with the team on Monday, though individual ❰❰ 41

Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editor Melissa Remulla-Briones editor@canadianinquirer.net Associate Editor Laarni de Paula Correspondents Gigi Astudillo Angie Duarte Katherine Marfal Frances Grace Quiddaoen Ching Dee Socorro Newland Thessa Sandoval

Donald Sterling with girlfriend, V. Stiviano.

PHOTO FROM THACOVER2.COM

deals that some of those companies have with Clippers stars like Chris Paul and Blake Griffin will continue and were not affected. Still, it was a clear statement that companies, like just about everyone inside the league, were outraged.

“Commissioner Silver showed great leadership in banning LA Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life,” Magic Johnson, who was referenced on the taped conversation involving Sterling, tweeted shortly after the league’s decision was announced.

Johnson’s role on the tape stemmed from Sterling’s female companion apparently posting a photo of her and the Hall of Fame player on her Instagram account. That photo has since been deleted, but raised Sterling’s ire nonetheless.

“It bothers me a lot that you want to broadcast that you’re associating with black people. Do you have to?” Sterling asks the woman on the tape.

The issues raised when the tapes were released over the weekend represent just another chapter in Sterling’s long history of being at the centre of controversy.

In the past, he’s faced extensive fed-

eral charges of civil rights violations and racial discrimination in his business dealings, and some of his race-related statements would be described as shocking.

He has also been sued in the past for sexual harassment by former employees, and even the woman who goes by the name “V. Stiviano”—purportedly the female voice on the tapes at the centre of this scandal—describes Sterling in court documents as a man “with a big toothy grin brandishing his sexual prowess in the faces of the Paparazzi and caring less what anyone else thought, the least of which, his own wife.”

Stiviano is being sued by Rochelle Sterling, who is seeking to reclaim at least $1.8 million in cash and gifts that her husband allegedly provided the woman.

Silver said when he first heard the audio, he hoped it had been altered or was fake—but also said that from his 20-year relationship with Sterling, he suspected the voice was his.

“This has been a painful moment,” Silver said, “for all members of the NBA family.” ■

tre piece” of his government’s international development policy.

“Why are we so engaged in this? Well there’s really two things—first of all this is obviously something we care passionately about because it is the right thing to do,” he said. “And what we’ve got in front of us are things that are doable, where we can achieve real positive results for our fellow human beings.”

World Vision President Dave Toycen, who was part of a group who met with Harper in Toronto on Monday, said the conference being hosted by Canada will be “critical” to planning next steps in ending preventable child and maternal deaths in the future.

“There are still 6.6 million children dying every year before their fifth birthday and 258,000 women who die in pregnancy and childbirth,” said Toycen.

“Canada must keep these children and mothers front and centre in its own development work and in the minds of global leaders as we look beyond 2015.

If we don’t reach them, we cannot end these senseless deaths.”

The upcoming summit called “Saving Every Woman, Every Child,” will include United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, World Health Organization director-general Margaret Chan, and Melinda Gates among its international participants. ■

Prime Minister...

Harper says the upcoming three-day Toronto summit, to run May 28-30, will help the international community move closer to those goals.

“We don’t want to stand idly by while women and children around the world die for lack of things that are really just very basic, inexpensive remedies that we take for granted,” Harper said Monday at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital.

“That’s why we’re holding the conference, and we want to push forward until we achieve some of those development goals that the United Nations has set.”

Harper added that reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality is the “cen❰❰ 18

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