Philippine Canadian Inquirer #154

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VOL. 2 NO. 154

FEBRUARY 13, 2015

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PHL, Indonesia ink pacts

Aquino's speech on the fallen 44

Assisted suicide advocate honours "trailblazer"

Pokwang says she is involved with US actor

Wandering in the wonder of Mt. Daraitan

Purisima resignation triggers rifts over cover-up

BY AMANDO DORONILA Philippine Daily Inquirer

WELCOME President Benigno S. Aquino III introduces to His Excellency Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, members of his official family during the welcome ceremony at the Malacañan Palace Grounds on Monday (February 09, 2015) for the State Visit to the Philippines. This is President Widodo’s first State Visit to the Philippines. In the spirit of ASEAN solidarity, it is tradition on the part of a new head of state to immediately conduct introductory visits to fellow ASEAN Member States.

Show conviction, SAF survivors tell P-Noy

RYAN LIM / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU / PNA

❱❱ PAGE 4 Purisima resignation

President’s speech disappoints officers

BY JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS Philippine Daily Inquirer SHOW some balls.

A member of the Special Action Force (SAF) team that killed Malaysian terror-

ist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and who helped retrieve the bodies of the 44 police commandos killed in the operation in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province, on Jan. 25 said SAF troop❱❱ PAGE 7 Show conviction

PRESIDENT AQUINO’S acceptance of the resignation of Philippine National Police Director General Alan Purisima has sparked widespread public suspicion over whether his relief was part of a cover-up to deflect public outrage over the massacre of 44 police commandos by Moro guerrillas on Jan. 25 to scapegoats away from the President as Commander in Chief of the country’s Armed Forces.

The Aquino administration has come under a storm of heavy criticism for its failure to protect a contingent of police Special Action Force (SAF) from

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Philippine News

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House to await results of investigations before resuming BBL hearings

BY SAMMY F. MARTIN Philippine News Agency MANILA — The House leadership on Monday said they have to await results of ongoing investigations on the Mamasapano incident before proceeding with the hearings on the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

“Right now, all we can do is to wait. They suspended the hearings because they are awaiting certain reports,” Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. in an interview.

On Sunday, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, the chairman of the 75-man ad hoc committee on the BBL, said his committee is eyeing an “amended BBL” by addressing certain issues.

“We are still very optimistic that an amended bill that will assure and safeguard the rights of all stakeholders will be in place so that [Mamasapano]

Photo shows (clockwise from left) acting Philippine National Police Chief Leonardo Espina, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel A. Roxas II, Department of National Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and former PNP Chief Alan Purisima taking their oath before the Senate public hearing on the bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

will not happen again and that it can’t be abused by future Bangsamoro government. I am confident that we will have a law in the coming months,” Rodriguez told House reporters.

Rodriguez said the indefinite suspension is needed to correct some perceived flaws in the peace process, but he stressed that the BBL passage must be realized.

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“I think everyone is still for lasting peace through law that will give their autonomy and fiscal autonomy through the Bangsamoro. We can’t go back to war because it is even be worse

than if you don’t have the BBL. So that is why we are going through this (indefinite suspension of BBL hearings),” said Rodriguez.

The Cagayan de Oro solon said the indefinite suspension of the proceedings will last until the separate investigations of the House committee on public order and safety and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on the Mamasapano incident are completed.

Earlier, Malacanang asked Congress not to block the passage of BBL following the outrage on Mamasapano, Maguindanao bloodbath that killed 44 members of the Special Action Force (SAF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) during the January 25 anti-terrorism operation and the ensuing clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and its breakaway group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). ■

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Purisima resignation... ❰❰ 1

a treacherous attack by the said he was on preventive suspension Moro Islamic Liberation Front during the Maguindanao operations and (MILF) and its cohorts in the while he gave the “intelligence packet,” Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters he did not give any orders to the troops.

(BIFF) in the firefight in Mamasapono, “That is the role of the ground comMaguindanao province, in which 18 mander,” he said.

MILF guerrillas were also killed.

The SAF commandos were attacked Kept in the dark as they entered an MILF enclave to arDeputy Director General Leonardo rest two terrorists—Malaysian Zulkifli Espina, the PNP officer in charge, has bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” and his Filipino claimed he was kept in the dark on the aide Basit Usman—given sanctuary by SAF operation and that he learned about the MILF in “territory” ceded to them it only after the shots had been fired in by a peace agreement between the gov- the morning of Jan. 25. ernment and the MILF. Asked if he had directed Director Scorched by the Getulio Napeñas, the backlash of public SAF chief, not to inanger over the heavy form Espina about casualties suffered the operation unby the commandos, til after the troops Mr. Aquino on Friday were already on the spoke on national ground, Purisima television to anQuestions were said, “These are situnounce that he had asked in ations that are part accepted the resigCongress: If of their plan until nation of Purisima Purisima they reach the target. to calm smoldering didn’t call the The others will be unrest in the PNP shots, why is informed until they and the military over he being held reach the target.” resentment that the responsible for It was the SAF that President had sold the failure of planned the operathem down the river the operation? tion, Purisima said. in his effort to push He added that he did the Comprehensive not give any order to Agreement on the keep Espina in the Bangsamoro seeking dark. the establishment Questions were of a Moro substate asked in Congress: If within the Philippine Purisima didn’t call Republic’s national territory. the shots, why is he being held responAfter resigning as PNP chief, Purisima sible for the failure of the operation? denied that he gave orders during the While seeking to calm public anger, Mr. police operation in Mamasapano, and Aquino stoked the flames by saying in that he had been pressured by the Presi- his speech on Friday that Purisima condent to resign. He merely said he turned tributed to the planning of the mission in his resignation so that the President to capture Marwan and Usman. Mud“may have more room to act” (on what dling things further, Mr. Aquino did not matters, he did not reveal). say it was he who gave the order for the In an interview on GMA 7, Purisima operation to go ahead.

Instead, the President set the tone of finger-pointing and buck-passing by blaming Napenas for the debacle, saying that the sacked SAF commander should have known whether the plan was being executed correctly. Mr. Aquino echoed Purisima’s blame-passing.

Purisima said Napeñas, who is now bearing the brunt as the scapegoat, was on top of the operation, and denied he had told Napeñas not to notify his superiors and the military about the operation.

On Jan. 28, Napeñas told Interior Secretary Mar Roxas that the President had knowledge of the police operation in Mamasapano. According to an INQUIRER report, citing an undisclosed source, Napeñas admitted in a closeddoor meeting with senior police officials in Cotabato City that suspended PNP chief Purisima “directed” the operation that involved 392 SAF troopers.

President briefed

President Benigno S. Aquino III announces that the government will strongly go after terrorists and accepted the resignation of suspended PNP chief, Director General Allan Purisima, during his message to the nation.

ROBERT VIÑAS / MALACANANG PHOTO BUREAU / PNA

Napeñas also was reported to have said in the meeting that the SAF coordinated with a senior police superintendent in carrying out the operation.

“With whom did you coordinate?” Roxas asked Napeñas. “With General Purisima, sir,” Napeñas replied.

Napeñas also admitted that he was aware that Purisima was already “on” when the operation was launched.

Purisima was the first senior police

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official to become a casualty in the aftermath of the massacre. He was suspended last December for six months by an antigraft court in a case not related to the anti-terror operation. Despite this, he was actively involved in the planning of the operation.

In the gang-up on Napeñas, the President in his TV appearance said the antiterror raid in the wee hours of the morning on Jan. 25 should have been aborted because of “fatal defects.” He said the SAF commander who oversaw the attack in Mamasapano failed to coordinate the assault to ensure the safety of the policemen, including possibly arranging for military support.

P-Noy briefing

In the Cotabato meeting of senior police officials, Napeñas also told Roxas, “We have briefed the President.”

Visibly struggling to be calm during the meeting, Roxas bluntly asked Napeñas why he was not informed about the police operation.

“I am the secretary of the interior and local government, (but) I was not aware of this operation (that) involved 400 policemen,” Roxas said. “Is the guidance to keep this from the AFP? Is the guidance to keep this from the hierarchy of the PNP?” Napeñas said he had recommended to the President to inform those in the area about the police operation. ■

Philippine News

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Philippines, Indonesia ink pacts on vocational training, educ cooperation, fight vs. drug trafficking

BY JOANN SANTIAGO Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Philippines and Indonesian governments on Monday signed three agreements pushing for strengthened fight against drug trafficking, and more support for vocational training and wider cooperation on education.

The first memorandum of understanding (MOU) vies for the cooperation in technical education and training and is targeted to also provide benchmarking and comparability of standards and qualifications on priority sectors as well as the conduct of capacity building programs.

Malacanang said that under this agreement, “the participants will cooperate on the conduct of joint research, benchmarking and comparability of competency standards and technical qualifications

in priority areas: the recognition of education and training credentials and the hosting of symposia, conferences and workshops, among others.”

Signatories to this MOU are Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Joel Villanueva and Indonesian Minster of Education and Culture H.E. Mr. Anies Baswedan.

The second MOU aims for cooperation in education, research and training between the National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) and the Lembaga Ketahanan Nasional of the Republic of Indonesia, particularly on defense and security studies.

This is targeted to promote academic networking and exchanges, reciprocal access to libraries, exchanges of academic staff, teachers and researchers as well as of public literature.

National Defense College of the Philippines (NDCP) Presi-

President Benigno S. Aquino III and His Excellency Joko Widodo, President of the Republic of Indonesia, witnessed the signing of agreements at the Reception Hall of the Malacañan Palace during the State Visit to the Philippines.

GIL NARTEA / MALACANANG PHOTO BUREAU / PNA

dent Fermin De Leon Jr. signed for the Philippines while his counterpart is Budi Susilo Soepandji, DEA, Governor of Lemhanas.

The third MOU was signed between Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Indonewww.canadianinquirer.net

sia’s Badan Narkotika Nasional (BNN) and is targeted to have a unitary move in combating illicit trafficking and abuse of narcotics, psychotropic substances and their precursors through the establishment of channels of communication

between the two agencies for faster and timely exchange of information.

It was signed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac and Indonesia’s National Narcotics Board head Anang Iskandar.

Relatively, the two countries also signed a joint declaration on the protection of migrants and migrant workers.

This aims to “strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the promotion and protection of the rights of migrants and migrant workers through such mechanisms as cooperation on the matter between their respective diplomatic and consular nations.”

It was signed by Philippines’ Department of Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert Del Rosario and Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Retno L.P. Marsudi. ■

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Moved by the Pope, Mancao to finally spill ‘plain and naked truth’ on Dacer-Corbito murder

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES — After 15 years of unsolved mystery, a glimmer of hope emerged as former Police Senior Superintendent — and now fugitive — Cezar Mancao II told the media Sunday that he is planning to surrender to the authorities to tell the truth behind the murder of Salvador “Bubby” Dacer and Emmanuel Corbito.

Mancao, a former intelligence officer, was also one of the accused in the double murder case. He was also considered as a government witness to shed more light on the case.

Since escaping from custody in 2013, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has been hunting Mancao. But on Sunday, February 8, Mancao faced select members of the media to air his intention of surrendering, spilling the truth, and mending old ties.

To the media, Mancao apologized to those he implicated in the Dacer-Corbito murder: former Senator and Chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Panfilo ‘Ping’ Lacson and former President and now Manila Mayor Joseph Ejercito Estrada. He also apologized to Justice Secretary Leila De Lima for using up man hours and resources to hunt him down.

‘Come clean, tell the plain and naked truth’

In a text message to reporters as posted by the Philippine Daily Inquirer, De Lima said, “I hope that if Mancao does in fact resurface, he comes clean this time. He must tell us the plain and naked truth about that still unresolved mystery which is the Dacer-Corbito murder case.”

De Lima emphasized that this is “the only way for Mancao to redeem himself” after losing his credibility due to his “flipflopping” and “contradictory testimonies.”

According to De Lima, representatives of Mancao got in touch with her and she informed them that he will not be given the liberty of dictating the terms of his surrender.

She said people representing Mancao had contacted her, and that she had sent word back to him that he will not be allowed to set the terms of his surrender.

“I relayed the message that if he really wants to surrender to me, my condition is for him to come clean this time and not waste our time,” De Lima said.

“And his surrender must be on my own terms, and not his. As a fugitive, he cannot be dictating the terms.”

De Lima pointed out that whether or not Mancao pushes through with his surrender, “the NBI shall continue to hunt him down since he’s a fugitive from justice.”

Former Police Sr. Supt. Cezar Mancao II. SCREENSHOT FROM ABS-CBN NEWS FOOTAGE

“… [H]e has to contend with the criminal case wherein he remains to be an accused. He must face the trial squarely and prove the innocence of those truly innocent and the guilt of those truly guilty,” De Lima said.

On forgiveness Francis

and

Pope

In several radio and television interviews, Mancao said that he decided to finally come clean and make amends because he was moved by Pope Francis and touched by the Pontiff’s presence during the Papal Visit in January.

Mayor Estrada, feeling vindicated, was happy about Mancao’s statements. But he also said that Mancao should face any charge that will be filed

against him.

“He should tell the truth.

We don’t know, he might have been framed or something. He should face the charges against him,” Estrada said.

Estrada continued, “It’s good that the truth finally came out,” adding that he has already forgiven Mancao even before the latter apologized.

“I’m a very forgiving person.

I’ve forgiven many people who have done me wrong,” Estrada said. “We all make mistakes…

It’s good that Pope Francis has touched him.”

Despite being strongly implicated in the double murder case, Estrada said that he could not even imagine ordering the murder of Bubby Dacer, who was his kumpare. Estrada said that they are godfathers of each

other’s children.

Lacson was also said he has already forgiven Mancao and everyone who involved him in the double murder, whose names he will never forget.

“Surely, I know all those who committed incriminatory machination, even subornation of perjury by the assigned prosecutor herself and I will never forget their names,” Lacson said.

Despite fleeing the country for over a year to escape arrest, Lacson said he has something to be thankful for after everything he went through. ” In a way, I thank them for letting me know who my true friends are,” Lacson said.

Lacson also said in spite of Mancao’s “weak character,” the latter’s statements confirmed what he has known from the start.

“At least he makes clear what I’ve already known since the start of my ‘calvary’ that the minions of the former President ganged up on him to do me in. Why? I can only presume that my incessant exposés against the previous administration’s abuses against the Filipino people had everything to do with it,” Lacson explained.

Lacson was referring to his exposés against the anomalies that happened during Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s presidency, including alleged money laundering by First Gentleman Jose Miguel Arroyo. ■

Jemaah Islamiyah planned to bomb Papal convoy — former commando chief

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Jemaah Islamiyah, in coordination with Malaysian bomb expert Zulkifli bin Hir alias "Marwan," had planned to bomb the papal convoy during Pope Francis’ January visit in the country, according to relieved Special Action Force (SAF) chief Police Director Getulio Napenas.

During Monday’s Senate inquiry into Mamasapano inci-

dent, Napenas revealed that based on their information, Marwan had planned to construct a bomb to be detonated as the Papal convoy drove down T.M. Kalaw Street in Manila on January 18, 2015. ”We have information that the Jemaah Islamiyah, in coordination with Marwan, had planned to construct a bomb to be detonated as the Papal convoy drove down TM Kalaw street,” Napenas told the Senate panel.

Napenas, however, said the

Philippine National Police (PNP) did not confirm or deny the report. ”The fact, however, remains that there exists this information,” Napenas said.

Marwan was killed in an operation dubbed as ‘Oplan Exodus’ also aimed at capturing his cohort, Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) commander Basit Usman, who managed to escape.

Both Marwan and Usman were dubbed as high-value targets in the operation where 44 www.canadianinquirer.net

SAF men have been killed after they encountered forces of the BIFF and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF).

Marwan, a Malaysian national, was the technical mastermind behind the 2002 Bali bombing that killed 202 innocent civilians, including 88 Australians.

After the operation, Napenas was relieved as SAF chief due to the death of the 44 SAF commandos for alleged non-coordination with other agencies including the MILF, to which

the government has an ongoing ceasefire agreement.

The January 25 clash is the first major encounter since the 2012 ceasefire between the government and the MILF, and hangs the fate of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) now still being deliberated in Congress.

Though SAF lost 44 highlytrained troopers, Napenas described the operation as successful as they not only killed Marwan but also at least 250 fighters from both the MILF and BIFF. ■

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Show conviction... ❰❰ 1

ers wanted to hear only one thing from President Aquino.

“We’re looking for a strong statement from the Commander in Chief that will side with us, but instead he gives a statement then he takes it back,” the officer told this reporter in an exclusive interview last week.

“He’s very careful with his words, [he doesn’t want to upset] the peace talks,” he said.

The SAF officer, who requested that his name and rank be withheld for security and so that he could talk freely, said the SAF troopers felt “offended” by the President.

He said the troopers were asking themselves, “Did we do a good job? Was it mission accomplished?”

“I just told them we had to prioritize our fallen brothers,” he said.

“I’m just hoping [the President] can give strong words befitting a Commander in Chief, condemning the brutal killing of the 44 troopers instead of giving [a] shallow and safe statement so as not to offend the other party,” he said, referring to the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), which has signed a peace agreement with the government.

Attack on SAF

Guerrillas from the MILF and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), attacked the SAF commandos as the troopers withdrew after killing Marwan, who carried a $6-million price on his head.

Forty-four commandos, 18 MILF guerrillas and five civilians were killed in the 12-hour gun battle.

The secondary target of the SAF mission, Marwan’s Filipino deputy Basit Usman, managed to escape. The United States has also offered a $3-million bounty for Usman’s capture.

A day after this reporter’s interview with the SAF officer, the President addressed the nation and lamented the deaths of the SAF commandos. “This tragedy happened during my term, and I will carry this to the end of my days,” he said.

Mr. Aquino repeated the message he sent to the MILF after the clash, demanding that the group turn over Usman to the government.

President Benigno Aquino III announces that suspected Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist Zulkipli bin Hir, alias Marwan has been confirmed dead during the SAF operation in Brgy. Tukanalipao, Mamasapano, Maguindanao, and accepted the resignation of suspended PNP Chief Police Director General Allan Purisima during his message on Friday (Frebruary 6) held at the President hall in Malacanang.

RYAN LIM / ROBERT VIÑAS / MALACANANG PHOTO BUREAU

“If he remains in your terri- “strong statements,” unlike the sibility, better leave your post. tory or is protected by one of President.

Your people are looking up to your members, we expect you Espina and the PNP overseer, you. If they see you as a weak to surrender him to the au- Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, leader, how could you expect thorities. If not, we expect you were not informed about the them to lay down their lives for to do everything you can to help Mamasapano operation by the the government?” said the SAF capture him. And even if this is SAF commander, Director Get- officer. not possible, do not interfere ulio Napeñas, who was relieved Even the families of the slain with our pursuit of Marwan,” pending investigation of the de- commandos “cannot feel the he said. bacle. sincerity of the President,” he Then he served a warning to The SAF troopers, the officer said. the MILF: “We will get Usman, said, expect tough talk from the On Jan. 30, after the necrowhatever you delogical services cide, regardless for the 44 troopof who provides ers at Camp a safe haven for Bagong Diwa in him, regardless We’re looking for a strong statement Taguig City, Mr. of where he may from the Commander in Chief that Aquino spent 13 be hiding. Let no will side with us, but instead he gives hours with the one doubt: We a statement then he takes it back. families to conare partners in dole with them, pursuing peace seemingly makand justice. To ing up for his those who have lost their way, Commander in Chief. “That’s absence when the bodies were who would still stand in our what the troops are looking for. brought to Villamor Air Base way, remember this: You are Statements with conviction the day before. fighting the State, and we will and balls,” he said.

“Some of the relatives comrun you over.”

In his briefings for journal- mented that his gesture of comIn a follow-up interview, the ists, Espina slammed the MILF forting them was only for comSAF officer dismissed the Pres- and the BIFF for the “overkill” pliance, promising them this ident’s belated show of resolve. and for stealing the personal ef- and that,” the officer said.

“Why only now?” the officer fects of the slain commandos. said. “He should have said that Espina demanded that the Security procedure at the start.”

Moro rebels return the equipThe officer said he underment, mobile phones and ar- stood why Espina and Roxas ‘Balls’ and conviction mor of the slain troopers to the were not informed about the The officer said he admired authorities and to the comman- Mamasapano mission, as this Deputy Director General Leon- dos’ families. was part of the PNP’s “compartardo Espina, the Philippine Na“If you have the biggest re- mentalization security procetional Police officer in charge, sponsibility and you don’t have dures.” for having the “balls” to make the balls to fulfill that respon“When you say compartmenwww.canadianinquirer.net

talization, it doesn’t necessarily mean that even though you’re part of the team and the unit, but you’re not included in the operation, you’re not entitled to know the details,” he said.

Would there have been fewer casualties had there been coordination?

“I can’t guarantee that,” the officer said. “But if many people knew about the operation, it might have been compromised.”

He said the finger-pointing between the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, which had initially been blamed for the failure to send reinforcements, was unfortunate because it weakened the bond between the two services.

The officer said the military could have acted first to get Marwan since Central Mindanao “was their playground.”

He said “Oplan Exodus,” the SAF operation to take down Marwan and Usman, affected the military’s sense of self.

The military, he said, failed to get Marwan because it had been “sleeping with the enemy” for two years.

“If you really want to get Marwan, you don’t appease the MILF because the MILF is coddling Marwan,” he said.

But when asked who was at fault, the SAF officer said: “I cannot say now who’s at fault.” ■

Philippine News

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FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FRIDAY

Senate body starts probe of debacle

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Member

THE TOP police officials involved in a covert operation to take down two terrorists in Maguindanao on Jan. 25 and their bosses whom they kept in the dark about the mission face each other in the Senate today as senators begin an inquiry into the bloody incident that has imperiled peace talks with Moro rebels and plunged the Aquino administration into its worst political crisis.

As the investigation by the Senate peace and order committee starts, more questions about the Philippine National Police Special Action Force (SAF) operation arise, including what role the United States played in the mission that cost the lives of 44 police commandos, 18 Moro guerrillas and five civilians.

The primary target of the SAF operation, Malaysian-born terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir, alias “Marwan,” was killed by the commandos in their assault on his hideout in Mamasapano town, Maguindanao province. But the secondary target, Filipino terrorist Basit Usman, escaped.

Resigned PNP Director General Alan Purisima, relieved SAF Director Getulio Napeñas, clash survivor PO2 Christopher Lalan, and Supt. Raymond Train, head of the 84th SAF Company that killed Marwan, have confirmed their attendance at today’s hearing, according to the office of Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the public order committee.

Also appearing at the inquiry are Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and the PNP officer in charge, Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina, who were not informed by Napeñas about the operation.

Nobody from MILF

Also expected to show up are Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin; Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Deles and chief government peace negotiator Miriam CoronelFerrer.

No one from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) has confirmed their appearance at the hearing, although the group’s chief peace negotiator, Mohagher Iqbal, has been invited.

Aside from trying to determine what happened so that the operation ended up in a gun battle with guerrillas from the MILF and its splinter group, the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), the senators are expected to press the police officials on the role of the United States in the SAF mission.

According to the latest report on the alleged participation of the United States, a US drone kept track of the SAF commandos as they went in to get Mar-

Senate President Franklin Drilon (extreme left) asks questions to Rasid Ladiasan, chairperson of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) Coordinating Committee in the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), during the Senate public hearing on the bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao at the Senate Bldg. in Pasay City.

AVITO C. DALAN / PNA

wan. So far, the United States has said that it helped only in the retrieval of the bodies of the slain and wounded SAF troopers.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, a former Navy officer, said US assistance in the fight against terrorism was not something to be rejected.

“US support is essential in our fight against terrorism. So, on the assumption that the US assisted in the operation to get Marwan by providing geospatial [intelligence] or medical evacuations, we should welcome it,” Trillanes said in a text message.

Who allowed drone?

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said that theoretically speaking, a foreign power that wants to use a drone in Philippine airspace must get permission from Philippine authorities as a show of respect for the country’s territorial integrity.

Without that permission, the use of the drone could be interpreted as an invasion, Pimentel said in a phone interview.

He said he wanted to know who exactly could give permission on the use of foreign drones in the Philippines.

Pimentel said it was normal for countries to exchange intelligence information, and a foreign power could even provide advice on the soundness of a mission.

But involvement in an actual operation is a different matter, Pimentel said.

The sharing of information does not mean a foreign country can step in and do what it wants, he said.

Former Sen. Panfilo Lacson, a former PNP chief, said over dz BB that the use of a US drone in the country was treading a “thin line.”

Lacson said using the drone to acquire intelligence information before an ac-

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tual operation or tactical deployment could be allowed.

But using it during an actual operation should not be permitted, in respect for the Philippines’ territorial integrity.

Lacson said he believed using the drone to monitor an actual troop deployment, to determine whether reinforcements should be sent in, could be considered involvement in an actual operation.

“If we allow other countries to meddle in internal security or internal matters, no matter how powerful the country, where is our honor?” he said in the radio interview.

P-Noy’s resignation

Pimentel, in a separate statement, called for calm amid calls for President Aquino to resign because of public dissatisfaction with his response to the Mamasapano debacle.

He said Mr. Aquino’s resignation would just create more problems.

“If any, the resignation of the President will only be counterproductive since this will lead to a shake-up in the government. In this highly volatile situation, we need a leader. We need the President to lead us out of these dark days,” Pimentel said.

The focus should be on finding out the truth behind the Mamasapano incident so that those responsible can be made to face justice, he said.

“The government is doing its best to get to the bottom of this. Let us give the government a chance to right the wrong,” he said.

Pimentel appealed to the public to support a pending bill to create a truth commission that would look into the Mamasapano clash. He is one of the resolution’s coauthors in the Senate. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

9

DOH reiterates stop in deployment of Filipino workers in Ebola-hit countries

BY LEILANI S. JUNIO Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH) Rapid Response Team sent to Ebola-stricken countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea) has reiterated for the continued halt on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for health safety purposes.

In a press briefing on Monday held at the DOH Media Relations Unit (MRU) in Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila, the team headed by Dr. Antonio F. Villanueva said that Filipino workers will still face risk if they will be allowed to work in Ebola-hit West African countries.

“While we see that there is a need because there is an appeal for help and need for more health workers, we are also seeing the risk that may result (in sending Filipino workers there),” said Villanueva.

He said there is a mixed sentiments of the OFWs there citing some want to finish their contract and go home, while others still want to stay as they see that the dreaded Ebola virus disease (EVD) has not reached their place of work.

Acting Health Secretary Janette Garin, for her part, said the output shared to them by the team boosted the government’s previous decision to defer deployment of OFWs and also for the pending request of the need for Filipino medical workers to extend medical assistance due devastated medical health system in the said countries.

“The decision whether to send medical health workers is something that we will still need to discuss further with other concerned agencies because of the many concerns

Acting Health Secretary Janette GArin has said the decision to send medical workers to extend assistance to countries with devastated medical health systems needs more discussions with the other concerned agencies.

DOH.GOV.PH

involved or may arise if ever,” practice of 21-day quarantine countries,” she said.

Garin said. period for the repatriated FiliShe added that the team was She cited that much discus- pino worker. able to personally see the differsion is needed in case the health Garin also lauded the team ence between the Philippines’ worker got sick which will re- who were sent to these West Af- health-care system like presquire sending patient back here rican states last Dec. 6 to assess ence of rural hospitals, doctors, and problem as to who will take the health care system there. a system on referral or where care afterwards the patient will for such will be seek treatment, putting the lives and other forms of the health of interventions worker in danThe decision whether to send needed to be ger also as well as medical health workers is something provided. their family. that we will still need to discuss “Based on the “We have to further with other concerned assessment, the weigh both… agencies because of the many people (there) That is someconcerns involved. have difficulty in thing that is realseeking the health ly hard to decide. remedy because But previous decision stays…

“The beautiful side of going they do not know where they can We will just submit the official there (Guinea, Liberia and Sier- seek medical help in case they findings and await the decision ra Leone) by the team was they have symptoms,” she said. of the majority,” she noted. were able to make a close comShe also cited the finding of She added that aside from parison and assessment also on the team on the inefficient and recommending a stop in the de- the healthcare system and hy- uncoordinated health care sysployment of workers, the team giene practices of our country tem of the said countries, which also recommended continuous compared to the West African added to the confusion and

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spread of the Ebola virus because it was only recently that health centers and clinics were put-up to respond to the needs of the people.

“In contrast here in the country, also whenever there is an emerging disease/s we are conducting press conferences and provide regular updates which they (West African countries) do not conduct,” she added.

She further said that another advantage point seen during the assessment of the team was the close coordination and communication among hospitals as to where the suspected patients will be sent for referral.

The six-man team came from San Lazaro Hospital, country’s referral center for infectious disease.

Other doctors in the team were: Dr. Albero Ponce Belarmino II, Romulo C. Villamor Jr., Emerson A. Malala, Rhonna Marie A. Fulgar, and Hamilcar Morta.

The team was part of other teams selected by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) from other agencies to look into or observe, assess and provide recommendation on the safety and security of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in the West African countries during the heightened alert on the Ebola Virus Disease that killed thousands of people.

Meanwhile, as part of the massive campaign and preparations to ensure that the country continues to be Ebola-free, the DOH conducted series of trainings among government and private hospitals as well as local government units (LGUs) on wearing of Personal Protective Equipments (PPEs) and standard protocols on referral of possible or suspected Ebola patient. ■

10

Philippine News

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FRIDAY

Aquino’s Speech addressing the nation regarding the operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao, and the fallen 44 from the Special Action Force This is the English translation of President Benigno Simeon Aquino III’s speech delivered in Malacañan Palace on February 6, 2015: THE PATH to peace is not easy to tread. Many Filipinos have given their lives in the fight against those who wish for continued violence and discord. It is our policemen and soldiers who are the most opposed to war, precisely because they are the first in line, and because they make the greatest sacrifice when fighting breaks out. As President and Commander-inChief, I am fully responsible for any result—any triumph, any suffering, and any tragedy— that may result from our desire for lasting peace and security.

On January 24, our Special Action Force conducted an operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao. Their targets were two notorious terrorists: Primarily, Zulkifli Bin Hir, alias Abu Marwan, a Malaysian, and Basit Usman. The operation against Marwan was successful.

In exchange for this triumph, we paid a heavy price. 44 heroes from the Special Action Force gave their lives. To the bereaved families: Last Friday, I made a request to meet you, and I am thankful that you agreed to have that meeting at a time when I could speak with you, with sufficient knowledge on what had happened, and concrete proposals for your futures. Just as I was responsible for your loved ones, so too am I responsible for you; it is my duty to ensure that the sacrifices made by your relatives are repaid. My promise to you remains unchanged: During my remaining 17 months in office, I am doing, and will continue to do, everything I can to guarantee your families’ well-being.

I am the father of this country and 44 of my children were killed. They can no longer be brought back. This tragedy happened during my term, and I will carry this to the end of my days. They were my responsibility, together with the rest of the forces of the SAF involved in this operation, as well as those who rescued them, and whose lives were likewise put in danger.

PNA

Terrorists such as Marwan and Usman murder innocent people without hesitation or remorse, which is why operations to neutralize them are inherently dangerous. Marwan was an international terrorist, who had been long sought not only by us, but also by other countries. We did not expect them to follow like obedient sheep when presented with an arrest warrant.

When it comes to the operations reported to us, we have always reviewed them to learn the lessons they may carry, especially when our troops are slain. This is why I continue to ask: Was there anything more that could have been done to avoid this tragedy?

Marwan and Usman have been wanted since 2002. There have been many operations conceptualized to neutralize them, even before I became president. This latest version of the plan has likewise been aborted many times. Like you,

I want to know the whole truth behind this incident, and I have complete confidence that the truth will be uncovered through the comprehensive and unbiased investigation of the Board of Inquiry. We are awaiting its results. However, as President, it is part of my responsibilities to determine, at this very moment, the mistakes that were made in order to correct them.

It is my responsibility to find justice at the soonest possible time.

It is precisely because of this that I undertook my own investigations and conducted my own interviews of those who participated in this operation.

It has clearly emerged that: The situation our troops found on the ground was vastly different from what was expected under the plans.

The commander of the operation should have been aware of this, especially since he has long been assigned to Mindanao. Situational awareness is dewww.canadianinquirer.net

manded of him. As commander, he had full knowledge of the entire plan, together with the dangers that came with it; he would be the first to know if the plan was being executed correctly. He should have known what was happening at every moment.

While studying what had transpired, precisely because the situation on the ground was so different from what had been envisioned in the plan, we saw that there were no fewer than three separate instances when the mission could have been aborted or postponed, or when the plan could have been dramatically changed. There was an even greater need for this, especially since he was well aware that no coordination had taken place regarding expected assistance, and since the Armed Forces could render little aid, if at all, because they were not given sufficient time to prepare.

How and why did it hap-

pen that there was no coordination? Why did the mission continue, when it had deviated so far from the original plan, and our troops were already in grave danger? These, and many others, are the questions that plague my mind. The former SAF Commander will have an opportunity to answer these, and explain himself, in the appropriate proceedings.

In all our efforts to capture Marwan and Usman, General Alan Purisima played a vital role. He contributed greatly to the long preparations and in the many operations in pursuit of the two terrorists. The public is likewise aware that Alan and I have known each other for a very long time. During the coup d’etat, or the attempted coup d’ etat in 1987, before we were ambushed, I was confident that our security personnel had sufficient skills to protect us. But because almost all my escorts fell during that ambush, my confidence was shaken. It was Alan Purisima who designed, executed, and trained us in a modified VIP protection course; this played a great role in restoring my confidence. From then, until today, Alan and I have gone through so much; he was with me in opposing powerful vested interests who were capable of threatening our lives. In the days when I was part of the opposition, even though it was detrimental to his career to be close to me, Alan did not leave my side.

For this reason, perhaps you will understand why I find it painful to see him leave the service under these circumstances. I have accepted, effective immediately, the resignation of General Purisima. I thank him for his many years of service prior to this tragedy.

I assure you: We are doing everything to uncover the truth.

The report that will emerge from this investigation will provide invaluable lessons, to ensure such a tragedy will never happen again. There will be changes.

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

I fulfill, and I will continue to fulfill, my duties as President.

The morale of our Special Action Force troops needs to be raised.

Their status as a fully operational unit needs to be restored.

As there are those who seek to drive a wedge between the AFP and PNP, we will make sure they do not succeed; we should not waste the good working relationship between the AFP and PNP, a relationship we have seen in rescue operations in the wake of calamities, or in other operations where they have worked together to respond to threats to our security, such as the Zamboanga siege. Let us remember, our work is not yet done: Usman is still at large.

To the members and leadership of the MILF: From the onset, I have considered you brothers on the path to peace.

Until now, I am confident that you will help us in seeking justice; that those who have done wrong should be held to account, especially if it is confirmed that there were SAF troopers who werel executed despite being wounded and defenseless. Your efforts to limit

the movement of the BIFF are a good first step.

Now about Usman, let me point out the following: If he remains within your territory, or is protected by one of your members, we expect you to surrender him to the authorities. If not, we expect you to do everything you can to help capture him. And if even this is not possible, do not interfere with our pursuit of Usman.

May this serve as a warning and a reminder: We will get Usman, whatever you decide, regardless of who provides a safe haven for him, regardless of where he may be hiding. Let no one doubt: We are partners in pursuing peace and justice. To those who have lost their way, who would still stand in our way, remember this: You are fighting the State, and we will run you over.

To the members of our uniformed services: We are with you. We will stand in front of you, beside you, and behind you, as needed; whatever is required of you, be assured that we are with you. I assure you: You are not alone.

Again, to the families of the fallen SAF members: No words can fully alleviate the pain of your loss. To each one of you, and to each person whose life was imperiled, I say to you today what the Filipino people said to us when we lost our parents: You are not alone.

To all those working with us towards peace: We are fully committed to continuing the fight. And I say to those opposed to our objective, especially those who resort to violence: Mark my words, you will feel the sharpened and strengthened might of a unified Filipino nation.

Let us all remain focused on our primary goal: a widespread and lasting peace. This is what our Special Action Force fought for in Mamasapano. This is what every decent Filipino who wishes to leave behind a better future for coming generations continues to fight for. Through solidarity and partnership, we can attain justice, pay tribute to the sacrifices of our policemen, and turn our collective dreams into reality.

Thank you, and good day. ■

www.canadianinquirer.net

11

PNoy celebrates 55th birthday with family

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — Exactly two weeks after the tragic clash in Mamasapano, Maguindanao — marking one of the darkest moments of his presidency — President Benigno Simeon Aquino III turned 55 years old.

In a simple get-together with his family over the weekend, PNoy celebrated his birthday.

“Whether in times good or bad, the President has always celebrated his birthday simply and with his family,” Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in an interview on Radyo ng Bayan.

Lacierda shared the presi-

dential staff’s wish and prayer for the Commander in Chief on his birthday.

“We pray for peace, for wisdom for the President,” Lacierda said. “We pray that he will continue to be guided and most especially, we ask the Filipino people to always pray for him.”

Lacierda said that he always asks their friends to pray for the President, because prayers mean a lot to PNoy. “One of the things that we’ve always asked—and I’ve always asked privately to those friends of ours, not only to our friends from the religious sector—is to always pray for the President because it means a lot to him,” Lacierda shared. ■

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Philippine News

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FRIDAY

Purisima clarifies he was just giving advice to Napenas

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA — Former Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Alan Purisima on Monday clarified that he was just giving advice when he told to sacked Special Action Force (SAF) chief Police Director Getulio Napenas not to tell to Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and acting PNP chief Leonardo Espina about the actual planning of ‘Oplan Exodus’ operation in Mapasapano, Maguindanao.

“I did not give any order to any PNP official or personnel regarding the Oplan Exodus. But if ever I uttered words to that effect, it was in the form of advice, not as directive or order,” Purisima said during the Senate inquiry into the incident that killed 44 Special Action Forces (SAF) commandos on January 25.

Purisima said Napenas, being the SAF commander, should know very well that he should not follow orders from anyone who is not in the chain of command or suspended officer.

The former PNP chief, who resigned last week amid speculations that he directed the operation, insisted that he has no role in Mamasapano operation that killed one of its targets international terrorist Zulkifli bin Hir alias Marwan. ”During that time, Napenas informed that they have already jumped off, that was already in the morning,” Purisima said.

When Senator Teofisto Guin-

gona III inquired what motivated Purisima to advice Napenas not to inform Roxas and Espina about the ‘Oplan Exodus’, Purisma said he was just following the SAF’s plan that they will give information time-on-target or during the actual operation.

“What was your motive in giving advice not to tell acting PNP chief and Secretary Roxas and you even said you to Napenas not to worry about Gen. (Pio) Catapang?,” Guingona inquired.

“There is motivation your honor. That is just following what was written in their plan that they will give information time on target and that included me,” Purisima said.

Guingona turned to Napenas who told the Senate panel that although he acted on his own, “it was based on the text message to me by General Purisima” on Jan. 19.

“I received a text message from Gen. Purisima on January 19, 2015 at 6:31 in the evening.

He asked: Leo what is your plan? I responded: sir good pm.

The plan for the operation is a go on the timeline which is January 23 to 26….”

Napenas said his message to Purisma was based on the continuing operation to capture Marwan and Basit Usman, another high-valued target, that include “Oplan Wolverine” on April 25, 2014, and ‘Oplan Terminator 1 and 2’ in November last year. ”It is (Oplan Exodus) a continuing operation which was previously approved by Police Director Purisima when was still the chief of the PNP,”

Napenas said.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV asked to interpret Purisima’s statement not to inform Espina and Roxas about the operation.

“Gen. Purisima is the focal person who is constantly being asked by the President as to the mission.

This was manifested by the fact that when we we’re presenting mission updates, he is being constantly consulted by the President,” Napenas answered.

Napenas said he was aware that Purisima was already suspended and not already part of the chain of command when they met on January 9 together with President Aquino at the Bahay Pangarap.

Napenas said he took Purisima’s supposed advice as ‘statement considering he was the one being asked by the President on the intricacies of the operation and he is the one principal officer who has the intelligence pocket.”

The sacked SAF chief confirmed that President Aquino gave instruction to coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) about the operation.

Napenas also clarified the President has no instruction not to send reinforcement when the 392-member SAP team encountered with combined forces of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedomg Fighters (BIFF).

Maj. Gen Edmundo Pangilinan, commander of the 6th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army, also denied reports that the President gave instruction to the AFP

Alan La Madrid Purisima MPA, Former Director General of the Philippine National Police.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

not to send reinforcement.

“There was none. In fact, I don’t have direct communication with the President,” Pangilinan said.

“We just want to clarify that because there are a lot of propagandists trying to shift the issue that there was an order that’s why a lot of our SAF troops killed because President Aquino allegedly ordered not to

reinforce,” Trillanes explained his line of questioning.

Due to lack of coordination, the PNP SAF men suffered 44 casualties and 15 wounded during a whole day firefight.

Contrary to the MILF’s claim that only 18 were killed from the BIFF and MILF combined forces, Napenas estimated that their enemies suffered at least 250 casualties. ■

Lack of leader could undermine decisions–Comelec

BY JOCELYN R. UY Philippine Daily Inquirer THE COMMISSION on Elections (Comelec) this week said President Aquino should appoint immediately its new chair as the vacuum in leadership could push some sectors to second-guess its decisions, especially those relating to the 2016 elections.

“The way things go, sometimes you make a decision and the people will doubt it and

think the Comelec is not being complemented by a full commission,” agency spokesperson James Jimenez said in an interview with reporters.

“Not true, technically speaking. But the perception might drag the decisions down [and] cause some apprehensions or doubts,” he said.

Comelec Chair Sixto Brillantes and Commissioners Lucenito Tagle and Elias Yusoph retired last week after completing their terms of office.

The retirement of the three

officials left behind four members of the en banc, with Commissioner Christian Robert Lim sitting as acting chair until Malacañang officially appoints Brillantes’ successor, which is expected to happen next month after Congress adjourns.

Better complete

While the Comelec could still fully and effectively function with only four members sitting in the en banc, Jimenez admitted that it would be “better” if the commission were complete. www.canadianinquirer.net

“You want a commission that has the full confidence of the people, whom they believe are really suited to do the job and not a commission that will always be secondguessed simply because it lacks the numbers,” he said.

But the commission will still have the required quorum, which will give it full authority to come up with decisions, including election policies, Jimenez said.

“When there are only four people in the commission, that

does not make it less authoritative, that’s the most important thing,” he said.

The retirement of the three officials last week became a subject of controversy after Brillantes announced that he had signed an expanded contract for the diagnostics and repair of the 82,000 precinct count optical scan or PCOS machines with technology provider Smartmatic despite criticisms and opposition from several groups, who branded the agreement a “midnight deal.” ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

13

Amid war dance, calls for calm

BY MELVIN GASCON Inquirer Northern Luzon BAYOMBONG, NUEVA VIZCAYA —Local and tribal leaders on Sunday appealed for calm amid calls for vengeance from family, friends and sympathizers for the deaths of three Ifugao Special Action Force (SAF) commandos at the hands of Moro rebels in Maguindanao province.

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. dismissed speculation that the relatives and friends of the slain troopers were out to exact revenge, following the staging of a “him-ong,” a tribal ritual said to be equivalent to a war dance.

“We appeal to our people not to put extra meaning to rituals like [the him-ong] because this is not the way to honor our departed heroes,” he said in a telephone interview.

Baguilat said he was trying to quell misconception, especially on social media, that the Ifugao had pledged to avenge the deaths of PO3 Robert Allaga, PO3 Franklin Danao and PO2 Joel Dulnuan.

They were among the 44 SAF troopers slain in clashes with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) on Jan. 25.

Dancing ‘warriors’

On Feb. 3, tribal leaders and family members in the upland village of Poitan in Banaue town staged a him-ong during burial rites for Allaga, regarded as a hero for giving up his life for another SAF commando, PO3 Robert Lalam of Kiangan town, his distant cousin.

Photos of the ritual went viral online with media reports and online comments claiming the Ifugao people were out to seek revenge.

The website of Nurturing Indigenous Knowledge Experts (Nike), a cultural preservation

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales (2nd from right) and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao-Regional Human Rights Commission (ARMM-RHRC) Chairperson Atty. Algamar Latiph (2nd from left) show their joint statement expressing grave concern over the tremendous loss of human lives and internal displacement associated with the violent incident that happened in Mamasapano, Maguindanao during a press conference in Quezon City.

JOHNNY D. GUEVARRA / PNA

program in Ifugao, defines the him-ong as a dance performed during burial rites of an Ifugao who has been killed.

In this ritual, community members dressed in native attire perform a dance that simulates actions in battle between spearwielding warriors, Nike said.

As they approach the burial site, performers dance to the beat of a “bangibang,” a wooden percussion instrument, and to chants, usually by women, that narrate the story of the battle and beseech the gods to bring misery to those responsible for the death of a tribal member.

The ritual is traditionally staged

by Ifugao people not necessarily to vow revenge but mainly to appease the gods and ask that such a tragic death be the last in the community, Baguilat said.

He said the people’s expressions of outrage should be taken only as “part of the healing process” and these should not foment further animosity among Filipinos.

“We know of many stories of how Cordillerans and other

tribes have been living peacefully with Muslims,” he said.

Supt. John Luglug, Nueva Vizcaya police director and a cousin of Allaga, said that while their clan was deeply hurt by Allaga’s violent death, exacting revenge had no place in modern times.

“I don’t think there is a need for revenge. As God has said, ‘Revenge is mine,’” he said.

Family members of Dulnuan also dismissed sentiments of vengeance but hoped the government would show its resolve to make the perpetrators answer for their crimes.

“We will just let the wheels of justice take its course. We will closely follow what the government will do about this,” said Carmen Dulnuan, the slain SAF commando’s mother.

Mourning in Isabela

In Isabela province, at least 2,000 people in Aurora town on Sunday joined the funeral march for PO3 Andres Duque Jr., one of the slain troopers.

Duque’s wife, Melanie, said she would cherish the memory

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of her husband for offering his life for the country.

“Their heroism is for the next generation. This is our only consolation as we grieve,” she said.

Duque, 37, left behind three children, ages 13, 12 and four months. He served at SAF for eight years.

“We are grieving. I could barely say the word ‘beautiful’ due to my father’s fate. However, I thank everyone for the sympathy as we mourn our father’s loss,” said Duque’s daughter, Nicole Andrea Lein, 13.

Two other slain SAF commandos from Isabela—PO3 Rodrigo Acob Jr. and PO1 Loreto Capinding II—were buried in their hometowns last week.

In a statement, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II said the government had not been “selective” in extending help and compassion to the families of the slain SAF troopers.

“All the financial, educational, livelihood, medical, housing and other forms of assistance were offered to the families.

They were the ones who de-

cided how we could help them most,” he said.

Roxas condolences

Roxas also went to Bataan province early morning on Feb. 5 to visit the wake of PO3 John Lloyd Sumbilla and talk to the slain trooper’s mother and wife.

After his Bataan visit, Roxas said, he proceeded to the wake of PO3 Junrel Kibete in San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan province and condoled with his family.

Earlier, Sumbilla’s mother Telly said the family was informed Roxas would visit the wake of her son on Feb. 3 but this was reset to Feb. 4.

She fumed when Roxas failed to show up on Feb. 4 and voiced her frustration to police officials who came that day.

Roxas said he failed to go to Bataan and Bulacan on Feb. 4 because he was called to a meeting by President Aquino. ■

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Philippine News

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FRIDAY

Sen. Aquino files resolution granting Medal of Valor for ‘Fallen 44’

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippine News Agency MANILA — Senator Paolo Benigno Aquino IV has filed a resolution seeking to award posthumously the Medal of Valor to the 44 Philippine National PoliceSpecial Action Force (PNP-SAF) troopers killed in the bloody encounter in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

Aquino said in his Senate Resolution No. 1156 that the 44 SAF men should be commended for their exemplary courage and heroism.

"The 44 officers of the PNPSAF fought valiantly and sacrificed their lives in the performance of their duty," he said.

The senator said the bravery of the 44 SAF members led to the killing of international terrorist Zulkipli bin Hir, alias Abu Marwan, during the Mamasapano operation.

"Their lives were given in the service to the Filipino people and our nation’s quest for peace," Aquino said.

The SAF team came under intense fire from members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front

The Ryan Cayabyab singers perform during the Unight for Justice and Peace Solidarity Night on Friday (Feb. 6, 2015) at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.

The free concert and candle lighting ceremony was also topbilled by Noel Cabangon, members of the APO Hiking Society, and other local artists to raise fund for the families of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) members killed during the Jan. 25 anti-terrorist operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao.

RICO H. BORJA / PNA

(MILF) and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF), resulting in the death of 44 of its members.

According to the senator, Republic Act No. 9049 honors military heroes and affiliates for their supreme self-sacrifice

and distinctive acts of heroism and gallantry by awarding the Medal of Valor.

"Their mission was accomplished and the country became a safer place because of them," Aquino said.

The Medal of Valor entitles

the widower and/or dependents of the awardee to a lifetime monthly gratuity and precedence in employment in National Government Agencies (NGAs) or GovernmentOwned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), among other

benefits.

"Through this recognition, it is our hope that the nation will never forget what they’ve died for and be an inspiration for our fellow Filipinos to continue serving our country," he stressed. ■

CHR to conduct independent investigation on human rights violations in Mamasapano incident

BY LADY MARIE DELA TORRE Philippine News Agency MANILA — The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said on Monday it would proceed with its independent investigation on the aspect of human rights violations in connection with the violent incident that happened in Mamasapano, Maguindanao last Jan. 25.

In a press conference in Quezon City, CHR Chairperson Loretta Ann P. Rosales said the CHR team will continue working with the Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoRegional Human Rights Commission (ARMM-RHRC) to ensure that the results of the investigation shall conform

with the internationally ac- mission chaired by Atty. Al- April 25. cepted standards in human gamar Latiph, together with “Political difference, as well rights monitoring.

Atty. Abdulnasser Badrudin, as electoral posturing, must not The CHR and the ARMM- head of the RHRC Maguindan- distract them from the task orRHRC concluded a scoping ao Provincial Office. dained by the sacrificed of the mission to Cotabato City and She assured that there would 44 brave heroes and the needMamasapano, less deaths of the Maguindanao others in Mamalast Feb. 3 to 5 sapano,” Rosales which "estabsaid. lished facts that Political difference, as well as “The operaengender a prielectoral posturing, must not distract tional lapses, ma facie belief them from the task ordained by the or the question that violations sacrificed of the 44 brave heroes of command of human rights and the needless deaths of the responsibiland internationothers in Mamasapano. ity, even the isal humanitarian sues of political law have been or private gain, violated." be “no political or personal con- these are all specific issues that Rosales said the CHR would siderations” when delivering are subsumed by the broader be proceeding with the in- their joint report and recom- consideration: ‘was the death dependent investigation in mendations set to be released of 44 police officers, 18 MILF or partnership with the ARMM within 90 days from the Mama- BIFF fighters and five civilians Regional Human Rights Com- sapano incident, or on or before - 67 casualties in all — morally www.canadianinquirer.net

justified or acceptable under universally agreed standards?’

If not, who should be held accountable, and what policies or parameters should change in order to prevent this from happening again?,” Rosales said.

“The death of Zulfipli bin Hir, alias Marwan, by a substantial measure, brings a sense of closure to the families of the victims. Indeed, the CHR joins the nation in breathing a sigh of relief in that a global terror suspect, a man capable of widespread and wanton destruction, is gone. But this is not enough. The joint CHRRHRC investigation seeks to uncover the different pathways to truth, justice and peace. I therefore ask the Filipino people to actively support it,” Rosales stressed. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

15

DFA: China raising tensions for reclamation work on PHL reef

Justice Secretary: No law prohibits President Aquino from consulting former Police Chief Purisma

BY JELLY F. MUSICO Philippine News Agency

PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY

MANILA — The Philippines on Tuesday claimed that China was stoking tensions in the South China Sea for undertaking reclamation work on a Manila-claimed reef.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has called on Beijing to immediately stop its activities in Panganiban Reef and to respect international laws.

China insists it has historical ownership of nearly all of the South China Sea, dismissing the claims of other smaller claimants like the Philippines and Vietnam.

DFA spokesman Charles Jose said Panganiban Reef, located 130 miles west of Palawan and known internationally as Mischief Reef, is within Philippine

territory. It was seized by China in 1995.

“Panganiban Reef is a low tide elevation in the exclusive economic zone of the Philippines and on its continental shelf,” said Jose in a statement.

Manila protested China’s land reclamation of Panginaban Reef on Feb. 4.

Jose said the Philippines has the sole right “to authorize construction of artificial islands, installations or other structures in the vicinity of Panganiban Reef” since it falls under its sovereign territory.

“China’s reclamation activities constitute a flagrant violation of these rights and increase tensions in the region,” Jose said. “We strongly urge China to desist from its reclamation activities in the Panganiban Reef and to respect international law.” ■

MANILA — Justice Secretary Leila de Lima has said that President Benigno S. Aquino III did not violate any law when he consulted then suspended Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Alan Purisima regarding the police operation to apprehend two terrorist suspects in Maguindanao.

“No law prohibits the President from exercising his discretion to get the views of a suspended official on a particular matter if this would raise the confidence level of the President's executive decisionmaking, so long as the act does not involve the performance of official functions pertaining to the post from which the official concerned was suspend-

ed,” Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. on Tuesday quoted Secretary de Lima as saying.

Coloma was responding to a question from reporters whether the President violated any law when he consulted Purisima over the operation.

According to the President, Purisima was helping him with the “jargons” to better understand the operation.

Suspended chief of the police’s Special Action Force (SAF) Director Getulio Napeñas has told the Senate inquiry that he, Purisima and PNP Intelligence Group Director Sr. Supt. Fernando Mendez briefed the President regarding the operation last Jan. 9 at Bahay Parangap, inside the Malacañang Compound.

Coloma noted that Bahay Pangarap is the official resi-

dence of the President “where he also receives visitors and conducts meetings.”

He declined to give further comments, saying it would be “inappropriate to give comments at this time because the testimonies given by individual resource persons need to be understood in the proper context.”

“It is also important to await the findings of the PNP Board of Inquiry and other fact-finding bodies which are conducting similar inquiries,” he added.

The police operation in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25 succeeded in neutralizing Malaysian terrorist suspect, Zulkifli bin Hir, also known as Marwan, but led to the death of 44 members of the SAF. The other terrorist suspect, Abdul Basit Usman, however eluded arrest. ■

Muslim rebels to return guns of slain Philippine anti terror commandos to save peace deal THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The largest Muslim rebel group in the Philippines pledged on Tuesday to return the firearms and other belongings of anti-terror police commandos who were killed by the insurgents in a gunbattle that has stalled a new peace deal for their southern region.

Moro Islamic Liberation Front leader Mohagher Iqbal told a Senate hearing in a letter read by a rebel representative that the 11,000-strong Moro insurgent group “never wanted that unfortunate incident,” referring to the Jan. 25 fighting that resulted in the largest government combat loss in recent memory.

Killed were 44 of the police commandos, 18 guerrillas and at least three villagers.

The guerrillas said they were investigating to determine the

number of firearms and other Usman escaped, then the with- of rebels had no reason to mow belongings that should be re- drawing police forces engaged down his men with gunfire beturned. It was the first known in separate clashes with the cause they were on a legitimate time that the Moro guerrillas Moro rebels and other armed anti-terror mission. have agreed to return the fire- groups in the region, Philippine President Benigno Aquino arms of slain government forces. officials said.

III’s administration and the “I take this opportunity to The Moro rebels have said Moro rebel group signed the inform your honour that the the fighting was a “misencoun- peace deal last year. Following (Moro group) the killing of the has decided to repolice commanturn the firearms dos, incensed Filand any retrievI take this opportunity to inform your ipino lawmakers able personal efhonour that the (Moro group) has suspended confects of the fallen decided to return the firearms and gressional hear(policemen) in any retrievable personal effects . . . ings on the legisdeference to the in deference to the peace process. lation that would peace process,” authorize the Iqbal said. establishment of Nearly 400 Special Action ter” because the police com- the new Muslim autonomy reForce commandos covertly at- mandos did not co-ordinate gion under the peace accord. tacked in a marshy hinterland the anti-terror raid with them, A Senate investigation that off southern Mamasapano adding they were not aware started Monday showed that town to capture Malaysian that Marwan and Usman were the commander of the elite Zulkifli bin Hir, also known hiding in their Mamasapano forces deliberately did not inas Marwan, and a top Filipino stronghold. National police of- form top security officials, inbombing suspect, Abdul Basit ficer in charge Leonardo Espina cluding the military chief of Usman. Marwan was killed and said the overwhelming number staff, the acting national police www.canadianinquirer.net

chief and the defence and interior secretaries of the anti-terror assault against Marwan and Usman before it was launched, officials said.

Military chief of staff Gen. Gregorio Pio Catapang and other generals told a Senate hearing Tuesday that their lack of prior knowledge of the assault prevented them from rapidly providing help to the commandos, including artillery support.

Asked by the senators why the military did not immediately fire artillery rounds to scare the Muslim rebels, regional military commander Maj. Gen. Edmundo Pangilinan said his forces could not just fire blindly into a hinterland because of the risk of hitting the commandos and the innocent villagers.

“If we had fired, maybe we’ll have more casualties and more problems now,” Pangilinan said. ■

Opinion

16

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FRIDAY

AS I SEE IT

Mamasapano battle will make good movie

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer COME TO think of it, a great movie can be made out of the Mamasapano firefight that resulted in the deaths of 44 police commandos. It should show the dilemmas that leaders and commanders have to face and the gallantry of foot soldiers in battle. And how one small mistake can lead to deadly results.

It would be a great action and historical movie, like “Pearl Harbor” or “Tora! Tora! Tora!” Or like the movies “Charge of the Light Brigade,” or “They Died with their Boots On,” both about the last stand of battle units— the latter about the last stand of the famed 7th Cavalry of Gen. George Armstrong Custer against Indians under Chief Crazy Horse in the Little Big Horn River, which is so similar to the last stand of the blocking force of the Special Action Force in a cornfield and swampy area of Mamasapano.

Video clips taken by combatants and by the US drone that watched the battle from the air should be included like actual battle footage taken by war cameramen and correspondents.

And stop calling them the “Fallen

44.” That is negative. Instead, call them the “The Gallant 44” or “The Heroic 44” or “The Fighting 44,” like the famed “Fighting 69th” of World War I. It would be a great movie.

Good luck!

And while we are still at it, why not have a monument for the “Fighting 44” possibly on the site of the battle?

And declare Jan. 25 a regular holiday to commemorate the tragedy. *** REP. EMIL ONG of Northern Samar asked in a privileged speech why the government has no program for the very young children of poor families.

Taking a cue from Glyzelle Iris Palomar, who asked Pope Francis during his meeting with the youth at the University of Santo Tomas campus: “Why does God allow children to suffer?” To which the Pope had no answer.

“She is the only one who has put a question for which there is no answer,” the Pope said, “and she wasn’t even able to express it in words but in tears.”

Ong called the attention of the government to the millions of children between two and six years old who are left to shape their own lives.

Their parents are too poor and too busy earning a living that they have

no time to take care of them. These children are “vulnerable to sad and brutal experiences and sometimes end up in drug addiction and prostitution,” Ong said.

“All these are happening because the government has no program for their healthy growth and development.”

Health and education authorities gave nine reasons why the government should address this lack: 1. These are the most critical years in the lives of children because their brains are developing more rapidly than at any other time in the future.

(If their brains do not develop, they grow up to become politicians.)

2. Children face many risks while growing up and failure to meet their development needs will have serious consequences.

3. Children are biologically primed for learning at this time.

4. Special sensitivity to experience is the defining characteristic of early childhood. This is the time when experiences must be available to the child so that normal development can take place.

5. A baby not raised properly often becomes stunted physically, cognitively and emotionally (and become

politicians).

6. The child’s ability to learn is at its peak in the early years.

7. The experiences children learn in their early years leave lasting imprints on their young minds.

8. If nature’s timetable is subverted, through neglect or abuse, for example, the physiological processes of growing up will be distorted. The neural pathways could be altered and the development outcomes changed.

9. Human development is essentially the story of extraordinary changes that take place inside the head of a child.

Ong proposed the passage of a law to develop an “early child education program.” It will restructure the entire educational system so that early child education will be the first and basic school system. Elementary classes will then become the second; high school, the third; and college or tertiary education, the fourth.

Glyzelle asked why God allows children to suffer and why few people are helping them.

“God has not abandoned these children,” Ong said. “We did.” *** INQUIRER columnist Emily Mar-

celo fell down a flight of stairs and tore a tendon in her shoulder. She is in extreme pain and has to undergo surgery at the East Avenue Medical Center this weekend. The bill starts at P300,000 which she cannot afford. So she is asking donations from friends and kind-hearted individuals to help defray the expenses.

She will be very grateful and promises to remember the donors in her daily prayers.

Donations may be deposited in her bank account at BPI 3025.2720.04. *** KAPIHAN NOTES: Guests at this morning’s Kapihan sa Manila at the Diamond Hotel are two outstanding gentlemen from the Philippine Military Academy: They are former PNP chief, former senator and nowoutgoing rehabilitation czar Panfilo Lacson, and former AFP chief, former senator and now Rep. Rodolfo Biazon.

They will talk about the Mamasapano massacre, the Bangsamoro Basic Law and the peace process in Mindanao.

Lacson will also talk about the new PNP leadership, the PNP board of inquiry to investigate the Mamasapano massacre, and the reason he resigned as rehabilitation czar. ■

AT LARGE

Welcoming a good neighbor

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer The country welcomes Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is here on his final stop of a three-country trip that included Malaysia and Brunei. It seems that Widodo puts a premium on being a good neighbor, first visiting the countries in the immediate neighborhood of Indonesia.

Widodo has won the admiration of many because of his humble ways and activist origins, refusing special treatment for him and his family when they traveled, and staying in his old family home despite his rising stature. But his visit to the country is shadowed by the pending execution of a female Filipino drug mule, even if Widodo approved the execution just last month of six drug couriers, all but one of them foreigners.

The Indonesian leader’s visit also comes at a sensitive time here, since we are in the midst of hearings and investigations on the operation that netted one Malaysian terrorist but resulted in the deaths of 44 Special Action Force operatives of the Philippine National Police, 18 Moro Islamic Liberation Front fighters as well as some civilians.

I am sure, in his conversations with P-Noy, Widodo would have a lot to say about Muslim-Christian relations, as well as the ongoing dispute over sov-

ereignty in the West Philippine Sea. Raffles Hotel where he seems to be by Caroline Castañeda-Jimenez who We look forward to learning from this conducting simultaneous meetings alleged that Mark Jimenez had her conmost unusual and rare leader. with various groups, including our fined in a rehabilitation center in the *** small coterie of media women. country on grounds of mental instabilHe has kept a low profile in recent In the course of our lunch meeting ity. If I remember right, the case landed years, but apparently businessman and well on to tea time, Jimenez regales in the headlines when her lawyer and and one-time politician Mark (Cre- the ladies with stories from his colorful family members had to conduct a “resspo) Jimenez is back to his old wheel- past, including a line-up of past girl- cue” operation since Caroline was reing-dealing ways. friends, many of them young actresses portedly being held against her will.

If “wheeling-dealing” carries with who were but teenagers when he was The kidnap charges were subseit rather unsavory connotations, then going out with them, leading us to con- quently dismissed by prosecutors while read it in this context as simply a de- clude that he had run some sort of “fin- a petition for a permanent protecscription of Jimenez’s preferred way ishing school” for aspiring starlets. tion order for Caroline against Mark of doing things. Once described by forAs for the Clintons, Jimenez as- was likewise dismissed in 2012. Asked mer president and now Manila Mayor sures that he still supports them and where Caroline, Mark’s partner for 30 Erap Estrada as a years who helped “financial genius,” raise their children His visit to the country is shadowed by the pending Jimenez was inand his progeny by execution of a female Filipino drug mule, even if Widodo apdicted in the United his first wife, is now, States for an alleged Jimenez simply proved the execution just last month of six drug couriers, all violation of election states: “Oh, she’s but one of them foreigners. laws, specifically by abroad now,” reportgiving donations well beyond the le- that he in fact is planning to fly to the edly after a financial settlement. gal limit to the reelection campaign of United States soon to help in HillAs for the petition for guardianship President Bill Clinton. ary’s expected candidacy. filed by two of his 13 children (as far as The Obama administration, how*** he knows, he says) by different women, ever, “sprung” Jimenez from detention, Maybe that’s why Jimenez (no re- the case dragged on for six years until enabling the businessman-investor lation, by the way) is in the process it was dismissed in 2013. The petitionto return to the Philippines where he of rehabilitating himself, or at least ers had alleged that the petition had quickly ingratiated himself to the Estra- clarifying the status of some of the been filed for Mark’s own protection da administration and then to the Ar- cases filed against him, including since he was mentally unstable and royo administration, only to run afoul of charges of kidnapping filed by a for- was a threat both to himself and his mithe Arroyo camp’s other interests. mer long-time partner, and a petition nor children. But due to the repeated But Jimenez continues to hold for guardianship over his person filed failure of the petitioners to appear in court in his present-day preferred by his adult children. court, this case was also dismissed. haunts, mainly the coffee shop of The kidnapping charges were filed ***

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What’s in store for this reputed “financial genius”?

“Wheeling and dealing” may sound somehow shady, but it seems to be working in the background—putting together potential investors and companies in need, with not a little support from friends in high places—and is Jimenez’s preferred modus.

It’s not even too farfetched to expect his return to local politics, despite his troubled and stormy excursions in the field. One son, one of those who filed the guardianship petition, once observed that one sign of his alleged “bipolar” state is Jimenez’s penchant for “high-risk” behavior, an example of which was his reported violation of American election laws.

But it’s possible the risky business could stem more from ego rather than instability. Jimenez clearly is one man who feels he deserves a place at the center of things, even if he needs to keep a low profile. “I am a reformed man,” he protests when queried closely about his misadventures, citing among other things his charitable ventures carried out under a quasi-religious movement.

Well, let’s hope the “return” of Mark Jimenez augurs not further intrigue or risk, but simply the good old capitalist pursuit of wealth. Any man, no matter his background or reputation, deserves another shot at redemption. ■

Opinion

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

17

SOCIAL CLIMATE

Lack of pay, not lack of work

By Mahar Mangahas Philippine Daily Inquirer IN THE Philippines, 27.0 percent (of adults—i.e., those 18 years old and up) do not have a job and are looking for a job. Thus Joblessness, a meaningful concept measured by SWS, is a very serious problem.

On the other hand, only 6.0 percent (of those 15 years old and up— i.e., including near-adults) did not work recently, are looking for work, and are available to work in two weeks or less. Unemployment, as officially defined, would appear to be mild, giving a wrong signal that there is no problem on the labor front.

The SWS Jobless statistic of 27 percent is from “Fourth Quarter 2014 Social Weather Survey: Adult joblessness at 27.0%; 9% lost their jobs involuntarily, 14% resigned” (www. sws.org.ph, 2/4/2015). These were those that said No (“Wala”), when asked if they had a job (“trabaho”) at present—i.e., when interviewed, in Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2014—and later said they were looking for a job. Including the criterion of availability to work in two weeks or less, the SWS rate of joblessness-of-the-available is 17.9 percent, or still much higher than the official unemployment rate.

The official Unemployment sta-

tistic of 6 percent is from the Philip- of the Jobless (14 of the 27 percent- poorest. More pay matters more than pine Statistics Authority (web0.psa. age points) already had jobs. more jobs. gov.ph). It refers to those that said They resigned, obviously, to search Three tasks for economic managers. that their work during the week pri- for something better. Their problem To promote the wellbeing of workers, or to being interviewed, in October was not lack of work to do, but lack the main task is seeing to it that the 2014, was for less than one hour, if at of enough remuneration to stay at it. real growth in Gross National Income all, and also said they were looking The critical metric for work should is shared with workers, through wage for work, and available for it. More be how much real income (i.e., cor- adjustments, and not enjoyed solely by meaningful is official Underemploy- rected for inflation) is earned by the owners of businesses whose productment (18.7 percent), which refers to average worker, rather than how prices inflate naturally. The governthose who worked last week, yet want many people work for at least one ment should adopt a proactive wage to have more work. hour per week. policy, but it does not even have regular Work of one hour per week is ofThe jobless are not the poorest. Re- wage statistics, for its guidance. ficially called EmOne-third of the ployment, but it Jobless (9 percent Their problem was not lack of work to do, but lack of cannot be what of the labor force) normal people lost their jobs due to enough remuneration to stay at it. The critical metric for work call a Job—see “Is economic retrenchshould be how much real income (i.e., corrected for inflation) one hour a week a ment (nonrenewed is earned by the average worker, rather than how many people ‘job’?”

(Opinion, work contract, laywork for at least one hour per week.

5/26/2012).

The off, or company truth is that there are many people call that self-rated poverty (SRP) in closure). This is a problem of uneven who spend hours each week trying to the fourth quarter of 2014 was 52 per- growth of the economy. The secondearn a living, and yet can honestly say cent of all families, nationwide. This ary task is to find sunrise industries that they do not have trabaho— see 52 percent is the average of 49 percent to replace the sunset ones.

“Joblessness versus idleness” (Opin- SRP in the families of the jobless, and A few of the Jobless (3 percent of ion, 10/12/2013). a higher 56 percent SRP in the fami- the labor force) were first-time jobIn my view, telling a survey inter- lies of those with jobs. (Tabulated by seekers. This is the burden caused by viewer that one has a trabaho implies Joanne Evangelista of SWS.) excessive population growth, years being minimally satisfied with one’s This confirms findings of other ago when today’s new jobseekers work. What the SWS figures show— researchers that people who are not were born. It will take equally long and what the official unemployment so poor are the ones who can more for the recent reform in reproductive figures do not show—is people’s dis- easily afford to take time off to search health policy to relieve the demosatisfaction with their work circum- for a better job. Thus, increasing the graphic pressure on the labor market. stances, as shown by the fact that half supply of jobs does not prioritize the ***

THE Mamasapano Incident. On the controversies engendered by this tragic event, Social Weather Stations takes no stand, as an institution, except to condole with the loved ones of all the victims—on all sides, including the civilians—for their loss, and to pray for peaceful relations everywhere in our country.

SWS will include the Mamasapano incident in the agenda for its next quarterly survey, to be fielded in March. As always, it makes no prejudgment about what it will find public opinion on the issues to be.

Of all the Mamasapano commentary, what inspires me the most is “Walk in silence for peace” by Ateneo de Davao University president Fr. Joel Tabora, SJ, given at the Interfaith Walk for Peace in Davao City last Tuesday, which includes a prayer: “Humbly, in our sorrow, we ask you, O God, for your help.

“We come to you because you are our God. Moving in our hearts, in the geniuses of our differing religions, you are our Father, you are our Allah, you are our Manama, Magbabaya, Dawata, Krishna, Vishnu, Brahma.

You call us to peace.

“We beg you, do not abandon us in our march for peace, lasting peace.

Walk with us. Guide us. Lead us.” ■

PUBLIC LIVES

Pursuing terrorists and pursuing peace

By Randy David Philippine Daily Inquirer TWO STATE functions were at play in the Jan. 25 Mamasapano incident: the pursuit of terrorists and the pursuit of peace. The first is a strictly police function, governed by its own operational code. The other is political, involving the pursuit of a delicate government policy.

These two functions collided with one another at Mamasapano, resulting in a double fiasco for the government.

The lightning raid led by the Philippine National Police-Special Action Force triggered a clash with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front rebels and other armed groups in the area, leading to the loss of many lives, including those of 44 police officers, 18 MILF combatants, and a couple of civilians. The gun battle, which ran for about 11 hours, could have escalated into a fullblown war had the soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, who were stationed nearby, joined the fray. The restraint they showed is now being portrayed as a refusal to respond to their uniformed comrades’ urgent plea for help.

At once, we get an idea of what might have happened here. Since President Aquino knew of the operation to get targets Marwan and

Usman, we may assume that he was had no desire to compound them. His It bears close similarities to the CIAfully aware not only of the risks to the foremost concern was to safely extri- led “Operation Neptune Spear” that SAF commandos, but also of the pos- cate the SAF commandos who were targeted Osama bin Laden. In a lightsible complications it could pose to trapped. And so, rather than deploy ning raid conducted on May 2, 2011, inthe peace process. In approving the more troops into the area to engage side a mountain resort in Pakistan, US operation, he must have laid down the rebels, he might have ordered the Navy SEALs entered the compound the general parameters under which reinforcements to stand down—in where Bin Laden was staying and it was to be carried out. order to save the peace process. This killed him, carting off his corpse with Understandably, after authorizing meant activating the ceasefire mech- them. US President Barack Obama and the operation, the President would anism and asking the MILF to re- members of his Cabinet monitored have left the tactical details to the strain its men. Unfortunately, it took the operation by remote video in real SAF commander and his men. He has many hours before the MILF rebels time. They were aware that US forces since expressed his great disappoint- would stop firing. During those cru- had entered the territory of Pakistan, ment over the outcome. “I’ll carry cial moments, the horrible impres- a sovereign nation, without permisthis tragedy to the sion. They had not end of my days,” he coordinated with Those who think they can draw a clear line between the told the nation the the Pakistani milistate’s law enforcement duties from its peacemaking initiatives in other night. The tary, suspecting that Mindanao ignore the complex intertwining of these two functions.

President alluded some of its leaders to three instances were coddling Bin in which “situational changes” on the sion that was conveyed was that the Laden. In authorizing the raid, Obama ground could have prompted altering government had abandoned its men. took a calculated risk. Had things gone the original plan, or aborting it altoIn societies like ours where civil- wrong, the United States would have gether. “How and why did it happen ian authority is supreme, political found itself in an embarrassing diplothat there was no coordination? Why leaders make the key decisions that matic situation, and the Navy SEALs did the mission continue, when it had shape the use of the armed forces, would have been left on their own. Indeviated so far from the original plan, leaving the actual execution of the stead, it was Pakistan that found itself and our troops were already in grave military and police function to the on the defensive. danger?” commanders. Sometimes, police and If Marwan and Usman had been It is interesting to hear this from military operations have to be car- captured or killed without further the President. It suggests that he ried out under delicate political cir- loss of lives, the same celebratory knew that fatal blunders had been cumstances. This imposes extraordi- mood would have greeted the recommitted, and—if he was being in- nary constraints on those assigned to turning SAF commandos. The MILF formed about what was happening on conduct them. The operation to get would not have been able to complain the ground, as he seemed to be—he Marwan and Usman is one example. about unannounced police intrusion

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into its communities. The then suspended PNP chief, Alan Purisima, would have been hailed a genius and a patriot, and quietly restored to his post. P-Noy would have been praised for his wisdom and audacity.

And, with this added boost, he would have been able to smoothly steer the Bangsamoro Basic Law to its passage.

But, things went the other way. The Mamasapano operation was hemmed in by so many political constraints that it would have been impossible to carry it out at all without overstepping these conditions. Not the least of these was the fact that the government was locked in an agreement to maintain the peace with the MILF rebels. And so, when they got stuck in a rebel stronghold after carrying out their mission, the SAF assault and blocking teams were basically on their own. The decision to use the military to reinforce them would have required the approval of the country’s political leaders, and this would have meant enlarging the scope of the operation.

Those who think they can draw a clear line between the state’s law enforcement duties from its peacemaking initiatives in Mindanao ignore the complex intertwining of these two functions. The tragic outcome of the Jan. 25 SAF operation shows how costly this could be. ■

18

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Canada News

Supreme Court decision a ‘sensitive issue,’ government will review: MacKay

BY STEPHANIE LEVITZ The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Nine years to the day after he was sworn in as prime minister and with an election on the horizon, Stephen Harper received one heck of an anniversary present Friday from the Supreme Court of Canada.

In striking down the country’s ban on doctor-assisted suicide, the high court gave Parliament 12 months to come up with legislation that recognizes the right of clearly consenting adults who are enduring intolerable suffering, physical or mental, to seek medical help in ending their lives.

That leaves Harper’s Conservative government — and its provincial counterparts — to wrestle with the polarizing question of whether Canada needs a law that allows doctors to help people end their lives.

Justice Minister Peter MacKay surprised no one Friday when he said the government would use the time available to review the decision. But there’s another, potentially more urgent deadline: the federal election, scheduled for October.

“That is a consideration, but not the primary consideration,” MacKay said.

“The most important part of what Parliament will do is how we protect all Canadians’ rights and interests in this particular case.”

Many of those with an interest in this issue make up the majority of voters — those over the age of 45.

Baby boomers in particular are confronting end-of-life-care decisions for their own parents, to say nothing about wondering what lies ahead for them.

Politically, doctor-assisted death would be an uncomfortable campaign issue for all parties — but the Conservatives face a particular challenge.

Many religious groups and other conservatives who make up the Conservative party base are strongly opposed to any kind of right-to-die legislation. The more left-leaning voters in urban and suburban ridings — vital electoral battlegrounds for the Tories — are more supportive.

Within the Conservative caucus itself, there’s little consensus.

The only way to keep it off the cam-

After the Supreme Court of Canada struck down the ban on doctor-assisted suicide last week, the Conservative government now has to come up with legislation to recognize the right of adults to seek medical help in ending their lives, or else risk bringing the issue to the table during elections later this year.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

paign trail would be to pass a law preemptively, said Conservative MP Stephen Fletcher, who supports lifting the ban and has introduced private member’s bills of his own on the subject.

“Parliamentarians would rather have their eyes scratched out than deal with this type of issue,” said Fletcher, who has been quadriplegic since a car accident in 1996.

“But that is not a reason not to deal with the issue. This is an existential moral issue that affects everyone that is alive today and everyone who will live in Canada in the future.”

At least six private member’s bills aimed at reforming right-to-die legislation have been defeated by parliamentarians since 1993 — the most recent in April 2010.

Conservative MP Stephen Woodworth called those votes courageous.

“It would be inaccurate to say that Parliament in any way has shirked its duty on this issue,” Woodworth said.

“It’s just that the Supreme Court

of Canada doesn’t agree with the parliamentary decision. And in my view, that’s a serious question — you know, to what degree should Parliament be the final authority on social issues?”

Despite MacKay being in the House of Commons for question period Friday, the opposition didn’t ask him about the ruling, highlighting the political sensitivity.

The New Democrats have no official party position on physicianassisted death, said NDP justice critic Francoise Boivin. Her party’s caucus will discuss the ruling, she added.

“Medically assisted suicide is a difficult issue that engenders strong feelings and touches many, many Canadians in a very personal way,” Boivin said.

Public opinion polls in general suggest a large majority of Canadians support some sort of medical assistance for those seeking to end their lives in particular circumstances.

“I sense that if any party were to try and politicize this in an election year, Canadians will judge them very harshly,” Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said Friday in Calgary.

His party passed a motion in support of decriminalizing medically assisted death during their last policy convention.

A similar struggle faced former Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, when the top court struck down laws criminalizing abortion in 1988.

Mulroney’s cabinet was bitterly divided on ideological grounds. The law they ultimately introduced was defeated in the Senate, leaving Canada without abortion legislation.

The federal government could go the same route, leaving the issue alone.

If they did, the rules on physicianassisted death would be like other medical procedures that are regulated now, said Grace Pastine, the lead lawyer for the families who brought the case before the Supreme Court.

The important thing to remember is that it’s not just an arcane legal or political debate, she said.

“This is a case about real people, with serious illnesses who through a change in the law can find some peace and comfort in knowing that they have a choice.” ■

NEWS BRIEFS

FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS

WON’T INVOKE CHARTER ON RIGHT-TODIE: MACKAY OTTAWA — One of the three possible routes the federal government could take to respond to last week’s landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling on doctor-assisted suicide appears to be off the table. “Don’t count on it,” federal Justice Minister Peter MacKay told The Canadian Press on Tuesday when asked whether invoking the notwithstanding clause is under consideration as an option in the wake of the unanimous decision.

DND CONCERNED ABOUT RUSSIAN ARCTIC DRONES OTTAWA — The country’s chief of defence intelligence has taken an in-depth look at how Russia, or even China, could use drones to spy in Canada’s Arctic in a wide-ranging report that was quietly flagged to some of the country’s closest allies. The heavily censored classified analysis was obtained by The Canadian Press under access to information legislation. The release comes as Russia moves troops into a northern base near the Finnish border as part of an extensive military buildup in the region.

AFN CHIEF SETS EXPECTATIONS FOR MEETING ON MURDERED, MISSING ABORIGINAL WOMEN OTTAWA — The new national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says he hopes a national roundtable later this month on murdered and missing aboriginal women results in more federal and provincial money for housing, safe shelters and programs to prevent violence.

Perry Bellegarde also says he’d like to see more co-ordination between the country’s various police forces when it comes to investigating cases that involve aboriginal women.

PARENTS OF AMERICAN WOMAN HELD

BY IS NOTIFIED OF HER DEATH WASHINGTON — Kayla Jean Mueller, a 26-yearold American woman held by Islamic State militants, has been confirmed dead, her parents and the Obama administration said Tuesday.

Mueller’s family received a private message from her captors over the weekend and the information contained in that communication was authenticated by the U.S. The White House said the U.S. intelligence community has not been able to determine how or when she died.

Canada News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

19

Tory MP Eve Adams switches to Liberals, brings backing from Harper loyalist

BY JOAN BRYDEN The Canadian Press OTTAWA — Justin Trudeau’s Liberals scored a two-fer Monday.

Well-connected Toronto-area Conservative MP Eve Adams crossed the floor to sit with the Liberals.

And her surprise defection had the full support of her fiance, former top Conservative operative Dimitri Soudas — long considered one of Stephen Harper’s fiercest loyalists and an architect of the Tories’ reelection strategy for 2015.

Within hours, Soudas made it clear he’s prepared to use his inside knowledge of the Conservatives against them.

“Mike, stand down on throwing stones from glass houses,” he tweeted in response to what he considered a jab at Adams from Edmonton Tory MP Mike Lake.

“What did you ask me to do again?”

Conservatives cast Adams’ decision as pure opportunism by a woman spurned by the governing party. Party president John Walsh said Adams asked “just a couple weeks ago” about running in another riding, after the party barred her last summer from running in Oakville North-Burlington.

“I informed her in writing on Jan. 29 that she would not be

permitted to run for our party in the next election due to the misconduct from the Oakville North-Burlington nomination race,” Walsh said in a statement.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper echoed those comments later Monday at an Ottawa news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

“The national council of our party is responsible for an honest, clean nomination process.

It informed MP Adams some 10 days ago that she could not be a candidate for the party for reasons that I think everybody understands,” Harper said.

“That’s obviously the reality of the situation and that’s the sole reason we obviously have the development we have today.”

But Adams and Trudeau cast her move as a matter of principle.

“This is not about having a tough day at the office; everybody has grumpy bosses from time to time,” Adams said.

“This is about the fact that my values simply don’t align with this (Conservative) team and I’d like to continue serving Canadians.”

Whatever the Conservatives may say about Adams now, Trudeau noted that she continued to serve as a parliamentary secretary to the health minister right up until she resigned Monday. Parliamentary secretaries are appointed by

Former Conservative and now Liberal MP Eve Adams.

the prime minister and are one rung down from cabinet.

Adams took some harsh parting shots at the party she has championed since she was 14 and at Harper as she blasted the Tories’ recently-introduced income-splitting tax measures for families.

“I cannot support mean-spirited measures that benefit only the richest few,” she said.

“I can no longer support mean-spirited leadership that divides people instead of bringing them together ... I want to work with someone who inspires, not with fear mongerers and bullies.”

However, NDP Leader Tom Mulcair accused Trudeau of “stoking cynicism” about politics by welcoming an MP who,

until Monday, had supported “every single decision,” including income splitting, taken by Harper for the past nine years.

Adams was first elected for the Conservatives in 2011 in the Toronto-area riding of Mississauga-Brampton South but had hoped to run again for the Tories in the newly-created riding of Oakville North-Burlington.

A bitter nomination contest ensued and both she and her opponent were forced to drop out amid allegationis of dirty tricks. Among other things, it was alleged that Soudas, at the time the executive director of the Conservative Party, was using his position to unfairly help Adams.

Soudas, who formerly served as the prime minister’s commu-

nications director, subsequently lost his party job, to which he’d been personally appointed

by Harper.

Soudas confirmed Monday, through Twitter, that he is on side with Adams’ switch.

“Fully support bMPEveAdams’s decision. She is smart, hard working & caring,” he tweeted.

Adams said she’ll run for a Liberal nomination in a Toronto-area riding but declined to identify the riding. However, she is expected to seek the nomination in Eglinton-Lawrence, currently held by Finance Minister Joe Oliver.

Her choice of riding — won by Oliver in 2011 with a comfortable 4,000-vote lead over former Liberal cabinet minister Joe Volpe — suggests Trudeau’s team was not prepared to offer a safe seat in return for Adams’ defection.

Moreover, Liberal insiders say it has been made clear to Adams that candidates are responsible for the conduct of their campaign teams and any misconduct could be grounds for being barred from running.

Trudeau said he discussed the possibility of a hypothetical Tory floor crosser with his caucus last week, without identifying Adams.

“The caucus knows that we have to grow in order to be competitive and this is what it’s all about,” he said. ■

Assisted suicide advocate honours ‘trailblazer’ for high court victory

BY CAMILLE BAINS The Canadian Press

Svend Robinson.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

VANCOUVER — An advocate for doctor-assisted suicide is celebrating a landmark Supreme Court of Canada decision on doctor-assisted suicide by remembering the British Columbia woman whose cause he championed more than 20 years ago, when she took her dying breath.

Terminally ill Victoria-area resident Sue Rodriguez chose www.canadianinquirer.net

Feb. 12, 1994 to end her life with the help of an anonymous physician.

Then-federal New Democrat Svend Robinson joined her fight for assisted suicide and held Rodriguez as her heart stopped beating.

Robinson said Friday’s high court decision granting all severely suffering Canadians the legal right to make the same decision is a chance to honour Rodriguez for her efforts.

Rodriguez began her legal battles for assisted suicide after

being diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 1991.

She said she wanted to make her own decision about her body, which was slowly shutting.

Robinson, who introduced a private members’ bill on physician-assisted suicide in December 1992 and now lives in Geneva, said the court decision makes him proud to be Canadian.

“Sue would be just incredibly ❱❱ PAGE 37 Assisted suicide

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Canada News

FEBRUARY 13, 2015

FRIDAY

Anti-oilsands activists in the U.S. are getting visits from the FBI

BY ALEXANDER PANETTA The Canadian Press WASHINGTON — Unexpected visitors have been dropping in on anti-oil activists in the United States — knocking on doors, calling, texting, contacting family members.

The visitors are federal agents.

Opponents of Canadian oil say they’ve been contacted by FBI investigators in several states following their involvement in protests that delayed northbound shipments of equipment to Canada’s oilsands.

A lawyer working with the protesters says he’s personally aware of a dozen people having been contacted in the northwestern U.S. and says the actual number is probably higher.

Larry Hildes says it’s been happening the last few months in Washington State, Oregon and Idaho. He says one person got a visit at work, after having already refused to answer questions.

“They appear to be interested in actions around the tarsands and the Keystone XL pipeline,” Hildes said in an interview.

“It’s always the same line: ‘We’re not doing criminal investigations, you’re not accused of any crime. But we’re trying to learn more about the movement.’”

He’s advised activists not to talk — and they mostly haven’t.

That lack of communication has made it a little complicated

to figure out what, exactly, the FBI is looking for.

The bureau hasn’t offered too many clues.

One agent left his name, number, and the following message in a voicemail for Helen Yost of the group Wild Idaho Rising Tide: “I work with the FBI. Could you give me a call back — I would appreciate it.”

Is anti-oilsands activity an actual focus of the FBI investigation, or is it merely incidental? The bureau won’t say.

What it will say is that it only investigates potential crimes, not political movements.

“The FBI has the authority to conduct an investigation when it has reasonable grounds to believe that an individual has engaged in criminal activity or is planning to do so,” said FBI spokeswoman Ayn Dietrich.

“This authority is based on the illegal activity, not on the individual’s political views.”

But activists say oilsands opposition appears to be the common thread among people being contacted. Police have been in touch with people from different groups, who in some cases don’t agree on much, but one thing they share is mutual participation in the so-called megaload protests.

Those are the intermittent highway blockades set up the last few years to complicate the enormous, football-field-sized shipments of processing equipment up to the oilsands.

Yost said only two people from her group participated in

that anti-oilsands action — and those are the people who’ve been contacted by the FBI. She has refused to co-operate.

The other person, Herb Goodwin, was visited at home by an FBI agent and a veteran detective from the local police force in Bellingham, Wash. He said the federal agent told him: “We’re here to ask whether you’ll answer some questions for us about Deep Green Resistance.”

That group, DGR, calls itself a radical environmental movement that believes the biggest problem with the planet is human civilization itself. It proposes a shift back from agriculture to a hunter-gatherer horticultural lifestyle.

It also proposes a four-step program called decisive ecological warfare, a long-term plan calling for the sabotage and dismantling of planet-harming infrastructure.

The group has repeatedly stated that it wouldn’t participate itself in any such actions.

But Lierre Keith, one of its founders, laid out the plan in a speech last year at an environmental conference at the University of Oregon.

“I would vastly prefer to wage this struggle non-violently,” Keith said. “But my blogging will not bring forth the necessary numbers. So given a realistic assessment of what we actually have, the only viable strategy left that I can see is direct attacks against infrastructure. In the plainest terms, we

www.canadianinquirer.net

need to stop them.”

There was some controversy about inviting her to the conference. Other groups wanted her event cancelled because of her views on transgender people — Keith dismisses the notion that a sex change can undo someone’s gender perspective.

Hildes said the FBI tried asking people about that Oregon speech. Since Yost’s group was among those voicing opposition to DGR, she believes the FBI might be trying to sow division in the movement.

The Canadian government said it wasn’t involved in any U.S. law-enforcement effort. A

spokesman said it was aware of the megaload protests, but hadn’t discussed them with any American agency.

Goodwin said he won’t stop protesting. He’s among the nearly 100,000 people who have signed a pledge to engage in civil disobedience, should the Obama administration approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

He called it a life mission to help thwart the development of the oilsands in Canada and the Bakken fields in the U.S. “If we don’t stop that stuff we’re never going to convert to alternative energies that don’t pollute the atmosphere,” he said. ■

Canada News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

21

Tim Hortons pouring water Hong Kong woman on homeless man was unnecessary: convicted in Vancouver panhandler Indonesian maid torture case that sparked outrage

BY GEORDON OMAND The Canadian Press

VANCOUVER — A man panhandling outside a downtown Vancouver Tim Hortons says the restaurant’s owner could have taken better measures than tossing water to remove a homeless man snoozing on the sidewalk outside.

“You could ask the cops to come out and remove him if he’s sleeping out here all the time,” said Les Quechueq, formerly homeless himself, while kneeling outside the centrally located coffee shop in a worn red coat and jeans.

“You (could) ask the city to come out and take care of it instead of you going out and being a vigilante and throwing water on him. You can’t do that.”

The incident on Friday went public after bystanders wrote what they saw on social media.

Arianne Summach, 24, heard about what happened from a friend who works across the street, and expressed her disgust on a Facebook post.

She wrote that the owner poured a large bucket of water on and underneath the man, his dog and all of his belongings, including his cardboard bed, while he was sleeping outside.

Summach’s post urging a boycott of that restaurant was shared more than 4,000 times.

The man has not been formally identified.

“Shame on Tim Hortons,” Bela Vanyek said on Monday morning, as he wheeled a shopping cart brimming with empty bottles around the corner from the coffee shop.

“Dumping water on the homeless is unnecessary, plain and simple. In the long run I’m

BY KELVIN CHAN The Associated Press

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

sure they’re going to pay for it.

They’re going to lose a lot of business.”

Homeless advocate Sean Condon decried the act as unnecessary and ultimately useless, linking it to a general increase in violence against homeless people across North America.

“If you treat homeless people as if they are a nuisance — as though their poverty is illegal — it often gives a sense of legitimacy to harming those individuals,” said Condon, executive director of Megaphone Magazine, a publication sold by homeless and low-income vendors.

“It really dehumanizes them.”

Customers also expressed outrage over the incident, but ultimately did not believe it would affect the restaurant’s bottom line.

Evette Lemesurier called the action “mean,” adding that she had seen the homeless man in question parked outside the Tim Hortons for at least the past six months.

“He’s not here today. But do you blame him?” she said, coffee cup in hand while leaving the restaurant.

“It’s kind of like getting slapped

in the face,” she said. “The guy wasn’t hurting anybody.”

An acquaintance of the homeless man, who identified himself only as Pete, said he could understand how a business owner might find it frustrating to deal with a “mess” left in front of the restaurant.

But he said the behaviour was still unacceptable.

Customer Joey D’Alessandro said he was shocked.

“I think it’s crazy,” said the film school instructor. “Nobody should get water thrown on them.”

D’Alessandro said he was heartened to hear that the coffee chain had apologized, but hoped it would make some contribution to the city’s homeless community.

Tim Hortons spokeswoman Michelle Robichaud said the owner’s “regretful” behaviour happened in “a moment of frustration,” adding the owner is committed to making a personal apology.

The owner will also donate to the Belkin House, a nearby shelter.

A manager at the restaurant said the owner was not available and declined comment. ■

punched Sulistyaningsih in the mouth, fracturing some teeth; jammed a metal vacuum cleaner tube in her mouth, cutting HONG KONG — A Hong Kong her lip; and hit her on the back woman who was accused of with a feather duster when she torturing her Indonesian maid was sleeping. Law also forced in a case that sparked outrage Sulistyaningsih to stand naked for the scale of its brutality was in the bathroom during winter convicted of a slew of assault while she splashed water on and other charges Tuesday. and pointed a fan at her.

A judge found Law Wan-tung Sulistyaningsih, who worked guilty of 18 charges including for Law for about eight months grievous bodily harm, criminal starting in June 2013, also intimidation and failure to pay wasn’t allowed any days off and wages or give time off work to was not paid her salary.

Erwiana SulistyLaw was found aningsih. not guilty of two Her case highother charges. lighted the vulShe was ordered nerabilities of to pay about migrants workBased on the 28,800 Hong ing as domestic testimony by Kong dollars staff across Asia the maid and ($3,700) in outand the Middle other witnesses, standing wages East.

“I am sure the to SulistyanIt gained widedefendant did ingsih. Law was spread attention assault, wound remanded into about a year ago and threaten custody and is after photos of (Sulistyaningsih) scheduled to be her injuries ciras charged. sentenced on culated among Feb. 27.

Indonesians After the verin Hong Kong. dict, supporters They showed her applauded the face, hands and legs covered diminutive Sulistyaningsih, with scabs and lacerations, and who was in court. She told reblackened, peeling skin around porters outside that she was her feet. happy “because I will get the District Court Judge Amanda justice from Hong Kong.”

Woodcock said that based on There are about 330,000 forthe testimony by the maid and eign domestic helpers working other witnesses, “I am sure the in Hong Kong, almost all fedefendant did assault, wound male and most from the Philand threaten (Sulistyaningsih) ippines or Indonesia, earning a as charged.” minimum wage of about $500 a Court heard that Law month. ■

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Community News

PCG Vancouver joins job fair

FEBRUARY 13, 2015

FRIDAY

Nominations being accepted for 2015 Paul Yuzyk Award PHILIPPINE EMBASSY

THE PHILIPPINE Consulate General (PCG) in Vancouver, led by Consul Rogelio Villanueva (seated L), recently participated in the Career Training, Job Fair, and Understanding Community Resources event organized by the Multicultural Helping House Society. The PCG offered consular services

like passport renewal, visa, notarial and overseas voting to participants of the event. They also provided other community services like information on Philippine tourism and advice to temporary foreign workers and new immigrants ■ Photo by Alvin Relleve

THE PHILIPPINE Embassy in Ottawa announced that nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism. The award acknowledges outstanding contributions to multiculturalism and the integration of newcomers.

This year’s Paul Yuzyk Award will recognize recipients in three categories each year: • Youth (aged 15-24) • Organization • Outstanding Achievement or Lifetime Achievement (aged 25+) Each award recipient will earn a certificate of honour and the opportunity to direct a $10,000 grant to an eligible, registered, not-for-profit Canadian organization or associa-

Tomas “Tatay” Avendano won the 2014 Paul Yuzyk Award for Multiculturalism.

He was recognized in the Lifetime Achievement category.

tion of their choice.

Nominations will be accepted until March 31, 2015. To learn

more or nominate a candidate, please visit: Canada.ca/PaulYuzykAward ■

Senator Enverga sponsors bill to establish first national urban park in Canada OTTAWA — Senator Tobias C. Enverga Jr. moved second reading in the Senate of Bill C-40, establishing the Rouge National Urban Park, the first of its kind in Canada. He is the sponsor of the bill in the Senate, and his speech today initiated the debate there after the bill was passed by the House of Commons on January 26, this year.

“Bill C-40 is an opportunity to provide, once and for all, the level of recognition and protection that the Rouge deserves,” said Senator Enverga. “… the bill … for the first time in the Rouge's history, will specifically prohibit harmful activities such as poaching, polluting, dumping, theft of fossils, harassment of wildlife, hunting and mineral extraction. Indeed, this is a significant step forward in protecting the park's fragile resources, protections that are not currently there.” If passed, Bill C-40 will give the Rouge National Urban Park the highest protection in history, much higher than the current protection given by the Province of

Senator Tobias C. Enverga Jr. at his place in the Senate Chamber.

www.canadianinquirer.net

Ontario.

Senator Enverga continued by saying that: “Bill C-40 will also dramatically increase park law enforcement measures which will ensure that Parks Canada wardens will have a year-round presence in the park. This, combined with strict penalties, will help ensure that invaluable assets — flora and fauna, fossils and artifacts — are protected to the full extent of the law.”

Another commitment by the government of Canada highlighted by the Senator in his speech is the $143.7 million over 10 years and $7.6 million annually thereafter in funding to support the creation, management and operation of the national urban park. There is currently no funding provided for the Rouge Park by the Province of Ontario, and the bill will increase the standards of ecological protection from what is currently the case in provincial parks like the Algonquin. ■ Press statement from Senator Enverga’s office

World News

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

23

Canadian kayaker lives nomadic lifestyle in pursuit of Olympic dream

BY LORI EWING The Canadian Press

Edmonton kayaker and Olympic Hopeful Ben Hayward's house on a truck that he built to live in so he could save money and pursue his Olympic dream.

BENHAYWARD.CA

is pretty poorly funded as it is, and then summer sport is even worse,” Hayward said in a phone interview from Australia, where he's racing this weekend. “I've been struggling with budget for the entire time I've been involved in the sport and so I knew over the next two years leading up to the Olym-

His “Hobbit Van,” as he fondly refers to it, resembles a hobbit house on four wheels, complete with a round hobbit TORONTO — Ben Hayward's door. The 25-year-old, who's home measures about seven Canada's top whitewater padsquare metres and is currently dler, originally planned to buy parked in an overflow lot in a van to live in, but after four southern France. days of searching in Wales left Faced with financial chalhim empty-handed, the idea lenges that could to build his own have derailed his was hatched Olympic dream, over a cold pint the kayaker from in a Cardiff pub.

Amateur sport in Canada is pretty Edmonton has Hayward purpoorly funded as it is, and then taken the nochased the ninesummer sport is even worse. madic lifestyle of year-old armythe amateur athgreen truck for lete to a whole $2,200, and he new level. and a friend Hayward lives worked 18 hours and travels in a camper van he pics that I'd need to be a full- a day over the next four days built from scratch on a flatbed time athlete, and bringing in constructing the maple wood truck, combining his back- an income would be pretty dif- exterior. It was just a shell ground in architecture with ficult, and so I needed to find with a bed for the first couple his need to live and train in Eu- something that would be af- of months before he had the rope on the cheap. fordable and pretty much this “Amateur sport in Canada was the only way.” ❱❱ PAGE 37 Canadian kayaker

“After I graduated from the Health Care Assistant Program, my employers were really impressed with my education and the skills I had developed at Sprott Shaw. Since my first experience was so successful, it was easy to choose Sprett Shaw for my next career move.”

www.canadianinquirer.net

24

Seen & Scenes: Vancouver

FEBRUARY 13, 2015

FRIDAY

SINULOG FEST Bisdak Christian Society of Vancouver, B.C. celebrated their version of the Sinulog, an annual cultural and religious festival in honor of the Child Jesus. Here are some scenes during the festivities held Feb. 7, at St. Patrick’s Gymnasium in Vancouver.

VIETNAMESE TET The Consulate General of Vietnam recently hosted the Vietnamese New Year celebration welcoming the Year of the Goat, for the Vietnamese community in Western Canada and distinguished guests including government and elected officials, and members of the diplomatic corps.

For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net. www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Seen & Scenes: Toronto

ALPHA PHI OMEGA The Alpha Phi Omega Toronto celebrated their 12th anniversary on Feb. 8, at the Sagan Banquet Hall in Mississauga, On. Senator Enverga graced the event and encouraged the APO to continue to make positive contributions to their communities (Photos from Senator Enverga’s FB page).

GOLF ASSOCIATION Swearing in ceremony by the newly elected board of directors of Bayanihan Golf Association of Toronto conducted by Philippine Consul-General Junever Mahilum-West at Radisson Hotel Toronto (Photo by Boyet Perez). www.canadianinquirer.net

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Valentine's Day

Valentine’s Day Fun Facts

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer JUST WHEN it seems that you have finally recovered from the Christmas holiday crazies, TAH-DAH! Valentine’s Day sneaks up and startles you, with its pink-and-red frilly froufrou-ness; pulling on your purse strings once more for the purchase of cards, chocolates, sweets treats, flowers and frivolities.

Admittedly I am not a fan of the commercial craze that Valentine’s Day has become. Nor am I am fan of the emphasis this holiday continues to place on superficial beauty and “romance”; making girls who do not receive a Valentine, or flowers, or chocolate, whathave-you feel as unwanted and unbeautiful as yesterday’s garbage. This Hallmark Holiday (no offense to the wonderful folk at the greeting card conglomerate) makes singles the world over feel like utter freaks and undesirable wallflowers at some heart-themed soiree, if they are dateless on V-Day. No, I am not a fan. Though I must admit to enjoying handmade cards and pure sentiments of love from your child, partner, special someone, father, or best friend. Simple tokens of ever-elusive true love do the trick for me. Then again, you do not need Valentine’s Day to do that, now do you?

I am a fan, however, of quirky facts, Valentine’s Day not excluded. Here are my fave fun facts about the day of hearts: Secret weddings and bloody origins

The most heart-stopping theory about the origins of this holiday is quite bloody, in a tragicromantic sort of way. It is said that during the rule of Emperor Claudius Gothicus (also known as Claudius II) from 268-270, Roman men were not allowed to marry during wartime, as their first and utmost duty was to fight for the Empire of Rome.

Unbeknownst to Claudius II, a bishop by the name of Val-

SEYED MOSTAFA ZAMANI / FLICKR

entine went behind his back, secretly performing wedding ceremonies. That is, until he was found out, jailed, and eventually executed.

While incarcerated, the bishop wrote a note to the jailor’s daughter, which he signed "from your Valentine." Thus, the birth of the Valentine’s tradition.

Cards for cardio day

As the tradition evolved, it was considered bad luck to sign a Valentine’s card; so in Victorian times, sweet nothings were penned and given unsigned, or sealed with a kiss, an “X”, or a fingerprint.

In contrast to the outward repression and prudish front of the Victorian era, the 1800’s saw a rise in popularity of raunchy Valentine’s Day cards. In the USA, the Chicago post office rejected more than 25,000 cards because they were too indecent to be carried via U.S. Mail.

Humorous valentines were also favorites in the 19th century. These were known as "Vinegar Valentines.” A Scotsman by the name of John McLaughin introduced Vinegar Valentines in 1858 via his own publishing company in New York City.

Valentine’s Day cards are most often given to teachers, followed by children, mothers, spouses, sweethearts, and pets. Teachers generally receive the most Valentine's Day cards, from children aged 6-10. Over 650 million Valentine's cards are exchanged by children in this age group with their teachers, classmates, and relatives.

Second only to Christmas, Valentine’s Day is among the top greeting card holidays. In the United States, approximately 1-billion Valentine’s cards are given each year.

Singles strike back

In mockery of the commercialized day of hearts and the

over-emphasis it places on romantic relationships, singles have come up with their own February 14 holiday: Singles Awareness Day, or S.A.D. On this bittersweet, humorous holiday, single people gather to celebrate, or perhaps commiserate, their singlehood.

Some of the most popular activities on Singles Awareness Day are single’s mixers, enjoying a meal with fellow singles, travelling with groups of singles, pampering sessions at salons or spas, giving gifts to yourself, etc.

“XO” marks the spot

On Valentine’s Day it is very common for people to include X’s and O’s in their greetings: XOXOXO, the commonly used symbol for hugs (O) and kisses (X). X’s and O’s are used throughout the year, mind you, as a symbol of endearment, but most especially on V-Day. The use of X is thought to have originated with Chris-

tians in the Middle Ages; during which time, many people were illiterate. As such, they would sign their documents with an X, which was at once a simple mark to make and a reference to the Christian cross. Then, the signee of the document would kiss the X, as a token of their sincerity and their oath.

Hence, X=kiss.

The origin of the O is not as easy to trace, but some who have studied the matter believe it dates back to the Jewish immigrants who arrived in the USA. Many were illiterate, and simply signed their documents with an O in place of the Christian X. Others believe the explanation to be much simpler: X could be a representation of two lips, kissing; while O is a visual symbol of arms enclosing someone in a hug.

Weird food and bird watching

In medieval times (5th-15th Century) girls often ate strange

Valentine's Day

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

27

food, such as pancakes slathered with ketchup, the night before Valentine’s Day, so that they would dream of their future spouse. The practice continued on to the 17th century, but the food of choice was hard boiled eggs. Young women also pinned 5 bay leaves to their pillows, to aid in the dream process.

Another popular belief held by young women during the Middle Ages is that the kind of man a woman would marry could be determined by bird watching on Valentine’s Day. If the maiden spotted a sparrow, she would marry a poor man. A bluebird, on the other hand, meant a happy man was in store. A crossbill would bring an argumentative man as a groom, while an owl meant the woman would not marry and become a spinster.

There you have it – my own personal favorite trivia about the Hallmark Holiday that is Valentine’s. However you choose to celebrate it – or not – sharing and expressing genuine love with those dearest to you is always a heart-warming idea, on any day of the year! ■

Valentine’s Day cards are most often given to teachers, followed by children, mothers, spouses, sweethearts, and pets.

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Valentine's Day

FEBRUARY 13, 2015

FRIDAY

10 Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

BY CYRA MORALEDA Philippine Canadian Inquirer IT IS the time of year again to celebrate love with your significant other – Valentine’s Day. Make it a day to remember as you revive the flame and surprise your special someone with a dreamy date. This year, opt out of the traditional fancy dinner or the overrated flowers and chocolates and try these fun and romantic activities.

Create new lasting memories as you enjoy some quality time together.

1 . For Lovers of Nature

Cuddle through the night with your sweetheart in a heated tent or cabin and wake up for a cold outdoor adventure. Canada’s various national parks are the perfect winter wonderlands for that very special day. Try cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Waterton Lakes or Kouchibouguac.

Take an ice-climbing challenge and overcome impressive ice cliffs at La Mauricie or bring your gear and do kite boarding at Prince Albert. After the vigorous activities, spoil your love with hot chocolate and mallows. And before heading back home, take amorous photos from the parks’ breathtaking viewpoints.

2. Scavenger Hunt

Go down memory lane and bring back old chapters of your love story. Lead your sweetie in a mini scavenger hunt and go to places where you had your firsts – first kiss, first date, place where you first met.

Leave notes in each memorable spot and end the journey back to your home where a sumptuous dinner is prepared.

3. A Relaxing Vacation… at Home

If your schedule does not permit you to travel, stay at home with your love. Not only will you have the comfort of your home, you will also save yourself from spending too much on that special day. Though the celebration is simple, make the day all about you and your significant other. Play some music and slow dance or sing a duet in a videoke session. By dinner time, cook both of your favorite dishes or order meals from

Valentine's Day is the perfect occasion to perform an activity with your loved one.

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your much loved restaurants.

Then for dessert, bake together or make fondue. Before the day ends, light scented candles and give each other a full body massage.

4. Celebrate with A Whole Lotta Love

Rock your hearts out as you and your boo party with A Whole Lotta Led, BC’s premiere Led Zeppelin tribute band. Spot the band on V-Day as they perform at the Garibaldi Lift Co. Bar & Grill located at the foot of Whistler Mountain. Incredible music will start booming at around 9:30pm. Sing to Houses of the Holy, Trampled Underfoot, Ten Years Gone and a lot of other hits. Tickets are sold for $10 each and can be bought beforehand or at the entrance doors of the venue.

5. An Exotic Getaway

How about a surprise rendezvous with your special someone? Prepare all necessary arrangements beforehand such as booking a flight and making hotel reservations to an exotic island or a secluded countryside.

Consider Bathtub Island, Rock Lake or Batchawana Bay among other undiscovered gems of the

country. Then on V-Day, send your love an invitation by slipping it in a spot where it will surely be seen. Then off you are both to the place where a dinner with wine, candles and roses are waiting.

6. Go for a Drive

Pack your bags, hop in the car, turn on the road trip beats and drive away from the city to nowhere in particular. A nice scenic drive away from the fastpaced life in the city is a nice opportunity to spend some alone time with your sweetheart as you are both taken away by the beautiful unforgettable views.

Make new memories wherever the road leads – through the stretch of Rocky Mountains, along the ocean coast of Wasaga Beach or past the glaciers at Banff. For food and wine lovers, do restaurant-hopping or wine-tasting in each stop. If you don’t own a car, ride onboard the Rocky Mountaineer instead and be taken away by the breathtaking scenery and delicious cuisine that comes with the train’s journey.

7. A Couple’s Fieldtrip

Play tourist for a day in our own country and discover new www.canadianinquirer.net

places. If your idea of a date is enriching the mind and learning more about our beautiful motherland, then hit one of the many historic sites or museums across the territory. Hear the tales of the Vikings at L’Anse aux Meadows. Glimpse the remains of Old Quebec. Visit the country’s oldest museum, Musée de l’Armérique Francaise.

And if you and your partner are animal lovers, take a stroll in national parks and watch animals play or hibernate in their natural habitats. By night time, find a beautiful spot and gaze upon the sparkling stars that are as alive as your love for each other.

8. Take a Lesson

Whether it’s a dance class, a cooking class or learning a new sport, private lessons with just the two of you and your instructor or coach will definitely be a fun time together. You will not only enjoy but may discover hidden talents and hone skills too. Bring back childhood days where you attended too many workshops. But this time, you have the delight of doing it with your favorite person in the world. After the one-day session, you may continue the

class or sport and engage yourselves in another common interest you developed.

9. Re-enacting the First Date

Go back in time when everything seemed simple yet romantic and relive the date that first got you crazy over your sweetheart. Was it a dinner in your favorite restaurant or a treat to the movies? Maybe you can even eat the same meal or watch the same movie and fall in love all over again. Complete the day with old love songs and the trendy outfit of the past.

10. Just as Paris is to France, so is Victoria to Canada

With Victoria recently dubbed as the most romantic city in the country, it will surely have a place fit for every lover.

The gorgeous scenery, the serene hikes, the wineries and the friendly people will make you want to explore the place on VDay.

The list of possible romantic date activities goes on and on. Whatever you decide to do this Valentine’s Day, as long as you and your sweetheart are together in love, it will surely be a very special day. ■

Immigration

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

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HEALTH, DISABILITY, & HUMAN RIGHTS

The Millennium Development Goals: Post-2015

BY JEFFREY J.D. ANDRION Philippine Daily Inquirer IMAGINE A world where no child goes hungry, where mothers don’t die from giving birth, or people are not discriminated because of their health status.

Or imagine a world where the threat of global warming is a thing of the past or that the threat of a child dying before the age of 5 is history.

Imagine.

In 2000, world leaders gathered in New York City to sign the Millennium Declaration that eventually led to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). While ambitious, the MDGs brought to the forefront some of the most pressing needs of human kind and were formulated to halve extreme poverty by 2015 (http://www. un.org/millenniumgoals/).

How is the world doing in terms of meeting the goals? Which MDGs remain challenging to meet and what lessons have we learned so far? In particular, in the Philippines, why do some MDGs remain impossible to achieve?

In most developing countries, a number of factors can be attributed to the continued failure in meeting the goals.

One, the intersection of politics and religion can pose challenging issues. In the Philippines for instance, while the maternal health record is one of the worst in the world, the strong influence of the Roman Catholic Church, or of religion in general, has caused an upheaval between the church leaders and rights advocates.

This scenario of course was also evident among the lawmakers when the RH Bill was being debated.

Two, understanding the cultural make-up of a society will

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dictate how policies are formu- commendable, more needs to enforcement, continue to jeoplated and eventually enforced. be done to ensure that women, ardize the various programs.

For instance, generally speak- most especially the poor and This translates into millions ing, Filipinos look at disability uneducated, are empowered. of dollars lost in funding from from the charvarious partners. ity or medical At the same time, models. In short, the cherry-pickpersons with ing of programs disabilities are by various stakeviewed as helpWhile the MDGs are strong in paper, holders mean less individuals the lack of political will and therefore that some MDGs or whose disabiltheir enforcement, continue to become secondity was the result jeopardize the various programs. ary priorities. of a punishment At the crux for a mistake of an effective committed earimplementation lier in life. Conof the MDG is sider as well the issue of genThree, while the MDGs are building all our efforts towards der equality. While the work of strong in paper, the lack of po- the equalization of opportuniwomen’s rights group is truly litical will and therefore their ties for all, with human rights

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and social justice as the main frameworks. This is of course challenging in the Philippines where the violation of fundamental rights continues to be infringed or worse, derogated.

However, unless we truly appreciate the power of human rights in realizing the health rights of all, then universal programs will continue to be moving targets. And then of course, the world will just continue to imagine when maternal health will improve or how to better address both communicable and non-communicable diseases.

Imagine that.

In its goal to further align itself to the MDGs, the Philippine Working Group of the International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation (ICDR Philippines) at the University of Toronto has set, as a strategic priority , the MDGs in its various endeavors. As a matter of fact, the 2014 Call for Proposals (http://philippineworkinggroup.com/call-for-proposals/ ) emphasizes the health-related MDGs: maternal health, HIV/ AIDS, and other diseases and how they intersect with disability. In addition, the working group is also committed to the other MDGs: promoting gender equality; environmental sustainability; and global partnership. ■ Jeffrey J.D. Andrion, PT, PhD(c), MA, BScPT, is the Chair of the Philippine Working Group of the International Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation at the University of Toronto where he also holds the rank of Lecturer at the Department of Physical Therapy. He is currently completing his PhD in Health at York University. He is a full-time physiotherapist at the Sunnybrook Holland Centre in Toronto.

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FEBRUARY 13, 2015

FRIDAY

CIBT Subsidiary Investment Group Acquires Luxury Hotel in Downtown Vancouver DOWNTOWN Vancouver is about to get a major infusion of accommodations for international students.

On Friday, January 30 2015, CIBT Education Group with an offshore partner has purchased the 17-storey Viva Suites luxury hotel in downtown Vancouver and will convert it to accommodations for international students, the education provider announced this afternoon. The residence will provide more than 200 beds and will be the first of its type in Vancouver, representing a total investment of $37M, including renovations. It’s the first acquisition for the company’s planned Global Education City Network, a long-term investment in housing and services for international students in Greater Vancouver.

Vancouver continues to grow as an international education centre with approximately 150 schools including private and public universities, colleges and high schools.

Based on data from 2011, approximately 100,000 foreign students are living in the Greater Vancouver area contributing over $5 billion in tuition revenue to the B.C economy. Total housing revenue generated by these international students is estimated to be over $1 billion per year, an average of $10,000 per student per year.

When completed, the suites will be fully furnished and equipped with kitchens.

Building amenities will include a fitness centre, elec-

tronic library, TV lounge and free shuttle bus to schools near major Vancouver intersections. Other services pioneered by CIBT include international student airport pickup and shuttle bus service, private tutoring, daily hot meal service, weekend social activities, IT support, and academic counselling.

CIBT owns Sprott Shaw College, Ascenda School of Management, numerous business and ESL colleges in China and Global Education Alliance providing interna-

tional student referral and related services to more than 100 public and private educational institutions in Canada and the U.S. For example, the 150 international students studying at Acsenda in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour are generally looking for accommodations for two to three years. International students at the business college come from more than 20 countries, with the largest representation coming from China, Korea and India.

Current options available

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to students in the downtown area include homestay placements that range from $800-$1,200 per month.

Homestays are usually Canadian families that rent a room to an international student.

The new suites at Viva fill an important need for Vancouver’s international students. It can be difficult for schools to properly screen homestays and have them available on short notice when a student is ready to arrive in Vancouver. It’s even harder to fulfill students’ spe-

cial requests such as a private bathroom, special dietary needs or a larger room.

Shared and solo apartments are another option for students. However availability is slim especially in the summer months leading up to the start of a new school year. Downtown rentals range from $900-$2,500 per month depending on the building, amenities and location.

View the fully furnished luxury suites here: http://www. cibt.net/viva

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Entertainment RR Enriquez lashes out on Instagram after rude video goes viral

Lea on Anne’s performance: ‘So much fun’

BY LEI FONTAMILLAS Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA — After a controversy which sprawled in 2012, Lea Salonga, one of the coach in “The Voice of the Philippines,” commented on Ann Curtis’ performance on the Sunday episode of the singing compet i tion.

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Curtis who performed with Bamboo and the coach’s top six got a standing ovation from Salonga and fellow coaches Sarah Geronimo and apl.de.ap.

The self-confessed, “nonsinger” performed Icona Pop’s “I Love It” and “All Night.”

Salonga, who was misquoted in a report as calling Curtis “out-of-tune” and “insulting” to professional singers, also commented on Curtis’ performance.

Reacting to the report, Salonga said what she said were taken out of context.

Meanwhile, through a Twitter post, Salonga replied to a follower who asked what she thought of Curtis’ number.

Salonga said, “So much fun.”

■

kalokohan in God’s eyes pareparehas lang yan. To those people na nagtatanggol sa amin and naniniwalang we are only human never MANILA — In what some would magiging perfect Thank you Sa call a lame attempt to justify mga bashers relax lang kayo, life is what has been described as an wonderful marami pang pwedeng idiotic, rude prank, TV starlet RR gawin sa buhay, hindi lang pang ba Enriquez has issued a statement bash Yes nagkamali kami and nag addressing the video clip showsorry na kami so its time to move on ing her and a friend honking their Nakapag move on na yung car horn to wake a sleeping pasmga broken hearted and may senger on board the public utility bago ng kadate sa valentines so van in front of their vehicle. move on din kayo pag may time The video clip, which was Iwasan natin kumain ng madposted by Top Gear Philipaming ampalaya para hindi pines on their tayo maging soFacebook page brang bitter sa on February 8 , buhay On a ligter has — as of this The video shows Enriquez and friend note ang dami ko writing — been Jeck Maierhofer . . . laughing and ng na Blocked is viewed nearly honking the car horn several times at the Beauty ang sakit 25,000 times vehicle in front of them; in efforts to pala sa kamay and shared alwake a sleeping passenger. so i guess ito na most 15,000 ang punishment times. It has renamin ang maceived 11,272 comments; most 24hrs trending agad agad Back bash ng madaming tao at suof which decry the act as utterly in our case ok go push nyo yang makit ang kamay kaka delete at stupid and inconsiderate. mga negative comments nyo na blocked ng mga bashers lol The video shows Enriquez yan As i said i can’t blame you Its really a lesson learned Try and friend Jeck Maierhofer — But after you comment, nyo mag blocked and delete rumoured to have been an es- check your heart also.. Sino ng negative comments ewan cort service worker prior to her ngayon ang naging bully? Dahil ko lang kung di kayo mapagod stint on now defunct Wowowee sa mga negative comments nyo Maybe a lot of you nagtataka — laughing and honking the car na yan sino ngayon ang nagmu- bakit nakukuha ko pang maghorn several times at the vehi- mukang trashy, uneducated and patawa, or mag joke? As i said cle in front of them; in efforts to bully?And sa mga nagmamali- life is wonderful hindi ko plan wake a sleeping passenger. nis jan na kung maka condemn stressin ang buhay ko sa mga Via her Instagram account, ng tao akala mu never gumawa pagkakamaling nagawa ko..

Enriquez tried to justify her ac- ng kalokohan sa life nila Clap They key to happy life is to “Get tions, thusly: Clap Clap ikaw na ang perfect over it” HappyMorning Happy “Happy Morning This will be the Simple kalokohan, malalalang Valentines Share Love” ■ last time that i will post a message regarding sa viral video na yan I can’t blame these people for sending us negative comments.. I actually pity those people na nagkucomment ng bad. Dahil hindi lang yan ang nareceive namin, sobrang dami pa as in If you will read their comments parang mas malala pa yung ginawa nila sa ginawa namin Its funny coz if you help people na mga nasalanta ng bagyo, if you feed the street children never nag ti trending pero pag mga sex scandal, kurakot scandal kalokohan scandal wala pang

Kapamilya, Kapuso networks contend for top spot in January 2015 ratings

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Two weeks after the media fanfare generated by Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines, rival television networks ABS-CBN Corp. and GMA Network Inc.

have both claimed that they are on top of the ratings chart for January 2015.

ABS-CBN, however, took the lead over its rival, capturing 42-percent of the viewing audience, against GMA’s 36 percent.

The Kantar Media group disclosed that in their data covering January 2015, the Kapami-

lya network took the lead in strategic territories — including all areas within Luzon but outside of Metro Manila — with an average day-audience share of 45 percent, compared with GMA’s 36 percent.

The ABS-CBN network also rated higher than its competitor in nighttime audience or

primetime viewership; garnering 47 percent as opposed to GMA’s 33 percent.

ABS-CBN also dominated the Visayas region, with an average total day audience share of 56 percent, versus GMA’s 26 percent; as well as the Mindanao region, with 48 percent against the 31 percent of GMA.

The Kapamilya network’s “Thank You sa Malasakit: Pope Francis sa Pilipinas” special coverage of Pope Francis’ Philippine visit snagged an average national TV rating of 13.2 percent, while GMA’s “Ang People’s Pope sa Pilipinas: A GMA News Special Coverage.” pulled in 10.9 percent of viewership. ■

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Entertainment

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FRIDAY

Pokwang says she is romantically involved with American actor

Apl.de.ap opens his first Jollibee store

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

MANILA — On Monday’s episode of Kris TV, funny lady Pokwang (Marietta Subong) confirmed that she is currently in a relationship with American actor Lee O’Brien. O’Brien is her leading man in TFC’s movie “Edsa Woolworth” “Sana ito na, tama na yung ano, Lord, sana ito na po,” Pokwang said, as she expressed her hopes that O’Brien would be “the one” for her.

(I hope and pray that this is the one.)

Pokwang said that she an O’Brien officially entered into a relationship on January 20, when the actor visited the country for the movie’s premiere.

“Dumating at bonggang promo, (premiere night) tapos nag-Boracay. Tapos three days after bumalik ng Manila, yun na nagkasarinlan kaming dalawa, may quality time para mag-usap kung ano ba tayo, ano talaga,” Pokwang shared.

(He arrived for the premiere night then went to Boracay.

Three days after, he came back to Manila, we were then able to spend time alone, quality time together to talk and figure out what we really are to each other.)

“Mahirap baka mamaya hindi ba mahirap na ako lang yung in love. Tapos doon ko nalaman, sinabi niya na alam mo ba first shooting day pa lang mayroon na siya keme (feelings for me).

Sinabi ko ano tayo? (What are we?) tapos hinalikan niya ako, tapos sinabi niya gusto niya ako, masaya siya kapag nakikita niya ako kapag magkasama kami, yun yon,” she explained,

MANILA — A childhood dream fulfilled.

Black Eyed Peas member and prouf Pinoy apl.de.ap (Allan Pineda Lindo in real life) opened his first Jollibee franchise in Dau McArthur, Pampanga on February 7, Saturday.

The Pampanga native recalled his childhood on his official Facebook page as he posted photos of the store’s opening.

“Since I was a young boy, I always pointed at Jollibee and my mom would say, ‘Anak, we need this money for your siblings also so next time na lang.’ And then one day, she finally took me into Jollibee and I think I lost my mind! I thought: ‘Oh my God, did this happen?'” he wrote.

In an interview with entertainment site PUSH, he shared Pokwang.

as she noted that she initiated the conversation about their status.

(It is difficult because what if I was the only one in love. But it was then that I found out, he told me that even on our very first shooting day, he already had feelings for me. So I said, what are we? Then he kissed me and said that he likes me, that he is happy when he sees me and when we are together, that was it.)

According to Pokwang, telling her daughter Ria Mae Subong was the most challenging part of her new relationship.

“Actually nahirapan ako kay bagets ‘paano ba ito?’ yun pala naghihintay lang siya na magsa-

how he made his dream a reality.

“It’s been a dream of mine for years now,” apl shared.

“I got to meet the chairman and I jokingly asked him that growing up I couldn’t afford to get Jollibee and it’s a product that I grew up with and I truly cherish. I just asked simply and they kindly granted me with one so it’s a dream come reality at this point,” he said.

Aside from being his longtime dream, he also hopes his franchise could help others. “[I want] to create employment and I thought it would be the most stable thing that could help out others,” he said.

He has high hopes for his news business venture, with plans to open another one in Pampanga and some stores in the United States.

“If hopefully this does well, ❱❱ PAGE 34 Apl.de.ap opens

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bi ako pero okay naman sa kanya,” she said.

(Actually, it was difficult for me with the teen ‘how is this done?’ But it turns out she was just waiting for me to say something and it is actually ok with her.)

Pokwang revealed that O’Brien will be in Manila this April, in order to spend time with her. When asked, she also said that she is open to moving to the USA, in order to be with O’Brien.

“Siguro, tapos dream din ni Mae na mag-work abroad, pagkatapos niya,” she added.

(Probably, and it is also Mae’s dream to work abroad when she graduates.) ■

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Apl De Ap opens his Jollibee store at Dau McArthur in Pampanga.

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Entertainment

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

33

3 of the 4 top Grammys now staying with Sam Smith; he thanks his muse for big haul

BY DAVID BAUDER The Associated Press SOMEWHERE IN England sits a man who was the unwitting inspiration for the biggest winner at the Grammy Awards.

He’s the man who loved, and dumped, 22-year-old British soul singer Sam Smith. Smith’s yearning hit, “Stay With Me,” won Grammys for song and record of the year and he was named best new artist — three of the four biggest awards the Grammys present each year.

His album “In the Lonely Hour” won best pop vocal album, but lost to Beck for album of the year.

Still, not a bad haul.

While accepting his record of the year award, Smith said he wanted to thank the man he’s been in love with for the past year “for breaking my heart, ‘cause you got me four Grammys.”

Backstage later, Smith said that “I’ll be seeing him soon, so I can let him touch the Grammys — once.”

Asked what could top his

Sam Smith won 4 Grammys at the 2015 Grammy Awards.

night, Smith said, “A boyfriend would be nice.”

Other memorable moments at Sunday’s 57th annual Grammy Awards: Kanye time

He didn’t win any Grammys, but Kanye West predictably made his presence felt — and

SAM SMITH FACEBOOK PAGE

not just for bringing wife Kim Kardashian along to entertain the red carpet crew.

West performed a new song about his late mother, “Only One,” on a nearly dark stage, illuminated by a light glowing from under his feet. He joined collaborators Rihanna and, yes, Paul McCartney for a per-

formance of their new song, “FourFiveSeconds.” And he made a joking reference to one of his most infamous moments, at an MTV Video Music Awards when he hijacked the stage from Taylor Swift to protest a prize he thought should have gone to Beyonce.

When Beck won album of

the year, beating out Beyonce among others, Kanye climbed the stairs to the stage and stopped just short of the microphone, smiling and wagging his finger before swiftly exiting.

Knowing music insiders roared with laughter.

“Come back. I need some help,” Beck said with a smile.

West wasn’t joking backstage, however, telling E! Entertainment that Beck should have given his award to Beyonce.

“When you keep on diminishing art, and not respecting the craft, and smacking people in the face after they deliver monumental feats of music, you’re disrespectful to inspiration.”

He said of the Grammys “want real artists to keep coming back, they need to stop playing with us.”

Beck’s biggie

Beck’s award for album of the year was Sunday’s biggest surprise. His date mouthed, “Oh, my god,” in hugging him after his name was announced ❱❱ PAGE 34 3 of the

HOROSCOPE ARIES

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19) Keep your eyes open, Aries. The stars are telling you that today, a chance of a lifetime will come knocking at your door and you must be ready for it. Keeping your eyes open and alert all the time will help you grab that opportunity which may come only once in a lifetime.

TAURUS

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20) There are a lot of things you might want to change in the coming weeks and the stars will support you in your advocacies to change things for the better. But be careful; there are things that are better left the way they are.

GEMINI

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21) No matter how hard you try to be yourself at all times, there are moments that will require you to tailor your personality according to the rules of the environment.

Do not hesitate to blend if need be for as long as you maintain the kind of person you really are.

CANCER

LIBRA

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22) This might be your makeor-break week, Cancer. First impression lasts so grab your chance to make everyday of this week your defining moment.

You may not like it but there are times that you need to please people and reveal the most positive attitude you have.

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22) You might need to create a more organized plan to save yourself from the stress of a plentiful workload.

You will only be able to manage your time well if you start mapping out your priorities.

SCORPIO

LEO

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22) Jumpstart your week by creating an environment filled with positive energy. Avoiding the negative vibe will help you make this day extraordinary.

(OCT 23 - NOV 21) Keeping a clean mind will help you prevent yourself from the negative vibe that awaits you this week.

Learn how to screen the thoughts that enters in your brain. Think about what’s productive and necessary.

VIRGO

SAGITTARIUS

(AUG 23 - SEPT 22) You will be faced with a financial challenge in the coming week. This will require you to limit your expenses to the things that are necessary.

Saving today will help you hurdle the coming financial crisis.

(NOV 22 - DEC 21) It will take you a lot of patience to battle the stressful days that are coming your way this week. You will have to learn how to hold your emotions inside. And you may have to learn it the hard way this week, so be careful.

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CAPRICORN

(DEC 22 - JAN 19) Taking things one step at a time will help you make the coming days more productive. You may not have been a firm believer of planning things carefully but the days to come will teach you how to organize your activities and be able to breathe in between.

AQUARIUS

(JAN 20 - FEB 18) There is always an exception to every rule, Aquarius. You might be someone who is a strict follower of the rule and the reality of exceptions might be hard to accept but circumstances will allow you to see the importance of this in the coming days.

PISCES

(FEB 19 - MAR 20) You will avoid any further conflict with the people around you of you learn how to mind your own activities. Meddling too much in the affairs of others might not be helpful this week.

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Entertainment

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FRIDAY

Apl.de.ap opens... ❰❰ 32

then we can have one there, too. There’s always a future for other places,” apl said, referring to

Sapang Palay, his hometown.

See more photos of apl’s new Jollibee store:

Apl De Ap performing a surprise number for everyone at the opening event.

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3 of the... ❰❰ 33

and he looked a little shell-shocked walking up to the stage.

Beck’s “Morning Phase” was a critical favourite, and it won best rock album. But it sold modestly and, at a time rock has receded in pop music’s firmament, he’d been overshadowed by fellow nominees Sam Smith, Pharrell and Beyonce. But Beck won the influential Grammy, and later was joined by Chris Martin for a performance.

Happy time

Pharrell went home happy again.

The producer-performer won three Grammys, including best pop solo performance for a live version of his omnipresent hit, “Happy.” He won best music video and best urban contemporary album.

“This is super awkward and I’m going to moonwalk my way off this stage right now,” he said after picking up one trophy.

Known for his headgear, Pharrell donned a bellboys’ cap to play “Happy” in collaboration with Lang Lang and Hans Zimmer.

place on the Grammy stage. Pres- with John Legend on “Glory,” She wasn’t offered a spotlight ident Barack Obama appeared in Common’s song in the movie on the prime-time broadcast, a taped message, urging help for “Selma,” which referenced last but veteran singer Rosanne women who are abused, and a summer’s racial unrest in FerCash went home with three woman involved in a violent re- guson, Missouri.

Grammy Awards for American lationship talked about getting roots performance, American help. Katy Perry followed her to Performance roots song and Americana al- the stage and sang the ballad “By Veteran Australian rockers bum. the Grace of God.” AC/DC made for a somewhat “Reagan was president last Racial turmoil was refer- odd choice to open the Gramtime I won a Grammy,” said enced a handful of times, once mys, performing a new song Cash, a country star in the by Prince when he came on- and the classic “Highway to 1980s who now Hell.” Katy Perlives in New ry and other auYork and keeps dience members away from boiswore red horns terous mainSmith said he wanted to thank the in the audience stream country. man he’s been in love with for the to show support.

“I just showed past year “for breaking my heart, The night had up for work for ‘cause you got me four Grammys. several memora35 years and ble performancthis is what hapes. Usher did a pened.” spot-on Stevie Country queen Wonder imitaMiranda Lambert’s stage show stage to present the Grammy tion for “If It’s Magic,” briefly shot off fireworks and she was for album of the year. joined by the master with his briefly bleeped during her rau“Albums, remember those?” signature harmonica. A wellcous performance of “Little Red he said. “Like books and black toned Madonna cavorted with Wagon.” She won best country lives, albums still matter.” men wearing bull masks and album for “Platinum.”

In a moving closing seg- antlers on her new “Living for ment, Beyonce sang the spiri- Love.” Smith was joined by Social issues tual “Precious Lord, Take My Mary J. Blige on “Stay With The state of the world found a Hand.” Common collaborated Me” and Annie Lennox dueted Country time

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with Hozier on “Take Me to Church.”

None could top Australia’s Sia for comic effect, some of it probably planned. She avoids being photographed, so she sang “Chandelier” in a bushy wig with a back to the audience with dancers replicating her music video, including surprise guest Kristen Wiig.

Rivers win

Veteran comic Joan Rivers won her first Grammy, in the spoken word category for “Diary of a Mad Diva.” Sadly, it was a posthumous award. Daughter Melissa Rivers collected the trophy.

“If my mother was here tonight, she would not only be honoured and thrilled to be holding her first Grammy,” Rivers said. “She would most likely have it copied and on the air on QVC by 11.” ■ Online: www.grammys.com AP writers Mesfin Fekadu and Sandy Cohen contributed to this report.

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Lifestyle

Is it worth trying a ‘digital detox’?

Experts suggest that might be overkill

BY LAUREN LA ROSE The Canadian Press TORONTO — With virtually everyone spending increasingly more time plugged-in to the Internet, some are considering a digital detox, an extended timeout from the online world.

Prolific political writer Andrew Sullivan recently announced plans for a break from blogging after 15 years of pounding the keyboard. In a note to readers on his website, The Dish, Sullivan wrote of being “saturated in digital life” and wanting to “return to the actual world again.”

Last May, actor and comedian Patton Oswalt also posted a lengthy note on Facebook announcing a summer hiatus from social media.

“If I don’t, I feel like my psyche is going to suffer permanent slippage,” he wrote.

Michael Harris documented a month spent without his phone or Internet access in his book “The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We’ve Lost in a World of Constant Connection” (HarperCollins).

The Vancouver native said he came away from his digital detox feeling the need to be less passive with his tech use.

“These technologies are very ruthlessly designed to capitalize on really basic animal instincts to grab your attention,” he said.

“In the same way that you can’t just walk into the grocery store and buy whatever food that (your) desire for sugar and

With the pressures of today's "always connected" world, the idea of doing a full "digital detox" seems appealing, but some experts say that it may be better to find ways to make small, manageable changes to your current digital lifestyle instead.

fat is telling you to buy, we have to engineer our media diet for ourselves.”

While some may feel the need for an extended “digital fast,” Harris said another approach is to make manageable adjustments in your daily life.

“Something like 50 per cent of us sleep with our smartphones on bedside tables. And when we wake up, the first thing that we think is: ‘What did I miss?’ instead of thinking: ‘What will I do with my day?”‘ Harris said.

“Take that 30 or 40 minutes

to say: ‘I’m not going to let my Twitter feed colonize my brain right away. I’m going to have a shower, I’m going to make a cup of coffee.”‘ Scott Schieman, principal investigator of the ongoing Canadian Work, Stress and Health Study of about 6,000 Canadians, said some workers are increasingly stressed by jobrelated pressures compounded with “role blurring” — sending and receiving work-related communications outside of office hours.

“If it’s your work and you’re

constantly doing that, then it might be really healthy to make sure that the other parts of your non-digital life are really satisfying and rich. I just think in general people just get burnt out,” said Schieman, a professor of sociology at the University of Toronto and the Canada Research Chair in Social Contexts of Health.

Vancouver-based business and leadership coach Lauren Bacon said she’s not of the belief that individuals need to unplug completely to experience mindfulness.

“I do think cultivating consciousness and awareness of what our own priorities are, of what we really want out of a day, is kind of step one,” said Bacon.

“We need to start there if we’re going to make any headway.... We need to be really clear on what matters to us to get done in a day, what emails can afford to be left unread or unresponded to, and what interactions really do feed us and make us feel connected, versus what interactions are just kind of demanding and draining.” ■

36

Lifestyle

FEBRUARY 13, 2015 FRIDAY

Seeking to redefine chronic fatigue syndrome, advisory group urges new name, better diagnosis

BY LAURAN NEERGAARD The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Doctors are getting a new way to diagnose chronic fatigue syndrome — and influential government advisers say it’s time to replace that hated name, too, to show it’s a real and debilitating disease.

The Institute of Medicine on Tuesday called on doctors to do a better job diagnosing an illness that may affect up to 2.5 million Americans, and it set five main symptoms as the criteria.

And the IOM’s choice of a new name — Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease, or SEID — reflects a core symptom, that exertion can wipe patients out.

“This is not a figment of their imagination,” said Dr. Ellen Wright Clayton of Vanderbilt University’s Center for Biomedical Ethics and Society, who chaired the IOM panel. “These patients have real symptoms.

They deserve real care.”

Here are some things to know about the disorder: Whatever it's called, what is this illness?

Its hallmark is persistent and profound fatigue where, on a bad day, a simple activity like grocery shopping can put someone to bed. It’s often accompanied by memory problems or other symptoms.

Laura Hillenbrand, author of bestsellers “Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” and “Seabiscuit: An American Legend,” has put a public face to the confusing illness.

“Well, in the years in which I’ve been exhausted it’s been something where I’ve had to drag myself to my computer or to my telephone to do interviews,” she said on CBS’ “Face the Nation” last December.

While working on her book “Unbroken,” she said that over a two-year stretch, she was “unable to leave the house a single time, because I simply wasn’t strong enough to walk to the car to get out of the house.”

GETTING DIAGNOSED HAS LONG BEEN A PROBGetting

diagnosed has long been a problem

Between 836,000 and 2.5 million Americans suffer from the disorder, and most have no formal diagnosis, Tuesday’s report estimated.

Patients flooded the IOM with stories of years of misdiagnosis or even being dismissed by skeptical doctors as having a psychological problem instead.

There’s no medical test for the disorder, leaving doctors to rule out other possible causes for the exhaustion. No one knows what causes it.

There’s no specific treatment, and the IOM found less than a third of medical schools teach about the disease.

What's new

The federal government asked the independent Institute of Medicine to investigate the state of chronic fatigue diagnosis. Tuesday, the panel issued new criteria that it said should enable any physician to tell which patients are affected.

Diagnosis requires three core symptoms: Fatigue and reduction in pre-illness levels of activity that last for more than six months, the post-exertion worsening, and sleep that is unrefreshing despite exhaustion.

Also, patients must have at least one other symptom: Cognitive impairment, sometimes described as “brain fog,” or what’s called orthostatic intolerance — meaning symptoms improve when lying down and patients find it hard to stay upright for long.

What's in a name?

Patients have long sought a change to a name they say belittles their suffering. Some groups already had begun using a more tongue-twisting name — myalgic encephalomyelitis/ chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS. Tuesday’s report rejected that option, saying not all patients have the muscle pain and brain or spinal cord inflammation that medical jargon reflects.

It’s too early to know if the alternative name proposed Tuesday will catch on. But just including the word “disease” instead of “syndrome” is important, said Carol Head, who

Doctors are looking for a new way to diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, as well as give it a new name, in order to show that it's a real and debilitating disease.

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leads the Solve ME/CFS Initiative, the largest advocacy organization.

“Having called this serious disease by an inappropriate and frankly insulting name is one of the factors that kept doctors, friends, family members, even employers from affording it the seriousness it deserves,” she said.

What to do after diagnosis

Doctors may not know how to cure the disorder, www.canadianinquirer.net

but there are treatments for individual symptoms, noted committee member Dr. Lucinda Bateman of the Fatigue Consultation Clinic in Salt Lake City.

Moreover, the IOM said there’s been “a paucity of research” into the causes, treatments, even the natural history of the disease to figure out who may get better over time. At Solve ME/CFS, Head said the report should spur more research funding.

What happens next?

The IOM advised the government to develop a toolkit to help doctors diagnose the disease, and to make sure the disorder is assigned a specific medical billing code. The government is reviewing the recommendations.

Committee members are spreading the word about the diagnostic criteria in medical journals, and the institute’s website, www.iom.edu , eventually will post a physician guide. ■

Lifestyle

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Canadian kayaker... ❰❰ 23

time and money to devote to finishing the interior. The former Carleton architecture student has added a kitchen, and a handcrafted two-piece couch that when pushed together makes a spare bed. Power comes from a wind turbine and solar panels.

He was able to purchase appliances thanks to a crowd-funding campaign last summer. The name of every donor is hand-painted within a giant maple leaf on one outer wall.

“I tried to make it modern and rustic at the same time,” said Hayward, who recently completed a video on the construction of the interior. “And so it was kind of designed to be a home office or a living room or a dining room, or a spare bed, and have a lot of dual functionality and be really space efficient. The kitchen is amazing. . . the oven I have in there is better than any one I've had in any apartments I've rented before.

“It's actually a really nice space to live in.”

The total cost was $10,000, which is completely paid off, leaving him with just fuel costs and living expenses.

Hayward spent four months this past fall living in his hobbit van while he trained in France. The owners of the whitewater facility there permitted him to park it in their overflow lot.

“It was great, they were quite happy to come over for tea and coffee,” Hayward said.

He never feels claustrophic in his car-

avan, he said.

“I actually really like it a lot. I've got a big bed in there, so it doesn't feel cramped at all,” he said. “I think living in a small space encourages you to be outside a bit more, and so I've actually really enjoyed the lifestyle. It's a really nice shift, rather than staying in hotel rooms and then you end up on your laptop a little more often than you'd like.”

Hayward is coming off the best season of his career, making two World Cup finals, finishing sixth and ninth in men's K1. He won Canadian national titles in four different disciplines. He has his sights on a strong showing at this summer's Pan American Games in Toronto, and then a spot on Canada's Olympic team for Rio. He's racing the K1 this week at the Australia Open at Penrith's Whitewater Stadium, the whitewater venue for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Hayward has made the most of his trip Down Under. A couple of weeks ago he travelled to Hobbiton in New Zealand, the movie set for the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and the “Hobbit” films. Besides being a big Hobbit fan, he also got some ideas for his caravan.

“It was a lot more detailed than I thought it would be, and it's massive as well, so it was very cool. . .,” he said. “And I'm also studying architecture so it was cool just to see this kind of architecture typology that has never really existed except in fiction.” ■

Half century after creation, Kikkoman bottle symbolizes soy sauce in much of world THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TOKYO — It’s a simple glass bottle with a red top that has become a symbol of soy sauce in Japan and much of the world.

More than half a century after its creation, the Kikkoman soy sauce bottle remains a familiar and comforting shape on restaurant and dining room tables in many countries.

Sumi Murayama, 71, has purchased soy sauce in the bottles since she opened a Japanese restaurant in Tokyo 40 years ago.

“The best part of the bottle is its smart red cap, which doesn’t drip,” she said.

“Its simplicity perfectly fits a downtown

happy with the outcome of this decision,” he said.

In 1993, the same court ruled 5-4 against Rodriguez, who by then was in a wheelchair, her speech halting but her resolve firmly intact.

“I was with her on Sept. 30, 1993 when we got the original Supreme Court of Canada decision,” Robinson said. “It was painful because we lost narrowly but at the same time I remember vividly, both of us said, ‘This is not the end of the journey.”‘ “She put this issue on the national agenda with such courage that I want to honour her memory today as being the trailblazer that I think ultimately led us to this outcome,” Robinson said.

Victoria lawyer, Chris Consadine, who represented the first Canadian to challenge the country’s laws against assisted suicide said Rodriguez had no idea when she came to him that his grandmother died of the same illness that was killing her.

Consadine said he was a bit emotional when he awoke Friday to learn about the high court decision to allow terminally

restaurant like this.”

The bottle’s designer, Kenji Ekuan, died Saturday of a heart condition at age 85. He had said he wanted to design a small soy sauce bottle that could be used conveniently for both cooking and serving because of childhood memories of his mother pouring sauce from a heavy 2-litre (half-gallon) bottle into a tabletop dispenser. He also designed a Yamaha motorcycle, highspeed trains and audio equipment.

Kikkoman, the world’s largest soy sauce brewer, said the bottle helped bring its brand out of the kitchen into restaurants and dining rooms. It says it has sold 400 million bottles around the world since its creation in 1961. ■

“Attracting and retaining the best international talent to fill skills shortages in key occupations is critical to Canada’s economic success.”

- Hon. Jason Kenney, P.C., M.P.

Assisted suicide... ❰❰ 19

37

Minister of Employment and Social Development

ill people to die with the help of a doctor — 22 years after his own court challenge paved the way for the historic ruling.

“I reflected on Sue Rodriguez and thought about what she stood for — her courage and conviction,” Consadine said.

Rodriguez came to him around the end of 1992, about a year after doctors told her ALS would slowly kill her, and there was no cure.

Consadine said the courts needed time to reflect on assisted dying laws in Oregon and Washington, states that essentially adopted the protocols he was advocating in Rodriguez’s case, adding those laws have worked without abuse.

Rodriguez also had palliative care but when she could no longer walk, talk or feed herself as her joints became dislocated, she knew it was time to get a doctor’s help to end her life, Consadine said.

“She didn’t want to go through that for herself, nor her family, including her then-eight-year-old son because the mental distress was going to be huge for her, as well as the physical distress and indignity.” ■

Respond to Canada’s need for immigrants.

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38

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Business

As cyberattacks become more severe, experts say let go of illusion hackers can be kept out

BY YOUKYUNG LEE The Associated Press SEOUL, KOREA, REPUBLIC OF — Ever since the Internet blossomed in the 1990s, cybersecurity was built on the idea that computers could be protected by a digital quarantine.

Now, as hackers routinely overwhelm such defences, experts say cybersecurity is beyond due an overhaul.

Their message: Neutralize attackers once they’re inside networks rather than fixating on trying to keep them out.

First they need to convince a conservative business world to gamble on a different approach.

And having sold generations of defensive systems that consistently lagged the capabilities of the most advanced hackers, the industry itself must overcome skepticism it’s flogging another illusion of security.

According to U.S. cybersecurity company FireEye, 229 days is the median length of time attackers lurk inside their victim’s computers before being detected or revealing themselves, underscoring the weakness of conventional tools in identifying sophisticated intruders.

The traditional defences must “have a description of the bad guys before they can help you find them,” said Dave Merkel, chief technology officer at FireEye Inc. “That’s just old and outmoded. And just doesn’t work anymore,” he said.

“There’s no way to guarantee that you never are the victim of cyberattack.”

Merkel said in the worst case he knows of, attackers hid themselves for years.

Experts aren’t recommending organizations stop deploying perimeter defences such as antivirus software or firewalls that weed out vanilla threats.

But they say a strategy that could be likened to laying traps is needed to counter the sophisticated hacks that can cause huge losses.

Computer techs practice their cyber-attack and defense skills by playing a game of "Capture the Flag" through computers at a hacker conference. According to computer experts today, there is no way to guarantee that you are never the victim of a cyberattack.

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The weakness of relying on a firewall is that it’s like building a fence around a housing complex but not hiring a guard to patrol the interior streets, said Ed Amoroso, chief security officer at AT&T. The hackers who targeted Anthem, the second biggest U.S. health insurer, and accessed personal information of 80 million customers, may have been inside its system for more than a month before being detected, according to the company.

In the famous Sony Pictures hack, the attackers who breached the Hollywood studio’s network went unnoticed until computers were paralyzed and a mountain of data was dumped on the Internet.

The amount of data copied and removed from Sony’s systems should have set off internal alarms long before Sony workers found their PCs taken over by malware, said Mike Potts, CEO of Lancope, a network security company based in Alpharetta, Georgia.

The cybersecurity industry

characterizes such long-term intrusions as advanced persistent threats or APT. They are often sponsored by states and target valuable commercial and military information.

In South Korea, where government agencies and businesses have come under repeated attacks from hackers traced

by Seoul to North Korea, several security firms have jumped on the growing global trend to develop systems that analyze activity to detect potentially suspicious patterns rather than scanning for known threats.

Kwon Seok-chul, CEO at computer security firm Cuvepia Inc., said it has been tough to convince executives that it’s more effective to catch bad guys after they’ve infiltrated a network instead of trying to keep them out, which he believes is impossible anyway.

Kwon said his company’s latest monitoring product keeps a log of all activity, dividing it into authorized users and possible attackers. When certain conditions are met, the program sounds

an alarm. A response team, he said, can sit back and watch what hackers copy and respond before damage is done. The security team can cut the hacker’s connection or trick the intruder into stealing empty files.

“Because hackers are in your palm, you can enforce any measures that you want,” said Kwon, member of an advisory board for South Korea’s cyberwarfare command.

In one case, the security team at one of Kwon’s clients “enjoyed” watching for about an hour as a hacker scanned its network and installed tools to unlock passwords and counter antivirus programs.

He said that for skilled hackers, it usually takes about 20 minutes to lay out the initial steps of the attack that allow them to stealthily roam a network. Normally the security team would counterattack within a few minutes after gathering intelligence about the hacker’s tools. But in this case, the hacker was not sophisticated and employed well-

known programs mostly made in China.

Eventually, the security team severed the hacker’s connection to the victim’s computer based on the unique ID of the program that Cuvepia’s software showed the hacker was using.

According to FireEye’s Merkel, there is a rise in awareness in the U.S. and growing interest in Asia in modern approaches to information security that include using automated programs to scan for unusual network activity, encryption and segregating sensitive data in special “domains” that require additional credentials to access.

But many companies are in denial about their vulnerability or are reluctant to spend more on cybersecurity, he said.

In the financial industry at least, part of the reason is greater concern with meeting regulatory requirements for security than improving security itself.

When encryption is used, South Korean courts have limited the liability of companies that faced lawsuits from customers over stolen data, said Hwang Weoncheol, a former chief information security officer at a South Korean financial institution. That reinforces the security strategy centred on compliance with regulation, he said.

Protecting high value information often comes with a high price tag.

Installing Cuvepia’s cheapest monitoring product on 1,000 computers for a year costs 450 million won ($410,000). That is many times the cost of installing antivirus software though the cost drops significantly after the first year.

The answer for executives, said Kwon, is to see cybersecurity as an investment not a cost. ■ AP Technology Writer Brandon Bailey in San Francisco contributed.

Business

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

39

Global oil price plunge will not affect AEC implementation PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY KUALA LUMPUR — The plunge in global oil prices will not impact the implementation of ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), said Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry, Datuk Ir Hamim Samuri.

He said plans for ASEAN to declare itself as a single economic community were moving ahead with speed.

“We are convinced that even the global slump in oil prices will not have an adverse effect towards the realisation of the AEC,” he said at Affin Hwang Capital Conference Series 2015 here Tuesday.

He was one of the speakers at the conference.

Hamim said Malaysia, as chair of ASEAN for 2015, was focused on realising

the AEC by year-end.

“We aim for ASEAN member states to complete 95 percent of the integration measures by that date,” he said.

He said the potentials for ASEAN were enormous and if combined with the conclusion of negotiations for the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the region’s future economic growth would be bright.

“RCEP involves nations with a combined gross domestic product of US$ 17 trillion, which is larger than the US’s or the European Union’s economy,” he said.

RCEP, formally launched in 2012, is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between ASEAN members and the six states with which ASEAN has existing FTAs (Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea and New Zealand). ■

Starbucks will serve beer and wine in Canada by the end of the year

BY LINDA NGUYEN The Canadian Press

TORONTO — Fancy a glass of Pinot Grigio or a pint of cold pilsner? Soon, you won’t have to look any further than your local Starbucks.

The world’s largest coffee chain says it plans to serve wine and beer at some select Canadian locations by the end of the year.

The pilot program, called Starbucks Evenings, will offer customers a menu of wine, beer and small plates like olives, nuts and cheese after 4 p.m.

Specific locations for the program have yet to be confirmed, says Carly Suppa, a spokeswoman with Starbucks Canada.

The coffee giant first tried out the concept in one of its Seattle cafes in 2010 and has since expanded it to 30 more locations from Chicago to Los Angeles.

It’s part of an aggressive push by the company to expand into a food destination rather than just a place for coffee.

Starbucks already sells sandwiches, salads and specialty drinks but has been trying to capture more sales throughout the day, instead of just those seeking an early morning caffeine fix.

At select U.S. locations, customers

EXCHANGE RATES

can order from a menu of up to 10 different types of wines, including Italian Prosecco, Californian Chardonnay and Argentine Malbec. The evening menu also offers a variety of hot foods, such as chicken skewers, bacon-wrapped dates and truffle macaroni and cheese.

When the program was first launched, it was targeted towards women looking for a place to grab a quick bite to eat and a glass of wine after work without having to go to a bar or a restaurant.

“Say hello to a new way to enjoy Starbucks after 4 p.m. Drop in after work, with friends, after yoga, by yourself, after a long day or after a great day,” says a promo for the menu on its website.

Starbucks says it will also launch a new bakery line in Canada called La Boulange with nine French-inspired pastries starting on March 3.

Founded in 1971 in Seattle, Starbucks now operates more than 20,000 stores around the world. The first Canadian location opened in Vancouver in 1987. ■

As of February 11, 2015, from finance.yahoo.com PRICE

CHANGE

% CHANGE

CND / USD

1.2472

+0.0000

+0.0040%

CND / PHP

35.5641

-0.0458

-0.1286%

CND / EUR

1.4096

-0.0027

-0.1905%

www.canadianinquirer.net

40

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Travel

Mt. Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal, offers numerous spots for hiking, caving, spelunking, rock climbing, river swimming, and camping.

PNA

Wandering in the wonder of Mt. Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal

BY KRIS M. CRISMUNDO Philippine News Agency TANAY, RIZAL — The southern part of Luzon has many wonders to offer: mountains, volcanoes, beaches, falls, rivers, and lakes, among others. Name any nature escapade you want, Southern Luzon has a lot to offer.

One of these many wonders of Southern Luzon is Mt. Daraitan in Tanay, Rizal.

It’s obvious that going to Mt. Daraitan means hiking activity, but this 739-meter-above-sealevel (MASL) mountain is also a good spot for caving or spelunking, rock climbing, river swimming, and camping.

There are two main camp sites in Mt. Daraitan. First is right at the summit, but it can accommodate only four to five tents. Second is in Tinipak riverside which can hold up to 25 tents.

Mt. Daraitan can be climbed

by day hike but it will be hard to compress all activities in a single day.

So, to enjoy the wonders of Mt. Daraitan, I and my group allotted two days for all the activities in this wonderful mountain.

You may also follow our itinerary whenever you plan to hit this mountain.

there will be an environmental fee of PhP20 per person and a tour guide fee of PhP1,250 per group for overnight activities or PhP550 for day hike.

The tourism cluster of Brgy.

Daraitan requires tourists to have their local guides for safety reasons. A guide can facilitate up to 10 persons.

Since we chose to have a two-

mations, cleanliness, and the relaxing sound of water rushing in the river.

Going to the camp site will also involve minor rock climbing.

After setting up the tents, we then hit the cave just across our camp site. It was 15- to 25-minute walk inside the cave (depending on speed and photo opportunity moDay 1: Tinipak ments) until we River adventure reached a MothComing from er Earth-made Metro Manila, Unlike other mountains which have Jacuzzi with ride a jeepney or ascend and descend trails and mostly some 15-degreeSUV Express gorequire walking, almost 90 percent of Celsius-cold waing to Tanay in your Mt. Daraitan experience will be ter, swimming front of Starmall climbing. and spelunking in Shaw Blvd. at the same time!

This will be an Then we conhour-and-a-half tinue our swimride to Tanay market. From day activity, we took first the ming activities in the river, afTanay market, you can take a Tinipak River adventure. terwards. tricycle going to Barangay DaOur Day 1 activity involved a After a day of jam-packed raitan with estimated travel one-hour walk to the camp site wandering, it’s best to sleep eartime of two hours. in Tinipak River. Just walking ly and prepare yourselves for The jump-off point would to the camping site, you’ll sure- the main activity the next day be its Barangay Hall where ly be amazed with the rock for- which is climbing Mt. Daraitan.

Day 2: Mt. Daraitan hike

It’s best to start the Mt. Daraitan hike at the break of dawn since it’s hard to see the trail when it is still dark.

Climbing Mt. Daraitan will require two-and-a-half to four hours of hiking until reaching the summit.

I must warn you, this is a tough hike. Unlike other mountains which have ascend and descend trails and mostly require walking, almost 90 percent of your Mt. Daraitan experience will be climbing.

Good thing that Mt. Daraitan is a forest-type mountain; you’ll be protected from sunlight.

But this tough experience is all worth it when you reach the summit. Be ready to amaze yourself with the view of the Sierra Madre Mountains, Daraitan River, and Laguna de Bay. Since 2015 is Visit Philippines Year, why not wander in Mt. Daraitan — one of the wonders of Southern Luzon? ■

Travel

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

41

Thrill seekers sign up for chance to be ‘Trapped in a Room with a Zombie’

BY MIKE HOUSEHOLDER The Associated Press DETROIT — An interactive theatre show offered in more than a dozen cities across the U.S. encourages participants to channel their inner Sherlock Holmes in an end-of-the-world team game-building exercise.

It wouldn’t hurt if they had a little Rick Grimes from “The Walking Dead” in them, either.

“Trapped in a Room With a Zombie” is a “room-escape” experience, versions of which are offered in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Seattle and other cities.

A version that recently opened in Detroit works like this: Up to a dozen people are ushered into a room at a downtown high-rise and locked inside for an hour alongside a bloodthirsty zombie (or at least an actor portraying one) who is chained to a wall. Every five minutes, a buzzer sounds, and the zombie is given another foot of chain, allowing the undead creature to scamper closer to its next meal.

If participants don’t solve a series of puzzles and riddles, the zombie “eats” everyone.

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Rick Broida, the Detroit show’s executive producer, said it’s “more ‘fun scary,’ than ‘scary fun.’”

“The zombie is there to add an adrenaline rush. Cannibalism has been outlawed in this country for a little while, so legally speaking, the zombie’s not allowed to eat you or consume

any portion of you,” Broida said just before Audrey Poe and seven pals enter the room and do their best to avoid becoming zombie fodder.

Poe, of suburban Waterford, Michigan, “was trying to find something fun and interesting to do” for her 30th birthday when she read online about “Trapped

in a Room with a Zombie.”

Poe’s group solved some clues, but not quickly enough to make it out “alive.”

“We almost got out,” she said, minutes after affixing her name tag to a wall reserved for those who didn’t survive.

About 30 per cent of the groups that have taken part in

WEATHER FORECAST VANCOUVER

the Detroit show have survived.

The record time so far is 58 minutes, 21 seconds.

“It always comes down to a race to the finish with the zombie nipping at your heels, and everybody’s trying to solve the last puzzle,” Broida said.

“It makes for a really exciting time.” ■

Long term forecast taken from: www.weathernetwork.com

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FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

Sports

Promoter says HBO and Showtime in agreement on Mayweather-Pacquiao fight

BY TIM DAHLBERG The Associated Press HBO AND Showtime have agreed on how they would broadcast a fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, promoter Bob Arum said on Thursday, leaving only two remaining issues to be settled before the much anticipated May 2 fight can be signed.

Arum told The Associated Press the rival networks have come to terms on an announcing team and other details for the pay-per-view blockbuster, and that talks this week have narrowed the remaining differences between the Mayweather and Pacquiao camps.

“We had four issues and we resolved two,” said Arum, who promotes Pacquiao. “Now we’re working on resolving the other two. Unless something else comes up at the last minute, that’s what my take is.”

Not so fast, said Stephen Espinoza, executive vice-president for Showtime Sports.

“There are a few significant issues remaining on both the fighter side and the network side of this deal,” Espinoza said.

“While we are optimistic, it’s a bit premature to say that the networks are in total agreement.”

Arum declined to say what those two issues were, saying he didn’t want to sabotage the negotiations just as they were reaching a critical juncture.

And it was not clear whether the Mayweather side views the

Boxing fans received a lot of hope that the much touted fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. would take place after the two met unexpectedly at a Miami Heat game last month.

negotiations the same as Arum, showed him enjoying a trip on a Arum said the major finanor even if Mayweather will private jet to the Caribbean and cial points of the fight have agree to the fight. getting a fish pedicure. He did been agreed to, including a reMayweather’s ported 60-40 adviser is Al split in the purse Haymon, who in Mayweather’s reportedly has favour. Based on been doing the While we are optimistic, it’s a bit prethe fight doing negotiating on mature to say that the networks are in a record $200 his fighter’s betotal agreement. million or more half. But Hayin revenue, Maymon doesn’t talk weather’s payday to the media, could be at least and Mayweather $120 million. communicates almost exclu- post on social media last week “There’s a lot of devil in the sively through social media. that a media report the fight details and that’s what we’re Mayweather’s latest postings was a done deal was a “lie.” sorting through now,” Arum

said. “The remaining issues are obviously important to the participants, and are things we have to work out.”

Mayweather’s representatives have dictated most of the terms of the fight, and Arum said Mayweather will be the one to announce it if it is made.

Mayweather fights under contract to Showtime, and Pacquiao to HBO, and there was speculation the networks could hold up the fight by not coming to terms themselves.

But talks between top executives have been ongoing for weeks, and HBO issued a statement on Monday saying it was not an “impediment” to the fight.

An HBO spokesman declined comment on Thursday, and Showtime executives were not immediately made available for comment.

While Mayweather has been vacationing, Pacquiao was heading home on Thursday to the Philippines after a trip to the U.S. and England. While in Miami for the pageant, Pacquiao attended a Miami Heat basketball game the same night Mayweather was there, and the fighters exchanged numbers and discussed the fight.

They later met for an hour, and Arum said the meeting convinced him that Mayweather wanted to make the fight.

Before heading home, Pacquiao also met in Washington with Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid and on Thursday attended the National Prayer Breakfast, where President Barack Obama spoke. ■

Sports

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

G. Archers hold Global to 1-1 draw

BY CEDELF P. TUPAS Philippine Daily Inquirer FORMER Global goalkeeper Paolo Pascual sparkled against his old team, helping Green Archers United hold the defending champions to a 1-1 stalemate Saturday night in the United Football League at Rizal Memorial Stadium.

Acquired by GAU during the offseason after spending three seasons with Global, the Cebu-born stopper came up with a string of superb saves in the second half.

It was a well-deserved point for GAU, which stayed firm in the face of Global’s assault.

Mark Hartmann converted from the penalty spot in the 10th minute and it looked like Global was going to coast to victory. But a trademark strike from Chieffy Caligdong in the 37th minute put Green Archers on level terms.

Earlier, a brace from OJ Porteria boosted Kaya past Philippine Army, 4-0, even as Ceres

La Salle prevailed over Manila Jeepney, 2-1.

Porteria struck from the penalty spot in the 37th minute before firing a second goal late in the second half that sealed Kaya’s triumph.

Chris Greatwich and Louis Clark also delivered as AdamReekie’s side found an extra gear in the second half to put Army to the sword.

Reinforced by a slew of Korean players, Army kept Kaya frustrated for most of the match before eventually yielding to the pressure late on. Army players lacked preparation as they were deployed in Clark to beef up security at the Apec meetings the past two weeks.

Martin Steuble and Adrian Gallardo scored for a Ceres side that struggled in the second half.

Steuble, atoning for his penalty miss in the loss to Global in the PFF Smart Cup semifinals, was on target in the 15th minute before Gallardo doubled the lead before halftime. ■

43

Pagara stops Mexican Chavez in two

BY ROY LUARCA Philippine Daily Inquirer DAVAO CITY — Jason “El Niño” Pagara delivered as promised Saturday night, stopping Mexican-Cesar “El Dolar” Chavez in the second round in the headliner of Pinoy Pride 29 at USEP Gym here.

The power-punching Pagara knocked down Chavez twice in the first round before putting the Mexican away in the next, just as he predicted during Friday’s weigh-in. Referee Bruce McTavish waived off the bout in the 1:56 mark.

Figuring out his opponent early on, Pagara floored Chavez with a left hook to the body and then tried to finish him off with a barrage of body punches before the bell saved the Mexican.

Moving in for the kill, Pagara landed another left to Chavez’s face in the second that again sent the Mexican down. McTavish stepped in to save the Mexican from further punishment.

The methodical demolition raised Pagara’s record to 35-2

with 22 knockouts in his fifth defense of the World Boxing Organization International junior welterweight crown.

It also capped the Filipinos’ dominance in the eight-fight card jointly undertaken by ALA Promotions and ABS-CBN Sports.

Jason Pagara.

“I saw his stomach was flabby during the weigh-in, so I attacked him there,” said Pagara.

Also hurdling their foreign foes were Genesis “Azukal” Servania, “King” Arthur Villanueva, Marc “Magnifico” Magsayo and Arjan Canillas.

Servania rose to 26-0 with a

unanimous verdict over Mexican Juan Luis Hernandez to retain his WBO Intercontinental junior featherweight title.

Villanueva won in the same fashion over former world champion Julio Cesar Miranda, also of Mexico, and climbed to 27-0with 14 knockouts.

Living up to hype as a potential world contender, the 19-year-old Magsayo stopped Thai Sukkasem Kietyongyuth in the fifth round to improve to 10-0with eight knockouts.

Canillas knocked out Indonesian Stevi Ongen Fernadez with 12 seconds left in the fourth round.

Satisfied with Pagara’s form, ALA Promotions presidentCEO Michael Aldeguer told sportswriters that the Cagayan de Oro-born standout will headline ALA’s initial promotional foray in the United States on May 23 in San Diego, California.

Pagara, who has yet to see action abroad, is being groomed to challenge the likes of Brandon Rios, Danny Garcia or Mike Alvarado. ■

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Seen and Scenes

FEBRUARY 13, 2015

FRIDAY

WINTER ESCAPADE 2 Vancouver participants at the Winter Escapade2 spent marvellous days touring tourist destinations in Dumaguete, Cebu, Bohol and Manila. Here are some photos of Laarni Liwanag-de Paula’s trip.

WINTERFEST 2015 Filipino-Canadians in Fredericton, New Brunswick came out of hibernation and had a fun-filled weekend during the Winterfest, an annual winter celebration. Here are highlights of the event.

For photo submissions, please email info@canadianinquirer.net. www.canadianinquirer.net

Events

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

45

New WelcomePack Canada Distribution Centre

By WelcomePack Canada Inc. WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 5 p.m., Mon, Tues, Thu & Fri at the Filipino Centre Bldg., 597 Parliament St., Suite 103, Toronto, On. MORE INFO: Call (416) 928-9355 Acoustic Night with the Soloistas – Canada Tour WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., Feb. 27, at John Bassett Theatre, Metro Toronto Convention Centre North Bldg., 255 Front St. West, Toronto, On. 7:30 p.m., Feb. 28, at Century Casino, 1010 42 Ave. SE, Calgary, AB MORE INFO: Featuring DJ Mike (formerly of Akafellas), Jimmy Bondoc, Luke Mijares, Paolo Santos and Jinky Vidal

CANADA EVENTS

YUKON NORTHWEST TERRITORIES

St. Valentine’s Day WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Feb. 14, at Java Jazz Bistro, 412 Sixth St., New Westminster, B.C. MORE INFO: Live Music. Ed Dayao and the Java Jazz Band. $28.50 per person. All-you-caneat buffet dinner, bottomless pop, coffee and tea The Luisa Marshall Show Band at Lulu’s Lounge at the River Rock WHEN/WHERE: 9:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., Feb. 14, at Lulu’s Lounge Bar, River Rock Casino, 8811 River Road, Richmond B.C. MORE INFO: Hosted by Steve Marshall It’s a Date

By Ria Jade WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Feb. 14, Olympia Pizza Steak & Restaurant, 10257 King George Hwy, Surrey, B.C. MORE INFO: Special Guests include PNT Singing Idols Season 6, Johnette Sevilla, Harianne Alindogan, MJ Ancheta, Abigail Henick and more.

Abby Sings from the Heart

By Java Jazz WHEN/WHERE: 7:30 p.m., Feb. 15 at Java Jazz, 412 6th St., New Westminster, B.C. Nanny Fair

By Association of Caregiver & Nanny Agencies Canada WHEN/WHERE: 2 to 8 p.m., Feb. 15, at the Collingwood Neighborhood House, 5288 Joyce St., Vancouver, B.C. BC Home and Garden Show WHEN/WHERE: Feb. 18 to 22, at BC Place Stadium, 777 Pacific Blvd., Vancouver, B.C.

Winterfesthiver Photo booth WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m., Feb. 14, at Capital Exhibit NEWFOUNDLAND Center in Fredericton, New Brunswick

MANITOBA

SASKATCHEWAN

ONTARIO

http://bit.ly/ PCI-Events

Love is in the air2

By Filipino-Canadian Community of New Brunswick WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m., Feb. 14, The Fredericton Inn 1315 Regent St., Fredericton, New Brunswick

NUNAVUT

BRITISH COLUMBIA ALBERTA

View all events by scanning this QR code or visiting

QUEBEC

NEW BRUNSWICK

Winter-Spring Training 2015

By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: 14 Saturdays till Apr. 18, at the Immigrant Services Society of B.C., Royal City Centre – Rm. 280 610 – 6th St., New Westminster MORE INFO: Contact Liza at 604-395-8000 ext.

1706 or email: liza.delarosa@issbc.org Canadian Citizenship Preparation

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 4 p.m., Feb.18 & 19 at MOSAIC Vancouver, 2nd floor, 1720 Grant St. Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: 604-254-9626 Interwoven Stories: Textiles, Costumes, Cultures – A Multicultural Fest By the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver WHEN/WHERE: Exhibit runs 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday to Sunday till Feb. 15, at the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Vancouver at 555 Columbia Street, Vancouver, B.C.

Ross Salvosa’s Final DMA solo recital WHEN/WHERE: 8 p.m., Feb. 24 at Roy Barnett Recital Hall, School of Music Bldg, University of British Columbia, 6361 Memorial Road, Vancouver, B.C. My Tween & Me Multicultural Mom’s Support Group

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursdays, Dunbar Hts. Church, 3320 Crown St., Vancouver MORE INFO: call Daisy 604-254-9626 ext. 273 English Corner

By Richmond Public Library WHEN/WHERE: 10 to 12 nn Fridays, up to to Feb. 27, and on Sundays, Jan. 11 to Mar. 1 at the Brighouse (Main) Branch, 2nd floor Community Place Rm., 7700 Minoru Gate.

MORE INFO: To register, visit any branch of Richmond public Library, register online at www. yourlibrary.ca/events or call 604-231-6413

Drop-in Conversation Circles for Work Permit Holders (Burnaby)

By Mosaic WHEN/WHERE: Saturdays, 1 to 3 p.m., till Mar. 21at Brentwood Community Resource Centre, 2055 Rosser Ave., Vancouver, B.C. MORE INFO: Call 604-292-3907 for details.

ISS of BC Hiring Fair

By ISS of BC WHEN/WHERE: 1 to 7 p.m., Feb. 27, at Douglas Recreation Centre, 20550 Douglas Crescent, Langley, B.C. MORE: Bring your questions and resumes. Be prepared to have on-site interviews. Now accepting online registration at http://goo.gl/forms/7BIW9P81lY or by phone 604-684-2504.

Ms. Valentine 2014

By Filipino Canadian New Era Society of BC WHEN/WHERE: 12:30 to 6 p.m., Feb. 16, at 3925 Capri Hall, Fraser St., Vancouver, B.C. www.canadianinquirer.net

Victoria Filipino Canadian Caregivers’ Association 30th Anniversary Valentine Party By: VFCCA WHEN/WHERE: 6 p.m., Feb. 28, at Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville St., Victoria, B.C.

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2015

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