Philippine Canadian Inquirer Issue #95

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CHRISTMAS 2013 ISSUE

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Senate to probe media killings

Some journalists had it coming

On the Canada Pension Plan proposals

Filipino-Canadians in Focus: Salve & Ed Dayao

Christmas, Then and Now

PASKONG PINOY SA CANADA

Japan, PH choose peaceful way

BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer

Tagle urges Catholics to observe ‘Simbang Gabi’

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer FOR THE Pinoy, Christmas wouldn’t be complete without “Simbang Gabi” (Dawn Mass) and the proverbial Puto Bumbong and Bibingka that will warm up the otherwise cold morning. But Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal

Tagle is urging the Catholics to seek more than physical “nourishment.”

“We wish to encourage the practice of Simbang Gabi, whether at dawn or in the evening, because it is a great source of spiritual nourishment for our faithful,” Cardinal Tagle said in his circular to the clergy of Manila.

PHOTO BY NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

❱❱ PAGE 7 Japan, PH

Wife warned husband about Skyway accident ❱❱ PAGE 9

❱❱ PAGE 9 Tagle urges

TOKYO—Asian nations must ensure that territorial disputes do not erupt into conflict, leaders said here on Friday, with Japan and the Philippines reaffirming their commitment to freedom of flight as concerns grow over China’s new air defense zone.

During a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, President Aquino reiterated the Philippines’ determination to pursue a peaceful settlement of its territorial dispute with China that is guided by adherence to international law.

“We reiterated our commitment to uphold the rule of law, promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to [ensure] freedom of flight in international airspace,” Mr. Aquino told report-

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Philippine News

3 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Senate to probe media killings

BY NORMAN BORDADORA Philippine Daily Inquirer SEN. AQUILINO Pimentel III, chair of the Senate committee on justice and foreign affairs, said he would immediately call for a Senate investigation into the series of media killings.

Pimentel condemned the continued and worsening attacks against journalists, citing the three killings of media professionals over the past 12 days in Mindanao.

The lawmaker, who hails from Mindanao, made the announcement following news of the death of radio commentator Rogelio Butalid, who was shot dead as he stepped out of a radio station in Tagum City.

Nonstop killings

“The nonstop killings of known media personalities are obviously work-related, noting that the victims are popular among their listeners because of their exposés against corruption and other illegal activities in their areas,” Pimentel said in a statement.

Butalid’s slay came less than a week after another radio commentator, Michael Milo, was killed in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur. Earlier broadcaster Joas Dignos was murdered in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Pimentel said another radio reporter, Jonavin Vilalba, survived an attack in Iloilo City after he was fired upon by unidentified men while opening the gate of his house in Jaro district.

Vilalba was hit on the right ankle and left foot.

Pimentel called on the police to step up its campaign against criminals and

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“to work extra hard to arrest the suspects and find out who are the real masterminds behind the series of killings in Mindanao.”

Third worst

Pimentel noted the report of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists which counted 72 journalists killed in the country since 1992, making the Philippines the third worst in CPJ’s impunity index.

Senators Grace Poe and Loren Legarda earlier blamed the slow pace of justice for the alleged culture of impunity against journalists in the country.

“I think that the only way you can deter the killings is by making sure that justice is carried out in a timely manner.

It takes years before a suspect is caught and brought to trial,” said Poe, the chair of the Senate committee on public information and mass media.

“Criminals are emboldened because hardly any suspected media killers are actually sentenced.”

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‘Vindictive politics’

“I think that we need to unburden our courts and add justices, PAO [Public Attorneys’ Office] lawyers … the DILG [Department of Interior and Local Government] should also push through with its plan to hire additional police officers by 2014,” Poe said.

Legarda, a longtime broadcast journalist before becoming a senator, blamed the incidence of “vindictive politics” in certain areas of the country.

“The personalistic and vindictive politics prevalent in some areas also breed this kind of culture which is totally unacceptable in a civilized and humane society,” Legarda added. ■

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Philippine News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 4

Sea rows up at Asean meet

BY MICHAEL LIM UBAC Philippine Daily Inquirer

nei, on the sidelines of the 23rd Asean Leaders’ Summit last October.

TOKYO—Border disputes in the West Philippine Sea, East Sea and Yellow Sea will be on the table when President Aquino meets with fellow heads of state and government of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) in an all- important regional summit here on Saturday.

The President arrives here today for a three-day visit, culminating in his participation in the “40th Asean-Japan Commemorative Summit,” a historic gathering that will be closely watched by China, which is involved in territorial disputes with Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and several Asean member-nations, including the Philippines.

China, which has its own dialogue relationswith Asean, is not part of the Tokyo conference as it has just concluded its own summitwith Asean—the 16th Asean-China Summit held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Bru-

Asean-Japan ties

The Asean-Japan commemorative summit is the culminating event to a full year of activities commemorating 40 years of AseanJapan relations.

Mr. Aquino has a twopronged mission in Japan—advance the peaceful resolution of the Philippine maritime dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea (or the part of the South China Sea bordering the Philippines) through the adoption of a code of conduct, and pursue closer ties with Tokyo mainly through defense and trade cooperation.

The summit comes on the heels of China’s unprecendented declaration of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) last month covering overlapping territories and civilian aircraft in the East China Sea—the northern part called the Yellow Sea, between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula; and that part of the sea which is bor-

dered by Japan, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, which Japan calls the Sea of Japan and Koreans call the East Sea. Spillover

The escalating tensions could spill over to theWest Philippine Sea as it has been reported that a similar scheme could be employed by China to aggressively assert its claim on islands and waters in the vast area being contested as well, wholly or in part, by the Philippines, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

The topics to be covered during the oneday summit include political and security cooperation, exchange of views on regional and international issues, cooperation on the economy and emerging socio-economic issues, cooperation on peopleto-people and cultural challenges, and adoption of medium-to-long term vision on Asean-Japan friendship.

Mr. Aquino himself told reporters here on Monday that the purpose of his trip ismainly the Asean-Japan commemora-

tive anniversary.

“This is the 40th year. So the relationship between Asean and Japan is the focal point of the engagement,” he said.

“Now, if there are other issues on a bilateral basis then we are certainly open to discussions. My I remind everybody, there are only two strategic partners for the Philippines, and that is the United States of America and Japan,” he added.

Up for discussion

Foreign Affairs spokesperson Raul Hernandez said in Manila that the West Philippine Sea issue, being a current issue that has typically been addressed in Asean forums, will be one of the subjects for discussion at the Tokyo summit.

He said the leaders would have a chance to exchange views on regional and international issues, “and they are free to raise any of these issues, including the ADIZ.” Touching base with the Filipino community here is first on the list of Mr. Aquino’s itinerary,

with a twohour meeting today with Filipino-migrants, overseas workers and students at the Olympics Memorial Youth Center in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

The President will receive from the 202,000-strong Filipino community a symbolic ¥1 million (P426,400) check for the victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

On Friday, the President will receive an honorary doctoral law degree from Sophia University.

This will precede his bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe which will take place during aworking lunch at the Prime Minister’s official residence.

Philippine ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez said only Mr. Aquino would have a working lunch with Abe, the only leader “accorded this kind of importance, so in a way the others are jealous.” ■

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Philippine News

5 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

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Philippine News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 6

Carandang quits amid talk of Palace rift

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT AQUINO has let go of his designated communication strategist as a Malacañang faction identified with Vice President Jejomar Binay has continued to assume a more prominent role in his messaging program.

The Palace announced that Mr. Aquino had accepted last Tuesday the resignation of Secretary Ricky Carandang, the head of the Presidential Communications Development and Strategic Planning Office (PCDSPO).

The INQUIRER learned that Carandang had tendered his resignation last Monday, a few days after joining presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda and Abigail Valte, the deputy spokesperson, in Singapore for a meeting of the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) secretariat.

Undersecretary Manuel Quezon III will “oversee” the PD-

SPO after Carandang’s resignation takes effect on Dec. 31, said Lacierda, who also announced the appointment of officerincharge John Philip Sevilla as commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.

Lacierda could not say what prompted Carandang, a former ABS-CBS newsreader, to quit, more than three years after joining Malacanang’s communications group, the restructured former Office of the Press Secretary.

Lacierda said he did not see the lone copy of Carandang’s resignation letter, “so I don’t know the reason.”

Private sector

“But certainly, as any public official, he wants to return to the private sector,” Lacierda said, adding that he was “very sad about [Carandang’s] departure.”

“I believe that he has done a commendable job as the PCDSPO secretary when most of the time you don’t see him because he often works behind the scenes, meeting with several

Cabinet secretaries, meeting with the President discussing also messaging,” he said.

Carandang’s resignation— the President’s decision to accept it—was not triggered by a single incident but by a “confluence of events,” partly a result of occasional differences with Mr. Aquino, the INQUIRER has learned.

But Lacierda said he didn’t think that Mr. Aquino’s acceptance of Carandang’s resignation meant that the President was “not happy” with Carandang’s performance.

Seek wisdom

“I don’t think so. One very certain fact was that the President thanked Ricky for his service to the country,” he said.

According to Lacierda, Carandang had mentioned to him that “he believes that he has done his job, that he would like to return to the private sector and that he will wander the ends of the earth seeking wisdom.”

Carandang’s resignation came as Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr., who is identified

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with the Binay camp, continued to become more conspicuous as a spokesperson for the President. Coloma heads the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), which “supervises all major government public communication and mass media organizations.”

‘Press secretary’

Coloma’s office issued a press release describing him as “press secretary.”

Lacierda said he knew of no “changes” in Malacañang’s communications structure.

“That is something for us to discuss, eventually, if there would be any,” he said.

Asked if Carandang’s resignation signaled a takeover of the “Samar” faction, with which Coloma is identified, Lacierda said: “You know, it’s all up to the President. What will happen to the Communications Group, it will all depend on further discussions with the President.”

Carandang is identified with the “Balay” faction of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas, who was defeated by Binay in the 2010

vice-presidential race.

The creation of Carandang’s PCDSPO and Coloma’s PCOO was seen as the President’s way of accommodating both factions, which were said to be battling for control over his communications strategy at the start of his administration.

Coloma began presiding on a more regular basis at the Malacañang press briefings in October, after the President reportedly expressed displeasure over how the Lacierda group had handled the controversy over the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP).

But Coloma reportedly also came under fire recently when he downplayed the media killings under the Aquino administration, and defended the looming power rate adjustment and the granting of parole to exBatangas Gov. Antonio Leviste.

The President has ordered a review of the Leviste parole grant, questioning why Leviste had been credited for “good conduct” when he was once caught outside the prison while serving his sentence. ■

Philippine News

7 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Japan, PH... ers at a joint news conference with Abe at the prime minister’s official residence here.

Mr. Aquino stopped short of mentioning China, as did Abe who spoke through an interpreter.

“We cannot accept any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through coercion or intimidation,” Abe said.

The Japanese leader welcomed President Aquino’s stand for a rules-based approach to resolving territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, East Sea and East China Sea, and spoke about the need for multilateral discussions among the claimants that would lead to the conclusion of a code of conduct that would prevent their rivalry from erupting into conflict.

“I feel that President Aquino and I have developed a stronger personal trust in each other over the last three summit meetings we have had this year.

Given the increasingly difficult regional security environment, I am willing to address regional and other international issues under much closer coordination with the President,” Abe said.

A briefer provided to reporters here said Japan would “continue to respond firmly but in a calm manner against China’s attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo by coercive measures with determination to defend resolutely its territorial land, sea and airspace.”

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said Presi❰❰ 1

dent Aquino and Abe “agreed that aside from freedom of maritime navigation, freedom of aviation and flight should also be upheld and ensured.”

Coloma, who was present in the meeting between Mr. Aquino and Abe, quoted the Japanese leader as saying that Japan would “proactively promote measures that would enhance peace and stability in the region.”

Air defense zone

China’s growing military strength has sparked concern in Asia, and tension has spiked in the last month after Beijing announced the air defense zone covering a group of islands in the East China Sea also claimed

by Japan.

The air defense identification zone has triggered protests from the United States and its close allies, Japan and South Korea.

China is also locked in territorial disputes with other Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, over wide swaths of the South China Sea, even its part that Manila calls West Philippine Sea, and Beijing has said it might set up a similar zone there.

Mr. Aquino and Abe pledged stronger cooperation in trade and maritime security, peopleto-people exchanges and other common concerns between the Philippines and Japan.

Mr. Aquino also agreed to use a post-disaster standby loan from Japan worth $500 million as aid to victims of Superty-

President Benigno S. Aquino III greets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe upon arrival for Session 1 of the ASEAN—Japan Commemorative Summit at the Hagoromo-no-ma Room of the Akasaka State Guest House on Saturday (December 14).

PHOTO BY RYAN LIM / MALACAÑANG PHOTO BUREAU

phoon “Yolanda,” particularly in rebuilding communities devastated by the storm that struck central Philippines on Nov. 8.

After the meeting with Abe, Mr. Aquino proceeded to the Imperial Palace, where he joined other Asian heads of state and governments for tea with Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

The President’s meeting with Abe and the reception at which the Emperor played host took place on the eve of a commemorative summit between Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

“I conveyed the deepest gratitude of the Filipino people to his Imperial Majesty Emperor Akihito, the Japanese people and Japanese government for the messages of condolences, sympathy and solidarity, and for the assistance they extended and continue to extend to

us in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan,” Mr. Aquino said, using the international name of Supertyphoon Yolanda.

The Japan-Philippines Parliamentarians Friendship League on Friday donated 1million yen (about P500,000) to the Yolanda relief effort.

League president Kenji Kosaka handed the donation to Philippine Ambassador to Japan Manuel Lopez during a call on President Aquino at the Imperial Hotel here.

Loan, aid from Japan

During their meeting, Mr. Aquino and Abe witnessed the signing of three “exchange of notes” dealing with a post-disaster standby loan worth 10 billion yen ($100 million), loan for 10 multirole response vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard worth 18.732 billion yen ($187 million), and a revised

route schedule for the Philippine Japan Air Services Agreement that would increase air traffic between the two countries.

Coloma said the standby loan was increased from $100 million to $500 million, or from 10 billion yen to 50 billion yen, during the meeting.

The Japanese government also pledged 6.6 billion yen in “grants-in-aid” for Yolanda relief and recovery programs, Coloma said.

Mr. Aquino said he and Abe had “extensive and productive discussions on matters of mutual interest.”

He said Japan had consistently been one of the Philippines’ top trading partners, and “this visit allowed us to reaffirm our commitment to stronger economic cooperation.”

He said the two countries’ “enhanced partnership” extended far beyond trading ties.

“The Philippines is a country of more than 7,000 islands. And the challenge is how to communicate with all our people and how to move them to where they must be, especially during times of disaster. This was most evident in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, a time we need the wherewithal to transport relief, aid and support to more than 1.4 million families affected,” Mr. Aquino said.

The President thanked Abe for the yen loan that would be used to buy 10 multirole vessels for the Philippine Coast Guard, improving the Philippines’ maritime capabilities. ■

Trillanes dares P-Noy: Test SC, use gas fund

BY TJ A. BURGONIO Philippine Daily Inquirer PRESIDENT AQUINO is not helpless at cushioning the impact of the power rate increase on consumers, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV said.

Trillanes challenged the President to test the Supreme Court ruling on the Malampaya Fund by tapping it to benefit consumers facing a P4.15 per kilowatt hour increase in power rates.

Since the fund had been used to subsidize energy-related projects in the past, there’s no reason the President could not

do the same now, especially since power rates are energyrelated, Trillanes said.

He said those who wished to question this may go to court.

But without a case, the President could go ahead with it.

“That’s just his interpretation of the ruling. It doesn’t say it’s illegal to tap it. He should go ahead with it and let the Supreme Court say it’s illegal,” Trillanes said over radio dzBB, reacting to the President’s admission that he was barred from using the Malampaya Fund to repair toppled power lines and transmission towers.

“As the saying goes, if you’re

keen on doing something, you can think of many ways to do it.

Otherwise, you offer a lot of excuses,” he said.

Mr. Aquino told reporters in Tokyo that he was bound by the Supreme Court ruling barring the use of the Malampaya Fund for subsidies to power consumers, such as the reestablishment of power distribution lines toppled by Supertyphoon “Yolanda.”

The Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) approved the power rate adjustment for the franchise area of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), setting off a furor among consumers www.canadianinquirer.net

grappling with increases in the prices of cooking gas and petroleum products.

In a recent ruling, the high court removed presidential discretion over the Malampaya Fund, which represents government revenue from the sale of natural gas from the Malampaya gas fields off the coast of Palawan.

Trillanes also proposed that the executive branch tap into the controversial Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) to subsidize consumers.

Apart from the lawmakers, the public should put political pressure on government offi-

cials not to yield to the power rate increase, Trillanes said.

The Senate energy committee is opening an inquiry into the power rate increase.

The committee seeks to look into possible collusion among power plants that simultaneously shut down last month; the mandate of the ERC; the effectivity of the Electric Power Reform Industry Act, and the long-term plans of the government on energy efficiency.

The simultaneous shutdown prompted Meralco to buy more expensive power from the spot market and pass the additional cost to its customers. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 8

Palace slams media campaign

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA AND MARLON RAMOS Philippine Daily Inquirer MALACAÑANG CRITICIZED people “engaging in a media campaign,” a day after Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez tearfully recounted to congressional investigators how the national government refused to help typhoon victims in his city.

“The President believes that those engaging in a media campaign and putting the blame on the national government are performing a disservice to the people,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma said in a press briefing.

The Palace outlined what it claimed were “empirical facts” to show that President Aquino and the national government “took all necessary steps to prepare the people [for] the dangers posed” by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan).

Asked if Macalañang was specifically referring to Romualdez, Coloma looked irked and replied, “The statement speaks for itself.”

“The peoplewill judge the fairness of statements being made, the objectivity of the parties concerned,” he added, still refusing to mention Romualdez, whose family has been a longtime political rival of the Aquinos.

Coloma issued the statement shortly after Interior Secretary Mar Roxas held his own press conference in Camp Crame in Quezon City to hit back at Romualdez.

Inadequate aid

During a joint congressional committee hearing at the Senate on Monday, Romualdez broke down while recounting Yolanda’s onslaught and how inadequate the help his city got from the national government.

Romualdez said Roxas spoke to him about the need to “legalize everything” in Tacloban where the massive relief and recovery effort was concentrated.

“You have to be very careful because you are a Romualdez, and the President is an Aquino,” Romualdez quoted Roxas as telling him.

Romualdez’s testimony was the latest to follow internation-

al reports of the Philippine government’s slowness in responding to Yolanda, which could have killed up to 10,000 people in Eastern Visayas alone as it tore through the central Philippines on Nov. 8.

CNN’s Anderson Cooper pointed to the reported absence of the government nearly a week after the storm. The response picked up speed, aided

by US military logistics.

Yesterday, Malacañang pointed out that Roxas and Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, were sent to Tacloban on Nov. 7, a day before Yolanda slammed into Leyte-Samar area.

“The President and the national government took all necessary steps to prepare the people [for] the dangers posed

by Supertyphoon Yolanda, and after it struck, the government spared no effort in addressing the needs of the people in the calamity areas,” Coloma said.

Frontline government agencies were “deployed in full force to ensure maximum delivery of essential services and assistance in the affected communities,” he added, citing the Departments of National Defense, Interior and Local Government, Social Welfare and Development, and Health.

Also in the mix was the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

Coloma said that before Yolanda’s landfall, the President addressed the nation on television, warning of the typhoon’s “severity and magnitude.”

“He specifically warned about the possibility of a storm surge in over 100 areas and urged the local authorities and the citizens to take precautionary measures,” he said.

Without naming names, the President later hit local officials for failing to prepare for Yolanda.

“Despite the breakdown of communications, instructions were relayed by the President to [Roxas and Gazmin] via satellite phone on Friday, Nov. 8,” Coloma said.

“Within 24 hours after Yolanda’s landfall, Tacloban airport was cleared by [military] and public works engineers. Military helicopters brought in troops and soldiers to replace the first responders who had been disabled. The Philippine

Air Force flew in relief and troops,” he said.

Coloma reminded the public that the President flew to Tacloban on Nov. 10 “tomake an initial assessment of the damage and to supervise relief operations.” He returned seven days later and “stayed until Nov. 19 to ensure the speedy delivery of relief to the most severely affected families.”

Roxas hits back

In his own news conference, Roxas sought to turn the tables on Romualdez, accusing the Tacloban mayor of “twisting the truth” about the meeting of local and national officials that President Aquino presided over in Tacloban on Nov. 14.

According to Roxas it was during that meeting that Romualdez sought help from the national government in restoring order and in leading the distribution of relief to typhoon victims in Tacloban.

“Mayor Romualdez’s allegation that the national government failed to help Tacloban is baseless and unfounded. It’s not true,” Roxas said.

“What he’s saying could just be a way to exonerate themselves from criticism. He’s now claiming that they were not able to perform their duties because the national government didn’t help them,” he said.

No politics

In a separate statement, Roxas said: “This is politics at its worst. It is unfair for the thousands of men and women who were mobilized by the national government to come to the aid of Tacloban.”

Roxas, Gazmin, SocialWelfare Secretary Corazon Soliman and other senior officials will appear at a press briefing at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) office at Camp Aguinaldo today to answer Romualdez’s allegations point by point.

Playing down Romualdez’s insinuation that politics got in the way of bringing aid to typhoon survivors, Roxas said the government provided all available resources to Tacloban.

“It’s the mayor who is trying to put political color to what had happened by making these unfounded and crooked statements. Even the typhoon vicwww.canadianinquirer.net

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma.

PHOTO FROM SOLARNEWS.PH

tims can attest to the continuous delivery of food rations. In fact, we’re now in the rebuilding phase. They’re now moving on,” he said.

Roxas said Romualdez should “fix his memory banks” before talking about what happened during their meeting with the President, which was attended by some 30 government officials.

Roxas stayed in the Visayas for 16 days and presided over the government-led relief missions in all areas walloped by Yolanda after Gazmin, also the chair of the NDRRMC, returned to Manila three days after the typhoon struck.

Being the head of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Roxas is automatically designated as vice chair of the national disaster council.

He appealed to Romualdez to stop peddling “lies” and focus his energy on the rehabilitation efforts in Tacloban.

Roxas also took exception to Romualdez’s claim that the military and the police failed to send in augmentation forces to replace the city police force whose members also fell victims to the typhoon.

He noted that the Armed Forces deployed 3,375 soldiers to typhoon-stricken areas, most of them in Tacloban, to assist in the delivery of relief.

The Philippine National Police flew in 1,713 policemen from Calabarzon, Bicol, Cen-

tral Visayas and Southern Mindanao to restore law and order in the area.

“The bulk of these forces was sent to augment the police forces in Leyte and especially in Tacloban because there were reports of widespread looting there,” Roxas said.

“This is the truth. These are the facts. There’s no other truth but this,” he said.

Search for bodies

As to Romualdez’s claim that the government did nothing to rescue victims who may have been trapped under the rubble of collapsed structures, Roxas said the Bureau of Fire Protection was designated to carry out the task of rescuing survivors and recover bodies.

“But their work was focused on [body] recovery since they were not able to enter the inner streets because of the debris that blocked the roads. That’s why there was also a designated team for the clearing of the roads,” he said.

Roxas admitted that he himself suggested that Romualdez should sign a letter delineating the role of national government agencies in the relief and rebuilding efforts in Tacloban.

The letter was never intended to unseat the mayor or grab authority from him, Roxas said.

Showing a transcript of the Nov. 14 meeting, he strongly re❱❱ PAGE 11 Palace slams

Philippine News

9 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Tagle urges...

In his message, Tagle detailed the guideline for celebrating Simbang Gabi, which started on December 16th and will go on until the 24th. He emphasized that on Misa de Aguinaldo (Simbang Gabi’s more formal moniker), the devotees should give their “aguinaldo” (gift) to God for the greatest gift that is Jesus Christ.

“The practice can also be understood as the preparation of the faithful to receive from God the great aguinaldo of Christmas, which is Jesus, the savior of the world,” Tagle said in his November circular. “[The Simbang Gabi should be] above all an expression of their filial devotion to Mary, the Mother of God,” Tagle said.

“For nine consecutive days, they join and accompany her, so to speak, as she awaits the birth of her Son. For this reason, the Masses on these days are celebrated as solemn votive masses [Masses for a special intention] in her honor.”

Tagle also mentioned specifics, like the time at which the dawn mass should be held, which is from 4 to 5 o’clock in the morning. “It is this Mass alone that is considered Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo,” said Tagle in his circular.

Tagle also mentioned that is the Misa de Aguinaldo is held from 8 p.m. onwards, “it should be motivated by genuine pastoral care for the spiritual benefit of the faithful.”

His Holiness also said that Simbang Gabi held in the morn❰❰ 1

ing, at midday, or at late afternoon is not part of the liturgical norms of the Archdiocese of Manila and is therefore regarded as abuse. Even the location of the masses is important, saying that masses should only be held in parochial churches and not in shopping malls, unless the mall has its own chapel when the Holy Eucharist is celebrated regularly and is approved by the archdiocese.

“Therefore, only the dawn and, when pastorally required, the evening Masses are considered Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo,” he said. “We do not allow Simbang Gabi to be celebrated in corridors or hallways of shopping malls where the celebration of the Holy Eucharist is needlessly exposed to shoppers indifferent to the celebration.”

In places still heavily laden with ruin because of the earthquake and Typhoon ‘Yolanda,’ Simbang Gabi will still push through.

According to the social communications director of the Archdiocese of Palo in Leyte Fr. Amadeo Alvejo, the celebration of the traditional Filipino Catholic Masses this holiday season will not be stopped. The evening mass or Simbang Gabi is being celebrated at 6 p.m. every night until December 23rd, while the Misa de Gallo or early morning mass is held at 4:30 a.m. until December 24th. ■ With reports from Tina G. Santos of PDI and Shiena M. Barrameda of Inquirer Southern Luzon

Starry, starry night at the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ Church.

PHOTO BY ANGELIQUE KATALBAS

Wife warned husband about Skyway accident

BY JAYMEE T. GAMIL Philippine Daily Inquirer THE TOLENTINO family from Barangay (village) Pembo, Makati City, was the first to know a loved one was killed in a bus accident on Monday.

An anxious Mercy Tolentino, accompanied by her two sons, arrived on Monday noon at the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) suboffice in Bicutan.

Mercy asked the staff in the office if her husband, Rodel Tolentino, was among those involved in the highway accident in Parañaque City earlier that morning.

A southbound bus of Don Mariano Transit Corp. had fallen off the Skyway in Parañaque and crashed on the West Service Road in Barangay Marcelo Green below, killing 18 people and injuring 16 others.

Tolentino took the route daily to get to Ayala Alabang in Muntinlupa City, where he worked as a company driver, Mercy said.

She said that when she learned about the accident in the morning news, she tried to contact her husband to warn him about it.

“But he was not answering his phone,” she said.

They had already checked three hospitals in Parañaque and Taguig City, her sons said.

Perhaps there were some other hospitals they missed?

At the time, field officers were still making the rounds of hospitals and morgues in three south metro cities, to identify the victims.

The HPG staff accompanied Mercy to a small gated garage, where the victims’ belongings recovered from the crumpled bus were stored.

Mercy let out a cry as she

www.canadianinquirer.net

UNSAFE AT ANY SPEED. Bald tires may have led to hydroplaning of the

speeding Don Mariano Transit on the southbound lane of the Skyway in Parañaque City near the Sucat exit on Monday. Hydroplaning occurs when a fast-moving object like a bus glides on a wet surface, making it difficult to control. The bus plunged onto the West Service Road in Barangay Marcelo and hit a van. Eighteen people, mostly bus passengers, were killed and 16 others were injured.

PHOTO BY NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

immediately recognized her husband’s black backpack in the blood-soaked pile. She was also able to pick out his brown leather shoes from the pile. “If he’s still alive, why would he leave his shoes behind?” she asked the HPG staff.

The final blow came when the HPG staff showed the family photos of those who died on the spot. One of Tolentino’s sons, Royjay, let out a cry as he recognized his father’s bloodied face.

So sudden

Mercy started to wail. “It was so sudden! Why was he taken so suddenly? He was a kind man,” she cried repeatedly, as a sobbing Royjay enveloped her in his arms.

“Ma, we have to be strong,” Royjay said, before his face crumpled in a sob.

Indeed, Royjay, interviewed by the Inquirer hours later at Amigos funeral parlor in Lower Bicutan, Taguig, had turned steely.

“We will file complaints against both the driver and Don Mariano,” he said firmly.

“They’re both criminally liable. Because why would they hire that driver? How was he able to pass their standards?

Did they even give him an exam?” the son said, sneering.

Noting reports the bus also had worn-out tires, Royjay went on to rant: “See? They don’t maintain their buses.

Don’t they even give their vehicles a road test?”

Royjay said a representative from Don Mariano bus company had already approached his family, assuring them of financial assistance and shouldering their expenses for the elder Tolentino’s funeral and burial.

“They should. But it will never be enough. They will never be able to pay for my father’s life,” Royjay said.

On Tuesday, the HPG filed in the Parañaque prosecutor’s office complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in multiple homicide and injuries against the bus driver, Carmelo Calatcat.

Only a civil suit was filed against Don Mariano Transit Corp. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 10

Power users in for confusion Collusion, if any, has minimal impact, says energy chief

BY RIZA T. OLCHONDRA Philippine Daily Inquirer

what sanctions may be imposed on price-fixing violators, if any, said Petilla in text message.

CONSUMERS MAY be in for a confusing period as regulators and market players determine what constitutes collusion and just how much impact it has on electricity rates.

The power suppliers’ alleged timing of plant outages to influence prices likely had only a “minimal” impact, if any, on the looming increase in electricity prices for customers of the Manila Electric Co. (Meralco), according to Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.

The Department of Energy is looking into power suppliers’ activities during the maintenance shutdown of the Malampaya natural gas facility while the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) will determine

Price fixing

Asked how much of the looming P4.15/kwh increase in power generation and related charges could have been influenced by the alleged price fixing, Petilla said he did not have the computation on hand.

“However, let us be clear.

The main component of the increase in Meralco prices is not WESM (the Wholesale Electricity Spot Market). WESM is usually only 10 percent of the generation cost of distribution utilities,” he said.

Petilla said the DOE has yet to summon the power generators to explain allegations of collusion.

“We have to analyze first the behavior of the market in the

past four weeks and will ask them to explain depending on our findings,” he said.

“The ERC will have to penalize for market abuse if this is proven,” he said.

‘Confluence of factors’

Meralco has blamed the significant spike in the generation charge on “a confluence of factors,” mainly the Malampaya maintenance shutdown and the shutdown of other power plants either for regular maintenance or forced outages, making the distribution utility dependent on the WESM, where there was in turn a spike in prices because of the surge in demand.

At a recent ERC briefing, however, Meralco officials said electricity from suppliers trading in the WESM accounted for about 11 to 12 percent of the power that Meralco tapped in

the supply month of November (to be reflected in electricity bills this month) while bilateral contracts with private power suppliers, including independent power producers (IPPs), accounted for about 50 percent.

The rest were from other supply agreements, such as the one with the Aboitiz Power Corp. subsidiary, Therma Mobile Inc., for peaking requirements.

The allegation of collusion

was floated at a recent hearing at the House of Representatives, in which energy undersecretary Raul Aguilos said that Meralco was supposed to have charged only an additional P1.58 per kwh to accommodate the Malampaya shutdown.

Aguilos said the DOE was surprised the rate hike “spiked” to P4.15 per kwh, or nearly ❱❱ PAGE 14 Power users

Bicam OKs P2.26-T nat’l budget

BY NORMAN BORDADORA AND LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer THE BICAMERAL conference committee passed a P2.264trillion national budget bill, leaner with the deletion of P3.2-billion worth of pork barrel, but packed with more than P140-billion in lump sums for postdisaster rebuilding, calamity and quick-response funds, and related allocations.

“Both the Senate and the House of Representatives accepted amendments [in their respective versions]. Almost all the amendments, especially those involving the huge amounts are in connection with rehabilitation and preparedness for coming and expected calamities,” Sen. Francis Escudero told reporters after the bicameral conference.

The P3.2 billion represented the total amount of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of 15 senators and the pork barrel of Vice President Jejomar Binay that they gave up because of the controversy over the alleged plunder of pork barrel funds.

Nine senators asked that their

dent.

It also removed the authority of lawmakers to intervene in the implementation of projects funded by the Classroom Building Fund under the Roxas Law, the Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and the proceeds of the excise tax on tobacco.

These multibillion-peso items may be considered pork barrel had the committee voted to retain the legislators’ discretion over these funds after the passage of the budget law.

Reportorial requirements Philippine Congress

PDAF allocations be aligned to fund certain programs instead of being outrightly deducted from the budget.

The P25.2 billion in PDAF of members of the House of Representatives was not part of the budget but the amount was distributed to the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and Department of PublicWorks and High-

PHOTO FROM FILIPINOFREETHINKERS.ORG

ways (DPWH).

Because of this move, House members could no longer fund scholarships, livelihood programs and medical assistance projects in their name using these funds.

But they were able to recommend specific infrastructure projects to be funded by the realigned pork under the DPWH. They were required to identify these projects before the budget approval so that these could be included in the appropriations bill as a line item. www.canadianinquirer.net

The bicameral panel also formally adopted Senate amendments to the proposed General Appropriations Act for it to fully comply with the Supreme Court’s recent ruling that the PDAF was unconstitutional and to safeguard the remaining discretionary lump-sum items from systematic plunder.

The panel scrapped the lawmakers’ authority to provide funding for choice projects or programs after the national budget has been passed by Congress and enacted by the Presi-

“[There are] special portions on reportorial requirements on the agencies when they use their funds, when they use their savings and realignment,” Escudero said when asked for safeguards for the lump-sum allocations, realigned funds and those given to nongovernment organizations (NGOs).

“As they say, fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. We don’t want a repeat of the things that happened this year,” Escudero said.

He was apparently referring to the P10-billion pork bar❱❱ PAGE 15 Bicam OKs

Philippine News

11 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Typhoon-hit areas watched for traffickers

BY NIÑA P. CALLEJA AND JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE GOVERNMENT’S InterAgency Council against Trafficking (IACAT) has been directed to closely monitor areas devastated by Supertyphoon “Yolanda” following reports of syndicates preying on the typhoon survivors, Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said.

De Lima joined church leaders and hundreds of their members yesterday at a prayer rally against human trafficking at the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park.

“It is in the Yolanda-devastated that many of our women and children have become very vulnerable because of their hardships and sufferings. These areas become fertile breeding grounds for the syndicates preying on the vulnerabilities of their fellow human beings,” De Lima told reporters at a briefing before the start of the prayer rally.

De Lima said the surge of trafficking cases in the disaster areas was highly expected, and the IACAT has been tasked to monitor the processing and evacuation centers in the typhoon-stricken areas and “validate certain reported incidents of attempted or actual human trafficking.”

Combat the grassroots

The prayer rally in Manila was part of a series of prayer rallies with the aim of uniting people against trafficking. Last Dec. 1, a prayer call was held in the Ayala Center in Cebu, and another rally was held in Davao City yesterday.

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo said it was the first time that different churches in partnership with the government had gathered for a prayer rally against trafficking.

“We are doing this in the context of prayer to raise awareness and combat trafficking in the grassroots. After this, we

will go home convinced that whoever supports human dignity will support the campaign to end human trafficking,” Pabillo said.

According to the 2013 US Trafficking in Persons Report released last June, “people are trafficked from rural areas to urban centers, including Manila, Cebu, Angeles City and increasingly in cities in Mindanao as well as within other urban areas and tourist destinations

such as Boracay, Olongapo, Puerto Galera and Surigao.”

In a related development, the Department of Foreign Affairs yesterday warned against South Korean agents in the Philippines who are engaged in illegal marriage brokering and the trafficking of Filipino entertainers to the North Asian country.

In a public advisory, the DFA said the Philippine embassy in Seoul raised two issues during a forum in Ansan City on Nov. 27 organized by the Institute of Globalization and Multicultural Studies of Hanyang University.

Korean prosecutors and immigration officials, and representatives of embassies and foreign community groups were invited to discuss the challenges of multiculturalism in South Korean society.

As one of the forum speakers, Consul Aian Caringal, second secretary at the Philippine embassy in Seoul, said Filipino women lured into Korea with marriage arrangements or to work there as entertainers, end up as prostitutes.

Palace slams... pudiated the mayor’s claim that Roxas told him to be careful because he is a Romualdez while the President is an Aquino.

Quoting from the transcript, he supposedly told the mayor: “You have to understand we are talking very straight here. You are a Romualdez, the President is an Aquino. So we are very careful ... in just taking over because we don’t (want) anything to be misconstrued, misunderstood.”

“We are being careful. The President is being careful in taking over because he does not want anything to be misconstrued. That’s the truth.

There was no threat or move to remove him from his post as mayor,” Roxas said.

“This actually what I tried to prevent. We don’t want to be accused of politicking. But that is exactly what’s happening now,” he lamented. ❰❰ 8

Entertainers

“Most of the serious cases were already problematic from the start as the Filipino women either went through illegal marriage brokers or were trafficked to Korea as entertainers.

As soon as the women reach Korea, their passports and other personal documents are taken from them by the employers, husbands or in-laws. Some are not even allowed to use or own a cell phone,” Caringal said.

TheDFA said some of the female entertainers hired by unscrupulous promoters and talent managers to Korea end up working as prostitutes for less than half of the salary promised to them. The hiring in most cases is not processed by the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

Caringal recounted the case of a Vietnamese bride murdered by her Korean husband just eight days after she arrived in Korea in July 2010. The victim did not know that her husband was suffering from amental disorder.

Organized marriage

Marriage brokering is considered illegal in the Philippines under Republic Act No. 6955, or the Anti-Mail Order Bride Law of 1990, which prohibits the business of organizing or facilitating marriages between Filipino women and foreign men in the Philippines.

But the illegal act persists despite the physical and emotional abuse thewomen go through, the DFA said.

De Lima noted improvements in the human trafficking situation in the country since 2010 when the country was given Tier 2 ranking in the US Trafficking in Persons report, from its previous Tier 3 rank.

But the country’s goal to be granted Tier 1 rank was an “uphill battle” because of government’s failure to have a complete database on the actual human trafficking cases in the Philippines, she said. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Stop it

Amid the controversy, Bernard Kerblat, representative to the Philippines of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, called for “compassion” and for people to set aside the “acrimonious debate.”

“If I may issue a call here, perhaps I would like to invite everybody to park in between

brackets this kind of acrimonious debate. Let’s reserve them for later,” Kerblat told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo.

“Let’s on the contrary orient our energy in a positive manner, and ask ourselves the questions: What should I do: What should I think? How should I act in order to be part of the solution toward our [countrymen] who in 32 days, 32 nights are still struggling?” he said.

Kerblat said that because of the magnitude of the destruction wrought by the storm and the staggering number of people affected, there really is “not enough shelter for everybody.”

But he insisted that there is aid and “massive effort” is being exerted, spearheaded by the government.

No investigation

Kerblat also corrected the report about a UN investigation of nondelivery of aid to remote areas ravaged by the typhoon.

He said the UN emergency coordinator, Valerie Amos, simply raised the question of whether some sparsely populated islands “may not have been reached yet.”

“She was simply asking the question. [It was] not a question of probing whether assistance has reached everybody,” Kerblat said. ■

Philippine News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 12

SC checks ‘Arlene L.’; Palace airs support Some journalists

had it coming, probers say

BY JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer THE SUPREME Court committee investigating judicial corruption yesterday said it was still in the process of evaluating the many documents, photographs, tips and other information that it has received from official and unofficial sources concerning the activities of an alleged “decision-broker” in the judiciary.

“The committee has taken care not to unduly publicize these documents (including photographs) until it can release its formal report because of the very high possibility that the proper context could not be ascribed,” the committee, chaired

by Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, said in a statement issued through Supreme Court spokesperson Theodore Te. It said the picture published by the INQUIRER on Friday showing the alleged fixer, Arlene Angeles Lerma, at the retirement party of a court official last year, was just one of the many documents and pieces of information that the committee was “carefully considering.”

“The photograph that has been prominently displayed in three broadsheets is but one of many documents and pieces of information that the committee is carefully considering,” the statement said.

Photo not sufficient

But the committee clarified that a photograph alone is not enough to determine whether someone is guilty or innocent.

“A photograph memorializes a moment. It may speak some truth but it may not be all of it.

The proper context therefore must be understood and proven,” it said. “[D]etermining the truth is often not achieved by a mad rush based on incomplete pictures, suggestive images or unsubstantiated contexts. It is best achieved by a sober, clear, complete and independent look at the entire context. This is what the committee has committed to do,” it added.

Appreciates media interest

The committee said it appreciated the public and media interest in these allegations of judicial corruption.

BY NANCY C. CARVAJAL Philippine Daily Inquirer

Arlene Lerma (contributed photo) and Associate Justice Marvic Leonen (Inquirer file photo)

But it explained that part of its responsibility is to determine which information is reliable and credible and, in the process, arrive at a “clear understanding” of the truth of news reports regarding judicial corruption at the instance of nonjudiciary members.

“An integral part of the committee’s responsibility is to ensure that those who are innocent are shielded from undue and unwarranted prejudice even as it ensures those who are liable are identified and the proper recommendations for their sanction are made to the court en banc,” it said.

It said that it remained confident that the media would be able to find the right balance between the public’s need for information and the necessity for the committee to do its job effectively and efficiently.

INQUIRER columnist Ramon Tulfo was one of the first journalists to expose the activities of a certain “Arlene L.” in the judiciary which was brought to light while the country was buzzing with the P10billion pork barrel scam.

The committee asked for patience as it continues its probe, adding that it had committed to the Supreme Court en banc to submit a preliminary report within six months or earlier from the time the body was created.

It said it has been meeting almost every week since it was set up, and has invited many resource persons, including Court Administrator Jose Midas Marquez and his deputies Raul Villanueva and Jenny Lind Delorino.

The other members of the committee are retired Supreme Court justices Alicia AustriaMartinez and Romeo Callejo Sr. Malacañang said it was supporting the investigation of the alleged influence-peddling activities of a certain Arlene An-

geles Lerma in the judiciary.

“The Executive, through the National Bureau of Investigation, is participating and is assisting,” deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte told a Palace briefing.

Payoffs to judges, justices

She said the Palace was supporting all the investigations.

The Leonen committee, Marquez and the NBI have launched separate investigations into the activities of Lerma who is alleged to have influenced court decisions in favor of her clients through huge payoffs to judges and justices.

Valte said it would be for the investigators to ascertain if the Lerma shown in the photograph was the same “Ma’am Arlene” that had earlier been reported to be allegedly bribing judges and justices into issuing rulings favorable to her or her clients.

Newspaper columnists, including the INQUIRER’s Tulfo, have written about a certain “Arlene L.” linked to the fixing of high-profile cases in the courts, including the Court of Appeals.

Another high-flyer

Tulfo had written that Arlene L. was known for her “high connections in the judiciary and her high-flying lifestyle, often seen sporting ultra-expensive signature handbags like Hermès.”

She has been likened to Janet Lim-Napoles, the detained businesswoman who allegedly masterminded the channeling of P10-billion worth of pork barrel funds into kickbacks to certain senators and House members over a period of 10 years.

Napoles, along with Senators Jinggoy Estrada, Ramon Revilla Jr. and Juan Ponce Enrile and 34 others, has been named in a plunder complaint in the Ombudsman. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

GOVERNMENT INVESTIGATORS said the recent killings of journalists in Mindanao may have something to do with the way they practiced journalism.

The investigators, who agreed to talk to INQUIRER on the condition they would not be named, gave one example: “(He) berated his targets like they were the worst animal on Earth and cocked his gun on the air, challenging his targets to a gunfight.”

The investigators did not name the broadcaster they referred to but those familiar with the airwaves in Mindanao said the style fits that of Joas Dignos, whowas recently ambused in Valencia City, Bukidnon.

Others killed in the past two weeks include Michael Milo in Tandag City, Surigao del Sur, and Rogelio Butalid in Tagum City, Davao del Norte.

The investigators went on to say “journalists in Mindanao should re-examine the conduct of their colleagues who continuously violate their code of ethics.”

Bothering finds

“These findings bother us because we want to put an end to this violence and we need the cooperation of everyone,” an investigator added.

The investigators, however, stopped short of recommending what kind of journalism they had in mind to stop the ap-

parent impunity in the killing of hard-hitting broadcasters.

Monsignor Elmer Abacahin, head of the media group in Cagayan de Oro City confirmed the findings of the investigators but added this was “not sufficient reason to kill the victims.”

“We are supporting the victims because they are our colleagues, but we do not subscribe to their methods of reporting,” Abacahin told INQUIRER in a telephone interview.

Other findings in the investigation alleged the victims “had donors na kalaban ng tinitira nila (had donors that are the rivals of those they attacked on the air),” he explained.

He cited the case of Butalid, who was also a barangay councilman. Butalid’s radio program was sponsored by the National Electrification Administration faction of the Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, which is embroiled in a violent dispute with a procooperative faction.

Artist’s sketch

Investigators have released an artist’s sketch of the suspect provided by witnesses.

Virgilio Mendez, National Bureau of Investigation deputy director for regional services, said the killer of Butalid had been identified and an operation is in place to arrest him.

Butalid was reportedly popular among listeners because of his hard-hitting exposés against corruption and illegal activities, and the way powerful people practice politics. ■

Investigators are probing the recent spate in media killings.

PHOTO FROM NEWSPHILIPPINES.ORG

Philippine News

13 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

BIR fails to collect P300B Bad accounts date back to pre-P-Noy days—Henares

BY GIL C. CABACUNGAN Philippine Daily Inquirer TAX COLLECTION appears to have worsened under the Aquino administration as the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) delinquent accounts have nearly tripled to almost P300 billion, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).

“The balance of delinquent accounts [of the BIR] increased by 188 percent in 2012 from that of 2011, from P103.757 billion to P298.981 billion, although the monitoring of delinquent accounts was one of the bureau’s priority thrusts for the year, thus adversely affecting its collection efficiency,” the COA said in a report released last month.

But Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares, who has been on the job for the past three and half years, claimed that the delinquent accounts included bad checks that date back to before the Aquino administration took over.

“This is a result of our cleaning up and improvement of the record-keeping of our delinquent accounts. These are old, delinquent and dishonored checks (more than five years old) that were not reported and/or properly recorded. That is why for the past weeks we have been filing

criminal cases against taxpayers for failure to pay delinquent accounts,” she said.

The delinquent accounts are roughly equivalent to three months’ worth of revenue collections.

The Aquino administration’s efforts to collect more revenue by waging a campaign against tax evasion and corruption in the collection process helped the country win investment grade ratings this year from all three major credit rating agencies—Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service.

Henares declined to state categorically if the delinquent accounts were from the previous Arroyo administration.

“I think it is enough to say that these are that old,” said Henares who served as deputy commissioner for special concerns at the BIR during the Arroyo administration.

She said the BIR had put in place an account receivable management system to track the delinquent accounts and collect on them.

The bureau has also created a centralized arrears management system for Metro Manila, as almost 70 percent of the delinquent accounts are in Metro Manila, she said.

PRESIDENT AQUINO returned home, bringing with him what he called “overflowing good news” of investment pledges, aid and loans from Japan.

The President was particularly upbeat over one Japanese company that indicated it would infuse up to $300 million in fresh investments to “expand its existing operation in the Philippines.”

“The meetings that we attended were really worth it. They were overflowing with good news,” Mr. Aquino said in Filipino in his arrival speech after spending three days in Tokyo for the Asean-Japan Commemorative Summit.

The President declined to name the companies, but said the amount of investments they planned to put into the country was “no joke.” He cited one firm that was set to build a manufacturing plant and a research and development facility.

“I won’t reveal all the details now be-

Sue transgressors

The audit agency said the BIR should encourage taxpayers to pay in manager’s or cashier’s checks instead of personal checks and consider allowing individual taxpayers to pay through credit card or through the agency’s checkless payment system.

Also, the COA suggested that a list of taxpayers who issued the dishonored checks should be disseminated nationwide to alert collectors not to accept their checks and that estafa charges and violations of the antibouncing checks law be filed against the transgressors.

After the tax assessment becomes final, the government can file civil and criminal charges against the delinquent taxpayer and seize his assets for sale.

Delinquent accounts should be collected within three years from date of assessment or up to five years for cases involving fraud.

Another factor cited by the COA for the bulging delinquent accounts was the BIR’s failure to make full use of the P370.651 million in its budget allotted for its computerization program.

The BIR returned P326.258 million of these funds to the government in 2012.

This was a “loss of opportunity to improve the bureau’s information technology structure geared ultimately at enhancing the process of tax administration,” the COA said.

“We recommended that management see to it that funds intended for specific projects are utilized and that projects to be undertaken are subjected to critical and careful studies to ensure that the amount spent there for will benefit the public,” the report said. ❱❱ PAGE 14 BIR fails

Intensify collection efforts

In 2011, the COA urged the BIR to

P-Noy back with ‘overflowing good news’

BY CHRISTIAN V. ESGUERRA Philippine Daily Inquirer

look into P412.037 million worth of delinquent accounts and accounts receivable made up of 1,227 dockets and 1,985 cases that grew by 29.86 percent, from P312.207 million in 2010.

“We recommended that management intensify collection efforts on delinquent accounts to increase revenue for government projects and programs; and determine the delinquent accounts which have lawfully prescribed and effect the necessary adjustment in the records of delinquent accounts,” the COA said.

The COA noted that delinquent accounts amounting to P438.078 million in the BIR’s Regional Office 1 (Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan provinces) were not disclosed in the BIR’s financial report. It urged the BIR to properly disclose these data in its compliance report for “transparency.”

The COA said a key contributor to the swelling delinquent accounts was the rising inventory of delinquent checks that had reached P358 million at the end of 2012.

cause they might be forestalled (baka tayo mausog),” he said. “Let’s just wait for my participation in their groundbreaking ceremonies so we would know these companies.”

Among the companies Mr. Aquino visited in Tokyo were Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Mitsubishi, SumitomoMitsui Banking Corp. and Nidec Sankyo Corp. He also sat down with officials of Nippon Keidanren, the biggest association of companies in Japan.

The President thanked the latter group for sending help to victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda.” He said the organization gave one million yen on top of individual donations from its membercompanies.

The President also brought home an additional “grant in aid worth 6.6 billion yen on top of the $53.1 million” provided earlier by the Japanese government, said Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, who was part of Mr. Aquino’s delegation.

Also offered up was a “postdisaster standby loan of up to $500 million,” Coloma added. ■

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www.canadianinquirer.net

Philippine News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 14

BIR fails... ❰❰ 13

Just being prudent

Henares explained that the BIR was being prudent in implementing the IT project.

“What we did initially was to make sure we reengineered processes first before we computerize the same; otherwise, it is garbage in and garbage out and we will be wasting money,” she said.

“Second, we have to follow a stringent procurement procedure. Third, a lot of our IT projects are going to be funded by the compact grant of MCC (Millennium Challenge Corp.),” Henares said.

(MCC is a US foreign aid agency aimed at fighting global poverty by providing countries

that meet certain performance criteria with large-scale grants to fund country-led solutions for reducing poverty through sustainable economic growth.)

In the 2012 report, the COA gave an “adverse opinion” on the BIR’s balance sheet primarily because of the P2.613-billion discrepancy between its accounting and property records.

The BIR had booked its property, plant and equipment assets at P5.272 billion which the COA said “could not be relied upon.”

The other deficiencies cited by the COA were the BIR’s failure to record assets worth P107.448 million and failure to explain the P1.859 billion it marked in the books as “reconciling items.”

November target missed

Meanwhile, the BIR released data on its November collections, which was 3-percent short of its target for the month despite a 14-percent increase from collections in November 2012.

The BIR collection target for November was P130.6 billion.

The agency said it collected P126.46 billion in tax revenues in November, which was P15.69 billion, or 14.2 percent, more than collections made in the same month last year.

From January to November this year, collections reached P1.12 trillion, exceeding the entire 2012 figure of P1.06 trillion.

An additional P130 billion must be collected in December

Disputes with China won’t stop bloc, says Asean exec

BY NIKKO DIZON AND JEROME ANING Philippine Daily Inquirer SINGAPORE—The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will forge ahead with efforts to integrate into a community similar to the European Union despite the South China Sea disputes, a regional official has said.

The 10-member regional bloc aspires to unify into a single economic and political force by 2015 but some of its members have competing maritime claims among themselves and with the group’s dialogue partners China, Japan and the United States.

“Yes, there is this problem, but there are also many other areas in which we cooperate. So Asean’s view has always been like that. They’re still able to eat together, able to do other things together like, say, projects we need to work on together,” said Danny Lee, director for community affairs development at the Jakarta-based Asean Secretariat.

“That’s why despite the quarrels, they say OK, we will still continue and negotiate,” Lee added.

Lee spoke to the Inquirer on the sidelines of a workshop on regional integration for Asean

Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henares PHOTO FROM BIR.GOV.PH

for the BIR to meet its full-year 2013 target of P1.25 trillion.

The government wants to narrow its budget deficit to 2 percent of gross domestic

Power users... three times what the government had anticipated when several power plants they expected to take up the slack for the Malampaya shortfall were shut down during the period.

Meralco officials had told Congress and the ERC that the use of liquid fuel accounts for an estimated P 1.04/ kwh of the P4.15/kwh blended increase (power generation, taxes and other charges) in pass-through power charges. ❰❰ 10

Scheduled shutdown

PHOTO FROM ASEANREPORTERS.WORDPRESS.COM

journalists here, organized by the Asian Media Information and Communication Centre, German foundation Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the EU Centre in Singapore.

In Lee’s view, Asean, forged in 1967 by nations already dealing at the time with border disputes, treats the disputes as a small part—and not the sum— of regional relations.

“Our relationship is more than just the dispute,” said Lee. He pointed out that only four of the 10 Asean members— Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei

and Vietnam—were involved in amaritime dispute with China and Taiwan. China is claiming almost all of the South China Sea while the rest have particular claims, including the Philippines which lays ownership to islands in waters it calls the West Philippine Sea. “Some members are closer to other countries or are seen to be closer to other countries.

Cambodia [and] Laos are close to China. The Philippines is close to the US. But having said that, at the end of the day, we’re Asean,” said Lee. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

product (GDP) this year, from 2.3 percent of GDP in 2012, and keep it at that level until President Aquino steps down in 2016. ■

The impact from spot market prices in the WESM was estimated at P 2.38/ kwh.

The scheduled shutdown of the Malampaya pipeline forced three power-generation plants using natural gas to use more expensive fuel in order to keep on supplying energy to Meralco. The three are the natural gas power plants in Sta. Rita, San Lorenzo and Ilijan, all in Batangas province.

The Malampaya gas facility shuts down for maintenance about once every three years (2007, 2010, 2013), affecting the three plants for a total of 2,700MW. In each of those years, Meralco had requested the Lopezled First Gen Corp. to run on liquid fuel.

Not yet full capacity

First Gen said the decision was based on Meralco’s socalled “least cost methodology” where they line up all available

suppliers (hydro, coal, geothermal, oil, and so on) starting from the cheapest. This process is said to limit Meralco’s exposure to high prices in the WESM. On allegations floated at the congressional hearing that Therma Mobile did not sell its full capacity to Meralco in order to influence spot market prices, Aboitiz Power SVP for power marketing and trading Luis Miguel Aboitiz clarified that Therma Mobile was in fact not yet at full capacity.

“Therma Mobile only has 100MW. The balance of 130MW will only be available in mid2014,” said Aboitiz, who leads the Philippine Independent Power Producers Association, Inc. “Meralco contracted Therma Mobile so it is the one that influences dispatch and offer pricing,” he said.

Meralco itself has not raised allegations of collusion or price fixing among its power suppliers. Company chair Manuel V. Pangilinan told reporters: “We don’t know that. We haven’t indicated that on our side.”

Aboitiz and other power industry leaders said the Philippine Electricity Market Corp.

(PEMC) which operates the WESM would be in the best position to shed light on allegations of collusion and price fixing.

The PEMC, as the WESM operator, would have the data on plant outages and their effect on prices, said Aboitiz. ■

Philippine News

15 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Bicam OKs... rel scam that exposed how lawmakers’ PDAF allocations were converted into fat kickbacks after line agencies coursed the funds to dubious NGOs of alleged scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles.

Three senators—Juan Ponce Enrile, Jinggoy Estrada and Ramon Revilla Jr.— and dozens of others have been charged with plunder, malversation and graft in the Office of the Ombudsman because of their alleged involvement in the scam.

They have denied any wrongdoing.

❰❰ 10

without direction,” Escudero said.

“The P20 billion has been placed in departments such as line agencies like the DSWD, DOTC (Department of Transporation and Communication), DPWH, DOH and there are also allocations to SUCs or state universities and colleges, and LGUs (local government units) so they can implement their own rehabilitation projects,” Escudero added.

Quick-response funds

The bicameral panel also adopted the Senate proposal requiring all agencies, including constitutional offices enjoying fiscal autonomy, to submit to the budget committees of both chambers of Congress annual reports on the status of income and use of offbudget items like the Malampaya Fund, incomes of hospitals and state universities and colleges, and the Judicial Development Fund.

The panel also accepted the Senate amendment requiring quarterly reports on the realignment of funds within agencies as well as the transfer of funds to other government agencies, NGOs, local government units, GOCCs (government-owned and -controlled corporations) or lump-sum funds.

The bicameral panel also adopted the Senate amendments that impose the harshest penalty for the misuse of lump-sum appropriations and that require agencies to submit line-item budgets to the appropriations panels of both chambers before they can draw from the lump-sum funds.

The panel also provided for stricter measures on NGOs receiving government funds. It adopted the proposal that the government agency from which funds were released to NGOs “shall remain accountable for the funds.”

The reportorial requirements included the submission of the reports to the Commission on Audit (COA) and their posting on the government agencies’ respective websites.

There were also increases in the quick-response funds (QRFs) of certain departments, including a P1-billion provision for the QRF of the DOTC “to enable the immediate rehabilitation of crucial transportation facilities necessary to normalize the situation and living conditions of the people in disasterstricken areas.”

From the P25.2 billion originally allotted for its PDAF, the House earlier set aside P2.66 billion for the Commission on Higher Education; P1.02 billion for the Department of Education; P3.69 billion for the Department of Health; P4.71 billion for the Department of Social Welfare and Development; P3.69 billion for the Department of Labor and Employment; and P9.65 billion for the DPWH. The 2014 budget contains the various infrastructure projects that the lawmakers identified, and these consist of local roads and bridges, school buildings, multipurpose buildings and water supply systems.

This realignment of the pork barrel funds came before the Supreme Court shot down the long-entrenched pork barrel system as unconstitutional.

Ungab said the identification of projects by lawmakers under the DPWH did not run counter to the Supreme Court ruling. “Any intervention by lawmakers prior to the approval of the budget is allowed,” he said.

“That’s really the job of lawmakers, to scrutinize the budget and recommend projects they think are needed in their districts,” he added.

P100B for rehab

Warning

Status of income

The House panel, chaired by Davao Rep. Isidro Ungab, accepted the Senate amendments, including the P100-billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation in areas hit by typhoons, the Central Visayas earthquake and the Zamboanga City siege.

The P100-billion rebuilding fund is divided into the P20-billion itemized allocation under the programmed funds, while the P80-billion are under the unprogrammed funds.

The House approved its version of the budget before Supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck on Nov. 8.

“We conditioned the P80 billion in the unprogrammed funds on the submission of rehabilitation plans. It can’t be

De Lima to submit stand on Leviste parole to P-Noy

BY LEILA B. SALAVERRIA Philippine Daily Inquirer JUSTICE SECRETARY Leila de Lima said a “contentious issue” in the recent grant of parole to Antonio Leviste was the position of the Board of Pardons and Parole (BPP) that the former Batangas governor’s acquittal in court for a dubious two-day furlough in 2011 had qualified him for release.

De Lima said she would submit a memorandum to President Aquino containing her own position on the grant of parole to Leviste, who was convicted of homicide in 2009 and sentenced to 6-12 years in prison.

She declined to disclose whether or not she would push for the recall of Leviste’s parole.

According to parole authorities, Leviste had served his minimum sentence of six years—two years in the Makati jail and four more in the national penitentiary.

De Lima noted it was also the position of the BPP that since Leviste was cleared by a Makati court of the charges of evading the service of his sentence in connection with the 2011 furlough, this ground

But militant lawmakers warned that the 2014 budget was still filled with pork barrel funds, mainly in the hands of the President.

“The pork barrel is alive and kicking in the 2014 budget. The hundreds of billions in lump sum for the President and his Cabinet certainly dwarfs the P25 billion PDAF,” said Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares.

The lump-sum funds under the President’s discretion include the Calamity Fund, Contingent Fund, the budgetary support to GOCCs, the school building program, the e-government fund, the feasibility studies fund, the pension and gratuity fund, and the international commitment fund. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima PHOTO FROM EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG

for disqualification did not apply to him.

“Tome that’s an open question, to me that’s a contentious issue because I think there is nothing in the BPP manual that says a conviction was necessary. I think the BPP may have glossed over the findings of the DOJ fact-finding committee before, that there were explicit findings that Mr. Leviste went out without appropriate authority,” she told reporters at the House of Representatives.

De Lima said that one thing she would discuss in her memorandum is the issue of the BPP’s “appreciation of Leviste’s acquittal in the court.” ■ With a report from Jerome Aning

Opinion

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 16

THERE’S THE RUB

Impunity

By Conrado De Quiros Philippine Daily Inquirer ONLY A few weeks ago, we marked the fourth anniversary of the Maguindanao massacre. Several media and lawyer groups did so by noting how four years after the Ampatuans were arrested for the worst crime of the century, they were nowhere near to being tried. The way things were going, the groups cried, it would probably take another century to finally bring them to justice. If at all.

Time was on the side of the Ampatuans. The longer due process took, the less due it became. The longer justice took, the less people believed it could ever be had, a belief that tends to become self-fulfilling.

When I read this, my first thought was how it would impact on the culture of impunity.

Several weeks later several radio commentators were shot and killed in cold blood. One was wounded and escaped by the skin of his teeth.

Initially putting it down as isolated incidents when the first couple of shootings took place, government subsequently had to backtrack and give it the weight it deserved.

Frankly, I don’t know why its first instinct when dealing with an atrocity or tragedy is to talk about numbers

and suggest it’s not all that bad. I can understand the need for accuracy, but it may not take the place of sensitivity.

Whether the dead are 2,000 or 10,000, as in the wake of Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” or two or four in the wake of the shootings in Mindanao, the point is the horrendousness and unacceptability of what has happened.

I don’t know that these two events— the perception that the Ampatuans have escaped justice probably forever and the gunning down of radio commentators—are directly related, or the one is the immediate cause of the other.

I do know they are related in a general way, by way of context, by way of culture. The one inspires the other, the one fuels the other. It’s certainly not going to discourage hit men from ambushing people in broad daylight when a band of cutthroats can cut the throats of three score men and women—quite apart from beheading them and mutilating the women—in plain view of everyone and laugh at the world afterward.

I agree with Reporters Without Borders when it says: “In the face of all this violence against journalists, we urge the police to deploy whatever means are necessary to arrest those responsible and end the unacceptable impunity. Only a firm response from the authorities will deter others from

targeting news providers.” I agree with this, but with one very huge caveat.

The problem is not just identifying and arresting suspects, it is putting them on the dock, trying them, and if they are found guilty jailing them, preferably throwing the keys into the bottom of the sea. Murder is a heinous crime, whether it is done savagely or not. It is at least not going to matter to the spouse or children of the dead, particularly where the victim was the breadwinner.

The assumption in Reporters With-

Between arresting the culprits even in cases where the evidence against them is glaring and trying them and jailing them stretches a long and winding road. out Borders’ statement is that once the suspects get arrested, law and justice will take their course. Which is a natural assumption to make in other countries: The one presupposes the other. Not so in a backward country like ours. Between arresting the culprits even in cases where the evidence against them is glaring and trying them and jailing them stretches a long and winding road.

We do not lack for arrests. The Ampat-

uans were arrested. Joel and Mario Reyes, the chief, indeed only, suspects in the slaying of environmentalist and sometime radio commentator Gerry Ortega were arrested. What we lack is results. The Ampatuans have not been tried. And the Reyeses are sipping cocktail in Tahiti or wherever they are after giving the Bureau of Immigration the slip.

Are things as bad today for journalists as they were in Gloria Arroyo’s time, or even worse as some claim it is?

Not at all. The spate of killings of radio commentators over the past couple of weeks is monstrous and alarming, but it is not a reason to twist it toward that conclusion. The difference in conditions between then and now is vast, which has produced, if not equally vast effects, at least perceptible ones.

Then the problem was that the government wasn’t just inutile in stopping the culture of impunity, it was the very thing that bred the culture of impunity. At the very least directly: The Ampatuans were created in the image and likeness of Arroyo, not necessarily in that order. At the very most, indirectly, by way of sanction: A political order that routinely rewards evil and punishes good naturally unleashes impunity in the way that supertyphoons unleash storm surges.

Now the problem is seeing the ef-

forts to stop impunity—and those efforts are there, government at least is not part of the disease, it is part of the cure—to the very end. So long as nothing happens after suspects are identified and arrested, so long will nothing happen to stop impunity.

That is as true of the killing of journalists as it is true of corruption.

Arguably, there are limits to what the executive can do, there is such a thing as the separation of powers.

The courts have to do their part too, a prospect that fresh revelations about a syndicate in the judiciary running a “rulings for sale” racket do not enhance. But there is no small amount of possibilities too on government’s part, and enormous ones. It has its own justice department, which can always build ironclad cases that make it all the easier to prosecute. The president can always make certain things priority, or transmit as much a sense of urgency to the judiciary as to the legislative.

Certainly, the zeal with which he undertook the expulsion of a chief justice must underscore those possibilities.

The same zeal needs to be applied to the crooks and the murderers. Expel them.

Expunge them. Jail them.

That is the only way to stop impunity. ■

AS I SEE IT

The Roxas-Romualdez battle of videos

By Neal H. Cruz Philippine Daily Inquirer THE HOT topic among Filipinos at present involves the videos of Interior Secretary Mar Roxas and Tacloban Mayor Alfred Romualdez at a meeting with 30 other national and local officials immediately after Supertyphoon “Yolanda” flattened the city and other communities in Leyte and Samar. There are two videos: the first was shown on YouTube by Romualdez’s camp, and the other, longer one was released by Roxas’ camp.

The first shows Roxas telling Romualdez, “Remember, you are a Romualdez and the President is an Aquino,” and ending with “Bahala na kayo sa sarili nyo (You are on your own).”

Romualdez interprets this as a “threat.” Roxas says the video has been spliced, with parts of what he said removed so that what was left takes his whole statement out of context. His own version is longer because it is complete.

This was how Roxas explained the battle of the videos to journalists at the Kapihan sa Manila at Diamond Hotel last Monday: It all began when Romualdez said he was at the end of his rope (“Hindi ko na kaya”) and asked that the national government take over. That’s when Roxas

told Romualdez to write a letter to that effect. He did not want the national government to be accused of grabbing the reins of the Tacloban government from Romualdez. He did not want the takeover to be politicized.

That’s when he said, “Remember, you are a Romualdez and the President is an Aquino.” Because of that fact, people can mistake the takeover as political vendetta.

As for the statement “Bahala na kayo sa sarili nyo,” what he said was: “Hindi namin kayo iiwanan at bahala na kayo sa sarili nyo (We won’t leave you to be on your own).”

With the removal of important phrases, what was left of his statement gave a different meaning, Roxas said.

(As an aside, let me say that Romualdez’s father-in-law, former actor Jose Mari Gonzalez, his wife Cristina’s father, is an electronics expert who helped the commission that investigated the assassination of Ninoy Aquino by making clearer the faint recordings of conversations during the shooting itself.)

As for the much-criticized government relief efforts in Eastern Visayas, Roxas said the government gave all that was humanly possible. In the morning after Yolanda, the Tacloban airstrip was cleaned of debris and soon after C-130 cargo planes landed with supplies,

personnel and the heavy equipment needed to make the streets passable. He said the three cargo planes immediately turned around to get more supplies.

They made up to five trips a day, he said.

And remember, he added, these planes had to service other islands like Palawan that were also devastated by Yolanda.

Why were they unable to stop the looting? Roxas was asked.

The local police force was decimated, he said. The policemen were victims

With the removal of important phrases, what was left of his statement gave a different meaning... Interior Secretary Mar Roxas themselves. But policemen from Metro Manila were immediately flown in and soldiers came overland from Samar.

The looting started soon after the wind died down and people saw that the warehouses, malls, and stores had been blown open, Roxas said. The National Food Authority has three rice warehouses in Tacloban—two near the beach which were both washed out and looted, and one farther inland. Troops were able to protect this third one. At present, there are 3,300 soldiers and 1,700 policemen in Leyte.

www.canadianinquirer.net

Where were they (he and Defense Secretary Volt Gazmin) when Yolanda struck?

“We positioned ourselves in Tacloban the day before the typhoon struck to help the people prepare for it. We were caught by the typhoon in a building. The winds blew in all the glass windows and rain swept in. We took shelter behind concrete pillars.

“When the wind died down, we went outside and saw the devastation. The first thing we did was go to City Hall to establish a command post. But City Hall was damaged and there was no one there. We eventually established a command center at a military command post.

“All communication facilities were down and there was no way to contact the outside world. I was able to call the President with my cell phone only once, in the afternoon.”

One of the priorities besides helping the typhoon survivors was to restore communications and call for help, Roxas said. And help was not long in coming. The Department of Social Welfare and Development flew in food packs.

“But of course they were not enough.

The capacity of the cargo planes was limited. Relief supplies prepositioned by the local government were washed out by the storm surge,” he said.

Roxas attributed the high casualty rate in Tacloban to lack of preparation. Most of the victims were caught by the storm surge. Much of the city is a flat plain, and the water surged inland, wrecking houses and buildings. When it receded, it carried with it people, debris, and even vehicles. The people did not realize how powerful a storm surge is. They did not realize that it is as powerful and deadly as a tsunami.

But Pagasa did not want to call it a tsunami because a tsunami is caused by an undersea earthquake whereas a storm surge is caused by strong winds blowing the sea toward shore.

By comparison, nearby Guiuan in Samar, which is also located beside the sea like Tacloban, had fewer casualties. When Roxas asked about this, the mayor of Guiuan said his constituents evacuated far inland, up on the hills. On the other hand, even the family of Tacloban Mayor Romualdez was caught near the airport, beside the sea. This shows how the people of Tacloban did not realize the strength of the typhoon and the storm surge.

This can be explained by the fact that Leyte is located in the typhoon belt and experiences typhoons several times a year, so that the people were no longer afraid of typhoons. Now they know better. ■

Opinion

17 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

VIEWPOINT

Wasteland Operators

By Juan L. Mercado Philippine Daily Inquirer INQUIRER’S HEADLINE summed up the festering issue: “Some journalists had it coming, the probers say.”

They were referring to the recent killings that victimized three Mindanao— no, not journalists—“block-timers.” “(He) berated targets like they were the worst animals on earth, cocked his gun on the air, challenging (them) to a gunfight.” Who did? The probers wouldn’t say. But that style fits Joas Dignos, ambushed in Valencia, Bukidnon.

The other two are Michael Milo in Tandag, Surigao del Sur, and Rogelio Butalid in Tagum, Davao del Norte.

A faction of the squabbling Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative paid the tab for Butalid’s radio program. He slammed their opponents within the same co-op.

The victims “had donors that were rivals of those they attacked,” the probers noted. Isn’t that prohibited by the Journalist’s Code of Ethics?

Of course, said Msgr. Elmer Abacahin who heads Cagayan de Oro’s media group. He confirmed the investigators’ findings, but added: This was “not sufficient reason to kill the victims.”

The dictionary included the word “journalist” in 1693. The word was

then defined thus: “a writer or editor for a news medium… who aims at a mass audience.” Since then, radio and TV came on stream and the Internet burst into the scene in the mid-1980s.

The advent of the new and social media resulted in an explosion of socalled citizen journalists.

Radio/TV stations in Europe and the United States don’t have block-timers.

Neither do radio/TV stations in other Asean countries. Here, “walk-in customers” can plunk cash for airtime on the over 952 radio stations, which the National Telecommunications Commission oversees—with a shaky hand.

That excludes “pirate stations” like the one in South Triangle, Quezon City.

With no questions asked, many block-timers broadcast—what? News and comment, they claim. Character assassination or praise, for a price, critics counter. They “give us the opinion of the uneducated that brings us in touch with the ignorance of the community,” Oscar Wilde wrote.

Print media indicate what is “paid ad.” This is published distinct from editorial matter. Block-timers don’t own up who pays the tab for their programs. But those praised—or shellacked—give a fair idea of who pays. Stations wash their hands, muttering: “The program does not reflect

the management’s view.”

“Pinabili lang ng suka sa kanto, pagbalik, journalist na (Told to buy vinegar at the corner store, he trotted back a journalist)!” That putdown reflects a key concern of “Crimes and Unpunishment: The Killing of Filipino Journalists.” Unesco and the Asian Institute of Journalism launched the book last December.

There were 408 “journalists” cover-

We’ve still to flush out the hao-shiaos who flaunt press cards or blocktime microphones.” - Cebu Press Freedom Week editorial ing the Bureau of Customs during the Arroyo administration. That equaled 408 provincial newspapers (32 are dailies). The mob was about seven times the number of foreign and local reporters accredited by Malacañang.

“Most people claiming to represent media are anything but,” columnist Boo Chanco snapped. “Many are from tabloids that have no circulation and moonlight as ‘fixers.’ Past officials tolerated the outsized numbers because they hid dirt.” Publishers of major papers and network managers should help sift out those shams.

Today, the Customs press corps is less 97. And Finance Undersecretary John “Sunny” Sevilla, named by President Aquino as officer in charge of that agency, can tighten this loophole further.

“At the new Customs port in Sasa, Davao, ‘Friday boys’ are known as warikwarik. They list media men for funding,” Jun Ledesma of Sun.Star Davao wrote.

“I was also told some can even facilitate the release of shipments.”

Most “block-timers” operate in a moral wasteland, where facts are few and comments bear a price tag, Viewpoint noted in 2009. “Where the carcass is, there the vultures gather.” Electronic gunslinging is abuse. “Power without responsibility has been the prerogative of the harlot through the ages,” Irish statesman Stanley Baldwin wrote.

“Block-timing is a primary fundgenerator for provincial radio stations,” Melinda de Jesus of Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) noted earlier. This proved to be the emerging problem for the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP). Programs with little accountability proliferate in a country that works by the revised “Golden Rule”: “He who has the gold rules.”

A CMFR study found lack of training and, even more significant, ethical sense. A quarter finished high

school while 13 percent “had no record of educational attainment.”

There’s little, by way of training on objectivity, balance, fairness—and avoidance of conflict of interest, as journalism’s code of ethics provide.

The KBP found fault with the noholds-barred coverage in the Luneta hostage crisis. Eight Hong Kong tourists died. And the Philippines today still has to cope with the diplomatic spillover, as China presses for reparations. Fines were imposed on major networks.

Still, this was a 180-degree turn for the KBP from the Chavez vs National Telecommunications Commission case of February 2008. In that en banc decision, the Supreme Court, lashed the KBP for playing footsie with the Arroyo regime’s gags on the “Hello Garci” tapes.

KBP’s Radio Code now prohibits open-ended contracts for block-timers.

Identifying sponsors of block-time programs will increase transparency.

But the implementation of existing measures—from certification that the “block-timer” adheres to the KBP’s code to monthly reports—has been spotty.

Indeed “our membership lists remain porous,” observed a Cebu Press Freedom Week editorial. “We’ve still to flush out the hao-shiaos who flaunt press cards or block-time microphones.” ■

AT LARGE

The faith, not the structure

By Rina Jimenez-David Philippine Daily Inquirer “CHURCH OR no church, dawn Masses go on,” goes the headline of a story in yesterday’s issue of the Inquirer about the first day of the nine-day “Simbang Gabi” or dawn Mass, one of the most beloved and enduring traditions of the Filipino Christmas celebration.

“With or without a roof, we can still worship because the Church is not just a building. The Church is the people,” said Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, also the newly-installed president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).

Villegas’ reassurance was deemed necessary because in Bohol, Cebu and in the areas hit by Supertyphoon “Yolanda,” so many churches were inundated and reduced to rubble, leaving the faithful with no physical structures to worship in. And those churches which managed to withstand nature’s wrath are still filled these days with families dislocated by the floods and tremor.

And of course, even as these parishes try to cope with the needs of the evacuees, they must also squeeze in time and space for spiritual and religious needs.

So the CBCP head’s reassurance that a dawn Mass is still valid and just as valuable—maybe even more so—even

amid crumbled walls and roofless structures comes as heartwarming proof that Church authorities haven’t lost their humanity and flexibility. Especially in areas where, amid much tragedy and loss, people need to feel the gift of faith and community all the more. *** I find this all the more refreshing, but also puzzling, given new regulations (well, not so new I’m told) about the holding of Catholic weddings in venues other than authorized parish churches.

We—and I speak of our wideranging clan—are still basking in the warmth and memories of the wedding of my nephew Jami and his girlfriend Janet. They have been together for exactly 10 years, so Janet has been practically a part of the family for years, and their long-awaited union has come as a welcome gilding to this special holiday season.

But it nearly didn’t come to pass. Janet belongs to an Evangelical church and it was precisely to honor her and her family’s faith, as well as Jami’s, that an ecumenical service was agreed upon.

In search of a “neutral” place to hold the ceremonies without offending either side, the conference center of the Asian Institute of Management, where Jami’s mother, Coratec Jimenez studied and worked in as executive director of the

policy center, was selected.

The AIM chapel falls under the parish of St. John Bosco in Makati, and when the idea of an ecumenical blessing was put to parish authorities, they balked. “Rules,” they said, deem that to celebrate the sacrament of matrimony, the rites had to be held inside a church.

And not just any church, but a parish church. This new-fangled rule, I heard, was in reaction to the growing trend of holding weddings in gardens, beaches,

With or without a roof, we can still worship because the Church is not just a building. The Church is the people” - Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas mountainsides, even underwater with the principals garbed in diving gear.

I understand the desire of church authorities to preserve the needed solemnity and spirituality of a wedding ceremony, no matter the fun-loving or adventurous natures of the bride and groom. But there are circumstances that, through no fault of the couple, necessitate flexibility on the part of authorities. *** I mean, we may be a majority Catholic population, but shouldn’t that very

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majority call for a little more leniency and understanding on our part?

With a Catholic wedding ceremony ruled out, both families agreed to have the minister, Pastor Clemente Guillermo, conduct the rites himself.

He would bless the couple and sign the wedding contract as officiant.

But it was the desire of the couple, as well, to have a Mass celebrated, most especially because the principal officiator would be my brother (and the groom’s uncle), Fr. Boboy Jimenez, SVD, who has played an important role in counseling Jami and Janet through the rocky terrain not just of an interfaith relationship, but through the normal ups-and-downs of any “boy-girl relationship.” (Yes, Jami, the hairs on my arms rose when I typed out these words, given how uhmmm, “mature” the two of you are.)

Once again, the authorities at Don Bosco balked. Father Boboy, they said, couldn’t even say Mass at AIM because it wasn’t a “proper” venue. (What does Archbishop Soc say to that?)

It took the determination of Coratec, who is also general manager of the Metro Manila Development Authority, to send a letter to the Arzobispado de Manila, specifically Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, and to personally appeal for a little bit of understanding and

leeway. Fortunately, and thankfully, the archdiocese relented and the way was cleared for Father Boboy to say a “thanksgiving Mass” right after the wedding ceremony. *** In a bit of overkill, we kidded Coratec, Jami and Janet ended up with a concelebrated Mass with three priests, including the pastor and former pastor of their home parish in Alabang. Fr. Bobby Ebisa, SVD, had flown in from Cebu also to concelebrate, but thought the wedding was at 4 p.m. and showed up just as the reception was ending (bad timing, Father Bobby!).

It was a rather long ceremony, as I warned our relatives, what with Pastor Clem’s meaningful ceremony and the Mass following. But it was a wonderful example of a shared expression of faith and fidelity, generosity and accommodation, and a way of finding a happy compromise amid the realities of a multicultural and interfaith world. I mean, these things happen, and shouldn’t the Church allow a little more elbow room to keep everybody happy?

So I am glad that Archbishop Soc has said it’s fine to have “Simbang Gabi” Masses said even out in the open, where it’s the faith and the faithful that matter, not the structure. ■

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

18

Canada News

The Canadian Press

level far quicker than benefits.

1. The Wes Sheridan plan, proposed by the Prince Edward Island finance minister, may be the most complicated because it impacts workers differently depending on their level of earnings.

Currently, the CPP plan pays out about 25 per cent replacement benefits on up to $51,100 of pensionable earnings, resulting in a maximum annual benefit of $12,150.

Because it is aimed at the

OTTAWA—Public pension reform has been a key issue at federal-provincial finance ministers’ meetings at least since 2010, with officials having looked at three major proposals for Canada Pension Plan enrichment. The plans differ slightly in their approach, but their basic aim is to increase benefits for future generations of seniors.

They are also similar in that all three proposals are pre-funded, meaning that although contributions to pay for higher benefits all kick in at the same time, contributions will hit their maximum boosted

❱❱ PAGE 22 How the

Canadian disaster assistance team being pulled out of the Philippines The Canadian Press OTTAWA—Canada’s disasterrelief effort in the Philippines is winding up, with the military hoping to get most of its people home for Christmas.

The Disaster Assistance Response Team, deployed in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan, has done its work and is preparing to leave the island nation.

“Today the situation in the Philippines has stabilized, with efforts now firmly focused on the way ahead, on recovery and reconstruction,” Neil Reeder, Canada’s ambassador-designate to the Philippines, said Monday.

“The need for the capabilities offered by the DART has passed.”

Col. Steve Kelsey, of Canadian Joint Operations Command, said the aim is to get many of the 315 deployed military personnel home for the holidays.

“We’ve got a lot of smart folks working very hard to get the bulk of folks home for Christmas,” he said.

He added he is “cautious about using a date, because we don’t want to create expectation for the families.”

The Philippines government says the immediate relief efforts are finished and that it can work on longterm needs with its own resources.

“The government of the Philippines has also confirmed that their requirements for the relief phase have been met and civilian partners and the local government are now positioned to attend to the remaining needs of the population,” the

Defence Department said in a news release.

After the typhoon traced a path of destruction across the islands, Canada sent military personnel to the northern part of the island of Panay.

Engineers cleared debris, opened roads and restored electrical power.

A military water-purification system provided almost 500,000 litres of drinking water.

Medical teams treated 6,500 patients and help set up aid centres.

The military sent Griffon helicopters to reach isolated communities.

The whole effort was supported by an air bridge to Canada supported by giant C-17 transport planes.

The initial reconnaissance team hit the ground on Nov. 10, with other personnel and supplies arriving in subsequent waves. ■

NEWS BRIEFS

FROM THE CANADIAN PRESS PHOTO FROM FLYNETPICTURES.COM VIA ZIMBIO.COM

How the three principal Canada Pension Plan enrichment proposals would work

FISHERMEN SPAR WITH PAMELA ANDERSON ON SEALS ST. JOHN’S—Actress Pamela Anderson and a co-creator of “The Simpsons” received a frosty reception in St. John’s, N.L., on Tuesday as they tried to present a $1 million incentive to help end the East Coast seal hunt. Members of the Fish, Food and Allied Workers union, representing sealers, shouted questions at Anderson and Sam Simon during a chaotic news conference outside the office of the Canadian Sealers Association.

TRAVEL TO CANADA ROSE IN OCTOBER: STATSCAN OTTAWA—Statistics Canada says travel to Canada rose 0.6 per cent in October to 2.1 million trips, led by an increase in visits from the United States. The agency says travel by overseas visitors fell 0.4 per cent in October to 393,000.

STATSCAN SAYS IT DIDN’T MISS 18K PEOPLE WINNIPEG—Statistics Canada is disputing a claim by the Manitoba government that it missed 18,000 people in the last census.

Manitoba Finance Minister Jennifer Howard has said the province could lose out on $500 million in federal transfer payments because of the discrepancy.

MINERS FACED MANY CHALLENGES IN 2013 OTTAWA—After years of riding surging metal prices and spending freely on takeover deals and massive new projects, Canadian miners were forced to tighten their belts in 2013 as the cycle turned against them. The industry took billions in write downs as companies re-evaluated projects that they believed were worth far more just a couple of years ago and slashed spending as falling commodity prices squeezed margins.

19 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Portion of December 2013 sales will go to Typhoon Haiyan Relief

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World News

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 20

For many immigrant families, applications for health insurance stir fears of deportation

BY CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN AND RAMIT PLUSHNICK-MASTI The Associated Press HOUSTON—Day after day, Adonias Arevalo tried to calm his parents’ nerves, attempting to convince them it was safe for him to apply for governmentsubsidized health insurance through the nation’s new coverage system.

Like many other immigrants, Arevalo’s parents worried that personal information on their son’s application could somehow draw immigration authorities’ attention to the couple, who emigrated here illegally from El Salvador seven years ago.

After a week of discussion, the 22-year-old Houston man, who works at a community centre and has temporary legal status, finally eased their fears.

But other immigrant families remain leery, and some are so concerned that they would rather see loved ones go without coverage than risk giving personal information to a federal agency.

“They are afraid,” Arevalo said. “The majority of families, they know it’s something they need to do. ... They’re just afraid of putting themselves out like that.”

Immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally cannot participate in the system. But many have eligible relatives who are citi-

zens or legal residents.

Since the system debuted in October, immigrant advocates and the federal government have been working to reassure families that their information will not be shared with enforcement agencies. The effort has led to changes in the main health care website and a memo from immigration authorities promising not to go after anyone based on insurance paperwork.

Immigrant families are important to the success of the health care overhaul, especially in Texas, which has the nation’s highest rate of uninsured people, many of whom are immigrants.

Of the nearly 40 million people living in the U.S. who were born elsewhere, about a third do not have health insurance, according to census data. And about 9 million people in the U.S. belong to immigrant families in which at least one child is a citizen, according to the Pew Research Center’s Hispanic Trends Project.

Those immigrant families, which tend to be younger and healthy, are attractive to the health care program because it relies on young participants to pay premiums to help fund coverage for older people who need more expensive care.

In Houston’s Harris County, where more than a quarter of the 4 million residents are foreign-born, the group Enroll America is trying to soothe anxieties that signing up for

insurance could mean risking deportation.

“It has pushed people away from wanting to apply online,” said Mario Castillo, who leads the group’s efforts in the Houston area. “They don’t want to type that into a computer ... they want to put a paper application in.”

Cheryl O’Donnell, state director of Enroll America in Arizona, said her staff is confronting similar concerns.

“There is a lot of fear, particularly if the noncitizen is applying for a citizen child,” she said.

In mid-October, three weeks after enrolment opened, President Barack Obama’s administration stepped in. Immigration and Customs Enforcement published a “clarification” designed to assuage fears. The memo explained that information obtained through health care registration would not be used to pursue immigration cases against anyone in the country illegally.

Jenny Rejeske, a health policy analyst at the National Immigration Law Center, said advocates had shared with the government concerns they heard from mixed-status families.

Advocates had sought that clarification for years, but it wasn’t until federal officials “saw that this was going to be a deterrent for people applying that they decided to do something about it,” Rejeske said.

Around the same time, a new

page appeared on healthcare. gov titled “What do immigrant families need to know about the marketplace?” Under a heading for mixed-status families, it states: “Family members who aren’t applying for health coverage for themselves won’t be asked if they have eligible immigration status.”

It also said that applying to the insurance marketplace, Medicaid or the children’s program known as CHIP will not mean immigrants are considered a “public charge,” addressing a long-held concern that accepting a government benefit could jeopardize their chance of getting legal status or becoming a naturalized citizen.

That guidance was also worked into training for “navigators” assigned to help people enrol in the marketplace.

Esmeralda Carreon, a Texas navigator working in communities near the border with Mexico, said she explains to families that while information will be shared with the immigration agency to verify eligibility, it will not bring agents to their door.

Already with Medicaid and CHIP “we have a lot of parents who are not legal,” Carreon said. “And nobody has come to their houses and told them anything because the services are for those children.”

Increasing participation in those other programs in recent years suggests mixed-status

families could be overcoming some of their fears, said Genevieve Kenney, a principal research associate in the Health Policy Center of the Urban Institute.

Among the nation’s uninsured children—regardless of immigration status—65 per cent are eligible for Medicaid or CHIP but are not enrolled.

Arevalo, who applied for insurance after talking to his parents, works as a community resources specialist at a community centre run by Neighborhood Centers Inc. He moved to the U.S. from El Salvador when he was 14 and received permission in March to stay in the country for two years through a program offered by Obama to some immigrants who were brought into the country illegally as children.

His new job puts him at an income too high to qualify for a tax subsidy in the health care marketplace, though he would also be ineligible due to his deferred immigration status. Instead, he will have to buy a basic insurance plan through his employer for about 20 per cent of his monthly salary.

But to learn that, he first had to apply for coverage, and persuading his parents his application wouldn’t jeopardize them was a significant hurdle.

“There was a little fear that this is like telling the government, ‘Hey we’re here and we’re undocumented,”’ he said. ■

UN chief says NKorean leader’s execution of his uncle was ‘very dramatic and surprising’ The Associated Press U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL Ban Ki-moon on Monday called the execution of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s uncle “very dramatic and surprising” and is urged the country’s neighbours not to take any “premature actions.”

Ban, a former South Korean foreign minister, expressed hope that there will be no increase of tensions on the Ko-

rean peninsula following the execution of Jan Song Thaek, widely considered the No. 2 official in North Korea.

Ban, making his first public comments on the execution, also urged North Korea’s leaders to work to denuclearize the Korean peninsula.

He stressed that North Korea must focus on improving the living conditions of its people and comply with Security Council resolutions, which it has long ignored.

In attempting to justify the ex-

Executed leader Jan Song Thaek.

PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA.ORG

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ecution, Kim destroyed the image of unity projected by North Korea’s state-run media. Many analysts said the acknowledgement of dissension and dangerous instability in the government is an alarming prospect as Kim tries to revive a moribund economy while maintaining and advancing development of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

Ban stressed that the United Nations has a longstanding and very clear position against the death penalty “under any cir-

cumstances.”

He appealed to “all the parties concerned surrounding the Korean peninsula, while they must be diligently and carefully watching the development of situation, not to take any premature actions.”

“The period ahead should be used to build confidence in the international community and to improve living conditions for the country’s long-suffering people,” Ban said. “I stand ready to offer my good offices.” ■

World News

21 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

UN says almost $13 billion in 5 Reasons Why You aid needed for world’s biggest Gotta Love the All-New crises in 2014, half for Syria 2013 Honda Civic

BY JOHN HEILPRIN The Associated Press GENEVA—The United Nations said Monday it will need nearly $13 billion in aid in 2014 to reach at least 52 million people in 17 countries, including the millions of Syrians who have been displaced by their civil war.

“This is the largest amount we’ve ever had to request at the start of the year,” said Valerie Amos, the U.N.’s humanitarian chief. “The complexity and scale of what we are doing is rising all the time.”

The aid is to be provided by 500 organizations, including the main U.N. agencies for food, refugees and children.

About half of the requested $12.9 billion in aid—some $6.5 billion—would go toward delivering food, shelter and health care in Syria and neighbouring countries affected by the war.

War-torn Syria.

PHOTO BY FPOLAT69 / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

“This is the largest ever appeal for a single crisis,” Amos said.

In Syria, there are 2.5 million people in “hard to reach communities” because of fighting and security concerns, she said.

The nearly 3-year-old conflict has claimed more than 100,000 lives and displaced millions, and even if it ends to-

morrow the humanitarian aid would still need to continue, Amos said.

“We’re facing a terrifying situation here where, by the end of 2014, substantially more of the population of Syria could be displaced or in need of humanitarian help than not,” said the ❱❱ PAGE 24 UN says

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FOR THOSE who haven’t considered purchasing a Honda Civic, Honda’s got a surprise for you! This year, Honda has showed the world that multinationals in fact do hear the customer, and not only that, they act! Introducing the brand new 2013 Honda Civic, re-designed inside and out but familiar enough to retain the features that made it a consistent top seller in 2012 in the compact car market. With all the thought that Honda has put into the new 2013 Civic, it is no surprise that the Civic has been Canada’s bestselling car for the 15th year straight!

Here are 5 reasons why you gotta love the 2013 Honda Civic.

1. Bold Style Significant styling changes compared to the 2012 Honda Civic are prevalent in both the exterior and interior of this year’s model. With major front and rear styling revisions, this

model is definitely sophisticated. In terms of performance, it is both sharper in handling with its re-tuned steering, and more comfortable to ride as a result of a chassis revision, and noise isolation advancements such as thicker windshields and added insolation. In addition, a variety of features such as Bluetooth streaming audio, text message functionality, and rear view camera, now come standard in most models. In comparison to the 2012 model, the interior cabin of the 2013 Civic has been upgraded with better upholstery for greater comfort and an improved look.

2. Antitheft improvements Over the years, the Civic has experienced drastic improvements in its Immobilizer TheftDeterrent System. In essence, the vehicle cannot be stolen without possession of the origi❱❱ PAGE 40 5 Reasons

Immigration

How the... middle class, the Sheridan plan calls for no changes in either benefits or contribution rates for employees on the first $25,500 or so of pensionable earnings.

For those in the $25,500 to $51,000 earnings range, contribution rates for both employers and employees would rise by 1.5 percentage points each.

The Sheridan plan also calls for doubling the pensionable limit to about $102,000, with the contribution rate on the additional $51,000 set a 1.55 per cent each for employer and employees.

The bottom line is that at the top end, those with pensionable earnings of $102,000, annual benefits would rise from the current $12,150 to about $23,400.

In order to be pre-funded, premiums would be phased in over three years once the program started and benefits would be phased in over about 40 years before peaking.

2. The Canadian Labour Congress plan has also received much attention. The major difference is that it would not dou❰❰ 18

ble the pensionable earnings limit, or create a separate category for lower income workers, hence it is far simpler.

It calls for a three-percentage-point hike in premium rates for employers and employees equally from the current 4.95 per cent. The maximum contribution rises from the current $2,356 to about $3,593 over 10 years.

Annual benefits would double to 50 per cent of pensionable earnings to about $24,000 at the top end, but the phase in period is long, close to 40 years.

3. A third proposal ministers have looked at in the past is called the 10-10-10 plan, so named because it would lift income replacement by 10 percentage points to 35 per cent of pensionable earnings, while also raising the ceiling on those earnings by 10 points to $61,000. The other 10 refers to how many years it will take to fully phase in.

Analysts note that all the plans can be tweaked to reduce pain of premium hikes, but that would also lead to more modest boosts to benefits. ■

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 22

Streamlining the Passport Process for Canadians Abroad OTTAWA—Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander announced improvements to passport services for Canadians living and working outside Canada.

When the improvements take effect on December 9, 2013, Canadians living and working outside Canada will have the option of choosing as a guarantor: • an adult with a valid or recently expired Canadian passport (less than a year); or • a member of an expanded list of a variety of occupations (listed below).

“Canada is continuing to make the passport application process more efficient and streamlined for Canadians living abroad,” said Alexander. “As of December 9, 2013, if you are applying for a Canadian passport abroad, finding a guarantor will be much simpler.”

In addition, the list of guarantor occupations will be consistent for all Canadian passport applicants, wherever they may be outside Canada. If you prefer

to choose a guarantor from the list of occupations below, they do not need to be Canadian citizens.

The new universal guarantor list will consist of the following occupations, found around the world: • medical doctor; • dean/head of university or college; • dentist; • judge; • lawyer/notary; • notary public; • pharmacist; • police officer; • signing officer of a bank or trust company or of a financial institution that offers a full range of banking services (cash withdrawals, deposits, savings);

and • veterinarian.

Travelers may also consult Travel.gc.ca, where Canadians can find the information they need to travel or live abroad safely and to make informed decisions.

Canada now issues ePassports, which are considered the gold standard for travel documents worldwide. A Canadian passport is the only reliable and universally accepted travel and identification document available to Canadians who want to travel abroad. As always, the Passport Canada Program strives to strike the best possible balance between security, service and cost. ■

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Calgary 1 (877) 502-7376

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Main Street 604-874-5571 Surrey 604-588-1975 MCE Warehouse 604-279-1544 Edmonton Northtown Mall (inside T&T) (780) 478-7352 Winnipeg 1(888) 947-7376 Isabel St. (204) 947-5888

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Manila Express R E M I T TA N C E

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Immigration

23 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Manitoba Opposition wants inquiry into former immigration minister

BY STEVE LAMBERT The Canadian Press WINNIPEG—Manitoba’s NDP government tried Friday to end the controversy over a former cabinet minister who is accused by the Opposition Progressive Conservatives of lying to a legislature committee.

The government said Christine Melnick will not be sanctioned for telling the committee she wasn’t behind a staged immigration debate.

But there was no sign the Tories would stop pressing for Melnick’s removal from caucus and for an inquiry into her actions.

Melnick issued a short written statement late Friday afternoon in which she apologized for what she termed a misunderstanding over the debate last year.

“I wish to apologize for comments I made in the house that caused a misunderstanding about direction I provided,” Melnick wrote.

“The explanation I provided

in the house did not properly convey the direction I had given and, for that, I apologize.”

Melnick came under fire over a legislature debate on April 19, 2012, when she was immigration minister. She had introduced a resolution criticizing the federal government’s plan to take over some immigration programs run by the province.

The previous day, her assistant deputy minister Ben Rempel had issued an email to government-funded immigrant service agencies telling them of the event and saying that people should feel free to come—even if it meant taking the afternoon off work.

The Tory Opposition immediately accused the government of politicizing the civil service to orchestrate a show of support for the government. It also said government-funded agencies and immigrants would feel pressured to obey the request to attend.

The Opposition repeatedly asked Melnick and Premier Greg Selinger whether a poli-

tician had told Rempel to send the email. When Melnick appeared before a budget estimates committee on May 30 of last year, she denied being behind the plan.

“Who directed ... Ben Rempel, then, to send the email?” asked Mavis Tallieu, the Tory immigration critic at the time.

“I’m not sure this really relates to the estimates process, and we don’t know. There was no direction to send this email,” Melnick responded, according to legislature Hansard.

Melnick also said in a media interview at the time that she was not behind the email.

Earlier this week, ombudsman Mel Holley revealed that Melnick had in fact directed Rempel to send the email.

Tory Leader Brian Pallister called Friday for Melnick to

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be removed from the NDP caucus. Melnick was one of three cabinet ministers who were demoted to the backbenches earlier this year, but she continues to sit in caucus as the representative for the Riel constituency in south Winnipeg.

“This is perjury. This is lying,” Pallister said. “(The premier) has taken no action whatsoever—zero action—as a consequence of knowing that a member of his caucus lied under oath before a committee of this legislature.”

Pallister also called for an inquiry.

Under the province’s Legislative Assembly Act, the legislature can conduct an inquiry into alleged false evidence given to a committee, among other offences, and can order imprisonment for anyone found guilty.

Selinger was not available for comment Friday. While talking

to reporters Thursday, he did not directly answer questions about when the government became aware Melnick’s committee testimony was untrue and why no one cleared the air prior to the ombudsman’s report.

Government house leader Andrew Swan also refused to answer those questions Friday.

He said Melnick’s apology is enough.

“It’s our expectation that that apology will be the end of the matter,” Swan said.

Melnick is not the first politician to apologize for committee testimony.

Last year, then-finance minister Stan Struthers told another legislature committee he never received free tickets to National Hockey League games. Within days, it was revealed that he had been given tickets to Winnipeg Jets games

by Red River College and the Manitoba Homebuilders Association.

Struthers apologized in the legislature and was not sanctioned by the premier. ■

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 24

FILIPINO-CANADIANS IN FOCUS: SALVE AND ED DAYAO

Transition Notes

BY SOCORRO-BABES C NEWLAND Special to Philippine Canadian Inquirer BRITISH COLUMBIA’S Salve and Ed Dayao is synonymous to American pop music duo Sonny & Cher. While the latter started their career in the mid-1960s as R&B backing singers for record producer Phil Spector, Ed and Salve left the Philippines in the 1970s to travel the world spreading the gospel of music.

Here, Salve reminisces her early transition to jazz and speaks of what completes her whole being as Vancouver’s Queen of Jazz and vocal coach.

Writer: Describe happiness in your own terms?

Salve: I’m happiest when spending quality time with Eddieboy (her husband Ed) and having my whole family members come over at our place for special occasions like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, etc.

Or even when I’m just performing on same stage with my Eddieboy still tickles me pink.

Writer: When did you realize you wanted to become a jazz singer?

Salve: I started singing at age 14. And I’ve always been naturally drawn to singing jazz and old standards. But my Eddieboy stood guard in honing my craft. He’s the ultimate jazz aficionado on Keys who once

told me that there is no other music genre suited for my vocal style and delivery than jazz. I believed him.

Writer: What about your vocal coaching?

Salve: It all started in 1986 when Ed and I just migrated to Canada. My lengthy years of experience performing in different countries with my husband on keyboards have contributed significantly to perfecting my vocal skills. Teaching small kids became the natural transition for me. We became the first Filipinos to open a music studio (Ed & Salve’s Music Studio) here.

shoes and nice clothes to wear.

Writer: How do you juggle up your hectic schedule without compromising quality and productivity?

Salve: Simple. I love everything that I do; therefore, proper time management and prioritizing are important factors. But most importantly, I’m blessed to have an understanding husband who supports and understands me unconditionally.

Java Jazz Bistro, New Westminster, BC

Writer: Operating your own music resto-bar (Java Jazz Bistro is now on its 12 years in business) takes up so much of your time, what motivates you in not giving up coaching young kids how to sing?

Salve: Watching very shy, out of tune and unsure kids blossom into confident and seasoned performers. That’s the most gratifying reward for as vocal coach. I wouldn’t change that for the world.

Writer: Who’s your greatest musical influence?

Salve: My late Dad and my eldest sister Ligaya who both patiently mentored me as I was growing up. They took me to joining various amateur contests that I truly enjoyed. Because I always had new pairs of

Salve and Ed Dayao

Writer: How do you sum up success?

Salve: Personally, my greatest achievement would be my mar-

riage. Eddieboy and I will be celebrating our 34 years of matrimonial bliss come March 13, 2014. And that we’re still head

over heels in love with each other after all these years is truly my life’s measure of success.

The rest is merely incidental. ■

Philippines “are all less than 50 per cent funded.”

Speaking from the Lebanese border town of Arsal, U.N. refugee agency spokesman Peter Kessler told The Associated Press that the focus in 2014 will shift to helping host countries develop and upgrade their infrastructure to accommodate the large number of refugees.

Unlike in Turkey, Jordan and Iraq, the Lebanese government is not providing facilities or land to temporarily accommodate refugees, despite the continuing influx into the country of 4.5 million. The refugees are scattered all over the country,

and mostly live in informal tented settlements in the north and in the Bekaa Valley.

More than 20 per cent of Lebanon’s inhabitants are now Syrians, who have fled the fighting, Kessler said. He estimated that at least 120,000 Syrians seek shelter in neighbouring countries every month.

“That means that thousands of people need blankets, clothes, health care, education and a decent shelter to live in,” Kessler said. “The needs are enormous and the host countries cannot meet them on their own. They need help,” Kassler said.

The U.N. acknowledges that

its request for 2014 is formidable, “but attainable.”

After Syria, the next biggest requests are for $1.1 billion for South Sudan, $995 million for Sudan, $928 million for Somalia, $832 million for the Congo, and $791 million for rebuilding in the typhoon-hit Philippines.

Other major requests are for $591 million in Yemen, $406 million for Afghanistan, $390 million in the occupied Palestinian territories, $247 million for Central African Republic and $169 million for Haiti. ■

UN says...

U.N.’s High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres.

“This goes beyond anything we have seen in many, many years, and makes the need for a political solution all the much greater,” he said.

A year ago, the U.N.’s humanitarian request looking ahead to 2013 was for $8.5 billion, but Syria’s civil war forced the world body to revise that assessment upward to $13.6 billion. U.N. and other aid officials said Monday that their 2013 request will be only 60 per cent funded.

Such funding gaps will leave many people hungry, lacking ❰❰ 21

shelter and unprotected from violence, they said.

“When looking ahead to the 2014 plans for humanitarian response and the funds that are required, the NGO community is very concerned that this year’s appeals are still vastly underfunded and that leaves gaps in meeting immediate humanitarian needs and also slows down the recovery process for millions of civilians, leaving an unbearable scar for years to come,” said Jasmine Whitbread, CEO of Save the Children International.

She said the 2013 requests for Haiti, Somalia, Djibouti, Central African Republic, and the

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Barbara Surk in Beirut contributed to this report.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

25

Christmas Then and Now The Sparkle of Christmas

BY ANGIE DUARTE Philippine Canadian Inquirer TEN DAYS before Christmas at the time of this writing, and holiday madness has officially set in. Preparations have reached fever-pitch; roads bear the weight of countless cars kissing each other’s bumpers as if underneath a sprig of mistletoe, as they inch along to their destinations; and just when you thought it was safe to go back into the mall (why you would ever think that, at this time of the year is beyond me), you find yourself caught in a shopping frenzy more ferocious than hungry sharks feeding on fresh kill in the water.

Ah, Christmas. I’ve had forty-five of them, in all, and I realize how things have changed. And how they have stayed the same.

Warm fuzzy butterfly-filled tummy

My earliest memories of Christmas are rather sensory; rooted more in feelings and sensual associations triggered by all things part of groovy ‘70’s Christmases: Sparkly silver tinsel trees strung with more silver icicle foil strips, technicoloured balls and teardrop-shaped ornaments in the funkiest of patterns, colourful plastic garlands, a felt Christmas tree skirt. Everything was glitzy, glittery, kitschy bordering on tacky, plastic and fake.

The one thing that wasn’t fake, though, was the sincerity that went into making special each and every Christmas of my childhood. Genuine love was strewn all over the artificial flair of the era, and that made Christmas more real and alive than I could have ever imagined.

I remember creeping out of bed, night after night, when everyone else was off to dreamland to sit under the shiny tree in the dimly-lit living room and quietly count my presents, gingerly shaking each to try and figure out its contents. The countdown to Christmas morning seemed ever so-long.

Although we were allowed to open half our presents at the stroke of midnight, the really special ones—the ones from the North Pole—only arrived in the wee hours of Christmas morn. Sleeping ‘til then was just about the hardest chore imaginable.

My brother and I would burst out of our shared room at the crack of dawn on Christmas morning, hurriedly rubbing the remnants of sleep from our eyes while barreling down the seemingly endless stretch of hall. The living room would al-

ready be filled with the comforting smell of hot cocoa, which my Abuelita would be patiently stirring in the kitchen. John Denver’s “Rocky Mountain Christmas” vinyl played on the turntable. That warm, fuzzy feeling filled my tummy, invaded by countless butterflies. My brother and I eyeballed the new and oh-so-special additions underneath the tree in wide-eyed wonder—never minding the inevitable glare from all that silvery sheen—as we waited for the “go” signal from our folks.

We gleefully ripped open present after present from family, friends, and Santa, and then raided the Christmas stockings next. By the time we were done, the floor was equally glittery and full of tinsel as the tree, for even the wrapping paper was kitschy in those days.

The rest of the day was spent playing with our new loot, sipping on cocoa, and munching on holiday treats. The year I got a Bedazzler, everything but the family dogs ended up bedazzled in shiny, shimmery resplendence. Like the beloved kitschy Christmas tree.

Merry “Ca-ching”mas!

When the teenage years rolled around, I became slightly less interested in wrapped presents under the tree, and more interested in the contents of envelopes. Cash was the new Bedazzler; able to add sparkle and colour to my holiday world. I eagerly opened each envelope I received in wideeyed wonder—eyes sometimes wider than others, depending on the colour and number of bills in the envelope.

Christmas became more about parties, gimmicks with the gang, out-oftown trips, and nights on the town. My parents were quite the party animals at the time, so nights on the town usually meant family fun as well. We danced ‘til we just about dropped, and—occasionally—drank ‘til we did drop.

Noche Buena (Christmas Eve dinner) at home was eagerly anticipated, with all sorts of goodies flown in all the way from the US by a balikbayan (returning national) aunt. Hot cocoa was replaced by brandied eggnog, which I was now deemed “old enough” to drink. Yum, yum, yum! *hic* John Denver still played in the background, but this time from a cassette tape deck.

Santa and the unwashed dishes

Marriage and motherhood were the next milestones for me, and Christmas was viewed primarily through the wide-

A very special gift from the heart puts the sparkle back in Christmas.

eyed wonder of my daughter, Andie. An avid Santa-fan, her dad and I always went the extra mile to weave the fantasy ever-so tightly.

A little too tightly, perhaps. She held out belief in the jolly, bearded, red-suited champion of Christmas way longer than most of her peers; defending his existence at the schoolyard or playground to the foot-stomping, balledup-fist-waving end. Santa was the sparkle to her Christmas, and so he was, to ours.

Of course, like every well-versed Bible kid (we were actively involved with church ministry, at the time), she knew that Jesus is at the heart of Christmas.

Santa, however, was too much fun to resist.

On Christmas Eve, we would leave notes from the North Pole, carefully penned in writing she would not recognize as anyone else’s but Santa’s.

Thankfully, it never dawned on her that Santa, Ratonzito Perez (the Spanish tooth mouse) and the Three Kings all had pretty much the same cursive style. AND that their cursive style was the same as Mommy’s, for that matter. Wink, wink. ❱❱ PAGE 31 The Sparkle

Christmas Then and Now

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 26

Christmas Myths

BY JOSEPH LOPEZ Special to Philippine Canadian Inquirer LITTLE DID we know. For years we were celebrating our mother’s birthday on the wrong date. It was off by almost a month. The need for a birth certificate unraveled the mistake.

And perhaps for almost 2013 years, give or take a few hundred years from Anno Domini 1, we were prob-

ably celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on the wrong date and still do.

December 25th?

According to several scholarly studies, the Bible itself in its gospels Matthew and Luke gives enough data to indicate the birth of Christ was certainly not in December or any winter month. The weather in Israel according to meteorologists has basically remained unchanged since AD 1 or BC 1. Based on the biblical account that shepherds were out in the fields at night with their sheep—the months suitable to do so would generally be from April to September.

In fact there was just snow in Israel this December 2013.

In addition, the Roman census— the reason why Joseph and Mary had to go from Nazareth to Bethlehem, would

most likely have been decreed to take place in September or early October, right after harvest so as not to disrupt an agrarian economy, and when the weather was still agreeable to be outdoors both day and night. Why would Joseph and a near-term Mary travel about 4 days on foot (for the man) in a chilly December? Unless God created a miraculous change in weather patterns that year and had divinely led emperor Caesar Augustus to go against the reasonable grain of thought. If this was the case, the Bible is certainly quiet about it.

Christmas was not officially celebrated until the fifth century when according to some historians the Church of Rome ordered Christ’s birth to be observed December 25th from then on to replace the pagan old Roman feast of the birth of Sol. A number of experts think Jesus was plausibly born in September.

certainly more than one. The number three could have been ascribed to the three gifts cited: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Simply wise men or magi, not royalty. The supposedly three names: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar—are man-made coinage. The kingship could have been inferred from the Old Testament book of Psalms chapter 72 verse 10 (NIV): May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him.

May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts But why call them magi or wise men in the gospels?

Furthermore, the magi were certainly not in the manger on the actual birthday of Jesus.

The Bible narrates: On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. (NIV) A child not a baby.

A house not in a manger.

The Three Kings?

Modern Day Symbolic Acts of Celebration

The Bible never said there were three, nor were they designated as kings. There was

www.canadianinquirer.net

The Christmas tree, Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, the

wreath, stockings, amongst others do not have any biblical foundation. One of the symbolical acts closest to what happened during the birth of Christ is the Philippine parol—a paper lantern in the form of a star hanging outside the house to signify the Star of Bethlehem.

The Star of Bethlehem itself has been subjected to numerous scientific investigations leading some researchers to theorize that a planetary conjunction, among other solar phenomena (that did occur during the window of years Jesus could have been born), was the “star” seen by the magi.

Another rite of Christmas, Handel’s Messiah popularly performed with a sing-along, was believed to have been meant for Easter and Lent. The oratorio premiered on April 13, 1742 in Dublin, Ireland.

In all likelihood the birth of the Messiah took place on a balmy pleasant evening.

No need to dream of a White Christmas. ■ Send your comments by e-mail to: telljosephlopez@gmail.com

27 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Watch

Pastor Apollo C. Quiboloy on Gospel of the Kingdom aired all over Canada on JoyTV from 5AM-8AM (Vancouver time) 8AM-11AM (Toronto time) 8PM-11PM (Philippine time) Vancouver, Victoria and Fraser Valley Region (Channel 10 in Vancouver & Channel 7 in Victoria) Toronto, Southern Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Labrador (Channel 11 in Winnipeg & via Rogers Digital Cable TV on their local channel 173) JoyTV is also available via Digital TV, visit: Novus (www.novusnow.ca) Shaw (www.shaw.ca) Telus (www.telus.com)

10 Plagues of Egypt Pharoah’s heart was stubborn against God’s message through Moses which was: “Let my people go!” And because of the stubbornness of his heart, Egypt was visited with many plagues.

First, they were plagued with many, many frogs.

Wherever the Egyptians went—when they opened their potsw of food, their rooms, their bathrooms… there were frogs everywhere. So finally Pharoah said, “Okay, I now accede but please take these frogs away.” And the Father Almighty took away the frogs, but then after a while, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened again.

There was a second plague where the Almighty Father sent lice. When the Egyptians woke up in the morning, all the parts of their body with hair had lice. Even their dogs

had lice. When they lifted their blankets, the lice were all over the mat.

And so Pharaoh’s heart softened again, telling Moses, “Okay, take your people away, just get rid of all the lice.” So all lice were taken away.

And then he became stubborn again, until the tenth plague came when all the eldest children in Egypt died, including Pharoah’s son. There was wailing all over Egypt! So finally, Pharoah set them free. He told them, “Go away, leave us. We don’t care whatever you want to do, just leave.”

So the Israelites left, borrowing the gold of the Egyptians who gave it to them just as long as they left Egypt.

Egypt went bankrupt because of this. And so Pharaoh ordered the Israelites pursued because they had brought all the gold with them, but the

The of the

DAY

LORD PART 6

Father saved the Israelites and covered the Egyptians with the sea. The Israelites were freed from the bondage of Egypt at last! This was the mission of Moses.

This happened thou-

sands of years ago but a thousand years to us is but one day with God. To Him it is as if it happened only yesterday.n (to be continued next week)

Attend our

Thanksgiving and Worship Presentation all over Canada

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KLC OF SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA Every Sunday at 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM Midweek Bible Study: at 6:00 PM

KINGDOM OF JESUS CHRIST, TNAEN Hall 13063 Old Yale Road Surrey, British Columbia VT3 3C3, CANADAFor Inquiries, CALL:

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Seen & Scenes

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 28

PHILIPPINES DEDICATES CHRISTMAS TREE TO CANADIAN ARMED FORCES

Alan

12 December 2013–Philippine Ambassador Leslie B. Gatan on December 09 dedicated a Christmas tree decorated with Philippine-made ornaments to the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) for their immense humanitarian work in the aftermath of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines.

Canada dispatched to the Philippines last month engineering units, medical staff and water purification systems to address critical emergency needs and to help coordinate and deliver relief in outlying regions in the Visayas.

Ambassador Gatan presented the Philippine tree to Mr. Mark O’Neill, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canada’s largest museum, which mounted a Christmas Tree Decorating Challenge last year. TN Philippines supplied the ornaments for the Philippine tree which was voted the winner among 15 entries. As the contest winner, the Philippines was given the sole privilege of decorating a bigger Christmas tree at the Museum this year.

Melissa

from

Vicky

“This Christmas season, we remember the men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) deployed to the Philippines as members of Canada’s Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART). We dedicate this Christmas tree to them in this season of giving and thanksgiving as they stand in solidarity with the Filipino people at great personal sacrifice,” Ambassador Gatan announced.

Angie

Gig

Kaye

Amb. Gatan (Right) presents to Mr. O’Neill (Left) the Philippine Christmas tree dedicated to the Canadian Armed Forces

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BROUGHT JOY TO CHILDREN AND SENIORS IN TORONTO The Prince of Peace Knights of Columbus Council # 9144 of Scarborough entertained the Parishioners with a Children's Party in the Church Hall, while Conductress Thelma Antazo led the 10 AM Church Choir and other parishioners in the singing of several lively Christmas Carols at the Senior home in Scarborough

www.canadianinquirer.net

Do

Alice

Shanice

Seen & Scenes

29 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

A SPECIAL GIG FOR LIFE Vancouver for Philippines and Stage One Academy held a benefit concert for the victims of Typhoon Haiyan on December 9 at Stage One Academy. Ray An Fuentes, Goldie, Gabriel Hasselbach and Ms. Linda Magno performed and all proceeds were given to Canadian Red Cross. Major sponsors included Stage One Academy, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Chan, YLCBC, Betta International, Filipino Seniors Club of B.C., Juan TV and Juan Radio.

Laarni

or ominad

gi

Ching

PNB EVENT AT METROTOWN Maricel Borci Pempengco is honoured by her family and friends including ex PNB Remittance officemates on her 50th birthday last December 15, 2013 at Hilton Metrotown.

99 DOLLAR SMART 2013 CHRISTMAS PARTY At the Christmas party for 99 Dollar Smart employees, with their spouses and children.

www.canadianinquirer.net

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 30

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Christmas Then and Now

31 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Christmas in the Philippines after the disasters

Canadian Inventor-Artists Designs Parol Prototype, Donates Proceeds for Typhoon Yolanda Relief

BY KATHERINE MARFALTEVES Philippine Canadian Inquirer

12 DECEMBER 2013—Darcy Whyte, a Canadian inventorartist based in Ottawa, was among the millions of Canadians whose hearts were touched by the unimaginable suffering caused by super typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in the Philippines.

With his thoughts going out to a country where Christmas is the most important holiday, Darcy decided to start a project that could raise the spirits of his Filipino friends. Designing an open-source template for Philippine Christmas lanterns, he created a page on invertorartist.com called Parol Workshop 101 where frames for a 10”, 14” or 24” parol can be downloaded for free, along with step-bystep assembly instructions.

Soon, he hears about a December 8 multicultural fundraiser at the Ottawa City Hall called Parol, A Star of Hope—A Tribute to Canada for Helping our People which the Filipino community initiated with the support of the Philippine Embassy and Mayor Jim Watson.

In no time, Darcy contacted the Philippine Embassy to find out how he could contribute to the cause of rebuilding lives in the central Philippines.

IT WILL still be a merry Christmas after all.

With just a few months after massive disasters struck the Philippines, amazingly, Christmas spirit is still very much alive. Flickering lights are still found in the busy streets of Metro Manila and Christmas rush is still in—but one thing has changed.

Everyone nurtured the thought of giving more.

Donations over personal luxuries. With several fundrais-

ing activities being held to help earthquake and typhoon victims, the priorities of people on which to spend their money has somewhat changed.

T.V. personality Regine Tolentino and her family will still celebrate Christmas, but the value of gifts that they will give out will not be the same as in the previous years. “My family has always celebrated Christmas quite simply. We come together, have dinner and exchange gifts.

This year, we will probably tone it down in terms of the value of our gifts,” she said.

Actress Angel Locsin had ❱❱ PAGE 39 Christmas in

Food for the children.

Clockwise from top: Parol templates designed by Darcy; Volunteers assemble lanterns the Parol, A Star of Hope fundraiser at Ottawa City Hall; Darcy presents a finished product to Ambassador Leslie Gatan; the Canadian inventorartist donates 100% of his proceeds for the day to Habitat for Humanity.

Darcy’s parol kit was a hit among visitors to the community event. He promptly donated 100% of proceeds of his sales to Habitat for Humanity National Capital Region whose President and CEO, Mr. George Hendry, was on site to receive cash donations totalling CA$10,412 in a single afternoon.

The Canadian Government is

expected to match this amount dollar for dollar under Canada’s Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund.

“I hope everyone makes them and hangs them in their window to share them. It was a lot of fun since a lot of my friends were there and I met many new friends. Also lots of entertainment, food and a collection of vendors,” Darcy enthused. ■

play it anymore.

Andie is now a teener, and I often feel like I’ve just about seen all that there is to make my eyes wide with wonder. Just about. As it turns out, Christmas still holds its magical surprises.

Yesterday, nine days before Christmas, she led me and her Dad to the couch, eager as ten beavers to give us what she had been working on for nearly as many days.

She handed us two largish parcels, one for each of us, neatly and simply wrapped in purple paper. Phone in hand to chronicle our reactions by way of video, she anxiously prompted, “Open, open!!!”

It was a school project, and it just about made me cry. In fact—if not for the video to be submitted to teacher—I would

have full-on broken down.

I looked at the hand-made, oversized greeting card, covered in cat-printed paper (I love cats, you see), and filled with photos of Andie and I, of our family, throughout the years.

Two cut-out paper snowflakes scribbled with “I love you so, so, so, so much!”, a bible verse written on memo pad, and a heartfelt letter from her were tucked into the card.

Each photo I looked at in wide-eyed wonder brought back a flood of memories that can never be taken away. We sat there, reliving those memories as if they were yesterday.

And in that one truly special gesture, Christmas regained its sparkle.

I think I may just give John Denver another spin on the player this year. ■

The Sparkle...

Little bits of hay (reindeer fodder) and soil (from Santa’s boots, of course) strewn on the floor completed the illusion. As did the presents from the North Pole, strategically positioned near the tree and by the empty plate of cookies (with just enough crumbs left for added drama), and three-quarters finished cup of milk (Santa doesn’t want to gain any more weight, you know!)

John Denver and the Muppets’ “A Christmas Together” played from the CD changer.

Our Christmas tree was nowhere near as glittery as that of my childhood, but shone with the joy that had imbued its trimming.

One Christmas morning when Andie was three, she ran down to check if Santa had ❰❰ 25

stopped by. OF COURSE he had, as we soon found out (and actually already knew). Before her dad and I could make it all the way down the stairs, she yelled “Mommy! Daddy! Santa ate the milk and cookies! BUT HE DIDN’T WASH HIS OWN DISHES!!!” There she stood, between the unwashed crockery and the presents, arms on her hips, as flabbergasted as she was excited.

Another year we found coins in our stockings. Andie thought it but fair to give Mom and Dad something as well, since Santa always stuffed her stocking with small presents and a few bills.

Those were my special and irreplaceable Christmas moments then. Those will be my special and irreplaceable Christmas moments for always.

Bringing back the magic

I reckon that Christmas endures more than its fair share of beatings in most lives. As you get older—and older still— much of the sparkle fades. All that glitters is now a memory of a bygone, funky but precious era from our childhood days.

And, for those of us who are parents, from our children’s childhood days. Pragmatism steps in. Commercialism dulls the sparkle and turns Christmas into a chore, almost. If you let it.

Families, sadly, sometimes grow apart. And occasionally, you find that this is beyond your control.

As for John Denver, he passed away many years ago. His music lives on and will forever be a part of my own Christmas memories, but we hardly ever www.canadianinquirer.net

Christmas Then and Now

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 32

The Then-and-Now of Yuletide Some Americans are Feasts and Gift Giving cutting back or not shopping at all during the holiday season

BY CHING DEE Philippine Canadian Inquirer

WHEN WE talk about Christmas this year, most people will think about parties, food, and gifts… Scratch that. Most people will think about the hippest parties, healthiest organic food choices, and the latest gadget in the market.

So, how do we fair compared to the Christmas of yore?

BY ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AND CANDICE CHOI The Associated Press

Old Fashioned Parties

The parties of your moms and dads probably had a classy theme to it (save for the 70’s decor, which would be quite appropriate at that time). If it’s a neighborhood party, it would probably be potluck. Neighbors bringing one homemade casserole after another and hauling eggnog by the barrel. Perhaps a friendly game of charades will make a competitor out of otherwise chirpy neighbors, but all of that “tension” will be gone as they file out the door by 9:00 PM. The parties of today will most definitely have booze in all shapes, sizes, and strength.

Food is basically just what you nibble to keep your mouth busy if you’re not drinking or talking with friends over the blaring Christmas music covered by the most controversial singer of the year. The only neighbourly participation? Probably calling the cops for being too loud.

Gift Giving of Yesterday

When you were a kid, you probably wanted Lincoln Logs or wooden blocks. Perhaps a doll (or a dollhouse) or a robot included in your letter for Santa. A baseball mitt and/or bat may also be at play for the young prince, with a kitchen or salon playset for the little princess. Parents usually don’t have to shell out a fortune to put a smile on their kids faces.

Nowadays, building blocks is done on a digital platform— the latest gadget in the market.

Parents line up at 4:00 AM to get to the store first as it opens for the day. Kids today usually just spend their free time indoors, their thumbs thumbing away like a maniac. They’re so engrossed in their latest game that perhaps other people are

PHOTO FROM HD WALLPAPER INN

PHOTO FROM THE POTTER’S HAND ACADEMY

just blurry shapes in their peripheral vision and garbled sounds buzzing around them.

Ye Olde Feast

In the olden days, Christmas food is all about deliciously warm comfort food to satisfy the entire family—with leftovers for tomorrow (or beyond). The Christmas dinner table would include a giant roasted turkey, perhaps a honey-glazed ham there, vegetables here, a pint or two of eggnog.

Dessert would be some sort of warm pie and the feast will end with a glass of glorious mulled wine to cleanse the palette.

These days, you will probably hear one (or all) of three questions when you invite someone over for Christmas dinner: * Is it gluten-free? * Do you use paleo products? * Is it vegan?

With humanity’s consciousness slowly awakening to the importance and benefits of a healthy lifestyle, the holidays is certainly not the time to let go of your culinary beliefs. This

newfound belief is quite difficult to maintain when Food Network keeps on showing Nigella Lawson or Ina Garten in their kitchen with the most scrumptious turkey ever, but most people do try to keep their food principles intact throughout the merriment. They only eat low calorie salad dressing, less sodium on their turkey (white meat from and organically grown fowl), vegan pies and casseroles, and a glass or two of wine.

Here are two old school Christmas recipes with a modern (healthier) twist to satisfy both the yuletide purist and health nut in any family.

From Sarah Hobbs of Australia’s Taste.com, here’s a simple side for any main dish: Glazed Roast Pumpkin Carrots. * 1.5 kg pumpkin * 12 carrots * 1/4 cup honey * 1 tbsp mustard * 2 tbsp olive oil ❱❱ PAGE 36 The Then-And-Now

www.canadianinquirer.net

NEW YORK—Many Americans appear to be watching the annual holiday spending ritual from the sidelines this year.

Money is still tight for some.

Others are fed up with commercialism of the holidays. Still others are waiting for bigger bargains.

And people like Lark-Marie Anton Menchini are more thoughtful about their purchases. The New York public relations executive says in the past she’d buy her children up to eight Christmas gifts each, but this year they’re getting three apiece. The leftover money is going toward their college savings.

“We told them Santa is ... being very conscious of how many gifts he puts on his sleigh,” Menchini, 36, says.

Used to be, stores counted on Americans to fill their shopping baskets during the holiday season. But this year, some are scaling back—or abstaining completely—from the year-end spending frenzy that’s a hallmark of American culture.

There aren’t reliable figures on how many people plan to shop during the holidays. But early data points to a shift in holiday spending.

The National Retail Federa-

tion estimates that sales during the start to the official start to season—the four-day weekend that began on Thanksgiving Day—dropped 2.9 per cent from last year to $57.4 billion. That would mark the first decline in the seven years the trade group has tracked spending.

And during the week afterward—which ended on Sunday—sales fell another 2.9 per cent compared with a year ago, according to data tracker ShopperTrak, which did not give dollar amounts. Meanwhile, the number of shoppers in stores plunged nearly 22 per cent.

The numbers are sobering for retailers, which depend on making up to 40 per cent of their revenue in the last two months of the year. They suggest shifts in the attitudes of U.S. shoppers that could force stores to reshape their strategies: Shoppers want deals

Stores slashed prices during the recession to get financially-strapped shoppers in stores and to better compete with the cheaper prices of online retailers like Amazon. But shoppers got used to those deals and now won’t buy without them. The constant discounting has blunted the “wow” factor of sales during the holidays. ❱❱ PAGE 38 Some Americans

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

33

Entertainment

Jake Cuenca finally speaks about slapping incident Philippine Canadian Inquirer

Jake Cuenca (middle) with friends.

PHOTO FROM FACEBOOK PAGE OF JAKE CUENCA

Anne Curtis

PHOTO FROM INTERAKSYON.COM

MANILA—Jake Cuenca had finally aired his side on the issue linking him with the slapping incident involving Anne Curtis, John Lloyd Cruz, Phoemela Baranda and a magazine editor.

In a recent interview with ABS-CBN News, Cuenca, who appeared to be annoyed by the intrigue that he banged on Anne’s door, which allegedly fueled the actress’ anger, said, “Talagang wala akong nakita. I was in the same place pero wala akong nakita. Kung paano nalaman ng mga tao iyan, ganun ko din nalaman. Nandun lang ako, naikwento sa akin yung nangyari.” (I really didn’t see anything. I was in the same place but I didn’t see anything.

If how people knew about it, I also knew it that way. I was just there and I was just told about

the incident).

He added: “Nag-tweet ako, nag-Instagram ako ng ganun kasi nagagalit ako sa mga imbentong kuwento na lumabas.

Hindi talaga ako nangatok.

Hindi ko nakita si Anne noon.” (I tweeted, I posted on Instagram that way, in anger, because I was mad with the baseless stories that came out. I didn’t really knock. I didn’t see Anne that night).

“I never denied anything but this time magagalit talaga ako kasi hindi ako nagsinungaling (I have never denied anything, but this time, I will really be angry because I didn’t lie).

“Sa akin naman, kung may kinalaman ako doon, tatanggapin ko ‘yung consequences through and through. Hindi lang para sa akin pero para sa ibang aritsta rin naman.

Maraming issue na ganyan pero kung ganito kalaki, siguro

naman kailangan totoo na, kailangan may facts.” (If I really have something to do with it, I will accept the consequences through and through. Not only for me, but for other artists also. There are many issues but if it’s that huge, the truth needs to come out but there must be facts).

It will be recalled that last November 23, Anne Curtis allegedly slapped actor John Lloyd Cruz and shouted at model-host Phoemela Baranda at a high-end bar at the Bonifacio Global City.

In a separate interview, Baranda denied that Curtis shouted at her; though the former confirmed that the latter was drunk and mad.

Cuenca said Curtis had already apologized. He refused to give more details on the bar incident, explaining that Anne and John Lloyd are his friends. ■

Recording artists join the Loboc Children’s Choir in a music video for the benefit of earthquake and typhoon victims

BY KATHERINE MARFALTEVES Philippine Daily Inquirer A PRAYER for the Philippines.

This is the message of the recent music video of the Loboc Children’s Choir and numerous Filipino recording artists.

“The Prayer,” which was popularized by Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli was recorded to benefit the earthquake victims in Bohol and Cebu and the typhoon victims in all of central Philippines.

Shown in the music video is the Loboc Children’s Choir singing in front of the ruins of the four-centuries-old Loboc Church.

The video, which opens with a preamble on the devastation wrought by the 7.2 magnitude

earthquake in Bohol and Cebu premiered on Dec. 12 on YouTube.

Among the artists who have pledged support to the noble project were Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, Kuh Ledesma, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Lani Misalucha , Noel Cabangon, Christian Bautista, Billy Crawford, Rachelle Ann Go, Angeline Quinto, Richard Poon, Yeng Constantino, and Jay-R. Produced by Universal Records Philippines, the song is available for download at spinnr.ph. All proceeds will go to the helpPH campaign of the Philippine Disaster Recovery Foundation, a nonprofit organization composed of major companies from the private sector and selected NGOs. ■

Loboc Children’s Choir

PHOTO FROM INTERAKSYON.COM

Entertainment

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 34

Outsiders once, indies now rule the film scene

BY BAYANI SAN DIEGO JR. Philippine Daily Inquirer “WE USED to be outsiders, now the indies rule the scene,” remarked actor Joel Torre, one of the honorees in this year’s INQUIRER Indie Bravo! Awards, an annual tribute to internationally acclaimed Filipino filmmakers and actors.

A number of the country’s indie filmmakers, who changed the game in the local movie industry and reaped international awards, graced the INQUIRER Indie Bravo! Awards at the paper’s Makati office.

The 28 honorees—picked on the paper’s 28th year—consist of a diverse, distinctive and distinguished bunch.

The acting awardees’ ages range from 9 to 89—the youngest being child star Barbara Miguel and themost senior, veteran actress Anita Linda.

The filmmakers, who straddle various genres and forms (from shorts to documentaries, from narrative features to animation), are united by a shared attribute: an unflinching and unyielding determination to dare and innovate, provoke and enlighten.

This year’s Indie Bravo! awardees are: (Actors) Nora Aunor for “Thy Womb”; Eddie Garcia, “Bwakaw”; Linda, “Santa Niña”; Torre, “On The Job”; Jericho Rosales, “Alagwa”; Alessandra de Rossi, “Santa Niña”; Eugene Domingo, “Barber’s Tales”; Sandy Talag, “Lilet Never Happened”; Miguel, “Nuwebe”; and Bugoy Cariño, “Alagwa.”

(Filmmakers) Erik Matti, “On The Job”; Benito Bautista, “Harana”; Jun Robles Lana, “Bwakaw”; Kanakan Balintagos, “Baybayin”; Sheron Dayoc, “Mientras Su Durmida (As He Sleeps)”; Vincent Sandoval, “Aparisyon”; Lav Diaz, “Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan”; Khavn de la Cruz, “Mondomanila”; Rommel Tolentino, “Nono”; Paul Sta. Ana, “Oros (The Coinbearer)”; Joey Agbayani, “Lola”; Dwein Baltazar, “Mamay Umeng”; Lawrence Fajardo, “Posas”; Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, “Ang Paghihintay sa Bulong”; Hannah Espia, “Transit”; Gutierrez Mangansakan II, “Cartas de Soledad (Letters of Solitude)”; Emmanuel Quindo Palo, “Sta. Niña”; and Ian Lore-

Joel Torre

Anita Linda PHOTO FROM GREENPEACE.ORG

ños, “Alagwa.”

Fitting tribute

Marixi R. Prieto, chair of the INQUIRER, lauded the honorees in her speech, saying she is “deeply overwhelmed” by their prestigious international awards that brought pride and glory to our country.

“It is just fitting thatwepay tribute to your hardwork, creativity and courage to show the world both the beauty and ills of our society,” said Prieto.

“The INQUIRER will sustain its advocacy to support the indie film scene; we will further fuel your passion and imagination. We will trumpet your accomplishments so that your stars will shine not only in foreign lands but proudly in our own country as well,” she added.

Now on its fourth year, the awards has always exuded a casual, convivial, collegial, consultative vibe, allowing the artists to openly discuss their concerns with the government officials in attendance.

True to the indies’ daring, innovative spirit, guest of honor Sen. Grace Poe urged the filmmakers to keep making films that show the harsh realities in our society.

“We can find inspiration in the grandest and most mundane things,” said Poe, former chair of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). “We don’t realize that we are also inspired by the things we abhor because these ... push us to do better and rise above a deplorable situation.”

Poe, chair of the committee on public information and mass media, clarified that artists play a valuable role in society, keeping public officials like her on

their toes.

Poe quipped: “As (rapper) Gloc-9 said, ‘ Kayong mga nakaupo, subukan n’yo namang tumayo para masilayan n’yo ang tunay na kalagayan ng mga kababayan n’yo’ (Those occupying the seats of power should stand up, to see our countrymen’s real situation).”

In the first tribute in 2010, indie filmmakers shared their problems with Poe. The interaction resulted in reforms in the MTRCB that benefited the indie film sector in particular and themovie industry in general.

In his speech, current MTRCB Chair Eugenio Villareal recalled that the agency “under the watch of former chair, Senator Poe, initiated the 70-percent review discount to qualified indies. (Indie films get a discount in their review fees with the board.) Presently, we are studying a possible increase in the minimum budget requirement to equitably expand its application.”

Villareal said the honorees’ “success does us proud and fills us with hope for a truly robust and globally competitive Filipino film industry.”

He said the MTRCB has formed an independent film hub as well, as part of their continuing film literacy program.

“We screen indie films like ‘Transit’ and ‘Sana Dati’ in our digital theater called Pribyuhan,” he said.

He said the MTRCB also plans to integrate indies into its Matalinong Panonood campaigns, student field trip modules and coming TV program.

Briccio Santos, chair of the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), said indie filmmaking “has expanded to all parts of the country— www.canadianinquirer.net

PHOTO BY JUDE BAUTISTA / INQUIRER.NET

Barbara Miguel INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

from Pampanga to General Santos City, from Iloilo to Naga.

The INQUIRER has contributed to this development, especially with the Indie Bravo!

Awards.”

Constant supporters

Santos and Poe were present in the first tribute in 2010.

Through the years, they have been constant supporters of the annual INQUIRER party for indies.

Santos recalled the landmark memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the MTRCB and FDCP forged under Poe’s term. “The MOA benefited the country’s different festival events, including the first INQUIRER Indie Bravo! Film Festival.”

The FDCP is the INQUIRER’s partner in the inaugural fest held at MyCinema of Greenbelt 3 in Makati from Dec. 9 to 11.

Speaker Nes Jardin, Cinemalaya Foundation president, said indie filmmakers “have shown the world that Filipinos have countless stories to tell ... stories that define us as a people, stories that truthfully portray our society and stories that depict our hopes and aspirations for our country.”

He said despite the “numerous challenges” faced by indie filmmakers—including financial, production, distribution, legal matters—have “plodded on and continued to produce films we are all proud of.”

This year’s event attracted foreign guests: actor James Monson from the United States; film journalist Andreas Kloo from Germany; film editor Andrej Fabra from Slovakia; filmmaker Jeremy Comte from Canada; and aspiring director Bash Lory from the United Kingdom/Spain.

Comte told the INQUIRER that he attended this year’s awards to see the local indie scene, which, he said, turned out to be “big and bustling.”

INQUIRER Entertainment editor Emmie G. Velarde told the honorees that the Indie Bravo! was launched last year as a regular section that reports on independent filmmakers’ international awards.

“Now, it comes out in the paper almost every day and we couldn’t be happier. Thank you for accepting our offer to be the indies’ media home and thank you for proving us right about looking in your direction,” she said. ■

Entertainment

35 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Vice Ganda on Taking celebrity health Anne Curtis, Sotto’s advice can be risky, may be drug-test proposal scientifically unproven: study

BY MARINEL R. CRUZ Philippine Daily Inquirer “I SEE nothing wrong with drug testing. We should all aim to be healthy and drug-free,” said comedian-TV host Vice Ganda, in support of Sen. Vicente “Tito” Sotto’s suggestion that ABS-CBN conduct random drug tests for its talents.

Sotto’s recommendation followed widespread accounts of a drunken scene in a bar involving Anne Curtis and, allegedly, fellow Kapamilya star John Lloyd Cruz. Curtis reportedly called Cruz “[a drug] addict.”

Just coping

“Only those who actually take drugs would [object to a test].

I am not judging them; we all have our reasons for doing the things we do,” the comedian told a group of writers during a gathering for his new film “Girl, Boy, Bakla, Tomboy.”

Vice said Anne, his cohost on “It’s Showtime,” was trying her best to cope with all the flak she got after the incident.

“She forces herself to go to work every day, to not read the comments on Twitter. I know she’s deeply affected, but she’s being the professional that she is. She has a lot of commitments and knows she can’t attend to them if she succumbs to stress.”

He added, “She’s doing a great job, not falling apart. She knows that taking a break will not help.

I told her to just keep busy.”

Vice recalled a conversation they had days after news of the incident broke. “It was my dayoff from ‘Showtime’; she called and said, ‘I wish you were here.’

I went to the studio just to be with her.”

Cry, pray, wait

Said Vice, who went under scrutiny a few months back because of a rape joke he made during a concert, “I know what she is going through.”

He counseled his beleaguered colleague: “No amount of support from us will make the pain go away. All you can do is cry, pray, and wait for it to blow over.”

Vice added, “Anne knew she committed a mistake. That’s why she apologized. I told her the criticisms would not stop [anytime soon] but that it would stop, eventually.”

“Girl, Boy” a comedy by Wenn Deramas, is an entry to the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival, which starts on Christmas Day. Vice hopes this film will equal, if not surpass, the box-office success of “Sisterakas,” his entry last year.

“Girl, Boy” also features Maricel Soriano, Ruffa Gutierrez, Joey Marquez, Ejay Falcon and Cristine Reyes. ■

Vice Ganda PHOTO COURTESY OF ABS-CBN

BY SHERYL UBELACKER The Canadian Press TORONTO—Many of us are agog over celebrities' talent, glamour and riches. But what is it about famous actors, sports figures and media personalities that makes some people heed their advice on health, especially when it's often ill-informed, runs counter to what doctors say and is potentially harmful?

That's what researchers at McMaster University set out to determine, and they concluded that some people can't help but follow health advice from celebrities because it's one way to be more like the people they admire.

"We seem to be hard-wired to trust famous people who may have credibility in one context and who are saying something in this different medical context,'' said Steven Hoffman, a health policy professor who cowrote the article in this week's issue of the British Medical Journal.

"This can be helpful when celebrities encourage healthy behaviours, but it can be dangerous when celebrities promote something that is not backed up by science,'' he said. "Celebrities would be doing a greater public service if they partnered with credible medical authorities and conveyed evidencebased messages.''

There are many psychological and sociological reasons people put their trust in celebrities, including the herd instinct—a tendency to make decisions based on what others have done in a similar situation, he said.

Celebrities also enjoy a "halo effect,'' which the researchers say gives them a "cloak of generalized trustworthiness, which extends well beyond their industry or expertise.'' In a bid to emulate a famous person, some people ignore information from evidence-based sources and imitate their health choices instead.

"The success or the perceived success of celebrity in one area can be generalized to all their www.canadianinquirer.net

Actress Angelina Jolie’s revelation that she had a double mastectomy after genetic testing showed she had an elevated risk of breast cancer also resulted in a big jump in public testing for the BRCA mutation.

PHOTO BY S_BUKLEY / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

traits and all their messages, so that someone who might be the most credible actor on screen can then be viewed as credible when giving health advice,'' said Hoffman.

"Of course, those two things aren't related, yet that halo effect, that golden glow of celebrity, seems to bias us into viewing them as being credible in other domains.''

The researchers say highprofile celebrities can be a force for good in the realm of health promotion—think of musician Elton John's fundraising efforts for HIV-AIDS and actor Michael J. Fox's foundation to raise money for research into Parkinson's disease.

When Katie Couric had viewers of the "Today'' show" follow as she underwent a colonoscopy in 2000, screening for colorectal cancer in the United States rose by 21 per cent in the next month. Actress Angelina Jolie's revelation that she had a double mastectomy after genetic testing showed she had an elevated risk of breast cancer also resulted in a big jump in public testing for the BRCA mutation.

But researchers suggest health-related messages can be misleading or downright dangerous when celebrities promote ideas or products that are not supported by science.

Couric was widely knocked for a recent episode of her talk show that dealt with girls getting vaccinated against the hu-

man papilloma virus, which can cause cervical cancer. Critics said the program was heavily unbalanced, tipped in favour of emotional anecdotes of the vaccine's purported harms and short on scientific evidence, which they said misled viewers.

But perhaps the most worrisome example of celebrity influence is Jenny McCarthy, a former model/actress who vehemently claims childhood vaccinations cause autism and other disabilities, potentially leading some parents to eschew immunizations for their children. Her claims have been disproven by rigorous scientific research.

When the outspoken McCarthy was hired in July to join "The View,'' Toronto's Public Health department took to Twitter to urge the ABC network to change its mind, saying her "anti-vaccine views equal misinformation.'' In a subsequent tweet, the agency said McCarthy cites fraudulent research and it was irresponsible to provide her with a platform on the popular daytime talk show.

"I think she's perhaps public health's nemesis No. 1,'' said Hoffman, "not necessarily in terms of her influence but in terms of incredulity of what she says and how much it contradicts the evidence.''

"It's scary ... How is it that people come to follow someone ❱❱ PAGE 44 Taking celebrity

Entertainment

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 36

Celebrities’ reactions to 71st annual Golden Globe nominations The Associated Press CELEBRITY REACTIONS to the 71st annual Golden Globe nominations, announced Thursday in Beverly Hills, Calif. The awards will be given Jan. 12.

• “There is not a molecule in my body that isn’t humbly grateful. From the second we made ‘The Fighter,’ it’s been a journey that began from a low point for me to a new period that I feel my life was leading up to, which is these films that are now being made. To receive those actors and the privilege of working with them and to have them work on multiple films is very exciting for me. If it’s exciting for audiences, then that’s wonderful.”—David O. Russell, nominated as best film director and screenwriter for “American Hustle.” The movie was nominated for best picture, musical or comedy.

• “I haven’t called anyone.

I’m too overwhelmed! I’ve done a dance of joy in my hotel room.

All of these nominations hopefully mean that more people will go and see it, and that is really exciting because I feel this film is pivotal and just so good for the world.”—Lupita Nyong’o, nominated for bestsupporting actress in a film for “12 Years a Slave.” She listened to the announcement over the radio in Paris.

• “I’m thrilled and so grateful to the Hollywood Foreign Press. One question: Does this mean I need two dresses?”—Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who received two nominations for her roles in the TV series “Veep” and the movie “Enough Said.”

• “I feel great. I think it’s won-

Lupita Nyong’o, nominated for bestsupporting actress in a film for “12 Years a Slave.”

PHOTO FROM WIKIPEDIA.ORG

David O. Russell, nominated as best film director and screenwriter for “American Hustle.”

Jared Leto, nominated for best-supporting actor in the film “Dallas Buyers Club” PHOTO BY HELGA ESTEB / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

derful that a little film like this has an opportunity, has a light shone in its direction.”—Jared Leto, nominated for best-supporting actor in the film “Dallas Buyers Club.”

• “Joel and Ethan (Coen) have completely changed my life. There’s a reason why (this) happens to so many actors who are involved in their movies because they create a stage for people to do their absolute best work. Not only the actors themselves, but everyone involved”—Oscar Isaac, nominated for best actor in a musical or comedy film for “Inside Llewyn Davis.”

• “When the phone rang this morning, I silenced it and I thought, ‘Ugh, who do I owe money to?”’—Greta Gerwig, nominated for best actress in a musical or comedy film for “Frances Ha.”

• “This was a one-of-a-kind shooting for all us. You don’t read scripts written that honest. We all had a good time. It was so relaxed. We really knew this was something special. I have done things onstage that have brought attention to my work, but this is as exciting as could be”—June Squibb, nominated for best-supporting actress in a film for “Nebraska.”

• “To get a film out there which is received the way it is, is really exceptional. This on top of that is an extraordinary addition to that. I think I’m just excited about that really, and not thinking about too much else.”—Chiwetel Ejiofor, nominated for best actor in a drama for “12 Years a Slave,” on whether he’s thinking about bigger nominations.

• “I think I shall go and probably have a piece of chocolate

PHOTO BY JAGUAR PS / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

cake with my daughter, who’s just coming home from school.

She’s just 5 years old and came home the other day talking about Nelson Mandela. She just learned about him, so I’m really proud to go and celebrate with her on this day.”—Composer Alex Heffes, nominated for best original score of his work on “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”

• “We’re having a celebratory cup of coffee because we know how to live!”—Emma Thompson, nominated for best actress in a drama for “Saving Mr. Banks.”

• “The Globes are pretty lively because everyone is sitting at tables and having a fairly convivial time of it. Actually, the whole thing is a really jolly evening. I wouldn’t change anything because I think these kinds of award evenings, America does better than anyone.

They’re just so much jollier

The Golden Globe PHOTO BY HELGA ESTEB / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM

they are back at home.”—Julian Fellowes, “Downton Abbey” creator, writer and producer, on the awards-show season.

The series was nominated for best TV drama.

• “I can’t wait to fly to Barcelona to see my mom for Christmas and to sit there with her, my girlfriend and my family under the Christmas tree, and analyze this year that’s been a roller coaster for me.”—Daniel Bruhl, nominated for best-supporting actor for his role in “Rush.”

• “We’re excited. I texted Kristen Lopez, who was nominated for best song, and said, ‘Does anyone want to go to the Globes for any reason?’ I’m excited for all of us gals at Disney!”—Jennifer Lee, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ first female director, on girl power at the studio. “Frozen” was nominated as best animated film. ■ Associated Press Writers Anthony McCartney and Jessica Herndon contributed to this report.

The Then-And-Now... * salt & black pepper Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius. Peel, deseed, and chop the pumpkin into pieces about 5cm big then toss it with equal-sized carrots, honey, mustard, and some oil. Bake it for about an hour in a lined baking tray. Be careful and remember to stir and move the pumpkin and carrots around so the honey won’t ❰❰ 32

burn. This is best served hot, so make sure you get it ready during the last hour of your turkey.

Here’s another old fashioned turkey recipe that will surely be a delight, thanks to Uncle Bill and Food.com. * 1 (16 lb) whole turkey * salt & pepper * garlic powder (or crushed garlic for a healthier option)

PHOTO FROM THE MAPLE HOTEL

* water * chicken broth/stock * 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil Make sure the turkey’s thorwww.canadianinquirer.net

oughly thawed before prepping.

Rub salt and pepper on the skin of the turkey and sprinkle some salt and pepper inside the cav-

ity as well. Next, prepare a roasting pan and set the turkey on top of a roasting rack inside the pan. Pour in 2 cups of water and 2 cups of chicken broth and roast the bird at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 2 ½ hours. After 30 minutes, turn up the heat to 350 degrees Farenheit. Baste the turkey occasionally to ensure moisture and flavor within the turkey. ■

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

37

Lifestyle

Right at Home: for a ‘cabin Christmas,’ decor with a rustic vibe

BY KIM COOK The Associated Press STORES ARE full of colorful ornaments and sparkly decor that set the holiday tone with glamour and panache. But there’s also decor for those who prefer to welcome the season with more homespun serenity.

Many of these items reference nature with quiet wintry hues and rustic textures. You can imagine fireplaces ablaze, skis and skates at the ready and cozy lodges set up for holiday gatherings.

“We love all the adorable woodland-themed decorations on everything from pillows and throws to ornaments and tableware,” says HGTV Magazine’s Sara Peterson.

Collections of these creatures—deer, foxes, bears and so on—are available in any number of crafted forms: bottlebrush squirrels, raccoons and hedgehogs at Pottery Barn, faux fur and fiber owls and moose at West Elm. (www.potterybarn. com ; www.westelm.com) Plaid mitten, heart and tree ornaments are part of Target’s Smith & Hawken holiday collection. (www.target.com) “Advent garlands are popular this year too. Garlands with fabric pouches that count down to Christmas, or a string of colorful envelopes,” notes Peterson.

German designer Irmi Black makes a knitted-mitten Advent garland; small treats can be tucked in each mitten and the garland can be used as an organizer after the holidays. Target’s

Threshold Rustic Advent Calendar is a veritable mini-cabin, complete with tiny drawers printed with snowflakes, trees and seasonal patterns. (www. etsy.com/shop/irmiblack) If you’re crafty, consider making your own garland. Stamp kits, swatches of fabric and felt, and a ball or two of wool will set you on your way. (www.michaels.com; www.joann.com) A collection of wooden trees to decorate a tabletop or mantel can be found at Homegoods, as well as some cozy Fair Isle-patterned throws with a ski chalet vibe. (www.homegoods.com) Fill large clear hurricanes with tin jingle bells, birch branches or white painted twigs, or make a non-edible ver❱❱ PAGE 39 Right at

Lifestyle

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 38

Studies show multivitamins didn’t protect men’s aging brains or help heart disease

BY LAURAN NEERGAARD The Associated Press WASHINGTON—There’s more disappointing news about multivitamins: Two major studies found popping the pills didn’t protect aging men’s brains or help heart attack survivors.

Millions of Americans spend billions of dollars on vitamin combinations, presumably to boost their health and fill gaps in their diets. But while people who don’t eat enough of certain nutrients may be urged to get them in pill form, the government doesn’t recommend routine vitamin supplementation as a way to prevent chronic diseases.

The studies released Monday are the latest to test if multivitamins might go that extra step and concluded they don’t.

“Evidence is sufficient to advise against routine supplementation,” said a sharply worded editorial that accompanied Monday’s findings in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

After all, most people who buy multivitamins and other supplements are generally healthy, said journal deputy editor Dr. Cynthia Mulrow. Even junk foods often are fortified with vitamins, while the main nutrition problem in the U.S. is too much fat and calories, she added.

But other researchers say the jury’s still out, especially for the country’s most commonly used dietary supplement—multivitamins that are taken by about a third of U.S. adults, and even more by people over the age of 50.

Indeed, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force is deliber-

ating whether vitamin supplements make any difference in the average person’s risk of heart disease or cancer. In a draft proposal last month, the government advisory group said for standard multivitamins and certain other nutrients, there’s not enough evidence to tell. (It did caution that two single supplements, beta-carotene and vitamin E, didn’t work). A final decision is expected next year.

“For better or for worse, supplementation’s not going to go away,” said Dr. Howard Sesso of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. He helps leads a large multivitamin study that has had mixed results—suggesting small benefits for some health conditions but not others—and says more research is needed, especially among the less healthy.

Still, “there’s no substitute for preaching a healthy diet and good behaviours” such as exercise, Sesso cautioned.

As scientists debate, here are some questions and answers to consider in the vitamin aisle: Q: Why the new focus on multivitamins?

A: Multivitamins have grown more popular in recent years as research showed that taking high doses of single supplements could be risky, such as beta-carotene.

Multivitamins typically contain no more than 100 per cent of the daily recommended amount of various nutrients.

They’re marketed as sort of a safety net for nutrition gaps; the industry’s Council for Responsible Nutrition says they’re taken largely for general wellness.

Q: What are the latest findings?

A: With Alzheimer’s on the rise as the population ages, Harvard researchers wondered if long-term multivitamin use might help keep older brains agile. They examined a subset of nearly 6,000 male doctors, age 65 or older, who were part of a larger study. The men were

given either multivitamins or dummy pills, without knowing which they were taking.

After a decade of pill use, the vitamin-takers fared no better on memory or other cognitive tests, Sesso’s team reported Monday in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Q: Did that Harvard study find any other benefit from multivitamins?

A: The results of the Physicians Health Study II have been mixed. Overall it enrolled about 15,000 health male doctors age 50 and older, and the vitamintakers had a slightly lower risk of cancer—8 per cent. Diet and exercise are more protective.

They also had a similarly lower risk of developing cataracts, common to aging eyes. But the vitamins had no effect the risk for heart disease or another eye condition, Sesso said.

Q: Might vitamins have a different effect on people who already have heart disease?

A: As part of a broader treatment study, a separate research team asked that question.

They examined 1,700 heart attack survivors, mostly men, who were given either a special multivitamin containing higher-than-usual doses of 28 ingredients or dummy pills.

But the vitamins didn’t reduce the chances of another heart attack, other cardiovascular problems, or death.

Q: What about women?

A: Research involving postmenopausal women a few years ago also concluded multivitamins didn’t prevent cancer or heart disease. But it wasn’t nearly as rigorous a study as Monday’s research, relying on women to recall what vitamins they used.

Q: What’s the safety advice for multivitamin users?

A: The preventive services task force cited no safety issues with standard multivitamins. But specialists say to always tell your doctor what over-the-counter supplements you use. Some vitamins interact with some medications, and Sesso said anyone worried about nutrition should be discussing their diet with their doctor anyway. ■ www.canadianinquirer.net

Some Americans...

For instance, some retailers were offering discounts of 40 per cent or more on the day after Thanksgiving known as Black Friday. But Jennifer Ambrosh, 40 was unimpressed with the “deals” she saw on that day. “There’s a lot of hype, but ... the deals aren’t that good,” Ambrosh, an accountant, says.

Overall, the retail federation expects spending in November and December to rise 3.9 per cent to $602.1 billion. But to get that growth, analysts say retailers will need to discount heavily, which eats away profits.

There are signs that profits for the quarter that includes the holiday season are being hurt by the discounting. Wal-Mart and American Eagle Outfitters are among 47 retailers that have slashed their outlooks for either the quarter or the year.

Overall, retailers’ earnings growth is expected to be up 2.1 per cent, according to research firm Retail Metrics. That would be the worst performance since profit fell 6.7 per cent in the second quarter of 2009 when the country was in a recession. ❰❰ 32

Scrutinizing purchases

The recession not only taught Americans to expect bargains.

It also showed them that they could make do with less. And in the economic recovery, many have maintained that frugality.

So whereas in a better economy, Americans would make both big and small purchases, in this economy they’re being more thoughtful and making choices about what to buy.

That hasn’t boded well for retailers that sell clothing, shoes and holiday items. That’s because Americans are buying more big-ticket items over the holidays.

Government figures show that retail sales were up 0.7 per cent in November, the biggest gain in five months. But the increase was led by autos, appliances and electronics.

Auto sales jumped 1.8 per cent, furniture purchases rose 1.2 per cent and sales at electronics and appliances stores rose 1.1 per cent. Meanwhile, sales at department stores and clothing chains were weak.

Americans are leaning toward big purchases for two reasons. They want to take advantage of low interest rates.

And since many paid down debt

since the recession, they feel more comfortable using credit cards again for such purchases.

But they won’t do that and buy smaller items. “This is still a weak, fragile shopper,” says Craig Johnson, president of Customer Growth Partners, a retail consultancy.

Retailers including Macy’s and Target in recent months have said that shoppers’ focus on big-ticket items has put a damper on sales of discretionary items, and the retail federation says it has hurt holiday sales in particular.

Holiday consumerism

Black Friday used to be the official kickoff to the buying season, but more than a dozen chains opened on Thanksgiving this year.

That didn’t sit well with some shoppers who viewed it as an encroachment on family time.

Some threatened to boycott stores that opened on the holiday, while others decided to forgo shopping altogether.

In a poll of 6,200 shoppers conducted for the retail federation prior to the start of the season, 38 per cent didn’t plan to shop during the Thanksgiving weekend, up from 34.8 per cent the year before.

Ruth Kleinman, 30, isn’t planning to shop the entire season in part because she’s disheartened by the holiday openings. The New Yorker says the holiday season “has really disintegrated.”

While some shoppers didn’t approve, analysts say stores will need to open on the holiday to appeal to the masses. Overall sales declined over the holiday weekend, but several retailers said there were big crowds on Thanksgiving. “Customers clearly showed that they wanted to be out shopping,” says Amy von Walter, a Best Buy spokeswoman.

Analysts say stores will need to redefine Thanksgiving as a family tradition beyond sitting at the table eating turkey to make more shoppers comfortable.

“They have to show that they’re maintaining a family tradition in new ways,” says Marshal Cohen, chief retail analyst at market research firm NPD Group. ■ Mae Anderson in New York contributed to this report.

Lifestyle

39 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Right at... sion of holiday trifle with layers of faux snow or moss and tiny red ornaments.

Arhaus has pillar candles in cream and dove grey that are carved to look like cable knit sleeves. Felted throw pillows embroidered with deer, rabbits and other forest friends add charm. Find chunky knit throws here, too. (www.arhaus.com) North Pole flannel bedding from Garnet Hill depicts Santa’s snowy home complete with cocoa stands, reindeer barns and sled shops. Ikea’s Annbritt collection includes woolly blankets, plaid cushions and duvet covers in rich reds. (www.garnethill.com ; www.ikea.com) Or evoke the chalet vibe with canoe and lumberjack ornaments. The old camp standard Stanley Thermos is updated in green, red or ivory—perfect for skating or sledding parties. (www.westelm.com) Artist Rachel Kozlowski’s imagina❰❰ 37

tive plates have found a following beyond her Etsy.com fans; she’s featured at West Elm this season with a collection of Dapper Animal plates: bears with trapper hats, owls in plaid shirts and other whimsical designs. At her Etsy shop, a plate features a moose emerging from a woodsy plaid background. (www.etsy. com/shop/RKArtwork) If you’d like to take the chalet theme in a more literal direction, consider deco-

Christmas in... previously sold her vintage car so she could donate the money to the victims of the disasters.

While some would still buy gadgets, appliances, expensive jewelries or pamper themselves at spas and restaurants after receiving their Christmas bonus, they would still allocate a portion of their money for donations to their fellowmen in need.

Mall goers, as they shop for gifts, are most often dropping money to the donation cans found at the malls.

Setting aside food for the victims of disasters. It has been a tradition to prepare sumptuous foods every 24th of December as we welcome Christmas day.

As we share good food on Christmas Eve, our brothers and sisters in central Philippines will celebrate Christmas with canned goods and instant noodles on their meal tables.

To pay respect to the victims of the previous disasters that visited the Philippines, many have decided to just prepare a simple dinner.

T.V. actress Cita Astals believes that many Filipinos will spare some food for the victims of disasters. She said, “We should still celebrate, but in an austere manner. I know that a lot of us, including myself, have set aside money and groceries to send to those affected by the disasters—that’s a good thing.”

Blacksoup Café +Artspace, a restaurant owned by theatre and film actor Bodjie Pascua had previously held a fundraising concert to help disaster victims.

This Christmas season, they are also doing a project they call “Suspended Noche Buena Meals,” wherein their guests have a chance to buy one Noche Buena meal to be distributed in street families in ❰❰ 31

Quezon City on Christmas Eve. At supermarkets, sets of Noche Buena meals are also available. Those who want to share their blessings with the victims of the recent disasters can buy these.

Simple dinner over Christmas parties.

In the previous years, companies and organizations had made it a point to hold extravagant Christmas parties to give back and share with their employees the success that they had reaped in the year that passed. This year, this scene will not be the same, at least for some.

For one, the owners of Café Mary Grace had decided to hold their company party in their home instead of a hotel to give more to those who truly need it.

University of Santo Tomas’s annual “Paskuhan” will not also be the same overflowing of foods event just like in the recent years. The oldest university in the Philippines had opted to celebrate it a little simpler this year to empathize and share more.

Some companies will not also give away expensive raffle items this year in order to donate more to those affected by the disasters.

In our own little ways, we can share our blessings with others who need it the most. Though it has been a tradition to spoil ourselves as Christmas season ushers, let us think again; our fellowmen had lost so much this year, what is a little sacrifice so you can contribute to their renewed hope.

Celebration of Christmas this year in terms of material things may change, but the spirit of giving and sharing remains the same.

Merry Christmas and may we find in our hearts the genuine meaning of this joyful celebration! ■

rating with actual skis and snowboards.

The artwork on many snowboards has great graphic oomph. Use a board as the focal point for a mantel display, adding ornaments or pine rope to reference the holidays. (www.ridesnowboards.com ;

www.canadianinquirer.net

www.k2snowboarding.com) Or consider a bronze-finished ski door knocker or a retro-style “Ski Lift” sign, as well as ski tourism posters and throw pillows with 1940s-era, ski-resort postcard art. (www.potterybarn.com) ■

Business

Officials expect to haul in P7B in pirated goods Local intellectual property office gains more clout

BY AMY R. REMO Philippine Daily Inquirer THE INTELLECTUAL Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) expects the value of seized counterfeit and pirated products to reach at least P7 billion in 2014 because of the new enforcement powers granted to the agency this year.

“This year, we’ve already breached our P6 billion target. We’ll go for at least P7 billion next year, but we expect that [figure] to even be a lot higher,” IPOPHL director general Ricardo R. Blancaflor told reporters.

As of end-November this year, member agencies of the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) were able to seize P6.6 billion worth of counterfeit and pirated goods.

Also, Blancaflor noted in a text message that 2013 was “another good year” considering the volume of the counterfeit goods seized.

But he believes the figures can still improve once all agencies turn in their full reports.

He further waxed optimistic that 2014 would be a better year for the agency, with “seizures expected to increase because IPOPHL now has enforcement powers.”

By virtue of the amended Intellectual Property Code, the IPOPHL issued earlier this year an office order that would allow it to have its own law enforcement arm. Its unit will have the authority to issue orders and initiate formal charges against those involved in the distribution and sale of counterfeit and pirated products.

Prior to the amendment of the IP Code in February 2013, IPOPHL did not have any enforcement powers. At that time, other NCIPR agencies—the

National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Customs (BOC), Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Optical Media Board (OMB)—were the only ones tasked to enforce the IP Code.

Meanwhile, Blancaflor also mentioned that, while IPOPHL is waiting for the go signal from the government to set up the Bureau of Copyright, the agency will already start accepting applications from firms for accreditation as collection management organizations (CMOs).

“We are going to soon publish these accreditation standards and then we will start accepting applications,” Blancaflor said.

“The Filipino Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (Filscap) has already expressed its intention [to apply].”

The Bureau of Copyright, as provided by Republic Act 10372, or An Act Amending Certain Provisions of the IP Code, will be tasked to accredit collection management organizations (CMOs).

These CMOs will collect, on behalf of artists, performers, dancers, musicians, composers, authors and publishers, the corresponding royalties for the public or commeruse of local and foreign copyrighted materials across various industries such as music, entertainment, theater and publishing.

Blancaflor earlier said they expect the Bureau of Copyright to be operational by next year.

This agency is seen to protect Filipino artists from copyright infringements and rightfully compensate them for their respective works or performances.

It will also put in place a system that can regulate the CMOs and the amount of royalties to be collected, as well as help in raising awareness about the importance of respecting intellectual property. ■

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 40

‘Hot money’ flows hit 7-month high

BY PAOLO G. MONTECILLO Philippine Daily Inquirer GLOBAL INVESTORS continued to believe in the Philippine growth story as purchases of Philippine listed shares and debt securities rose to a seven month high in November despite the possible impact of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” on the economy.

Documents released by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that net inflows of foreign portfolio investments or “hot money” rose to its highest level since April this year. “(This was) in spite of fears over the economic impact of Super typhoon ‘Yolanda’ and renewed concerns on the possible scaling down of the quantitative easing program in the United States,” the central bank reported.

Net inflows in November reached $980.94 million, better than the $969.33 million the month before. The November figure was also the highest since the $1.13 billion in net inflows that came in last April.

For the 11 months to November, portfolio investments reached $4.58 billion—better than last year’s $3.69 billion.

Hot money flows are foreign investments in listed shares, corporate bonds and government securities. Investments in these securities are an indication of foreign investors’ perception of the Philippines, at least in the short term.

The BSP noted that the increase in flows in November was driven by bargain-hunting and investor optimism “fueled by the third-quarter gross domestic product growth of 7 percent.”

The Philippine economy has grown by an average 7.4 percent

in the first three quarters of the year, making it the fastestgrowing market among major Southeast Asian countries.

The government is on track to meeting its growth target for the economy of 6 to 7 percent this year.

Bulk of the investments in November went to publicly listed shares, accounting for 80.5 percent. These investments went mainly to the retail, gaming, property and financial sectors, the BSP said.

Investments in peso-denominated government securities made up 15.8 percent, while time deposits contributed 3.7 percent.

The main sources of foreign investments were the United Kingdom, United States, Singapore, Hong Kong and Netherlands. Together, these five countries made up 78.3 percent of all investments. ■

Best Resale Value from Kelley Blue Book.

5. Fuel consumption Efficiency and value are the Civic’s winning combination.

Its 1.8-liter (2.4-liter in the Civic Si) four cylinder engine remains unchanged from the previous year. The dashboard “ECON” button (Eco Assist™ system) allows drivers to experience greater fuel efficiency.

The Civic was also recently named on the Green Car Journal’s Top 10 Green Car Technology List for 2013.

The 2013 Honda Civic has once again proved it is a true winner. With its bold new look, unbeatable value in price and fuel efficiency, driving performance, and safety assurance, what more could any driver ask for? ■

5 Reasons... nal key—the engine cannot be started without this key, as each key has the antitheft immobilizer system built into it complete with a microchip inside. Furthermore, key cuts can only be done with presentation of the driver’s vehicle registration at the dealership.

3. Reliability and Safety The 2013 Civic comes re-engineered with a next generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, which is re-designed to increase protection and displace more of impact forces in a frontal collision. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave a positive rating to the Civic Sedan, and named it the 2013 Top Safety Pick in the compact car segment.

In addition to its safety features, one of the Civic’s strongest selling features is its low maintenance cost. Even an older model with fairly high gas mileage manages to drive well, despite years of wear and tear.

4. Resale value: One of the most attractive aspects of this vehicle is that it consistently considered one of the top vehicles for resale value. The 2013 Civic (which placed in the top 10), and the Civic Si model won awards for ❰❰ 21

www.canadianinquirer.net

Horoscope

41 FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

Quotes from ‘A Great Game’ by Prime Minister Stephen J. Harper The Canadian Press OTTAWA—Excerpts from “A Great Game: The Forgotten Leafs and the Rise of Professional Hockey,” by Stephen J. Harper: “NOTHING like the government payments and social services of our age existed (in turn-of-the century Toronto).

Active benevolent work was undertaken by extended families, neighbourhood interests and, especially, religious institutions.”

“JOHN Ross “Robertson was the founder of the Toronto Telegram, which by the end of the 19th century was the country’s most powerful newspaper.

He was also an ardent British imperialist who distrusted the involvement of the United Kingdom in Canada’s affairs; an

antiracist, antislavery advocate who regularly employed racial slurs and railed against French Canadians and the Catholic Church; a staunch Tory who consistently opposed the Conservative party; a strict disciplinarian who indulged his children to their ruin; a figure popular and respected, yet authoritarian and controversial.

John Ross Robertson was nothing if not complex.”

“AROUND the rink sat and stood the fans—people made of sterner stuff, watching in tougher conditions. Except for a stove in the dressing rooms, rinks were not heated. With buildings housing ‘natural’ ice made meticulously from buckets and shovels, it could not be any other way. Huddling under blankets and unsupported by sound systems, fans sang and cheered not just to encourage their team, but to keep warm

enough to stay alive. Many would also smoke, defying management and often creating clouds so thick they obscured the action on the ice for those higher up in the stands.”

“THE OHA’s annual meetings had become highly scripted, lightly attended affairs where the association’s permitted business would still be authorized by the Three White Czars—John Ross Robertson, perennial secretary W.A. Hewitt, AAUC representative Francis Nelson—and a handful of their followers. Virtually all the offices went routinely uncontested. Besides, the committee rarely met, leaving most important business to Robertson’s ‘subcommittee.”’

“IN the midst of the commotion of any era, it has never been obvious what is truly transformational and what is

Blue Shirts’ Stanley Cup was the beginning of something else in hockey’s second city. Yet in retrospect, it is clear. Toronto’s new order—the professional order—was finally beginning to emerge.”

just fashion. With the triumph of the Athletic War and his OHA about to spearhead the formation of the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association, Robertson no doubt felt the amateur order secure. He could not have known, and would not have believed, that the (1914 Toronto)

“ON the other side of the argument, it is easy in hindsight to see the Athletic War’s victors as nothing more than excessively powerful, old white men fighting for the values of a dying culture that gave old white men excessive power. Yet we still do hear the echoes of these amateur advocates’ cry against professional hockey. They told us that one played for either the love of the game or the money.

The pros protested that one could do both. Living in the shadow of four NHL labour shutdowns in 20 years—including one lost season and a recent one nearly so—it is no wonder the old doubts remain.” ■

HOROSCOPE ARIES

CANCER

LIBRA

CAPRICORN

(MARCH 21 - APRIL 19)

(JUNE 22 - JULY 22)

(SEPT 23 - OCT 22)

(DEC 22 - JAN 19)

A member of your group may have gone away without telling anyone where he or she was going. This could be worrisome for the rest of you, but don’t fret. Your friend is probably OK, but may just need to do some thinking alone. You have to accept that you won’t hear from this person today. Have faith and don’t worry.

TAURUS

Ideas for creative projects may be flooding your mind, but they may be too general or vague to grasp.

Make a list if you like, but don’t feel you have to start anything today. You may need a few days to let the ideas churn around before settling on the best one to start. Be patient.

LEO

A gathering of psychics, artists, and spiritually oriented people could take place in your home today. This may be a fascinating and stimulating meeting, but there may be someone who likes to stir controversy and debate. Be aware of this possibility and short-circuit it if you can or this promising encounter could end with battered egos and bruised feelings.

(JULY 23 - AUGUST 22)

(APRIL 20 - MAY 20) A strange, unexpected call or email could puzzle you.

You may not know the caller, the information might not make sense, or it might bring news that doesn’t feel right. Whatever you hear may be exaggerated if not false. If it’s important to you, check out the facts before jumping to conclusions and before passing it on to others.

Have you been getting strange vibes from someone close to you? Chances are this person isn’t upset with you. He or she may be worried about upcoming changes in the professional environment. All signs are that these worries are groundless. Offer to take your friend out to lunch and just listen. You’ll be able to lighten the load and provide some much-needed perspective.

A love partner may seem distracted. Don’t jump to the conclusion that your friend has found someone else. The problem is more likely to center on obstacles that your partner has encountered in achieving a cherished goal. When your friend decides to share this with you, you might be able to shed some light on the situation.

SCORPIO

AQUARIUS

(OCT 23 - NOV 21)

(JAN 20 - FEB 18)

A class you’ve wanted to take may open up, and you’ll want to register right away. You might have a few difficulties. If you try to sign up by phone, the line may be busy. If you enroll online, the website might crash. Don’t get discouraged and give up. These are only temporary delays. You won’t want to miss the class. Keep trying!

Equipment could give you trouble today. You’re probably good at working with it, but when it comes to troubleshooting, you might not know as much as you should. Don’t make yourself crazy worrying about it. Get a friend or colleague to assist you, or better yet, call a professional. You’ll feel more confident and get a lot more done.

GEMINI

VIRGO

SAGITTARIUS

PISCES

(MAY 21 - JUNE 21)

(AUG 23 - SEPT 22)

(NOV 22 - DEC 21)

(FEB 19 - MAR 20)

Is your financial situation confusing? Are you starting to panic about it? You may be getting worked up over nothing. Get all your paperwork together, focus on the facts, and see what’s really happening. Once you consult the actual figures and go over them a few times, you should find that you can handle the situation.

A current or potential love partner may drop out of sight and not return your calls. You could panic, wondering if your friend has lost interest. Don’t jump to conclusions. Your partner may be involved in other matters. Remember the old saying, “If you love something, let it go.” If you cling, it was never yours in the first place.

Do you have a lot of money in investments? Even if you have only a savings account or home equity, you could be a bit disconcerted when the stock market takes a nosedive. A lot is going on behind the scenes that the general public doesn’t know. The situation is temporary. The market should be back to normal before too long.

www.canadianinquirer.net

A friend’s lack of communication and perhaps even shortness with you could bring up your insecurities and have you wondering if this person still cares about you. Don’t worry. Your friend is upset, but not about you. He or she may be too caught up in difficulties to realize the problem.

Hang in there and you’ll be in touch again when they’re ready.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

42

Travel

NY parks opening to climbers, cavers, surfers and other adventure enthusiasts to boost tourism

BY MICHAEL VIRTANEN The Associated Press GUILDERLAND, N.Y.—Casey Holzworth wedged himself sideways into the narrow stone crevice that angled down from a parking lot, the limestone walls gradually widening slightly and rising higher as the state biologist inched and climbed about 60 feet to reach a narrow hiking trail, the kind of place more people may be allowed to go as New York moves to exploit growing interest in adventure sports.

The trail at Thacher State Park hugs the pale cliffs of the Helderberg Escarpment, above a steep embankment overlooking the forest, leading to a rock arch that towered almost 100 feet above the low horizontal entrance to a cave.

Under Thacher’s new master plan that envisions more outdoor adventuring, the park may allow hikers to descend Helmes Crevice, spelunkers to explore the deep confines of Hailes Cave and climbers to scale some of the cliffs 15 miles southwest of Albany.

“It’s supposed to be a challenge. That’s why we’re doing it,” said parks executive Alane Ball Chinian, who followed Hol-

Thacher State Park

zworth down and jokingly asked if a rescue team was waiting.

Regional parks capital facilities manager Kurt Kress said there’s high interest in those challenges among young professionals and entrepreneurs, with new adventure sites making New York a more appealing draw.

Outdoor adventures have been gaining ground at many of New York’s 179 state parks, like Harriman and Minnewaska, which issue rock climbing permits in the Hudson Valley. Montauk Point, Jones Beach, Robert Moses, Hither Hills and Shadmoor on Long Island have surfing and wind surfing, parks spokesman Dan Keefe said. Long-distance hiking trails pass through several parks, including Thacher, and many others host triathlons.

The Green Lakes Endurance Races span 50 and 100 kilometres along park trails in

PHOTO FROM NYSPARKS.COM

Fayetteville outside Syracuse.

Letchworth State Park, in Genesee Falls southwest of Rochester, has whitewater rafting and kayaking on the Genesee River.

Many allow cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling in winter.

At 2,155-acre Thacher, the park lost part of its identity when its swimming pool closed in 2006. Soliciting the public’s ideas over the past year for a new master plan, they heard from climbers, cavers and mountain bikers among others.

Groups representing each will advise on precisely where and how to proceed. There’s no set timetable. “Safety is really paramount,” Chinian said.

Ice climbing may follow rock climbing, which is expected on some of the stable vertical cliffs, away from the popular Indian Ladder hiking trail. With the horizontal cracks and small

holds, Holzworth said, the limestone should draw many skilled climbers.

Now, those in the Albany area usually must travel to the Adirondacks, Shawangunks or Little Falls to find a crag. However, there was a leftover piece of climbing gear stuck in a high crack near Haile’s Cave, a carabiner dangling from a short strap, evidence of climbing that has been off-limits since 1976.

“A lot of that illegal climbing fizzled out,” said Michael Whelan, vice-president of the Thacher Climbing Coalition.

Having local crags, like Boulder, Colo., does, permits a lifestyle change where climbers can go for a couple of hours instead of having to commit an entire day with long drives both ways. “It really impacts the whole climbing community,” he said.

“For sure, it’s not going to be a free-for-all where people

can go wherever they want and start putting up routes. There’s a process to it,” Whelan said.

It’s expected to involve liability waivers and fees for monitoring, conservation and infrastructure, starting with a few climbing routes with some small bolts for attaching safety equipment.

“You do a measured opening and you monitor progress and you monitor environmental effects and you kind of slowly open up over time,” he said.

Hailes Cave is a hibernation site for endangered Indiana bats. A gate has been recently installed to keep out random spelunkers, and the site will remain off-limits in the winter, Holzworth said. In warmer months, the bats tend to stay in the forest.

Park officials also plan to solicit a contractor to establish an adventure course of climbing ropes, Chinian said. They’re considering a visitors’ centre where adventurers would get the permits expected to include liability waivers.

Park manager Chris Fallon said they intend to establish a 4.6-mile bike trail from Thacher, which closes at sunset, to 350-acre Thompson’s Lake State Park, with its campsites and sand beach. ■

Ski resorts in Quebec and Caucasus Mountains make list of best winter trips The Canadian Press NEW YORK—Two ski resorts— one in the Caucasus Mountains east of the Black Sea, the other in Quebec on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River—have made National Geographic Traveler’s list of the world’s best winter trips for 2014.

Little known to North American skiers and boarders, the Gudauri Ski Resort in Georgia’s Kazbegi Region offers above-the-treeline slopes and backcountry heli-skiing, the magazine says. Getting there involves a less than two-hour drive along the spectacular, and in parts treacherous, road from Tbilisi International Airport.

Le Massif de Charlevoix features the highest vertical drop (770 metres) east of the Canadian Rockies. A 140-kilometre rail shuttle from Quebec City brings skiers to the slopes. Activities include a wild ride for sledders down a 7.5-kilometre luge run.

The magazine also spotlights the Whitefish Winter Carnival World Ski Joring Champion-

Skiing at the Caucasus Mountains

ships in Montana and Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, among under-the-radar snowy locales.

Sun destinations on the

list include Costa Rica’s Nosara beaches, Australia’s Queensland Gold Coast and Phu Quoc island in Vietnam. ■

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013

43

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2013 44

AP Travel series on free things to see and do now an e-book ‘Five Free Things’ The Associated Press NEW YORK—A series of travel stories by The Associated Press about free things to see and do is now available as an e-book.

Titled “Five Free Things,” the e-book is an insider’s travel guide to free attractions and experiences in 45 destinations around the U.S. For each stop—from San Diego to Milwaukee to Portland, Maine—readers will find an itinerary with five essential places or experiences that are all free of charge. These include historic sites, museums, monuments, architecture and art.

The guide points readers across historic bridges, aboard scenic ferries and through interesting neighbourhoods. It also includes tips on hikes, trails, beaches, markets, parks, gardens and scenic views.

“Five Free Things” grew out

of a popular weekly column of the same name published by AP Travel. Every list is curated by AP journalists who live, work and play in the places they write about. The book offers information not only about wellknown attractions, but also hid-

den diversions that only a local would know about.

The book is available electronically for $4.99 on for Amazon’s Kindle and Barnes & Noble’s Nook, and is expected to be available at the Apple iTunes bookstore in early 2014. ■

Taking celebrity... like Jenny McCarthy's health advice when clearly she has no expertise in health issues.

I mean, she's most famous for being a former Playboy model.''

Dr. Natasha Crowcroft, chief of infectious diseases at Public Health Ontario, said it can be a challenge to convince some people that immunization makes kids healthier, especially in the face of vaccine opponents.

"Sometimes when I read in the papers about what some celebrities say, I get this kind of sinking feeling,'' Crowcroft said Tuesday, adding that antivaccine sentiments can "sow the seeds of doubt in people's minds, which doesn't need to be there.''

But she believes most people are intelligent and understand that no matter how much they may be influenced by celebrities, the so-called beautiful people aren't necessarily the best source of advice.

"Most Canadian parents realize that if they want to know ❰❰ 35

about immunization, they're better off speaking to their own doctor than they are to Jenny McCarthy.''

Hoffman said medical professionals and public health advocates should utilize the power of celebrity through collaborations that could influence people's health behaviours for the better.

For instance, chef Jamie Oliver worked with the U.K. government and charities to make school meals healthier; actress Glenn Close is recognized as a mental health advocate; and model Christy Turlington released a commercial with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control urging viewers to refrain from smoking.

"We need to harness that,'' Hoffman said.

"When one looks at health promotion efforts, many people are quite frustrated by the lack of progress we see in influencing people's health behaviours.

Certainly public health needs to learn a lesson or two from the science of celebrity.'' ■

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Filipino Community Pays Tribute to Canada for Generous Typhoon Yolanda Aid 12 DECEMBER 2013—Moved by the outpouring of Canadian humanitarian assistance to victims of typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan), the Filipino community in Ottawa, with the assistance of the Philippine Embassy, spearheaded a charity event that paid tribute to Canadian generosity and Filipino-Canadian friendship while raising new funds to help rebuild devastated communities in the central Philippines.

Dubbed “Parol, A Star of Hope—A Tribute to Canada for Helping our People”, the multicultural fundraiser took place in the afternoon of December 8 at the Ottawa City Hall with the support of Mayor Jim Watson, Minister Jason Kenney, Member of Parliament Mauril Bélanger, Member of Provincial Parliament Madeleine Meilleur and Councillor Marianne Wilkinson.

Noting that the Filipino community has always had a special place in his heart, Mayor Watson did not hesitate to offer the largest public space at the Ottawa City Hall for the charity event.

He welcomed and thanked a large audience for coming out to support a very important cause. “This is what Ottawa and this is what Canada is all about—celebrating our successes but also helping those in need when the need is there,” the Mayor stated. Pointing to the Philippine lanterns displayed in the building, Mayor Watson said that these gifts of the Philippine Embassy to the city of Ottawa last year serve as “our connection with the Philippines each and every Christmas.”

Lively music filled the City Hall in a three-hour program embodying Canada’s multicultural mosaic. Performances

by Alex Lopez, AFrodiction, the Indonesian Embassy dance troupe, BIBAK, Pamana Dance Troupe, the Philippine Dance Troupe of Ottawa, Mic Locmoso, Johanna Hipolito, Jhune Leonardo, Bernice Reyes, Marc Reyes, the PMCC Choir and Jesus is Lord church had the audience alternately dancing to Afro and Latin rhythms or sitting in rapt attention to powerful voices nailing high musical notes. All performing artists volunteered to lend their time and talent gratis.

Hundreds of people from the capital city packed the Jean Pigott Place where Filipino street food was sold for a loonie or a toonie. Art pieces, greeting cards, crafts, tea products, medical devices, Philippine Christmas lanterns and books displayed by local vendors kept visitors to the Christmas market busy.

Mr. George Hendry, CEO of Habitat for Humanity’s National Capital Region office, was on hand to brief the audience on how monies collected will support the construction of 10,000 core houses

Publisher Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editor Melissa Remulla-Briones editor@canadianinquirer.net Associate Editor Laarni de Paula

Amb. Gatan and members of the Filipino community join a local cover of “We Are The World.”

Correspondents Gigi Astudillo Angie Duarte Maria Ramona Ledesma Katherine Marfal Frances Grace Quiddaoen Agnes Tecson Ching Dee Socorro Newland Lizette Lofranco-Aba Graphic Designer Victoria Yong Photographers Solon Licas Angelo Siglos Danvic Briones

BIBAK rain dance opens the charity event.

and the provision of 30,000 shelter kits and 50,000 clean-up kits by Habitat for Humanity Philippines.

Two members of the Filipino-Canadian community, whose families in the Philippines were affected by the super typhoon, shared their stories of personal tragedy and hope. They expressed their thanks to Canada for helping to rebuild devastated areas in the Visayas from the ground up.

Capping the tribute, Philippine Ambassador Leslie Gatan presented to the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, a Philippine parol (Christmas lantern) as a token of profound gratitude for Canada’ generosity, kindness and solidarity with the Filipino people.

For his part, Minister Kenney extended to Ambassador Gatan the assurances of Canada’s continuing support on top of prior emergency assistance that launched the Disaster Assistance Relief Team (DART), the Typhoon Haiyan matching fund as well as direct typhoon relief and pledges of assistance totalling nearly CA$ 25 million.

“Mother Teresa taught us that the word compassion is not just some superficial statement. Compassion comes from the root ‘to suffer with’ or ‘to enter into the suffering of others,” Minister Kenney said. He reckoned that once the donations to Canada’s Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund come to a close on December 23, “Canada will be proven to be the most generous country in the world at least in per capita terms.”

Parol, A Star of Hope raised CA$10,412 in one afternoon alone. The Canadian

Habitat for Humanity CEO George Hendry receives cash donations on sit.

Operations and Marketing Head Laarni de Paula (604) 551-3360 laarni.liwanag@canadianinquirer.net Advertising Sales Alice Yong (778) 889-3518 alice.yong@canadianinquirer.net PHILIPPINE PUBLISHING GROUP Editorial Assistant Phoebe Casin

Amb. Gatan delivers remarks as emcee Lucia Harper (L) and Mayor Jim Watson (R) look on.

Government is expected to match this amount dollar for dollar under the Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund, bringing total cash donations from this single occasion to an estimated CA$20,824.

“I commend the Filipino community in Ottawa for rallying behind this charity event. I must recognize also all performers, vendors, exhibitors and volunteers who extended a helping hand to our cause. Likewise, our special thanks go to our master of ceremonies and event consultant Lucia Harper for her generous inputs as well as her co-emcees Bailey Clinton, a caring Canadian student who speaks Filipino fluently, and of course the Embassy’s very own Dindo Moreno. Our charity event was an occasion not just for Filipinos but also other visible minorities to come together to demonstrate their solidarity and to convey their appreciation for Canada’s tremendous humanitarian assistance. In this context, this is what “Parol—A Star of Hope” means: a light shining from Canada to help our people,” Ambassador Gatan remarked. ■

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Graphic Designer Shanice Garcia Associate Publisher Lurisa Villanueva In cooperation with the Philippine Daily Inquirer digital edition Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 400-13955 Bridgeport Rd., Richmond, BC V6V 1J6 Canada Tel. No.: 1-888-668-6059 or 778-8893518 | Email: info@canadianinquirer. net, inquirerinc@gmail.com, sales@ canadianinquirer.net Philippine Canadian Inquirer is published weekly every Friday.

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