SEPTEMBER 5, 2025

Vol. 9 No. 657

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CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER

PBBM orders sweeping review of DPWH’s

proposed 2026 budget
BY RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS, PHILIPPINE NEWS AGENCY STORY ON PAGE 3

HOLIDAY SPIRIT
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Tuesday (Sept. 2, 2025). A capiz lantern maker is busy crafting
new designs and making sure old stocks are in tip-top condition,
especially the electrical wires. (JOAN BONDOC / PNA)

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 2 PHILIPPINE NEWS FRIDAY September 5, 2025

Lookout bulletin Ex-DPWH chief Bonoan

sought vs. persons discloses 15 'missing' projects
tagged in flood By Ferdinand Patinio projects are those that have ment in two months.
Philippine News Agency supposedly been funded and He said the process would be
control mess completed, while non-existent
projects are the ones that are
difficult, but should be under-
taken.
MANILA – Former Department being validated. “Sixty days maximum to be
of Public Works and Highways “A ghost project is actually able to see how best we can
By Ferdinand Patinio --Engineer John Michael E. Ra- (DPWH) chief Manuel Bonoan one that is already been val- reorganize and hopefully, af-
Philippine News Agency mos, Construction Section (DPWH) on Tuesday disclosed that 15 idated and really found out ter 30 to 60 days, we will have
--Engineer Norberto L. San- "missing" projects were discov- not to be there, and has been an organization that we feel
tos, Quality Assurance and Hy- ered during their investigation declared, has been submitted will be ready to take on these
MANILA – The Department drology Section (DPWH) on the completed projects under as completed, and funds have challenges and move forward,
of Public Works and Highways --Engineer Jaime R. Hernandez, the Marcos administration from been collected, as well. These but it would be (a) difficult 60
(DPWH) has requested the De- Maintenance Section (DPWH) July 2022 to May 2025. are the ghost projects we are days,” he said after he officially
partment of Justice (DOJ) to issue --Floralyn Y. Simbulan, Ad- In a press conference after the talking about,” he said. took over his new post.
an immigration lookout bulletin ministrative Section (DPWH) turnover ceremony for the agen- “(The) non-existent, for the He said the President’s
order (ILBO) against 25 contrac- --Juanito C. Mendoza, Fi- cy's top post, held at the DPWH time being, is actually, it’s just marching order is to "cleanse,
tors and government officials who nance Section (DPWH) head office in Manila, the out- a matter of validating the loca- to fix" the DPWH.
are allegedly connected to ques- --Engineer Benedict J. Ma- going secretary reported that tions of these projects that we Bonoan was appointed by
tionable flood control projects. tawaran, Procurement Unit the "non-existent" undertakings are talking about.” Marcos to lead the agency in
In a letter addressed to Justice (DPWH) were part of the list they sub- Reorganization July 2022, while Dizon led the
Secretary Crispin Remulla, DPWH --Alex H. Abelido, president, mitted to President Ferdinand R. Meanwhile, new DPWH Sec- Department of Transportation
Secretary Vince Dizon asked the Legacy Construction Corp. Marcos Jr. upon his order. retary Vince Dizon is looking to for six months before he was
DOJ to monitor these individuals --Ma. Roma Angeline D. “There are 15 non-existent finish reorganizing the depart- named as head of the DPWH. ■
including contractors Cezarah and Rimando, owner/manager, St. projects. They are not ghost proj-
Pacifico Discaya, president and au- Timothy Construction Corp. ects,” he said. “Most of them are in
thorized managing officer, respec- --Mr. Allan B. Quirante, own- 1st District of Bulacan, scattered
tively, of the Alpha & Omega Gen- er/proprietor, QM Builders in some regions, one or two. All
eral Contractor and Development --Mr. Erni G. Baggao, owner/ these documents will be turned
Corp. and Lawrence Lubiano, pres- proprietor, EGB Construction Corp. over to Secretary Vince Dizon.”
ident, Centerways Construction --Mr. Eumir S. Villanueva, Earlier, the DPWH under
and Development Inc. president, Topnotch Catalyst Bonoan submitted a list of proj-
“An investigation is being Builders, Inc. ects totaling 9,855 covering the
conducted on several DPWH --Ms. Aderma Angelie D. Alca- first three years under the pres-
officials and key officers of con- zar, president/CEO, Sunwest Inc. ent administration, in response
struction companies allegedly --Mr. Edgar S. Acosta, pres- to the Chief Executive’s directive
involved in ghost projects and/ ident, Hi-Tone Construction during his State of the Nation
or substandard construction of and Development Corp. Address (SONA) on July 28. Former DPWH secretary Manuel Bonoan and Newly appointed DPWH Secretary

flood control projects,” Dizon --Mr. Wilfredo M. Natividad, Bonoan explained that ghost Vince Dizon (DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS / FACEBOOK)

said. "The timely issuance of an owner/general manager, Triple

ILBO is of utmost necessity to 8 Construction & Supply Inc.
enable the current investigations --Mr. Romeo C. Miranda, presi-
to proceed without delay and to dent/AMO, Royal Crown Monarch
hold those liable accountable to
the Filipino people.”
Construction & Supplies Corp.
--Mr. Mark Allan V. Arevalo, Coral buildup in WPS
An ILBO is for monitoring general manager, Wawao Builders
purposes only, and is not suf-
ficient to prohibit the subjects'
--Ms. Marjorie O. Samidan,
authorized managing officer,
shoals due to 'tidal
movement' – PH Navy
departure from the Philippines. MG Samidan Construction
If encountered, immigration --Mr. Luisito R. Tiqui, presi-
officers are instructed to promptly dent, L.R. Tiqui Builders Inc.
relay to the DOJ and the House --Mr. Ryan Willie D. Uy, pro-
of Representatives any pertinent prietor, Road Edge Trading & By Priam Nepomuceno may have been due to "tidal move- evation of these features could
information regarding the travel, Development Services Philippine News Agency ment or weather disturbances." be attributed to the weather dis-
and to check if there are freshly Likewise, the DPWH chief "In our checks with other our turbances that we encountered
issued orders against the subjects. asked the Bureau of Immi- partner agencies in the maritime in the past months. So, tidal
The other names included in gration (BI) to inform the de- MANILA – There is no indi- domain, (the Philippine) Coast movement or weather distur-
the requested ILBO are: partment of the travel plans of cation that the crushed corals Guard and BFAR (Bureau of bances usually pile up crushed
--OIC-Assistant Regional Direc- these individuals. found in several features in Fisheries and Aquatic Resourc- corals on shallow portions of
tor Henry C. Alcantara (DPWH) “In addition to the issuance of the West Philippine Sea (WPS) es), there was no noted presence the WPS," Trinidad said.
--OIC-District Engineer Brice ILBO, may we further request that were a result of human activity, of any vessel that was dumping Regardless of the elevation
Ericson D. Hernandez (DPWH) the Bureau of Immigration be in- a ranking Philippine Navy (PN) crushed corals," Trinidad said. of the WPS features, the mili-
--OIC-Assistant District Engi- structed to immediately inform official said Tuesday. The crushed corals have tary's posture in the area will
neer Jaypee D. Mendoza (DPWH) the DPWH and other law enforce- In a media briefing in Camp been observed in Hasa-Hasa remain the same, he said.
--Engineer Ernesto C. ment agencies of any information Aguinaldo, PN spokesperson for Shoal, Sabina Shoal, and San- "We are there to secure the
Galang, Planning and Design regarding the impending travel of the WPS Rear Admiral Roy Vincent dy Cay in Pag-asa Island. integrity of our national terri-
Section (DPWH) these individuals,” he added. ■ Trinidad said the coral buildup "The rise, however, of the el- tory," Trinidad said. ■
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 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 PHILIPPINE NEWS 3

1
PBBM orders sweeping review of DPWH’s
proposed 2026 budget
By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos in budget deliberations, Palace the people’s money, ensuring amend, tatanggalin para po ma- terous” to claim that the problem
Philippine News Agency Press Officer Claire Castro said. that resources are directed to- bigyan sila – ang Senado, ang could be fixed overnight.
“President Ferdinand R. wards infrastructure projects Kongreso – ng listahan kung Castro added that the Vice
Marcos Jr. has directed the De- that genuinely serve and ben- ano ang hindi na dapat ilagay President should have given
MANILA – President Ferdi- partment of Budget and Man- efit the Filipino people.” (The DBM said the NEP cannot that advice to her father, for-
nand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered agement (DBM) and the new- Castro said the directive was be returned to them. Probably, mer president Rodrigo Duterte,
the sweeping review of the pro- ly-appointed secretary of the issued following the possible there will only be an erratum. since some of the “ghost” proj-
posed budget of the Department Department of Public Works and duplication and insertion of It will be corrected, amended, ects uncovered in the investiga-
of Public Works and Highways Highways to conduct a sweeping projects included in the DP- or deleted. And the Senate and tion were implemented during
(DPWH) in the 2026 National review of the DPWH budget un- WH’s spending plan for 2026. Congress will be given a list of the previous administration.
Expenditure Program (NEP), der the proposed 2026 National She said corrections will be what should no longer be in- “Nirerespeto ng Pangulo ang
Malacañang said on Wednesday. Expenditure Program,” Castro made through “errata,” in case cluded),” Castro said. (The President respects) due pro-
Marcos has directed Depart- said in a Palace press briefing. there is a duplication and in- Castro also responded to Vice cess. Nirerespeto ni Pangulo ang
ment of Budget and Management “The President emphasized sertion of projects. President Sara Duterte’s claim (The President respects) human
(DBM) Secretary Amenah Pan- that the review must lead to “Sabi po kasi ng DBM, hin- that the issues concerning the rights. So, kaya po dumadaan
gandaman and Public Works Sec- the necessary changes to guar- di na mababalik ang NEP sa flood mitigation projects could ang lahat sa proseso (that's why
retary Vince Dizon to lead and ex- antee transparency, account- kanila. Magkakaroon lang sig- be addressed within the day. everything goes through the pro-
pedite the review to avoid delays ability, and the proper use of uro ng erratum. Iku-correct, ia- She said it is “absolutely prepos- cess),” she said. ■

BOC secures 12 of ‘Wild imagination,’ Palace

Discaya’s luxury cars on alleged plot vs. Sara
By Ferdinand Patinio
Philippine News Agency
Duterte, alliesToyota Tundra, Toyota Se-
quoia, and Cadillac Escalade.
BOC Commissioner Ariel
Nepomuceno said the last three By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos “orchestrating something be- was adopted to “get rid” of
MANILA – The Bureau of vehicles — a GMC Yukon Denali Philippine News Agency hind the scenes,” while the pub- Duterte before 2028.
Customs (BOC) has secured all and two Lincoln Navigator — are lic attention is focused on the She said Justice Secretary
12 luxury vehicles which were in service centers for repair and ongoing investigation into ques- Justice Crispin Remulla’s bid
subject of a search warrant at would be surrendered to the BOC. MANILA – Malacañang on tionable flood control projects. for Ombudsman post is part
the residence of the Discaya Earlier in the day, the BOC Thursday dismissed as a mere Imee, on the other hand,
family in Pasig City. uncovered two luxury vehicles “wild imagination” the insinu- claimed that a new strategy PAGE 15 ‘Wild imagination,’ Palace
Ten vehicles were initial- -- a Toyota LC300 3.3 V6 ZX AT ations that the Marcos admin-
ly unaccounted for when the SUV 2024 and a Maserati Le- istration is hatching a plan to
BOC served a search warrant vante Modena 2022 -- covered jail Vice President Sara Duterte
at the St. Gerrard Construction by the search warrant issued and her allies before the 2028
General Contractor and Devel- by the Regional Trial Court of presidential race.
opment Corp.’s compound in Manila Branch 18. Palace Press Officer Claire
Pasig City on Tuesday morning. The BOC sealed all vehicles Castro said Duterte and her po-
Later in the day, seven of the and are under round-the-clock litical allies, including Senator
vehicles had been surrendered guarding by personnel of the Imee Marcos, need not worry
to the BOC and are now se- BOC and the Philippine Coast because there is no such plan.
cured at the firm's compound. Guard. “They are just creations of
The car fleet includes a Rolls Nepomuceno said they fertile and wild imagination,”
Royce Cullinan, Bentley Ben- would review the vehicles' im- Castro said.
tayga, Mercedes Benz G-500, port records to check compli- Duterte earlier said the Mar-
Mercedes AMG G 63 AMG, ance with customs laws. ■ cos administration seems to be Palace Press Officer Claire Castro (RUTH ABBEY CARLOS / PNA)

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 4 PHILIPPINE NEWS FRIDAY September 5, 2025

Reso seeking to cut age requirement for

president, VP, senators filed
By Jose Cielito Reganit errez of 1-Rider Party-list, and The authors noted that un- new generation). By opening by age alone but by compe-
Philippine News Agency Eduardo Rama; and House der current rules, Filipinos the highest offices to leaders as tence and integrity, and that
Committee on Public Informa- must wait until the age of 40 young as 35, we give the Fili- youth empowerment must be
tion Chairman Lordan Suan before they can aspire to lead pino people a chance to be led institutionalized in the highest
MANILA – A proposal seek- of Cagayan de Oro City, col- the country as President or Vice by the energy and creativity of law of the land, not left as a
ing to amend the 1987 Con- lectively known as the “Young President, a barrier that effec- the youth, ready to carry the token space in government ap-
stitution to open the doors of Guns” of the House. tively sidelines younger leaders nation forward,” they stressed. pointments.
Malacañang and the Senate “Thirty-eight years since the despite their readiness to serve. The authors emphasized that It also highlights the fact
to younger leaders was filed ratification of the Constitution, By aligning the Philippines the resolution reflects both urgen- that while the Philippines has
Wednesday at the House of the Philippines has undergone with countries like the Unit- cy and fairness, expressing belief a youthful population, its po-
Representatives by a bloc of re- major demographic and social ed States, where the constitu- that the time has come to allow litical leadership remains dom-
form-minded lawmakers. shifts, with more than 52 per- tional age for the presidency is younger Filipinos, equipped with inated by older generations,
A resolution of both Hous- cent of the population under 35, lawmakers said the reform new ideas and fresh energy, to creating a gap between gov-
es calling for a constitutional the age of 30, reflecting a vi- “strengthens youth represen- step forward and lead. ernance and the aspirations of
convention (Con-Con) that brant, dynamic, and increasing- tation, promotes intergenera- They said the Constitution younger citizens.
would lower the minimum age ly educated youth sector,” the tional leadership and embodies should empower -- not constrain Once adopted by the House
requirement for the President authors said in their resolution. the spirit of inclusivity, renew- -- the country’s best and brightest. and the Senate, the resolution
and Vice President from 40 to They stressed that the Fili- al, and empowerment of the They also stressed that many will pave the way for a consti-
35, and senators from 35 to pino youth have proven them- next generation of leaders.” of today’s pressing issues -- from tutional convention (Con-Con)
30 was introduced by Deputy selves “globally competitive, “Panahon na para marinig digital transformation to climate where elected delegates can
Speakers Paolo Ortega V and socially aware, and capable of ang tinig ng bagong henera- change – demand leaders who formally propose the amend-
Jay Khonghun; Deputy Major- national leadership,” pointing syon. Leadership is not about are closer to the lived realities of ments, which will then be
ity Leaders Ernix Dionisio Jr. to their growing influence in age but about vision, malasakit the younger generation. submitted to a plebiscite for
of Manila, Zia Alonto Adiong public service, innovation, civil at kagustuhan na magsilbi (It The resolution underscores ratification, where the Filipino
of Lanao del Sur, Rodge Guti- society, and local governance. is time to hear the voice of the that leadership is not defined people will have the final say. ■

Comelec supports move to Strong military

amend party-list law needed to back
By Ferdinand Patinio “Kontra Daya welcomes all initia- search provides empirical proof of
up diplomacy –
Philippine News Agency tives to amend the 1995 party-list
law that would ensure genuine
representation of the marginalized
how the rich and powerful have
reduced the party-list system as
mere additional seats that are
defense chief
MANILA – The Commission on and underrepresented, free from theirs for the taking,” he added.
Elections (Comelec) is support- the hijacking and bastardization Asked if they are ready to By Priam Nepomuceno we must review today. In my
ing the move of Senator Vicente of the rich and powerful,” Danilo help, the Kontra Daya official Philippine News Agency own remit with (Armed Forces
Sotto III to amend the country’s Arao, Kontra Daya convenor, said in said they are “ready to provide chief) Gen. (Romeo) Brawner
30-year-old party-list law. a separate interview. input and answer any queries (Jr.), we have found several
In an interview on Monday, “We encourage Sotto and oth- from legislators like Sotto.” MANILA – Department of De- gaps that we have to modify
Comelec chairperson George er legislators to refer not just to The bill seeks to realign the fense (DND) Secretary Gilberto in order to build our spine or
Garcia believed that it is high time our past statements but also to party-list system with its origi- Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday un- backbone of any country worth
for Republic Act 7941, known as our past data sets on the party-list nal intent, for it to be truly rep- derscored the need to have a being called a country," he said.
the Party-List System Act signed groups that participated in the resented the marginalized and strong military, saying diploma- Teodoro expressed hope that
in 1995, to be revisited. previous election cycles. Our re- the underrepresented. ■ cy is of no use without it. the Philippines can build up
“This clarification and change "There is no such thing as parity its resiliency and capability to
are timely and long been await- dealings with other countries, par- show that it can be a partner in
ed. We strongly support this bill,” ticularly if there is a controversy, if protecting the existing "inter-
he said, referring to the Senate you do not have a strong armed national order."
Bill 192 filed by Senate Minority force to back up diplomacy," Te- Victory Day Commemora-
Leader Vicente Sotto III. odoro said during the Victory Day tion is celebrated to commem-
The poll body chief added Commemoration held at the US orate the end of the Japanese
that they are ready to assist Ambassador’s Residence in Camp occupation of the Philippines
and provide inputs if their ex- John Hay, Baguio City. in World War II. It honors the
pertise is asked. He said the country's prepara- heroism of Filipino and Ameri-
“We have prepared recom- tions to deter any form of conflict can soldiers who fought side by
mendations,” Garcia added, but – whether military, non-military, side to liberate the Philippines.
did not provide further details. against the elements, or economic The occasion also under-
A poll watchdog group also competition – must be looked into. scores eight decades of Philip-
welcomed Sotto’s bill. Comelec Chairperson George Garcia (YANCY LIM / PNA)
"Those are the facts that pine-American friendship. ■
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 6 PHILIPPINE NEWS FRIDAY September 5, 2025

2026 budget focuses DFA: No Filipino

on projects with highest casualties in deadly
multiplier effect: Recto Afghanistan quake
By Wilnard Bacelonia Development Budget Coordi- Recto said, adding that good By Ferdinand Patinio The Philippine Embassy in
Philippine News Agency nation Committee’s briefing at spending is the best way to en- Philippine News Agency Islamabad, which has jurisdic-
the Senate, said the National courage tax compliance. tion over Afghanistan, remains
Expenditure Program was de- He said the government in contact with nationals in Ka-
MANILA – Finance Secre- signed to fund infrastructure, would allocate 5 to 6 percent MANILA – The Department bul and is verifying the condi-
tary Ralph Recto on Tuesday education, health, agriculture, of gross domestic product for of Foreign Affairs (DFA) con- tion of the others.
assured senators that the pro- and social welfare. infrastructure, 4 percent for firmed Wednesday that no Fil- The powerful tremor, with
posed PHP6.79-trillion nation- “Walang ghost projects education, and roughly 4 per- ipinos were reported dead or epicenter some 27 kilometers
al budget for 2026 would focus dapat. Walang kurapsyon. cent for health, agriculture, injured in the powerful magni- northeast of Jalalabad, has
on projects with the “highest Walang sayang na piso (There and social welfare programs. tude 6 earthquake that struck left more than 800 dead and
multiplier effect”. should be no ghost projects. No Recto also reported that the eastern Afghanistan on Aug. 31. at least 2,000 injured, but the
Recto, speaking before the corruption. No wasted peso),” economy continues to outper- The DFA said there is at least United Nations said the total
form expectations despite the seven Filipino nationals in Af- impact could be in the “hun-
global backdrop of wars, trade ghanistan, all of whom are dreds of thousands.”
tensions, and climate risks. based in or around Kabul. Currently, access to the af-
He cited that Philippine in- “As of this time, there are no fected provinces is complicated
flation slowed to just 0.9 per- reports of Filipino casualties or due to road blockages caused by
cent in July, well below the injuries. No Filipino nationals landslides and difficult terrain,
global average of 4.2 percent are known to be in evacuation which are impacting the speed
this year. centers, and no evacuation of humanitarian assistance.
“Considering the heavy debt orders have been issued,” the “The Philippine Embassy
we inherited, the higher policy agency said. in Islamabad will continue to
rates, and global headwinds, The provinces of Kunar, monitor the situation closely by
growing by an average of 5.9 Nangarhar, and Laghman in coordinating with Afghan au-
percent under the Marcos ad- Afghanistan appeared to be thorities and issue a follow-up
the most severely affected, the advisory should developments
Finance Secretary Ralph Recto (DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE / FACEBOOK)
PAGE 19 2026 budget focuses agency added. require,” the DFA said. ■

PBBM to guvs: End irregularities, ensure proper

project implementation
By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos “Ngayon, higit kailanman, wasto ang mga proyekto na the national and local govern- and “ghost” projects.
Philippine News Agency kailangan ng bansang Pilipinas ipinapatupad ng pambansang ments are done properly. And let He asked the LPP to serve as
ang inyong pangunguna, pamu- pamahalaan at ng lalawigan. At us expose any irregularities we a “guide, voice, and conscience”
muno upang wakasan ang mga isiwalat natin kung may makiki- may find, because public funds in addressing pressing issues, as
MANILA – President Ferdi- maling nakagisnan. [Nagsisimu- tang taliwas dahil ang pera ng belong to the nation—not to part of efforts to build a Bagong
nand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday la] pa lang ang laban at mahaba sambayanan ay pera ng bayan, personal interests),” he added. Pilipinas (New Philippines).
called on governors nationwide pa ang ating tatahakin. Umaasa hindi sa pansariling interes (Let Marcos made the call, amid “Sa paraang ito, maitatatag
to help curb irregularities and en- ako na kasama namin kayo sa us serve the people with utmost thorough investigation into the natin ang Bagong Pilipinas kung
sure the proper implementation bawat hakbang, sa pagsusuri sa integrity. Let us ensure that the flood control projects that led saan ang bawat Pilipino ay may
of government projects. mga proyekto, sa pagsasaliwan- projects implemented by both to the discovery of anomalous pagkakataong umunlad, may
Marcos made the call, as he ag sa mga [nagkukubli sa] ka- seguridad sa kinabukasan, at
led the oath-taking of the new set diliman (Now, more than ever, may tiwala sa pamahalaan (In
of officers of the League of Prov- the Philippines needs your lead- this way, we will be able to build
inces of the Philippines (LPP), led ership and guidance to end the a New Philippines where every
by reelected national president longstanding wrongful practic- Filipino has the opportunity to
South Cotabato Governor Rey- es. The fight has just begun and prosper, feels secure about the
naldo Tamayo Jr., in a ceremony we still have a long way to go. future, and has trust in the gov-
at Malacañan Palace in Manila. I hope that you will be with us ernment),” Marcos said.
In a keynote speech, Marcos every step of the way, in scruti- Marcos emphasized the
is optimistic the LPP will work nizing projects and in shedding importance of faster and im-
with his administration in light on those who hide in the proved government frontline
eradicating corruption in gov- shadows),” he said. Binigyan ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ng direktiba ang mga bagong services by harnessing new
ernment, urging them to serve “Paglingkuran natin nang opisyal ng League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) na paglingkuran nang technologies, such as artificial
with integrity and expose any buong katapatan ang sam- buong katapatan ang sambayanan, tiyaking nasa wasto ang mga proyekto, at

irregularities. bayanan. Tiyakin natin nasa isiwalat kung may makikitang taliwas. (PCO)
PAGE 13 PBBM to guvs:

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FRIDAY September 5, 2025 7

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8 PHILIPPINE NEWS FRIDAY September 5, 2025

PBBM wants flood control probe

body to have ‘subpoena power’
By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos ng lakas, mabigyan ng ngipin para po been filed yet, we really can't stop any-
Philippine News Agency mas mapatupad ang kung ano ang one from leaving the country because
mandato ng independent commission we have freedom of movement and that
CORRESPONDENT/HOSTS na ito (The President wants the inde- is respected),” she said.
Arianne Grace Lacanilao MANILA – President Ferdinand R. pendent commission to be empowered, Castro said Department of Public
Matte Laurel-Zalko
Violeta Arevalo
Marcos Jr. will grant the independent to be given teeth, so that it can better Works and Highways (DPWH) Secre-
Babes Newland commission investigating flood control carry out its mandate).” tary Vince Dizon has taken prompt ac-
issues the authority to issue subpoenas, Castro said the issuance of an execu- tion, including seeking an immigration
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Malacañang said Thursday. tive order establishing the independent lookout bulletin order against agen-
Ginno Alcantara Palace Press Officer Claire Castro body on flood control probe is now be- cy officials and contractors linked to
Colleene T. Singca said the subpoena power will enable ing finalized. anomalous flood mitigation projects.
the independent fact-finding body to She acknowledged that some individu- Dizon has also ordered the perpetual
ACCOUNT MANAGER summon the individuals involved in the als, including contractors linked to the so- blacklisting of contractors Wawao Build-
Kristopher Yong anomalous flood control projects. called “ghost” flood control projects, may ers and SYMS Construction Trading fol-
“Nais po ng Pangulo na magkaroon still leave the country since no charges lowing the discovery of nonexistent flood
DIRECTOR/PRODUCER ng subpoena power ang independent have been filed against them as of now. control projects in Bulacan province.
Boom Dayupay commission na ito (The President “Sa ngayon po, since wala naman He has also directed the dismissal
wants the independent commission to kasing kaso pang naisasampa, hindi ta- of and the filing of criminal charges
PHOTOGRAPHER/VIDEOGRAPHER have the subpoena power),” Castro said laga natin mapipigilan ang sinumang against DPWH Bulacan First District
Ginno Alcantara in a Palace press briefing. lumabas ng bansa dahil may freedom Engineer Henry Alcantara due to his in-
“Ang nais po ng Pangulo sa nasabing of movement po tayo at ‘yun ay nire-re- volvement in the anomalous flood con-
MANAGEMENT independent commission ay mabigyan speto (Right now, since no cases have trol projects. ■
Alan Yong

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Philippine News Agency er than the “high” +5 logged on April Manila (‘very high’ +10 from ‘fair’ -1),
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Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at 23 to 25 and the “fair” -1 registered on and Balance Luzon (‘high’ +6 from
200-13888 Wireless Way,
Richmond, BC
April 11 to 15. ‘very high’ +12).
MANILA – The Marcos administra- The net rating was also the highest Around 1,200 individuals aged 18
tion will do its best to give Filipinos a since December 2024’s “very high” and above were interviewed, 300 re-
••• more comfortable life, Malacañang as- +13, according to the SWS. spondents each in Metro Manila, Bal-
sured the public on Wednesday. The seven-point rise in the nationwide ance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro Net Gainers score from April 23 to 28 to Manila), the Visayas, and Mindanao.
Philippine Canadian Inquirer made the vow, as she welcomed the June 25 to 29 was due to increases in all SWS used sampling error margins of
results of the Social Weather Stations’ areas except in Balance Luzon, SWS said. ±3 percent for national percentages
is published daily online, 24/7.

Copies are distributed free throughout (SWS) survey conducted from June 25 SWS reported the highest Net Gain- and ±6 percent each for Metro Ma-
to 29, which found that 35 percent of ers score in the Visayas ('excellent' +22 nila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and
Metro Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and
Greater Toronto.
Filipinos believed their lives had im- from ‘fair’ 0), followed by Mindanao Mindanao. ■
proved compared to a year ago.
The views and opinions expressed in the
articles (including opinions expressed in
ads herein) are those of authors named, The number of Filipinos whose qual-
ity of life improved, also called “gain-
and are not necessarily those of
Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editorial
Team. ers,” rose by one percentage point from
PCI reserves the right to reject any the 34 percent recorded in April 2025,
advertising which it considers to contain according to SWS’ poll results.
false or misleading information or
involves unfair or unethical practices. The
“It is definitely good news. The ad-
advertiser agrees the publisher shall not ministration welcomes the result of the
be liable for damages arising out of error
in any advertisment.
survey,” Castro said in a statement.
“And Filipinos can rest assured that
MEMBER
their government will continue to work
hard to improve the condition and
quality of life of every citizen, especially
those who need it most.”
Around 42 percent said their lives re-
mained the same in the past 12 months,
while the remaining 23 percent were clas-
sified as “losers” as their lives got worse. A rider is forced to carry his bicycle while crossing the intersection of EDSA and Kamuning-Kamias

The survey results yielded a Net Roads in Quezon City on Saturday (Aug. 30, 2025). (JOAN BONDOC / PNA)

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 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 9

CANADA NEWS
The B.C. Supreme Court’s recognition of
Cowichan title is an invitation to enact
transformative change
By Sarah Morales, University municipally held lands and 2019. Yet now the province has while maintaining respect and The Cowichan decision re-
of Victoria, Estair Van long-term solutions about all chosen to adopt an adversarial accountability inter-societally minds us that reconciliation
Wagner, University of the wrongfully granted titles. approach, viewing the case as a and across legal systems. demands confronting the co-
Victoria This distinction matters if we threat to private property, and An invitation to restore lonial foundations of Canada’s
The Conversation are interested in finding solu- will appeal the B.C. Supreme good relations property system. Governments
tions about how to live well to- Court decision. As Chief Cindy Daniels of must accept responsibility rath-
gether, and not just in stirring Appeals will only prolong an al- Cowichan Tribes stated: er than hide behind litigation.
The British Columbia Su- up controversy. ready painful process. Instead, the “The court’s declaration is im- Commentators and the pub-
preme Court’s recent decision We tend to view private government could choose to focus portant to reconciliation and to lic should resist alarmist rhet-
in Cowichan Tribes v. Canada property as a sacrosanct, nev- on legal creativity and innovative correct the historical injustice oric and instead engage with
has attracted a lot of headlines, er-changing principle. But solutions over endless court bat- that was done to us. We will not the deeper questions this ruling
with some suggesting it signals property rights are legal con- tles. On Haida Gwaii, shared gov- pursue this with malice and we raises: how to repair relation-
the end of private property. structs — never absolute and ernance agreements preserve the will conduct ourselves with one ships, return what can be re-
The Quw'utsun Nation always evolving. Just as prop- respective authorities of the Haida mind, one head and one spirit turned and reshape institutions
sought Declarations of Aborig- erty law has been reshaped to Nation and the Crown and reflect for our culture and community, to reflect renewed relations.
inal title to Tl'uqtinus, their reflect human rights and envi- both legal traditions. and for the generations to come.” The way we own and man-
traditional village on the south ronmental protections, it must In 2021, the B.C. Supreme Drawing on this princi- age property and land in Can-
arm of the Fraser River and also evolve to address colonial Court concluded the Blueber- ple could replace adversarial ada is not working: housing
surrounding lands, and of their injustices and dispossession. ry River First Nation’s treaty conflict with constructive na- inequality is rising, forest fires
right to fish for food in the An unresolved history of rights had been infringed upon tion-to-nation dialogue. But rage across the country and
south arm of the Fraser. land theft by the impacts of industrial de- truth must come first. biodiversity loss has reached
The judgment certainly de- For the Quw’utsun Nation, the velopments in its traditional Society cannot look away, emergency levels.
serves careful consideration, court’s decision fits into a broad- territory. The province chose even when past wrongs are dif- The court’s decision is a
but not because it puts individ- er context of land dispossession. not to appeal, instead pledging ficult to repair — such as with chance for a new beginning
ual homes and businesses at While this case concerns part to work with Blueberry River homes and businesses on un- grounded in an honest reckon-
risk. That isn’t what the court of its territory along the Fraser First Nation to collaborative- lawfully granted land. ing about how property rights
found, nor was it asked to. River, most Quw'utsun territo- ly address the impacts of re- Acknowledging harm does were created, and how they
It deserves attention because ry is on southern Vancouver Is- source development. not mean ignoring the inter- can be reshaped to justly and
it calls on governments — and land, where the infamous E&N In New Zealand, the land- ests of current owners, but it honestly improve how we live
all of us — to honestly confront Railway grants transferred vast mark Treaty of Waitangi settle- does require honesty about together on these lands.
the unlawful foundations of areas into private hands without ments likewise embed Māori the history of how that land In our view, it is an invitation to
B.C.’s land system and turn our consent, treaty or compensation. authority into land-use gover- was acquired and creativity in imagine and enact transformative
minds to meaningful remedies. That land grab remains the nance while respecting shared finding remedies. Shying away change for generations to come. ■
In her ruling, Justice Barba- central obstacle in more than interests in lands and resources. from truth because it is un-
ra Young held that the Crown 30 years of ongoing negoti- While not perfect, these ex- comfortable only fuels greater This article is republished
lacked lawful authority to grant ations between the Hul'qui- amples all demonstrate how uncertainty and conflict for all from The Conversation under a
fee simple titles over Cowichan mi'num Treaty Group, which a serious engagement with parties in the long run. Creative Commons license.
lands in what is today part of the represents three of the plaintiff Indigenous law and authority
city of Richmond. In her words: First Nations, as well as the Ly- can lead to better and more eq-
“The Crown grants of fee sim- ackson and Ts'uubaa-asatx Na- uitable solutions for everyone.
ple interest in the Cowichan Title tions, and the Crown. Quw’utsun law offers tools
Lands, and the Crown vesting of the In fact, initial colonial incur- for shared governance, manag-
soil and freehold interest in certain sions into Quw'utsun territory ing overlapping rights in ways
highway lands in the Cowichan Ti- on Vancouver Island were timed that respect both Indigenous
tle Lands, unjustifiably infringe the such that many members were and Crown institutions. For
Cowichan’s Aboriginal title.” at Tl'uqtinus when the first gov- Quw'utsun Mustimuhw (Co-
The plaintiffs did not ask ernor of British Columbia, James wichan Peoples), territoriality is
the court to invalidate the ti- Douglas, arrived with settlers. not marked by rigid boundaries
tle deeds of homeowners and His promises of compensation but by relationships of reciproc-
businesses, and the ruling were never honoured. ity, kinship and shared use.
does not do that. Instead, the B.C. led Canada in incor- This flexible, place-based ori-
Quw’utsun Nation sought ac- porating the United Nations entation provides a foundation
countability from the Crown: Declaration on the Rights of for governance that can accom- Knowledge Totem pole and British Columbia Parliament Building, Victoria,

the return of provincially and Indigenous Peoples into law in modate overlapping interests British Columbia (JOE MABEL / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 3.0)

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 10 CANADA NEWS FRIDAY September 5, 2025

Carney’s troubling silence on women and gender

By Jeanette Ashe every dollar men make. They in the budget by committing
Policy Options hold just 31 per cent of seats in to a robust, published GBA+
the House of Commons and oc- review, implement a gen-
cupy only 23 per cent of top cor- der-results framework to track
His first mandate letter eras- porate board positions. Violence progress and outcomes, and
es women, gender equality, against women, particularly In- safeguard WAGE funding.
and GBA+, a worrying signal. digenous women and girls, re- 2. Revise his mandate letter
He should use the fall budget mains a national crisis, with dis- to require GBA+ in all policy
to make a course correction. parities even greater for women and budget decisions.
In his first mandate letter to with intersecting identities. 3. Legislate gender parity in
cabinet in May, Mark Carney Thirty years after signing the cabinet by amending the Minis-
notably omitted any mention Beijing Declaration and Plat- tries and Ministers of State Act to
of women. Not a word was di- form for Action, Canada has require at least 50 per cent wom-
rected to gender, equity, equal- yet to fulfill its commitments en or gender-diverse ministers.
ity, sex or “Gender-Based Anal- on women’s equality in eco- 4. Strengthen accountability
ysis Plus” (GBA+). nomic and political life. Man- by requesting that the auditor
Mandate letters serve as the date letters are not the only general conduct a gender- and
prime minister’s “marching or- indicators of gender sensitivity, diversity-sensitive assessment
ders,” and this omission is more Prime Minister Mark Carney (MARK CARNEY / FACEBOOK)
but they gauge where a gov- of Parliament.
than symbolic. It signals a sig- ernment is headed. Fiscal discipline is one of
nificant shift in government an Human Rights Act and the ada and internationally. Clear signs of retreat are al- Carney’s core themes. It aligns
priorities and may weaken Can- Criminal Code. That work cul- Naming these priorities in ready emerging. with gender equality, which
ada’s claim to global-equality minated in Bill C-16. mandate letters and budgets Proposals to cut WAGE’s bud- can’t be treated like an option-
leadership. “Advancing transgender rights is a proven driver of concrete get by 80 per cent, far deeper al add-on. It is fundamental to
Excluding these terms is a was one of my most significant results. than the 15-per-cent cuts faced Canada’s economic and demo-
mistake. accomplishments,” she told me Between 2015 and 2025, by other departments, have cratic health.
Gender-equity gains are frag- in 2020. The clear directive in terms like women, gender, eq- raised alarms. Women’s orga- Carney’s leadership moment
ile, and government policies her mandate letter was critical uity, equality, GBA+ and sex nizations, including the Cana- The OECD, the Organization
are rarely gender-neutral. The to the outcome, she said. appeared over 100 times across dian Research Institute for the for Economic Co-operation
well-documented needs of wom- A mandate letter alone does mandate letters. They showed Advancement of Women, warn and Development, promotes
en and gender-diverse people not guarantee action, but ex- up across ministries, from Wom- in a joint letter to Carney that gender-sensitive budgeting be-
are less likely to be addressed if plicit commitments on gender en and Gender Equality (WAGE, such cuts would “gut the entire cause it boosts women’s work-
women’s rights, gender equality, equality can help drive con- previously the Status of Women) department,” dismantling es- force participation and overall
and GBA+ have been removed crete policy change. What is in to Finance, Employment, Indige- sential programs and services. economic productivity, and re-
from the federal agenda. mandate letters matters, and so nous Services, and Immigration. Carney reversed earlier deci- duces inequality.
Leaving equality out of does what’s missing from them. In the “feminist-government” sions to drop sex parity in cab- Closing gender gaps could
mandate letters, budgets, and The cost of omission approach of the last decade, inet and eliminate WAGE after add more than $100 billion to
speeches risks erasing decades GBA+ is Canada’s intersec- gender was integrated into cabi- strong opposition from wom- Canada’s GDP. The 30th anni-
of progress. But Carney can tional gender-analysis tool. It net decision-making, budgeting, en’s groups. versary of the Beijing Declara-
still change course, and the up- has been in place since 2011, trade, diplomacy, and security. The retreat was reinforced tion and GBA+ offers Carney
coming budget offers a pivotal building on gender-based anal- GBA+ underpinned reforms by the May throne speech, the chance to lead on gender
opportunity for a reset. ysis introduced 30 years ago. such as gender-responsive bud- which also made no mention equality, as countries like Spain
Mandate letters are critical It assesses how policies affect geting, the LGBTQ2 Secretariat, of women or gender equality, and Iceland have done by leg-
tools people differently through the $10-a-day childcare, and the Na- focusing instead on the econo- islating cabinet gender parity.
Mandate letters have been lens of gender and other iden- tional Action Plan to End Gen- my. In a global moment where Rather than preside over a
public since 2015. Ministers tity factors. der-Based Violence. reproductive rights and gender retreat, he should place women
read them closely. They are Its removal overlooks sys- Without explicit direction equality are under attack, de- and gender-diverse people at the
tools for policy co-ordination, temic and intersectional in- from the prime minister or sus- prioritizing them in Canada is centre of Canada’s agenda and
accountability, and priority set- equalities faced by women tained budget commitments, both risky and economically pair that commitment with trans-
ting, as scholars such as Kenny and gender-diverse groups. however, GBA+ risks being re- short-sighted. parent, measurable action. ■
William Ie have noted. General policymaking cannot duced to a hollow gesture. It’s How to change course
Former justice minister Jody be relied on to address gender troubling to see in its 30th-an- The fall budget is Carney’s next This article first appeared on
Wilson-Raybould’s 2015 let- equality. Without explicit di- niversary year. opportunity to make a course Policy Options and is repub-
ter explicitly instructed her to rectives, gender considerations The stakes change and set a gender-equity lished here under a Creative
introduce legislation adding are often sidelined, as shown Canada’s gender gaps remain agenda. He has four options: Commons license.
gender identity to the Canadi- by decades of evidence in Can- wide: women earn 88 cents for 1. Embed gender equality

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 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 CANADA NEWS 11

New gun law protections target domestic

violence, but real prevention must start earlier
By Eden Hoffer, Western ered a potential risk of harm, trators are brought to justice. escape abuse before it esca- formed supports, along with
University including in cases of domestic Nevertheless, IPV remains lates. Otherwise, even with fire- increased public awareness
The Conversation violence. During this suspen- widespread in Canada, with arm restrictions in place, per- and sustained funding for criti-
sion, they can keep their fire- police-reported incidents rising petrators may obtain firearms cal services.
arms, but cannot use, buy or slightly in recent years and evi- illegally or resort to other lethal These include assistance nav-
In Canada, having a gun in import them. dence indicating that criminal- methods, such as strangulation, igating the legal system, access
the home is one of the stron- While these amendments ization alone has limited effec- using blunt force or stabbing. to safe and affordable housing,
gest predictors that intimate are a step in the right direction, tiveness in preventing abuse. What to do? and financial support that en-
partner violence (IPV) will they must be part of a broader, This suggests that simply Proactive policy and prac- ables survivors to leave abusive
turn fatal. systemic shift in policy, practice adding new criminal conse- tice responses to IPV must re- relationships before the vio-
Among intimate partner ho- and societal attitudes. Without quences for IPV may have a flect its severity and systemic lence escalates to a fatal level.
micides, 62 per cent of cases comprehensive legislative and little impact, because criminal- nature, including the cyclical Crucially, policy reform and
involved shotguns and ri- ization alone does not and escalating patterns that of- the creation of new policies in
fles, many of which were address the underlying ten characterize relationships response to IPV must also ad-
legally owned. causes or contributors to marked by patterns of violence dress the heightened risk peri-
It’s clear that reforms violence. and control. od following separation when
to Canadian firearm To truly tackle IPV, it These reforms should in- women who have experienced
laws are much needed. must be recognized not clude recognizing femicide as IPV are especially vulnerable.
Victims of IPV are five only as a crime, but as a a distinct offence under the Research shows that women
times more likely to be These measures human rights violation, Criminal Code rather than face a 75 per cent increase in
killed in cases where a include “red public health issue and treating it as murder or man- violence when attempting to
violent partner has ac- deeply embedded socie- slaughter. leave an abusive relationship
cess to a gun. Those flag” emergency tal problem. Canada’s response should — and remain at elevated risk
numbers are even higher prohibition orders, 2. IPV is significantly also be strengthened by for- for up to two years afterward.
when the victim is a ra- under-reported mally acknowledging IPV as a This underscores the urgent
cialized woman or lives It’s estimated about national crisis, reflecting the need for long-term, adequately
in a rural area. 80 per cent of spousal urgency of the issue. Some resourced social support sys-
Bill C-21 violence incidents in provinces, such as Nova Sco- tems that consistently prioritize
Recognizing the lethal Canada are never re- tia and New Brunswick, along survivor safety and well-being
role firearms can play in ported to police. with dozens of municipalities — not only at the point where
IPV cases, the Canadian This is often due to in Ontario, have taken the ad- violence may claim lives. ■
government has included spe- societal reforms to address IPV, survivors’ fears of increased ditional necessary step of de-
cific measures in Bill C-21, its the measures in Bill C-21 risk abuse from their partners if claring IPV an epidemic. This article is republished
2023 overhaul of firearm leg- being little more than a ban- they report it, concerns about Additionally, survivors re- from The Conversation under a
islation, to expand restrictions dage on a gaping wound. not being believed, awareness quire trauma- and violence-in- Creative Commons license.
and prohibitions related to IPV, Here are three reasons why Bill of the stigma IPV survivors of-
family violence, gender-based C-21’s firearm measures are nec- ten face, feelings of shame or a
violence and domestic violence. essary but will not be sufficient in lack of trust in police.
These measures include “red ending the scourge of IPV: As a result, many instances
flag” emergency prohibition 1. IPV is already a crime of IPV may never come to the
orders, which allow courts to In Canada, IPV has long attention of authorities, mean-
immediately remove firearms been criminalized under exist- ing the legal safeguards pro-
from anyone who may be a ing Criminal Code provisions, vided by Bill C-21 wouldn’t be
danger to themselves or oth- such as assault and assault triggered.
ers. Initial orders last up to 30 with a weapon. Since the mid- 3. Other weapons will like-
days, though courts can extend to late 1980s, these offences ly be used
them if needed. have been primarily addressed Without broader reforms
Additionally, since March through mandatory charging and supports, removing a per-
2025, officials known as chief and “no-drop” prosecution pol- petrator’s firearm or restricting
firearms officers have been au- icies, which aim to ensure IPV access may not prevent fatal
thorized to issue temporary li- cases are pushed through the violence.
cence suspensions for up to 30 legal system — from charging Proactive, systemic interven-
days if an individual is consid- to prosecution — so that perpe- tions that help survivors safely

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 12 FRIDAY September 5, 2025

WORLD NEWS
Kim joins Putin, Xi at military parade
in defiance of West
Yonhap defiance of the West. mer Soviet Union Prime Min- It was also the first meeting what would be a strong signal
Philippine News Agency The three arrived at the ister Nikita Khrushchev jointly of Kim, Xi and Putin --three to the world about their trilat-
rostrum side by side, sharing attended a similar military pa- leaders known for their defi- eral solidarity vis a vis the US-
friendly conversations in a rade in 1959 at the square. ance of the United States -- in led unipolar world order.
BEIJING/SEOUL – North Ko- historic moment that displays In a speech at the parade,
rean leader Kim Jong-un stood solidarity among China, Russia Xi said the Chinese people's
shoulder to shoulder with Rus- and North Korea. rejuvenation is "unstoppable,"
sia's Vladimir Putin and China's They stayed next to each oth- adding that humanity is once
Xi Jinping at center stage at a er as the parade kicked off with again faced with a choice be-
military parade in Beijing on elaborate ceremonies at Tianan- tween war or peace.
Wednesday, marking the first men Square, marking the 80th He said the Chinese peo-
such meeting among leaders of anniversary of what China cele- ple will adhere to the path of
Pyongyang, Moscow and Bei- brates as its victory over Japan peaceful development and
jing in 66 years. and the end of World War II. build a community with a
The spectacle of Kim stand- The gathering of the three shared future with the rest of
ing with Putin and Xi at the leaders have come together in the world, as China showcased
viewing gallery of Tiananmen 66 years, since North Korean its military strength at the pa-
Square marks a major display founder Kim Il-sung, Chinese President of Russia Vladimir Putin, President of People's Republic of China Xi Jin rade, including its latest weap-
of their trilateral solidarity in founder Mao Zedong and for- Ping, and Supreme Leader of North Korea (KREMLIN.RU, CC BY 4.0)
onry and well-drilled troops. ■

Trump accuses China, N. Korea, Official: Jakarta

Russia of conspiring against US back to normal,
Anadolu public transport
struggle for victory and ex- upon their arrival at the venue.
Philippine News Agency pressed hope that their bravery Xi said during the parade
resumes
and sacrifice would be "rightful-
ly Honored and Remembered."
that humanity faces a choice
between peace and war and
WASHINGTON – US Pres- "May President Xi and the urged nations across the world
ident Donald Trump accused wonderful people of China to eliminate the root causes of Antara The governor noted that since
the leaders of China, North Ko- have a great and lasting day conflict and prevent the recur- Philippine News Agency Monday, operators of public
rea, and Russia of conspiring of celebration. Please give my rence of historical tragedies. transport services had been in-
against the United States as Bei- warmest regards to (Russian The leaders in attendance structed to resume operations,
jing hosted China’s largest-ever President) Vladimir Putin, also included Iranian President JAKARTA – Jakarta has re- including mass rapid transit
military parade showcasing its and (North Korean leader) Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistani turned to normal following (MRT) and light rail transit
growing military power. Kim Jong Un, as you conspire Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, recent demonstrations, with (LRT) trains, Transjakarta buses,
Trump posted the remarks against The United States of Myanmar junta chief Min Aung residents resuming their daily and Mikrotrans minivans.
Tuesday on the US social me- America," he added. Hlaing, Slovak Prime Minister routines and public transport To further encourage mobil-
dia company Truth Social’s The parade in Tiananmen Robert Fico, Serbian President services back in operation, ity, the Jakarta provincial gov-
platform, which he owns, say- Square featured marching for- Aleksandar Vucic, Mongolian Governor Pramono Anung Wi- ernment has waived fares for
ing, "The big question to be an- mations, armored columns, President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa, bowo said Tuesday. MRT and Transjakarta services
swered is whether or not Pres- aerial flyovers, and new-gener- Uzbek President Shavkat Mir- The governor showcased until Sept. 8.
ident Xi of China will mention ation military capabilities, in- ziyoyev, and Belarusian Presi- this renewal of normalcy by "Residents can now access
the massive amount of support cluding unmanned systems, cy- dent Alexander Lukashenko. attending the inauguration of any routes of public transport
and ‘blood’ that The United ber and electronic warfare tools, The parade commemorated a new building at University of services managed by the Jakar-
States of America gave to Chi- underwater combat equipment China’s victory in its struggle Jakarta International (UNIJI) ta government, notably Trans-
na in order to help it secure and hypersonic weapons – all against Japanese occupation in West Jakarta. jakarta and MRT, free of charge
its FREEDOM from a very un- domestically produced. during World War II. "I want to show the public until Sept. 8," he said.
friendly foreign invader." Gun salutes opened the event, The last major military pa- that Jakarta has returned to However, Pramono acknowl-
He noted that many Amer- followed by Xi and his wife Peng rade marking the occasion was normal," Pramono told report-
icans lost their lives in China’s Liyuan greeting world leaders held in 2015. ■ ers at the event in Slipi. PAGE 16 Official: Jakarta back

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 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 WORLD NEWS 13

Donald Trump was once India’s best friend.

How did it all go wrong?
By Ian Hall, Griffith for more than 20 years. Now it make Modi – dubbed by political
University appeared Trump was taking a opponents “Narender Surrender”
The Conversation different view. – look weak. Yet, no other ma-
This put Modi in a bind. Keen jor power can offer India what
to maintain a mutually benefi- it needs in terms of markets, in-
Just months into President cial partnership and avoid pu- vestment, technology, weapons
Donald Trump’s second term in nitive tariffs, he did not wish to and diplomatic support.
office, one of the United States’ upset Trump. With US-India relations
most important strategic part- But he could not acknowl- strained, New Delhi has been
nerships is in crisis. edge Trump’s claims without working hard to stabilise its
Relations between the US setting aside a fundamental relationship with China, which
and India are at their lowest principle of Indian policy. So, has been tense since bloody
ebb in a quarter of a century. Modi called Washington and border clashes between the
Things are so bad that Indian explained he would not accept two in 2020.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald J. Trump (THE WHITE mediation over Kashmir. Modi went to China for the
has reportedly refused to ac- HOUSE / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, PUBLIC DOMAIN)
The final straw first time in seven years on
cept calls from Trump for more Meanwhile, Pakistan saw an August 31 to further that aim,
than two months. US on a military aircraft. stan-administered Kashmir. A opportunity to win favour in shaking hands with President
In recent days, Trump la- In the Oval Office, he prom- rapidly escalating, unpredict- Washington and drive a wedge Xi Jinping. But although Xi em-
belled trade ties with India a ised to buy more US arms, oil able conflict followed, as both between the US and India. phasised the need for amicable
“totally one-sided disaster” and and gas, and asked that Trump sides used drones and missiles Recognising that Trump cov- ties – he said the “elephant and
a report emerged that he is no not impose punitive tariffs on to attack one another. ets a Nobel Peace Prize, Islam- dragon should dance together”
longer planning to visit India India. Modi failed to get that Alarmed, governments abad nominated him for his sup- – there is little trust between
later this year for a summit of commitment. around the world urged the posed role in ending the conflict. India and China at present.
the Quad partners (India, the A few weeks later, Trump two nuclear-armed states to Enthused, Trump called Modi has more faith in Rus-
US, Australia and Japan). announced India would be hit end hostilities before matters Modi on June 17 and asked sia. In China, Modi and Rus-
So bad, so quickly with a 27% tariff – far higher got out of control. Early in the him to do the same. Worse still, sian President Vladimir Putin
Things were not meant to than the 10% imposed on Chi- morning on May 10, they did, Trump requested Modi stop in reportedly spoke for nearly
happen this way. Many in New na – unless it could negotiate and agreed to a ceasefire. Washington on the way back an hour in Putin’s limousine.
Delhi were delighted when something better. Trump anoints himself from the G7 summit in Cana- And Modi will host the Russian
Trump won the election last Crisis in Kashmir peacemaker da, and meet with Pakistan’s leader for more talks in India
year. Modi congratulated his Begrudgingly, New Delhi be- Before either the Indian or military chief, Asim Munir. later this year. However, Rus-
“friend” on X, along with pic- gan to talk trade. US Vice Pres- Pakistani governments had a According to a recent report, sia remains a pariah in Europe,
tures of the two embracing and ident JD Vance visited India in chance to say anything, Trump that was the final straw for with limited means to help.
holding hands. late April and both sides made stepped in to take credit. Modi. He flatly refused both Other countries, like Japan,
India’s foreign minister, S. positive noises about a deal. But On social media, he an- requests. The two men report- where Modi stopped off on his
Jaishankar, told journalists that while Vance was in town, India nounced both sides had agreed edly haven’t spoken since. way to China, could also help
while other countries might be was engulfed in a new crisis. a deal. The next day he claimed Piqued, Trump responded by India navigate the current cri-
“nervous” about Trump’s re- On April 22, terrorists killed they would soon sit down with punishing India for continuing sis. But they do not have the
turn, India was not. 26 people – mostly Hindu tour- him as mediator and find a to buy Russian oil by lifting its clout to resolve it.
Feeling confident, Modi went ists – in Kashmir, long the site solution to the Kashmir conflict. tariff rate to 50% and postpon- Unless Modi can find a way
to Washington to meet Trump of simmering conflict between Islamabad was jubilant ing trade talks. to win Trump back, India’s
days after his return to office. India and Pakistan. The Modi at this outcome. New Delhi, New Delhi’s dilemma next few years could be very
The encounter did not go well. government pledged to respond meanwhile, was furious. Trump’s actions have ordi- difficult. ■
On the eve of the meeting, with force, as it had done in the India’s longstanding view is nary Indians seething and de-
Modi was embarrassed by dis- past after similar incidents. that the Kashmir dispute must manding action, but the Modi This article is republished
tressing images of Indian na- On May 7, India bombed be settled bilaterally, without government does not have from The Conversation under a
tionals, handcuffed and shack- what it claimed were militant third-party involvement. The good options. Creative Commons license.
led, being deported from the camps in Pakistan and Paki- US has accepted this position Giving in to coercion would

PBBM to guvs:..
6 intelligence (AI), data laa kung saan hindi kailangan poration that seeks to articulate implementation of national in- to lobby the 20th Congress to
analytics, and other maglabas ng pera ang mga and address issues affecting frastructure projects to ensure amend the 1991 Local Govern-
innovations. naghihirap nating may sakit provincial and metropolitan accountability, transparency ment Code to update outdated
He also hoped for the wider (My appeal is for this program administrations while pursuing and fairness. provisions and enhance LGU
implementation of the zero bal- to also be widely implemented lawful and practical solutions The LPP will also focus on fiscal autonomy.
ance billing program, following in hospitals under local gov- to challenges faced by localities. solutions to the worsening Other priorities include the
its successful rollout in 78 De- ernment units — where our Over the next three years, solid waste management, fre- full implementation of provin-
partment of Health-run hospitals. poor and ailing citizens would the LPP aims to support the quent flooding caused by cli- cial functions under the Univer-
“Ang aking samo ay maging no longer have to pay out of President’s agenda by advocat- mate change and funding for sal Health Care Act and improv-
laganap din ito sa mga hospital pocket),” Marcos said. ing for prior consultation with disaster preparedness. ing the delivery of quality social
sa ilalim ng lokal na pamaha- The LPP is a non-stock cor- local government units in the A primary goal of the LPP is services to communities. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
 14 WORLD NEWS FRIDAY September 5, 2025

What’s behind the rioting in Indonesia? And will

the much-loathed political elite back down?
By Tim Lindsey, The new criminal code or gut the vehicle driven by the police, different responses of the po- But it’s equally apparent the
University of Melbourne once-respected Anti-Corrup- popularly seen as corrupt and lice and the army – longstand- protests are a genuine outburst
The Conversation tion Commission have failed. oppressive agents of the polit- ing rivals for status, funds and of long-simmering grievances
But this has only added to a ical elite. It seemed to encap- influence – reflect their com- against the political elite, guid-
backlog of grievances against sulate the issue at the heart peting political allegiances. ed by grassroots civil society
For many Indonesians, the politicians. On Independence of the demonstrations – elite Prabowo, a former Special organisations. Unfortunately,
violent riots currently wrack- Day on August 17, some pro- greed and lack of concern for Forces commander, is said to these groups have not yet been
ing Jakarta and other cities testers even flew pirate flags the “little people”. be backed by the army, while able to articulate the clear set
across the archipelago are ee- below the national flag. Offi- Motorbike taxi associations the police chief, Listyo Sigit of political demands that could
rily reminiscent of the riots of cials called this act “treason”. and many other communi- Prabowo (no relation), is loyal create a more unified move-
1998 that accompanied the fall The current street protests ty groups quickly organised, to former president Joko “Jo- ment out of the street protests,
of former dictator Soeharto began spontaneously a week demanding police be held ac- kowi” Widodo, who appointed as happened in 1998.
and his New Order regime af- later on August 25, with peo- countable. The protests then him. Jokowi also presided over How will Prabowo respond?
ter three decades in power. ple calling for the dissolution of grew outside Jakarta police huge growth in police budgets Will the elite back down?
As in 1998, demonstrators the national legislature (known headquarters and spread rap- and numbers while in office. They did in 1998. Then, the
have targeted the legislative by the acronym DPR). Protest- idly across Indonesia. Rioters While Prabowo won last rioting forced the New Or-
complex and “fat cat” politi- ers were enraged that legisla- targeted police stations, gov- year’s presidential election der elite to purge themselves
cians they see as neglecting tors had granted themselves ernment buildings, and bus thanks to an alliance he formed of their more toxic members
and even impoverishing them. lavish new monthly housing and train stations. with Jokowi, the two now seem (such as Soeharto and, for a
Rioters are also vandalising the allowances of approximate- Looting and even arson at- locked in a struggle for power. while, his then son-in-law, Pra-
homes of politicians and strip- ly A$4,700, which the deputy tacks followed, resulting in nu- Some critics suggest it would bowo) and reconfigure as nom-
ping them of luxury goods. speaker claimed was still not merous regional legislatures be- suit Prabowo for the police to inal Reformasi democrats.
Also striking is the behaviour enough, even though many pol- ing destroyed. There have been be the villains in the current But that does not look like-
of the security forces. While iticians already earn more than at least seven deaths so far. protests, as that would weak- ly this time – at least not yet.
there are widespread reports $9,000 per month (and some Prabowo now says he is lis- en Jokowi. Army inaction (or Although Indonesia has been a
of violence by police, some more than $21,000), tax free. tening to protesters’ grievances even provocation or support for constitutional democracy since
members of the military are The angry public response and the DPR will cancel the leg- the rioting) helps achieve that. 1999, real political authority
said to have been standing by was understandable, given the islator allowances. It remains The ultimate aim, they suggest, is still firmly in the hands of
and not stopping the looting. minimum wage in Jakarta is to be seen if that ever happens might even be to disband the a relatively small, entrenched,
In one case, they even handed just $500 per month. There is and whether it will last, given national police and make it a oligarchic elite.
out drinks and cash to rioters. deep resentment in Indonesia it’s in Prabowo’s interests to subordinate branch of the mil- They have learned to win
Again, this reminds many of politicians, who are seen as keep lawmakers’ pockets full. itary, as it was under Soeharto. elections and control the polit-
of the involvement of the mil- corrupt, lazy and out of touch. Reflecting his military past In 1998, Prabowo was al- ical process so effectively there
itary in the 1998 riots, when The growing budget hole and “strongman” self-image, legedly involved in manipu- is no meaningful political party
soldiers harshly cracked down created by Prabowo’s costly the president has also said lating the rioting in Jakarta in opposition at all. This has cre-
on protesters, but were also ac- signature projects means many the protesters are committing a failed effort to win power. ated an increasingly undemo-
cused of facilitating rioting and basic social services have been treason and terrorism. He has Many Indonesians believe a cratic ruling coalition that has
looting. Current President Pra- slashed since he was sworn in called on police to act against similar high-stakes scheme to- its own savage internal fights
bowo Subianto, then a senior last October, including health, them with “determination”. day is not beyond him. (such as those between Jokowi
army general, was dismissed education and local govern- Conspiracy theories run- Whether or not this is true, and Prabowo), but has proved
after being allegedly implicat- ment funding. The ranks of the ning wild conspiracy theories are run- extraordinarily resilient and
ed in these events, particularly poor are growing and the mid- These events are clearly a ning wild. It’s certainly pos- resistant to external pressure.
in the forced disappearances of dle class is shrinking. Both seg- threat to some members of the sible the elite would try to While many rich and powerful
democracy activists. ments of society are hurting. elite, but there is no doubt they meddle in events in the streets, oligarchs fear Prabowo’s innate
The situation in Jakarta is Unsurprisingly, the demon- offer opportunities to others. even if details are likely to re- authoritarianism, the current
not yet as serious as it was in strators demanded the legisla- Some protesters believe the main murky. crisis is probably not enough to
1998, but the presence of thou- tors’ new housing allowances force a split with him.
sands of violent rioters target- be cancelled, along with other Indeed, Prabowo may even
ing the rich and powerful is still perks such as overseas junkets. be able to use his response to
a nightmare for Indonesia’s oli- Lawmakers responded arro- the riots to further consolidate
garchic elite. Mass protests are gantly, with one even calling his power. Some suggest he
one of the few things that give the protesters “the dumbest may even impose martial law if
them pause – and sometimes people in the world”. they continue.
even force them to back down. The demonstrations were And this means that once the
This is why those protests can relatively calm at first. Then, current unrest dies down (and
also be vulnerable to manipula- on August 28, a 21-year-old that may take a while), and Pra-
tion by members of that same motorcycle taxi driver, Affan bowo and his inner circle feel
elite: they hope to weaponise Kurniawan, who happened to sufficiently in control again, a
public fury against each other. be making a delivery near the harsh crackdown on civil soci-
But there is much more to protests, was run over and ety critics and protest leaders is
these events than just elite rivalry. killed by a police vehicle. a very real possibility. ■
Political perks and public The symbolism could hard-
pain ly be starker. A precarious gig This article is republished
In recent years, huge protests economy worker struggling to from The Conversation under a
calling on legislators to aban- support his parents on a pit- Creative Commons license.
don plans to pass a repressive tance crushed by an armoured
www.canadianinquirer.net
 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 WORLD NEWS 15

North Korea’s hidden wildlife

trade: new research reveals
state involvement
By Joshua Elves-Powell, UCL ment and North Korea is one of identified was the long-tailed
The Conversation the few countries that is not a goral. Long hunted for its skin,
party to Cites – the treaty that this species is now highly pro-
regulates international trade in tected under Cites. Our data
North Korea is notorious for endangered species – so there suggested that gorals were des- Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi (RON PRZYSUCHA, U.S.

its illicit trade in weapons and is little official data. Many of tined for sale to buyers in Chi- DEPARTMENT OF STATE/FLICKR, PUBLIC DOMAIN)

narcotics. But a new investiga- the techniques that researchers na. As a party to the convention,
tion that I conducted with col- usually employ, such as market this trade would violate China’s
leagues in the UK and Norway
reveals a new concern: the ille-
gal trade in wildlife, including
surveys or analyses of seizure or
trade data, are simply impossi-
ble in the case of North Korea.
commitments under Cites.
Impacts beyond North Ko-
rea’s borders
Japan closely
species supposedly protected
by North Korea’s own laws.
Based on interviews with
We turned instead to the testi-
mony of North Korean refugees.
They included former hunters,
The Korean peninsula is a
globally important site for nu-
merous mammal species. Its
watching China,
North Korean refugees (also re-
ferred to as “defectors” or “es-
middlemen, buyers, and even
soldiers who had been posted
northern regions are connect-
ed by land to areas in China Russia, N. Korea
capees”) – from former hunters to hunting reserves set aside where these species are now
to wildlife trade middlemen –
our four-year study shows that
for North Korea’s ruling family.
To protect their safety, all inter-
recovering. However, unsus-
tainable hunting and defor-
cooperation
almost every mammal species views were anonymous. To help estation threaten their poten-
in North Korea larger than a verify our data we compared tial recovery in North Korea. Jiji Press is concerned that any security
hedgehog is opportunistically them to reports from China and This has wider consequences. Philippine News Agency alliance among the three could
captured for consumptive use South Korea, while reported For instance, it has been hoped pose a greater threat to Japan.
or trade. Even highly protected changes in some forest resourc- that the Amur leopard, one of "We'll look at future com-
species are being traded, some- es could be verified using satel- the world’s rarest big cats, may TOKYO – The Japanese gov- ments and attitudes of the three
times across the border to China. lite-based remote sensing. one day naturally recolonise ernment is closely watching leaders," a senior Japanese De-
Perhaps most striking: this Their accounts provide an South Korea. But this is cur- how China, Russia, and North fense Ministry official said.
isn’t only happening in the astonishing level of insight rently highly unlikely – these Korea will promote coopera- Tokyo is also rushing to ana-
black market. The North Kore- into human interactions with – animals will face severe threats tion after the three countries' lyze the intentions and potential
an state itself appears to profit and use of – wild animals and simply crossing North Korea. leaders gathered in Beijing on impact of North Korean leader
from unsustainable and illegal plants in North Korea. Meanwhile, China’s conser- Wednesday to attend a Chinese Kim Jong Un's appearance with
wildlife exploitation. North Korean state in- vation goals – such as restoring military parade. multiple national leaders.
After the North Korean econ- volvement in wildlife trade the Amur tiger in its northeast- "We will continue to gather and "I didn't think Kim would at-
omy collapsed in the 1990s, the Perhaps most concerning, ern provinces - may be under- analyze information (on coopera- tend an international meeting
country suffered a severe famine however, were reports which mined if threatened species tion among Beijing, Moscow and where he could not play a lead-
that resulted in between 600,000 suggested the North Korean which cross its border with Pyongyang) with serious interest ing role," a Japanese government
and 1 million deaths. No longer state itself is directly involved North Korea are killed for trade. to assess its impact on regional official said. "I'm surprised."
able to rely on the state for food, in wildlife trade. Although Furthermore, illegal cross-bor- security," Japanese Chief Cabinet A Japanese Foreign Ministry
medicine and other basic needs, it was clear from interviews der trade in wildlife from North Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told official said Kim "may be in-
many citizens took to buying that participants were often Korea would constitute a breach a news conference. clined to travel abroad due to
and selling goods – sometimes not aware of the legal status of China’s Cites commitments – The joint appearance of the changes in the international en-
stolen from state-run factories, of wildlife trade in different a serious issue, with potentially leaders of China, Russia and North vironment, such as US tariffs."
or smuggled across the border species, based on our analysis, severe ramifications for legal Korea at Tiananmen Square was Some view Kim's trip to Bei-
with China – within a growing some of that trade would ap- trade in animals and plants. To apparently to showcase the unity jing as a strategic maneuver
informal economy. pear to be illegal. address this risk, Beijing must of the three countries. designed to open the way for
This included wild animals Participants described state- do more to tackle domestic de- China is ramping up its as- a US-North Korean summit.
and plants, a valuable food re- run wildlife farms producing ot- mand for illegal wildlife. sertive actions in the East and Kim appears to have sought to
source. Others valued wildlife ters, pheasants, deer and bears, North Korean wildlife trade is South China Seas, and military improve relations with China
for its use in traditional Kore- and their body parts, for trade. currently a blind spot for global ties between Russia and North with an eye to US-North Korea
an medicine, or for producing (Indeed, North Korea is believed conservation. While our find- Korea are strengthening. relations, a Japanese govern-
goods such as winter clothing. to have first started farming ings help shed light on the is- The Japanese government ment official said. ■
Importantly, wildlife could bears for their bile, before the sue of illegal and unsustainable
also be sold to generate valu- practice spread to China and trade, tackling this threat to
able revenue. For this reason, South Korea.) The state also North Korea’s natural resources
as well as a domestic market collected animal skins via a quo- will ultimately depend on the ‘Wild imagination,’ Palace..
in wild meat and animal body ta-based system, with residents decisions taken by Pyongyang.
parts, an international trade submitting skins to a govern- Compliance with domestic pro- 3 of the current admin- On Wednesday, Castro told
developed in which smugglers ment agency, while state-sanc- tected species legislation should istration’s “Plan C,” the presidential sister to “reca-
would try to sell North Kore- tioned hunters and local com- be an immediate priority. ■ after failed attempts librate her crystal ball” so she
an wildlife products across the munities sometimes gifted to unseat Duterte through a picks up stories with evidence,
border into China. wildlife products to the state or This article is republished people’s initiative to amend not just rumors. ■
This trade is not officially its leaders as a form of tribute. from The Conversation under a the Constitution and impeach-
recognised by either govern- One species our interviewees Creative Commons license. ment.
www.canadianinquirer.net
 16 WORLD NEWS FRIDAY September 5, 2025

The US has deployed warships near Venezuela

in a cartel crackdown – but direct military
action is unlikely
By Amalendu Misra, in Venezuela, White House not preparing to invade Venezu- … to target these groups if we To avoid any unilateral mili-
Lancaster University press secretary Karoline Leavitt ela. The naval build-up is much have an opportunity to do it.” tary strike against cartels that
The Conversation remarked: “President Trump more likely to be an attempt to There are several legal issues might undermine Mexican
has been very clear and consis- get Latin American governments associated with direct US mil- sovereignty, Sheinbaum has
tent. He’s prepared to use ev- to take stronger action against itary action in Latin America, deployed tens of thousands of
The US is ramping up its ery element of American pow- drug traffickers. which reduce the prospect of national guard troops across
fight against Latin America’s er to stop drugs from flooding Falling in line any such assault taking place. the country to stem the flow of
drug cartels. Washington has into our country and to bring Cracking down on transna- It would violate the sovereign- drugs towards the US.
deployed several naval war- those responsible to justice.” tional drug cartels has be- Maduro has more re-
ships into southern Caribbean Latin America is no strang- come a defining theme of cently also pledged to send
waters, alongside over 2,000 er to US military interventions Trump’s second presiden- 15,000 Venezuelan troops
marines. A guided missile and regime changes. Washing- cy. Shortly after returning to the border with Colom-
cruiser, the USS Erie, and a ton sponsored covert and overt to office in January, he is- bia. And he thanked Co-
nuclear-powered fast attack military operations in the re- sued an executive order lombia for sending 25,000
submarine, the USS Newport gion, from Chile to Brazil and formally designating eight ... no empire will military personnel to the
News, are also reportedly due Guatemala to Grenada, that of them “foreign terrorist touch the sacred border to tackle “narco-ter-
to arrive in the region soon. led to regime changes in the organisations”. rorist gangs”. The Colom-
These moves take place as second half of the 20th century. This included six organi- soil of Venezuela bia-Venezuela border is
the Trump administration esca- So the presence of a US mil- sations based in Mexico: the porous and has long been
lates pressure on the Venezuelan itary submarine and guided Cartel del Golfo, Sinaloa a key transit point for drug
president, Nicolás Maduro, who missile cruiser close to its ter- Cartel, Cartel de Jalisco traffickers and smugglers.
has now accused the US of plot- ritorial waters has justifiably Nueva Generacion, Carteles Further south, in Para-
ting to oust him from power. rattled Venezuela’s leadership. Unidos, La Nueva Familia guay, there is official sup-
Donald Trump has long Maduro has called on his coun- Michoacana and Cartel del Nor- ty of countries there, while port for Trump’s anti-cartel
called Maduro “one of the larg- trymen and women to join na- este. It also included the Mara launching strikes without con- policies. Taking a leaf from
est narcotics traffickers in the tionalist militias, declaring: “no Salvatrucha (more commonly gressional approval or a UN Washington’s rule book, the
world”, saying he heads the empire will touch the sacred soil known as MS-13), which origi- mandate would risk breaching Paraguayan president, Santi-
Venezuelan Cartel of the Suns. of Venezuela”. And Venezuela’s nated in California, and the Ven- domestic prohibitions. ago Peña Palacios, has desig-
The US recently doubled the navy has deployed warships and ezuela-based Tren de Aragua. For instance, there are de- nated the Cartel of the Suns a
reward for Maduro’s arrest to drones to patrol the coastline. A White House statement at bates over whether murder foreign terrorist organisation.
US$50 million (£37.1 million). The Trump administration has the time said: “The Cartels have charges could be brought Elsewhere in Latin Ameri-
When asked about the pos- said little about its intentions. engaged in a campaign of vio- against US service members ca, El Salvador’s leader, Nayib
sibility of direct military action But most analysts agree the US is lence and terror throughout the acting outside of a congressio- Bukele, has been a trusted ally
Western Hemisphere that has nally authorised armed conflict of the US in its battle against
not only destabilized countries if they were to kill civilians or drug cartels. Bukele has been
with significant importance for criminal suspects who pose no successful in curbing the pow-
our national interests but also imminent threat. er and influence of MS-13,
flooded the United States with Whether or not the US mili- putting most of its members
deadly drugs, violent criminals, tary is brought directly into the behind bars in the country’s
and vicious gangs.” fight against the cartels will be- high-security prison.
In August, Trump then come clearer in the weeks and El Salvador is also incarcer-
signed a secret directive or- months ahead. However, there ating kingpins and criminals
dering the Pentagon to use is some evidence that the mere deported from the US. If the in-
military force against these threat of US military interven- creasingly focused US pressure is
cartels. The US secretary of tion is hardening the stance of successful, it may be just a mat-
state, Marco Rubio, has gone some countries in the region ter of time before all countries
on record defending this direc- towards criminal groups. in Latin America fall in line with
tive. He said on August 7 that The Mexican president, Trump’s war on drug cartels. ■
it allows the US to “use other Claudia Sheinbaum, for in-
elements of American power, stance, has said “her govern- This article is republished
intelligence agencies, the De- ment will cooperate with the from The Conversation under a
partment of Defense, whatever US to fight drug trafficking”. Creative Commons license.

Official: Jakarta back..

12 edged that the recent and one MRT station. Repair joined residents on Monday in
unrest had damaged work has begun and is expected restoring a severely damaged
various transport facil- to be completed by Sept. 8. Transjakarta bus stop in Senen,
ities and infrastructure, includ- He also highlighted that Central Jakarta. ■
ing 22 Transjakarta bus stops Deputy Governor Rano Karno
www.canadianinquirer.net
 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 17

ENTERTAINMENT
Made in Alberta; Watched by the World
NETFLIX of its launch, it racked up over province. For more than five Alberta is a vital partner in the world.
254M viewing hours and more years, we’ve sponsored the bringing incredible stories to Catch Season 2 of My Life
than 33M global views. It also BANFF Diversity of Voices pro- global audiences on Netflix. With the Walter Boys out now
Alberta has captivated glob- spent eight weeks on the Glob- gram, offering professional We're proud to make produc- – streaming only on Netflix. ■
al audiences by serving as the al Top 10 TV list and reached development and career accel- tions in Alberta to share with
backdrop for a number of Netflix the Top 10 in 88 countries. eration for underrepresented
productions. Series filmed in this Since then, the show has been creators and producers across
province highlight Alberta’s nat- renewed for two additional Canada. Through this support,
ural beauty, diverse landscapes seasons, with the second sea- we’ve helped creatives attend
and exceptional local talent. son now on Netflix and Season the annual conference and
Netflix's very first production 3 currently in production! benefit from professional de-
in the province was Black Sum- These productions showcase velopment and pitching oppor-
mer. Since then, the momen- Alberta’s vast range of land- tunities.
tum in Alberta has only contin- scapes and communities, with For the last two years, Net-
ued with hits like My Life With filming locations spanning flix has also participated in the
the Walter Boys, Our Living from Calgary, Crossfield and iconic Calgary Stampede, host-
World and the upcoming West- Cochrane to Kananaskis Coun- ing receptions to connect with
ern drama, The Abandons. try. Fans can discover all these the local community and give
My Life With the Walter Boys Alberta filming locations on fans unforgettable experiences,
enthralled members world- Netflix in Your Neighbourhood. including an appearance with
wide, demonstrating Alberta's Netflix has also invested in the stars of My Life With the
global appeal. Within a month fostering local talent in the Walter Boys at this year’s rodeo! My Life With the Walter Boys, Season 1, Episode 10 (NETFLIX)

Netflix’s ‘Mo’ delivers humour, heartache as

it explores Israel-Gaza war and Palestinian
and Mexican migrant life in the U.S.
By Faiza Hirji, McMaster In the series, Amer plays Mo the case of Palestinians, both flicts in the Middle East. Perigoe and Mahmoud Eid.
University Najjar as he navigates a complex at home and in the diaspora For example, Israeli Finance Comedy is non-threatening
The Conversation balancing act between the dif- — and more broadly for Mus- Minister Bezalel Smotrich de- Viewers get to know Mo’s fam-
ferent cultures that have shaped lims globally — given the long livered a speech in October ily, the Najjars, and their quirks
his life. Mo undergoes struggles history of misrepresentation of 2024 in which he said: “There and idiosyncracies, as well as
I recently watched both sea- to obtain asylum status in the Islam in western discourse. is no such thing as a Palestinian the complicated path they tread.
sons of the Netflix drama-com- United States as a “stateless per- Comedy tackles erasure of nation. There is no Palestinian During the family’s asylum
edy Mo (2022-25), expecting a son” with no passport. Palestine history. There is no Palestinian hearing, an opposing lawyer rais-
good laugh, since the show is Amer uses elements of a sit- In his writing on the first language.” Israeli Defense Min- es an objection to their claim, say-
headlined and written by fun- uation comedy to introduce Gulf War, Canadian researcher ister Yoav Gallant also said: ing the U.S. does not recognize
ny and smart comedian Mo- increasingly troubling socio- Karim H. Karim explains how “We are fighting human ani- Palestine as a state. The state-
hammed Amer. political themes, leavening an western war propaganda at- mals and we act accordingly.” ment is brief and the moment
Mo does provoke a lot of existential darkness with the tempted to dehumanize their Mo counters these types of passes quickly, but the viewer is
laughter, but it also stirs deep love and laughter of the main enemy. He cites comments from messages repeatedly as features now aware of this kind of daily
emotions, including despair, character’s friends and family. the U.S. army members during representations of strong wom- erasure of Palestinian people.
loneliness and helplessness, as The comedy-drama format al- the Gulf War as examples. They en, respectful men and loving Over the course of the show,
the episodes explore life in Amer- lows Mo to address difficult and described Iraqis as non-human families, instead of the angry viewers see the many ways Mo
ica for people on the margins. divisive issues, such as immigra- and animals: “fish in a barrel,” terrorists or oppressed women protests the general erasure of
Mo is a semi-autobiographi- tion in America and the Israel-Ga- “cockroaches” and part of a depicted in western imaginings. Palestinian culture, including a
cal depiction of Amer’s life. He’s za war, in non-threatening ways. “turkey shoot,” alongside the Several researchers have recurring argument over the ori-
a Palestinian who grew up in Amer’s comedic writing also use of longstanding stereotypes previously documented such gin of hummus (made with chick-
Houston, Texas, immigrating serves to humanize his char- about Arabs and Muslims stereotypes, including Edward peas, garlic, tahini and olive oil).
to that city when he was nine acters. This is particularly im- Dehumanizing techniques Said, Leila Ahmed, Yasmin Ji-
years old by way of Kuwait. portant accomplishment in can also be seen in today’s con- wani, Karim Karim and Ross PAGE 20 Netflix’s ‘Mo’ delivers

www.canadianinquirer.net
 18 ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY September 5, 2025

Play for Today is back – nine ways Channel 5

can make it as successful as the original
By Katie Crosson, University from low-income backgrounds. helpless victims, but people with and Morecambe in Sunset Across These examples deviate from
of Exeter This development is welcome in agency engaged in resistance. the Bay (1975) were examined the predictable style British au-
The Conversation an industry that fails to embrace Channel 5 claims it wants to without compromising their diences appear to be tiring of –
working-class entrants. cover “thornier issues”. If it is uniqueness by trying to univer- a state of affairs made clear by
In the chasm between 1984 serious about this, it could of- salise characters’ experiences. the unprecedented appetite for
Between 1970 and 1984, and 2025, the structure of Brit- fer a unique space to explore The Bevellers (1974) and Not the mini-series Adolescence, in
BBC1’s experimental drama ish society has changed beyond marginalised voices, such as For The Likes of Us (1980) were which each episode was shot in
strand Play for Today created recognition. The class system it- youth organisers involved in built around portrayals of manual one long single take.
what is now regarded as classic self has shape-shifted numerous the ongoing fight for trans labour and working in a cinema. 6. Ensure creative freedom
British drama. It launched myr- times, with the erosion of many rights, and those speaking out Far from making the programme If the new Play for Today is
iad acting careers and show- working-class trades and the in- against the alleged genocide in inaccessible or irrelevant, millions to be as distinctive and bold
cased high-calibre writing in creasing precarity of middle-class Palestine experiencing censor- tuned in each week: Play for To- as its namesake, creators must
plays such as Mike Leigh’s Ab- professions, with many affected ship and criminalisation. day was engaging precisely be- be given proper creative con-
igail’s Party and Blue Remem- by steep increases in the cost of 2. Encourage critique cause it depicted lives and liveli- trol over what they’re making.
bered Hills, Dennis Potter’s ac- living, high student debt and a Play for Today critiqued the hoods little seen on screen. Creativity flourished on the
claimed play about lost youth. housing crisis. All the while, the system, not just individuals. Des- 4. Rotate creators original series because creative
It was often challenging, often UK’s super-rich are richer than tiny (1978) was an honest por- Held together by little more control was the norm for these
radical and always unpredict- ever and inequalities are rising. trayal of the top-down, predato- than a commitment to respond- drama productions.
able, rotating directors, produc- All of which increase the ur- ry nature of fascism. Its speech ing to the present moment, it is 7. Offer a real vision of the
ers and writers each week to gency for a strand like Play for about “making the country great an essential feature of Play for To- working class
create unique one-off episodes. Today, willing to respond to again” lay at the centre of an ex- day that writers, actors, directors Ladies (1980) focused on the
The series covered a huge these issues. And while I remain amination of the links between and producers rotate regularly, to lives of female department-store
range of subject matter, across hopeful that this new Channel 5 landlords and organisations like ensure a variety of perspectives. workers spanning different ages
different genres and styles, and incarnation can be a success, my the National Front. 5. Foster innovation and ethnicities. The Spongers
sought to reveal truths about research into the original has in- The Sin Bin (1981) offered a It is important that Channel (1978) explored the reality of
contemporary life. By the mid- formed nine non-negotiables re- sobering portrayal of the lives 5 doesn’t see the programme’s living with disability in poverty,
1980s, the BBC was reluctant to quired to fulfil its goals and earn of inmates in prison for the very focus on social truths as some- and Even Solomon (1979) fea-
continue taking costly chances the Play for Today name. worst of crimes. Play for Today thing at odds with experiment- tured the first transgender pro-
on new talent each week in an 1. Represent resistance asked its audience to extend their ing with form. From the rau- tagonist on British television. At
era of increasing competition, Play for Today didn’t only empathy, asking what we are cous comedy of Bar Mitzvah its best, Play for Today portrayed
and Play for Today was canned. amplify unheard voices, it also willing to accept in the name of Boy (1976) to the folk-horror a spectrum of working-class
Now, in 2025, it’s coming portrayed under-represented justice, and whether the criminal of Penda’s Fen (1974), the characters as diverse as real life,
back. Channel 5 recently an- struggles. From female strikers legal system is fit for purpose. agit-prop filmed theatre of The and it can again.
nounced the return of the series, in Leeds United! (1974) to oc- 3. Be specific Cheviot, the Stag and the Black, 8. Show emotion
emphasising that the new Play cupiers on a development site The series represented specific Black Oil (1974) and the surre- Play for Today presented
for Today will provide a space during a rent-hike in United times, towns and trades in de- alism of The After Dinner Joke issues in ways that elicited
to experiment for emerging cre- Kingdom (1981), Play for To- tail. The lives of people in Hull (1978), Play for Today was nev-
ative talent, particularly those day didn’t present characters as in Land of Green Ginger (1973) er confined to one stylistic box. PAGE 22 Play for Today

Kathryn-James teleserye announcement causes

social media frenzy; earns 3.5 million views in 24 hours
ABS-CBN did not expect to star alongside “This is very refreshing. I serves as their comeback ABS- For updates, follow @abscb-
James in a series since they both love the concept of this series. CBN teleserye since Kathryn’s “2 npr on Facebook, Twitter, Insta-
came from different love teams. Out of all the stories that were Good 2 Be True” in 2022, and gram, and TikTok, or visit corpo-
Kathryn gushes over collab “I didn’t expect it. Maybe presented, this one was some- James’ “Till I Met You” in 2016. rate.abs-cbn.com/newsroom. ■
with James, “I didn’t expect it” James didn’t expect it either. thing that I really wanted to
Fans couldn’t contain their Who would have thought that af- do because it’s not just about a
excitement over ABS-CBN and ter so many years, with us being love story. It’s about friendship,
Dreamscape Entertainment’s part of different love teams, now family, and women,” she said.
announcement of Kathryn Ber- he’s making a comeback too? It The teleserye announcement
nardo and James Reid’s pairing shows that anything is possible. was revealed on Friday (August
for their comeback teleserye It excites us,” said Kathryn in an 29) in a video showing Kathryn
that wreaked havoc on social interview with “TV Patrol.” and James’ undeniable chemis-
media and earned over 3.5 mil- While details about the series such try as they posed for cute pho-
lion total views in 24 hours. as the title, plot, and cast members tos for their look test.
Dubbed by netizens as the are yet to be revealed, Kathryn gave The project marks Kathryn
“crossover of all crossovers,” a hint about what viewers can ex- and James’ first time to work
Kathryn admitted that she also pect as they begin taping next week. together in a series. This also Kathryn Bernardo and James Reid (ABS-CBN)

www.canadianinquirer.net
 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 19

LIFESTYLE
How does your body make poop?
By Brian Robert Boulay, es, a kind of carbohydrate, while small intestine also contains into your large intestine, also through the small intestine.
University of Illinois Chicago the cereal is still in your mouth. many types of bacteria, which known as the colon. The large in- The bile is changed by bacteria
The Conversation After you swallow, the milky assist in breaking down the testine gets its name due to being from green to brown. Without
cereal travels down your esoph- food particles. wider than the small intestine, bile your poop would be a pale
agus, a tube that carries swal- The small intestine also pro- even though it is much shorter. silver or clay color.
How does your body make lowed food from your mouth duces more enzymes to help The colon is about 5 feet (1.5 Lots of bacteria
poop? Owen, 4, Wakefield, to your stomach. That’s where break down the carbohydrates in meters) long. Unlike the vil- What’s in your poop?
Massachusetts digestion really gets going. breads and pasta into simple sug- li-lined small intestine, it doesn’t When it leaves your body,
Much of the food you eat is Your stomach contains hy- ars that are easily absorbed. As absorb any nutrients. Instead it poop contains some leftover wa-
absorbed by your digestive sys- drochloric acid, which breaks food enters into the small intes- does another important job: It ter, as well as undigested food
tem, which includes your stom- the food down into much tine, other organs also contribute absorbs water from the slimy such as plant fiber, as well as
ach and your intestines. smaller pieces. Over several their digestive juices to the mix. green chyme your digestive sys- some dead intestinal cells. And,
But some of what you eat hours, that acid and additional The liver and gallbladder tem made from your breakfast. it may surprise you to learn,
makes it all the way through enzymes continue to pulverize mix a greenish liquid called The small intestine also absorbs almost half of it, measured by
those twists and turns and the carbohydrates and protein bile into the food. water into the bloodstream, weight, consists of bacteria.
comes out the other end as from your bowl of cereal. Bile helps break down fats where it is delivered to your kid- Your intestines contain trillions
poop. How does that happen? Your long and winding contained in food. Pancreatic neys to make urine. of these bacteria, which help you
Imagine you start your day by small intestine enzymes help break down the So the intestines also play a digest what you eat. Unlike some
eating a bowl of crunchy cereal Two or three hours later, your carbohydrates, fats, proteins small part in making your pee, other kinds of bacteria, they do
with milk. The process of diges- breakfast will leave your stom- and the other nutrients in the as well as your poop. not make you sick. The ones that
tion begins as you start to chew. ach and enter the small intes- food you eat. This process is much slow- come out as part of your poop
Your teeth grind up the cere- tine, which is a long and coiled Your slow and short colon er than those earlier steps. It give it that stinky smell.
al into smaller particles, making tube that is contained in your The journey through your can take a whole day, and up Each part of your digestive
it easier to swallow and digest. abdomen behind your belly but- small intestine takes between to three days, to complete. By system, from your mouth to
Your saliva contains an enzyme, ton. By that point, the digestive two and six hours to complete. the time the chyme reaches the your colon, plays an important
a kind of chemical, called amy- process will have turned those By this point, your bowl of ce- end of the colon, it has solidi- role in extracting from what
lase that starts breaking down big chunks of cereal into tiny real is unrecognizable. It has fied and probably turned from you eat the energy and water
the cereal on a molecular level. particles that are small enough turned into chyme, a greenish green to brown. that your body needs. They all
I’m a doctor who regular- for your body to absorb. liquid. Chyme gets its color The brown color of poop work together to help you ab-
ly treats children and adults By coursing through your from the bile made in the liver. comes from the bile that is sorb most of that energy and
with digestive problems. Some bloodstream, these teeny par- As the chyme reaches the end added by the liver to your bowl water, while eliminating what
of my patients have problems ticles will deliver energy and of the small intestine, it enters of cereal as it makes its way you do not need. ■
absorbing nutrients from their the building blocks for growth
food and others poop too of- to the cells all over your body. Hello, curious kids! Do you
ten or not often enough. When The small intestine is perfect- have a question you’d like an
they describe their symptoms, ly suited to perform the job of expert to answer? Ask an adult
I consider the process of how absorbing nutrients partly be- to send your question to Curi-
our bodies make poop and cause it’s gigantic. Regardless ousKidsUS@theconversation.
which steps can go wrong. of your height, it can be over com. Please tell us your name,
Your stomach is full of en- 20 feet (6 meters) long, and age and the city where you live.
zymes and acid its surface is covered with villi, And since curiosity has no age
Everything you eat contains tiny protrusions with a texture limit – adults, let us know what
three types of molecules that that resembles a shag carpet. you’re wondering, too. We won’t
provide your body with the en- Those millions of villi create be able to answer every ques-
ergy you need to live: carbohy- a huge amount of surface area, tion, but we will do our best.
drates, fats and proteins. which is ideal for absorbing the This article is republished
Amylase, an enzyme in saliva, nutrients in what you’ve eaten from The Conversation under a
begins breaking down the starch- once it has been digested. The Creative Commons license.

2026 budget focuses..

6 ministration is no Since 2022, the economy has strengthening middle class and Fiscal Program, aims to grad- “The 2026 proposed budget
small feat,” the Fi- generated about 6 million jobs, a consumer market projected ually reduce deficit and debt will help us get there. Let’s en-
nance chief said. raising total employment to a to be the world’s 13th largest while creating jobs and cutting sure that it works as hard as the
The country’s growth perfor- record 50.5 million, with 31.8 by 2030. poverty to single digits by the people who fund it — the tax-
mance, he added, is among the million in stable, formal work. The proposed budget, end of President Ferdinand R. payers,” Recto told senators. ■
fastest in Asia. Recto said this reflects a aligned with the Medium-Term Marcos Jr.’s term.
www.canadianinquirer.net
 20 LIFESTYLE FRIDAY September 5, 2025

Trees alone won’t save us: new study

says forestation has less potential
to fix the climate than hoped
By Heiko Balzter, University Previous studies varied huge- Nevertheless, the authors ar-
of Leicester ly in the area of land that they gue that forestation incentives
The Conversation thought was suitable for plant- should be rolled out urgently in
ing trees, ranging from 200 mil- countries where the benefits are
lion to 2,000 million hectares. greatest – particularly Brazil, Co-
Planting trees is seen as a Once those unsuitable areas are lombia, China and India, where
cornerstone of efforts to avert removed, the new study calcu- wet tropical conditions make
climate breakdown. But a ma- lates just 389 million hectares trees grow fast. By contrast, in
jor new study in Science finds worldwide were left suitable for the US and Russia, colder weath- existing vegetation. Many gov- equivalent to restoring or pro-
their potential has been drasti- forestation. er and slower tree growth means ernment pledges, by contrast, tecting a tropical rainforest.
cally overstated – and relying If this whole area was plant- much more land would be need- include ecosystems such as One limitation is that the
on forests to offset carbon emis- ed, the carbon absorbed by 2050 ed to have the same impact. savannas or grasslands. Across new study did not include agro-
sions could distract from the ur- would amount to about 40 bil- Implausible pledges Africa, 70 million hectares of forestry – integrating trees into
gent need to cut fossil fuel use. lion tonnes – much lower than One of the most striking land committed to tree plant- farmland – which could add
The researchers, a team of previous estimates. But even out findings of this study is that ing – an area the size of France more potential for carbon stor-
scientists mostly based in Chi- of this smaller land area, only across Africa, many govern- – fall into this category. age. But the bigger lesson from
na, looked at both afforestation about 120 million hectares are ments have pledged far more Savannas are constrained by news that the climate potential
(creating new forests) and re- currently earmarked for foresta- land for forestation than the low rainfall, and trees are kept of forests may have been exag-
forestation (restoring cleared tion, reducing the climate ben- models consider suitable for in check by hungry herbivores gerated is that planting trees
ones). Unlike earlier studies, efit to only 12.5 billion tonnes tree planting. and frequent fires. The height should complement, not re-
they carefully limited the land of carbon by 2050. That’s a big For example, Ethiopia has that a woody plant in a savan- place, rapid emissions cuts.
assumed to be available to avoid number, but it’s only slightly committed to reforesting 10.2 na needs to reach to survive the To make the most of for-
unintended consequences. more than a single year of global million hectares but the study regular burning is called the “fire ests, the world needs better
For instance, planting trees in fossil fuel emissions. finds only 0.5 million hectares trap” for a reason, as many sap- science-based guidelines for
snowy regions darkens the sur- Nature-based solutions such are actually suitable. Similar lings do not make it above that where trees will thrive, and
face, since trees are darker than as tree planting can help, but gaps are apparent in Cameroon, threshold. Planting forests here stronger commitments to act
snow. This reduces reflectivity they are nowhere near enough South Africa and other countries. is not only unlikely to succeed, quickly. The clock is ticking. ■
and can actually lead to further to keep global heating below The gap arises because the it also risks damaging unique
warming. Forests can also com- +1.5°C or even +2°C. Cutting new study only counts land ecosystems and biodiversity. This article is republished
pete with grassland for water or emissions must remain the top that is naturally suited to for- And crucially, replacing natural from The Conversation under a
threaten biodiversity. priority. ests, based on climate soils and savanna with plantations is not Creative Commons license.

Netflix’s ‘Mo’ delivers..

17 Building that state- overbearing and harmless. lows humour. umented in Texas, gets acciden- However, this is still a sitcom,
ment into a comedy The strategic use of comedy At times, Mo’s mother, Yusra tally trapped in Mexico after and some things do work out
is less likely to at- to make characters relatable (Farah Bsaiso), seems utterly unwittingly crossing the border. for Mo. At the end of Season 2,
tract negative attention than is a technique that has prov- consumed by stories of dispos- His Mexican fiancée leaves him Mo and his family get their U.S.
a high-profile drama or docu- en successful with racialized session taking place back in in frustration and loneliness. passports and so can finally visit
mentary. For example, Hamdan comedians tackling difficult Palestine, while Mo becomes in- Throughout this season, their family in Palestine.
Ballal, one of the directors of the issues, both for stand-ups like creasingly angry about examples Mo’s anger at the American As Mo is getting ready to re-
Oscar-winning Israel-Palestine Russell Peters and situation of appropriation and erasure. immigration system grows as turn to Texas, after a joyful and
documentary, No Other Land, comedy formats like Black-ish. His sister, Nadia (Cherien he repeatedly tries — and fails also heartbreaking visit with
was injured in an attack by Crushing challenges Dabis), trying to forge a way — to get home. He seems to be his relatives, he is harassed by
masked settlers and then arrest- Humour may seem like an forward, urges her mother to engaging in constant self-sabo- an Israeli border guard. At this
ed by the Israel Defence Forces odd response to the characters’ pull herself away from stories tage, in which he simply can- moment, Mo realizes he must
in the West Bank. Israel’s culture crushing challenges. At one of tragedy back home and resist not accept the process that his develop the same inner strength
minister said changes had been point, while in negotiation with oppression finding moments of lawyer and the bureaucracy and resolve embodied by his
made to public funding rules to a criminal who is threatening to happiness. She insists: have outlined for him. mother, earned after years of
help prevent similar films from amputate the foot of his friend, “We’re more than our pain Yet, as the depth of the de- having to bear such harassment.
being made in future.. Mo suggests cutting off just a and suffering.” humanization experienced by Although Mo is consumed by
Comedy as simultaneous pinkie instead, hissing to his Ultimately, it is Yusra who sum- Mo and his family becomes anger and sadness at the un-
defusion and resistance is also outraged friend, “Hey, you don’t marizes what it means to smile more and more apparent, Mo’s just actions towards him by the
practised by the Palestinian-Ca- wear pinkie rings, anyway!” through one’s pain, telling Mo: simmering, ever-present anger guard, against all his instincts,
nadian comedian Eman el Hus- But in this series, humour “The world will always try to starts to seem less dysfunction- he thanks the border guard,
seini, whose stand-up routine becomes the coping mech- tear us down. And when they al. Instead, the world’s indiffer- smiles and walks on. ■
touches on the idea that Arabs anism for Mo‘s characters, do…we smile. Because we know ence becomes spotlighted.
are perceived to be dangerous however fraught or fragile who we are.” During these episodes, Mo This article is republished
while painting a picture of her the issue, from a lighthearted Resilience begins to learn how to live with from The Conversation under a
own family as affectionate, chuckle to the darkness of gal- In Season 2, Mo, still undoc- — but never accept — injustice. Creative Commons license.
www.canadianinquirer.net
 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 LIFESTYLE 21

A Lifestyle Checked
By Matte Laurel-Zalko or flexing their wealth on their meaningful experiences with green tea. We don’t eat break- Between 6-7pm, I attend my
social media. No photos or vid- your family, friends and loved fasts. By 11:30am, we both last three appointments with
eos of homes, no house tours or ones. Having money means you do a thirty-minute exercise prospective members while my
My husband, Ron Zalko, and showing off cars or constant- can live your life with purpose. — combining both cardio and husband does his daily adver-
I love to go out on date nights ly unboxing designer stuff — Having money means you can stretching exercises at home. By tising and marketing for our
every weekend. But the money those are done by the nouveau pay your taxes on time, live 12pm, we get ready for work. fitness club. From 8-9pm, I do
we spend on our dates is the riche. Spending to impress peo- without debts, and live your life By 12:30pm, we do quick gro- my daily admin work and close
fruit of our labour and hard- ple keeps you broke while quiet intentionally and peacefully. cery errands at Whole Foods to the batch. My husband does his
earned money by working dil- wealth wins in the long term. I’ve been filing and paying buy fruits and crudités, which daily inspections of our fitness
igently and smartly in our fit- It is about having the pow- my income taxes on time since usually amount to $30-$50 club, making sure nothing is
ness business — we don’t get er to say no, to walk away, to I first started working in my with taxes (what can I say, Van- broken and takes note of what
our money from investors or by live life on your terms without early 20s. I’m also proud to say couver happens to be one of the needs to be done in the club.
being contractors for govern- being controlled by someone that my only son has done the most expensive cities in North By 9:30pm, we go home and
ment projects, lol! 😂 Plus our else's paycheck or approval. same thing as well ever since America). By 1:30pm, we are take a shower and prepare to go
food bills don’t go into 6 digits! When you chase money for he started working at age 15. both at work. My husband over- to bed. We watch the evening
This article obviously relates status, you stay a slave to it. My husband and I also file and sees all operations of our fitness news, or our favourite shows and
to the sad fact that’s currently But when you build money for pay our income taxes (both club. I go through my schedule sometimes a movie from Netflix.
going on with the re-channel- freedom, it becomes a tool that personal and business) on and attend appointments with By midnight, we are both asleep!
ling of the flood control proj- works for you instead of the time. Here in Canada, the Can- the clients I’ve lined up for the Except when it’s a Friday night,
ect funds to line the pockets of other way around. The goal is ada Revenue Agency is super day to sell them memberships my husband and I like to start the
the contractors of Philippine not to be owned by things but strict; everyone gets audited if at our fitness club. weekend unwinding over a late
government agencies and their to own your time, your choices, you don’t file your taxes prop- By 3pm, my husband and dinner at one of our favourite
ostentatious flaunting of lavish and your future. Money at its erly. And the great thing about I take a 15-minute break and restaurants. On Friday nights, we
lifestyles while Filipinos suffer highest level is leverage. It gives Canada is that the taxpayers’ have our first meal for the day are usually home by 11pm and
and struggle in their daily lives. you options, it gives you con- money goes directly back to — our lunch. We buy our daily in bed by either 12midnight or, at
My husband and I earn our trol, and it makes sure no one Canadians (through health- lunch from Tractor. We usually the latest, 1am.
money by selling healthy and can dictate your value. Because care, education, housing, etc.). have their Nourish bowl (with On weekends: On Satur-
active lifestyles to people from when you are truly free, that is Having money does not mean greens, no rice, with two mar- days, my husband and I usually
ages 18-80 through fitness and when you are truly wealthy. accumulating possessions. True ket sides and one protein). De- wake up around 10:30am. By
exercise programs. My hus- Those who come from old wealth means you know and pending on the protein, a meal 11am, my husband and I do
band and I hustle with integri- money would rather share or consider the real benefits of costs around $18-$21 with tax- our thirty-minute exercise pro-
ty and honesty. We believe that post on social media about owning fewer possessions: less es already. During weekdays, gram at home. By 12pm, we get
the real point of making money the time they spent with their clutter, less to clean, less to or- my husband and I only eat one ready to go to work. From 1pm
is not that you can buy every- loved ones over shared meals, ganize, less debt, more savings, meal a day — we eat fruits and to 2pm, I have my weekly hair
thing. My husband and I are sightseeing or doing activities more money and more peace. crudités for snacks throughout appointment with Suki’s hair
firm believers in always saving together as a family, as friends If we were to have our life- the day. By 3:30 after our lunch, salon (one of my job’s perks).
for rainy days, and we’re not or as husbands and wives. They style checked, this is what one I am back to selling member- My husband is at work by 1pm,
big on splurging. The point of don’t show off their homes, would see: ships. I also make cold calls. and he conducts staff briefings
making money is so that no their cars and their designer On Weekdays: My husband Between 4-5pm, I visit two or and training for an hour.
one can buy you. Real wealth stuff on social media because and I are up by 9am. We like to three nearby establishments At 2pm, I’m at work attending
is not about flexing with mate- they don’t feel the need to take our time in the morning. and do my sales pitch for their to my appointments for the day.
rial things, it is about freedom. prove themselves to anyone. We watch the world news on ei- employees to join our fitness I schedule prospective members
For people who truly work Having money, especially when ther CNN or the BBC in bed. By club membership programs. My between 2:30pm to 4:30pm.
hard for their money, the phi- it’s hard-earned, means you’d 11am, we both go through our husband, on the other hand, My husband does operations
losophy is this: the more you rather prioritize buying pre- work emails on our laptops at holds an hour of staff training
earn, the more you should save cious time so you can create home while having coffee and and staff meetings. PAGE 30 A Lifestyle Checked
and invest your money so that
you can create multiple income
streams which can diversify
your income sources and help
increase your capacity to grow
your wealth. You don’t want to
just spend your money on friv-
olous things because you know
that every cent is hard-earned.
Having money doesn’t mean
living a “rich life” by amassing
designer brands, material pos-
sessions, or traveling by pri-
vate jet for the sake of showing
off to others. That’s not what
true wealth is all about.
Learn from those who come
from old money — they’re ex-
tremely low-key and humble. Ron Zalko with wife, Matte Laurel Zalko, lifestyle columnist for Maria in Vancou- Ron Zalko with wife, Matte Laurel Zalko, lifestyle columnist for Maria in Vancou-

You don’t see them displaying ver at Philippine Canadian Inquirer. ver at Philippine Canadian Inquirer.

www.canadianinquirer.net
 22 FRIDAY September 5, 2025

SPORTS
2026 Kyoto Marathon now accepting entries
through World Heritage sites
Jiji Press This is also where partici- ting, which has been the sub-
Philippine News Agency pants can experience the first of ject of many ancient poems,
the sustainable practices in ac- with the mountains reflecting
tion. To keep warm in the chilly on the water and surrounded
KYOTO, Japan – The 2025 winter air, runners will be en- by countryside scenery. The
Kyoto Marathon was a roar- couraged to wear old warm-up first World Heritage Site along
ing success, with more than gear and other clothes they no the course is Ninnaji Temple,
16,000 runners zipping by the longer wish to keep. Once the where the monks will be cheer-
city’s historic monuments, in- race starts, they can then re- ing on athletes from in front of
cluding nearly 2,000 interna- move those layers, and staff will the huge Niomon Gate. Many
tional participants. Due to in- then collect the discarded cloth- other World Heritage Sites
terest, for the 2026 event the ing, which will then be reused are also scattered around the from local shopping districts. For refueling during the
slots for runners from overseas and recycled. Thus, right from course, such as Ryoanji Tem- This warm welcome and enthu- race, in addition to common
will be doubled to 4,000, al- the starting line, runners will ple, known worldwide for its siastic support from the road- amenities, such water and
lowing even more fleet-footed be able to experience Japanese serene rock gardens, and both side is one of the attractions of sports drinks, runners will also
visitors to experience this truly hospitality and sustainability the shrines of Kamigamo and the Kyoto Marathon, and is of- be offered treats, such as Kyo-
one-of-a-kind course. efforts by not having to worry Shimogamo, the two oldest ten mentioned by participants. to confections and fruit from
For participants, the Kyoto about getting cold or finding a shrines in Kyoto. Runners will The race finishes in front of local produce shops. A strong
Marathon is not just a race, but way to stash or retrieve clothes also get to pass through the the magnificent Heian Shrine, medical relief system will be
part of a journey that allows after the race. Kyoto Botanical Gardens, a tru- where the soaring vermilion established with doctors, nurs-
them to experience the culture, The organizers are taking ly rare opportunity! torii gate and the Otenmon es, and paramedics on hand,
history, and nature of Japan’s other measures to reduce CO2 The Kyoto Marathon is also Gate at the entrance welcome and first aid stations will offer
ancient capital, while also en- emissions and promote resource probably the only race in the runners as they complete their multilingual support.
gaging with sustainable values. circulation as well, such as the world "geiko (geisha active in long journey of 42.195 km. How to sign up and extra
As befits the birthplace of the introduction of reusable cups Kyoto) and maiko” and many At the event venue set up info
Kyoto Protocol, an internation- and bottles for water, carbon off- runners who took part in 2025 near the finish line, there will The 2026 Kyoto Marathon
al agreement adopted in 1997 setting, and the collection and said that getting cheered on be food stalls and massage sta- will be held on Feb. 15, 2026.
aiming to reduce greenhouse reuse of volunteer wear. This by these living icons of Kyoto’s tions where runners can refuel Applications began on July
gas emissions, the organizers of even extends to the winner’s culture was a major highlight and soothe their tired muscles. 17, 2025, and the deadline for
the marathon are making every medals, which are made using of their experience. Geiko may Hospitality for runners applications is Sept. 22, 2025
effort to reduce the environ- 100 percent gold extracted from be encouraging the runners in Special plans will be set up (JST). Apply from the Entry
mental impact so that the event small household appliances col- 2026 as well! by Kyoto Marathon officials page on the Kyoto Marathon
will be ”worthy of Kyoto, an en- lected in Kyoto City. As the race approaches the to ensure accommodation, in- official website, and be sure to
vironmentally advanced city.” A course to remember final stretch, runners will get to cluding plans for stays in near- check out this video as well to
A sustainable yet seamless Once runners leave the sta- pick up speed along the Kamo by cities with good access like get a feel for the atmosphere!
experience dium, the first highlight of the River, as locals along the road Osaka and Otsu. In addition, The application page and
The 2026 Kyoto Marathon course is the Arashiyama area call out encouragement as they the 2026 race will have a lux- site are multilingual, and ev-
will start a little outside the city and the iconic Togetsukyo make their final push. This urious option called the ”Hos- erything from the application
center at the Takebishi Stadium Bridge. Runners can enjoy the event is a “citizens’ marathon,’ pitality Plan,” which includes a guidelines and course intro-
Kyoto within Nishikyogoku Gen- views of the magnificent, lush so great importance is placed course preview with commen- duction to the application
eral Athletic Park. Runners from mountains and the long tra- on coexisting harmoniously tary and a post-race dinner process is available in English.
all over Japan and the world ditional wooden bridge that with the local community. Par- with a performance by geiko There are 4,000 slots available
will gather here to begin the full stretches out below. ticipants can expect to see local and maiko. Please check the for runners from overseas, but
marathon course that will cross Next up is the Hirosawa residents cheering them along website and emails post-regis- these are likely to fill up quick-
Kyoto City from west to east. Pond, a beautiful natural set- the route and collaborations tration for details. ly, so apply early. ■

Play for Today..

18 emotional as well as between an ageing boxer and 9. Be free to fail pioneering. The same freedom look to the original, and enthu-
intellectual respons- a squatter next door. At a time Play for Today proved it’s that granted Play for Today its siastically and wholeheartedly
es. Rocky Marciano is where social division is rife, we possible to have both quality huge successes also granted its take the risk. ■
Dead (1976) focused on the im- could benefit from being moved and quantity, but only through failures. The team behind Chan-
portance of boxing to different to look at the world and people embracing failure. With 316 nel 5’s Play for Today would do This article is republished
communities, tenderly explor- around us in ways that promote episodes made by different peo- well to accept that we cannot from The Conversation under a
ing the strained relationship understanding and empathy. ple, not all of Play for Today was have one without the other, but Creative Commons license.
www.canadianinquirer.net
 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 SPORTS 23

Team PH to join World Mountain and

Trail Running Championships
By Jean Malanum in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. ver medal in the 10,000m run
Philippine News Agency In Spain, Macañeras will com- at the 2025 Private Schools
pete in the long trail category Athletic Association (PRISAA)
along with Larry Apolinario, Jo- National Championships in Tu-
MANILA – The Philippines ebert Elmaguin, Elizabeth Dan- guegarao, Cagayan.
will send 14 athletes to the gadang and Angelie Cabalo. Philippine Trail Running As-
World Mountain and Trail Run- Entered in the short trail cat- sociation vice president and
ning Championships scheduled egory are Randolf Gonzales, secretary-general Christine Fer-
from Sept. 23 to 28 in Can- Romnick Tongkaling, John Ray rera said the team is tempering Philippine Trail Running Association (Philtra) vice president and secretary general Tin
franc, Spain. Onifa, Joy Beltran and Noime expectations as almost half of Ferrera introduces the members of the national team going to the World Mountain and
Arnie Macañeras is among the Fernandez, while competing in its members are competing in- Trail Running Championships during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum
experienced in the team, having the Mountain Classic category ternationally for the first time. at the Philippine Sports Commission conference hall inside the Rizal Memorial Sports

competed in the 2023 edition are Ken Oliver Libo-on, Evan “For most of the athletes, this Complex in Malate, Manila on Tuesday (Sept. 2, 2025). (JEAN MALANUM / PNA)

of the tournament held in Inns- Dian Sitoy (junior division), will be their first time to get ex-
bruck-Stubai, Austria, where the and Samuel Manuel and Char- posed in an international com- Also present were team ers for the gold medals.
Philippines placed 12th. lotte Muyco (senior division). petition. Their performance (in manager Gerald Tipones, team “USA really prepared for this
The 34-year-old native of Di- "I will do my best and try to training) I think if we look at it, coordinator Mandreza Lyra because they have profession-
gos City, Davao del Sur, was also keep up with entries from oth- it's in the Top 20 and Top 30,” Valles, support crew Manuel al trail runners," said Ferrera,
part of the team that won the sil- er countries," Beltran, who will said Ferrera, who accompanied Magbanua, and physical thera- adding that China, Japan, South
ver medal at the Asia Pacific Trail be making her debut on the the athletes during the Philip- pist Ann Camille Jacinto. Korea, and Nepal will crowd out
and Running Championships in world stage, said. pine Sportswriters Association A total of 75 countries the Philippines for top honors.
Ulju, South Korea last year. The runner from Tupi, South (PSA) forum Tuesday at the are seeing action in the six- The delegation is set to leave
He placed third behind Hong Cotabato won the 42km short Philippine Sports Commission day competition, with Unit- for the competition on Sept. 10
Kong’s Jeff Campbell and Japan’s trail event at the National (PSC) conference hall inside ed States led by Jim Walsh, for training, preparation, and
Hisashi Kitamura at the 2024 Championships in Danao, Cebu the Rizal Memorial Sports France, Italy, Germany, and acclimatization. ■
Asia Trail Master Championship last March. She also got the sil- Complex in Malate, Manila. Spain among the top contend-

Thailand committed to deliver Messi drops World

safe, successful ASEAN Para Cup retirement hint
Games Xinhua "I don't know if there will be
Philippine News Agency friendlies or more matches [after
Venezuela], but it is a very special
By Jean Malanum disrupt preparations nor affect stress that safety and welfare match, so my wife, my children,
Philippine News Agency the hosting of the Games. remain our utmost priority. I BUENOS AIRES – Lionel my parents, my siblings will be
“Safety remains our top pri- am reassured by the firm com- Messi has given his strongest there with me," he added.
ority. The Thai government is mitment of THASOC and the hint yet that he will bid fare- The Albiceleste captain has
MANILA – Thailand has reaf- committed to ensuring peace, authorities to safeguard all well to international football at signaled before that Argen-
firmed its unwavering commit- security and unity for all ASE- participants,” Bhavilai said. next year's FIFA World Cup. tina's title defense in 2026
ment to delivering a safe and suc- AN athletes, contingents, and Also present at the meeting Argentina, already assured would mark the end of his in-
cessful 13th ASEAN Para Games visitors,” he said in a news re- were Governor of the Sports of a place at the 2026 finals in ternational career. The former
scheduled on Jan. 20 to 26, 2026 lease on Tuesday. Authority of Thailand (SAT) the United States, Mexico and Barcelona and Paris Saint-Ger-
in Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat). Key officials from APSF and Dr. Gongsak Yodmani, Perma- Canada, will host Venezuela on main star will be 40 when the
The assurance was made THASOC deliberated on key nent Secretary of Nakhon Rat- September 4 at the Monumental next World Cup qualifiers be-
during the second Coordina- organizational areas during chasima Province Kanatchanon Stadium in Buenos Aires before gin in 2027.
tion Committee (CoComm) the three-day meeting held Sricharoen, President of the completing qualifying away to South American football
Meeting between the ASEAN simultaneously with a hybrid Thailand Blind Sports Associ- Ecuador on September 9. governing body CONMEBOL
Para Sports Federation (APSF) Chef de Mission Seminar with ation Amnuay Klinyu, Preecha "It [the Venezuela clash] is echoed his comments on Thurs-
and the Thailand Sports Orga- Indonesia, Myanmar, Malay- Laloon, the SAT Deputy Gover- going to be a very, very spe- day, posting "the last dance is
nizing Committee (THASOC), sia, Laos, Thailand, and Timor nor for Elite Sports and Sports cial match for me because it's coming" alongside a picture of
which concluded on Aug. 31 at Leste contingents attending in Science and Senior Colonel Dr the last qualifying match," the Messi in an Argentina shirt.
the Sima Hotel in Nakhon Rat- person and five others virtually. Wandee Tosuwan, APSF secre- 38-year-old forward told re- Messi, the winner of eight
chasima (Korat). APSF President, Maj. Gen. Os- tary general. porters after leading Inter Mi- Ballon d'Or trophies, is Argen-
Amid heightened concerns oth Bhavilai, reiterated that the Dr. Gongsak confirmed that ami into the Leagues Cup final. tina's all-time leading scorer
following tensions along the welfare of athletes must remain test events will be staged about Messi said his family will be and most-capped player. His
Thai–Cambodian border, Sec- central to the Games’ delivery. one month before the Games present for the Venezuela game crowning moment came in De-
retary to the Minister of Tour- “We are expecting more to assess venue accessibility, and acknowledged it could be cember 2022 when he led the
ism and Sports Krisda Tanterdi- than 2,000 athletes. In light of his last opportunity to appear team to its third World Cup tri-
tit said the situation would not recent developments, I must PAGE 30 Thailand committed to in front of home fans. umph in Qatar. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
 24 FRIDAY September 5, 2025

BUSINESS
DOF: Ghost flood control projects cost
PH economy over P100-B
By Anna Leah Gonzales ate, Recto, citing DOF data, people, some even become cos Jr. earlier ordered the au- the creation of an independent
Philippine News Agency said these ghost flood control ghost [projects])," Recto said. dit and review of flood control body to investigate flood con-
projects have cost the Philip- Recto expressed full support projects. trol anomalies would be final-
pine economy an estimated for the President’s directive to He recently disclosed that ized “very, very soon." ■
MANILA – Finance Sec- PHP42.3 billion to PHP118.5 closely scrutinize the 2026 Na-
retary Ralph Recto on Tues- billion from 2023 to 2025. tional Expenditure Program.
day expressed grave concern This is equivalent to 95,000 “We prepared the NEP with
and dismay over the report- to 266,000 jobs that could the President to ensure that the
ed anomalies and corruption have benefited Filipinos. projects to be funded in 2026
in the Department of Public “Raising revenues is no joke. have the highest multiplier ef-
Works and Highways (DPWH) Tapos makikita mo lang na fect. Kaya babantayan po namin
flood control projects, noting hindi ito napupunta sa mga ta- ito para walang ghost projects.
that ghost projects already cost mang proyekto at sa kapakanan Walang kurapsyon. Walang say-
the economy as much as over ng taong bayan, 'yung iba nag- ang na piso (We will make sure
PHP100 billion. ing multo pa (Raising revenues that there will be no ghost proj-
During the Development is no joke. Then you will see ects. No corruption. No money
Budget Coordination Com- that it does not go to the right wasted),” he said.
mittee’s briefing at the Sen- projects and the welfare of the President Ferdinand R. Mar- (HOWARD FELIPE, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE / WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 4.0)

BIR serves tax audit orders BOI reports

to flood control contractors P252-B worth of
Philippine News Agency ate in uncovering irregularities. updated income tax returns investments from
“Ang buwis ng taumbayan ay and tax clearances before par-

MANILA – The Bureau of In-

para sa totoong proyekto, hindi
sa ghost projects (The people’s
ticipating in public bidding.
Lumagui said the new rules are
ASEAN since 2020
ternal Revenue (BIR) has served taxes are for real projects, not meant to guarantee that all those
Letters of Authority (LOAs) to for ghost projects),” he said. who earn from government proj- Philippine News Agency renewable energy, PHP74.20
the country’s top 15 flood con- ects pay the correct taxes. billion; manufacturing,
trol contractors during a Sen- RR 17-2024 strengthens PHP5.58 billion; administrative
ate Blue Ribbon Committee Executive Order No. 398, MANILA – Investments from and support services, PHP1.41
hearing, formally launching Series of 2005, which man- the Association of Southeast billion; and agriculture, forest-
parallel tax investigations into
alleged irregularities in critical
Ang buwis ng dates that all government
contracts include a stipula-
Asian Nations (ASEAN) remain
strong, reaching PHP252 billion
ry, and fishing, PHP930 million.
“Collectively, these proj-
government projects. taumbayan tion promoting full and cor- since 2020, the Board of Invest- ects are projected to generate
In a post in his official
Facebook page, BIR Com-
ay para rect tax payment.
The regulation also provides
ments (BOI) reported Tuesday.
Bulk of the investments came
15,358 new jobs for Filipinos
from 2020 up to July 2025,” it
missioner Romeo Lumagui sa totoong that final payments to contrac- from Singapore at PHP246 bil- said in a statement.
Jr. said the LOAs were is-
sued Monday under the bu-
proyekto, tors may be withheld if they
fail to show updated tax clear-
lion; followed by Thailand,
PHP4.34 billion; Malaysia,
“The BOI-approved projects
from ASEAN investors, particu-
reau’s Run After Tax Evaders ances, with retention money PHP1.7 billion; and Indonesia, larly those in the Information and
(RATE) program, empower- and unpaid balances subject to PHP12.27 million. Communication and the Renew-
ing examiners to scrutinize levy for tax obligations. BOI, the investment promo- able Energy sectors, align with
the financial records and tax The audit of the 15 contrac- tion and industry development the Philippines’ push for smart
compliance of the country’s top The serving of the audit or- tors will proceed under standard agency of the Department of and sustainable manufacturing
flood control contractors. ders came as Lumagui also fraud audit procedures, with full Trade and Industry (DTI), said and services,” BOI Executive Di-
He assured senators that the highlighted the bureau’s issu- due regard to taxpayer rights most of these investments were rector Evariste Cagatan said.
BIR would give its full cooper- ance of Revenue Regulation guaranteed under the National paced in information and com- DTI Secretary and BOI Chair
ation to both President Ferdi- (RR) No. 17-2024, which re- Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) munication at PHP169.59 bil-
nand R. Marcos Jr. and the Sen- quires contractors to present and related regulations. ■ lion; power sector, including PAGE 26 BOI reports P252-B

www.canadianinquirer.net
 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 BUSINESS 25

How tariff wars are reshaping migration and raising

the risk of human rights abuses in supply chains
By Milda Žilinskaitė, Vienna research on migrant labour, it experiencing a surge in global labour migration follows a cas- cation and replacing promised
University of Economics raises serious welfare concerns. supply chain investments as cade pattern. Workers from mid- contracts with poorer terms and
and Business, Aida Hajro, The US is playing a key companies look to minimise dle-income countries migrate lower wages upon arrival.
University of Leeds role in the shift of global sup- their tariffs. For example, Mex- to high-income economies, EiQ has uncovered more than
The Conversation ply chains through “Made in ico’s proximity to the US, low while companies in these mid- 850 major or critical violations,
America”, one of its initiatives labour costs and lower tariffs dle-income countries fill labour including unlawful salary de-
to bolster the US manufactur- than those imposed on goods shortages by recruiting migrants ductions and recruitment fees
The tariff wars between the ing sector. While some Ameri- made in China will appeal to from poorer nations. This means that were not reimbursed. Ac-
US and its trade partners have can companies are responding many businesses. much of today’s migration flows cording to its CEO, Kevin Frank-
rarely been out of the news by reshoring certain functions Not only American but also from lower to middle-income lin: “There are no longer any
since the US president, Donald to the US, most are taking a Chinese firms are accelerating economies – “one level up” on ‘safe’ or ‘easy’, cost-effective op-
Trump, revealed his plans for different approach. Rather their foreign direct investment the development ladder. tions for supply chain sourcing.
sweeping “liberation day” lev- than bringing production to (FDI) across the region – most The human cost We have entered an era of in-
ies back in April. The uncertain- US soil, they are reconfiguring notably in Mexico. Yet these One of the consequences of tense and nuanced trade-offs.”
ty that followed for businesses their supply chains in a bid to shifts in supply chains are not this growing global mobility Moving operations from
worldwide has now morphed avoid the highest tariffs or to without consequences. of labour is the rise of “human China to India, for instance,
into a battle over global supply open up new markets. The surge in investment in supply chains”: the systems and increases exposure to the risk
chains, as the US and China One strategy is “China +1” Mexico is fuelling demand for practices that multinationals of forced and child labour.
seek dominance over resources – in which companies maintain labour, but Mexico’s domestic use to manage migrant work- Likewise, shifting production
and manufacturing. some manufacturing presence workforce is not unlimited. ers within global supply chains. to Bangladesh raises serious
At the same time, the subject in China but expand this to al- As a result, the tariff wars are The implications are profound. health and safety concerns. And
of migration has been high on ternative locations such as Viet- accelerating Mexico’s demo- Labour migration relies on migrant workers in Mexico face
many countries’ news agen- nam, Indonesia and Mexico. graphic transition from a coun- complex transnational recruit- heightened risks relating to la-
das. In the US especially, there As a result, new global sup- try of emigration to one where ment networks. In most mi- bour rights, workplace safety
has been growing anger over ply chain corridors are forming immigration is on the rise. grant-receiving countries, visa and wages – all of which have
federal immigration raids and rapidly. While south-east Asia This is part of a broader phe- programmes require companies worsened over the past year.
controversial deportations to continues to rise as a manu- nomenon known as “replace- to hire workers while they are Even the US has moved from
“third countries”. facturing hub, Latin America is ment migration”, in which still in their country of origin a medium to a high-risk catego-
Yet it appears that many pol- (Nepali workers recruited to Ma- ry for all workers, according to
icymakers and economists ar- laysian factories, for example). EiQ. The Trump government’s
en’t joining the dots. Tariffs are Yet few multinationals manage Made in America push has driv-
reshaping migration patterns recruitment in-house. Instead, en up demand for labour, but
and, as a result, raising the risk up to 80% of legal, international the US workforce is both insuf-
of human rights abuses to work- lower-skilled hires are arranged ficient and costly, and mass de-
ers across global supply chains. by labour agencies. portations of migrants are only
This is captured by risk-man- This growing reliance on worsening the shortages.
agement platform EiQ, which agencies is increasing workers’ Tighter immigration policies
gathers supply chain intelli- exposure to risk. Migrant re- contribute to an atmosphere
gence to help businesses reach cruitment agencies often oper- of fear, discouraging migrant
their environmental, social and ate by charging workers for job workers from reporting abuse or
governance (ESG) goals. placements – essentially selling seeking legal support. And with
Its data is drawn from jobs to those seeking employ- fewer workers available, those
30,000 onsite audits annually ment abroad. Beyond the high who stay face greater vulner-
across more than 100 geogra- upfront fees, many intermediar- ability. EiQ audits have uncov-
phies (countries and provinc- ies have been linked to corrup-
es). When taken alongside our tion, including passport confis- PAGE 30 How tariff wars

EO to EVs to boost utilization, registration: DOE exec

By Joann Villanueva agement Director Patrick Aqui- portation) secretary, and then the Office of the President.” ber of registered EVs, boosted
Philippine News Agency no, in an interview with the Phil- the DILG (Department of the “But we'll make the recom- by people’s recognition of the
ippine News Agency on Tuesday, Interior and Local Government) mendations. We'll check on the advantage of using these vehi-
said an Electric Vehicle Industry secretary. So, we're having an recommendations again,” he cles, after the passage of EVI-
MANILA – An official of the Development Act (EVIDA) tech- EBITDA TWG meeting in the said. DA in 2022.
Department of Energy (DOE) nical working group has already coming quarter. We'll nudge it, Among the issues that the EV industry data show actu-
is optimistic about higher reg- submitted its recommendations and then we'll check on OP (Of- EO intends to address are the al sales of four-wheeled EVs in
istration of electric vehicles to the Office of the President. fice of the President),” he said. use of EVs along major roads 2024 reached 3,880 units, up
(EVs) once an executive order “But as you are aware, there Aquino declined to give indi- and their registration, as well from 1,028 units in the previ-
clarifying rules on the use of have been changes in the sec- cations on when the EO will be as uniform policies among lo- ous year.
EVs comes out. retary, our secretary in DOE, released, noting that “it’s really cal governments.
DOE Energy Utilization Man- DOTr (Department of Trans- hard to tell when it comes to Aquino noted the rising num- PAGE 26 EO to EVs

www.canadianinquirer.net
 26 FRIDAY September 5, 2025

TECHNOLOGY
YouTube’s AI editing scandal reveals how reality
can be manipulated without our consent
By Timothy Koskie, media. This makes sense. One only were they not her works,
University of Sydney 2021 study that looked at 7.6 they also posed the risk of sig-
The Conversation million user-posted photos on nificant reputational harm.
Flickr found filtered photos In each of these cases, the
were more likely to get views algorithmic alterations were
Disclosure, consent and plat- and engagement. presented without disclosure
form power have become new- However, YouTube’s recent to those who viewed them.
ly invigorated battlefields with decision demonstrates the ex- The disappearing disclosure
the rise of AI. tent to which users may not be Disclosure is one of the sim-
The issue came to the fore re- in the driver’s seat. plest tools we have to adapt to
cently with YouTube’s controver- TikTok faced a similar scan- an increasingly altered AI-me-
sial decision to use AI-powered dal in 2021, when some An- diated reality.
tools to “unblur, denoise and droid users realised a “beauty Research suggests compa-
improve clarity” for some of the filter” had been applied auto- nies that are transparent about
content uploaded to the platform. matically to their posts without their use of AI algorithms are
This was done without the con- their consent or disclosure. more likely to be trusted by us-
sent, or even knowledge, of the This is especially concerning ers with the users’ initial trust
relevant content creators. Viewers as recent research has found a in the company and AI system spreading misinformation. Users can also curate their
of the material knew nothing of link between the use of appear- playing a significant role. Sailing into the AI-generat- social media feeds by pur-
YouTube’s intervention. ance-enhancing TikTok filters While users have demon- ed unknown posefully liking or following
Without transparency, users and self-image concerns. strated diminishing trust in With time it will only get people and groups they trust,
have limited recourse to identi- Undisclosed alterations ex- AI systems globally, they have harder to identify confected while excluding poorer quali-
fy, let alone respond to, AI-ed- tend to offline as well. In 2018, also shown increasing trust in and manipulated AI imagery. ty sources. But they may face
ited content. At the same time, new iPhone models were found AI they have used themselves, Even sophisticated AI detectors an uphill battle, as platforms
such distortions have a history to be automatically using a fea- including the belief that it will remain a step behind. such as TikTok and YouTube
that significantly predates to- ture called Smart HDR (High inevitably get better. Another big challenge in are inclined towards an infinite
day’s AI tools. Dynamic Range) to “smooth” So why do companies still use fighting misinformation – a scroll model that encourages
A new kind of invisible edit users’ skin. This was later de- AI without disclosing it? Per- problem made worse by the passive consumption over tai-
Platforms such as YouTube scribed by Apple as a “bug”, haps it’s because disclosures of rise of AI – is confirmation bias. lored engagement.
aren’t the first to engage in and was reversed. AI use can be problematic. Re- This refers to users’ tendency While YouTube’s decision to
subtle image manipulation. These issues also collided in search has found disclosing AI to be less critical of media (AI alter creators’ videos without
For decades, lifestyle maga- the Australian political sphere use consistently reduces trust in or otherwise) that confirms consent or disclosure is likely
zines have “airbrushed” photos last year. Nine News published the relevant person or organisa- what they already believe. within its legal rights as a plat-
to soften or sharpen certain fea- an AI-modified photo of Victo- tion, although not as much as Fortunately there are resourc- form, it puts its users and con-
tures. Not only are readers not rian MP Georgie Purcell that if they are discovered to have es at our disposal, provided we tributors in a difficult position.
informed of the changes, often exposed her midriff, whereas used AI without disclosure. have the presence of mind to And given previous cases
the celebrity in question isn’t ei- it was covered in the original Beyond trust, the impact seek them out. Younger media from other major platforms –
ther. In 2003, actor Kate Wins- photo. They did not tell view- of disclosures is complex. Re- consumers in particular have as well as the outsized power
let angrily decried British GQ’s ers the image they used had search has found disclosures developed strategies that can digital platforms enjoy – this
choice to alter her cover shot – been edited with AI. on AI-generated misinforma- push back against the tide of probably won’t be the last time
which included narrowing her The issue isn’t limited to vi- tion are unlikely to make that misinformation on the internet. this happens. ■
waist – without her consent. sual content, either. In 2023, information any less persua- One of these is simple triangu-
The wider public has also author Jane Friedman found sive to viewers. However, they lation, which involves seeking This article is republished
shown an appetite for editing Amazon selling five AI-generat- can make people hesitate to out multiple reliable sources to from The Conversation under a
images before posting to social ed books under her name. Not share the content, for fear of confirm a piece of news. Creative Commons license.

BOI reports P252-B.. EO to EVs..

24 Cristina Roque said with ASEAN member countries. business growth. We will keep 25 For two- and three- ume registered for the whole
they are committed “As we build stronger trade working to create a stable and wheeled EVs, it rose of 2024, Electric Vehicle Asso-
to the government’s and investment ties with our welcoming business environ- to 43,441 units last ciation of the Philippines pres-
resolve to strengthen the devel- ASEAN neighbors, these num- ment, one that brings in more year from 172 units in 2023. ident Edmund Araga said ear-
opment of micro, small and me- bers reflect the growing con- investments and opens up real Registered EVs in the first lier, citing data from the Land
dium enterprises (MSMEs) and fidence of foreign investors in opportunities for Filipinos,” she seven months this year reached Transportation Office (LTO). ■
deepen investment relationships the Philippines as a place for said. (Joan Villanueva/PNA) ■ 29,715, around the same vol-
www.canadianinquirer.net
 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 TECHNOLOGY 27

ChatGPT only talks in cliches – here’s why

that’s a threat to human creativity
By Vittorio Tantucci, nance”. That’s to do with re-us- This was unlike real human nisably theirs. types of how people ought to
Lancaster University ing each other’s expressions. For parents who mixed in clarifica- This is what defines unique speak, rather than reflecting how
The Conversation example, when speaker A says tions, refusals, jokes, sarcasm identities in interaction — how they actually do. More troubling
“You never call me”, speaker B and even impolite expressions we want to be perceived by still, it may promote a new pro-
may respond “You are the one at times. In our data, a far more others. There are words, ex- cedural ideology of conversation
When you chat with ChatGPT, who never calls”. human way of showing concern pressions and intonations you — one where talk is reduced to
it often feels like you’re talking Another factor we included for a daughter’s health at col- would never use, not necessar- sounding engaged yet remains
to someone polite, engaged and was “recombinant creativity”. lege was often through making ily because they are impolite, uncreative; a functional but im-
responsive. It nods in all the This involves inventing new implications rather than direct but because they do not repre- poverished tool of cooperation.
right places, mirrors your word- twists on what’s just been said instructions — for example, sent who you are or how you Our findings suggest that AI
ing and seems eager to keep the by an interlocutor. For exam- a mother asking, “Why in the want to sound to others. is remarkably good at model-
exchange flowing. ple, speaker A may ask “All world are you juggling two Being accused of being “bor- ling the normative patterns of
But is this really what human good?”, to which speaker B jobs?” with the implied mean- ing” is definitely something dialogue — the things people
conversation sounds like? Our responds “All smashing”. Here ing that she will burn out if she most people try to avoid; it’s say often and conventionally.
new study shows that while the structure is kept constant keeps being this busy. effectively what brings about But it struggles with the id-
ChatGPT plausibly imitates dia- but the adjective is creative- In short, ChatGPT statistical- American playboy Dickie iosyncratic and unexpected,
logue, it does so in a way that is ly substituted in a way that is ly flattened human dialogues Greenleaf’s death in the fa- which are essential for creativ-
stereotypical rather than unique. unique to the exchange. in the context of our enquiry, mous Patricia Highsmith nov- ity, humour and authentic hu-
Every conversation has A final feature we includ- replacing them with a pol- el, The Talented Mr Ripley, man conversation.
quirks. When two family mem- ed was “relevance acknowl- ished, plausible but ultimately when he says it of his friend, The danger is not only that
bers talk on the phone, they edgement”: showing interest rather dry template. Tom Ripley. The conversational AI sounds nothing but plau-
don’t just exchange informa- and recognition of the other’s Why this matters choices we make are not sim- sible. It is that humans, over
tion — they reuse each other’s point, such as “It’s interesting At first glance, ChatGPT’s ply appropriate ways to talk, time, may begin to imitate its
words, rework them creatively, what you said, in fact …” or consistency feels like a but strategies for locating our- style in a way that AI’s stereo-
interrupt, disagree, joke, ban- “That’s a good point …”. strength. It makes the sys- selves in society and construct- typed behaviour may start to
ter or wander off-topic. What we found tem reliable and predictable. ing our singular identity with reshape conversational norms.
They do so because human ChatGPT did remarkably Yet these very qualities also every conversation. In the long run, we may find
talk is naturally fragmented, well – even too well – at make it less human. Real peo- This gap matters in all sorts ourselves “learning” from AI
but also to enact their own showing engagement. It often ple avoid sounding repetitive. of ways. If AI cannot capture the how to converse — gradually
identities in interaction. These echoed and acknowledged the They resist cliches. They build uniqueness of human interac- erasing creativity and unique-
moments of “conversational other speaker even more than conversations that are recog- tion, it risks reinforcing stereo- ness from our own speech.
uniqueness” are what make humans do. But it fell short in Conversation, at its core, is not
real dialogue unpredictable two decisive ways. just about efficiency. It is about
and deeply human. First, the lexical diversity was co-creating meaning and social
We wanted to contrast hu- much lower for ChatGPT than for identities through innovation
man conversation with AI ones. human speakers. Where people and extravagance, even more
So we compared 240 phone varied their words and expres- than we realise.
conversations between Chi- sions, AI recycled the same ones. What might be at stake,
nese family members with di- Most importantly, we spot- then, assuming AI can’t over-
alogues simulated by ChatGPT ted a lot of stereotypical speech come this problem, is not sim-
under the same contextual in the AI-generated conversa- ply whether it can converse
conditions, using a statistical tions. When it simulated giv- like humans — but whether
model to measure patterns ing advice or making requests, humans will continue to con-
across hundreds of turns. ChatGPT defaulted to predict- verse like themselves. ■
To capture human uniqueness able parental-style recommen-
in our study, we mainly focused dations such as “Take care of This article is republished
on three levels of human inter- your health” and “Don’t worry from The Conversation under a
action. One was “dialogic reso- too much”. Creative Commons license.

Robots increasingly used in Japan

to enhance biz efficiency
Jiji Press ings, apartments, stadiums and for business efficiency. beer kegs. An official of parcel delivery
Philippine News Agency other large-scale facilities. The Es Con Field Hokkaido The robot detects and auto- group Yamato Holdings Co.,
As the country needs to ad- stadium, home to the Hokkai- matically follows its user and which manages the operations
dress labor shortages urgently, do Nippon-Ham Fighters pro- can carry up to 60 beer kegs. of the robots, voiced hope that
TOKYO – Japan is increas- companies and workers are fessional baseball team, has Another robot to sell food and such robots will also be used in
ingly using robots for transpor- exploring how robots and hu- introduced a work assistance drinks to spectators is being other locations. ■
tation and sales at office build- mans can work together better robot "Suppot" to transport tested.
www.canadianinquirer.net
 28 FRIDAY September 5, 2025

TRAVEL
Explore the World on Two Wheels: Booking.com
Shares The Best Cycling Destinations
BOOKING.COM selection of picnic foods in the are wide, the landscapes dra-
property’s outdoor seating area matic, and the traffic practically
or a dip in the saltwater pool on- nonexistent. Drift past lavender
Cycling enthusiasts need site to cool off. fields in Furano, before ascend-
not sport a yellow jersey or Patagonia, Chile ing the gentle volcanic inclines
tackle the grueling climbs of Cycling in Patagonia is less of Daisetsuzan National Park,
the French Alps to enjoy the about speed and more about where the air is crisp and clean.
world’s best biking routes. enjoying the vistas and soaking From the coastal route around
15%* of Canadian travellers in the scenery. Located at South Shakotan Peninsula, a 30 kms
are looking to take an active America’s southern tip, cyclists (18.6 miles) ride, to the Lake
trip in 2025, so travel leaders can traverse endless open roads Toya cycling route with volcanic
Booking.com have curated a past glacial valleys, the tur- views softened by hot spring de-
fresh list of global destinations quoise lake of Torres del Paine, tours, no two rides in Hokkaido
best explored on two wheels. and the jagged peaks surround- feel the same. Off the bike, Hok-
For those who enjoy a mix of ing the archipelago of Tierra del kaido is a festival of flavors and
leisurely rides to competitive Fuego. The Carretera Austral sights, selling freshly caught sea-
races, these handpicked spots (Route 7), one of the region's food in bustling fishing towns,
offer scenic trails and local fla- Where to stay: Chanterelle offers breathtaking views and most famous cycling and walk- and the mesmerizing avant-gar-
vour, proving that adventure, Inn & Cottages is a dream base a serene start to the day. Alter- ing routes, stretches over 1,200 de architecture of HIGO and the
culture, and discovery are best for cyclists exploring the sce- natively, back in the city, visitors kms (745 miles) from Puerto 360° house in Sapporo.
experienced at your own pace. nic Cabot Trail, located almost can enjoy excellent local coffee, Montt, and winds through Pa- Where to stay: Tokachiga-
Cape Breton Island, Nova within touching distance of vibrant street art, and their fa- tagonia’s rainforests, volcanoes, wa Moor Onsen Seijyakubow,
Scotia the route itself. Relax in cozy mous cinnamon buns. Stavanger lakes, and glaciers, offering a offering a 5-star traditional
Perched on the eastern edge rooms or private cottages with is a place where those visiting mix of paved and unpaved chal- ryokan experience, is an excel-
of Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Is- kitchens and porches overlook- can ride ambitious natural lands lenges. Off the bike, explore lent spot for cyclists wanting to
land has quietly built a reputa- ing the area’s rolling hills. Af- through the morning, and un- the charming mountain town explore the area’s most beau-
tion as a cyclist’s paradise. The ter a day of challenging rides, wind with a stroll along the har- of El Bolsón, browse its vibrant tiful routes. The traditional
legendary Cabot Trail is a dra- unwind with a delicious farm- bour and a drink in hand, in the 200-stall street fair, and sample Japanese inn features comfort-
matic loop of switchbacks, sea- to-table dinner in the on-site afternoon. local produce and crafts. For a able, minimalist rooms, many
cliffs, and calf-burning climbs restaurant, followed by a stroll The best time to visit Stavan- thrill, and an epic view, head with private open-air baths fed
that challenge even the most around the property’s grounds. ger is June through August out on the Private Rock Climb by the moor hot springs onsite.
advanced riders. Yet Cape Bret- Stavanger, Norway warmest, sunniest weather, Experience in Northern Patago- Anakiwa, Marlborough,
on’s true magic lies in its range Stavanger is a quietly stylish though be prepared for light nia. Reach new heights amongst New Zealand
of routes, welcoming everyone coastal city on the southwest of rain most anytime of year. A re- beautiful surroundings of stun- Located at the northern tip
from spandex warriors to bas- Norway, where cyclists and city cent report from Booking.com ning, rugged landscapes domi- of New Zealand’s South Island,
ket-bike daydreamers. The gen- dwellers coexist in Scandinavian found that Canadian travellers nated by granite spires, glaciers, Anakiwa is famed for the lush
tle Celtic Shores Coastal Trail harmony. The area boasts fjord- use AI to research the best time and alpine lakes. native bush and turquoise bays.
meanders through Acadian framed roads and emerald val- to visit somewhere (39%), to Where to stay: Bories - Bou- An ideal location for cycling and
fishing villages and along wind- leys, with scenic routes climbing find local experiences or cultur- tique Guest House in Ultima outdoor enthusiasts, the coastal
swept beaches, where the only toward Lysefjord and the dramat- al activities (34%), to find ex- Esperenza offers cyclists a con- village is situated at the eastern
traffic is often a gathering of her- ic, brutally beautiful, Preikestolen periences that positively benefit venient and relaxing stay near gateway to the Queen Charlotte
ons. More ambitious cyclists can cliff. Ambitious and experienced local communities (52%), and popular routes including the Track. This route is for the more
tackle the Margaree Valley loop, riders can tackle the legendary to gather restaurant recommen- Carretera Austral, in addition experienced cyclists out there
a pastoral ride through rolling Lysebotn climb, famous for its 27 dations (35%), and more. 37% to some of the areas most loved stretching 73.5 kms (45 miles)
farmland, beside tranquil rivers. hairpin bends carved into sheer use AI to help them navigate un- attractions including Municipal across an undulating track, with
After your ride, indulge in the rock. For a gentler ride, pedal familiar locations, which comes Museum of History and Puerto hills ranging from sea level to a
island’s mouthwatering seafood, along the coast past Sola Beach, in handy when tooling around a Natales Main Square. Rejuve- maximum of 400 metres (0.25
including snow crab and buttery with wide sea views and wind new place on two wheels. nate in the cozy modern rooms, miles). For a family and more
lobster, served fresh at dockside turbines for company. Inland, the Where to stay: Providing and feast on a hearty breakfast pedestrian pedal, wind along the
shacks and end the day at a live- popular Dalsnuten climb rewards guests with bicycle rentals and to fuel up for a day of cycling. gentle Link Pathway to Picton or
ly ceilidh, a traditional Scottish cyclists with panoramic sights parking, the RoaldsPiren Stavan- Hokkaido, Japan seek out the sweeping ridgelines
social gathering which dates over Stavanger and its surround- ger is a calm boathouse-style Among Japan’s most un- of the Kenepuru Road loop, with
back to the 1700s brought over ing mountainous peaks. When bed and breakfast perched on a derrated adventures, cycling sheep as your only obstacle. To
by Scottish immigrants, where travellers are not cycling, a guid- private pier outside Stavanger. through Hokkaido stands out explore the area from a different
everyone’s welcome to dance ed sunrise hike to Pulpit Rock, After a day of cycling, guests can for its vast, untamed beauty and perspective, Davies Bay Walk
(enthusiasm required, rhythm a towering cliff-plateau direct- enjoy the sunset over the water peaceful roads. Here, on Japan’s
strictly optional!). ly suspended over Lysefjorden, on the private terrace, enjoy a wild northern frontier, the roads PAGE 30 Explore the World

www.canadianinquirer.net
 FRIDAY September 5, 2025 29

FOOD
Ultra-processed foods v minimally processed
foods: how can you tell the difference?
By Aisling Pigott,, Cardiff The minimally processed diet made mostly from ingredients sidering if it contains ingredi- study showed. So if you’re
Metropolitan University group consumed fewer calo- extracted from foods (such as ents you wouldn’t use at home. keen to include more minimal-
The Conversation ries overall, which would ex- oils, starches and proteins) and In addition to the number ly processed foods in your diet,
plain why this group lost more additives. of ingredients, it’s also the here are a few tips to help you
weight. But the fact that this Examples include: sugary type of ingredients that mat- get more onto your plate:
If you’ve ever tried to lose group saw greater improve- breakfast cereals, flavoured ter. Ultra-processed foods • build meals around vege-
weight, you’ve probably been ments in other areas of their yoghurts with sweeteners and often contain added sugars, tables, whole grains and pulses
told that cooking your own health highlights how health thickeners, soft drinks, instant refined starches, emulsifiers, • use tinned or frozen prod-
meals is the way to go. This encompasses far more than cal- noodles, packaged biscuits and stabilisers and flavourings that ucts for convenience and to
has been backed up by a re- ories or a number on the scales. cakes, mass-produced bread serve cosmetic purposes (such save time while cooking
cent study, which found that Why processing matters with emulsifiers and reconsti- as improving colour, texture or • choose plain dairy prod-
people who ate home-cooked, Despite the bad press, food tuted meat products – such as taste), rather than preserving ucts without sugar or fruit pu-
minimally processed foods lost processing plays an essential chicken nuggets. the food’s freshness or safety. rees, then add your own fruits,
twice the weight to those who role in food safety and preser- Minimally processed foods Minimally processed foods nuts and seeds for flavour
ate mainly ultra-processed, vation. are whole foods that are al- will not contain these types of • healthy meals don’t have to
ready-made foods. But how much processing a tered only to make them safer ingredients, nor will they have as be complicated. Aim to include
The recent study, which was food has undergone seems to be or easier to prepare. Impor- many ingredients on their label. a protein source, a wholegrain
published in Nature Medicine, the factor associated with worse tantly, this processing doesn’t It’s also important to be carbohydrate and plenty of
involved 50 adults who were health outcomes. These foods change their nutritional value. aware of smoked meats. While veggies or fruits at each meal
randomly assigned to eat either tend to have less fibre, more Examples include: fresh, fro- this is a common preservation • batch cook meals when
a diet high in ultra-processed added fats, sugars and salt. This zen or bagged vegetables and method, most commercially you have time and freeze them
foods or one with mostly mini- is because they’re designed to be fruit, plain yoghurt or milk, available smoked meats – such if possible.
mally-processed foods. Both di- tasty and long-lasting. whole grains (such as oats or as bacon, ham or sausages – As a dietitian, it’s important
ets were designed to meet the The most common definition brown rice), eggs, fresh or frozen are considered ultra-processed to point out that there’s a dis-
UK’s national dietary guidelines. of an ultra-processed foods fish, and tinned beans or toma- because of the curing agents tinction between the potential
Both groups lost weight, are foods which are industri- toes without added sugar or salt. and other additives they con- harms of excessive consump-
which makes sense as they con- ally produced and which con- Including minimally pro- tain. While plain smoked fish tion of ultra-processed foods
sumed fewer calories than they tain extracts of original foods cessed foods (such as smoked salmon) is still and the essential role processing
usually did. However, the group alongside additives and indus- It can sometimes feel over- classed as a processed food, it can play in ensuring food safety,
that consumed mostly minimal- trial ingredients. Think crisps whelming to work out wheth- uses fewer curing agents and preservation and accessibility.
ly processed foods ultimate- or frozen ready meals. er a food is ultra-processed or additives than other smoked It’s also important not to pan-
ly consumed fewer calories The food system in much of minimally processed. meat products. ic about enjoying the occasion-
overall – thereby losing more the world has become increas- Some advice that is often A diet rich in minimally pro- al biscuit or ready meal, and
weight. They also saw slightly ingly reliant on ultra-processed suggested for working out cessed foods usually means we should avoid demonising
greater improvements to other foods, with these foods contrib- whether a food is ultra-pro- more fibre, more nutrients and convenience foods – especial-
measures of their health, such uting to about half of food in- cessed include checking to see fewer calories – all of which ly for those who face barriers
as having lower fat mass, re- take in the UK, Europe and the if a product contains more than can support weight and long- such as limited mobility or lack
duced triglyceride levels (linked US. But there’s clear evidence five to ten ingredients and con- term health, as this recent of cooking facilities. Because
to heart health) and fewer crav- that high intake of ultra-pro- remember, the group that ate
ings for unhealthy foods at the cessed foods is linked with poor- a diet high in ultra-processed
end of the study. er health outcomes, including foods but met dietary guide-
The ultra-processed foods obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart lines still lost weight and saw
group still lost weight and saw disease and certain cancers. health benefits in the study.
some improvements in blood The more calorie-rich, less Eating well doesn’t mean
lipids (fat) and blood glucose nutritious foods we consume, that you need to complete-
(sugar), but these changes the more our health will suf- ly eliminate ultra-processed
were generally smaller than fer – as this recent study has foods. But shifting the balance
those seen in the minimally confirmed. But how can you towards eating more minimal-
processed foods group. work out which foods are clas- ly processed foods, with more
As a dietitian, this is both an sified as “ultra-processed” and home-cooked meals where
interesting and important piece which are only “minimally pro- possible, is a step in the right
of research – even though the cessed”? In short, this depends direction. ■
results are not entirely surpris- on how much processing a
ing. In fact, a surprising result food product has undergone to This article is republished
is that the consumption of ul- be ready for consumption. from The Conversation under a
tra-processed food still result- Ultra-processed foods are in- Creative Commons license.
ed in weight loss. dustrially formulated products
www.canadianinquirer.net
 30 FOOD FRIDAY September 5, 2025

A Lifestyle Checked.. Thailand committed to..

21 duties from 2pm to Island, whatever the weather have one car that my husband 23 competition systems Dr Wandee Tosuwan, said.
5pm. From 4:30pm is. We like to go around Gran- has owned since 1988. We only and operational read- The first CoComm meeting
to 5:30pm, I make ville Island market to buy fresh own one home. iness. was held last March.
cold calls, repeatedly calling fruits, freshly baked donuts or For my husband and I, we Deliberations covered a wide Meanwhile, the 1st Techni-
clients who did not buy mem- pastries and vegetables, and we like to treat ourselves on week- range of functional areas includ- cal Delegates’ Meeting sched-
berships or who have cancelled stick to our $30 budget. ends because we both work ing sports and technical opera- uled on Sept. 15 to 17 will fur-
and offering them promos for By 4:30pm, we go to our fit- hard and do long hours six tions, venues and facilities, ath- ther discuss technical matters
membership renewals. Between ness club and speak to our staff days a week, so we make it a lete classification, anti-doping, and test event preparations.
5:30pm-6pm, I do some admin on duty to ask how the day point to go out on dates every ceremonies, logistics, transpor- The 13th ASEAN Para Games
work and I close the batch for went. My husband goes and in- weekend as we are both food- tation, accreditation, broadcast- features para athletics, para bad-
the day. My husband does a club spects the whole club, and we ies. For us, a luxury lifestyle ing, promotion and marketing, minton, para swimming, para
check from 5:30-6pm. close the club. means slow mornings, getting and Games IT infrastructure. shooting, wheelchair basketball,
By 6pm, we close our fitness By 5pm, we usually have our lots of sleep, going for leisurely Delegates also inspected all sitting volleyball, para powerlift-
club. Between 6-7pm, my hus- pedicure and manicure done. walks, being able to enjoy and 18 competition venues in Na- ing, wheelchair tennis, boccia,
band and I go to Whole Foods By 7pm, we go and meet with truly love what we do at work, khon Ratchasima, while noting blind football, cerebral palsy
to buy fruits and crudités. By my only son for our Sunday going on dates during week- that para tenpin bowling will football, goalball, wheelchair
7:30pm, we get ready for our family dinner. We catch up ends, spending quality time be contested in Bangkok. fencing, judo, para table tennis,
dinner date. with each other and have long with family and friends. “While our focus is firmly on chess, cycling (road and track),
We usually have dinner conversations over dinner. By My husband and I treasure safety, welfare, and the seam- para archery, and bowling.
around 8:30pm on a Saturday, 10:30pm, we’re home and get- long weekends because it means less delivery of the Games, we The tournament, carrying
and it also happens to be our ting ready for bed. We watch we get 2 days off! We are each are also committed to address- the theme “ASEAN Moving To-
first and only meal of the day. the late night news, and we are other’s Fridates, Saturdates, and ing recurring challenges faced gether” and “Create Pride To-
We usually like to try different asleep by midnight! Sundates forever! We learned by our members,” APSF Secre- gether,” is returning to Nakhon
restaurants, from hole-in-the- Unfortunately, because we’re that it’s important to remem- tary-General, Senior Colonel Ratchasima after 18 years. ■
wall types to fine dining restau- so hands-on with our business, ber that dating and keeping our
rants, and we make sure that we don’t get to have many connection and intimacy alive
we stick to our budget (we have vacations or frequent travels in our relationship is essential
allocated a budget for our week- abroad. The last time we went to well-being and overall rela-
end dates). As a rule, we do on vacation was before Covid. tionship happiness. For us, true How tariff wars..
not spend more than what we We visited my in-laws in Isra- wealth is doing life together as a
earn. We are usually home by el. If we travel, it’s usually just family. For us, this is what a lav- 25 ered forced overtime, They should map risk, use AI
10:30pm. We get ready for bed. once a year. We also don’t hoard ish lifestyle means. ■ serious injuries, hos- to help them assess trade-offs
We usually watch a movie either designer items. My husband is pitalisations and even when they move into new re-
on Netflix, HBO, or Prime. We so low-key, he wears the same Matte Laurel-Zalko is a Filipi- amputations after people have gions, and engage with and
are usually asleep by 1am. outfit every day: black Lulu- na-Canadian former restaurateur been injured at work. train their suppliers. And when
On Sundays, we like to sleep lemon track pants and Ironman and hotelier, a mother, a wife, a Around the world in 2025, they find out things have gone
in. For us, sleep is a luxury! We polo shirt with his Lululemon health and wellness aficionado, more than 45% of geographies wrong, there must be action
usually wake up around 12 black vest. As for me, I buy my food and champagne enthusiast, slipped down the humane treat- plans – including compensation
noon. We get ready, and we’re clothes at Commense, an af- a huge Audrey Hepburn fan, to- ment index which EiQ compiles. for affected migrant workers. ■
out of the house by 1pm. My fordable online retail store. Be- tally obsessed with pearls, and a As global trade evolves rap-
husband and I love to go for fore I buy new stuff, I make sure lifestyle columnist (Maria in Van- idly, businesses must rely on This article is republished
walks along the seawall and our I donate my clothes and shoes couver!) exclusively for Philippine evidence-based insights to nav- from The Conversation under a
neighbourhood on Granville to various charities. We only Canadian Inquirer (PCI). igate this complex landscape. Creative Commons license.

Explore the World..

28 leads through an an- on this property to help trav- tle (and thighs) on the legend- picturesque Incline Village, Hy- to travel in 2025. The sample
cient forest to seclud- ellers plan their routes, not to ary 14-mile (22.5 km) circuit of att Regency Lake Tahoe Resort comprised 32,106 respondents
ed beaches perfect for mention canoeing, hiking and Flume Trail, pausing for a cof- offers direct access to world- across 32 markets surveyed in
a swim or picnic. This Half Day snorkelling gear and excursions fee at one of the many lakeside class cycling routes like East January 2025. USA N=2,000,
Sea Kayak Guided Tour offers available, this homestay is the towns on-route. Or if travelling Shore Trail and the Flume Trail. Canada N=800, Spain N=800,
travellers a closer look at Queen perfect spot to explore the natu- with the little ones, the Tahoe Guests can relax in the proper- Italy N=800, France N=1800,
Charlotte Sound. Keep an eye ral surroundings of Anakiwa. Rim Trail provides scenic routes ty’s spa, enjoy lakeside dining UK N=1800, Germany N=1800,
out for dolphins and seals, of- Lake Tahoe, Nevada for riders of all ages. An evening at one of the two restaurants Netherlands N=800, Denmark
ten spotted playing in the wa- A two-wheeled paradise, on the water after a day of cy- on site, Osteria Sierra and Cut- N=500, Sweden N=500, Croa-
ters along the way. Those with a Lake Tahoe provides riders cling should be added to the throats’ Saloon while taking tia N=501, Switzerland N=800,
taste for history can tour around with winding alpine roads that agenda, with this evening dinner in the stunning alpine views. Belgium N=800, Ireland N=504,
the old wharf pilings, or perch weave through snow-dusted cruise with fresh, local foods, fol- There are also six different bars Austria N=500, Portugal N=800,
on a weathered bench to watch Sierra peaks. Recognized as lowed by live music against the situated throughout the prop- Mexico N=1,800, Colombia
the day drift by. a ‘Bike-Friendly Community’, mountainous backdrop of the erty, providing plenty of choice N=800, Brazil N=1,800, Ar-
Where to stay: Anakiwa 401 Tahoe features dedicated bike setting sun. After docking, head for guests’ evening tipple. ■ gentina N=800, India N=1,800,
guest house in the neighbouring paths and clearly marked lanes, to South Lake Tahoe to get check China N=800, Hong Kong
Picton, offers direct beachfront making it easy for cyclists of all out the town’s vibrant nightlife *Research was commissioned N=500, Thailand N=800, Sin-
access and seaside views. Guests levels to explore, from fami- and visit Whiskey Dick’s Saloon by Booking.com and inde- gapore N=800, Taiwan N=500,
can relax on the sun terrace and ly-friendly routes to more chal- or the Tiki Bar where you can sip pendently conducted among a Vietnam N=800, South Korea
give themselves some time to re- lenging singletracks. It is also cocktails along the beachfront to sample of adults who had taken a N=800, Japan N=1,800, UAE
charge after a day on the road. very easy to rent a bike here too. end the night. leisure trip in the last 12 months N=500, Australia N=1,800,
With a bike hire and tour desk Road cyclists can test their met- Where to stay: Nestled in the with an overnight stay and plan New Zealand N=500.
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 BIZClass FRIDAY DECEMBER
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