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SUMMER RIDE

A cyclist braves the scorching heat and opts for a faster ride in EDSA, Quezon City on Tuesday (April 2, 2024). Health experts advise wearing appropriate clothing that allows the body to breathe
and hydrating well when the weather is hot and dry.
ROBERT OSWALD P. ALFILER / PNA

DOH warns Filipinos 19

against heat stroke

Spotting the signs of disor-
dered eating in youth: Tips
BY MA. TERESA MONTEMAYOR corded high temperatures, over 41 de- for parents and caregivers
Philippine News Agency grees Celsius, in multiple locations from
March 28 to April 1, 2024. The same

MANILA – The Department of Health

(DOH) on Tuesday warned the public
against heat-related illnesses that be-
come more prevalent with extreme tem-
peratures.
This was after the Philippine Atmo-
spheric, Geophysical and Astronomical
Services Administration (PAGASA) re-
trend is forecast until April 3.
The PAGASA classifies temperatures 25
ranging from 33 to 41 degrees Celsius
as “extreme caution” and temperatures `
from 42 to 51 degrees Celsius as “danger.”
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2 APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY

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FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
DA: No cause for MWSS: Mitigation efforts
alarm over rabies in place to avoid water
cases in cattle, pigs interruptions
BY STEPHANIE
SEVILLANO
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Department
of Agriculture (DA) allayed fears
over reported cases of rabies
among cattle and pigs in Marin-
duque and Pampanga provinces.
In a phone interview, Agricul-
ture Assistant Secretary Constan-
te Dante Palabrica said although
the reported cases may be a cause
for concern, provincial veterinar-
ians are closely monitoring the
situation on the ground.
"Unusual lang kaya inire-
port ko ito (that's why I report-
ed this), but it's not alarming.
Ang importante ay ma-contain
natin ang rabies sa (what's im-
portant is we contain rabies in)
dogs and cats," he added.
According to the DA, recent
reports in Marinduque include
three cases of rabies among
cattle and six cases of rabies
among pigs; while around 20
cows in Pampanga were report-
ed infected last 2023 due to ra-
bid dog bites.
Palabrica, however, stressed
that it doesn't happen naturally
to animals.
"It's not true, it takes another
rabid dog to transfer to anoth-
er dog or cat, the virus. Alisin
natin iyong pananaw na natu-
ral ito sa katawan ng Animalia
(Let's eliminate the perception
that it's naturally occurring in
animals' bodies)," he said.
DOH warns Filipinos..
❰❰ 1 terized by symptoms
such as fatigue, dizzi-
ness, headache, vom-
iting, and light-headedness,”
the DOH said.
“Prolonged heat exposure
increases the probability of
heat stroke, a serious condi-
tion characterized by loss of
consciousness, confusion, or
seizures, which can be deadly if
left untreated,” it added.
In a radio interview on Tues-
Remarkable symptoms after
an animal bite include drooling,
dizziness, and uneasy behavior
for infected cows, while pigs tend
to bump their heads and snouts.
Besides this, the DA also con-
ducts stringent monitoring of
the possible transmission of ra-
bies to wildlife.
"We are still waiting for any
report, ang mabigat kasi kapag
wildlife naman ang kagatin ng
aso (it's heavier if rabid dog
bites wildlife animals), it might
also spread into the wildlife,"
Palabrica said.
He also underscored the ur-
gency to ensure vaccination
among dogs and cats to avoid ra-
bies transmission to animals and
humans, which is highly fatal.
To date, the Department of
Health already reported over
80 deaths due to rabies among
humans from January to March
this year.
Not for human consumption
Although there is no reported
negative effect yet on individu-
als who ate one of the infected
cows in Marinduque, Palabrica
said that it would be better to
avoid its consumption.
"Syempre pag-iingat na rin,
alam nating zoonotic kasi ito,
that can be transferred to the
human being (Of course, just to
be safe, we know this is zoonot-
ic). We might as well not eat its
meat," he said.
"Everything naman
❱❱ PAGE 7 DA: No cause
day, DOH Undersecretary En-
rique Tayag urged other schools
to consider the students’ condi-
tions as other schools and local
government units have already
suspended face-to-face classes
due to hot weather.
“Tama naman po ‘yun kasi
unahin muna ang kalagayan ng
mga mag-aaral. Kailangan talaga
ang mga paaralan ay tignan kung
kakayanin ng mga mag-aaral na
pumasok sa tindi ng init (That’s
BY STEPHANIE
SEVILLANO
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Metropoli-
tan Waterworks and Sewerage
System (MWSS) assured that
proper mitigation efforts are in
place to avoid water interrup-
tions amid high demand during
the hot months.
"So nakapag-construct na
tayo ng bagong planta na ku-
mukuha ng tubig po sa Laguna
lake. Tatlong bagong planta
po iyong ating naipatayo (So
we have constructed new [wa-
ter treatment] plants sourcing
water from the Laguna lake.
We have constructed three
new plants)," MWSS Water
and Sewerage Management
Division Manager Engr. Pat-
rick Dizon said during the Ba-
gong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing
Wednesday.
right because the students’
condition must be prioritized.
Schools must check if students
could study, go to class amid the
extreme heat),” he said.
Tayag also advised schools
to open their windows during
classes and to remind their stu-
dents regularly to stay hydrated.
Earlier, the DOH released a
public advisory on what to do in
case anyone experiences symp-
toms of heat stroke. The person
www.canadianinquirer.net
Philippine News
These include two plants in
Muntinlupa and one in Rizal,
whose operations will cover a
total capacity of 220 million li-
ters per day.
Dizon said this is part of the
efforts to minimize water supply
dependency on the Angat dam.
"Sa ngayon po, 90 percent ng
ating supply ng tubig ay kinu-
kuha natin sa sa Angat dam (For
now, 90 percent of our water
supply is being sourced from
Angat dam)," he added.
Besides this, the MWSS also
allowed Manila Water and
Maynilad to implement water
pressure management strategies
to help conserve water supply.
"Hindi po nawawalan ng
tubig iyong ating mga custom-
ers, kundi binabawasan lamang
natin ng pressure ng tubig (Our
customers are not experiencing
water shortages, instead [we
allow] reduction of water pres-
sure)," Dizon said.
concerned must be moved to a
shaded and cool area and must
be provided ventilation.
The person’s outer clothing
may be removed and cold com-
presses, ice packs, cold water, or
cold wet cloth must be applied
on the skin, especially the head,
face, neck, armpits, wrists, an-
kles, and groin.
The DOH also encouraged
the public to regularly monitor
temperature reports from the
3
During off-peak hours, wa-
ter concessionaires reduce the
pressure of water from 10 p.m.
to 4 a.m., to prevent unneces-
sary water wastage.
Dizon, meanwhile, assured
continuous requests to the Na-
tional Water Resources Board
(NWRB) not to reduce its allo-
cation.
"Sa init po ng ating panahon
ay kailangan po talaga natin na
patuloy iyong daloy ng tubig sa
ating mga kababayan (Because
of our hot weather conditions,
we really need a continuous
flow of water for our fellow cit-
izens)," he said.
To date, the NWRB allocates
50 cubic meters per second of
water supply in Metro Manila.
Manila LGU: Public swim-
ming pools open
Meanwhile, the city govern-
ment of Manila has advised
residents to use several public
swimming pools amid sizzling
temperatures.
Mayor Honey Lacuna said
she has directed Public Recre-
ations Bureau chief Roland Ma-
rino to make the city's pool ven-
ues available, which residents
can use for free.
These pools are located inside
the Patricia Sports Complex in
District 2 (Tondo); Paraiso ng
Kabataan in District 3 (Santa
Cruz); Senator Arturo Tolenti-
no Sports Complex in District
4 (Sampaloc); Bagong Buhay
❱❱ PAGE 12 MWSS: Mitigation efforts
PAGASA and to take preventive
measures against heat-related
illnesses.
These include drinking plen-
ty of water; avoiding consump-
tion of iced tea, soda, coffee, or
alcoholic drinks; limiting time
spent outdoors between 10 a.m.
and 4 p.m.; usage of protection
against sunburn such as hats,
umbrellas, and sunblock; and
wearing of loose fitting, light-
weight clothing. ■
4 Philippine News
DMW partners with North American
NGO vs. human trafficking
BY MARITA MOAJE
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Department
of Migrant Workers has part-
nered with a North American
non-government organiza-
tion (NGO) to help combat the
growing concerns of human
trafficking and help the victims
at the same time.
In a news release on Wednes-
day, DMW Officer-in-Charge
Undersecretary Hans Leo Cac-
dac said Philippine Ambassa-
dor to the United States Jose
Manuel Romualdez signed the
Memorandum of Collaborative
Agreement (MCA) on behalf of
the department, with Polaris
Project Chief Executive Officer
Catherine Chan.
The MCA outlines the frame-
PBBM creates Marcos creates organizing
2 new special council for PH hosting of
economic zones in ASEAN 2026
Pasig City, Cavite
BY RUTH ABBEY GITA-
CARLOS
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – President Ferdi-
nand R. Marcos Jr. has signed
two proclamations creating
special economic zones in Pasig
City and Tanza, Cavite.
Marcos, on April 1, signed
Proclamations 512 and 513,
which were made public on
Wednesday.
Under Proclamation 512,
Marcos designated several par-
cels of land with an aggregate
area of 123,837 square meters
in Ugong, Pasig City as an infor-
mation technology (IT) park,
located along E. Rodriguez Jr.
Avenue, and will be known as
Arcovia City.
work for a comprehensive
service that will aid victims of
human trafficking in recovery,
legal advocacy, repatriation,
and community reintegration.
Cacdac said the partnership
with Polaris Project follows the
directives of former DMW Sec-
retary Susan Ople, and shows
the agency’s commitment to
eradicating human trafficking.
“This alliance not only am-
plifies our anti-human traffick-
ing initiatives but also fosters
cooperation with both govern-
mental and non-governmental
entities,” he said.
As part of the collaboration,
Cacdac said the DMW pledges
to provide shelter and repatri-
ation support, alongside legal
aid for Filipinos embroiled in
trafficking-related legal battles.
The DMW will also spear-
Marcos also issued Proclama-
tion 513, creating the MetroCas
Industrial Estates-Special Eco-
nomic Zone in Tanza, Cavite.
Proclamation 513 covers
around 404,141 square meters
of land at Calibuyo village in
Tanza, Cavite.
Marcos issued the two procla-
mations under Republic Act (RA)
7916 or the Special Economic
Zone Act of 1995, as amended by
RA 8748, and upon the recom-
mendation of the Board of Direc-
tors of the Philippine Economic
Zone Authority (PEZA).
RA 7916, signed into law on
Feb. 24, 1995, aims to encour-
age economic growth through
the development of special eco-
nomic zones called “ecozones.”
❱❱ PAGE 7 PBBM creates 2
head the reporting process to
the Philippine Inter-Agency
Council Against Trafficking
(IACAT) to ensure the prosecu-
tion of those implicated in traf-
ficking activities.
The DMW will work closely
with the Philippine Embassy’s
Consular Section to facilitate
the documentation processes for
survivors and victims of human
trafficking, including passport
renewals, extensions, and the is-
suance of travel documents.
Meanwhile, Polaris Project
“commits to extending all nec-
essary assistance to Filipino
victims referred through their
National Human Trafficking
Hotline, particularly in the
evaluation of human traffick-
ing cases and other forms of
exploitation committed against
Filipino nationals.”
BY DARRYL JOHN
ESGUERRA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – President Ferdi-
nand R. Marcos Jr. has ordered
the creation of a national orga-
nizing council (NOC) for the
country’s hosting of the Asso-
ciation of Southeast Asian Na-
tions (ASEAN) Summit meet-
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. (PCO)
www.canadianinquirer.net
(DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS/FACEBOOK)
The Polaris Project is a
non-profit NGO in North Amer-
ica that aims to combat human
trafficking and modern-day slav-
ery and strengthen the anti-traf-
ficking movement through a
comprehensive approach.
It is known for spearheading
a movement centered on survi-
ings in 2026.
In his Administrative Order
(AO) 17, Marcos said, “It is im-
perative to constitute a Nation-
al Organizing Council to orga-
nize, manage, and supervise all
major and ancillary programs,
activities, and projects related
to the hosting of ASEAN 2026
in the country.”
Marcos signed AO 17 on
March 22, a copy of which was
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
vor welfare, justice, and equali-
ty, and administers the United
States National Human Traf-
ficking Hotline that helps sur-
vivors receive essential support
and have access to services.
It also helps ensure that
traffickers face legal conse-
quences. ■
posted in the Official Gazette on
March 31.
Executive Secretary Lucas
Bersamin will serve as the ASE-
AN NOC Chairperson, and For-
eign Affairs Secretary Enrique
Manalo as Vice-Chair for ASE-
AN Political Community, Trade
and Industry Secretary Alfredo
Pascual as Vice-Chair for ASE-
AN Economic Community, and
Social Welfare and Develop-
ment Secretary Rex Gatchalian
as Vice-Chair for ASEAN So-
cio-cultural community.
Members of the ASEAN NOC
include the Secretaries of the
Department of the Interior and
Local Government (DILG), De-
partment of National Defense
(DND), Department of Public
Works and Highways (DPWH),
Department of Transportation
(DOTr), Department of Tour-
ism (DOT), /Department of
❱❱ PAGE 11 Marcos creates organizing
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024 5

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6 Philippine News
Comelec: Most Bill seeks safe ports for
Filipinos abroad Filipino fisherfolk in WPS
may vote online
in 2025 polls
BY FERDINAND PATINIO
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Commis-
sion on Elections (Comelec)
on Tuesday announced that in-
ternet voting would be the pri-
mary method of casting votes
for overseas voters in the 2025
midterm polls.
In an interview, Comelec
spokesperson John Rex Lau-
diangco noted that Filipino reg-
istered voters who are living or
working in other countries will
be able to cast their votes on
their mobile phones, gadgets, or
personal computers.
“User friendly po ang inter-
net voting kung marunong kayo
magFacebook, makipagchat at
kung may online banking kayo,
kasing dali lang nito ang paraan
ng pagboto. Mayroon pong phone
application na idadownload, dito
magregister ang voter para mak-
aboto (Our internet voting is
user friendly. If you know how
to use Facebook or chat or online
banking, voting is as easy as using
these apps. A phone application
would have to be downloaded,
they have to register for them to
be able to vote),” he added.
Meanwhile, Laudiangco said
in-person and mail-in voting
will be implemented in coun-
tries where internet voting is
restricted.
“May 17 na bansa na hindi
pinapayagan ang pag conduct
ng internet voting at meron pa
pong ibang bansa na sinusub-
ukan pong kausapin ng Pilipi-
nas ngayon na sana mapayagan
na rin sa kanilang bansa yung
internet voting (There are 17
countries that do not allow in-
ternet voting. The Philippines
is also talking with some coun-
tries for these to allow internet
voting),” he added.
Based on data from the Office
for Overseas Voting (OFOV) the
countries/posts where overseas
voting will be conducted still
via in-person voting in Philip-
pine embassies and consulates
or mail/postal voting are:
--China (Beijing, Chongqing,
Guangzhou, Shanghai, Xiamen)
--Timor Leste (Dili)
--Papua New Guinea (Port
Moresby)
--Myanmar (Yangon)
--Turkiye (Ankara, Istanbul)
--Russia (Moscow)
--Nigeria (Abuja)
--Jordan (Amman)
--Lebanon (Beirut)
--Syria (Damascus)
--Iran (Tehran)
--Libya (Tripoli)
Meanwhile, four companies
have submitted their bid doc-
uments for the second Com-
petitive Public Bidding for the
Online Voting and Counting
System (Internet Voting) on
Tuesday.
The firms are Indra, Joint
Venture (JV) of SMS Global
and Sequent Tech, JV of Voatz
- ePLDT - Ebiz and JV of AMA
Group - Dasan - Kevoting
Laudiangco noted that the
Special Bids and Awards Com-
mittee (SBAC) is currently eval-
uating the voluminous docu-
ments submitted by the bidders.
In case the Committee de-
clared another failure of bid-
ding, the Comelec spokesper-
son added that they would
proceed with the negotiated
procurement pursuant to Re-
public Act 9184 or the Govern-
ment Procurement Reform Act.
“Kung titignan po yung
timelines ay kailangan ma-ac-
complish po natin ito bago po
mag-December. Kaya po, may-
roon po natin kung sakali man
po na darating sa punto na baka
po mag-fail pa rin ito ay tutungo
po tayo sa (If we look at our time-
lines, we need to accomplish this
before December. In the event
that we come to a point where
we have a failed bidding, we
would resort to) negotiated pro-
curement,” Laudiangco added.
The project's Approved Bud-
get for the Contract (ABC) is
PHP465.8 million ■
BY FILANE MIKEE
CERVANTES
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The House of
Representatives will push for
a bill that will establish fishing
shelters and ports in nine occu-
pied maritime features in the
West Philippine Sea (WPS) and
the Philippine Rise.
House Bill 9011 will involve
the islands of Lawak, Kota,
Likas, Pag-asa, Parola, Panata,
Patag, Rizal Reef, and Ayungin
Shoal to serve as safe spots for
fishers where they can take ref-
uge during unforeseen circum-
stances, according to a news re-
lease on Tuesday.
Bill author Agri Party-list
Rep. Wilbert Lee said the shel-
ters and ports would also store
gears, supplies and communi-
cation devices.
He said the measure is
BuCor, local school to
provide NBP inmates
with art education classes
BY BENJAMIN PULTA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Persons deprived
of liberty (PDLs) at the coun-
try’s largest penal facility will
soon be provided with art edu-
cation by a local high school, the
Bureau of Corrections (BuCor)
said Wednesday.
In a statement, BuCor Direc-
tor General Gregorio Pio Cat-
apang Jr. said the agency has
partnered with the Muntinlupa
National High School (MNHS)
for an extension program of the
school’s Senior High School-
Arts and Design Track at the
Medium Security Camp of the
New Bilibid Prison (NBP).
Under the program, PDL stu-
dents shall receive formal educa-
www.canadianinquirer.net
aligned with Executive Or-
der (EO) 57 that created the
National Maritime Council
(NMC) and renamed and re-
organized the National Coast
Watch Council (NCWC), noting
that it would uphold national
sovereignty and ease the plight
of Filipino fisherfolk.
"This measure can sustain-
ably ensure and send a loud
message that the WPS and the
Philippine Rise are ours," he
said. “Our territorial waters are
vulnerable, so are the lives of
our fishermen -- our food secu-
rity soldiers.”
Meanwhile, Iloilo 5th Dis-
trict Rep. Raul Tupas, chair-
person of the Committee on
National Defense and Security,
lauded the creation of the NMC
as a "strategic move" to advance
the country's national security,
territorial integrity, and sover-
eign rights amid rising tensions
between the Philippines and
tion in Senior High School with
Arts and Design Track equiva-
lent to the Senior High School
program with Arts and Design
Track offered by other education
institutions in free society.
The program is in compli-
ance with Republic Act 10533,
also known as the Enhanced
Basic Education Act or 2013.
In his message to the poten-
tial beneficiaries of the pro-
gram, Catapang told the PDLs
that BuCor's mission is to re-
form them and help them “be a
better person this time around.”
“We will bring out the best
in you,” he said, noting that the
almost PHP700,000 proceeds
from the sale of PDLs’ paint-
ings during recent exhibits at
the lobby of the Supreme Court
only prove that “all of you have
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
China over territorial disputes.
He said a central body in
charge of formulating national
strategies for specific maritime
concerns is a significant ap-
proach to China's aggressions
in the WPS.
"We support President Fer-
dinand R. Marcos Jr.’s move to
reorganize the National Mari-
time Council," Tupas said in a
statement, also on Tuesday.
"We must protect our fish-
erfolk making a living in the
West Philippine Sea, our Coast
Guard and military personnel
who protect our exclusive zone,
and, as always, be firm with our
sovereignty based on accepted
international laws," he added.
The members of the NMC are
the Secretaries of the Depart-
ments of Defense, Agriculture,
Energy, Environment and Nat-
ural Resources and Foreign Af-
fairs; and the National Security
Adviser.■
their own talents somehow.”
“All you have to do is discov-
er it for yourself, and we will
help you enhance it for your fu-
ture and prepare you until you
have finished serving your sen-
tence,” Catapang said.
“Who knows, we might find
a modern Amorsolo (Fernando
Amorsolo, known as the Grand
Old Man of Philippine Art)
among our PDLs with a talent
given by God,” he added.
Catapang thanked Dr. Flo-
rento Marmeto, MNHS princi-
pal, and Dr. Eric Fungo, Public
School District Supervisor of
Department of Education - Na-
tional Capital Region, for forg-
ing the partnership that will
“strengthen the reformation
program” being undertaken by
the agency. ■
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
DOH focuses vax efforts vs.
pertussis on most vulnerable
BY MA. TERESA
MONTEMAYOR
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Department
of Health (DOH) on Monday
said it would prioritize the
protection of the vulnerable
population against pertussis or
whooping cough.
The DOH made this remark
amid reports that free booster
shots for children aged 5 and
above, adolescents, adults, and
pregnant women are not avail-
able in health centers.
"In a situation with limited
resources, the DOH is choosing
to protect the most vulnerable
first and is open to exploring
ways to make access to the vac-
cines easier for the other popu-
lation groups," the DOH state-
NPC sets new requirements
for PH privacy certification
BY RAYMOND CARL DELA
CRUZ
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The National Pri-
vacy Commission (NPC) has
issued a circular setting the re-
quirements for the Philippine
Privacy Mark Certification Pro-
gram (PPMCP) to boost person-
al data protection in the country.
In a statement on Monday, the
NPC said Circular 2023-05 out-
lines the prerequisites for organi-
zations and certification bodies
participating in the PPMCP —an
initiative that aims to assess public
ment read.
It said a total of 568 pertus-
sis cases with 40 deaths were
recorded as of March 16. About
393 of the cases are below one
year old.
"Choosing to focus vaccina-
tion efforts on the youngest (as
early as 6 weeks of age) and with
a multi-purpose vaccine (e.g.,
pentavalent which protects not
just against pertussis but also
diphtheria, tetanus, hepatitis B,
and haemophilus influenza B)
gives multivalent protection to
this age group and as they grow
older," it said.
The DOH said pertussis can
be treated with antibiotics and
may last four to 14 days.
Apart from vaccination, it
can be prevented by cover-
ing coughs and sneezes, and
through regular and proper
and private organizations to en-
sure the secure and protected pro-
cessing of personal information.
Under the circular, personal
information controllers (PIC) or
personal information processors
(PIP) seeking PPMCP certifica-
tion must be certified with ISO/
IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27701
standards for information security
management systems (ISMS) and
privacy information management
system (PIMS), respectively.
“Certification bodies must
also meet these standards,
along with ISO/IEC 17021-1 for
accreditation,” it said.
The policy took effect on
handwashing.
Pertussis starts as a mild
cough and cold that lasts about
two weeks, and is followed by
paroxysms or fits of coughing
which lasts up to six weeks.
DOH Undersecretary Eric
Tayag earlier said up to 1 mil-
lion vaccines to be procured
through the United Nations
International Children's Emer-
gency Fund are expected to ar-
rive in June.
He said more than PHP8 bil-
lion has been allocated for the
procurement of all types of vac-
cines “for the Filipino people.”
Vaccine hesitancy
Former DOH secretary and
now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin
said vaccine hesitancy is the
reason behind the rising cases
of pertussis, as well as the re-
surgence of polio and measles
March 15, it added.
Meanwhile, the NPC also an-
nounced the issuance of Circu-
lar 2023-06 or the ‘Security of
Personal Data in the Govern-
ment and Private Sector’ which
updated the requirements for
the security of personal data
processed by a PIC or PIP.
It also sets provisions on the
storage and access of personal
data and requires PICs or PIPs
to implement a business con-
tinuity plan to mitigate poten-
tially disruptive events.
This provision took effect on
March 30 and repeals NPC Circular
No. 16-01, the privacy body said. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
Philippine News
Mothers bring their babies for pentavalent vaccination to a health center in
Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City on Friday (March 22, 2024). (JOAN BONDOC/PNA)
cases in the country.
"Itong mga nangyayari
(Whatever is happening)
during the current adminis-
tration is actually an offshoot
of some mistakes committed
during the previous admin-
istration. So siyempre kapag
denimonized mo iyong isang
bakuna at iyong mga pekeng
eksperto ay mamamayagpag,
mako-confuse iyong tao (So if
you demonize a vaccine and let
fake experts prevail, the public
will be confused),” Garin said in
a press conference at the House
DA: No cause..
❰❰ 3 pinakukuluan before
kainin ang baka at
baboy (we're boiling
beef and pork before we eat
it), so the virus has less chance
to survive because of the heat.
But we do not encourage them,
PBBM creates 2..
❰❰ 4 Special economic
zones are defined in
the law as “selected
areas with highly developed or
which have the potential to be
developed into agro-industrial,
Industrial tourist/recreational,
commercial banking, invest-
ment and financial centers.”
An ecozone may contain in-
7
of Representatives.
Garin said vaccine coverage
fell from 98 percent to roughly
30 percent.
She said the current admin-
istration of President Ferdi-
nand R. Marcos Jr. should not
be blamed for the lapses of the
previous leaders of the DOH.
Garin urged the public to
get vaccinated to prevent the
spread of pertussis.
"Pertussis kills and vaccina-
tion saves lives,” she said. (with
a report from Filane Mikee Cer-
vantes/PNA) ■
that's why we're very careful in
NMIS (National Meat Inspec-
tion Service)," he added.
Palabrica said affected ani-
mals should be buried for dis-
posal to prevent possible spread
through consumption. ■
dustrial estates, export process-
ing zones, free trade zones, and
tourist/recreational centers.
IT parks are hubs entitled to
all benefits given to special eco-
nomic zones to make it more
attractive to foreign investors
who would want to set up their
own business process outsourc-
ing offices. ■
8 Philippine News
Correspondent/Hosts
Arianne Grace Lacanilao
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Member
More aggressive health insurance
system for elderlies pushed
BY FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The chairperson of the
House Ways and Means Committee is
eyeing a more aggressive seniors health
insurance system, using around PHP40
billion in excess funds based on the De-
partment of Health's (DOH) absorptive
capacity as a potential financing source.
In a statement on Wednesday, Albay
Rep. Joey Salceda said he is exploring a
separate insurance fund for acute or cat-
astrophic health care among the elderly.
"The unfilled gap is in acute or cata-
strophic health care. Without insurance,
such medical expenses can be ruinous to
ordinary families with senior citizens.
The very limited case rates under Phil-
Health’s (Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation) existing packages simply
won’t do," Salceda said.
He said the DOH unspent funds can
be allocated to finance senior citizen
healthcare in addition to PhilHealth's
excess reserves.
"The risk profile is different so the fund
also has to be different. The fiscal resources
for health are not yet exhausted. The absorp-
tive capacity of the DOH to spend it in full
typically falls short. There’s usually around
PHP40 billion in excess funds that can be
used to support a more aggressive seniors
health insurance system," he added.
Salceda said the primary issue in se-
nior citizen welfare is how to address
increasing needs for specialized services
while balancing decreasing personal in-
Duty Free PH offers 5% discount
for OFWs, balikbayan
BY MA. TERESA MONTEMAYOR
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Duty Free Philippines
(DFP) on Monday announced a 5-per-
cent discount for overseas Filipino work-
ers (OFWs) and balikbayan at its flagship
store, Fiestamall, in Parañaque City.
OFWs and balikbayans (Filipinos vis-
iting or returning after a period of living
abroad) can avail of the discount start-
ing on April 2, by presenting their Balik-
bayan Plus Card and passport at the
Customer Registration Counter.
www.canadianinquirer.net
comes due to retirement.
"That naturally produces a gap in per-
sonal capacity to finance not just health-
care, but even basic necessities and the
little pleasures that come with dignified
old age," he said.
Salceda said the average senior makes
around PHP3,000 per month, which
keeps around 47 percent of them below
the poverty line.
"The welfare gap --or what we need to
give all seniors a decent life– is around
PHP9.1 trillion," he said.
Salceda further said around 18 percent
of the welfare gap, or about PHP1.64 tril-
lion, is the healthcare financing gap.
Within that healthcare financing gap, he
said, PhilHealth already devotes its resourc-
Elderly beneficiaries sit in line during the social pension distribution of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development in partnership with the QC Social Services Development Department and
the Office for the Senior Citizens Affairs in Barangay Bahay Toro, Quezon City on Tuesday (Dec. 13,
2022). (ROBERT OSWALD P. ALFILER/PNA)
To be eligible for the Balikbayan Plus
Card, balikbayans must present their
passport.
"We are delighted to extend this special
discount to our hardworking OFWs and
beloved Balikbayans," DFP Chief Oper-
ating Officer Vicente Pelagio Angala said.
"This initiative demonstrates our ap-
preciation for their contributions and
welcomes them back home with exciting
perks and benefits,” he added.
Apart from the Balikbayan Program
benefits, cardholders can enjoy exclu-
sive discounts and privileges at DFP
partner merchants such as Kingsford
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
es to primary and supportive healthcare, but
the unfilled gap on catastrophic healthcare
expenditure needs to be addressed.
"The problem of access to senior citi-
zen healthcare is structural, but it should
be addressed alongside other issues with
senior citizen welfare," he added.
In March, the Departments of Trade
and Industry, of Agriculture and of Ener-
gy signed a joint administrative order in-
creasing the special discount for senior
citizens and persons with disabilities
(PWDs) on the purchase of basic neces-
sities and prime commodities (BNPC)
from PHP65 to PHP125 per week.
This translates to a new purchase cap
of PHP2,500, compared to the previous
limit of PHP1,300 per week. ■
Hotel, Holiday Inn Express, and Isecure
Networks and Business Solution Inc.
Angala noted the Balikbayan Plus Card
aims to enhance the shopping experience
for OFWs, enabling them to enjoy addi-
tional savings and exclusive offers while
shopping at Duty Free Philippines.
The card also grants access to dis-
counts and privileges at select partner
establishments, providing a VIP experi-
ence for returning Filipinos.
Duty Free Philippines Corporation is an at-
tached agency of the Department of Tourism
that allots its earnings to the development of
national tourism programs and projects. ■
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
Making Greenland a full part of North
America should be a priority for Canada
BY ALEXANDER DALZIEL
Policy Options
The U.S., the E.U. and Ice-
land are all increasing ties with
Greenland. It wants to work
strategically with Canada. It’s a
critical opportunity.
Greenland’s geopolitical val-
ue is on the rise and its interna-
tional vision includes Canada.
It is time for Canada to step up
in response and not get left be-
hind by its allies.
In February, Greenland re-
leased an Arctic strategy, then
followed it in March with a full-
court press to promote its min-
ing sector at the Prospectors and
Developers Association of Cana-
da convention, one of the world’s
largest industry symposiums.
Greenland is part of the King-
dom of Denmark. In the Green-
landic language of Kalaallisut,
it is called Kalaallit Nunaat. It
already exercises most domes-
tic governance responsibilities.
Copenhagen has also given it
leadership on the Arctic and a
presence at NATO.
Greenland wants to achieve
full independence in the long
term. While the relationship
is not tension-free, Greenland
and Denmark have a political
framework to guide that path.
Should that happen, it will be a
microstate with a macro terri-
tory. Inhabited by about 56,500
people, its land mass is bigger
than the entire U.S. Eastern
Seaboard.
The United States, the Eu-
ropean Union (E.U.) and Ice-
land are all increasing ties with
Greenland at this critical time.
Canada should do the same, or
even more, especially in terms
of furthering diplomatic rela-
tions, fostering greater multi-
national Inuit collaboration,
helping with security and in-
creasing bilateral trade.
Greenland’s Arctic strategy
has key goals for its relationship
Canada News
with Canada. It wants more hu-
man mobility, trade and com-
munication. It wants to engage
more across Northern Canada,
especially with Inuit Nunangat,
the Inuit homeland across Yu-
kon, the Northwest Territories,
Nunavut, northern Quebec and
Labrador. Mining and educa-
tion are two of its priorities.
Sadly, though, the U.S. and
the E.U. are showing more ini-
tiative than Canada in increas-
ing ties.
In 2023, Greenland signed a
strategic partnership with the
E.U., centred on linking its min-
eral deposits to the E.U.’s ambi-
tion to increase energy self-suf-
ficiency and diversify suppliers.
The U.S. is approaching
Greenland with renewed seri-
ousness of purpose. At the pros-
pectors’ convention, senior of-
ficials called it a key partner in
building resilient supply chains,
and U.S. companies are backing
that up with investment dollars.
Both the U.S. and E.U. are
looking at this through the lens
of their strategic competition
with China, which dominates
the mining and processing of
the minerals and rare-earth
elements that are essential to
manufacturing digital hard-
ware and energy-transition
technology.
Geoeconomics, therefore,
may be Greenland’s path to in-
dependence. Its mining sector
today is small, but its formi-
dable terrain holds an array of
critical mineral and rare-earth
deposits and it is seeking part-
ners and investors to mine
them in socially and environ-
mentally sustainable ways.
Canada’s three interests
Canada has at least three
distinct interests in increasing
ties.
First is economic security.
Canada also wants to be less
dependent on Chinese supply
chains. As a major source of
mining expertise, Canada can
participate fully in Greenland’s
economic development and
has the know-how to overcome
the challenges of resource ex-
traction in remote locations.
Second, Greenland is a large
piece of the North American
security puzzle. Securing Cana-
dian airspace and sea lanes will
focus more on Greenland as the
Arctic sea ice recedes and more
ships ply northern waters. The
U.S. has led this relationship
since the Second World War, but
Canadian fighter jets regularly
fly out of the U.S. Pituffik Space
Base in northern Greenland.
Third, co-operation with
Greenland advances Indige-
nous reconciliation and there-
fore strategic economic com-
petitiveness in Canada. The
geoeconomic case for reconcili-
ation is strong. Presentations at
the prospectors’ conference de-
scribed a world in which success
in the mining sector will hinge
on relationships with Indige-
nous communities as co-own-
ers and co-decision-makers.
Canada and Greenland are
home to the majority of the
world’s Inuit and together
could create a well of knowl-
edge-sharing and sustainable
practices to see projects ad-
vance for the long term.
A view from Nuuk, Greenland (BOGOMIL SHOPOV - БОГО/UNSPLASH)
www.canadianinquirer.net
What could be next?
Greenland has made its case
and calls for more from Canada.
How might we respond?
First, the federal government
should immediately open a con-
sulate in Nuuk, the capital. The
U.S. and Iceland have already
done so and the E.U. is about to
join them.
Staff it with a Kalaal-
lisut-speaking and Dan-
ish-speaking team and include
space for the Inuit Nunangat,
provinces, territories and other
First Nations. Like the U.S., that
consulate should have a for-
eign-aid budget to ensure Ca-
nadian presence across Green-
landic society.
Second, build on the work
being done by the Inuit to sup-
port more transborder social
interconnections among Inuit
Nunangat and Kalaallit Nunaat.
Third, Canada should ad-
vocate for full participation in
Greenland’s security. The big
goal would be entry into the
U.S.-Danish-Greenlandic de-
fence agreement – focusing on
a bolstered Canadian contri-
bution of maritime, aerospace
and comprehensive security
resources.
As well, the Canadian Rang-
ers and the Canadian Coast
9
Guard Auxiliary have experi-
ence and expertise that would
help the Greenlandic govern-
ment set up its own civilian se-
curity structures. Canada might
also call together national and
subnational actors for a discus-
sion among U.S., Greenland and
Iceland on the evolving security
needs of the extended region.
Finally, there is trade. Otta-
wa should immediately lead a
bilateral effort to bring down
barriers. More strategically, Ot-
tawa might lead a quadrilateral
push with the U.S. and Mexico
to examine comprehensively
removing trade barriers and
paving the way, should Green-
land so desire, for it to join the
Canada-United States-Mexico
Agreement.
Greenland is a neglected part
of North America’s geography,
with a rich Indigenous and
Nordic heritage. Its geopolitical
relevance is rising for Canada.
We don’t even need to knock:
Greenland has opened the
door, and Canada should walk
through it. ■
This article first appeared
on Policy Options and is repub-
lished here under a Creative
Commons license.
10
What needs to happen next for Canada to
have a successful school food program
BY AMBERLEY T. RUETZ,
University of Saskatchewan,
RACHEL ENGLER-
STRINGER, University of
Saskatchewan
The Conversation
Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau has announced the next
federal budget will include $1 bil-
lion over five years for a national
school food program, a historic
move that will mean Canada is no
longer the only G7 country with-
out a national program.
The government says this
new funding will augment ex-
isting programs in the provinc-
es and territories and aims to
reach 400,000 more students in
Canada.
To do so, the federal govern-
ment will begin negotiating
transfer agreements with the
provinces and territories, simi-
lar to its child-care agreements,
that will include key metrics to
track progress and hold govern-
ments to account.
We anticipate these transfer
agreements will be informed
by the forthcoming National
School Food Policy, which is ex-
pected soon.
As the transfer agreements
are being negotiated, we hope
that each province and territo-
ry will convene an inter-min-
isterial working group to pro-
vide comprehensive support to
school food programs given they
are relevant to the ministries of
education, health, agriculture
and economic development.
As researchers and co-chairs
of the Canadian Association
for Food Studies’ School Food
Working Group, there are three
things we think should happen
next to set Canada’s school food
program up for success.
Canada News
Potential paths to success
As a late-comer to estab-
lishing a National School Food
Program, Canada has a unique
opportunity to learn from the
missteps of other countries.
The first priority should be
evaluating the health, educa-
tion and economic benefits of
programs through rigorous
prospective studies that follow
children and their families over
time while also conducting re-
search examining program im-
plementation.
Part of this research should
include evaluating universal
free school meals programs
compared to “pay-what-you-
can” models.
Overall, there is a body of
research showing that offering
universal free school meals re-
moves stigma, reduces program
administration time and costs,
reduces per unit meal costs,
eliminates eligibility errors,
boosts student attendance and
achievement, reduces rates of
school suspensions and other
forms of discipline and increas-
es participation.
But similar findings do not
yet exist for the “pay-what-you-
can” model because it is unique
to Canada. These outstanding
questions include:
1. Will schools in less affluent
areas with smaller populations
be able to sustain pay-what-
you-can where economies of
scale and parental contribu-
tions are limited?
2. What level of student par-
ticipation reduces stigma and
increases program acceptance?
Kitchens and trained staff
The second priority, as we’ve
learned through our own re-
search, is that adequate school
food infrastructure and well-
trained school food staff are
key to success. Many schools
in Canada lack basic kitchen
equipment and some schools
are without a kitchen altogether.
This doesn’t necessarily re-
quire building a kitchen in ev-
ery school, but rather, where
possible, retrofitting current
industrial kitchens available in
a community so they can pro-
duce high-quality meals that
can be delivered and heated
at schools. Individual schools
simply need the equipment to
prepare vegetables and fruit
and to heat and serve food.
There is also a need to invest
in comprehensive training of
school food staff so they have the
cooking skills to prepare hun-
dreds of meals from basic ingre-
dients, understand child nutri-
tion and can meet the wide range
of cultural food expectations of
Canada’s diverse communities.
This also means paying workers
a living wage so they see school
food jobs as a career path.
Policymakers, school food
program managers and school
boards should consider first
conducting a school food infra-
www.canadianinquirer.net
structure audit to assess where
infrastructure supports are
needed to ensure success at all
their schools.
Our forthcoming book on
school food programs in Canada
illustrates these requirements
through a series of case studies
on promising school food pro-
gram delivery models. We’ve
found some of the most cost-ef-
fective models are in urban ar-
eas where schools can work to-
gether to produce meals.
This model, however, re-
quires initial investment, but it
will bring meal cost savings for
decades to come.
On a cautionary note, how-
ever, as we’ve learned from
the United States, if lunches
are not adequately funded and
prepared too far from schools,
it can lead to the production
of highly processed heat-and-
serve meals.
The key is to strike a balance
with fresh, whole food meals
made in local centralized produc-
tion kitchens where feasible and
made in individual schools where
centralization is not practical.
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
Procuring local food
Our third priority is food
procurement policies. For a na-
tional school food program to
support local and sustainable
food systems and economies,
it’s important to have targets
and policies in place to procure
food locally. Provinces and ter-
ritories could set individualized
local food procurement targets,
such as setting minimum per-
centages for local food, based
on their unique food systems.
Policies that enable cultur-
ally important practices like
harvesting traditional or local-
ly grown foods in Indigenous
communities are also needed.
Policymakers should review
regulations and competitive
bidding processes that could
restrict a school’s ability to pur-
chase and source locally grown
and harvested foods.
Investing in more local food
infrastructure can aggregate
food and provide last-mile deliv-
ery, something we know is crucial
for connecting local producers
with schools. This is important
to ensure programs contrib-
ute meaningfully to economic
development in all Canadian
communities. Overall, universal
free school meals (breakfast and
lunch for students regardless of
income) have an impressive re-
turn on investment at two-and-
a-half to seven times the return
in human health and economic
benefits in comparable high-in-
come countries.
A national school food pro-
gram can contribute to building
a healthier, more equitable soci-
ety. Let’s ensure we make it the
program children deserve. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
Tackling the causes of crime, not sending
more people to jail, is the only way to fight it
BY IRVIN WALLER,
L’Université d’Ottawa/
University of Ottawa,
JEFFREY BRADLEY,
Carleton University
The Conversation
Canadians want to fight
crime, but Conservative Party
proposals to increase incarcer-
ation aren’t likely to work.
Based on our analysis for
the Canadian Centre for Safer
Communities, there is a way
to significantly reduce vio-
lent crime within the next five
years. It requires becoming not
“tough on crime,” but “smart on
crime” before it happens.
This approach requires gov-
ernments to invest in enough
proven prevention measures to
greatly reduce injuries, trauma
and loss of life stemming from
violent crime.
Cities like Glasgow in Scot-
land have demonstrated a 50
per cent reduction in violence
in just three years by appoint-
ing a senior official to expand
the use of proven programs.
The city’s community safety
plan diagnosed the risk factors
and focused proven prevention
initiatives on those most vul-
nerable to violence.
The U.K. government is repli-
cating the Glasgow model across
the country and evaluating
whether it’s working. The city of
London has adopted the Glasgow
model via its Office for Violence
Reduction, and in four years has
seen a 25 per cent reduction in
homicides and robberies.
Horner recommendations
Thirty years ago, Bob Horn-
er, a staunch Conservative and
Marcos creates organizing..
❰❰ 4 Budget and Manage-
ment (DBM), and the
Presidential Commu-
nications Office (PCO).
Local chief executives of lo-
calities selected to serve as sites
for the ASEAN 2026 hosting
may also be invited as special
members of the ASEAN NOC,
Marcos said in his order.
The ASEAN NOC is mandat-
former RCMP officer, chaired
a parliamentary committee on
crime prevention in Canada. He
was blunt: “If locking up those
who violate the law contributed
to safer societies, then the Unit-
ed States should be the safest
country in the world.”
But Horner did not just criti-
cize, he made recommendations
on how to prevent crime. He
correctly called for an official at
a senior level to be solely tasked
with putting effective preven-
tion into action. Unfortunately,
two decades later, there is still
no such senior official respon-
sible for reducing violence and
advocating for the smart invest-
ments needed to do so.
Horner also called for an an-
nual investment in crime pre-
vention equivalent to five per
cent of the expenditures spent
on policing and criminal jus-
tice. No government in Canada
has reached this modest target.
Instead, a rising $18 billion is
spent on policing annually and
another $6 billion on prisons as
violent crime ticks back up.
Both the Jean Chrétien and
Stephen Harper governments
allocated the equivalent of one
per cent of their federal polic-
ing and prison expenditures
to a strategy that consisted of
little more than small, short-
term crime prevention projects
unlikely to influence national
rates of violence.
Public Safety Canada’s own
evaluation of its national crime
prevention strategy recognizes
two challenges: First, the work
of crime prevention is split be-
tween two departmental branch-
es — emergency management
and crime prevention. Second,
ed to formulate and submit to
the President a master plan to
ensure the orderly and seam-
less hosting of the ASEAN 2026.
Likewise, the order mandat-
ed the creation of the Office of
the Director-General for Oper-
ations under the Office of the
President which will serve as
the implementing arm of the
ASEAN NOC and head of the
it lacks the technological infra-
structure to monitor and learn
from the results of programs
aimed at preventing crime.
Public Safety Canada’s an-
nual spending on expanding
proven prevention programs
that tackle the causes of crime
are woefully short of the equiv-
alent of five per cent of its annu-
al expenditures for the RCMP
and Corrections Canada. Not
surprisingly, Public Safety’s de-
partmental plan shows it does
not meet its own targets for re-
ducing crime nationally.
Preventing violence
We have stronger evidence
today than in 1993 on what
prevents violent crime before
it happens. That evidence is
publicly available from various
sources, including the United
States Justice Department’s
Crime Solutions platform.
As part of our analysis, we
examined Crime Solutions and
several similar platforms to ex-
plain to decision-makers how
these programs are proven to
stop violence and how to imple-
NOC Executive Committee.
The ASEAN NOC will have
seven committees, namely, the
Security, Peace and Order, and
Emergency Preparedness and
Response Committee to be led
by the DILG; Infrastructure
Committee to be led by the
DPWH; Transport and Tele-
communications Committee to
be led by DOTr and Department
www.canadianinquirer.net
Canada News
ment them.
Public Safety Canada has a
crime prevention inventory
based on results from some of
its own short-term prevention
projects, and illustrates the
savings in tax dollars. The U.K.,
meantime, is spending $350
million over the next 10 years
just to share their effective pre-
vention strategies.
Key components of these
proven solutions include:
• Hiring and training social
workers and mentors to reach
out to young men prone to in-
volvement in violence and to
assist with trauma;
• Recruiting case workers to
join surgeons in hospital emer-
gency rooms to ensure that vic-
tims of violence do not make
repeat appearances;
• Helping young men with
problem-solving skills and
emotional regulation to control
the anger that can lead to inju-
ries to others;
• Providing opportunities
for job training, mentoring and
jobs in areas where the violence
of Information and Communi-
cations Technology; Tourism
Hospitality, Tours, Social Events
and Site Enhancement Commit-
tee to be led by DOT; Finance,
Budget and Procurement Com-
mittee to be led by DBM; Busi-
ness and Investment Promotion
to be led by DTI; and Media Af-
fairs and Strategic Communica-
tions to be led by the PCO.
11
originates;
• Participation in courses
that prevent sexual violence
by shifting social norms about
consent in schools and encour-
aging students to take action as
bystanders at universities.
Community safety planning
Ontario changed the name
of its policing law in 2019 to
the Community Safety and Po-
licing Act with a new section
that requires municipalities to
develop community safety and
well-being plans.
Success depends on help
from professionals, such as
the Canadian Centre for Safer
Communities, to identify strat-
egies that will tackle the risk
factors that contribute to crime.
Efforts must be focused on get-
ting measurable reductions in
crime, such as a decrease in po-
lice reports and fewer injured
victims entering hospitals.
The federal government
must accelerate this change in
approach by appointing a se-
nior official for violence pre-
vention. Ottawa must also de-
velop professional community
safety planners, raise aware-
ness nationally about proven
solutions and provide tools to
achieve and track results.
Smart investing of $1 billion
a year in prevention by all or-
ders of government — or the
equivalent of five per cent of the
billions spent on policing and
punishment — would signifi-
cantly reduce injuries, trauma
and lives lost while protecting
citizens.■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
During the 43rd ASEAN
Summit in Jakarta last year, the
President accepted the regional
bloc's request to be the ASEAN
chair in 2026, or a year earlier
than scheduled.
The ASEAN chair is responsi-
ble not just for the leaders-level
summits but all the other gath-
erings for the bloc. ■
 12
The legal system must show more
compassion to survivors of sexual abuse
BY DIANE CROCKER, Saint
Mary’s University, DEBORAH
NORRIS, Mount Saint Vincent
University, MEGHAN GOSSE,
Dalhousie University
The Conversation
In May 2018, several men
drugged, kidnapped and assault-
ed a woman named Carrie Low
in a trailer outside Halifax. Low
reported the incident to police
and a specialized nurse com-
pleted a sexual assault exam.
The police only collected her
clothes as evidence 10 days after
the assault. They never went to
the crime scene and were not re-
sponsive when Low pressed for
updates. She has been fighting
for justice ever since.
Low’s experience highlights
the challenges faced by survi-
vors of gender-based violence
when seeking justice. Survi-
vors often feel retraumatized
in criminal proceedings. They
feel unsupported, disrespected
and doubted by justice person-
nel. They can feel pressured in
family court. To make matters
worse, they often don’t feel saf-
er after turning to the legal sys-
tem for help.
These issues are exacerbat-
ed for Indigenous, racialized
and 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals,
as well as people who are new-
comers to Canada.
Even professionals working
in the system have concerns
about these systemic issues.
April marks Sexual Assault
Awareness Month. Jurisdic-
tions across Canada have im-
plemented programs and poli-
cies to address these problems.
Governments are dedicating
significant resources to imple-
ment recommendations from
Nova Scotia’s Mass Casualty
Commission, the National Ac-
MWSS: Mitigation efforts..
❰❰ 3 Sports Complex in
District 5 (Paco) and
JCC Sports Complex
in District 6 (Pandacan).
The Tondo Sports Complex
in District 1, which also has a
Canada News
tion Plan to End Gender-Based
Violence and the Inquiry on
Missing and Murdered Indige-
nous Women and Girls.
These initiatives acknowl-
edge gender-based violence as
an endemic human rights vio-
lation and a significant public
health and safety concern, and
they do address some systemic
shortcomings.
However, our work in the
field led us to wonder whether
these measures would help sur-
vivors find justice. What does
justice mean to survivors? And
what changes would provide
them with a better sense of jus-
tice? Our research project ex-
plored these questions.
Support, validation and
agency
We interviewed 36 women
who endured gender-based vio-
lence, including sexual and do-
mestic violence. They all sought
justice through the criminal
system or family court. We
shared their stories in a work-
shop with other survivors to
help us identify characteristics
of stories that felt just and those
that did not.
Through this work, it became
clear that our research par-
ticipants equated justice with
support, validation and agency;
seeking justice did not feel just
or fair without them. Justice
may be less about processes or
procedural outcomes and more
about how the system treats
survivors in their journey.
Validation and agency are
necessary components for jus-
tice to be seen as served. These
values do more than meet needs
or increase satisfaction; they
fundamentally provide justice.
Support generally came
from individuals who cared,
even if they could not control
outcomes. In some cases, one
swimming pool, is currently
closed for renovation.
Lacuna also ordered the imple-
mentation of scheduling on a first-
come, first-served basis to avoid
congestion in these facilities.
person who expressed genu-
ine concern made all the dif-
ference. An encounter with
even one person who offered
kindness and compassion left a
lasting impression on survivors
during their most vulnerable
moments. Support comes from
a focus on their needs rather
than the system’s.
Survivors felt validated when
someone in the system let them
know that what had happened
to them was wrong and not their
fault. This mattered even if the
individual could not change a
process or an outcome.
Support and validation came
from a variety of places, including
victim services, community orga-
nizations, and at times, police.
The women we interviewed
experienced more justice when
they could retain some level of
agency. They described how be-
ing stripped of that agency was a
shocking realization of how lit-
tle they mattered. Having agen-
cy was not about deciding what
would happen to the person
who perpetrated harm. Wom-
en felt they had agency when
they could act independently
The mayor also ordered the
deployment of lifeguards in these
pools to ensure swimmers' safety.
At the same time, Lacuna dis-
couraged residents from swim-
ming in creeks and in the Base-
www.canadianinquirer.net
and make some decisions about
their own life.
Often, in our teaching and
community-work, we hear
people assume that survivors
equate revenge and punish-
ment with justice. While some
survivors do want punishment,
our research suggests that jus-
tice happens when women ex-
perience support, validation
and can exercise agency. When
these are absent, the system
replicates the injustice of the
abuse already experienced. The
desire for punishment may,
sometimes, reflect the lack of
alternatives.
A more human-centred
justice system
What would the legal system
look like if support, validation
and agency were underpin-
ning principles of justice? The
2019 report of the Restorative
Inquiry into the Nova Scotia
Home for Colored Children of-
fers some insight. It stated that
there must be:
“A fundamental reorientation
of systems centred on human be-
ings — designed and structured
in ways that would be responsive
co and Dolomite beaches, citing
health risks.
The Department of Envi-
ronment and Natural Resourc-
es has declared the Dolomite
Beach along Roxas Boulevard
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
to the relational nature of hu-
man experience and needs.”
The nature and magnitude of
this shift is enormous.
Our research supports the
need for a shift to a more hu-
man-centred system. However,
this will require time, politi-
cal will and resources. Our re-
search shows that even one per-
son who supports or validates a
victim’s feelings can shape their
justice-seeking journey.
Being given some agency on
some decisions, can change
whether survivors feel they
were treated fairly or not. Even
within a flawed system, those
who feel believed, supported
and validated were more likely
to feel they had gotten justice.
Being able to make simple de-
cisions like where and when to
tell their story to system offi-
cials can go a long way.
As simple as it sounds, our re-
search shows that women had
positive experiences seeking jus-
tice when they experienced sup-
port, agency and validation. They
felt believed and that their con-
cerns were being taken seriously.
Even if other individuals could
not change outcomes or fix flawed
procedures or policies, they could
still have a deep impact.
With these experiences in
mind, we suggest that those in the
system need to take greater ac-
count of how their actions can af-
fect victims of abuse. Individuals
can make a meaningful difference
with relative ease and simple ac-
tions that mean a lot to survivors.
This will not be enough, but it’s a
good place to start. ■
Sue Bookchin, Executive Di-
rector of Be the Peace Institute,
co-authored this article.
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
not fit for swimming while the
Baseco beach waters have a
high coliform content, which
can cause various diseases.
(with report from Ferdinand Pa-
tinio/PNA) ■
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
How Trump’s lawyers would fail
my constitutional law class with their
Supreme Court brief on criminal immunity
BY WAYNE UNGER,
Quinnipiac University
The Conversation
Former President Donald
Trump claims that the presi-
dent of the United States is ab-
solutely immune from criminal
prosecution.
On March 19, 2024, Trump
filed his brief with the U.S.
Supreme Court in the case
brought by special counsel
Jack Smith for Trump’s alleged
criminal attempts to overturn
the 2020 election.
Trump argued in the brief
that the Supreme Court must
dismiss the criminal indict-
ment against him because his
alleged conduct constituted
official acts by a president and
that presidents must be afford-
ed absolute immunity for their
official acts.
To support his contention,
Trump cites Supreme Court
cases, the Federalist Papers,
and other writings from legal
scholars. Trump argues that
these documents show presi-
dents hold absolute immunity
from criminal prosecution.
But as a constitutional law
scholar, I know that those writ-
ings, in fact, say the opposite.
They say U.S. presidents are not
absolutely immune from crimi-
nal prosecution.
If a student of mine had sub-
mitted a brief making the ar-
guments that Trump and his
lawyers assert in their Supreme
Court filing, I would have given
them an F.
Sitting in judgment
It is standard practice for a
person involved in a lawsuit
and their lawyers to quote past
cases and other legal writing to
support their arguments.
It is also common for liti-
World News
gants to quote the Supreme
Court justices themselves – ei-
ther from their past opinions or
other writings, such as law re-
view articles – to advance their
arguments.
But it is not standard practice to
characterize those cases and doc-
uments as saying one thing when
they say the complete opposite.
Trump begins by citing Mar-
bury v. Madison from 1803, which
is one of the court’s most conse-
quential cases. He argues that
Marbury v. Madison said that a
president’s official acts “can never
be examinable by the courts.”
But Trump ignores the para-
graph that immediately follows
that passage in the Marbury
opinion, which states that when
Congress “proceeds to impose”
legal duties or directs the pres-
ident to “perform certain acts,”
the president “is so far the officer
of the law (and) is amenable to
the law for his conduct.” In other
words, when Congress enacts a
law, the president must follow it.
Trump also argues that, ac-
cording to the Constitution,
“federal courts cannot sit in
judgment directly over the
President’s official acts.”
This assertion is contrary to
scores of cases where federal
courts have reviewed presi-
dential acts. While the federal
courts have generally refused to
direct the president to perform
a specific task, federal courts
regularly determine whether a
president’s actions are legally
permissible.
Take Biden v. Nebraska.
President Joe Biden sought to
cancel more than $400 billion
in federal student loans. Biden
argued that he had the author-
ity to do so under the Higher
Education Relief Opportunities
for Students Act passed by Con-
gress in 2003 – known as the
13
HEROES Act. That act grants
the secretary of education the
authority to “waive or modify”
student loan programs during
national emergencies.
Several conservative-leaning
states challenged the loan for-
giveness, and the Supreme Court
concluded that Biden did not
have the legal authority to cancel
the federal student loans under
the HEROES Act because the
plan was not a “waiver” or “mod-
ification.” Here, as they did in
countless other cases, the federal
courts sat “in judgment directly
over the President’s official acts.”
Citing Kavanaugh
But the main legal question
remains – whether a president
holds, as Trump claims, absolute
immunity from criminal inves-
tigations and prosecutions for a
president’s official acts.
From a policy perspective,
Trump claims that “functional leaves office. was heard ordering that Fitz-
considerations” warrant the ab- As Kavanaugh states, “The gerald be fired, Fitzgerald sued
solute immunity that he seeks point is not to put the President Nixon for retaliatory termina-
because if a president is subject above the law or to eliminate tion. The Supreme Court con-
to criminal liability, that legal checks on the President, but cluded that a president enjoys
exposure “will cripple … Presi- simply to defer litigation and absolute immunity for his acts
dential decisionmaking.” investigations until the Presi- “within the outer perimeter of
To further this claim, Trump dent is out of office.” his official responsibility.”
relies on a 2009 law review ar- Simply put, the underlying Nixon v. Fitzgerald is a civ-
ticle by Judge Brett Kavanaugh, premise of Kavanaugh’s article il case. Trump urges the court
then of the U.S. Court of Ap- is that a president can be held to extend the presidential im-
peals for the District of Colum- criminally liable for his conduct. munity established in this civil
bia Circuit, who now sits on the Civil cases vs. criminal cases case to criminal matters. But
Supreme Court. Trump quotes It is true, however, that pres- he overlooks the fundamental
Kavanaugh, who wrote that “a idents enjoy absolute immunity difference between the civil
President who is concerned from civil liability for their offi- justice system and the criminal
about an ongoing criminal in- cial acts. That issue was settled justice system.
vestigation is almost inevitably in Nixon v. Fitzgerald. The purpose of the civil jus-
going to do a worse job as Presi- In that case, A. Ernest Fitz- tice system is to make an in-
dent,” which Trump provides as gerald lost his job as a manage- jured party whole again. But the
evidence of support for the po- ment analyst with the Air Force. purpose of the criminal justice
sition that a president requires According to Fitzgerald, he was system is to protect society, be-
absolute immunity. terminated in retaliation for cause crimes are understood to
But even a cursory reading his testimony before Congress be harms against the public. ■
of Kavanaugh’s article reveals about cost overruns of $2 billion
that Kavanaugh argued only for on a transport plane project. This article is republished
a deferral of a criminal prose- After tapes emerged in which from The Conversation under a
cution until after a president then-President Richard Nixon Creative Commons license.
www.canadianinquirer.net
14
Netanyahu promises Albanese a full
investigation into Australian aid worker’s
death, as Israel accepts responsibility
BY MICHELLE GRATTAN,
University of Canberra
The Conversation
Anthony Albanese has told
Israeli Prime Minister Benja-
min Netanyahu Australia wants
“a thorough investigation” with
“full accountability and trans-
parency” into what happened in
the incident in which Australian
Zomi Frankcom and several oth-
er aid workers were killed in an
Israeli attack on their convoy.
Albanese also used the con-
versation to express Australia’s
concern about a potential ground
invasion of the Gazan city of Ra-
fah and the consequences for ci-
vilians there. The United States
has been strongly urging Israel to
refrain from the ground assault
on Rafah which would be devas-
tating for the civilians who have
fled there to shelter.
Netanyahu on Wednesday
morning returned the call Alba-
nese had sought to demand an
‘Fake news’ legislation risks doing more
harm than good amid a record number
of elections in 2024
BY SAMUEL JENS, Stony
Brook University (The State
University of New York)
The Conversation
“Fake news” legislation that
governments around the world
have written in recent years to
combat mis- and disinforma-
tion does little to protect jour-
nalistic freedom. Rather, it can
create a greater risk of harm.
That’s the main finding of a re-
view I helped conduct of legisla-
tion either considered or passed
over the past several years re-
World News
explanation about the death of
the Australian.
Albanese told his news con-
ference: “The Israeli govern-
ment has accepted responsibil-
ity for this and Prime Minister
Netanyahu conveyed his con-
dolences to the family of Zomi
Frankcom and to Australia as a
result of this tragedy”.
Albanese said Netanyahu had
committed to a thorough inves-
tigation.
“I made clear again that it is
Australia’s view that human-
itarian assistance must reach
people in Gaza unimpeded and
in large quantities.”
“I conveyed to Prime Min-
ister Netanyahu in very clear
terms that Australians were
outraged by this death, by this
tragedy of this fine Australian,”
he said.
In what Albanese described as
a “reasonably long conversation”
“Netayahu expressed his views
and I expressed the views of Aus-
tralia.” about the present situa-
lated to fake news and mis- and
disinformation. In all, the Cen-
ter for News, Technology and
Innovation, or CNTI – an inde-
pendent, global policy research
center comprising news profes-
sionals and academics like my-
self – looked at legislation in 31
countries, ranging from Ethio-
pia to the Philippines.
We drew upon previous re-
ports and data from the Center
for International Media Assis-
tance, LEXOTA and LupaMundi
– all of which track media laws
globally – to identify legislation
either considered or passed
tion in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
“I indicated my concern with
a ground invasion of Rafah, and
the consequences for the civil-
ian population there.
"I reiterated Australia’s con-
cern at the loss of life that has
occurred in Gaza. I reiterated
Australia’s condemnation, un-
equivocally, of the events of Oc-
tober 7 and of Hamas as a ter-
(BENJAMIN NETANYAHU - ‫והינתנ ןימינב‬/FACEBOOK)
from 2020 through 2023.
We analyzed 32 pieces of
legislation by qualitatively and
quantitatively coding key terms
concerning, among others,
“news” and “journalism,” “fake
news” and “journalists,” and
any authorities responsible for
overseeing these terms.
While the legislation targeted
what was termed “fake news,”
the phrase itself was only ex-
plicitly defined in just seven of
the 32 pieces of legislation we
looked at – or less than a quarter.
Fourteen of the 32 policies
clearly designate the govern-
www.canadianinquirer.net
rorist organisation.
"I indicated very clearly Aus-
tralia’s view, as I have in every
conversation I have had with
Prime Minister Netanyahu, our
support for a two-state solution
in the Middle East - support for
Israelis and Palestinians to live
in peace and security with pros-
perity side by side. And that
that was in the interests of both
ment itself with the authority to
arbitrate that definition, while 18
don’t provide any clear language
in that regard – thereby giving
government control by default.
Lack of clarity in “fake news”
laws can be found across dif-
ferent regime types, with 12 of
these 31 countries we looked at
considered to be democracies.
Meanwhile, punishment for
violations can be severe, includ-
ing imprisonment from several
months up to 20 years in Zim-
babwe.
We found there are few pro-
tections for fact-based news or
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
Israelis and Palestinians.”
Albanese told reporters that
the global community was very
concerned about the Gaza death
toll, adding that the latest in-
cident would add to this con-
cern. “We saw an extraordinary
resolution of the UN Security
Council just last week [calling
for a ceasefire for the remainder
of Ramadan], with the United
States not vetoing that proposal.
"That gives a clear indication
of global opinion” about the loss
of life in Gaza,“ Albanese said.
Albanese said Australians
did not want the conflict to be
played out here in this coun-
try. "I’m concerned about social
cohesion here in Australia. I’m
concerned about any attempt to
try to seek some political advan-
tage over events that happen in
other parts of the world.” ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
journalistic independence in
the legislation we examined.
Loosely defined laws pertaining
to “fake news” could be used by
governments to crack down on
an independent press.
Why it matters
The record number of nation-
al-level elections being held in
2024 comes amid concern about
the public’s access to reliable,
fact-based news – both in terms
of the independence of news
outlets and the potential to use
media to spread disinformation.
❱❱ PAGE 16 ‘Fake news’ legislation
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
Georgia’s government plays into Putin’s
hands as it moves to suppress art and culture
BY EMMA LOOSLEY
LEEMING, University of
Exeter
The Conversation
With media coverage still
dominated by the Ukraine war,
you might assume that Vlad-
imir Putin’s machinations in
eastern Europe are focused
solely on Ukraine. And you
might be right. After all, why
would Russia’s president need
to get involved in states where
homegrown politicians seem
more than prepared to do his
work for him?
This is the situation current-
ly unfolding in Georgia. The
country’s ruling political coali-
tion, Kartuli Otsneba (Georgian
Dream), is pursuing a policy of
religious nationalism and so-
cial conservatism that brings
Georgia in step with the social
policies of Putin and the head of
the Russian Orthodox Church,
Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
More secular Georgians, and
those who favour closer rela-
tions with the EU and Nato,
fear a creeping Russification of
society. These fears were crys-
tallised when the government
tried to pass the so-called “for-
eign agents” law in March 2023,
sparking widespread protest on
the streets of the country’s cap-
ital, Tbilisi.
The proposed legislation was
modelled on a Russian law de-
signed to limit the amount of
6-month stay in S.Korea to qualify
for state health insurance
YONHAP
Philippine News Agency
SEOUL – Foreigners and
overseas Koreans can only
become eligible for the state
health insurance coverage as
dependents if they reside in
South Korea for at least six
funding that NGOs and other
externally funded organisa-
tions could accept. Opposition
to this measure was fuelled by
a fear that its passing would en-
able the Georgian government
to outlaw cultural and social
projects deemed incompatible
with “Georgian values”. This
would potentially lead to in-
creased harassment of anyone
from the LGBTQ+ community
to single parents to vegans and
vegetarians.
It was also widely believed
that other elements of Russian
legislation would follow if this
first law was enacted. Taken
aback by the strength of public
feeling, the bill was withdrawn
in May 2023. But suspicions
that Russia is influencing the
actions of a number of Georgian
politicians have remained.
Cultural crackdown
The crackdown on culture
began when Thea Tsukuliani
was named minister of culture,
sport and youth in March 2021.
Previously, Tsukuliani had been
the minister of justice and not
shown any apparent interest in
Georgian history and culture.
Upon her appointment,
Tsukuliani announced that in-
stead of being based in the usu-
al ministry office, she was going
to install herself in a suite at the
Georgian National Museum in
Tbilisi. She reportedly had her
eye on a wing of the museum
that had recently been reopened
as the natural history gallery.
months, the health ministry
said Tuesday.
The tightened rule, which
goes into effect Wednesday,
comes as some foreigners have
reportedly exploited the na-
tion's health insurance system.
Media reports have said
some foreign nationals working
in South Korea register siblings
This collection had not
been publicly available for
some years, so the curatori-
al staff fought the suggestion
that it would be closed again
almost immediately. Instead,
Tsukuliani took the same suite
on another floor, thereby dis-
possessing the National Geo-
graphic team who had signed a
contract for that space.
In this way, I was made aware
of the situation in Georgia long
before it gained wider atten-
tion. I received a message from
a colleague telling me that a
project I was running with the
Georgian National Museum
could no longer host education-
al events for schoolchildren,
as the room we had just refur-
bished had become an emer-
gency office for National Geo-
graphic staff.
Then, on May 24 2022, the
cultural purge began and 22
staff members were fired. The
and other relatives as depen-
dents and arrange temporary
visits to South Korea for medi-
cal treatments.
Previously, all foreigners could
enroll their family members as
dependents in the public health
insurance program for employ-
ees upon meeting specific crite-
ria, such as income and assets.
www.canadianinquirer.net
World News
22 had one thing in common:
they had expressed disquiet
about the apparent politicisa-
tion of Georgian cultural her-
itage, and argued that archae-
ology and related disciplines
should not be controlled by
Georgian Dream.
Punishing dissent
Those who were dismissed
were followed by waves of their
colleagues – administrators
and accountants were targeted
as well as researchers, archae-
ologists and curatorial staff. By
September 2022, more than 70
members of staff at the Geor-
gian National Museum had lost
their positions. Anyone who
dared to speak up in solidarity
was informed they were failing
in their work duties and dis-
missed with immediate effect.
This quickly began to affect
international research partners.
For example, archaeologists ar-
rived in Georgia to find there
There was also criticism re-
garding the fairness of the pub-
lic health insurance program
for foreign independent sub-
scribers, as they already need
to reside in South Korea for at
least six months to qualify.
The updated policy excludes
spouses and children under the
age of 19. Individuals with visas
15
were no permits for excavation,
as the staff of the issuing body
had also been “reorganised”.
Within a few months, the threat
had spread to other cultural pro-
fessionals, such as those in the
theatre and film industries.
The sacked museum staff
unionised and captured the at-
tention of the national media. In
August 2022, when the first cas-
es for wrongful dismissal came
to court, the Ministry of Culture
was deemed to have fired staff
unlawfully from the Georgian
National Museum and other gal-
leries and museums.
Good news, you might think –
but you would be wrong. In each
case so far, the state has been
told to pay the employee sever-
al months’ wages in compensa-
tion. But the Ministry of Culture
has not been required to rein-
state the worker to their former
role, meaning that generations
of institutional and specialist
knowledge has been lost.
Many octogenarians had
stayed on long beyond retire-
ment to bridge the gap of the
“lost generations” who fled
post-communist Georgia for
the US or Europe. They had
been working for less than £50
a month to pass on their knowl-
edge to a new generation: the
“born frees” who have never ex-
perienced communism.
The older group had, over the
past decade, started to believe
❱❱ PAGE 23 Georgia’s government
in the categories of D-2, D-4-
3, E-9 and F-6, as well as those
with permanent residency sta-
tus, can also immediately qual-
ify as dependents.
As of 2022, the number of
foreigners enrolled in public
health insurance came to 1.32
million, with Chinese nationals
accounting for 52 percent. ■
16 World News APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY

WHO chief 'outraged' ‘Fake news’ legislation..

❰❰ 14 Whether intentional CNTI will continue to follow

after Israeli strike kills

or not, the legislation these developments as part of
we examined created its ongoing research program.
potential opportunities to di- What’s next
minish opposing voices and de- The report on fake news leg-

humanitarian workers crease media freedom – both of

ANADOLU
Philippine News Agency
GENEVA – The World Health
Organization's (WHO) direc-
tor-general on Tuesday called
for the "sustained protection" of
humanitarian workers in Gaza
after an incident that killed sev-
en members of US-based chari-
ty World Central Kitchen.
"How many more lives will be
lost until there's a cease-fire?
We are outraged by the killing
of humanitarian workers in
Gaza," Tedros Adhanom Ghe-
breyesus said on X.
Stressing that safety is a basic
requirement for the delivery of
life-saving aid, Tedros extended
his deepest condolences to the
World Central Kitchen team
which are particularly important
in countries holding elections.
islation was the first in a series
of research projects CNTI will
conduct in 2024 that revolve
And even though the ex- around the idea of defining
and affected families. the southern city of Deir al-Bal- pressed intention of this leg- journalism in our digital, global
"We once again call for the sus- ah, where the team had unloaded islation – of which 13 out of 32 society.
tained protection of humanitari- more than 100 tons of humanitar- were related to the COVID-19 Future research will focus
an workers across Gaza," he said. ian food aid brought to Gaza on a pandemic – was to curb dis- on three areas: policy analy-
The charity had maritime route. information, the lack of clear ses, public surveys in multiple
earlier confirmed "This is not only definitions risks limiting jour- countries about what news
that seven of its an attack against nalistic freedoms as well as the means to people today, and an
humanitarian WCK, this is an public’s open access to a plural- international survey of jour-
aid workers were How many attack on human- ity of fact-based news. nalists to understand how they
killed in Monday's more lives itarian organiza- Our findings further high- view their industry given the
Israeli strike in will be lost tions showing up light the importance of a care- rise of artificial intelligence and
the Gaza Strip. until there's in the most dire of ful and deliberate approach to the potential for increased gov-
"The WCK team a cease-fire? situations where defining language in legislation ernment interference.
was traveling in a food is being used relating to the media. Amy Mitchell, Executive Di-
deconflicted zone as a weapon of What still isn’t known rector of the Center for News,
in two armored war. This is unfor- We do not know the long-term Technology and Innovation,
cars branded with givable," said CEO implications of this set of leg- contributed to this article. The
the WCK logo and a soft skin vehi- Erin Gore. islation. There is evidence that Research Brief is a short take on
cle," it said in a statement. The seven charity workers these types of laws cause chilling interesting academic work. ■
Despite coordinating move- killed were nationals of Aus- effects in which journalists and
ments with the Israeli army, it tralia, Poland, the UK, and Pal- sources are less likely to pursue This article is republished
added, the convoy was hit as it was estine, as well as a US-Canada certain topics to avoid potential from The Conversation under a
leaving the group's warehouse in dual citizen. ■ legal consequences. Creative Commons license.

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www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
Entertainment
"FPJ's Batang Quiapo" reveals major plot
twists, special trailer hits 4 million views
ABS-CBN
Coco begins new life out-
side of prison…
“FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” is
kicking-off a new month by
teasing major plot twists that
are about to unravel in the se-
ries, as seen in a special trailer
that has already accumulated
more than four million views.
The adrenaline-pumping
trailer gives a glimpse of Tang-
gol’s (Coco Martin) new life af-
ter being set free from prison.
Despite Tanggol’s eagerness to
start anew and stay away from
trouble, a series of impend-
ing problems may complicate
Tanggol’s life even more.
Marian Rivera's Much-Awaited Drama
Series “My Guardian Alien” Banners
April Line-up on GMA Pinoy TV
GMA PINOY TV
GMA Pinoy TV, the home of
Global Pinoys, offers audiences
an exciting line-up this April
featuring new love stories that
will touch hearts everywhere,
front-row seats to a star-stud-
ded celebration, and more en-
tertainment for everyone.
Kapuso Primetime Queen
Marian Rivera makes her
much-anticipated comeback
to television in "My Guardian
Alien." Fans can also look for-
ward to the long-awaited tan-
dem of Marian with bankable
leading man Gabby Concepcion
in this out-of-this-world, feel-
good family drama under the
Tanggol will face the wrath
of his family as David and Rigor
(Mccoy De Leon and John Estra-
da) are hell-bent on disowning an
ex-convict. To make their family
matters worse, Marites (Cherry
Pie Picache) will soon discover
her husband Rigor’s illicit affair
with Lena (Mercedes Cabral),
who is carrying the baby of Rigor.
As Tanggol navigates through
his struggles, he will reunite
with Bubbles (Ivana Alawi) and
seek her help in finding a job.
Meanwhile, viewers are also
looking forward to the newest
rivalry of successors, David and
Pablo (Elijah Canlas), as tension
between the two intensifies.
What will Tanggol do to over-
come his challenges? How will
helm of award-winning direc-
tor Zig Dulay. The star-stud-
ded cast includes Max Collins,
Gabby Eigenmann, Marissa
Delgado, Kiray Celis, Raphael
Landicho, Josh Ford, Caitlyn
Stave,Christian Antolin. “My
Guardian Alien” premieres in
North America and the Middle
East on April 1.
Beginning April 6, boundless
energy comes to GMA Pinoy TV
with the noontime variety show
"It's Showtime!" Hosts Vice Gan-
da, Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro,
Jhong Hilario, Kim Chiu, Ogie
Alcasid, Karylle, Amy Perez, Ted-
dy Corpuz, Jugs Jugueta, Darren,
Ryan Bang, Ion Perez, Jackie
Gonzaga, MC, Lassy, and Cianne
Dominguez will put "fun" in the
Marites and Rigor’s marital
woes affect their family?
The major plot twists in
“FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” are just
one of the many surprises in
store for viewers as the series
kick starts its second year of
airing this year.
Don’t miss the action-packed
scenes in “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo,”
which is inspired by the original
story of Regal Films, on week-
nights at 8 PM on Kapamilya
Channel, A2Z, TV5, iWantTFC,
and Kapamilya Online Live
on ABS-CBN Entertainment’s
YouTube channel and Facebook
page. Viewers who use any digi-
tal TV box at home such as the
TVplus box only need to rescan
their device to be able to watch
many Funanghalian moments
that audiences will surely enjoy.
GMA Pinoy TV also gives au-
diences an exclusive peek at the
“Eastwood City Walk of Fame
Philippines Special,” which re-
Coco Martin as Tanggol in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" (ABS-CBN)
www.canadianinquirer.net
“FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” on TV5
and A2Z. The show is also avail-
able to viewers in and out of
the Philippines on iWantTFC,
while viewers outside of the
Philippines can watch on The
Coco Martin as Tanggol in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" (ABS-CBN)
cently recognized multiple Ka-
puso luminaries, led by no less
than GMA Network Chairman
Atty. Felipe L. Gozon. Catch the
star-studded event on April 6.
On April 7, GMA Pinoy TV
17
Filipino Channel (TFC) on ca-
ble and IPTV.
For updates, follow @abscbn-
pr on Facebook, Twitter, Insta-
gram, and TikTok, or visit www.
abs-cbn.com/newsroom. ■
delivers more programs that
are sure to entertain and inform
Global Pinoys. Fans of romance
should tune in to “Recipes of
Love,” the drama anthology se-
ries starring Katrina Halili and
Martin del Rosario. Viewers
looking for stories and features
that go behind the headlines
and provide an in-depth explo-
ration of trending topics can
look forward to new episodes of
"The Atom Araullo Specials."
From captivating drama
infused with sci-fi fantasy to
wholesome family entertain-
ment and enlightening educa-
tional programs, GMA Pinoy
TV offers something for every-
one – it's the ultimate destina-
tion for Global Pinoys! ■
18 Entertainment APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY

"Linlang" raises 'gigil' to highest level,

unveils new mid-season poster
ABS-CBN
Paulo, JM, and Kim are
featured in new poster
Paulo Avelino, JM De Guz-
man, and Kim Chiu are bringing
stress to the highest level after
“Linlang: The Teleserye Ver-
sion” released a new mid-sea-
son poster to mark the series of
heart-pounding revelations that
are about to unfold in the story.
The official poster, designed
by artist Justin Besana, features
the lead stars dressed to the
nines while posing for a family
portrait that showcases shat-
tered glass between them.
Netizens raved about the
poster and shared their ex-
citement for the whirlwind of
events that are unraveling in
the series.
In the current story, disgrun-
tled couple Victor (Paulo) and
Juliana (Kim) are dealing with
heightened emotional turmoil
as they try to remain amicable
for the sake of their daughter and
soon to be baby. But the chaos be-
tween them will only get worse as
Alex (JM), Juliana’s other man,
devises an evil scheme to sepa-
rate the two so that he can have
Juliana to himself.
“Linlang” premiered exclu-
sively on Prime Video last year
in over 240 countries and ter-
ritories and it was consistently
the number one show on Prime
Video Philippines. Throughout
its online streaming, the series
hooked audiences and spawned
multiple viral posts on social
media for its heated confronta-
tion scenes and twisted storyline
involving revenge and infidelity.
Unravel the secrets in
“Linlang: The Teleserye Ver-
sion” weeknights at 8:45 PM
after “FPJ’s Batang Quiapo” on
Kapamilya Channel, A2Z, TV5,
iWantTFC, and Kapamilya On-
line Live on ABS-CBN Enter-
tainment’s YouTube channel and
Facebook page. Viewers who use
any digital TV box at home such
as the TVplus box only need to
rescan their device to be able to
watch “Linlang: The Teleserye
Version” on TV5 and A2Z. The
show is also available to viewers
in and out of the Philippines on
iWantTFC, while viewers outside
of the Philippines can watch on
The Filipino Channel (TFC) on
cable and IPTV.
For updates, follow @abscbn-
pr on Facebook, Twitter, Insta-
gram, and TikTok, or visit www.
abs-cbn.com/newsroom. ■ Coco Martin as Tanggol in "FPJ's Batang Quiapo" (ABS-CBN)

It’s thrilling to see female-ledgroups like

The Beaches claim space in rock culture
at Junos 2024 and elsewhere
BY JACQUELINE
WARWICK, Dalhousie
University
The Conversation
What a thrill, for a feminist
scholar of popular music, to see
Toronto band The Beaches close
out Canada’s 2024 Juno awards!
They had just won both Rock
Album of the Year and Group of
the Year. The only other all-fe-
male group ever to have won the
coveted Group of the Year was
Tegan and Sara, 10 years ago.
Rock Album of the Year has
gone to all-male bands 31/34
times since 1991. The Beaches
themselves won it in 2022, JJ
Wilde won the previous year, and
Alanis Morissette won in 1995.
Can it be that a girl takeover of
rock culture is actually upon us?
Rock’s origins, shifting forms
Rock (nowadays often called
“classic rock”) solidified as a
style in the mid-1960s, along-
side the emergence of rock crit-
icism. It drew on the youthful
energy and sounds of rock ’n’
roll to attempt more serious ar-
tistic expression.
Rock has been the dominant
style of mainstream popular mu-
sic for my whole life. It is notori-
ously centred around white men
with guitars, to the near exclusion
of everyone else. So totalizing is
this view that fans sometimes
have to be reminded of rock’s or-
igins in African American music.
The most common shape for
a rock band is a quartet of elec-
tric bass, drums, rhythm guitar
and lead guitar, with vocals ei-
ther by instrumentalists doing
double-duty, or assigned to a
standalonesinger.
The classic four-piece band
is an efficient unit that can pro-
duce a rich sound, and it is an
easy fit for a group of friends.
The logistics of band life,
from co-writing songs to shar-
ing hotel rooms on tour, have
been simpler for men of similar
background.
Black women pioneer guitarists
The more this all-male ver-
sion of rock band was seen, the
more fans and musicians came
to accept it as the right — or
only — version.
No real surprise, then, that
rock culture became male dom-
inated, and that the music be-
came part of the performance
of manhood.
In the late 20th century, the
electric guitar so central to
rock actually became a sym-
bol of swaggeringmasculinity,
even though many early practi-
tioners were Black women.
In its most sexist moments,
rock culture has treated girls
and women with contempt and
hostility, both as listeners and
as artists.
Female aficionados, taste-
makers
In rock culture of the 1960s and
70s, girls and women tended to be
limited to the roles of fans or girl-
friends. Some female fans were
given a special name, “groupie,”
that reduced them to their sex ap-
peal and sexual appetites. The fact
that many groupieswere passion-
ate aficionados and tastemakers
of rock was obscured.
To participate in rock as a
musician in a band has been
even more difficult. Solo art-
ists like Janis Joplin or Alanis
Morissette have achieved great
success as rock singer/songwrit-
ers, of course. But the story of
the founder of legendary punk
bands the Slits and the Rain-
coats, Palmolive, is revealing.
As a Spanish teenager on her
own in London’s developing
punk scene, she happily joined
a band and agreed to play drums
(the only role still available).
When the band’s leader Sid Vi-
ciousmade a pass, she rejected
him — and then found herself
kicked out of the group.
This experience inspired her
to form an all-girl band, where
she wouldn’t be subject to male
egos and unwanted sexual ad-
vances. Indeed, few rock bands
of the 1970s included women
and men working together, and
some famous examples offer
cautionary tales of how mixed
gender bands can implode.
Riot grrrl movement
Girls and women growing up
❱❱ PAGE 20 It’s thrilling to

www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
Spotting the signs of disordered eating in
youth: Tips for parents and caregivers
BY AMELIA AUSTIN,
University of Calgary,
GINA DIMITROPOULOS,
University of Calgary,
SHERI MADIGAN,
University of Calgary,
TRACY VAILLANCOURT,
L’Université d’Ottawa/
University of Ottawa
The Conversation
In the age of social media,
youth are constantly bombard-
ed with viral trends and toxic
messages that set unrealistic
standards about the ideal body
image. This has translated into
a far too common expression
of body shape dissatisfaction in
young people.
Eating disorders, such as an-
orexia, bulimia, binge-eating
disorder, and avoidant/restric-
tive food intake disorder are se-
rious mental health conditions
that affect approximately one
million Canadians. These con-
ditions are also on the rise in
youth, with research showing
that health-care visits for eat-
ing disorders doubled during
the COVID-19 pandemic, com-
pared to before the pandemic.
This is concerning, since there
are already very long wait times
for eating disorder programs.
Impact of eating disorders
Individuals with eating dis-
orders experience a problemat-
ic relationship with food, often
accompanied by significant dis-
tress about their weight, shape
and size. Many experience body
image dissatisfaction and re-
strictive eating.
Eating disorders do not dis-
criminate. They can occur in
people of any race/ethnicity,
age, socioeconomic class or gen-
der. Youth who do not “fit” the
stereotype of an eating disorder,
especially those from Black, In-
digenous and racialized back-
grounds, may face delayed rec-
ognition and diagnosis.
Eating disorders impact ev-
Lifestyle
ery aspect of an individual’s life
and contribute to significant
distress for the affected individ-
ual and their family, including
their siblings. They can have se-
rious and life-threatening com-
plications, such as bradycardia
(heart beating too slowly), os-
teoporosis (bone weakening)
and anemia (low red blood cell
count). Eating disorders are
also associated with a high rate
of premature death.
As clinicians and research-
ers, we have studied and worked
with youth and their families
struggling with eating disor-
ders or “disordered eating” (the
spectrum of unhealthy eating
behaviour and patterns). Be-
low we offer a guide for parents
and other supportive adults on
recognizing the signs of disor-
dered eating in youth and offer
practical resources and tips to
support them effectively.
Signs of disordered eating
Considering the growing
concern about the rise in eating
disorder behaviour in youth,
and the importance of timely
recognition and action, the fol-
lowing signs and symptoms of
disordered eating are import-
ant to look out for:
Behaviours related to dis-
ordered eating:
• Excessive exercise to reduce
weight or change body shape
• Going to the bathroom im-
mediately after eating
• Eating in secret
• Restricting foods, such as a
specific food group
• A preoccupation with los-
ing weight or maintaining a low
body weight
• Frequently weighing them-
selves because of body image
dissatisfaction
• Unusual behaviour around
food such as weighing/mea-
suring food or cutting food into
tiny pieces, or large consump-
tion of liquids at mealtimes (for
calorie dilution and a sensation
of fullness)
Physical signs of disor-
dered eating:
• Unexplained weight loss or
weight fluctuations (up or down)
• Delayed puberty or amen-
orrhea (missed periods)
• Sensitive or damaged teeth
• Dizziness or fainting
• Feeling cold
• Stomach pain
Social and psychological
signs of disordered eating:
• Personality changes, such
as social withdrawal and in-
creased irritability
• Depression or anxiety
• Fighting with others about
food, eating and weight
• Avoidance of food-related
social activities like birthdays
or sleepovers
General recommendations
for all parents and caregivers
1. Be on the lookout for sud-
den or drastic changes in your
child’s eating habits, such as
extreme dieting, avoiding cer-
tain foods, preoccupation with
weight, and fears about losing
control of overeating. Also,
keep an eye out for frequent
www.canadianinquirer.net
fluctuations in meal patterns.
2. Pay attention to any phys-
ical changes you notice in your
child, such as unexplained
weight loss or gain, persistent
fatigue, or changes in mood.
These could be signs of under-
lying issues related to disor-
dered eating.
3. Be mindful of withdrawal
from social situations that centre
on food, such as avoiding gather-
ings where meals are involved.
4. In addition to social me-
dia use, parent role modelling
can shape children’s attitudes
and behaviour toward food and
body image. As a result, we rec-
ommend that parents ditch the
weight-based talk. It is best to
avoid commenting on people’s
physical appearances, weight,
shape and body sizes, including
your own and others in your life.
Rather, we recommend parents
focus on health rather than ap-
pearances and empower youth
to develop a positive relation-
ship with food and their bodies.
The importance of early
identification and intervention
19
If you notice some of the
signs and symptoms of dis-
ordered eating, it is essential
to talk with your child. Invite
them to share their experiences
and listen without judgement.
Express compassion, kindness
and concern about their health
and well-being.
If you believe your child’s
health is at risk, warmly but
firmly tell them that you are
worried about them and orga-
nize contact with a health-care
professional. Make an appoint-
ment with your primary care
provider and come to your ap-
pointment prepared to discuss
the type of behaviour you have
been seeing.
Previous research suggests
that quickly seeking help may
support better recovery from
an eating disorder. This aware-
ness motivates both providers
and family members into action
to quickly identify eating disor-
der behaviour in youth and to
advocate for them to receive
comprehensive care from a di-
verse health-care team includ-
ing psychologists, physicians,
dieticians and social workers.
If you experience a long wait
for targeted support in your
area, consider also exploring
reputable organizations in your
geographical location.
It is important for parents
and caregivers to recognize
that negative body talk does
not mean that your child has an
eating disorder. It is, however,
something to be mindful of, es-
pecially when coupled with the
signs of eating disorders pro-
vided above.
The National Eating Disor-
ders Information Centre help-
line and live chat are available
seven days a week. For Helpline
call 1-866-NEDIC-20 (toll-
free) or live chat at nedic.ca ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
 20
Days are getting shorter and colder.
6 tips for sticking to your fitness goals
BY JULIANA S. OLIVEIRA,
University of Sydney, ANNE
TIEDEMANN, University
of Sydney, CATHIE
SHERRINGTON, University
of Sydney, LEANNE
HASSETT, University of
Sydney
The Conversation
Daylight saving ends this
weekend. The days are shorter
and getting colder. It’s less ap-
pealing to cycle to work, walk
after dinner, or wake up early to
hit the gym. But we all know dai-
ly physical activity is essential
for our health and wellbeing.
Physical activity releases
feel-good neurotransmitters
in our brains, which help to al-
leviate stress, anxiety, and de-
pression. It also helps prevent
diseases such as diabetes, heart
disease and some cancers. Reg-
ular physical activity can pro-
long life and improve overall
quality of life.
However, many of us find it
difficult to achieve the recom-
mended 150 minutes of mod-
erate intensity physical activity
each week. In fact, three out of
ten Australians and half of Aus-
tralians aged 65 and over are
inactive.
So, what can you do to stay
motivated and keep moving
regularly through the darker
months? Here are some tips.
1. Nail those goals
Goals can provide us with
a sense of purpose, meaning
and direction. But just aiming
to “get fit” is less likely to cut
it than goals that are SMART:
specific, measurable, achiev-
able, realistic and time-bound.
It’s thrilling to..
❰❰ 18 in the rock era could
turn to other main-
stream genres, like
pop, to find music that spoke to
and for them, of course. But in
1980s and 90s’ hierarchies of
taste, some of this female-led
pop music was often derided
as distinctly uncool. Even an
icon like Madonna was once
Lifestyle
Specific goals are based on
an observable behaviour or ac-
tivity, such as step count, yoga,
or competing in an event.
Measurable goals can be
tracked, so you can easily tell
whether you have ticked them off.
Achievable goals are realis-
tic and based on your current
fitness and abilities. But they
can and should still be challeng-
ing. If you’ve only ever run 5 ki-
lometres, it won’t be realistic to
aim for a half marathon in the
next month. But you could aim
for 10 kilometres.
Relevant goals hold person-
al meaning for you. Articulating
why it’s important will help mo-
tivate you to do it.
Time-bound goals include
a target date for achieving
them. You can always revisit
your deadline if you’re ahead of
schedule or if it’s too unrealistic.
An example of a SMART goal
could be: “I will walk 10,000
steps every weekday within a
month.” Then you can break
it down into short-term goals
to make it more achievable. If
you currently walk 6,000 steps
dismissed as a pretty “pop
tart” that serious music critics
shouldn’t waste time on.
So when a group of wom-
en at Evergreen College in the
state of Washington wanted to
enter their local punk scene in
the 90s, they carefully planned
shows that excluded media and
brought girls to the front. That
each day, you can increase steps
by 1,000 every week to reach
10,000 by the end of the month.
2. Keep track
More than 90% of Austra-
lians own a smartphone and
more than two in ten own a fit-
ness tracker or a smartwatch.
These devices can help you
track your goals and activity,
keep you accountable and in-
crease your motivation.
A 2021 systematic review
suggests fitness trackers and
smartphone apps can assist
people to increase their step
count by up to 2,000 steps per
day. Our research demonstrat-
ed fitness trackers can also be
helpful in increasing physical
activity among older people. If
you don’t have a fitness tracker,
you can buy low-cost pedome-
ters or track your activity times
using paper and pen.
3. Plan for success but pre-
pare for barriers
Take some time to think
about the potential barriers
that could prevent you from be-
ing active and plan solutions to
overcome them.
group included Kathleen Hanna
of legendary band Bikini Kill, a
pioneer in the deliberately un-
derground riot grrrl movement.
The riot grrrl movement
built space for female musi-
cians to experiment and build
a sound, without the pressure
of being held to mainstream
standards. Their legacy is seen
www.canadianinquirer.net
For example, if the cost of
physical activity is too high for
you, try to find options that are
free, such as walking or running.
You can also consider free online
programs or streaming videos.
If you find it difficult to fit
exercise into your busy sched-
ule, try exercising early in the
morning before you start your
day and laying out your work-
out clothes the night before.
You could consider joining a
gym with flexible timetables.
A good strategy is to try to fit
physical activity into your daily
routine, such as walking or cy-
cling to work.
If you are living with a chron-
ic health condition or disability,
consider seeking guidance from
a health professional such as an
exercise physiologist or physio-
therapist. Start slow and grad-
ually increase your activity and
find something you enjoy so you
are more likely to keep doing it.
4. Team up with a workout
friend
Physical activity can be more
fun when you do it with some-
one else. Studies show working
in rock camps for girls and the
creation of electric guitars built
to fit a girl’s frame and hands.
Rushed the stage
The Beaches, with their clas-
sic four-piece lineup, cheeky
rock swagger, and catchy break-
up anthem “Blame Brett,” are
both a breath of fresh air and
also heirs to a long, proud tra-
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
out with friends can be more
motivating and enjoyable. It can
also help with accountability, as
some people are more likely to
show up when they have a work-
out partner. So, find a friend
who supports your goal of being
more active or maintaining your
current activity levels.
5. Plan yourself a little
treat
Make an appointment with
yourself in your diary to exer-
cise. Approach it as just as im-
portant as meeting a friend or
colleague. One idea is to delay
something you’d rather do and
make it a reward for sticking
to your activity appointment.
If you really want to go out for
coffee, do a hobby, or watch
something, go for a walk first.
Research shows incentives
can dramatically increase phys-
ical activity levels.
6. Find a coach
If you want more support,
health coaching might be an
option.
Trained professionals work
one-on-one with people, some-
times via telehealth, to find out
what’s reducing their motiva-
tion to make healthier choic-
es, such as exercise. Then they
employ behaviour change tech-
niques to help them meet their
health goals.
Our recent research suggests
health coaching can improve
physical activity in older people
and those with chronic pain. In
New South Wales, Victoria and
Queensland, these sessions are
government-subsidised or free. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
dition. Girls and women have
rushed the stage and claimed
their spot at the centre of rock
culture, and fan response shows
that the music scene is all the
better for it. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
Silent cancers: here’s what you Climate change
need to know when there could cause clocks
are no obvious symptoms to lose a second:
BY JUSTIN STEBBING,
Anglia Ruskin University
study decades. Some prostate, breast
The Conversation
The recent revelations about
the Princess of Wales’s cancer di-
agnosis highlight a crucial aspect
of cancer detection – the dis-
ease’s sometimes silent nature.
Silent cancers are those with-
out noticeable symptoms. They
pose a unique challenge in early
detection and treatment.
Contrary to common per-
ception, cancer does not always
announce its presence through
overt symptoms or obvious signs.
Many people receive a cancer
diagnosis incidentally, when it’s
found during routine medical ex-
aminations or investigations for
unrelated health concerns – as
seems to be the case for both the
princess and King Charles III.
While even silent cancers can
sometimes be aggressive and ad-
vance rapidly, they can also re-
main dormant for years or even
Albay entrepreneur spills
beans on how to brew success
BY GLADYS SERAFICA
Philippine News Agency
DARAGA, Albay – Dubbed
the "second largest consumer of
coffee in Asia," the Philippines,
without a doubt, is a country of
coffee aficionados.
Whether it is an instant pick-
me-up in the morning, a quick af-
ternoon brew to break the monot-
ony, or an after-dinner reward for
a day's work, Filipinos will never
run out of reasons to grab a cup of
this beverage that has become a
staple for every home.
So, how can local entrepre-
neurs cash in on this booming
coffee culture?
We ask Alexander Galicia,
47, owner of City Heights Cafe,
and thyroid cancers, for exam-
ple, often evolve slowly without
obvious symptoms or spreading
beyond the original area.
Research suggests that some
of these cancers are overtreated.
Sometimes patients are best left
alone or treated much more gen-
tly, perhaps even without medi-
cal intervention, using a “watch
and wait” strategy. This approach
may be taken with prostate can-
cer in the elderly, for example.
The importance of early
diagnosis
Whatever the cancer, it’s al-
ways important to get an early
diagnosis though – and for si-
lent cancers, this is obviously a
challenge.
Some cancer symptoms can
be vague and easily mistaken
for benign ailments. Fatigue,
unexplained weight loss and
persistent pain are among the
nonspecific symptoms that may
signal an underlying malignan-
cy. But such symptoms can be
a quaint coffee shop located in
Highlands Park in the village of
Estanza in Legazpi City, to spill
the beans on how to carve a niche
in a cutthroat caffeinated market.
Harnessing the power of
the marketing mix
When Galicia and his four
friends started City Heights
Cafe in 2021, their only goal
was to share their love for cof-
fee with a community that was
reeling from a global pandemic.
"Initially, we just wanted to
offer a tranquil place where peo-
ple can unwind and enjoy their
coffee," he said in the vernacular.
"But when we realized the po-
tential for foot traffic given our
cafe's scenic location, we saw
the opportunity to turn it into a
lucrative business by expanding
misinterpreted or easily dis-
missed, which contributes to de-
layed diagnosis and treatment.
Fortunately, in many coun-
tries including the UK, we have
screening tests for diseases like
breast or colon cancer, to in-
crease early diagnoses.
Early diagnosis is a key fac-
tor for successful cancer treat-
ment. Detecting cancer in its
silent phase offers a window of
opportunity for early interven-
tion and improved outcomes.
The discovery of asymptomatic
cancers through diagnostic im-
aging or screening tests under-
scores the importance of these
proactive healthcare measures.
Identifying cancer at an early
stage means the disease is con-
fined to its site of origin, smaller
and potentially easier to cure.
Diagnosing a smaller cancer
often means that if an opera-
tion is needed, it may be a less
invasive surgery. There may
❱❱ PAGE 25 Silent cancers: here’s
our product line," he added.
But while the pandemic
spurred the birth of the shop, the
subsequent lockdowns and quar-
antine impositions also threat-
ened its survival in its infancy.
"There was a time when we
were hardly making profits, but
we managed to keep the business
afloat because of sound manage-
ment decisions," Galicia said.
As an accounts officer for
a company specializing in of-
fice equipment, Galicia knew
firsthand that sustaining their
cafe's operations depends on
prioritizing the shop's four Ps:
product, place, price, and pro-
motion, or more commonly
known as the marketing mix.
❱❱ PAGE 30 Albay entrepreneur spills
www.canadianinquirer.net
Lifestyle
ANADOLU
Philippine News Agency
ISTANBUL – A recent study
suggests that clocks may skip
a second in the near future be-
cause the Earth is undergoing
changes in its rotation due to
factors such as climate change
and geological shifts.
According to the study pub-
lished in the Nature journal,
there might be a necessity for
clocks to skip a second, referred
to as a "negative leap second,"
around the year 2029.
The study warns that such
changes in Earth's rotation
may necessitate adjustments
in Coordinated Universal Time
(UTC), a standard used to set all
time zones around the world,
earlier than originally planned.
The implications of this ad-
justment extend beyond time-
keeping, as it could pose an
"unprecedented problem for
computer network timing."
The Earth's rotation, typical-
ly 24 hours, is now fluctuating,
prompting adjustments in leap
seconds to align atomic and as-
tronomical time.
Between 1972 and 2016, 27
leap seconds were added to
compensate for the Earth's
slowing rotation. But the rate of
slowing was tapering off to the
point that the Earth’s rotation
was actually speeding up.
However, recent observations
suggest that this is being offset
due to the rapid melting of ice
21
at the poles since 1990. Melt-
ing ice shifts Earth’s mass from
the poles to the bulging center,
which slows the rotation.
In response, timekeepers are
planning revisions to leap second
standards in the 2030s to mini-
mize frequent adjustments and
maintain synchronization across
various timekeeping systems.
Geological and climatic fac-
tors including oceanic tides and
melting polar ice affect Earth's
rotation, delaying the need for
leap second adjustments.
The accelerated melting of
polar ice, a consequence of hu-
man-induced climate change, is
redistributing Earth's mass and
slowing its rotation.
"If polar ice melting had not
recently accelerated, this prob-
lem would occur 3 years earli-
er," the study noted.
This phenomenon is "already
affecting global timekeeping,"
indicating the tangible impact
of climate change on Earth's ro-
tational dynamics.
Despite a natural rotation in-
crease, melting ice has delayed
the need for a leap-second adjust-
ment from 2026 to around 2029.
This delay in the need for leap
second adjustments underscores
the complex relationship be-
tween environmental changes
and Earth's timekeeping systems.
Timekeepers aim to phase out
leap second adjustments by 2035
to adapt to Earth's changing dy-
namics and maintain precision
in timekeeping amid natural and
human-induced changes. ■
22
For over a century, baseball’s scouts have
been the backbone of America’s pastime –
do they have a future?
BY H. JAMES GILMORE,
Flagler College, TRACY
HALCOMB, Flagler College
The Conversation
Former MLB executive Pat
Gillick won three World Series
titles and served as general
manager of four baseball teams
from the 1970s to 2000s.
But when we interviewed
him for our documentary
“Fielding Dreams: A Celebra-
tion of Baseball Scouts,” he de-
flected praise.
“I wouldn’t be in the Hall of
Fame if it wasn’t for the people
in scouting,” he said. “Those are
the people that deserve all the
Messi: Retirement not
on my mind
XINHUA
Philippine News Agency
WASHINGTON – Lionel Mes-
si has not yet thought about re-
tirement and says age will not be
a determining factor in his deci-
sion to end his playing career.
The 36-year-old said he
would call time on his career
only when he feels he is unable
to contribute or loses his enjoy-
ment for the game.
"I know that the moment I feel
that I am no longer performing,
that I am no longer enjoying it or
helping my teammates [I will re-
tire]," Messi said in an interview
with the Big Time podcast pub-
lished on Wednesday.
"I am very self-critical. I
Sports
credit, not me.”
Even though they scour the
world for talent, often work-
ing on year-to-year contracts
and spending weeks away from
their families, there are no
scouts in the National Baseball
Hall of Fame.
Their recent run of tough
luck has also gone largely un-
noticed. The profession has
been under siege on a number
of fronts, whether it’s facing
competition and dismissal from
analytics advocates, or experi-
encing mass layoffs during the
COVID-19 pandemic.
A draft demands an army
of evaluators
In the first half of the 20th
know when I am doing well,
when I am not when I play well,
and when I play poorly. When
I feel it's time to take that step,
I will do it without thinking
about age. If I feel good, I will
century, scouting was a free-
for-all.
Team owners willing to
spend the money could send
scouts to go out and sign whom-
ever they wanted, with con-
tracts often written out by hand
and players signing on the spot.
When Iowa teen phenom Bob
Feller was signed by Cleveland
Indians scout Cy Slapnicka in
1935, Slapnicka simply took out
a pen, wrote out a contract and
had Feller and his father sign it,
because Feller was underage.
The terms of the contract? One
dollar and an autographed ball.
Major League Baseball held
its first draft in 1965, in part to
help level the playing field be-
try to continue competing be-
cause it's what I like and what I
know how to do,” he added.
After leading Argentina to the
❱❱ PAGE 24 Messi: Retirement not
www.canadianinquirer.net
tween wealthier teams, like the
New York Yankees and St. Louis
Cardinals, and everybody else.
The advent of the draft made
scouts all the more important:
Each team now had a massive
pool of players to interview,
evaluate and rank.
The draft only includes U.S.
amateur players. International
players are not subject to the
draft, so some teams have built
training facilities in countries
like the Dominican Republic
and Mexico, where their inter-
national scouts find and sign
promising young players.
Strength in crunching the
numbers?
But since the turn of the cen-
SBP initiates
naturalization
talks with
Bennie Boatwright
BY JEAN MALANUM
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Samahang
Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP)
has initiated talks with Bennie
Boatwright III regarding a pos-
sible stint with the Gilas Pilipi-
nas team as a naturalized player
in future FIBA competitions.
In a press statement on Mon-
day, the SBP said Boatwright,
who played as import for the
San Miguel Beermen in the re-
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
tury, some journalists and exec-
utives have questioned the val-
ue of scouts.
In 2003, author Michael
Lewis published “Moneyball,”
in which he documented the
success of the 2002 Oakland
Athletics and the team’s em-
brace of sabermetrics, the sta-
tistical analysis of baseball data.
The Athletics were consis-
tently winning with one of the
lowest payrolls in baseball, and
other team owners took notice.
Could data analytics exploit
inefficiencies and produce bet-
ter results than scouts? Could
teams save money by trim-
❱❱ PAGE 30 For over a century
cent PBA Commissioner’s Cup,
"demonstrated he was a good fit
for Philippine basketball as he
led his ball club to the champi-
onship with his overall leader-
ship and talent".
The SBP said the 27-year-old
Boatwright, a former Universi-
ty of Southern California (USC)
Trojan who is currently playing
in China, is willing to return
to the PBA as soon as possible
since he has developed a strong
❱❱ PAGE 27 SBP initiates naturalization
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
PH hits record- PH to be one of fastest-
high goods, growing economies in East
services exports Asia and Pacific
in 2023 at $104B
BY KRIS CRISMUNDO
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Despite glob-
al trade challenges, Philip-
pine exports surpassed the
USD100-billion mark in 2023,
an all-time high revenue for the
country’s outbound trade.
The Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI) said in a
statement Monday that based
on the balance of payments
(BOP) from the Bangko Sen-
tral ng Pilipinas (BSP), exports
of goods and services reached
USD103.6 billion.
This is higher by 4.8 per-
cent from the total exports of
USD98.8 billion in 2022.
DTI Secretary Alfredo Pas-
cual said this is the first time
the Philippines breached the
USD100-billion mark in export
revenues.
Pascual said the strong ex-
ports last year was driven by
services, especially the infor-
mation technology and busi-
ness process management
(ITBPM) and tourism services.
Services exports rose 17.4 per-
cent in 2023 to USD48.29 billion
Business
from USD41.12 billion in 2022.
According to the Informa-
tion Technology and Business
Process Association of the Phil-
ippines, ITBPM revenues last
year stood at USD35.5 billion,
while government data showed
that travel services reached
USD9.1 billion last year.
On the other hand, exports
of goods last year declined by
4.1 percent to USD55.32 billion
from USD57.71 billion in 2022.
The country’s top goods
export alone, electronics,
decreased by 3.4 percent or
USD955 million in 2023 com-
pared to its previous year.
“This decline highlights the
importance of diversifying ex-
port portfolios and enhancing
competitiveness in key sec-
tors,” the DTI said.
“The path to global excel-
lence and export growth re-
quires shared ambition, where
the government and the pri-
vate sector must intensify and
sustain collaborations. Our
guideline is the Philippine Ex-
port Development Plan (PEDP)
2023-2028, which aims to ad-
❱❱ PAGE 27 PH hits record-high
BY ANNA LEAH GONZALES
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The World Bank
on Monday retained its 2024
Philippine economic growth
forecast at 5.8 percent and ex-
pects the country to be the sec-
ond fastest-growing economy
in East Asia and the Pacific.
In its April 2024 East Asia and
Pacific Economic Update report,
it also revised upward its 2025
Philippine economic growth
forecast to 5.9 percent from the
earlier 5.8 percent projection.
The World Bank's report
showed that the Philippines
and Cambodia will be the sec-
ond highest growing economy
in East Asia and the Pacific,
next to Palau which is projected
to grow by 12.4 percent.
The projected economic ex-
pansion for this year is higher
than the 4.5 percent forecast
for China, 4.9 percent for Indo-
nesia, 4.3 percent for Malaysia,
5.5 percent for Vietnam, and 2.8
percent for Thailand.
"What has sustained growth
in the Philippines like much of
the region has been consump-
tion and the recovery in ser-
Georgia’s government..
❰❰ 15 they could entrust
their work to this new
generation. But it was
the oldest and youngest who
appeared to be especially tar-
geted by this purge.
Election hopes and fears
Georgians will head to the
polls again in November 2024
to elect a new government.
Georgian Dream, which has
been leading a governing coa-
lition since 2012, is seeking to
www.canadianinquirer.net
vices," World Bank East Asia
and Pacific chief economist
Aaditya Mattoo said in a virtual
briefing on Monday.
"And in Philippines, I should
also say the good news has been
the fact that the government has
implemented significant reforms
like the Public Services Act,
which should begin to pay off in
terms of greater foreign invest-
ment, which though in the short
run has been less, the fruits have
been less strong than we would
have expected," he added.
The World Bank, in a separate
Macro Poverty Outlook also re-
leased on Monday, said the im-
provement in the labor market and
the easing inflation will help boost
growth in household income.
"Poverty is expected to con-
tinue to decline but extreme
climatic events continue to pose
risks. Poverty incidence, using
the World Bank’s poverty line for
lower-middle income countries
of USD3.65/day, 2017 PPP, is
projected to decrease from 17.8
percent in 2021 to 12.2 percent
in 2024 and further decrease to
9.3 percent in 2026," it said.
According to the World Bank,
risks to the country's growth
outlook remain tilted to the
extend its mandate.
Colleagues of mine who are
still in place in the Georgian
National Museum are torn be-
tween hope that their ordeal will
soon be over, and despondency
that Georgian Dream appears
on track to remain in power. If it
wins again, the feeling in Geor-
gia is that nothing will hold back
the creeping Russification of
Georgian society that this cul-
tural censorship is facilitating.
23
downside.
It said elevated inflation
could dampen economic activ-
ity by keeping the policy rate
higher for a longer period.
Other risks include a further
slowdown in the growth of Chi-
na and escalating geopolitical
tensions which could cause a
sharper-than-expected growth
slowdown which would further
dampen external demand.
Mattoo, for his part, added that
the Philippines and other coun-
tries in the region remain highly
vulnerable to climate shocks.
"This region does contribute,
especially in countries like Chi-
na and Indonesia, through emis-
sions to global climate change,
but for the most part, the coun-
tries are more victims rather
than perpetrators," he said.
Mattoo said the climate
shocks necessitate a big invest-
ment in adaptation.
"These ranges from every-
thing from early warning sys-
tems in which the Philippines
has been a leader, but also
through, you know, better in-
vestment in infrastructure and
agriculture in more resilient
structures that can weather
these shocks," he added. ■
Right now, Georgian aca-
demics, writers, museum staff
and filmmakers seem united in
agreeing that their best hope
lies in a Ukrainian victory that
weakens Russia – and, as a re-
sult, dilutes its stranglehold on
the Georgian ruling class. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
 24
Think $5.50 is too much for a flat white?
Actually it’s too cheap, and our world-
famous cafes are paying the price
BY EMMA FELTON,
University of South Australia
The Conversation
Even in a stubborn cost-of-
living crisis, it seems there’s
one luxury most Australians
won’t sacrifice – their daily cup
of coffee.
Coffee sales have largely re-
mained stable, even as financial
pressures have bitten over the
past few years.
So too have prices. Though
many of us became upset when
prices began to creep up last
year, they’ve since largely set-
tled in the range between $4.00
and $5.50 for a basic drink.
But this could soon have to
change. By international stan-
dards, Australian coffee prices
are low.
No one wants to pay more for
essentials, least of all right now.
But our independent cafes are
struggling.
By not valuing coffee prop-
erly, we risk losing the inter-
nationally renowned coffee
culture we’ve worked so hard
to create, and the phenomenal
quality of cup we enjoy.
Coffee is relatively cheap
in Australia
Our recent survey of Austra-
lian capital cities found the av-
erage price of a small takeaway
flat white at speciality venues is
A$4.78.
But in some international
capitals, it’s almost double this,
even after adjusting for local
purchasing power parity.
In London, a small flat white
costs about A$6.96. Singapore,
A$8.42. In Athens, as much as
A$9.95.
Messi: Retirement not..
❰❰ 22 2022 FIFA World Cup
title in Qatar, Messi
said he had achieved
everything that had been hoped
for in football. The Albiceleste
captain scored two goals in the
final against France and won the
Business
The cafe business is get-
ting harder
Over the past few decades,
coffee prices haven’t kept pace
with input costs. In the early
2000s, after wages, food costs,
utilities and rent, many cafes
earned healthy profit margins
as high as 20%.
The most recent data from
IBISWorld show that while
Australian cafe net profits have
recovered from a drop in 2020,
at 7.6%, they remain much low-
er than the Australian average
business profit margin of 13.3%.
For an independent owner
operating a cafe with the av-
erage turnover of A$300,000,
this would amount to a meagre
A$22,800 annual net profit af-
ter all the bills are paid.
What goes into a cup?
Just looking at the cost of raw
inputs – milk, beans, a cup and
a lid – might make the margin
seem lucrative. But they don’t
paint the whole picture.
Over the past few years, rent-
ing the building, keeping the
lights on and paying staff have
all become much bigger fac-
tors in the equation for coffee
shop owners, and many of these
pressures aren’t easing.
1. Green coffee price
Increasingly subject to the
effects of climate change, the
baseline commodity price of
green (unroasted) coffee is go-
ing up.
Arabica – the higher quality
bean you’re most likely drink-
ing at specialty cafes – is a more
expensive raw product. Despite
levelling off from post-pandem-
ic highs, its price is still trending
up. In 2018, it sold for US$2.93
per kilogram, which is project-
Golden Ball awarded to the tour-
nament's best player.
In an interview broadcast on Ar-
gentine television last July, Messi
said, "Logically, because of my age,
[retirement] won't be far away."
But the eight-time Ballon
ed to increase to US$4.38 dol-
lars in 2025.
Robusta coffee is cheaper,
and is the type typically used to
make instant coffee. But seri-
ous drought in Vietnam has just
pushed the price of robusta to
an all-time high, putting pres-
sure on the cost of coffee more
broadly.
2. Milk prices
The price of fresh milk has
risen by more than 20% over
the past two years, and re-
mains at a peak. This has put
sustained cost pressure on the
production of our most popular
drink orders: cappuccinos and
flat whites.
3. Wages and utilities
Over the past year, Austra-
lian wages have grown at their
fastest rate since 2009, which is
welcome news for cafe staff, but
tough on operators in a sector
with low margins.
Electricity prices remain ele-
vated after significant inflation,
but could begin to fall mid-year.
d'Or winner now seems less
certain about how far his career
could extend.
"I haven't thought about
it yet. For now, I try to enjoy
each day, each moment, with-
out thinking about the future. I
www.canadianinquirer.net
Specialty vs. commodity
coffee: why price expectations
create an industry divide
One of the key factors keep-
ing prices low in Australia is
consumer expectation.
For many people coffee is a
fundamental part of everyday
life, a marker of livability. Un-
like wine or other alcohol, cof-
fee is not considered a luxury or
even a treat, where one might
expect to pay a little more, or
reduce consumption when
times are economically tough.
We anchor on familiar prices.
Because of this, it really hurts
cafe owners to put their pric-
es up. In touch with their cus-
tomer base almost every day,
they’re acutely aware of how
much inflation can hurt.
But in Australia, a huge pro-
portion of coffee companies are
also passionate about creating a
world-class product by only us-
ing “specialty coffee”. Ranked
at least 80 on a quality scale,
specialty beans cost significant
don't have anything clear yet,"
the Inter Miami forward said.
"I hope to keep playing for
a while longer because that's
what I enjoy. When the time
comes, I will surely find the
path to what fulfills me and
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
more than commodity grade,
but their production offers
better working conditions for
farmers and encourages more
sustainable growing practices.
Although not commensu-
rate with the wine industry,
there are similarities. Single
origin, high quality beans are
often sourced from one farm
and demand higher prices than
commodity grade coffee, where
cheaper sourced beans are of-
ten combined in a blend.
Running a specialty cafe can
also mean roasting your own
beans, which requires a big
investment in expertise and
equipment.
It’s an obvious example of
doing the right thing by your
suppliers and customers. But
specialty cafes face much high-
er operating costs, and when
they’re next to a commodi-
ty-grade competitor, customers
are typically unwillingly to pay
the difference.
Approach price rises with
curiosity, not defensiveness
When cafe owners put up
their prices, we often rush to
accuse them of selfishness or
profiteering. But they’re often
just trying to survive.
Given the quality of our cof-
fee and its global reputation, it
shouldn’t surprise us if we’re
soon asked to pay a little bit
more for our daily brew.
If we are, we should afford
the people who create one of
our most important “third
spaces” kindness and curiosity
as to why. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
what I like and a new role."
Messi has scored 16 goals
and provided seven assists in 19
appearances for Inter Miami,
whom he joined on a free trans-
fer from Paris Saint-Germain
last July. ■
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
Competitive workplaces don’t work
for gender equality
BY AMALIA REBECCA
MILLER, University of
Virginia, CARMIT SEGAL,
University of Zurich
The Conversation
Ultra-competitive workplac-
es – places where employees
battle against each other for
rank, bonuses and promotions
– are common in many high-sta-
tus fields, including law and fi-
nance. But while having a high-
ly competitive culture is, on its
face, gender-neutral, it actually
worsens gender inequality.
That’s the key finding of our
new study with colleague Ragan
Petrie, published in the most re-
cent issue of the ILR Review. As
economists who study workplace
diversity and career-family con-
flicts for women, we wanted to
investigate how competition at
work plays out in people’s lives.
We couldn’t just compare people
with more and less competitive
jobs, because they differ in a lot of
other ways as well. So we set up a
few experiments.
In our first experiment, which
took place at a college library, we
hired more than 200 people for
a one-time research assistant
job to be performed over a single
hourlong session for a $25 pay-
ment. When workers arrived, we
divided them into groups of four
– each with two men and two
women – and set them to work
testing a computer program that
was designed to be used in eco-
nomics research.
Silent cancers: here’s..
❰❰ 21 also be a lower chance
of needing post-op-
erative preventative
chemotherapy, to mop up any
residual cells.
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a
good example to show the critical
importance of screening. Studies
show that patients who partic-
ipate in CRC screening, such as
colonoscopies or tests that look
for blood in the stool, are more
likely to be diagnosed while as-
ymptomatic and have more pos-
itive prognoses after treatment.
During their training, we told
workers they would be paid
the $25 salary as long as they
worked for at least 10 minutes –
but we also asked them to work
as long and hard as they could.
We explained the purpose of
the job was to measure how
well people can perform the
task over time, so the longer the
workers stayed, the more useful
their work would be.
In some randomly selected
sessions, we also offered our
main treatment: a competitive,
high-stakes bonus of $30 paid
to the worker in that group
who earned the most points.
Workers accumulated points
by clicking on squares that pe-
riodically appeared on their
screens. The only way to earn
more points was by staying lon-
ger and trying harder.
Although we found that so-
cial and intrinsic motivations
were enough to get most work-
ers to stay beyond the required
work time, offering the $30
bonus prize induced people to
work for much longer. More
than half of the bonus-eligible
workers stayed on task for 40
minutes, the maximum time
permitted, and work times in-
creased by 83% overall.
Because these bonus pay-
ments reduced the costs of ex-
tracting effort by a third, they
would have been very profitable
to a real employer.
We also found that the high-
stakes prize created gender
gaps in effort (work time), out-
Those diagnosed with CRC after
showing symptoms, such as rectal
bleeding or changes in bowel hab-
its, tend to have more advanced
tumors and poorer outcomes.
Public health initiatives aimed
at raising awareness about the im-
portance of both cancer screening
and symptom recognition play a
pivotal role in reducing diagnos-
tic delays. Empowering people to
engage in preventive healthcare
measures such as HPV vaccina-
tions and lifestyle changes that
decrease risk can facilitate early
put (points earned) and pay
that weren’t present in other
conditions. This result shows
that gender differences found
in limited-time contests are
also present when people can
choose how long to work.
In our second experiment,
we told more than 700 appli-
cants for a job testing the same
computer program about the
possibility of a bonus, and we
asked them to choose between
a fixed overtime wage rate and
tournaments with varying prize
levels. Men and women were
both increasingly likely to opt
into the tournament at higher
prize levels, but men responded
much more than women to ris-
ing prize levels.
In other words, as the stakes
rose, the gender gap in tourna-
ment entry grew.
Why it matters
Our research suggests that
highly competitive workplaces
detection and intervention, po-
tentially altering the trajectory of
the disease.
Biomarker discovery
The latest advances in diag-
nostic technologies, often known
as “biomarker discovery”, hold
promise for improving early de-
tection rates and refining treat-
ment strategies for silent cancers.
From molecular profiling to liquid
biopsy techniques (blood tests to
diagnose cancer), innovative ap-
proaches are reshaping the land-
scape of cancer diagnosis, offering
www.canadianinquirer.net
Business
worsen gender inequality in two
ways. The first is that women are
less willing to enter and persist
in high-stakes tournaments.
Our findings here are consistent
with previous research showing
that women are less attracted
than men to competitive work
environments and tend to per-
form worse in them.
Our finding that workplace
competition increases work
hours across the board sug-
gests a second, indirect way
that it stymies women’s careers.
The fact that women do more
unpaid caretaking and house-
hold work than men means
they are less able to devote the
long hours needed to outper-
form co-workers. This suggests
that competition produces
the “greedy” jobs that demand
undivided commitment from
workers recently highlighted
by Nobel Prize-winning econo-
mist Claudia Goldin as a major
new avenues for personalised and
precision medicine.
For example, I worked with a
team using blood tests to iden-
tify cancers in more than 1,000
women recalled after screening
for mammography. We looked
at the DNA that tumour cells re-
lease – so-called cell-free DNA
– and also metabolomics (rare
markers related to metabolism
in the blood). From this infor-
mation, we found healthy pa-
tients, benign disease, pre-can-
cer and breast cancer. Although
25
barrier to gender equality.
What still isn’t known
While researchers are getting
a better understanding of the
problem, solutions remain elu-
sive. Our research shows that
workplace competition can be
a great profit driver for employ-
ers and is attractive to some
workers. That means fixing the
problem will be difficult.
Our findings suggest that re-
mote-work technologies may
not be as effective as hoped at
eliminating long work hours –
and the resulting gender pay
gaps – at elite jobs. They also
suggest that encouraging wom-
en to enter and persist in com-
petitive occupations, while im-
portant, isn’t enough to ensure
they succeed.
Assuming that workplace
competition remains a central
feature of elite jobs, making
more equitable workplaces
won’t be easy. But maybe we
don’t need to make that as-
sumption in the first place. It
may be worthwhile for employ-
ers to consider noncompeti-
tive alternatives for motivating
workers – for example, using
performance measures that ar-
en’t based on rank order com-
parisons, when possible. We
encourage researchers to inves-
tigate these alternatives. ■
The Research Brief is a short
take on interesting academic work.
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
there’s increasing awareness
and use of this approach in Eu-
rope, it isn’t standard in the UK.
Asymptomatic cancers rep-
resent a formidable challenge
for patient care. But, by encour-
aging patients to adopt preven-
tive lifestyles and engage with
screenings and tests, asymp-
tomatic cancers don’t have to
be a hidden threat to health. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
26
Looking to photograph a solar eclipse with
your smartphone? Try these features and
think about creative angles
BY DOUGLAS GOODWIN,
Scripps College
The Conversation
As the Moon casts its shadow
across the Earth during the up-
coming solar eclipse, cameras
of all kinds will turn skyward.
While professional photogra-
phers with specialized equip-
ment will aim to capture the
perfect shot, others will reach
for their smartphones to im-
mortalize this moment.
While smartphone camer-
as can’t take a great picture of a
solar eclipse itself, you can still
create a memorable record of the
moment with your smartphone.
Your smartphone camera has
capabilities that lots of special-
ized equipment can’t match. It’s
lightweight, has built-in orien-
tation detection and can shoot
well in darkness and light. Plus,
thanks to its computational
photography features, it focus-
es the image for you and pro-
vides image stabilization.
Be careful: Photographing
the eclipse with a smartphone
might damage the camera’s
sensor and your eyes. If you
want to look at the Sun or take a
photo, wear eclipse glasses and
get a lens filter.
Smartphones and optical
cameras both bring unique
strengths to photography.
Smartphones excel in conve-
nience, connectivity and com-
putational photography. They
are a simple choice for casual
shooters and social media en-
thusiasts.
Optical cameras beat smart-
phones in terms of raw image
quality, versatility and creative
control. This is thanks to their
larger sensors, which capture
more light and detail, and their
interchangeable lenses. They re-
Technology
main the ultimate tools for seri-
ous photographers who prioritize
performance over portability.
Despite the advantages of op-
tical cameras, a smartphone’s
strengths still make it a great
way to capture the eclipse.
What is computational
photography?
I teach a yearlong course in
computational photography
that covers the technical as-
pects of optics and photogra-
phy. Students make cameras
and lenses and write software
that duplicates smartphone
features.
Computational photography
uses computation together with
data like location, time of day,
personal preferences and other
data to improve images. Most
smartphones have these fea-
tures, but very few cameras do.
Two computational modes
you will want to try are HDR
and night mode.
HDR and night mode
HDR, or high dynamic range,
is a technique that combines
multiple exposures of the same
scene to capture a wider range
of brightness levels, from deep
shadows to bright highlights. By
merging these exposures, HDR
can help you create images with
more balanced exposure and
greater detail.
You can activate your phone
camera’s HDR mode in settings.
Night mode is another feature
you can use that will improve
the photos you take in low light.
Using a computational photog-
raphy technique called stacking,
night mode captures multiple
images at varying exposure lev-
els and combines them to create
a single, well-lit photo with a
wide dynamic range.
This process preserves an
image’s highlights and the de-
tails in the environment, while
keeping the shadows dark.
Keep the camera steady
while taking night mode pho-
tos. You can lean against some-
thing solid, such as a wall or a
tree. With this computational
feature, your low-light images
may rival professional-grade
optical cameras.
Framing the eclipse
Thinking about how you’re
composing your eclipse image
will help you make it more vi-
sually interesting. Composition
in photography refers to the ar-
rangement of elements within
the frame.
Elements are things like the
subject – a person, place or
thing – plus abstractions like
patterns and textures – grass,
sand, leaves and more. Ele-
ments with lines or elements
oriented up or down can guide
the viewer’s eye through the
image, and elements can pull
focus to or offset the subject.
Empty or negative space
around the subject can give
the photo a compelling com-
position, like the full moon in a
black sky. Adjusting the depth
of field, for example by using
www.canadianinquirer.net
your phone’s portrait mode, can
help emphasize the subject.
Using symmetry makes a vi-
sually appealing and balanced
image, while incorporating
complementary colors gives
the shot a more dramatic com-
position.
Think about how a big-bud-
get movie might cover the
eclipse. It might have 60 sec-
onds of footage showing the
Moon covering the Sun. The
remaining 89 minutes would
probably show how the eclipse
changed people’s lives. There’s
a lot more to shoot than just the
Sun’s corona.
For example, there’s more
that might go into an eclipse
image than the sky. Animals
may react to the eclipse in in-
teresting ways. Birds may settle
down or grow quiet, and noc-
turnal insects may come out.
People around you might have
excited, emotional reactions
worth capturing as they witness
this rare celestial event.
With HDR and night mode
active, you can look for dappled
light and dark shadows. The
light will take on an otherworld-
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
ly atmosphere as the Moon
moves in front of the Sun. The
light may take on a peculiar, sil-
very quality and appear darker
than usual. Light falling through
gaps between leaves will project
hundreds of tiny versions of the
eclipse on the ground.
Never look directly at the Sun.
Wear eclipse glasses if you look
up while aiming your camera.
While your smartphone may
not capture the intricate details
of the eclipse itself, it can help
you document the impact of the
eclipse on your world. So, as you
prepare to witness this once-in-
a-lifetime event, don’t forget
to look beyond the Sun and the
Moon. Observe the shadows,
the colors and the emotions
that surround you. Let your
curiosity guide you and allow
yourself to be present in the
moment.
The greatest photographs are
those that evoke a sense of won-
der, awe and connection regard-
less of the technology used. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
Increasingly sophisticated AI systems can
perform empathy, but their use in mental
health care raises ethical questions
BY A.T. KINGSMITH, OCAD
University
The Conversation
In a world where technolo-
gy is increasingly intertwined
with our feelings, emotion-AI
harnesses advanced computing
and machine learning to assess,
simulate, and interact with hu-
man emotional states.
As emotion-AI systems be-
come more adept at detecting and
understanding emotions in re-
al-time, the potential applications
for mental health care are vast.
Some examples of AI applica-
tions include: screening tools in
primary care settings, enhanced
tele-therapy sessions and chat-
bots offering accessible 24/7
emotional support. These can act
as bridges for anyone waiting for
professional help and those hes-
itant to seek traditional therapy.
However, this turn to emo-
tion-AI comes with a host of
ethical, social and regulatory
challenges around consent,
transparency, liability and data
security.
My research explores these
potentials and challenges of
emotion-AI in the context of
the ongoing mental health
crisis in the years since the
COVID-19 pandemic.
When emotional AI is de-
ployed for mental health care or
companionship, it risks creating
a superficial semblance of empa-
thy that lacks the depth and au-
thenticity of human connections.
PH hits record-high..
❰❰ 23 dress constraints to
production, diversify
and improve access to
markets, and develop a strong
and innovative export ecosys-
tem," Pascual said.
However, export revenues
last year were USD23.2 billion
away from the PEDP target of
USD126.8 billion for 2023.
“We recognize the ongoing
challenges in both the domes-
What’s more, issues of accu-
racy and bias can flatten and
oversimplify emotional diver-
sity across cultures, reinforc-
ing stereotypes and potentially
causing harm to marginalized
groups. This is particularly con-
cerning in therapeutic settings,
where understanding the full
spectrum of a person’s emo-
tional experience is crucial for
effective treatment.
Age of emotional AI
The global emotion-AI mar-
ket is projected to be worth
US$13.8 billion by 2032. This
growth is driven by the expand-
ing application of emotion-AI
across sectors ranging from
public health care and educa-
tion to transportation.
Advancements in machine
learning and natural language
processing allow for a more so-
phisticated analysis of people’s
tic and global trading environ-
ments and hope to address the
binding constraints to Philip-
pine export competitiveness as
we continue to implement the
PEDP for 2023 to 2028,” the
DTI chief added.
He said the DTI continues to
work with Philippine exporters
and relevant stakeholders to
address their concerns by de-
veloping programs and services
emotional cues using facial ex-
pressions, voice tones and tex-
tual data.
Since its release in early 2023,
OpenAI’s generative-AI chat-
bot ChatGPT-4 has been lead-
ing the charge with human-like
responses across a broad spec-
trum of topics and tasks. A re-
cent study found that ChatGPT
consistently scored higher on
“emotional awareness” — iden-
tifying and describing emotions
accurately — than general pop-
ulation averages.
While OpenAI dominates
North American and European
markets, Microsoft’s chatbot
Xiaoice is more popular in the
Asia-Pacific region. Launched
in 2014 as a “social chatbot”
aimed at establishing emotional
connections with users, Xiaoice
is capable of sustained empa-
thetic engagement, remember-
that would help them thrive
amid the challenges in the glob-
al trade.
“Each exporter counts, and
with cooperation, we can open
the door to a future in which
Philippine exports have in-
creased their mindshare in the
global market, underpinned by
global competitiveness and in-
novation,” Pascual said. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
Technology
ing past interactions and per-
sonalizing conversations.
In the coming years, a mix
of productivity and emotion-
al connection will transform
mental health care and redefine
how we interact with AI on an
emotional level.
Future risks
The rapid rise of emotion-AI
raises profound ethical and
philosophical questions about
the nature of empathy and emo-
tional intelligence in machines.
In The Atlas of AI, AI Schol-
ar Kate Crawford questions
the accuracy of systems that
claim to read human emotions
through digital cues. She raises
concerns about the process of
simplifying and decontextual-
izing human emotions.
Digital scholar Andrew Mc-
Stay further explores the im-
plications of attributing empa-
thy to emotion-AI systems. In
Automating Empathy, McStay
warns of “synthetic empathy,”
highlighting a key distinction
between simulating a recogni-
tion of human emotions and
truly experiencing empathy.
Additionally, emotion-AI’s
ability to analyze emotional
states opens avenues for sur-
veillance, exploitation and ma-
nipulation. This raises ques-
tions about the boundaries of
machine intervention in per-
sonal and emotional domains.
Rethinking human-AI re-
lations
The widespread application
of AI in therapy, counselling and
SBP initiates naturalization..
❰❰ 22 connection with the
Philippines.
"It is SBP’s phi-
losophy to maintain a pool of
naturalized players to provide
the Philippine National Team
with options for specific tour-
naments. The presence of a
pool also ensures availability
of naturalized players in case of
injuries, scheduling issues, and
other unforeseen incidents,"
27
emotional support holds the po-
tential to revolutionize access to
care and alleviate pressures on
overworked and overburdened
human practitioners. Howev-
er, the personification of emo-
tion-AI creates a paradox where
humanizing AI might lead to the
dehumanization of human be-
ings themselves.
At the same time, attributing
human-like qualities to AI risks
making mental health care less
interpersonal. The potential for
AI chatbots to misinterpret cul-
tural and individual emotional
expressions could lead to mis-
guided advice or support. This
can further complicate or ex-
acerbate mental health issues,
especially where the nuances of
human empathy are essential.
These tensions underscore
the need for the careful, ethi-
cally informed integration of
emotion-AI in mental health
treatment and care.
These technologies need to
complement, rather than sub-
stitute, the human elements of
empathy, understanding and
connection. This requires re-
thinking human-AI relations,
particularly around empathy.
By ensuring the ethical de-
velopment of emotion-AI, we
can aspire to a future where
technology enhances mental
health without diminishing
what it means to be human. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
the statement said.
The 6-foot-10 Boatwright is
said to be a solid choice for nat-
uralization as the SBP wants to
secure the future of the nation-
al team alongside working on
its current goals.
Justin Brownlee will continue
to be naturalized player for the
Gilas Pilipinas Men’s Team as
aligned with Coach Tim Cone’s
program, the SBP said. ■
28
Mingay Beach: An off-the-grid getaway
BY LEILANIE ADRIANO
Philippine News Agency
LAOAG CITY – Off the beat-
en path is the majestic cove of
Mingay located in the quaint
village of San Julian in Sta.
Praxedes, Cagayan.
It is described by both locals
and visitors as a hidden gem,
and unique for being both a rec-
reation and economic place, be-
ing located in a fishing village.
It is also where the lush forest
meets the open sea.
Realizing its great potential
for eco-tourism, the local gov-
ernment unit of Sta. Praxedes
led by Mayor Esterlina Agui-
naldo has recently decided to
offer overnight stays for visitors
looking for a rest disconnected
from modern-day distractions.
No electricity, no internet, just
a moment of peace with nature
Boracay readies security,
safety measures for
tourists this summer
BY PERLA LENA
Philippine News Agency
ILOILO CITY – The Malay lo-
cal government has activated its
municipal incident management
team to monitor tourist arrivals
in Boracay Island this summer.
“In terms of preparation, we
consider our peace and order
and security, medical and emer-
gency preparedness, as well as
our solid waste management.
So far, we are in place already,”
Malay chief tourism operations
officer Felix delos Santos Jr.
said on Monday.
Delos Santos said that for this
summer, among the big events
Travel
and away from the hustle and
bustle of the city.
“Mingay is indeed a true gem
that can be handed over from
generations,” said Aguinaldo as
she enjoined everyone to pro-
mote responsible travel practices
while nurturing the local com-
munity and the environment.
Apart from tents, at least
three solar-powered teepee
houses with basic amenities are
available in the area for an over-
night stay.
Aguinaldo said the local gov-
ernment also set up picnic ta-
bles and tents for rent. Show-
ers, restrooms, and swings are
also available.
Pre-booking however is a
must with no walk-in accommo-
dations for overnight guests to
ensure their safety and security,
according to the Santa Praxedes
Tourism Facebook page.
How to get there
they are preparing are Love
Boracay and a series of inter-
national events, sports tourism,
and beach activities that are ex-
pected to usher more tourists to
the island.
Love Boracay is the biggest
and most highly anticipated an-
nual party season on the island,
emphasizing environmental
conservation through a series of
activities from April 26 to May 1.
In the last week of April,
there are two international
events --the beach volleyball
and dragon boat competitions.
While they have no target
number of arrivals, delos Santos
said based on the pre-pandem-
ic data, it could reach a total of
There are two ways to reach
the cove. With the aid of Google
map or waze, pin Mingay Beach
in Barangay San Julian, known
by locals as the "greenest gar-
den of the north".
From the drop-off point in
Sitio Mingay, trek downhill for
about 40 minutes.
The cove can also be reached
by a 30-to-40-minute boat ride
after coordinating with the lo-
cal tourism office. Boats for hire
are available at the Taggat blue
lagoon in Claveria, Cagayan.
Plan ahead, discover more
For the safety and conve-
nience of visitors, Villamin Liz-
ardo Jr., a member of the res-
cue team of Sta. Praxedes, said
guests are urged to plan their
travel and discover more ad-
ventures in Mingay.
"Aside from the Mingay
Beach which is divided into
small and big cove, there are
200,000 during the summer
months of April to May.
“We consider that as the su-
per peak,” he said.
Meanwhile, during the Holy
Week, the tourism office record-
ed 56,134 tourist arrivals, the
highest on Maundy Thursday
with 13,898. This was a bit lower
compared with last year’s 62,241
arrivals, of which over 16,000
was during Maundy Thursday.
While lower than last year,
delos Santos said the arrivals
were highest compared with
the pre-pandemic period, espe-
cially in 2019.
“Today, the PNP (Philip-
❱❱ PAGE 30 Boracay readies
www.canadianinquirer.net
other beaches such as the Nana-
plaan and Kimmansir Beach
that visitors may consider visit-
ing,” Lizardo said.
"These are comparable to the
beaches of Palawan,” he noted.
Beautiful rock formations
and waterfalls are likewise
worth the adventure for swim-
ming, diving, and underwater
CALM AND PEACEFUL. Mingay beach in Santa Praxedes, Cagayan. It is an off-
the-grid rest haven. (LEILANIE ADRIANO/PNA)
First in years: PH
posts travel
surplus in 2023
BY JOYCE ANN L.
ROCAMORA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Philippines
posted a net trade surplus of
USD2.45 billion in travel last
year, meaning foreign visitors
to the Philippines spent more
than what Filipinos shelled out
for travel abroad.
In a statement on Tuesday,
the Department of Tourism
(DOT) said this was a “first in 15
years” and sets an “optimistic
tone” for the country’s steadily
recovering tourism industry.
Based on the preliminary full-
year data of the Bangko Sentral
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
exploration, he added.
“Going to Mingay is an expe-
rience of a lifetime. It gives me
reasons to love the Philippines
even more,” said Aileen Ram-
baud, a visitor from Pinili, Ilo-
cos Norte who, along with some
friends experienced trekking
downhill to reach Mingay last
weekend. ■
ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Philip-
pines successfully breached the
USD100 billion export of goods
and services mark.
The country, the DOT said,
recorded USD2.45 billion in net
trade surplus in travel services,
with travel services export re-
ceipts reaching USD9.1 billion.
The goods and services Fili-
pinos purchased while travel-
ing overseas, on the other hand,
stood at USD6.6 billion.
The DOT said the 2023 trav-
el services export receipts have
already reached 93.2 percent of
the 2019 pre-pandemic level,
pegged at USD9.78 billion.
❱❱ PAGE 30 First in years
FRIDAY APRIL 5, 2024
How to make sure your
leftovers are safe to eat
BY PRIMROSE
FREESTONE, University of
Leicester
The Conversation
Eating leftovers can be a
great way to save money, di-
versify your cooking repertoire
and reduce food waste.
But eating leftover food can
also be risky as these foods have
already been exposed to bacteria
in the environment. If you ha-
ven’t stored and re-heated left-
overs correctly, you could be put-
ting yourself at risk of potentially
life-threatening food poisoning.
That doesn’t mean you
should start avoiding leftovers,
however. By following the the
correct food safety practices,
you can ensure you avoid harm
when eating leftovers.
How quickly should leftovers
be refrigerated or frozen?
Bacteria exist everywhere in
our world, including in kitchens
– and the foods within them. The
bacteria that cause food to spoil
can grow rapidly with the right
nutrients, moisture and tem-
peratures. Some double in num-
bers in as little as 20 minutes.
It’s important that any left-
overs are put into the fridge or
freezer as quickly as possible
and within two hours maxi-
mum. This time advice is based
on how quickly bacteria can
grow in food at non-refriger-
ated temperatures, and means
leftover food become less safe
to eat the longer it is left at more
Food
than 5°C. You should also make
sure that leftovers are covered.
Clingfilm and airtight lids help
prevent air from getting at the
food. This is important, as most
pathogens need oxygen to grow.
How long are refrigerated
leftovers safe to eat?
Your fridge should be kept at
a temperature of between 0 and
5°C, as this inhibits the growth
of food poisoning bacteria on
leftovers.
Leftovers must be eaten with-
in two days, as any longer gives
harmful bacteria more time to
grow. Indeed, pathogens such
as Listeria, which can cause flu-
like symptoms, can even grow in
refrigerated temperatures and
are more likely to grow beyond
two days – which is why this is
the recommended time limit for
storing your leftovers.
If you don’t think you’ll eat
your leftovers within that time-
frame, consider freezing them.
Leftovers can be kept for up to
three months if frozen at -18°C.
What is the safest way to
re-heat your leftovers?
When you reheat leftovers,
you must ensure the food is pip-
ing hot all the way through. If
not, don’t eat it.
Leftover foods should be re-
heated to an internal tempera-
ture of at least 165°F (74°C). For
sauces, stews, soups and gravy,
it’s best to bring them to a full
boil, stirring for at least three
minutes. These practices will
kill most bacteria and inacti-
vate any heat-sensitive bacteri-
al toxins that are present.
If reheating leftovers in the
oven, set the oven temperature
to at least 325°F (163°C or gas
mark 3) and bake long enough
to completely heat the food
through to at least 74°C. If re-
heating leftovers in the micro-
wave, you should also make sure
they reach an internal tempera-
ture of 74°C before eating.
Reheating food using a slow
cooker is not a good idea be-
cause if foods stay at a tempera-
ture less than 165°F for several
hours, this can permit bacterial
growth – increasing your risk of
food poisoning.
Can you reheat leftovers
more than once?
You really should not reheat
leftovers more than once. Each
time a food warms and cools, it
provides the right temperature
and amount of time needed for
any harmful bacteria to start to
re-grow.
This then makes it harder for
heat kill all the pathogens pres-
ent the next time you warm up
the leftovers. If you don’t think
you’ll eat all your leftovers within
two days, consider freezing them.
Can you reheat a takeaway?
Whether you can safely re-
heat takeaway foods depends
on how you stored it.
If it was stored warm in the
back of your car or left at room
temperature in your home for
more than two hours, then the
meal may be a food poisoning
risk – especially if you’ve al-
ready touched or partially eat-
www.canadianinquirer.net
en it (which introduces bacteria
to the food).
But if you didn’t handle the
food much and refrigerated it
within two hours of purchase,
then the takeaway is safe to re-
heat – provided the next time
it’s eaten it’s first heated to a
piping hot temperature of at
least 74°C. It also shouldn’t be
stored in the fridge for more
than two days.
There are some takeaway
foods that you should be care-
ful about saving as leftovers.
Cooked rice dishes are possi-
bly the most risky to save. Un-
cooked rice may contain spores
of Bacillus cereus, a bacterium
that causes food poisoning.
While the parent bacterium
is killed when rice is cooked,
its spores can survive the tem-
perature of boiling water. If
rice is not refrigerated within
two to three hours of cooking,
the spores can grow into bac-
teria which in turn release the
rice toxins which give rise to
29
food poisoning symptoms such
as diarrhoea, abdominal pain
and vomiting. The longer con-
taminated cooked rice is left
to stand at a non-refrigerated
temperature, the more Bacillus
cereus will be present and the
more unsafe the dish becomes.
If cooked rice needs to be
saved, it should be covered once
cooked and cooled quickly (ide-
ally within 2 hours), then stored
and refrigerated for no more
than 24 hours. Cooked rice
leftovers should be piping hot
when reheated, and should nev-
er be reheated more than once.
Leftovers can be safe to eat so
long as you take the right pre-
cautions. But if you’re ever in
doubt, or don’t think you’ll eat
them within two days, storing
them in the freezer will give you
more flexibility than storing
them in the fridge. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
 30
Albay entrepreneur spills..
❰❰ 21 "Before we em-
barked on this business
venture, we did exten-
sive market research and plan-
ning to understand the dynamics
of putting up a coffee shop since
none of us had prior knowledge
of running a cafe business."
Galicia revealed that their
choice of location, unique
products, which boast special-
ty drinks and unique coffee
blends, strategic pricing, and
communication strategies are
the keys to survival in a caf-
For over a century..
❰❰ 22 ming the ranks of old-
school professionals
and all of the human
bias that they brought to evalu-
ating talent?
The embrace of sabermetrics
changed who got drafted. With
raw data becoming increasing-
ly important, college players
– with a longer track record of
statistics – became more attrac-
tive than high school athletes.
The shift to data-informed
decision-making has had some
unintended consequences.
In order for high school play-
ers to get recognized in today’s
environment, they turn to travel
teams, an expensive option that
allows a player to participate
in more games and accumulate
more experience, more footage
of their play and more exposure.
Players from lower-income
families often can’t afford to
participate – and that includes
young Black athletes, who are
disproportionately more likely
to grow up in poverty. A recent
study found that Black athletes
represented just 6.2% of MLB
players on 2023 opening day
rosters, down from 18% in 1991.
As retired Black utility play-
Boracay readies..
❰❰ 28 pine National Police)
declared that we are
generally peaceful and
have zero incidents. So thank
you for coming to Boracay, but
this is also an invitation for
them to come back,” he added.
After the pandemic, around
70 percent of the arrivals are
domestic, and 30 percent are
foreign tourists, delos Santos
said. ■
feinated market that is heavily
marked by stiff competition.
"With big cafe chains around,
it is really hard to make a mark,
but if you position your local
coffee shop uniquely and inno-
vate consistently, you can grow
your business," he said.
To ensure loyalty from his cus-
tomer base, Galicia said he is always
on the lookout for new ways to
reach his target market, leveraging
the power of social media to drive
foot traffic to his humble shop.
As to his pricing strategy,
er Lou Collier told us: “A kid
like me, today, never would
have had an opportunity. … If
I wasn’t able to afford any of
these events, you never would
have heard of Lou Collier. But
back when I was coming up, the
scouts found the Lou Colliers.”
‘Moneyball’ or makeup?
Scouts will also tell you that
analytics is nothing new.
“We evaluated the player,”
says former Atlanta Braves
scouting director Roy Clark.
“And when our scouts said, ‘We
think this guy can play in the big
leagues,’ the next thing we did is
we gathered all the information
we could – analytics. But then
we emphasized makeup.”
It is a grasp of this concept –
“makeup,” or a player’s charac-
ter, drive and grit – that scouts
say differentiates their work
from data-driven evaluations.
“It comes down to the peo-
ple who have a really good head
on their shoulders,” says Matt
O’Brien, a scout for the Toronto
Blue Jays.
And the scouts will tell you
that there is both on-field and
off-field makeup.
“You’ve got to talk to his
First in years..
❰❰ 28 The last time the
Philippines registered
a travel surplus was
in 2007 at USD1.93 billion, the
balance of payments from BSP
showed.
“We welcome the latest num-
bers from the BSP report which
sets an optimistic tone not just
for the DOT, but to all our tour-
ism stakeholders, and tourism
leaders and shakers, even those
he said he makes sure that his
menu is affordable without sac-
rificing the quality of his prod-
ucts, adding that he monitors
the prices of his competitors
and keeps himself updated on
market trends.
Mary Joy Lodronio, 38, said
it is the al fresco dining experi-
ence and signature blends that
make City Heights Cafe the per-
fect spot for a caffeine fix when
in Legazpi City.
Strategically located at High-
lands Park, coffee lovers can
school counselor, you’ve got to
talk to his coach, you’ve got to
talk to his teammates, you’ve
got to try and talk to other stu-
dents,” explains Gillick. “Is he a
good baseball player, and is he a
good human being?”
This personalized approach,
one that focuses on a player’s
heart and mind, has kept scout-
ing relevant. Even with the rise
of analytics, the number of MLB
scouts had stayed remarkably
consistent into the 21st century.
It seemed as if the fear generated
by “Moneyball” was unfounded.
That all changed in 2020.
The costs of COVID-19
COVID-19 didn’t just shorten
the 2020 baseball season, win-
nowing it down from 162 games
to 60. It also shrank baseball’s
scouting ranks.
USA Today reported that
about 20% of scouts were laid
off in 2020. Many of them
weren’t hired back.
“It was just the most uneasy
feeling,” recalled MLB Scouting
Bureau’s Christie Wood, one
of the few female scouts in the
game.
According to the magazine
Baseball America, by 2021 sev-
who came before me, who have
all worked tirelessly and shown
nothing but resilience in the
past difficult years,” Tourism
Secretary Christina Frasco said.
“As we continue to work to-
wards achieving our targets for
2024 and the years to come, we
endeavor to cement tourism’s
position as a major economic pil-
lar for the country,” she added.
According to the BSP, travel
www.canadianinquirer.net
bask in the picturesque view of
the city's skyline and the majes-
tic Mayon Volcano while indulg-
ing in their coffee pleasures.
"Here, I can enjoy two of my
most favorite things: nature and
coffee," the mother of four said.
From creamy lattes to refresh-
ing frappes, delicious pastries,
and flavorful pastas, to decadent
desserts and appetizers, this lo-
cal cafe is sure to satisfy every
coffee enthusiast's taste buds.
In June 2023, Galicia, a
proud father and husband to a
en teams had reduced their
scouting staff by double digits.
The Tampa Bay Rays and Mil-
waukee Brewers cut 10 scouts
apiece. The Los Angeles Dodgers
and San Francisco Giants had 13
fewer on their payrolls. The Chi-
cago Cubs were down 20, while
the Los Angeles Angels and Seat-
tle Mariners each reduced their
scouting ranks by 23.
At the beginning of the 2019
season, teams employed 1,909
scouts across their amateur,
professional and internation-
al departments. By 2021, that
number was down to 1,756. And
most of the scouts that were laid
off were older, more experienced
scouts making higher salaries.
In June 2023, 17 former
scouts sued MLB for age dis-
crimination. They claimed that
the league and its teams acted
intentionally to prevent the
employment of older scouts af-
ter the pandemic.
A big win for the scouts
The state of scouting today is
a mixed bag.
Some teams seem to be pri-
oritizing analytics. But other
organizations – the Pittsburgh
Pirates, Toronto Blue Jays,
services in 2023 contributed an
impressive 18.9 percent share
to the country’s total service
exports of USD48.28 billion.
Frasco, meanwhile, banked
on the close coordination be-
tween the public and the private
sectors to further reach Manila’s
tourism goals under the Nation-
al Tourism Development Plan
(NTDP) 2023 to 2028.
For the DOT’s part, Frasco
APRIL 5, 2024 FRIDAY
college professor, became the
sole proprietor of City Heights
Cafe after buying out the shares
of his former partners.
As he embarks on this solo
journey, Galicia hopes to ex-
pand the business by setting up
other branches in the province.
"Business entails calculated
risks. As long as you keep your
goals, stay committed to your
passion no matter what the set-
backs are, and adjust your strat-
egies when necessary, you will be
on the right track," he added. ■
Houston Astros, Minnesota
Twins and Texas Rangers –
have actually added scouts to
their payrolls since 2019.
The Rangers organization
opened their doors to our docu-
mentary crew over the past four
years, allowing us into the inner
sanctum. We were able to see,
firsthand, the organization’s
emphasis on scouting, and
witness the relationships the
team’s scouts built with pros-
pects and their families.
When the Rangers won the
World Series in 2023, baseball
scouts around the league re-
joiced: The team’s success con-
firmed that an emphasis on per-
sonal touch and people could
still pay off.
“I’m just proud of all the
scouts that are here and who
have worked so hard,” Texas
Rangers scout Demond Smith
told us during one playoff game.
“At the end of the day, it’s base-
ball. It’s Little League from the
beginning, and then you are
dreaming. And here we are.” ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
said the agency will continue
strengthening its promotion
efforts and feature more unique
travel offerings for both its do-
mestic and foreign markets.
The Philippines welcomed
5.45 million international vis-
itors in 2023, successfully
breaching its year-end target of
4.8 million. ■
 APRIL
JULY 5, 2020
17, 2024 cx328
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