APEC hottie

Notwithstanding the tremendous potential and manifold impact brought about by the convergence of world leaders in our country, some found other sidelights that competed, even to some extent, grabbed the limelight.         

One was the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Justine Trudeau, 43, who was sworn into office as the 23rd prime minister just two weeks ago after a stunning victory against the conservatives of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper in the country's parliamentary elections.

Screams and requests for selfies greeted him at the International Media Center of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation  in Manila at the end of the summit he attended on his first series of foreign trips as head of government. He was whisked away by security staff as he got mobbed by an adoring crowd. Wearing the Barong Tagalog exudes his manliness-and a pride to us for wearing the national costume. Credit also goes to our very own designers and artists who were given the chance to showcase unique Filipino creativity and artistry: Paul Cabral, Kenneth Cobonpue, and the Maestro Ryan Cayabyab.

But more than his looks are major issues that confront his new leadership specifically as far as Canadian-Philippine bilateral relationship is concern.

First is the issue that started during his predecessor Stephen Harper's administration, when some 98 container vans of garbage from Canada were illegally shipped to Manila's port. In 2013, the Bureau of Customs seized 50 container vans carrying various waste and hazardous materials, including non-recyclable plastics and adult diapers. They were misdeclared to be containing assorted scrap plastic materials for recycling.

When asked during the summit, he did not directly address questions on whether or not Canada will bring home trash illegally shipped to our country, unrevealing on Filipino environmental groups' call for Canada to respond at once.

But the truth is under the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes, the country responsible for importing toxic waste should return the waste to its port of origin within 30 days of being notified of the importation. Ironically, both the Philippines and Canada signed the convention.

Another major issue that has brought major environmental and cultural repercussions is Canada's mining industries in our country. Canadian companies are major players in the global mining industry, and so it's no surprise that they have more than made their presence felt in the Philippines. Unfortunately, that presence has not always been welcome - at least not by the immediate host communities. Worse, Canadian mining firms have acquired a notorious reputation in the Philippines, and there are indications that this is not about to change anytime soon.

The Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, in its website, reports: In Zamboanga del Norte, for example, indigenous Subanon elders like Timuay Fernando Mudai say that TVI Resource Development Philippines, Inc (TVI), a subsidiary of the Canada-based TVI (Toronto Ventures Incorporated) Pacific, has made "a dumpsite" of Mount Canatuan, which the Subanon consider sacred.

A few years back, in Mindoro Oriental, a subsidiary of a Canadian company had the locals up in arms after proposing a mine-tailings disposal method that could have damaged their fishing grounds.

It has not helped these firms in any way that a Canadian mining giant was involved in what is still considered the worst mining disaster in the Philippines-and that much of the toxic mining wastes it generated has remained in the host area.

Canadians presumably want the same standards applied to these companies even in overseas projects, and have been known to voice their concerns when Canadian firms misbehave abroad. Apparently, that is not the case when it comes to Canadian mining firms operating in the Philippines.

Under his new leadership, as he commits on a platform of "openness, transparency, engagement, of listening to Canadians, of trusting people, and finding real answers to tough questions, a level of respect for citizens", we challenge Prime Minister Trudeau in his regard as he sees this as the real essence of the 21st century democracy.

And as he popularized "because it's 2015", for the prime minister, we want to see a real conversion of ephemeral good looks to actual substance and action.